Talia Gray, Features Editor  

Talia’s Tastes is a food and lifestyle column that highlights the various experiences available in the Greensboro area.  

In this issue of Talia’s Tastes, I will be reviewing A’leurer. A’leurer is a soul food restaurant that is rather new to Greensboro. The restaurant was created by Natasha and Donnell Charlton with an aspiration to “blend elegance, soul, and culture into a distinctive dining experience,” according to their website.  

A friend and I decided to visit A’leurer on a Friday evening as we both wanted to try something new. A’leurer is located in a shopping center near Battleground Ave. As we approached the restaurant, we were both shocked by how spacious the dining area was. Like their website, A’leurer’s décor centered on a dark violet hue that covered the doors of the main entrance, the walls of the dining area, as well as their menu. This bold color choice gave the space a feeling of opulence and serenity. The gold accents in the décor coupled with the white tablecloths also lent themselves well to the regal feel of the space. It is important to note that there is an area designated for live music which seems to be a highlight of the dining experience at A’leurer. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a live band playing during my visit, but I would imagine that dinner + live music would only enhance the lush ambience of the dining area.  

Let’s move on to the main attraction: the food. A’leurer’s menu features many of the soul food dishes that we know and love. Their menu is split between main dishes (which are mostly entrees) and accompaniments (which includes side dishes, appetizers, vegetables, a kids’ section, desserts, pasta dishes and beverages).  

My friend and I started with the Crispy Firecracker Shrimp Bites, which included seasoned fried jumbo shrimp on a bed of banana peppers. They were served with spicy cream sauce. I found the Crispy Firecracker Shrimp Bites to be a great start to our dinner. The shrimp was breaded and fried to a perfect golden crisp and full flavor. The cream sauce was a great addition as it paired well with the spices present in the shrimp’s breading. If you’re looking for a delicious yet easily shareable starter, look no further than the Crispy Firecracker Shrimp Bites.  

From there, my friend and I both ordered a main dish and two sides with the intention of sharing our sides with one another. Once you look at the menu, I’m sure you’ll understand how difficult it was for us to decide what we wanted to order. I ordered the turkey wings with rice and gravy as well as collard greens. My friend ordered the fried fish with mac & cheese and yams. As we all know, the side dishes at a soul food restaurant are just as important (if not more so) as any entrée. With that in mind, I’ll save those for last. The turkey wings were smothered in a white gravy and served alongside the rice, which was topped in the same gravy. The turkey wings took up much of my large plate due to their size alone. The wings themselves were flavorful and succulent as they paired well with the gravy and rice. My friend’s fish was fried to a beautiful golden hue and had a satisfying crunch with each bite. The meat of the fish was light and flaky despite its crunchy exterior. Both main dishes were treated with care and left us astounded.  

Last but certainly not least, I must discuss the side dishes we got. My favorite by far was the yams (or sweet potatoes). They were simply delicious. They had the perfect balance of sweetness which aligned well with our savory entrees but did not overpower them or feel like a dessert rather than a side. Similarly, the mac & cheese was a great balance of macaroni noodles and cheese baked with a satisfying cheesy crust on top. The mac & cheese was well seasoned but not overpowering. The blend of cheeses gave it a wonderful flavor and creaminess texture wise. The collard greens were wonderfully tender and flavorful. I added the provided vinegar and hot sauce to mine (as is my preference) but could have just as easily eaten them as they were served.  

Overall, we had a great experience at A’leurer and look forward to visiting the eatery again (hopefully on a Saturday when they have live music).  

Do you have a favorite spot you want to see featured in The Carolinian? Are you a business owner looking to promote your brand?  Please fill out this form: https://go.uncg.edu/taliastastes. Check back each week to see if your recommendation made the paper!  

Headline image from A’leurer.