My boyfriend chose Circa 1800 last week for our weekly date night, it's a small but quaint restaurant in downtown Fayetteville. It's got a semi fine dining feel without the dress code, the menu is kinda small but that is not a bad thing.. They offer 3 or 4 beef entrees, 1 chicken entree, 3 different fish entrees, a shrimp entree , a crab cakes entree, a pork entree, a duck entree and a vegetarian entree.. They also offer some nice salads and appetizer choices. We started with the calamari appetizer served with a sweet chili sauce and a couple of Margaritas.. The calamari was a very large portion and it was tender and fried to perfection.. It didn't taste like the typical frozen calamari you get everywhere else. The margaritas were the perfect flavor of sweet and tart and you could tell they were not made from a sugary mix. For dinner my boyfriend chose the Harris-Robinette Ribeye, it's a Grass Fed, Hand cut, 10oz Ribeye from North Carolina's Harris-Robinette Beef, seasoned to perfection and served with chive mashed potatoes and asparagus. (I copied that from the menu ) the steak was quite large and cooked to perfection, my boyfriend said it was tender and flavorful and probably the best steak he has had in Fayetteville... Period. The mashed potatoes were rustic and creamy and the asparagus was steamed perfectly. I chose the Filet Tips, it's a Half pound of marinated filet tips grilled and served over rice with with green beans. (Again I copied that from the menu ) The portion was huge and the beef melted in my mouth.. The tips were served in Circa's special sauce which is flavorful, bold and slightly tangy.. I'm usually not in to those kinds of sauces, but I did enjoy this one, the green beans were roasted and tasted garlicky and peppery... they were so delicious. I have to say this is my new favorite place for date night, it's quiet and there's no kids menu or high chairs.. The food is well thought out and the servers are attentive and friendly.. You can dress up or down and either was you fit right in. We felt welcomed right away. This is a gem in the heart of downtown. And we will be back .. Next time I want to try the Grilled Portobello Mushrooms entree - Grilled Portobello mushrooms served with white truffle mac n cheese and asparagus.. Mmmmm
(5)
Ryan G.
Piss poor service. 6 minutes before greeted at the table and drinks were ordered. Drinks were waters with lemon it's been 15 minutes we still don't have the lemons. Tables remained dirty with food on them for almost 20 minutes. Flies covered the entire area outside as a result of that. Now to wait for the food..... Food showed up in a decent amount of time. Steak was overcooked, eggs as well. Shrimp and grits was great. Evrything else below par.
(1)
Rachel H.
Lunch review only! Came here for lunch with a coworker. Good impression, but not knock my socks off. Coworker ordered the chicken Caesar salad and I ordered the chef salad. Pros - Good portions. Both our salads were decently sized. Enough to fill us up. - Fresh ingredients. My salad's ham, turkey, and provolone were wrapped up together and then sliced. The slices were placed on my salad. There were also slices of tomato and cucumber. It was quality bacon my salad. It was the thickly sliced bacon, which was chopped up into bits. Not the cheap flimsy type of bacon. My coworker had decent size pieces of mozzarella slices on his caesar salad, which looked good. - Decent service. - Not crowded. I like the fact that we didn't have to wait and/or hunt for seats. The restaurant was less than half full, but I don't know if that's what it's like on their regular lunch basis. Cons - Limited lunch menu. The lunch menu is just sandwiches and salads and their signature filet tips and shrimp and grits dish. The choices appeared to be decent, but it would have been nice to have soups included and some sort of lunch combo. My point is I like choice. Even a short menu, which isn't a bad thing, should have variety. - Not good for groups. The seating area is small and I don't think I saw any tables which could seat more than 4 people. I wouldn't recommend a group of more than that anyways, because the floor plan can be tight and uncomfortable and it would be difficult to hear. - There are seats outside, but not something one would use on a regular basis because of the weather in this area. Final Answer This place seems reliable and predictable, which isn't a bad thing, but it's not on the top of my list. My point- notice I'm not wow'ed
(3)
Corey P.
The food was splendid, but the service was lacking. I feel that the waitress did not visit our table often enough. It seems like 20 to 30 minutes between visits while we were there. The food was on point though!
(4)
Denise H.
This place is fantastic!!! We got there on 8/17 around 7:30 they had a very large party but you would not have known it. We sat at the bar because there was no setting, Josh the bartender was terrific. This is one of those small, quant, friendly restaurants that you dream about. I would come back to Fayetteville just for this experience. Make sure you have the duck! This was the first time my mom had duck and she is now a big fan. Prices are great
(5)
Nate D.
I'm struggling to write this as I literally finish my meal. I'm new to the area and when my wife asked to come here after seeing the "Fourth Friday" festivities. I looked inside and said heck no. I asked her to Yelp it and I saw the ratings and said it was worth the try. The aesthetics aren't the most appealing. I read the reviews and was already doubting the service because of the previous posts about service time. We came we ordered the food was out in less than 20 min; I was impressed. Food was phenomenal. I ordered the mahii with potatoes. It was overwhelming to my taste buds. Cooked perfectly, not too salty and very tender. Server was knowledgable and extremely nice. I'll admit I'm a super harsh critic. But I'll give this place a nice grade. Def worth it. Kudos to this place.
(4)
Marc C.
This is a nice spot in downtown Fayetteville where I dined with a group of six co-workers. They have done a great job preserving an old building. The dining room is well done and inviting. The food was very good. We started with Calamari and crab dip. Both were tasty. The calamari was sweet and tender. I had the Chilean Sea Bass. It was a nice piece of seared sea bass topped with a cream sherry sauce and served with parmesan orzo. It was perfectly cooked, moist and tasty. Dessert was a slice of pecan pie topped with a bourbon sauce. It was accompanied by a scoop of maple bacon ice cream. Actually, the ice cream was better than you would expect. The texture was awesome. Service is where they really fell down. There appeared to be only two servers working on a Wednesday night one of whom was also tending bar. There was at least five minutes between the first main course and the last arriving at our table (probably the fault of the kitchen rather than the server.) The server rarely checked on us. Wine and water glasses went unfilled and it took forever to clear used glasses and plates from our table. My water glass was not refilled once during the entire meal. I'm not sure if they were understaffed or just didn't pay attention to the details. It's a shame because the serviced ruined what would have been a great experience. Food =4.5 Stars Service= 2 stars total=3 stars
(3)
Elizabeth F.
I had a lovely dinner sitting outside in their sidewalk seating area. The selection of wines by the glass is sizable. The fried green tomatoes were great to start. For entrees, there are several fish dishes: salmon, mahi mahi, snapper, and sea bass. My mahi mahi was tasty, fresh, and didn't leave me feeling too stuffed. For dessert we tried the Bananas Foster, which was delicious and more than enough to share. Even spilling it, I couldn't help but feel a little stuffed. On the service: two thumbs up for their courtesy and attentiveness. Our food was a little slow, probably due to delays in the kitchen, but that's not unforgivable on a weekend night.
(4)
Paula K.
I have been here several times and have never had a bad meal. The service is always great and the food spectacular. One afternoon last summer, I had the fried green tomato salad for lunch. It was AWESOME. I dream about that salad.
(5)
Cathleen N.
I have dined here twice now and both experiences were just ok. First off, both times we had to wait a ridiculously long time for our food to come out. The first time, at dinner, it was understandable as it was a busy Saturday night. I believe we waited around 1.5 hours for our food. The second time, at brunch, we waited around 40 minutes, but the restaurant wasn't even busy! Now onto the food. At our first visit, I had the sesame seared tuna as an appetizer. To put it plainly, it was just bland. There could have been a possible redemption for the dish if there was a citrusy note to brighten it up. However, I couldn't get past the first bite. Next up was the Chimichurri NY Strip. I always get my steaks medium, but this was way overcooked and was bordering along the lines medium/well to well done. The steak was just way too chewy and I ended up not finishing it either. However, the chimichurri sauce was very well done. I also loved the mac 'n cheese! We went during Father's Day Brunch and so there was a special menu that was being offered that day. My husband ordered the crab cake benedict and I ordered the french toast grilled cheese. My hash browns were burnt and the french toast was so bland. I was dunking it in syrup, which only slightly added some flavor. The redeeming qualities to this restaurant are that they actually reserve tables for you when you make a reservation. You are seated immediately; none of that, "Oh, we're just cleaning/setting up the table for you right now." Also, the service was fantastic. Our drinks were never empty and everyone was very pleasant. However, based on the wait and food alone, I don't think I'll be back.
(2)
Kristina D.
Probably the best beef tips Ive ever had!!! We got the appetizer portion but wished we got the meal ones. The sauce that comes with them is incredible! Must try!
(5)
Leo L.
No. Simple enough. One word is as expansive a review one would need. To elaborate, I would never come back to this restaurant. I don't require much when I'm dining at a restaurant. No hair in the food. Decent service. Meat thats not fresh from a freezer. Staff that doesn't decide to take care of closing tasks at 9:00 on a Saturday night next to your table. You know, the simple things that make your dining experience enjoyable. Well Circa 1800 hit the (quad?)fecta. Hope those who dine after me have a better experience than I did. EDIT: Forgot to mention the 40 minute wait for the food. The place was packed, total of about 5 tables so I guess I understand. (For the unaware, I hope you can read sarcasm)
(1)
Laura W.
So like all the other reviews, yes the service is a little slow but you can clearly see they are trying they're trying their best! Our server was very nice and the food was very good. They have $5 martinis on Monday which is always a plus! We orders the Strawberry dessert and it was one of the best desserts I've had in a LONG time! I plan to bring my parents here for dinner when they come out to visit in a few months!
(4)
Kimberly D.
Came in for dinner with a friend. The food gets 5 stars, atmosphere 4, customer service 4, and the place itself another 5! Cute little spot for a cozy, romantic date! Ordered shrimp and grits, and Im very hard to impress when it comes to grits. It was the best I've ever had!!
(4)
Ashley D.
After looking through reviews for every restaurant in Fayetteville we chose to go here for our anniversary. We were tired of getting bad food and terrible service everywhere we went. We made reservations for 5:30 on a Saturday and we were the first ones there. Our food was amazing. We both got ribeyes and they were by far the best that we have had in Fayetteville. Everything was made fresh to order and we both had half of our food left over. We ordered the Blondie brownie with ice cream and it was amazing. We were debating on dessert since we were so full but it was so worth it. This is a great date night restaurant and by far the best food and service we have had anywhere in Fayetteville. They have a small menu which is a great thing because it means the food is fresh and delicious. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Mickey P.
Food was just ok but service sucked ! I wouldn't say " wow " for the dishes we ordered .. It's not that special for the price we paid. It was just 6 tables around 6pm on Saturday. The orders came out slow and it wasn't that busy, about 5 services, but Our 2nd drink took like 40 minutes later when we had our to go box packed and almost ready to leave....
(3)
Amanda P.
A coworker and I are in the area for work. We were lucky enough to be directed to Circa 1800 for dinner on our first night. We eneded up sharing two entrees because neither of us could decide which one we wanted. We got the NY BBQ Pork and the Ribeye. The presentation was beautiful! Post card worthy. The first bite was absolute heaven and it just got better from there. It was so good that we have been back every night since that first. It has been four to be exact and tomorrow, our last day, we will be here for brunch before we head on our way. Lastly, Iwould like to mention Christin. She was our waitress for most of our evening adventures ar Circa 1800. I have never had better service from anyone in the food industry. She was attentive, friendly, knowledable, and most importatly FUN! Thank you Circa and all of your staff for one (or four) of the most memorable dining experiences of my life!!
(5)
Mariah B.
Such a cute little place especially considering where we are located. The menu was very diverse, but I did notice there were very similar items on the appetizer menu as the main course. The service was polite but very forced. I felt as if we were being rushed to finish and leave. Although our main course selections sounded great in theory, the amount of over seasoning(salt mainly) ruined for us what would have been a great meal. SALT SALT SALT that's all I could taste. It overpowered my already salty ahi. All in all a decent enough spot. Maybe just a quick lunch stop, rather than a date spot. P.S. Would have been a 4th star if they hadn't been out of the cocktail I wanted from the menu... and my second selection.
(3)
Christopher J.
Ordered the Fried Green Tomato BLT with Brussels sprouts and my girlfriend ordered the Blackened Mahi Sandwich. Neither are complicated but took 45 minutes to come out. Waiter said the Brussels sprouts (offered among several side options) would be out in a minute- it was 10 minutes before they were out and I was up charged $2 for them without them telling me, and they were undercooked.The Mahi Sandwich was salty. I would not eat here again
(1)
Evelyn R.
Been here many times as I love the downtown scene and great local restaurants. I read a recent previous reviewers post and talked about how our downtown is always dead and think they truly were in the twilight zone. The hustle and bustle of downtown is daily, except Sunday. Virtually every time I go, weekends, we normally sit at the bar since the tables are full. There is outside seating too, which is great when the weather cooperates, and they have those outdoor heaters for when it begins to cool down too. The food is phenomenal, they have a great seafood and steak selection. The crab dip makes a great app, and so does their calamari. My favorite entree is the tuna. I know they have good chicken too, but have never had it myself... When a a restaurant in Fayetteville has such high quality seafood, why the heck would I choose chicken. Wednesdays are wine special nights, and I think Mondays are martini specials. If you've never been, go, and then you'll be raving about it too.
(5)
Sasha P.
Service was friendly and timely. Kaiken Ultra Malbec was good :) Ambience was warm and inviting, without being overly stuffy--good for a date or nice dinner with friends. We enjoyed the snapper and filet tips, both were tasty and perfectly portioned. I loved the marinade sauce and horseradish sauce accompanying the filet tips, both were the right balance of sweet, salty and spicy. I requested the green beans without butter, and they were perfectly cooked--not over or underdone. Prices were very reasonable at 19-30 per entree.
(5)
Joshua S.
Very small but cozy little place right in downtown Fayetteville so parking can be an issue. The food was excellent and the atmosphere was cozy. You may feel like you're sitting really close to other people (because you are) so its best to plan on a few glasses of wine at this place if you have any claustrophobia whatsoever. I would go back.
(4)
Berrius B.
I have been here twice with very different experiences. They have a small area for outdoor seating. When I elected to do so, our service was good, as was the food. When I sat inside on another occasion, at the bar, both the food and service were bad. This is probably one of the better restaurants in Fayetteville, but that isn't saying much... I would go back, but not by my own choosing.
(3)
Gary A.
Thank god for yelp or I would have eaten lunch at Shoneys. This place was so good. Shrimp and grits for lunch. A+. Was so good I just had dinner there. I had the apple cider glazed pork chop. Delicious. I will probably be back for dinner every night this week.
The food is good (I had the ribeye and the husband had coffee rub NY strip; FTR, the saltiness most people had experienced can be traced to the salt brine that is possibly used. It does fade as you chew.); I highly recommend the goat cheese mashed potatoes that went with the ribeye. Husband adds that said mashed potatoes would pair better with NY strip. Bartender knew his stuff and was attentive; our drinks (Elderberry for me, Circa Manhattan for husband.) were strong but not overpowering. Husband recommends Green Man IPA if you want a hoppy brew from tap. Lose the TV at bar and add sound-dampening throughout; those are the only downsides I see. Decent location; surrounding area can use a little TLC to add to external ambiance. Overall, we will be back.
(4)
Suzie V.
I'm in a food coma. Generally, Fayetteville blows for any kind of good food. My husband and I decided to try this place out. Our waitress was super helpful and told us quite candidly that the drinks we planned on ordering sucked, suggested something amazing. Super helpful when you're paying $9 a drink! I had the strip steak, hubs had the pork chop. The steak was so stinking amazing,no steak sauce was needed. And that's rare for me, I love me some A1. Great food, great service!
(4)
Rachel C.
Amazing Sunday brunch. Popped in with a friend and we loved it! Great staff. Excellent food. Good atmosphere.
(5)
Jessy P.
Disappointed is an understatement. The whole experience was awful. The food took 45 minutes to come out and no one came to check on us the entire time. The grass fed burger was dry and burnt. It was the size of a meatball and lacking any flavor. The spring mix was nothing but wilted iceberg and romaine lettuce. My wife had filet tips and they looked like they came from any run of the mill buffets. They were covered in a slimy oily orange bbq sauce that was served on a bed of instant white rice. The green beans were colorless and mushy to say the least. The whole meal was unedible. The homeless man nodding off on the terrace received better service and his salad look better than anything we paid for. I would never recommend this place to anybody. Circa Never!!!!!!!!
(1)
Brianda B.
This place is fantastic! The food is delicious to say the least. Service is great and I really enjoyed their self serve Bloody Mary bar. I will be most definitely be going back. Their shrimp and grits were out of this world. The the griddle cakes were just too good. Made us want to punch someone.
(5)
Rachel S.
The food is always delicious and the mixed drinks are alway fresh and new! I recommend this restaurant to all my friends!
(5)
Tom S.
Stopped in around 1pm today (Wed.) & only had two other tables occupied. My first visit & the whole downtown area was dead. My wife & I both had a weird vibe about this town, like being in the twilight zone. Shame because one can see the potential in the area . Anyway's, back to the grub.. I had the recommended beef stew with grilled 3 cheese sandwich from our waiter Colton who admitted he did not try it but looked good. I changed my mind from the shrimp & grits which really looked great on the menu. Queen received the grilled veggie wrap with FF. She was sold when she was informed there were no onions. Place looked great, I was leaning next to a $1200.00 piece of art hanging on the wall while I was sitting down and it subconsciously bothered me. Okay back to the grub.... My grilled cheese was tasty & grilled to perfection. My beef stew was extremely salty, and was a disappointment. One or two pieces of beef had a slight funny taste to it, and yea u know where I am going. But 6 hours later I am still good. Mrs. Really liked the grilled wrap, but was messy. She found it easier just to remove the wrap to eat it & wished she nixed it and a only had veggies. My diet soda was semi-flat. Our waiter however was on top of everything and seemed like he belonged somewhere better. Pics posted..
(2)
Callie F.
I went with my friends and husband to celebrate and the place was great. They cleared the backroom for us. The waiter was very attentative and friendly. The food was amazing the price takes you away at first but seeing the portions and the taste of the food is worth it. It is a great date night place love the atmosphere. I recommend this place plus downtown is great.
(5)
Haley B.
Food was excellent, very flavorful. We had the stuffed mushrooms for an appetizer, and the shrimp and grits and also the chicken for entrees. Service was great, huge local beer selection. We recently moved from Louisville where there are great restaurants everywhere, so we are happy to find a unique place like this In Fayetteville. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Jennifer F.
Best dirty martini in town! And the crab dip is amazing. Love the environment, small and cozy.
(5)
James M.
Yummy, absolutely delicious. This place uses local suppliers due their food and grassfed beef. you have got to try this place!
(5)
Jacob N.
Great service, awesome food! The Breaded Pork Chop with Truffel Mac & Cheese was great and the noise level and lighting was perfect for a date on a Friday night! I'll go back for sure.
(4)
Seb G.
Traveling through N. Carolina and stopped at Fayetteville . Went to Circa 1800 and what a great find. The food was varied, well prepared and delicious. Trisha, our server, was excellent and her cheery personality enhanced the experience. The Ahi tuna appetizer was plentiful with a Asian slaw as a base - great taste. Had the steak salad which was well prepared and very good. It happened to be '$5 Martini' night which was also a good thing. The decor is modern yet welcoming. When in Fayetteville again I'm eating here.
(4)
Kate W.
You'll find Circa 1800 in the charming downtown area of Fayetteville. The parking situation isn't great but the atmosphere and food make up for that. The service is great and if you're a drinker there is a full bar even though you'll notice wine on most people's tables. The have specials every day and it's called the feature meal of the day. The pricing is reasonable for such a place. You can get a wide range of things here from local brews to mimosa creme brulee. Give it a shot, not something you'll regret.
(4)
Nick D.
Sunday brunch...We waited 30 minutes after ordering to get our bacon and cheese omelet, Caesar salad and a bowl of soup. Really simple dishes. The omelet was made in two layers and covered in a leathery skin of burned egg that was tough to chew. The two layers of the omelet were watery egg white and apparently microwaved egg. The croutons in the salad were actually large chunks of grease-soaked bread. You could imagine how the more specialized dished might come out. The service was almost non-existent. Horrible experience.
(1)
AngelofAgony I.
I had great meal at Circa 1800 tonight. It's an attractive downtown restaurant with outdoor seating and a nouvelle American menu with a southern flavor. The tuna appetizer was superb. I usually avoid dishes like chicken piccata as pedestrian but I ordered it since it was recommended as a "signature dish." I had no regrets. The sides were well-prepared too, a creamy long grain rice for one. It's tough to gussy up collard greens, but the chef did a great job with butter sauce, garlic, and bacon. My friend thoroughly enjoyed his mushroom appetizer and salmon. We both had dessert. I opted for sorbet and he had the nutella cheesecake. Kudos to our waiter, Colton. He was all a waiter should be: courteous, attentive, attractive, and knowledgeable. It's great service that helps make a good meal great.
(5)
Chris D.
Just left Circa 1800 and was pleasantly surprised. We were traveling down I-95 and needed to get healthy food as fast as possible. Circa is only about 10 minutes off the highway- the first plus. Since My doctor has me on the GAPS diet, I am extremely limited as to what I can eat. When I initially questioned the hostess she told me that they make all of their own broth from scratch and grow most of their herbs. I was pretty confident at that point I'd be able to find something to eat :) Our table was near the window and the restaurant was attractively decorated. Everything was very clean. Our waitress worked with me to find a 'GAPS approved' entree which wasn't too difficult. I settled on the mahi with dill butter sauce. They substituted asparagus for the potatoes. My dinner was delicious. My husband had the special - chicken Marsala, which was good (not as good as Carrabba's) but considerably over salted. Thus the overall 4 star rating, but for anyone on GAPS or just trying to avoid chemical additives I highly recommend this restaurant!
(4)
Brad S.
While I appreciate Circa 1800's attempt to class up Fayetteville's dining scene a little bit, I don't think the food held up to the standard quite as much as everyone was hoping. My mahi was overcooked, making it a bit tough. The corn salsa with which is was dressed did little to add much moisture, as every ingredient was doing its own thing, with nothing to bring them together. The parmesan orzo had very little cheese presence, and was underseasoned. The staff and the ambiance was quite nice, but the menu needed some refinement - there's very few places I have a hard time picking out something to eat, and this was one of them. But again, the Fayetteville downtown scene isn't exactly bursting with great options, so Circa 1800 may certainly be worth a stop if you've already tried the brewery.
(3)
Justine D.
The downtown area is a hit or miss for me. Its either a super cool, young crowd or really creepy vagabonds. Luckily the past 3 times I've been here its been the hip, young crowd. I ate here for my birthday with a group of friends. The server was AWESOME dealing with 7 drunk adults. We got stuffed mushrooms and spinach dip for an appetizer. I got the shrimp and grits as an entree. It was a plateful of shrimp-y bacon-y heaven. The wine list was impressive as well as the beer list. I will be returning here again very soon!
(5)
Ashley H.
I've been here many many times since moving to town. In the beginning I would have given it closer to 5 stars but the last few times I've been the food just seems different. The parmesan orzo is always yummy but the Chicken Piccata seems to have changed ( which was my favorite) and my husbands meals haven't been up to par lately either. I know they have had to change owners/management a few times so I'm sure there is always an adjustment. Definitely worth a try, the atmosphere is great, a good size outdoor patio for a its size and the service has never been bad.
(3)
Mandy M.
Best meal ever... love, love the Chilean Sea Bass dish. Every component of the dish was amazing. My husband and I ate here for our anniversary (several months ago) and I'm still thinking about this dish. My husband was a sous chef in several higher-end southern California restaurants and I waited tables through college and beyond... so we're pretty picky when it comes to food and service. Wonderful overall experience- would highly recommend.
(5)
David W.
Brunch without booze is just a sad late breakfast. Try the killer crab cakes eggs Benedict with the awesome build your own Bloody Mary bar. A great way to prime the pump and start your weekend off right.
(4)
Cari R.
We found this place via Yelp and decided to try it for ourselves last night. It was easy to find, there is street parking as well as parking behind the building. It is a small restaurant so I suggest making reservations. The food was so good! We got tip for an appetizer and they were done to perfection, so very tender and the sauce that was on them very good. I got the prime rib, and green beans, my husband got the special which was Creole grouper with shrimp to top it on a bed of orzo that was incredibly creamy and good. My prime rib was SO tender, and flavorful, and my husbands fish was to die for. Everyone was very attentive and friendly. It was nothing short of perfect. We have reservations for next Sundays brunch, the menu looked amazing!
(5)
Karen N.
I was delighted as soon as I poked over the drink and menu choices. We dined outside, it was an anniversary celebration, and my husband and I were both pleasantly surprised. We will be back!
(5)
Jackson L.
I had the tips and she had the black and bleu. Pleasantly surprised with the dishes. Kind of on the small side for entrees but I was satisfied. 3 drinks, 2 entrees and 2 desserts for about $76. Not bad. The size of the entrees would have brought it to 4 stars and I had to sit right in front of the front door and it was pretty chilly that night.
(3)
Karen M.
Just passing thru Fayetteville on the way to the beach. Found this place due to Yelp and was not disappointed. I had the crab cakes, they were tasty but the orzo and spinach were delicious accompaniments. Hubby had special of the night, pork chop. He thought it was excellent. For dessert we split (thankfully) the banana foster bread pudding. Highly recommended!!!! Thanks to server Amber for all her great recommendations.
(5)
Helen J.
Went here for dinner on a Friday - not too busy and the service was fine, as was the atmosphere (it's not cozy but has a little edge of sophistication to it). The food is slightly boring. I got the chicken piccata and my husband got the crab cakes. The chicken was mostly tasteless - it was basically a steamed chicken breast with some capers and thyme & oregano. The orzo and zucchinis that came with it were pretty good, though. Hubs described his crab cakes as bland but was excited that they cam with shrimp on top of each one. They have some decent beers and the Manhattan I got was nice as well, if a little too heavy on the whiskey. I think we may go back to just have some drinks at the bar.
(3)
Randy T.
My extended family needed a restaurant for a Christmas-week dinner. We are new to Fayetteville, and used Yelp to find this restaurant. In short, we were very very well pleased with our food, our service, and the ambiance. For starters, the restaurant is in a lovely section of downtown Fayetteville. The cobblestone streets, the restorations in the neighboring establishments, all made for a warm, friendly visit. For hors d'oevres, we had the crab stuffed mushrooms, the crab dip, and the calamari. Each was perfectly prepared. The entrees ran the gamut. I had grouper, blackened and quickly cooked, with crab topping and asparagus alongside. The asparagus may have been slightly overcooked, but everything was wonderfully tasty. The wine list and beer selection was equally top notch. Did I mention the restaurant stayed open later than normal for us? What a hospitable gesture to a group of out of towners! We'll try some other restaurants in Fayetteville I'm sure, but this one will remain a favorite forever. Total bill for 13 people (drinks before dinner, appetizers, entrees, no desserts) was $480, plus tip. Well worth it. The brown-shirt enforcing the parking laws could use a trip to finishing school. When he came by to mark our cars (2 hour limit on street parking) and I asked him what the outlines of the local law were, he showed me why he's not working for the Chamber of Commerce. Merry Christmas, Adolph.
(5)
Chika M.
A bit pricey, but the Tuna Salad seared with sesame made my day, after long drive on a extremely hot day. I am Japanese so I want my seafood raw, and asked to cook the tuna pretty raw. Very fresh and meaty chunk of tuna with tasty sesame ginger dressing. Felt so refreshed and energized.
(4)
Tara B.
Great place. Close to 95 and a great alternative to chain places. Our service was great and the food was even better. The bread was served with bruschetta which was cool. Very trendy decorated and nice bar. Wish it was in my town!
(5)
Tim L.
Small local restaurant located downtown with an atmosphere somewhere above casual and less than formal. The menu is limited and contains a lot of fish. However the menu likely rotates. Our server provided prompt service but could have done a better job selling the menu. We ordered 2 appetizers. The crab dip had a horseradish base and was by far the best I've ever had. Our food was delicious and the portions were adequate for the price. Every dessert we ordered was delicious. A great restaurant for a date or a small celebration.
(5)
Rachel W.
I had to update this one, because the place has gone downhill. My husband and I went with friends, and had an all-around bad experience. The service was poor because our waiter was also working the bar. My food arrived a good 5 minutes later than everyone else's, and while I was sitting there watching everyone else eat, I saw my waiter making drinks! When the food did arrive, it was very poor quality and everything was extremely over-salted. I like salty food, but this was to the point where I had to drink a lot of water with my meal. My water cup was never re-filled, nor was I able to ask my waiter to fill it, because as I said, he was busy working the bar. My parmesan orzo tasted strongly of powdered parmesan cheese (definitely not the real stuff) and excess salt. The chicken was spongy and cheap, like it had been frozen, and then thrown in the microwave. I cook much better than that at home! The zucchini was inedible. Thawed out, soggy, watery, and with a horrible taste like it had been soaking in dirty water. The glass of sparkling moscato I ordered had zero bubbles when it was given to me. My husband's mahi was pathetically tiny and his rice was advertised as "basil lime" rice--I tasted it, and there wasn't a hint of lime flavor, much less any evidence of fresh basil. I don't know who was cooking on Labor Day weekend, but they completely bombed. Honestly, I would have sent everything back, if we hadn't been trying to enjoy relaxing with friends. I almost gagged when I saw our bill of $54+. Those plates were like cheap buffet food, where you would grudgingly pay $10 a plate at the most. I feel like we got robbed, and it put a damper on the whole the evening.
(1)
Molly H.
The food definitely made up for our service. For a small downtown bistro, the atmosphere among management and staff might have you thinking it's a far more upper crust establishment. However, the food is well worth it. I had the only vegetarian dish: the mushroom caps with spinach and artichoke. They were quite good. My husband also very much enjoyed his strip steak.
(4)
M G.
Overall a good experience. Both the meal, wine and beer were good as was the service and atmosphere. There is outdoor seating area should you not mind the heat and humidity of summer.
(4)
Russell M.
Great service and atmosphere. I had dinner at the bar and the bartender was knowledgable about the wine list and the menu. The Mahi was cook properly and served with a delicious orzo pasta. I will definitely return.
(4)
Kenneth C.
First off, I like this restaurant. I was on my first foray into downtown Fayetteville and a couple of friends and I decided on this place for dinner. Two of us arrived before our reservation and ordered cocktails and the Sesame Seared Tuna at the bar as we waited for the table. The bartender was very friendly and the tuna was cooked perfectly (ordered medium). I ordered the Steak Boursin (medium) and I thoroughly enjoy the meal and thought it was prepared very well. One of my buddies ordered the same meal prepared rare, he did not share my opinion of the steak and thought it was chewy. My other buddy order the Sesame Seared Tuna entree and his girlfriend had the Shrimp and Grits. They both enjoyed their meals, so overall I would say we all had a pleasant experience.
(4)
Hampton R.
If you are heading downtown this is a must! Exemplary service, simple yet refined menu offering flavors for the most discriminating palette, and ambience that would rival any major metropolitan's modish mainstay. The new owner has made beautiful tweaks to the Restaurant. Fantastic bar options with very knowledgeable keeps; servers that always go above and beyond to make sure your personal experience is nothing less than excellent. This is a gem found in the midst of a thriving downtown in an All American City.
(5)
Brian D.
For Fayetteville, this is a good restaurant. The staff was stellar and the food was pretty good. Everyone there was nice and overall, it was a good experience.
(3)
Jeff H.
We were traveling through Fayetteville and found this restaurant rated highly on Trip Advisor and Yelp. We could not find an online menu but decided to try it. We are glad we did. I ordered the special - pork medallions with a BBQ sauce, smashed potatoes with Asiago cheese, and haricot vents. The pork was beautifully grilled while remaining juicy inside and it was hot. My wife ordered shrimp served over a cake of cheese grits and again everything was cooked just right. We will be back.
(5)
Jim D.
See my tip regarding bland food and mediocre atmosphere. The desserts are however, amazing.
(2)
Beverly C.
Great little place in downtown Fayetteville. Loved the staff and atmosphere but felt it was a bit pricey for what you get.
My husband and I had really high expectations for Circa 1800 after reading such positive reviews. The only positive part of our experience was the food, which was delicious. My husband had the NY strip steak with an add on of blackened Mahi and I had the shrimp & grits. Delicious. Everything else, however, was pretty awful. There were at least 4 tables seated after we arrived that each got their drinks, apps, and food a good 20+ minutes before us. Our server had to check our order with us several times before she submitted it. Our first cocktails (an old fashioned and a Manhattan) were fine, although it took quite a long time to receive them. But my second cocktail was something I've never experienced before. I ordered their jalapeño julep. When I finally got the drink, I could tell something wasn't right. There was absolutely zero taste of jalapeño. When I took it to the bartender to ask him whether I perhaps had gotten a regular mint julep, instead of remaking the drink properly, he took the drink that my husband and I had already sipped out of (to determine the flavor), poured it into the mixer, and simply added the jalapeño simple syrup, re-shook it, and poured it into a new glass. I can understand not wanting to "waste" liquor, but my drink ended up completely flat since it was made with club soda. I've never had a bartender do that to me before. Overall, my husband and I were incredibly disappointed by the service we received, especially given the glowing reviews Circa 1800 has received. The food, the ambiance, and the decor are all fantastic. And some of the service also seems to have been great given the number of people who received their items as they should have.
(2)
Chloe G.
We went to Circa for valentines day dinner. The food and the service was amazing! We ordered the Seabass and the Salmon as our main dishes and they were both very good....the Salmon was amazing! We also got the bananas foster for dessert which was also very good. Its a small place so be sure to make reservations! Enjoy :-)
(5)
Nick D.
While I do not recommend venturing into Fayetteville on most days, today was a good day for it! Circa 1800 (that's what it is called!) facebook.com/circa1800 was not to shabby for a new modern restaurant tucked in downtown Fayetteville. I will say it is delicious and amazing to find a place that has half its menu classy and simple salads. I had the seared tuna salad with soy ginger dressing. It was great, if however lacking on the mixed greens. Iceberg lettuce? really? But for this small town, this place is a-ok in my book. Worth the time and money at least one time.
(3)
Michael O.
Went solo on a Friday night, sat at the bar and had dinner. Entree was great and service was up to par. Will return on a weeknight to get another take on the whole package.
(4)
Meghan B.
For the area this place was impressive. Circa 1885 has an intimate and wine bar feel to it. It was very cozy, casual and comfortable. You can either sit inside or outside on the "street" seating. The menu was the perfect size--many selections, but not too overwhelming. The food is fresh and staff was friendly and accommodating to my "extra veggies please and no potato, thank you". I would recommend check out Circa 1885
(4)
Jessica W.
Great location in downtown Fayetteville. We went for dinner one Saturday evening, and I fell in love. Drinks, service, and food were wonderful! I couldn't wait to try it again! And then....took the family for Fathers Day Brunch. The menu had our mouths watering! Our first sign should have been the ROCK hard overcooked muffins they brought to the table. Literally, you could have used it as a golf ball. After waiting OVER 30 MINUTES FOR OUR FOOD, it was all disappointing. The crab cakes egg benedict was missing the crab, and was cold and burnt. The steak and eggs was a sad sight. Shrimp and grits was just a-okay, nothing like I would have expected from here. The one highlight in our party of 5 was their daily special. It was a filet burger with a fried egg( well the special said fried, pretty sure they were just sadly scrambled) on top and seemed to please. At least the waitress could acknowledge we were waiting a long time for our food. If the place had been busy, the wait for the food might make sense, but sadly no. I will return for dinner only, at some point in the future. But for now, what I hoped would be my new favorite local restaurant at in Fay sadly was disappointing.
(2)
Katie N.
Cozy, neighborhood restaurant with decent American fare. I would recommend calling ahead for a reservation during prime dinner time on the weekend as they can get crowded. I appreciated that they did not overcook their vegetables into a soggy mess. We had some fresh green beans with a nice crunch on them. Overall, good experience aside for some slightly slow service.
(4)
Mike T.
I love this place. It is a small and very intimate place in historic Fayetteville. The menu is constantly being tweaked. They like to change it up to keep things fresh. The bar area is really nice with a good wine menu and good selection of microbrewery beers on draft which I really like. They do incredible deserts here too. I would highly recommend this place to anyone wanting something different in Fayetteville over the usual chain places. It is well worth the trip.
(5)
Brian S.
The experience for Fayetteville truly deserves five stars but i did not want to give someone not familar with our town false hopes. The food is very unique for Fayetteville, the quality of food is excellent, the selections are somewhat limited though. Unfortunately, no gluten free options that I noticed, but fortunately my wife is not extremely sensitive. For the person who says it is in a lovely part of town, it is actually a little scary, once you pass the circle where the merchant building is, or whatever they call the old slave trade post it gets a little dicey. But again, I must say that with the exception of maybe the greek place Sharifs (spelling?), probably my favorite place to eat. Service is decent, but not great. Update as of April 1, 2013. Unfortunately this is not an April fool's joke, we have returned on two separate occasions and have been duly disappointed. The time before the last and final time we had decent food, but poor service. This past weekend we went and the food was poor and the service was even worse. Now understand when I talk about quality of meat, I actually do know a little bit, since I am a S O B, Son of a Butcher, and he was well known. I ordered the NY strip steak, they call it something like a sorbines or something French sounding. It is blackened? and then topped with a cheese sauce. The steak was definitely not any NY strip that I have ever eaten, it definitely was not restaurant grade, it really did not even rate as good as a NY that you can get at Carisle's Cs IGA. The meat was extremely gristly, it really reminded me more of a sirloin rather than a NY strip. That would explain why the cook overworked the meat with the blackening process since I ordered the steak medium rare. Yet I was hungry so I eat most of the steak, mainly since it was a small steak to begin with. My wife ordered the steak salad and her steak was even worse, it was sliced and ordered medium. The steak looked as if it had been grilled one day and reheated on a hot pan, the center of the steak was cold and extremely gristly throughout, the exterior of the meat was overcooked, giving the sense that it had been reheated. My wife made two or three comments to the waitress concerning the quality of the meal but the young lady just smiled and walked away. I understand that the restaurant industry is dealing with several challenges currently, one the drought in the Midwest has raised the price of meat considerably and the quality has degraded due to so many cows being taken to slaughter earlier than they should have been, therefore the meat has poorer marbling and more connective tissue being apparent, thus the gristly meat, but the reality is, restaurants usually have access to the better cuts of meat over the average retail consumer. So I do not think this explains it, the restaurant in my belief used a different cut of meat of inferior quality and ensured that the average customer would not tell the difference by overworking the meat hiding the truth. While I appreciate the need of restaurants to maintain sustainable margins with their business I find it very objectionable that they do that at the expense of the quality of the food and the quality of the experience.
(2)
Amanda J.
Went here on a date night with another couple. Was very impressed with the menu selections: unique choices that I would never cook at home. I had the mahi mahi with craw fish mashed potatoes which was delish. Everyone in our party loved their meals. Great wine and drink selection & our server was just the right balance of checking on us without being overly annoying or persistent. Definitely going back and adding it to our regular list of Fayetteville restaurants to visit.
(4)
Bill G.
I've eaten at Circa 1800 three times, in the last month or so, all for lunch. They have good food. The lunch crowd fills up quickly when it nears noon. We had poor service the first time we visited, but the food made up for the waitress not coming back until the end of the meal. I've had good French Onion soup, chicken salad, potato salad, and I went back for the Thai Shrimp that a friend ordered, and it looked so good! And, it was! The shrimp were large and spicy, the rice good and the seaweed salad delicious. *I'm not sure there is much nutritional value in the flourescent green seaweed, but delicious.
(4)
Adam C.
Great food and drinks and consistently delivers on providing the best meal in Fayetteville. Filet tips are fantastic as is the parmesan orzo.
(4)
Travis H.
Consistantly good. Stay with the seared tuna, fillet tips, and the parmesean orzo and asparagus. The barkeeps make a helluva Manhattan and the beer selection is sufficent. The only complaint that is hardly fixable is the noise. If Circa is busy it is very difficult to hold a conversation in the place. But the food is good for Fayetteville. Its well priced and delicious.
(4)
Claudia J.
Got there late on a saturday night and it was still busy. Asked for a table outside and got one. Waitress was nice and took order for appetizer and had already come out with glas of water. I guess she go busy because it took a while before she came back to take main order. Food was very good, smaller portions and a bit pricey but if it indeed is mainly fresh cooked then it is worth it. The atmosphere was nice and even though it is still August, we had nice cooler weather that made it pleasant to sit outside. Not too noisy, the seats are not that comfortable but because they are outside they are better if they are somewhat rust resistant. Table cloth gets changed after each customer, silverware was clean, so was bathroom. i had shrimp with seaweed salad and I thought it was pretty good. Came with bread and a mix of balsamic vinegar and tomatoes to put on top. Liked it a lot. The prices should stay or go down just a bit because Fayetteville is still not a very classic place and the food is very good but not that good. Better than some of the other restaurants in that area for sure. Sad thing is that it is wedged between empty stores and other restaurants but it stands out because of the quality.A little bit more advertisement would help too because a lot of people do not venture out on that road just because it does not seem to have so many stores that way. Anyway, I will def. go again just not on a regulat basis because of the prices.
(4)
Elyse C.
Well I wasnt impressed. I had high expectations. The calamari was very good. The dipping sauces had great flavor. The bread was also good and I love how they give you bruscetta with it. But My en tree salad was not good I had the Asian salad with tuna. The lettuce was watered down the tuna was in giant chunks. The saving grace was the dressing. My husband enjoyed the Cajun Salmon and loved the orzo. I agree the orzo is bomb. Maybe I just got the wrong thing. I would give it another go and get a steak or something. The area was kinda ghetto as well. People kept coming down the street blasting music from their cars.
(3)
Timothy P.
This was an exceptionally priced restaurant. Fair portions and great menu from top to bottom. The server was very knowledgable on the the wines and offered some great suggestions. The sea bass was outstanding as were the pumpkin crepes. Wines were all offered by the glass or bottle, again, not overly priced there either. I would definitely recommend to visitors or locals and I will be making my way there again in the future. 10/10 for price and food quality.
(5)
Michelle M.
My husband and I took my sister here, who was visiting from out of state, because of all the great reviews. It was our first time here. Started off great, drinks were delicious and so was the calamari. Unfortunately the main course was more than disappointing especially since we paid about $20 a plate. My husband's filet tips were well done when he ordered them medium-rare and also his rice was hard. My Mahi was extremely over cooked and dry (it was actually so bad I had to spit it out). I would never go back for a meal. Disappointing.
(2)
Julie S.
Yum! This place is exceptional. We had been looking for a place like this around town and I am so glad we found it. It was a warm night so we asked to be seated outside, which they accommodated. And it seemed like that is where all the patrons like to sit as well. We started off with martinis and the Thai shrimp over seaweed salad appetizer. It was spicy and very, very flavorful. The seaweed salad was the best I have ever had, the spices they used made it so enjoyable to eat. The dipping sauces were the cherry on top.They also give toasted bread and brushetta to munch on while waiting for your meal. As an entree I got shrimp and grits and boyfriend got salmon. I LOVED my shrimp and grits. I had never had them before, but it was so good and the presentation was beautiful. The asparagus that accompanied the main dish was cooked to perfection as well. If I could eat this dish every week I would. Boyfriend loved his salmon it has tons of spices and was cooked beautifully. Our waitress was really great and came over often to check on us and refill our water.Eating here was like an experience for all your senses and it was so relaxing. We will definitely be coming back.
(5)
Don D.
I would rate it higher except for two things. The staff was very young and not friendly or courteous and secondly, the shrimp & grits was horrible, and no one cared at the restaurant. the Grouper was excellent and also was the chicken piccata. My friends shrimp and grits were such as I have never seen served before. The shrimp were over cooked and the "grits" were a mound of cold grits covered with unmerited (also cold) cheese. Waffle House would probably have better grits and I don't eat there. the cook and owners would serve themselves well by going on line an d Google "shrimp and grits". the grits should be rich and creamy (and hot), and the shrimp should be floating in the middle of the grits, lightly sprinkled with cheese if desired. Its a simple southern dish.
(3)
Dorthe G.
This appeared to be a very small town, we stopped at Circa 1800 as a detour looking for a nice place to relieve the discomfort of a long drive. The restaurant looked inviting and drew us in. We were dressed in traveling cloths and felt under dressed. The other customers seemed "all decked out". The place had a pleasant and cordial ambiance, and over drinks, our tensions melted away. So cudo's on the bar. We ordered the Boersin Steak and the sea bass. While the steak was good, the sea bass was inedible. It was so fishy/stinky I could not do it. How did this happen? Don't serve food that can't be eaten Circa! So while the service and environment were Very Pleasant, that one little problem, (couldn't eat the food) was a major issue.
(3)
Scott T.
Circa 1885 is relatively new to the scene of Hay, located down past the round-about, Circa has a feel somewhere between an intimate bistro, a high class lounge, and a corner pub. Circa is the perfect place to hang out with a group of friends if you want to have a conversation with a cozy backdrop. Bob the owner will most likely come by to say hello and see how things are going. Over all circa was a very pleasant experience and I will be hurrying back.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : No Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Esther G.
My boyfriend chose Circa 1800 last week for our weekly date night, it's a small but quaint restaurant in downtown Fayetteville. It's got a semi fine dining feel without the dress code, the menu is kinda small but that is not a bad thing.. They offer 3 or 4 beef entrees, 1 chicken entree, 3 different fish entrees, a shrimp entree , a crab cakes entree, a pork entree, a duck entree and a vegetarian entree.. They also offer some nice salads and appetizer choices. We started with the calamari appetizer served with a sweet chili sauce and a couple of Margaritas.. The calamari was a very large portion and it was tender and fried to perfection.. It didn't taste like the typical frozen calamari you get everywhere else. The margaritas were the perfect flavor of sweet and tart and you could tell they were not made from a sugary mix. For dinner my boyfriend chose the Harris-Robinette Ribeye, it's a Grass Fed, Hand cut, 10oz Ribeye from North Carolina's Harris-Robinette Beef, seasoned to perfection and served with chive mashed potatoes and asparagus. (I copied that from the menu ) the steak was quite large and cooked to perfection, my boyfriend said it was tender and flavorful and probably the best steak he has had in Fayetteville... Period. The mashed potatoes were rustic and creamy and the asparagus was steamed perfectly. I chose the Filet Tips, it's a Half pound of marinated filet tips grilled and served over rice with with green beans. (Again I copied that from the menu ) The portion was huge and the beef melted in my mouth.. The tips were served in Circa's special sauce which is flavorful, bold and slightly tangy.. I'm usually not in to those kinds of sauces, but I did enjoy this one, the green beans were roasted and tasted garlicky and peppery... they were so delicious. I have to say this is my new favorite place for date night, it's quiet and there's no kids menu or high chairs.. The food is well thought out and the servers are attentive and friendly.. You can dress up or down and either was you fit right in. We felt welcomed right away. This is a gem in the heart of downtown. And we will be back .. Next time I want to try the Grilled Portobello Mushrooms entree - Grilled Portobello mushrooms served with white truffle mac n cheese and asparagus.. Mmmmm
(5)Ryan G.
Piss poor service. 6 minutes before greeted at the table and drinks were ordered. Drinks were waters with lemon it's been 15 minutes we still don't have the lemons. Tables remained dirty with food on them for almost 20 minutes. Flies covered the entire area outside as a result of that. Now to wait for the food..... Food showed up in a decent amount of time. Steak was overcooked, eggs as well. Shrimp and grits was great. Evrything else below par.
(1)Rachel H.
Lunch review only! Came here for lunch with a coworker. Good impression, but not knock my socks off. Coworker ordered the chicken Caesar salad and I ordered the chef salad. Pros - Good portions. Both our salads were decently sized. Enough to fill us up. - Fresh ingredients. My salad's ham, turkey, and provolone were wrapped up together and then sliced. The slices were placed on my salad. There were also slices of tomato and cucumber. It was quality bacon my salad. It was the thickly sliced bacon, which was chopped up into bits. Not the cheap flimsy type of bacon. My coworker had decent size pieces of mozzarella slices on his caesar salad, which looked good. - Decent service. - Not crowded. I like the fact that we didn't have to wait and/or hunt for seats. The restaurant was less than half full, but I don't know if that's what it's like on their regular lunch basis. Cons - Limited lunch menu. The lunch menu is just sandwiches and salads and their signature filet tips and shrimp and grits dish. The choices appeared to be decent, but it would have been nice to have soups included and some sort of lunch combo. My point is I like choice. Even a short menu, which isn't a bad thing, should have variety. - Not good for groups. The seating area is small and I don't think I saw any tables which could seat more than 4 people. I wouldn't recommend a group of more than that anyways, because the floor plan can be tight and uncomfortable and it would be difficult to hear. - There are seats outside, but not something one would use on a regular basis because of the weather in this area. Final Answer This place seems reliable and predictable, which isn't a bad thing, but it's not on the top of my list. My point- notice I'm not wow'ed
(3)Corey P.
The food was splendid, but the service was lacking. I feel that the waitress did not visit our table often enough. It seems like 20 to 30 minutes between visits while we were there. The food was on point though!
(4)Denise H.
This place is fantastic!!! We got there on 8/17 around 7:30 they had a very large party but you would not have known it. We sat at the bar because there was no setting, Josh the bartender was terrific. This is one of those small, quant, friendly restaurants that you dream about. I would come back to Fayetteville just for this experience. Make sure you have the duck! This was the first time my mom had duck and she is now a big fan. Prices are great
(5)Nate D.
I'm struggling to write this as I literally finish my meal. I'm new to the area and when my wife asked to come here after seeing the "Fourth Friday" festivities. I looked inside and said heck no. I asked her to Yelp it and I saw the ratings and said it was worth the try. The aesthetics aren't the most appealing. I read the reviews and was already doubting the service because of the previous posts about service time. We came we ordered the food was out in less than 20 min; I was impressed. Food was phenomenal. I ordered the mahii with potatoes. It was overwhelming to my taste buds. Cooked perfectly, not too salty and very tender. Server was knowledgable and extremely nice. I'll admit I'm a super harsh critic. But I'll give this place a nice grade. Def worth it. Kudos to this place.
(4)Marc C.
This is a nice spot in downtown Fayetteville where I dined with a group of six co-workers. They have done a great job preserving an old building. The dining room is well done and inviting. The food was very good. We started with Calamari and crab dip. Both were tasty. The calamari was sweet and tender. I had the Chilean Sea Bass. It was a nice piece of seared sea bass topped with a cream sherry sauce and served with parmesan orzo. It was perfectly cooked, moist and tasty. Dessert was a slice of pecan pie topped with a bourbon sauce. It was accompanied by a scoop of maple bacon ice cream. Actually, the ice cream was better than you would expect. The texture was awesome. Service is where they really fell down. There appeared to be only two servers working on a Wednesday night one of whom was also tending bar. There was at least five minutes between the first main course and the last arriving at our table (probably the fault of the kitchen rather than the server.) The server rarely checked on us. Wine and water glasses went unfilled and it took forever to clear used glasses and plates from our table. My water glass was not refilled once during the entire meal. I'm not sure if they were understaffed or just didn't pay attention to the details. It's a shame because the serviced ruined what would have been a great experience. Food =4.5 Stars Service= 2 stars total=3 stars
(3)Elizabeth F.
I had a lovely dinner sitting outside in their sidewalk seating area. The selection of wines by the glass is sizable. The fried green tomatoes were great to start. For entrees, there are several fish dishes: salmon, mahi mahi, snapper, and sea bass. My mahi mahi was tasty, fresh, and didn't leave me feeling too stuffed. For dessert we tried the Bananas Foster, which was delicious and more than enough to share. Even spilling it, I couldn't help but feel a little stuffed. On the service: two thumbs up for their courtesy and attentiveness. Our food was a little slow, probably due to delays in the kitchen, but that's not unforgivable on a weekend night.
(4)Paula K.
I have been here several times and have never had a bad meal. The service is always great and the food spectacular. One afternoon last summer, I had the fried green tomato salad for lunch. It was AWESOME. I dream about that salad.
(5)Cathleen N.
I have dined here twice now and both experiences were just ok. First off, both times we had to wait a ridiculously long time for our food to come out. The first time, at dinner, it was understandable as it was a busy Saturday night. I believe we waited around 1.5 hours for our food. The second time, at brunch, we waited around 40 minutes, but the restaurant wasn't even busy! Now onto the food. At our first visit, I had the sesame seared tuna as an appetizer. To put it plainly, it was just bland. There could have been a possible redemption for the dish if there was a citrusy note to brighten it up. However, I couldn't get past the first bite. Next up was the Chimichurri NY Strip. I always get my steaks medium, but this was way overcooked and was bordering along the lines medium/well to well done. The steak was just way too chewy and I ended up not finishing it either. However, the chimichurri sauce was very well done. I also loved the mac 'n cheese! We went during Father's Day Brunch and so there was a special menu that was being offered that day. My husband ordered the crab cake benedict and I ordered the french toast grilled cheese. My hash browns were burnt and the french toast was so bland. I was dunking it in syrup, which only slightly added some flavor. The redeeming qualities to this restaurant are that they actually reserve tables for you when you make a reservation. You are seated immediately; none of that, "Oh, we're just cleaning/setting up the table for you right now." Also, the service was fantastic. Our drinks were never empty and everyone was very pleasant. However, based on the wait and food alone, I don't think I'll be back.
(2)Kristina D.
Probably the best beef tips Ive ever had!!! We got the appetizer portion but wished we got the meal ones. The sauce that comes with them is incredible! Must try!
(5)Leo L.
No. Simple enough. One word is as expansive a review one would need. To elaborate, I would never come back to this restaurant. I don't require much when I'm dining at a restaurant. No hair in the food. Decent service. Meat thats not fresh from a freezer. Staff that doesn't decide to take care of closing tasks at 9:00 on a Saturday night next to your table. You know, the simple things that make your dining experience enjoyable. Well Circa 1800 hit the (quad?)fecta. Hope those who dine after me have a better experience than I did. EDIT: Forgot to mention the 40 minute wait for the food. The place was packed, total of about 5 tables so I guess I understand. (For the unaware, I hope you can read sarcasm)
(1)Laura W.
So like all the other reviews, yes the service is a little slow but you can clearly see they are trying they're trying their best! Our server was very nice and the food was very good. They have $5 martinis on Monday which is always a plus! We orders the Strawberry dessert and it was one of the best desserts I've had in a LONG time! I plan to bring my parents here for dinner when they come out to visit in a few months!
(4)Kimberly D.
Came in for dinner with a friend. The food gets 5 stars, atmosphere 4, customer service 4, and the place itself another 5! Cute little spot for a cozy, romantic date! Ordered shrimp and grits, and Im very hard to impress when it comes to grits. It was the best I've ever had!!
(4)Ashley D.
After looking through reviews for every restaurant in Fayetteville we chose to go here for our anniversary. We were tired of getting bad food and terrible service everywhere we went. We made reservations for 5:30 on a Saturday and we were the first ones there. Our food was amazing. We both got ribeyes and they were by far the best that we have had in Fayetteville. Everything was made fresh to order and we both had half of our food left over. We ordered the Blondie brownie with ice cream and it was amazing. We were debating on dessert since we were so full but it was so worth it. This is a great date night restaurant and by far the best food and service we have had anywhere in Fayetteville. They have a small menu which is a great thing because it means the food is fresh and delicious. We will definitely be back.
(5)Mickey P.
Food was just ok but service sucked ! I wouldn't say " wow " for the dishes we ordered .. It's not that special for the price we paid. It was just 6 tables around 6pm on Saturday. The orders came out slow and it wasn't that busy, about 5 services, but Our 2nd drink took like 40 minutes later when we had our to go box packed and almost ready to leave....
(3)Amanda P.
A coworker and I are in the area for work. We were lucky enough to be directed to Circa 1800 for dinner on our first night. We eneded up sharing two entrees because neither of us could decide which one we wanted. We got the NY BBQ Pork and the Ribeye. The presentation was beautiful! Post card worthy. The first bite was absolute heaven and it just got better from there. It was so good that we have been back every night since that first. It has been four to be exact and tomorrow, our last day, we will be here for brunch before we head on our way. Lastly, Iwould like to mention Christin. She was our waitress for most of our evening adventures ar Circa 1800. I have never had better service from anyone in the food industry. She was attentive, friendly, knowledable, and most importatly FUN! Thank you Circa and all of your staff for one (or four) of the most memorable dining experiences of my life!!
(5)Mariah B.
Such a cute little place especially considering where we are located. The menu was very diverse, but I did notice there were very similar items on the appetizer menu as the main course. The service was polite but very forced. I felt as if we were being rushed to finish and leave. Although our main course selections sounded great in theory, the amount of over seasoning(salt mainly) ruined for us what would have been a great meal. SALT SALT SALT that's all I could taste. It overpowered my already salty ahi. All in all a decent enough spot. Maybe just a quick lunch stop, rather than a date spot. P.S. Would have been a 4th star if they hadn't been out of the cocktail I wanted from the menu... and my second selection.
(3)Christopher J.
Ordered the Fried Green Tomato BLT with Brussels sprouts and my girlfriend ordered the Blackened Mahi Sandwich. Neither are complicated but took 45 minutes to come out. Waiter said the Brussels sprouts (offered among several side options) would be out in a minute- it was 10 minutes before they were out and I was up charged $2 for them without them telling me, and they were undercooked.The Mahi Sandwich was salty. I would not eat here again
(1)Evelyn R.
Been here many times as I love the downtown scene and great local restaurants. I read a recent previous reviewers post and talked about how our downtown is always dead and think they truly were in the twilight zone. The hustle and bustle of downtown is daily, except Sunday. Virtually every time I go, weekends, we normally sit at the bar since the tables are full. There is outside seating too, which is great when the weather cooperates, and they have those outdoor heaters for when it begins to cool down too. The food is phenomenal, they have a great seafood and steak selection. The crab dip makes a great app, and so does their calamari. My favorite entree is the tuna. I know they have good chicken too, but have never had it myself... When a a restaurant in Fayetteville has such high quality seafood, why the heck would I choose chicken. Wednesdays are wine special nights, and I think Mondays are martini specials. If you've never been, go, and then you'll be raving about it too.
(5)Sasha P.
Service was friendly and timely. Kaiken Ultra Malbec was good :) Ambience was warm and inviting, without being overly stuffy--good for a date or nice dinner with friends. We enjoyed the snapper and filet tips, both were tasty and perfectly portioned. I loved the marinade sauce and horseradish sauce accompanying the filet tips, both were the right balance of sweet, salty and spicy. I requested the green beans without butter, and they were perfectly cooked--not over or underdone. Prices were very reasonable at 19-30 per entree.
(5)Joshua S.
Very small but cozy little place right in downtown Fayetteville so parking can be an issue. The food was excellent and the atmosphere was cozy. You may feel like you're sitting really close to other people (because you are) so its best to plan on a few glasses of wine at this place if you have any claustrophobia whatsoever. I would go back.
(4)Berrius B.
I have been here twice with very different experiences. They have a small area for outdoor seating. When I elected to do so, our service was good, as was the food. When I sat inside on another occasion, at the bar, both the food and service were bad. This is probably one of the better restaurants in Fayetteville, but that isn't saying much... I would go back, but not by my own choosing.
(3)Gary A.
Thank god for yelp or I would have eaten lunch at Shoneys. This place was so good. Shrimp and grits for lunch. A+. Was so good I just had dinner there. I had the apple cider glazed pork chop. Delicious. I will probably be back for dinner every night this week.
(5)Kimberly C.
While in town to visit with a friend, we decided to try a local restaurant. We were not disappointed in the least! We shared the filet tips as an appetizer which were very tender. At the suggestion of my friend, I tried the Chilean Sea Bass which was absolutely amazing - tender & flaky with a nice crust topped with a sherry cream sauce over Parmesan orzo. He ordered the 10oz Ribeye which was cooked medium rare & very flavorful. The sides were delicious, too - collard greens, cheddar mashed potatoes & white truffle mac 'n cheese. For the finale, we shared a Bailey's Irish Creme Brûlée which confirmed that we had chosen the right place to enjoy a delicious meal with nice ambiance & excellent service provided by Carmella!! We look forward to returning to this quaint downtown gem for another amazing meal!!
(5)Marie H.
The food is good (I had the ribeye and the husband had coffee rub NY strip; FTR, the saltiness most people had experienced can be traced to the salt brine that is possibly used. It does fade as you chew.); I highly recommend the goat cheese mashed potatoes that went with the ribeye. Husband adds that said mashed potatoes would pair better with NY strip. Bartender knew his stuff and was attentive; our drinks (Elderberry for me, Circa Manhattan for husband.) were strong but not overpowering. Husband recommends Green Man IPA if you want a hoppy brew from tap. Lose the TV at bar and add sound-dampening throughout; those are the only downsides I see. Decent location; surrounding area can use a little TLC to add to external ambiance. Overall, we will be back.
(4)Suzie V.
I'm in a food coma. Generally, Fayetteville blows for any kind of good food. My husband and I decided to try this place out. Our waitress was super helpful and told us quite candidly that the drinks we planned on ordering sucked, suggested something amazing. Super helpful when you're paying $9 a drink! I had the strip steak, hubs had the pork chop. The steak was so stinking amazing,no steak sauce was needed. And that's rare for me, I love me some A1. Great food, great service!
(4)Rachel C.
Amazing Sunday brunch. Popped in with a friend and we loved it! Great staff. Excellent food. Good atmosphere.
(5)Jessy P.
Disappointed is an understatement. The whole experience was awful. The food took 45 minutes to come out and no one came to check on us the entire time. The grass fed burger was dry and burnt. It was the size of a meatball and lacking any flavor. The spring mix was nothing but wilted iceberg and romaine lettuce. My wife had filet tips and they looked like they came from any run of the mill buffets. They were covered in a slimy oily orange bbq sauce that was served on a bed of instant white rice. The green beans were colorless and mushy to say the least. The whole meal was unedible. The homeless man nodding off on the terrace received better service and his salad look better than anything we paid for. I would never recommend this place to anybody. Circa Never!!!!!!!!
(1)Brianda B.
This place is fantastic! The food is delicious to say the least. Service is great and I really enjoyed their self serve Bloody Mary bar. I will be most definitely be going back. Their shrimp and grits were out of this world. The the griddle cakes were just too good. Made us want to punch someone.
(5)Rachel S.
The food is always delicious and the mixed drinks are alway fresh and new! I recommend this restaurant to all my friends!
(5)Tom S.
Stopped in around 1pm today (Wed.) & only had two other tables occupied. My first visit & the whole downtown area was dead. My wife & I both had a weird vibe about this town, like being in the twilight zone. Shame because one can see the potential in the area . Anyway's, back to the grub.. I had the recommended beef stew with grilled 3 cheese sandwich from our waiter Colton who admitted he did not try it but looked good. I changed my mind from the shrimp & grits which really looked great on the menu. Queen received the grilled veggie wrap with FF. She was sold when she was informed there were no onions. Place looked great, I was leaning next to a $1200.00 piece of art hanging on the wall while I was sitting down and it subconsciously bothered me. Okay back to the grub.... My grilled cheese was tasty & grilled to perfection. My beef stew was extremely salty, and was a disappointment. One or two pieces of beef had a slight funny taste to it, and yea u know where I am going. But 6 hours later I am still good. Mrs. Really liked the grilled wrap, but was messy. She found it easier just to remove the wrap to eat it & wished she nixed it and a only had veggies. My diet soda was semi-flat. Our waiter however was on top of everything and seemed like he belonged somewhere better. Pics posted..
(2)Callie F.
I went with my friends and husband to celebrate and the place was great. They cleared the backroom for us. The waiter was very attentative and friendly. The food was amazing the price takes you away at first but seeing the portions and the taste of the food is worth it. It is a great date night place love the atmosphere. I recommend this place plus downtown is great.
(5)Haley B.
Food was excellent, very flavorful. We had the stuffed mushrooms for an appetizer, and the shrimp and grits and also the chicken for entrees. Service was great, huge local beer selection. We recently moved from Louisville where there are great restaurants everywhere, so we are happy to find a unique place like this In Fayetteville. We will definitely be back!
(5)Jennifer F.
Best dirty martini in town! And the crab dip is amazing. Love the environment, small and cozy.
(5)James M.
Yummy, absolutely delicious. This place uses local suppliers due their food and grassfed beef. you have got to try this place!
(5)Jacob N.
Great service, awesome food! The Breaded Pork Chop with Truffel Mac & Cheese was great and the noise level and lighting was perfect for a date on a Friday night! I'll go back for sure.
(4)Seb G.
Traveling through N. Carolina and stopped at Fayetteville . Went to Circa 1800 and what a great find. The food was varied, well prepared and delicious. Trisha, our server, was excellent and her cheery personality enhanced the experience. The Ahi tuna appetizer was plentiful with a Asian slaw as a base - great taste. Had the steak salad which was well prepared and very good. It happened to be '$5 Martini' night which was also a good thing. The decor is modern yet welcoming. When in Fayetteville again I'm eating here.
(4)Kate W.
You'll find Circa 1800 in the charming downtown area of Fayetteville. The parking situation isn't great but the atmosphere and food make up for that. The service is great and if you're a drinker there is a full bar even though you'll notice wine on most people's tables. The have specials every day and it's called the feature meal of the day. The pricing is reasonable for such a place. You can get a wide range of things here from local brews to mimosa creme brulee. Give it a shot, not something you'll regret.
(4)Nick D.
Sunday brunch...We waited 30 minutes after ordering to get our bacon and cheese omelet, Caesar salad and a bowl of soup. Really simple dishes. The omelet was made in two layers and covered in a leathery skin of burned egg that was tough to chew. The two layers of the omelet were watery egg white and apparently microwaved egg. The croutons in the salad were actually large chunks of grease-soaked bread. You could imagine how the more specialized dished might come out. The service was almost non-existent. Horrible experience.
(1)AngelofAgony I.
I had great meal at Circa 1800 tonight. It's an attractive downtown restaurant with outdoor seating and a nouvelle American menu with a southern flavor. The tuna appetizer was superb. I usually avoid dishes like chicken piccata as pedestrian but I ordered it since it was recommended as a "signature dish." I had no regrets. The sides were well-prepared too, a creamy long grain rice for one. It's tough to gussy up collard greens, but the chef did a great job with butter sauce, garlic, and bacon. My friend thoroughly enjoyed his mushroom appetizer and salmon. We both had dessert. I opted for sorbet and he had the nutella cheesecake. Kudos to our waiter, Colton. He was all a waiter should be: courteous, attentive, attractive, and knowledgeable. It's great service that helps make a good meal great.
(5)Chris D.
Just left Circa 1800 and was pleasantly surprised. We were traveling down I-95 and needed to get healthy food as fast as possible. Circa is only about 10 minutes off the highway- the first plus. Since My doctor has me on the GAPS diet, I am extremely limited as to what I can eat. When I initially questioned the hostess she told me that they make all of their own broth from scratch and grow most of their herbs. I was pretty confident at that point I'd be able to find something to eat :) Our table was near the window and the restaurant was attractively decorated. Everything was very clean. Our waitress worked with me to find a 'GAPS approved' entree which wasn't too difficult. I settled on the mahi with dill butter sauce. They substituted asparagus for the potatoes. My dinner was delicious. My husband had the special - chicken Marsala, which was good (not as good as Carrabba's) but considerably over salted. Thus the overall 4 star rating, but for anyone on GAPS or just trying to avoid chemical additives I highly recommend this restaurant!
(4)Brad S.
While I appreciate Circa 1800's attempt to class up Fayetteville's dining scene a little bit, I don't think the food held up to the standard quite as much as everyone was hoping. My mahi was overcooked, making it a bit tough. The corn salsa with which is was dressed did little to add much moisture, as every ingredient was doing its own thing, with nothing to bring them together. The parmesan orzo had very little cheese presence, and was underseasoned. The staff and the ambiance was quite nice, but the menu needed some refinement - there's very few places I have a hard time picking out something to eat, and this was one of them. But again, the Fayetteville downtown scene isn't exactly bursting with great options, so Circa 1800 may certainly be worth a stop if you've already tried the brewery.
(3)Justine D.
The downtown area is a hit or miss for me. Its either a super cool, young crowd or really creepy vagabonds. Luckily the past 3 times I've been here its been the hip, young crowd. I ate here for my birthday with a group of friends. The server was AWESOME dealing with 7 drunk adults. We got stuffed mushrooms and spinach dip for an appetizer. I got the shrimp and grits as an entree. It was a plateful of shrimp-y bacon-y heaven. The wine list was impressive as well as the beer list. I will be returning here again very soon!
(5)Ashley H.
I've been here many many times since moving to town. In the beginning I would have given it closer to 5 stars but the last few times I've been the food just seems different. The parmesan orzo is always yummy but the Chicken Piccata seems to have changed ( which was my favorite) and my husbands meals haven't been up to par lately either. I know they have had to change owners/management a few times so I'm sure there is always an adjustment. Definitely worth a try, the atmosphere is great, a good size outdoor patio for a its size and the service has never been bad.
(3)Mandy M.
Best meal ever... love, love the Chilean Sea Bass dish. Every component of the dish was amazing. My husband and I ate here for our anniversary (several months ago) and I'm still thinking about this dish. My husband was a sous chef in several higher-end southern California restaurants and I waited tables through college and beyond... so we're pretty picky when it comes to food and service. Wonderful overall experience- would highly recommend.
(5)David W.
Brunch without booze is just a sad late breakfast. Try the killer crab cakes eggs Benedict with the awesome build your own Bloody Mary bar. A great way to prime the pump and start your weekend off right.
(4)Cari R.
We found this place via Yelp and decided to try it for ourselves last night. It was easy to find, there is street parking as well as parking behind the building. It is a small restaurant so I suggest making reservations. The food was so good! We got tip for an appetizer and they were done to perfection, so very tender and the sauce that was on them very good. I got the prime rib, and green beans, my husband got the special which was Creole grouper with shrimp to top it on a bed of orzo that was incredibly creamy and good. My prime rib was SO tender, and flavorful, and my husbands fish was to die for. Everyone was very attentive and friendly. It was nothing short of perfect. We have reservations for next Sundays brunch, the menu looked amazing!
(5)Karen N.
I was delighted as soon as I poked over the drink and menu choices. We dined outside, it was an anniversary celebration, and my husband and I were both pleasantly surprised. We will be back!
(5)Jackson L.
I had the tips and she had the black and bleu. Pleasantly surprised with the dishes. Kind of on the small side for entrees but I was satisfied. 3 drinks, 2 entrees and 2 desserts for about $76. Not bad. The size of the entrees would have brought it to 4 stars and I had to sit right in front of the front door and it was pretty chilly that night.
(3)Karen M.
Just passing thru Fayetteville on the way to the beach. Found this place due to Yelp and was not disappointed. I had the crab cakes, they were tasty but the orzo and spinach were delicious accompaniments. Hubby had special of the night, pork chop. He thought it was excellent. For dessert we split (thankfully) the banana foster bread pudding. Highly recommended!!!! Thanks to server Amber for all her great recommendations.
(5)Helen J.
Went here for dinner on a Friday - not too busy and the service was fine, as was the atmosphere (it's not cozy but has a little edge of sophistication to it). The food is slightly boring. I got the chicken piccata and my husband got the crab cakes. The chicken was mostly tasteless - it was basically a steamed chicken breast with some capers and thyme & oregano. The orzo and zucchinis that came with it were pretty good, though. Hubs described his crab cakes as bland but was excited that they cam with shrimp on top of each one. They have some decent beers and the Manhattan I got was nice as well, if a little too heavy on the whiskey. I think we may go back to just have some drinks at the bar.
(3)Randy T.
My extended family needed a restaurant for a Christmas-week dinner. We are new to Fayetteville, and used Yelp to find this restaurant. In short, we were very very well pleased with our food, our service, and the ambiance. For starters, the restaurant is in a lovely section of downtown Fayetteville. The cobblestone streets, the restorations in the neighboring establishments, all made for a warm, friendly visit. For hors d'oevres, we had the crab stuffed mushrooms, the crab dip, and the calamari. Each was perfectly prepared. The entrees ran the gamut. I had grouper, blackened and quickly cooked, with crab topping and asparagus alongside. The asparagus may have been slightly overcooked, but everything was wonderfully tasty. The wine list and beer selection was equally top notch. Did I mention the restaurant stayed open later than normal for us? What a hospitable gesture to a group of out of towners! We'll try some other restaurants in Fayetteville I'm sure, but this one will remain a favorite forever. Total bill for 13 people (drinks before dinner, appetizers, entrees, no desserts) was $480, plus tip. Well worth it. The brown-shirt enforcing the parking laws could use a trip to finishing school. When he came by to mark our cars (2 hour limit on street parking) and I asked him what the outlines of the local law were, he showed me why he's not working for the Chamber of Commerce. Merry Christmas, Adolph.
(5)Chika M.
A bit pricey, but the Tuna Salad seared with sesame made my day, after long drive on a extremely hot day. I am Japanese so I want my seafood raw, and asked to cook the tuna pretty raw. Very fresh and meaty chunk of tuna with tasty sesame ginger dressing. Felt so refreshed and energized.
(4)Tara B.
Great place. Close to 95 and a great alternative to chain places. Our service was great and the food was even better. The bread was served with bruschetta which was cool. Very trendy decorated and nice bar. Wish it was in my town!
(5)Tim L.
Small local restaurant located downtown with an atmosphere somewhere above casual and less than formal. The menu is limited and contains a lot of fish. However the menu likely rotates. Our server provided prompt service but could have done a better job selling the menu. We ordered 2 appetizers. The crab dip had a horseradish base and was by far the best I've ever had. Our food was delicious and the portions were adequate for the price. Every dessert we ordered was delicious. A great restaurant for a date or a small celebration.
(5)Rachel W.
I had to update this one, because the place has gone downhill. My husband and I went with friends, and had an all-around bad experience. The service was poor because our waiter was also working the bar. My food arrived a good 5 minutes later than everyone else's, and while I was sitting there watching everyone else eat, I saw my waiter making drinks! When the food did arrive, it was very poor quality and everything was extremely over-salted. I like salty food, but this was to the point where I had to drink a lot of water with my meal. My water cup was never re-filled, nor was I able to ask my waiter to fill it, because as I said, he was busy working the bar. My parmesan orzo tasted strongly of powdered parmesan cheese (definitely not the real stuff) and excess salt. The chicken was spongy and cheap, like it had been frozen, and then thrown in the microwave. I cook much better than that at home! The zucchini was inedible. Thawed out, soggy, watery, and with a horrible taste like it had been soaking in dirty water. The glass of sparkling moscato I ordered had zero bubbles when it was given to me. My husband's mahi was pathetically tiny and his rice was advertised as "basil lime" rice--I tasted it, and there wasn't a hint of lime flavor, much less any evidence of fresh basil. I don't know who was cooking on Labor Day weekend, but they completely bombed. Honestly, I would have sent everything back, if we hadn't been trying to enjoy relaxing with friends. I almost gagged when I saw our bill of $54+. Those plates were like cheap buffet food, where you would grudgingly pay $10 a plate at the most. I feel like we got robbed, and it put a damper on the whole the evening.
(1)Molly H.
The food definitely made up for our service. For a small downtown bistro, the atmosphere among management and staff might have you thinking it's a far more upper crust establishment. However, the food is well worth it. I had the only vegetarian dish: the mushroom caps with spinach and artichoke. They were quite good. My husband also very much enjoyed his strip steak.
(4)M G.
Overall a good experience. Both the meal, wine and beer were good as was the service and atmosphere. There is outdoor seating area should you not mind the heat and humidity of summer.
(4)Russell M.
Great service and atmosphere. I had dinner at the bar and the bartender was knowledgable about the wine list and the menu. The Mahi was cook properly and served with a delicious orzo pasta. I will definitely return.
(4)Kenneth C.
First off, I like this restaurant. I was on my first foray into downtown Fayetteville and a couple of friends and I decided on this place for dinner. Two of us arrived before our reservation and ordered cocktails and the Sesame Seared Tuna at the bar as we waited for the table. The bartender was very friendly and the tuna was cooked perfectly (ordered medium). I ordered the Steak Boursin (medium) and I thoroughly enjoy the meal and thought it was prepared very well. One of my buddies ordered the same meal prepared rare, he did not share my opinion of the steak and thought it was chewy. My other buddy order the Sesame Seared Tuna entree and his girlfriend had the Shrimp and Grits. They both enjoyed their meals, so overall I would say we all had a pleasant experience.
(4)Hampton R.
If you are heading downtown this is a must! Exemplary service, simple yet refined menu offering flavors for the most discriminating palette, and ambience that would rival any major metropolitan's modish mainstay. The new owner has made beautiful tweaks to the Restaurant. Fantastic bar options with very knowledgeable keeps; servers that always go above and beyond to make sure your personal experience is nothing less than excellent. This is a gem found in the midst of a thriving downtown in an All American City.
(5)Brian D.
For Fayetteville, this is a good restaurant. The staff was stellar and the food was pretty good. Everyone there was nice and overall, it was a good experience.
(3)Jeff H.
We were traveling through Fayetteville and found this restaurant rated highly on Trip Advisor and Yelp. We could not find an online menu but decided to try it. We are glad we did. I ordered the special - pork medallions with a BBQ sauce, smashed potatoes with Asiago cheese, and haricot vents. The pork was beautifully grilled while remaining juicy inside and it was hot. My wife ordered shrimp served over a cake of cheese grits and again everything was cooked just right. We will be back.
(5)Jim D.
See my tip regarding bland food and mediocre atmosphere. The desserts are however, amazing.
(2)Beverly C.
Great little place in downtown Fayetteville. Loved the staff and atmosphere but felt it was a bit pricey for what you get.
(4)Donna C.
If i lived here, i would be a regular At this establishment. Everything is right with this restaurant. The size, spacing of tables, lighting and sound level. Now, let's talk about how right on they are with the food. Perfect, on all levels. Martini night to die for! Key lime pie and lemon meringue perfect blend of alcohol and tart. Chicken piccata was delicious-tender and perfect lemon sauce. Parmesan orzo sheer perfection - a blend of cheese, butter and cream, asparagus tender and cooked. I hate half raw veggies, cook them or don't, just none of that halfway stuff.... Steak salad looked divine and my daughter raved about it. Dessert was amazing. Butterscotch creme brûlée amazing- nice crunch on top and chilled creme. Chocolate mousse- wonderful texture and intense chocolate flavor, perfect when blended with the coffee ice cream - a little large for dessert but perfect for sharing. This is worth the money! You will not be disappointed. The service was impeccable. Nice blend of southern hospitality and efficiency....
(5)Jamie G.
My husband and I had really high expectations for Circa 1800 after reading such positive reviews. The only positive part of our experience was the food, which was delicious. My husband had the NY strip steak with an add on of blackened Mahi and I had the shrimp & grits. Delicious. Everything else, however, was pretty awful. There were at least 4 tables seated after we arrived that each got their drinks, apps, and food a good 20+ minutes before us. Our server had to check our order with us several times before she submitted it. Our first cocktails (an old fashioned and a Manhattan) were fine, although it took quite a long time to receive them. But my second cocktail was something I've never experienced before. I ordered their jalapeño julep. When I finally got the drink, I could tell something wasn't right. There was absolutely zero taste of jalapeño. When I took it to the bartender to ask him whether I perhaps had gotten a regular mint julep, instead of remaking the drink properly, he took the drink that my husband and I had already sipped out of (to determine the flavor), poured it into the mixer, and simply added the jalapeño simple syrup, re-shook it, and poured it into a new glass. I can understand not wanting to "waste" liquor, but my drink ended up completely flat since it was made with club soda. I've never had a bartender do that to me before. Overall, my husband and I were incredibly disappointed by the service we received, especially given the glowing reviews Circa 1800 has received. The food, the ambiance, and the decor are all fantastic. And some of the service also seems to have been great given the number of people who received their items as they should have.
(2)Chloe G.
We went to Circa for valentines day dinner. The food and the service was amazing! We ordered the Seabass and the Salmon as our main dishes and they were both very good....the Salmon was amazing! We also got the bananas foster for dessert which was also very good. Its a small place so be sure to make reservations! Enjoy :-)
(5)Nick D.
While I do not recommend venturing into Fayetteville on most days, today was a good day for it! Circa 1800 (that's what it is called!) facebook.com/circa1800 was not to shabby for a new modern restaurant tucked in downtown Fayetteville. I will say it is delicious and amazing to find a place that has half its menu classy and simple salads. I had the seared tuna salad with soy ginger dressing. It was great, if however lacking on the mixed greens. Iceberg lettuce? really? But for this small town, this place is a-ok in my book. Worth the time and money at least one time.
(3)Michael O.
Went solo on a Friday night, sat at the bar and had dinner. Entree was great and service was up to par. Will return on a weeknight to get another take on the whole package.
(4)Meghan B.
For the area this place was impressive. Circa 1885 has an intimate and wine bar feel to it. It was very cozy, casual and comfortable. You can either sit inside or outside on the "street" seating. The menu was the perfect size--many selections, but not too overwhelming. The food is fresh and staff was friendly and accommodating to my "extra veggies please and no potato, thank you". I would recommend check out Circa 1885
(4)Jessica W.
Great location in downtown Fayetteville. We went for dinner one Saturday evening, and I fell in love. Drinks, service, and food were wonderful! I couldn't wait to try it again! And then....took the family for Fathers Day Brunch. The menu had our mouths watering! Our first sign should have been the ROCK hard overcooked muffins they brought to the table. Literally, you could have used it as a golf ball. After waiting OVER 30 MINUTES FOR OUR FOOD, it was all disappointing. The crab cakes egg benedict was missing the crab, and was cold and burnt. The steak and eggs was a sad sight. Shrimp and grits was just a-okay, nothing like I would have expected from here. The one highlight in our party of 5 was their daily special. It was a filet burger with a fried egg( well the special said fried, pretty sure they were just sadly scrambled) on top and seemed to please. At least the waitress could acknowledge we were waiting a long time for our food. If the place had been busy, the wait for the food might make sense, but sadly no. I will return for dinner only, at some point in the future. But for now, what I hoped would be my new favorite local restaurant at in Fay sadly was disappointing.
(2)Katie N.
Cozy, neighborhood restaurant with decent American fare. I would recommend calling ahead for a reservation during prime dinner time on the weekend as they can get crowded. I appreciated that they did not overcook their vegetables into a soggy mess. We had some fresh green beans with a nice crunch on them. Overall, good experience aside for some slightly slow service.
(4)Mike T.
I love this place. It is a small and very intimate place in historic Fayetteville. The menu is constantly being tweaked. They like to change it up to keep things fresh. The bar area is really nice with a good wine menu and good selection of microbrewery beers on draft which I really like. They do incredible deserts here too. I would highly recommend this place to anyone wanting something different in Fayetteville over the usual chain places. It is well worth the trip.
(5)Brian S.
The experience for Fayetteville truly deserves five stars but i did not want to give someone not familar with our town false hopes. The food is very unique for Fayetteville, the quality of food is excellent, the selections are somewhat limited though. Unfortunately, no gluten free options that I noticed, but fortunately my wife is not extremely sensitive. For the person who says it is in a lovely part of town, it is actually a little scary, once you pass the circle where the merchant building is, or whatever they call the old slave trade post it gets a little dicey. But again, I must say that with the exception of maybe the greek place Sharifs (spelling?), probably my favorite place to eat. Service is decent, but not great. Update as of April 1, 2013. Unfortunately this is not an April fool's joke, we have returned on two separate occasions and have been duly disappointed. The time before the last and final time we had decent food, but poor service. This past weekend we went and the food was poor and the service was even worse. Now understand when I talk about quality of meat, I actually do know a little bit, since I am a S O B, Son of a Butcher, and he was well known. I ordered the NY strip steak, they call it something like a sorbines or something French sounding. It is blackened? and then topped with a cheese sauce. The steak was definitely not any NY strip that I have ever eaten, it definitely was not restaurant grade, it really did not even rate as good as a NY that you can get at Carisle's Cs IGA. The meat was extremely gristly, it really reminded me more of a sirloin rather than a NY strip. That would explain why the cook overworked the meat with the blackening process since I ordered the steak medium rare. Yet I was hungry so I eat most of the steak, mainly since it was a small steak to begin with. My wife ordered the steak salad and her steak was even worse, it was sliced and ordered medium. The steak looked as if it had been grilled one day and reheated on a hot pan, the center of the steak was cold and extremely gristly throughout, the exterior of the meat was overcooked, giving the sense that it had been reheated. My wife made two or three comments to the waitress concerning the quality of the meal but the young lady just smiled and walked away. I understand that the restaurant industry is dealing with several challenges currently, one the drought in the Midwest has raised the price of meat considerably and the quality has degraded due to so many cows being taken to slaughter earlier than they should have been, therefore the meat has poorer marbling and more connective tissue being apparent, thus the gristly meat, but the reality is, restaurants usually have access to the better cuts of meat over the average retail consumer. So I do not think this explains it, the restaurant in my belief used a different cut of meat of inferior quality and ensured that the average customer would not tell the difference by overworking the meat hiding the truth. While I appreciate the need of restaurants to maintain sustainable margins with their business I find it very objectionable that they do that at the expense of the quality of the food and the quality of the experience.
(2)Amanda J.
Went here on a date night with another couple. Was very impressed with the menu selections: unique choices that I would never cook at home. I had the mahi mahi with craw fish mashed potatoes which was delish. Everyone in our party loved their meals. Great wine and drink selection & our server was just the right balance of checking on us without being overly annoying or persistent. Definitely going back and adding it to our regular list of Fayetteville restaurants to visit.
(4)Bill G.
I've eaten at Circa 1800 three times, in the last month or so, all for lunch. They have good food. The lunch crowd fills up quickly when it nears noon. We had poor service the first time we visited, but the food made up for the waitress not coming back until the end of the meal. I've had good French Onion soup, chicken salad, potato salad, and I went back for the Thai Shrimp that a friend ordered, and it looked so good! And, it was! The shrimp were large and spicy, the rice good and the seaweed salad delicious. *I'm not sure there is much nutritional value in the flourescent green seaweed, but delicious.
(4)Adam C.
Great food and drinks and consistently delivers on providing the best meal in Fayetteville. Filet tips are fantastic as is the parmesan orzo.
(4)Travis H.
Consistantly good. Stay with the seared tuna, fillet tips, and the parmesean orzo and asparagus. The barkeeps make a helluva Manhattan and the beer selection is sufficent. The only complaint that is hardly fixable is the noise. If Circa is busy it is very difficult to hold a conversation in the place. But the food is good for Fayetteville. Its well priced and delicious.
(4)Claudia J.
Got there late on a saturday night and it was still busy. Asked for a table outside and got one. Waitress was nice and took order for appetizer and had already come out with glas of water. I guess she go busy because it took a while before she came back to take main order. Food was very good, smaller portions and a bit pricey but if it indeed is mainly fresh cooked then it is worth it. The atmosphere was nice and even though it is still August, we had nice cooler weather that made it pleasant to sit outside. Not too noisy, the seats are not that comfortable but because they are outside they are better if they are somewhat rust resistant. Table cloth gets changed after each customer, silverware was clean, so was bathroom. i had shrimp with seaweed salad and I thought it was pretty good. Came with bread and a mix of balsamic vinegar and tomatoes to put on top. Liked it a lot. The prices should stay or go down just a bit because Fayetteville is still not a very classic place and the food is very good but not that good. Better than some of the other restaurants in that area for sure. Sad thing is that it is wedged between empty stores and other restaurants but it stands out because of the quality.A little bit more advertisement would help too because a lot of people do not venture out on that road just because it does not seem to have so many stores that way. Anyway, I will def. go again just not on a regulat basis because of the prices.
(4)Elyse C.
Well I wasnt impressed. I had high expectations. The calamari was very good. The dipping sauces had great flavor. The bread was also good and I love how they give you bruscetta with it. But My en tree salad was not good I had the Asian salad with tuna. The lettuce was watered down the tuna was in giant chunks. The saving grace was the dressing. My husband enjoyed the Cajun Salmon and loved the orzo. I agree the orzo is bomb. Maybe I just got the wrong thing. I would give it another go and get a steak or something. The area was kinda ghetto as well. People kept coming down the street blasting music from their cars.
(3)Timothy P.
This was an exceptionally priced restaurant. Fair portions and great menu from top to bottom. The server was very knowledgable on the the wines and offered some great suggestions. The sea bass was outstanding as were the pumpkin crepes. Wines were all offered by the glass or bottle, again, not overly priced there either. I would definitely recommend to visitors or locals and I will be making my way there again in the future. 10/10 for price and food quality.
(5)Michelle M.
My husband and I took my sister here, who was visiting from out of state, because of all the great reviews. It was our first time here. Started off great, drinks were delicious and so was the calamari. Unfortunately the main course was more than disappointing especially since we paid about $20 a plate. My husband's filet tips were well done when he ordered them medium-rare and also his rice was hard. My Mahi was extremely over cooked and dry (it was actually so bad I had to spit it out). I would never go back for a meal. Disappointing.
(2)Julie S.
Yum! This place is exceptional. We had been looking for a place like this around town and I am so glad we found it. It was a warm night so we asked to be seated outside, which they accommodated. And it seemed like that is where all the patrons like to sit as well. We started off with martinis and the Thai shrimp over seaweed salad appetizer. It was spicy and very, very flavorful. The seaweed salad was the best I have ever had, the spices they used made it so enjoyable to eat. The dipping sauces were the cherry on top.They also give toasted bread and brushetta to munch on while waiting for your meal. As an entree I got shrimp and grits and boyfriend got salmon. I LOVED my shrimp and grits. I had never had them before, but it was so good and the presentation was beautiful. The asparagus that accompanied the main dish was cooked to perfection as well. If I could eat this dish every week I would. Boyfriend loved his salmon it has tons of spices and was cooked beautifully. Our waitress was really great and came over often to check on us and refill our water.Eating here was like an experience for all your senses and it was so relaxing. We will definitely be coming back.
(5)Don D.
I would rate it higher except for two things. The staff was very young and not friendly or courteous and secondly, the shrimp & grits was horrible, and no one cared at the restaurant. the Grouper was excellent and also was the chicken piccata. My friends shrimp and grits were such as I have never seen served before. The shrimp were over cooked and the "grits" were a mound of cold grits covered with unmerited (also cold) cheese. Waffle House would probably have better grits and I don't eat there. the cook and owners would serve themselves well by going on line an d Google "shrimp and grits". the grits should be rich and creamy (and hot), and the shrimp should be floating in the middle of the grits, lightly sprinkled with cheese if desired. Its a simple southern dish.
(3)Dorthe G.
This appeared to be a very small town, we stopped at Circa 1800 as a detour looking for a nice place to relieve the discomfort of a long drive. The restaurant looked inviting and drew us in. We were dressed in traveling cloths and felt under dressed. The other customers seemed "all decked out". The place had a pleasant and cordial ambiance, and over drinks, our tensions melted away. So cudo's on the bar. We ordered the Boersin Steak and the sea bass. While the steak was good, the sea bass was inedible. It was so fishy/stinky I could not do it. How did this happen? Don't serve food that can't be eaten Circa! So while the service and environment were Very Pleasant, that one little problem, (couldn't eat the food) was a major issue.
(3)Scott T.
Circa 1885 is relatively new to the scene of Hay, located down past the round-about, Circa has a feel somewhere between an intimate bistro, a high class lounge, and a corner pub. Circa is the perfect place to hang out with a group of friends if you want to have a conversation with a cozy backdrop. Bob the owner will most likely come by to say hello and see how things are going. Over all circa was a very pleasant experience and I will be hurrying back.
(4)