You asked for it Fayetteville … and you got it! If you were one of the people looking for an upscale restaurant to enjoy a wonderful dinner, it’s here in the form of Morgan’s Chop House.
Morgan’s Chop House is located on McPherson Church Road in a building that has housed several previous attempts at bringing upscale dining to Fayetteville, including The Vineyard and Trio Café.
The outside looks basically the same as it has in years past, however, a new sign let’s people know that a change has come. Parking is plentiful.
    Things may look the same from the outside, but inside it’s a whole new ball game. The completely overhauled interior is fresh, modern and welcoming. There is a bar just to the right with oversized leather couches perfect for an afterwork get together. The bar offers a full martini and bar- food menu, as well as any type of drink you might desire. The dining area seats 150 and the restaurant and bar are completely nonsmoking.
    {mosimage}Service is a huge part of any dining experience. The waiter came to the table no more than three minutes after my dining companion and I were seated. He was professional, polite and seemed quite knowledgeable about the menu. After we ordered our drinks he returned almost immediately. He explained the featured menu items and gave us a minute to decide. We looked over the menu and ordered an appetizer — the spinach and artichoke crab dip. Shortly thereafter, the waiter returned with fresh bread with oil, vinegar and herbs for dipping. We decided to order the surf and turf. Professional, prompt service is a great part of a wonderful evening out. Our waiter definitely set the stage for the best part.
    The menu was clear and simple, displaying just the kind of food you would want to see on an American chop house menu. The appetizer dip was hot and fresh. A lot of vegetable dips like this tend to be juicy and runny this was not the case. The flavors were nicely balanced with a smooth, creamy texture.
    I am a steak snob. Once I tasted the steak, it was all over. I was hooked. The steak was wonderfully grilled and very, very tender. The seasoning on the steak was very unique, but not overpowering at all. There was a thought in my head that I was trying to fight back. Could I be eating one of the best steaks I have ever had? I didn’t want to admit it, but it was true. The six large shrimp that accompanied it were very good as well. They seemed pretty fresh considering they are really not in season right now. They were juicy and perfectly cooked. No one likes chewy shrimp. They were served on a few pieces of garlic crostini, which lent them good flavor and looked very nice. However, I could have done without the crostini which were soggy due to the juicy shrimp that had been sitting on them. The red potatoes we chose as our side item were a nice rustic balance to the rest of the meal. At this point I was very impressed. We finished off our meal with a piece of caramel cheesecake with ice cream and fresh strawberries. It was obvious by the presentation of this dish that the chef was creative, skilled, and passionate about his food.
    The food portions were plenty for two of us — I’m 6’2” weighing in at 205 lbs. and I like to eat.
    If I had to put a summary on my dinner at Morgan’s, I really couldn’t believe I was sitting in my hometown of Fayetteville enjoying a dining experience that would rival many fine restaurants in metropolitan areas. I was blown away. Out of the whole evening, there was only one thing I saw as a possible negative — the menu seemed pricey to me. The appetizers were $8 to $10. The feature we ordered was $24. The rest of the entrées ranged from $18 to $37. The dessert that was so nicely presented was $9. Add two sweet teas to it, and our grand total was $51 without gratuity. Of course, keep in mind this is a fine dining restaurant and you get what you pay for.
    All in all, if you were looking for a great place for a date, to celebrate an anniversary or simply to enjoy dinner with some friends, Morgan’s is it!