Tavo, Greensboro

Located within Greensboro's historic Kress Building, Tavo showcases a menu of elegant, ingredient-driven American cuisine with strong Southern roots. Executive Chef Barry Moody draws upon more than 30 years of experience as he whips up upscale versions of otherwise familiar dishes, including fried buttermilk chicken with a spicy kick, applewood-smoked pork chops with a bacon glaze, and gumbo-style pasta with blackened shrimp, smoked turkey sausage, and a Cajun alfredo sauce. These refined comfort foods create a dining experience that manages to highlight traditional techniques as well as contemporary sensibilities.

This sense of fusion is also apparent in the restaurant's decor. The high-ceilinged space features a gleaming expanse of stone flooring, which is populated with patterned booths and cherry tables. At the end of the room, a semicircular bar forms an impressive set piece as it reflects light cast by the various chandeliers and tethered fireflies. Tavo even embraces the roots of its location by lining its walls with artwork that was collected by the building's original owner, Samuel H. Kress.