What's on the Menu: Little Pep
Get ready to have a big crush on this whimsical little bar/wine shop in Winston-Salem.
Back in February, my husband and I took a road trip to Winston-Salem, North Carolina. We went to visit our friends, Peter and Sara, who had recently relocated there from Savannah, and I was excited to see this town that had stolen their hearts.
During our stay, we packed plenty into the quick weekend getaway, including plenty of pastries at Bobby Boy Bakeshop, beers at Lesser-Known and Fiddlin’ Fish, experienced “pizzakase” at Mission Pizza Napoletana, and even took a trip to the North Carolina Museum of Art to catch an artist talk with alumni, David LaChapelle, about his photography exhibit titled, “Dear Sonja.”
I was quickly smitten with W-S, which made it easier to celebrate our dear friends moving 300+ miles away. And by the time we sat down in Little Pep, the cutest bottle shop and wine bar on Trade Street, I was already planning our next visit.
I also knew that Little Pep would be a perfect spot to feature on What’s on the Menu. Printed on pink paper with silly illustrations, their menu is full of whimsy and just fun. (I particularly loved one of the illustrations—a duck drinking a bottle of wine—so much, I bought a white dad hat with the drawing stitched in red.) Plus, the color palette couldn’t have been any more perfect for our near-Valentine’s visit.
As someone who feels out of my depth when reviewing a long and fancy wine list, I appreciated how these little details on the menu help set the tone for the experience, putting me at ease to ask our bartender “dumb” questions about the wines we ordered and strike up small talk, which led us to chatting with the co-owner Rebekah Rhoden.
That’s how I learned that Rebekah Rhoden is also the talented designer behind Never Better Studio, the creative engine behind many brands and neighboring businesses, like Fancy Groceries and Sayso Coffee. Little Pep also benefits from the artful eye of co-owner Anna Impson, who doubles as a front-end web developer.
Here, Rebekah shares the inspiration behind Little Pep (Hint: It’s not pepperoni) and how she approaches the design of the menu, which focuses on small plates of bread, dips, and sweets to pair with wines sold by the glass or the bottle.
”Come for the wine, but stay for the food,” Rhoden encourages. “People are always pleasantly surprised to learn we offer food—and that our food is really good.” Grab a glass and a snack before you go out to dinner, or get a couple of plates and stay all night.
Before you go, shop the shelves of pantry staples, specialty provisions, or get your own hat to put a little pep in your step.
CMA: What does the name "Little Pep" represent to you?
RR: We actually got the name from an old Greek restaurant that used to be in downtown Winston-Salem called The Little Pep Grill. We thought the name was super cute, and we wanted to bring back a small piece of local history and nostalgia. Little Pep is fun and approachable, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s just a good time.
CMA: How often does the menu change?
RR: Multiple times a week. Our food menu is super seasonal and is driven by what’s available from our local farmers. Our wine list is adventurous and ever-changing, so there’s something new to try every time you come in. The menu is designed to be super easy to print & fold every day before service.
CMA: How does the design of the menu reflect Little Pep's intended vibe?
RR: The menu is a small tri-fold, so there are no pages to flip or much bulk to take up table space. Our tables are small, and we wanted to make the menus as low-profile as possible. Drinks and food are also all on the same menu to reduce clutter. Little Pep is approachable, casual, and not fussy, so our small pink paper menu fits with the relaxed vibe we’re going for.
CMA: In your opinion, what is the perfect Little Pep order?
RR: Right now, it’s May in North Carolina, and I want a glass of something bubbly with some trout dip and a bowl of the spring veg. I’d definitely save room for dessert because we have a house-made Basque cheesecake right now, and it’s crazy good. Get a glass of vermouth to go with the cheesecake if you want to really do it right.
CMA: What is one "sleeper hit" on the menu?
RR: If you’re feeling adventurous, get a glass of the Fun Time Pour. It’s our off-menu pour that changes on a whim, and it’s usually an excuse for us to open up something that we want to drink ourselves!
Little Pep, 533 Trade St. NW,
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
littlepepnc.com, @littlepepnc
All photography is courtesy of Little Pep.