After several months of construction delays, The Roadhouse is now open at 4001 Wrightsville Ave. Co-owner Brian Mayberry, who also owns and operates The Dixie Grill, said that the renovations to the former Salt Works building were far more extensive than he and his partner, Charles Samos, originally planned for. 

“We had to get things done right and didn’t want to cut any corners,” Mayberry said. 

All of the interior woodwork, including the booths and a custom 14-seat community table, was done by Tym Dvorak. The dining space is cozy and rustic, with a variety of seating and a large bar.

The Roadhouse serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with seasonal menus that are set to change three to four times a year. Mayberry said breakfast and lunch will be reminiscent of some of the longstanding favorites served at the Dixie, but that he will be updating the Dixie menu later this month. 

Dinner is a new venture for Mayberry, but he said he is confident that with the help of chef Jeffrey Porter, it will be a success. Porter has worked with Mayberry for many years at the Dixie, in addition to working at several fine-dining establishments and hosting his own pop-up dinners.

Dinner service will begin this week with 6-8 entrée items that will allow Mayberry and Porter to test the market over the next couple of months. Guests can expects ribs, fried chicken, fresh grilled fish and shrimp, and North Carolina pork.  The Roadhouse will roast brisket for corned beef hash and Reuben’s, and also feature a braised corned beef with char grilled Brussels sprouts, a fried potato wedge and Guinness mustard – The Roadhouse’s twist on corned beef and cabbage. A spring/summer menu will be released in March.

Breakfast and lunch are served 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week and a bar/snack menu will be offered from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Dinner service is from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

On another note, Mayberry will be closing his Mexican restaurant, Capricho, 215-A Princess St., during the month of January for renovations and restructuring. 

“I really need to make some adjustments there,” Mayberry said. “But I also need to give my full attention to getting The Roadhouse up and running right now. I hope be able to get things in order there as soon as possible.”

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