Folks in the restaurant industry know good food, so we want to know where they eat when they’re not cooking. In this series, we ask a local chef, bartender, restaurateur, or server to share their favorite restaurants in town and what they order there. This week, we interviewed Eric Ferguson, the chef behind Italian pop-up and delivery concept L’Ostrica. Ferguson, also the former chef at Stagioni, has an appreciation for authentic Italian food, but his palate ranges across the globe with a focus on quality products.

Aqua e Vino, Cotswold
A small dining room with handmade, high-end pastas and seasonal entrées
Eric’s order: Any of Chef Gabriele’s crudos

Prime Fish, Ballantyne
An upscale spot beloved for its fresh sushi
Eric’s order: Salmon belly nigiri
Pro tip: Sit at the counter, get the hamachi kama, and ask for a sake recommendation  

Peppervine, SouthPark
A modern American restaurant that emphasizes local products, pasture-raised meats, and wine
Eric’s order: Fried oysters

Open Rice, Ballantyne
A Hong Kong-inspired restaurant specializing in classic Asian dishes
Eric’s order: Curry laksa

Osteria LuCa, Montford
An authentic Italian restaurant in Park Road Shopping Center
Eric’s order: Garden pizza with pepperoni 

More from this series:

Patrick Gourmet’s Patrick Garrivier
Counter-‘s Sam Hart
Community Matters Cafe’s Ashley Anna Tuttle
Your Farms, Your Table’s Sam Diminich
Para’s Alex Verica