Starr Teel in the kitchen of Campfire Grill

It’s finally here.

Starr Teel’s latest offering to the culinary scene in Flat Rock, Campfire Grill, will officially open on March 5th - and Flat Rock residents who have watched the renovations of the old Dean’s Deli over the course of the past year are very ready to sample the new fare.

Flat Rock Together was lucky enough to be invited to a preview dinner and we quickly found ourselves immersed in the friendly energy of the Campfire Grill restaurant. Between bites of our delicious meal (see photos below), we had a chance to catch up with Executive Chef, Mimi Alexander.

Mimi comes to Flat Rock from her most recent kitchen posting in Asheville and she’s excited to be here. “When Starr approached me,” she explains, “there were a few things he wanted from the very beginning - excellent food that tastes good and looks good. He 100% wanted a community feel. He wanted a place, a community bar, for local people to hang out. And the best hamburger in Henderson County.” Checking with our neighbor at the next table, we get an enthusiastic endorsement for the aforementioned hamburger.

Mimi Alexander, Executive Chef at Campfire Grill

The interior of Campfire has rustic decor, but with a clean crisp feel that creates the sense of stepping back in time rather than being surrounded by furnishings and decorations that are decades old. The long wooden bar in the center of the restaurant will undoubtedly be the location of many great conversations over glasses of fine wine or draft beers. Seating is cozy, and the amiable, casual atmosphere lends itself to spontaneous conversations with your neighbors at the next table.

Mimi is pleased with the initial reactions from her test customers and she’s already had to turn away a steady stream of passersby who wander in wondering if the restaurant is open yet. “It’s a good indication that we’ve had people coming in every day for the past month asking when we will be open. There’s definitely a buzz and we are excited to get started.”

The Campfire Grill officially opens on Thursday, March 5th. Click on images below to see full descriptions.