Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Southern Lights Bistro

Southern Lights Bistro is a long-time favorite of many people in Greensboro. The restaurant moved to a shopping center on Lawndale back in 2010, and while it was wildly popular in its previous location for 25+ years, I think the love is just as strong in their "new" digs. One of the biggest draws for me personally is their patio - there's not enough al fresco dining in Greensboro, and Southern Lights has one of the best in town. It's a relaxed atmosphere, and servers are patient, knowledgeable and want you to enjoy the evening. They offer ample specials every night, so you can get something different nearly every time you go. While I've had a few hit or miss meals here, it's quickly becoming a go-to for family visits and casual nights with friends.

I love to build my own salad, and the options at Southern Lights seem endless. They have a killer Crab Cake - it's more wet than dry (Crab Cake aficionados know what I mean) and very little filler. I also love to add their Salmon, which is always perfectly cooked. Salad toppings are all over the place - Artichoke Hearts, Avocado, Kalamata Olives, Roasted Red Peppers, Havarti Cheese - the list truly does go on and on. The salads are substantial in size and ingredients are of the freshest quality.

The Chili-Garlic Shrimp with Coconut Rice and Squash is not for the faint of palate - the heat level is real. I loved the coolness of the coconut flavor to balance out the spicy shrimp, but I was kind of surprised that squash was the veggie of choice in this dish. I think broccoli would have made more sense, snap peas even, because the squash seemed out of place. I would order this again and ask to sub in a different veggie, but I love the Asian flavors this dish presents.

I can't resist a Cuban Sandwich, and you'd be surprised at how few restaurants in Greensboro offer them! Southern Lights' version is called the Spicy Havana, and it features Spicy Ham, Pulled Pork, Swiss Cheese, Pickles and Dijon Mayo on a pressed sub roll. This seemed a little bread-heavy (usually the quantity of meat keeps me from being able to finish an entire Cuban sandwich!) but the expected flavors were all there and didn't disappoint. The spice from the ham and the dijon married beautifully, and I cannot rave enough about the Pesto Pasta that comes as a side option - it's studded with little green Peas and topped with salty Parmesan. It's ridiculous.

The Adrian consists of some of my favorite ingredients - Roasted Turkey, Cherrywood Smoked Bacon, Havarti and Honey, served hot atop a Croissant. I honestly could have used more havarti and more honey, to keep this from feeling like a plain deli turkey croissant. Next time, I'll ask for a side of honey and extra cheese, which might seem extra, but when you're going big, GO BIG!

Their specials always appeal to me, and on one night in particular, I fell hard for the pan-seared Grouper with Shrimp and Crab étouffée over Jasmine Rice with Broccoli. Being obsessed with all things New Orleans, I am an étouffée fiend, and I was blown away with Southern Lights' rendition. The depth of flavor, the ample shrimp and crab, the perfectly cooked grouper - this is an exceptional dish and I wish they'd add it to their nightly menu.

Another special combines Grilled Sirloin with Angel Hair Pasta and Truffled Cream Sauce, with Mushrooms and Wilted Spinach. I had this when it was featured about a month ago and I lost my mind for it. Truffled Cream Sauce? Are you kidding me! It was insane!! When I saw it featured as a nightly special again recently, I went back to get it (rather, I swam through my pool of saliva to get there for it) and I hate to say, it was not as good. I detected no truffle and instead it tasted more like an Alfredo sauce. Disappointing, but maybe a different chef prepared it that night.

If they're featuring pan-seared Scallops with Bacon and Corn Risotto, do yourself a favor and order it. The scallops are perfectly plump and have a nice salty crust, and the smokiness from the bacon paired with the sweetness of the corn makes this a really well-rounded dish. I would eat this every day if I could.

Their Fried Brussels Sprouts special appetizer also needs to get a permanent spot on the menu - they were roasted to tender perfection and topped with blue cheese, slivered almonds and drizzled with balsamic glaze. This is my favorite way to eat Brussels. It's really the only way.

Whether you want to take advantage of their half-off wines on Thursday, their patio on a beautiful evening, or their Sunday brunch (which is also awesome!), there's really something for everyone at Southern Lights Bistro. I'm thankful the fan base has remained steady in this new location. After a move and 35+ years, this place really stands the test of time and great, quality food.