How can it be that Freeman's Grub & Pub has been open since mid-2015? It's in a great old brick building at 1820 Spring Garden Street near the intersection with Chapman Street - originally a neighborhood grocery built in 1913, it's also been a pawn shop, coffee shop, and music store. (I've read that the name Freeman's is a tribute to the grocer who originally occupied the building.)
I met a couple of friends for lunch at Freeman's after two different folks recommended it, and it didn't disappoint! It's a small, friendly place with attractive, creative decor that fits the age of the building--subway tiles, hardwood floors, open wood shelving, and belt-pulled fans, plus artfully mismatched chairs and barstools. You can't see it in the photo here, but there's a lovely, shady wooden deck to the right of the building, which would be a great place to enjoy a tasty beverage or delicious meal in nicer (warmer!) weather.
We loved the menu, which was presented in two sheets (titled "grub" and "pub") on a small clipboard and featured items such as a bacon popper burger special, vegan jerk chicken, beef brisket sandwich, and poutine (FYI, a Canadian dish composed of french fries, cheese curds, and gravy). As you can probably tell, the menu is eclectic, with a lot of different influences and surprises.
Since we were there at lunch, we settled for a glass of white wine each--we tried the Eve Chardonnay from the Columbia Valley, which was light and tasty. My goal is to visit again at night to see what the evening dining and bar scene looks like at Freeman's, but the beverage menu looked pretty comprehensive, with an interesting array of cocktails ("The Banana Hammock"), draft beers, and more. Apparently, the reasonably-priced food menu stays the same at lunch and dinner, with weekly specials offered anew each week.
My friends both ordered the Banh Mi sandwich, but one chose the street corn side, while the other chose
a "four seasons" side salad. I opted for the chicken, avocado, and Swiss sandwich with a side of house-made fries. Everyone was happy, but I have to say that the sides were especially delicious all around. Wish I had saved room for the weekly special dessert: fried cookie dough with vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup!
My meal, with glass of good wine and a tip, came to right around $25. (Not fast-food pricing, but not at all unreasonable for a business lunch.) Another little thing we all appreciated was the way the bill was presented: folded together, held by a clothespin with the Freeman's moniker branded into the wood.
Worth mentioning, too, are the friendly staff. They didn't rush us, indulged our questions and comments, and treated us like "regulars."
Now that I know Freeman's is there, I'm sure I'll be back.
If you're looking to buy or sell a home in the neighborhoods around UNCG, from which Freeman's Grub & Pub is a short walk, or anywhere across the Triad, please give us a call. We serve buyers and sellers across Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem, Summerfield, Oak Ridge, Jamestown, and the rest of the Piedmont Triad. Our experienced real estate professionals help home buyers and sellers save money by charging a low set fee instead of a percentage commission. Please get in touch by calling (336) 790-5210 or by emailing Steve Vincent. Visit our website at greatnest.com.