For years we wished New Bern had a destination restaurant, but each time a new place showed promise, it failed to live up to expectations. All that is changed now. Persimmons is the real deal.

This weekend we arrived early, after Christmas shopping, and found our reservation included a "Reserved" sign at our table. This said the reservation really meant something to the restaurant. We were seated right away and met by a very well trained staff. Everything they did was just right. We had attentive, but not hovering service and each request was nicely handled.

The food was just as we expected. We shared the oyster appetizer. The local oysters were beautifully done. A lovely dish. For dinner, I ordered lamb and my wife had duck. Both dishes were expertly prepared and cooked exactly as promised. The side vegetables were perfect. The portions were just enough to satisfy without a stuffed feeling. The wine was fairly priced and the selection was nice for the dishes we ordered.

The decor is very attractive, but the room is a bit loud. Everything is clean and modern.