It seems that when people in Wake Forest think about dining out they think about driving into Raleigh, but I just had a great meal with a very nice Merlot at Jovi's, in downtown Wake Forest. My wife and I had the special, a Salmon fillet with a corn meal crust and a green pepper dijon sauce. It was wonderful. The salad came first and was very nicely presented with a subtle herb vinegrette dressing. The main course, the salmon, was crispy golden brown on the outside contrasting nicely with the tender pink fillet inside. The subtle salmon flavor played off the tangy green pepper dijon sauce. Again the main course presentation was very nicely done with a sweet 1/4 butternut squash and perfect wild rice. The garnish of a pink varietal lettuce and bit of fruit was attractive. And I must mention the tiny hot fresh rolls that melt in your mouth and are a trademark of Jovi's. The trick is getting into the restaurant. A good portion of their business is catering, so their restaurant hours are limited. They are only open for dinner, and only on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The dinner for two, with wine was about $50 with tip, so it is not for the McDonalds crowd. This is a white tablecloth place in a nicely redone historic home just off White Street at 221 E.Jones St. There are two rooms downstairs, one larger and one more intimate, and another room upstairs. The Jo of Jovi's is Johnny and the Vi is Vivian. They both appear to love what they are doing and always seem to be there. You can expect to see both of them popping out from their kitchen to keep an eye on their dining rooms and to greet you in between courses or after your meal. If you are in the Wake Forest area, I say save some gas. If you are down in Raleigh or beyond, take a little drive, I think you will like it.
Raleigh-Durham, NC