DC Gal's Profile
$1000 to spend on food - in Raleigh
Wow! I am so jealous. There are quite a few places I'd go - this doesn't have to be done in one meal, right?
18 Seaboard would be my first stop for a top knotch meal - great food and fabulous service.
The Pit - upscale BBQ!
Duck and Dumpling - their dinner menu is pricey, but that doesn't matter to you, right?
Fleming's - it's a chain, but it's darn good.
Chef's Table at Angus Barn - I don't like the Barn itself, but I've heard rave reviews about the Chef's Table. Thing is, you'll have to wait until September because they don't do it in the summer b/c the kitchen it too hot.
Ruth's Chris - again a chain, but that butter on the steak!!!!!
Casa Carbone - again, not fancy, but in my opinion, the best Italian in Raleigh and family owned and operated for years
Poole's Diner - I've not been, but I'm dying to go
Enjoy and let me know if you need anyone to help you all work through that gift card!
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18 Seaboard
18 Seaboard, Raleigh, NC 27604
Angus Barn Restaurant
9401 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27617
50 things to eat in NC
A Krispy Kreme donut when the "hot" sign is on
Onion Rings from South 21 Drive-In in Charlotte NC
A Bojangles Cajun Filet Biscuit
Al's French Fries at the NC State Fair
Hushpuppies and butter at a calabash joint at the coast
Cheerwine
Grilled Biscuits at Big Ed's in Raleigh
Best place for breakfast at NC State Fair.
Alas, the Fair is gone for the year, but I worked at a booth out there for a civic group and tried two breakfast biscuit spots. the first was Honnicutt's right on the corner of the church strip of places. I was drawn to the place because they had an old newspaper article posted in the window about an 84-year-old woman making the biscuits. The biscuit was good, but not as buttery as I would have liked. My second one came from a church out of Holly Springs and it was PERFECTION! A light and flaky, buttery soft biscuit with a really good sausage patty with just the right amount of spiciness. I will definitely go here again next year.
My other "must haves" at the Fair include the Wisconsin Fried Cheese (the mozzarella), a corn dog from the place near the Cheerwine Stand by the flea Market buildings. Not the Leon's hot dog place, but the one two or three down from him. His corn dogs are hand dipped in a perfectly sweet breading and he has two sizes to choose from. I've long been a fan of Al's Fries out of Apex. The bext elephant ear is located by the fountain behind Dorton Arena. There are two booths here, go to the one with the flags on top of their booth. They put melted butter on their ears when they come out of the fryer. Then top them with cinnamon sugar AND powdered sugar. And, finally, I take home a couple of bags of the Maple Sugar Cotton Candy from Vermont. It is the best. Whew. Probably a good thing the Fair only comes once a year.
Best Birthday Cakes in the Triangle are at the Square Rabbit!
Wanted to share my recent find with you all. I work downtown and have discovered the Square Rabbit located at the corner of Wilmington and Martin Streets. This is a small bakery/caterer. They have the BEST cakes in Raleigh. Hands down! And they are very reasonable priced. Their cakes weight a ton because the cakes are so nice and dense and they use amazing mousse fillings and rich buttercream icing. My arms literally get tired carrying the cake to my car. I swear I have no business link to them, just a happy and loyal customer who wants them to do well. So, please visit them the next time you need a special cake. You won't be sorry.
Raleigh Thanksgiving Options
Looks like we're going to be a party fo four this year for Thanksgiving and to me, that means eating out. If anyone has suggestions in the Raleigh/RTP area, I'd welcome them! Thanks in advance.
Fresh pasta store in Raleigh?
Only place I can think of is Capri in Morrisville. It is an Italian market that sells cheeses, sauces, meats, and I am pretty sure fresh pasta. They also have a cooking school. There is another Italian market on Glenwood/70 going out of town near Leesville Road. Cannot think of what it is called though.
Raleigh: al fresco pizza?
Mellow Mushroom on Glenwood South has a large, nice patio. In Apex, there is Daniel's on Hwy 55 that has fantastic pasta and pizzas and a nice patio with a fountain and little white lights. In Cary, there is Maximillian's Pizza Kitchen on Hwy 54 that serves amazing pizza, but the service is slow and the outdoor tables are just on the sidewalk along the parking lot, so not exactly a nice view.
Is there ANYWHERE worth eating in Smithfield, NC?
There's a place called Becky's Log Cabin that is pretty good. It's at the 70 Business/I95 junction and is connected to a motel. It is a small town steakhouse - pretty typical with a salad bar, decent steaks (served sizzling hot) and sides. Service is very friendly. The onion rings are AMAZING. Only thing I have not enjoyed is their prime rib - I don't like whatever seasoning they use. I would recommend Becky's because you are correct, most everything else is going to be a chain.
This weekend at NC fairgrounds in Raleigh
Naco - you'll be happy to know those are the guys that won. They did have good Q.
I thought the Pig Jig was great - but I didn't have little ones in tow. Just me and my bbq loving husband. We had a blast and tried every single q out there and definitely got our money's worth. I also loved the hot from the fryer hushpuppies that the older guy was making towards the back of the field - they were delicious!
I think the crowd was definitely bigger than they expected. I talked to a friend of mine today who was one of the organizers and they were pleased, but very surprised by the turnout. I think they'll make some changes for next year to better manage the crowds. One request I made was for there to be sweet tea available - you can't have a southern pig cook-off without sweet tea!
Outstanding B'day Dinner at 18 Seaboard in Raleigh
I'm also a big fan of 18 Seaboard. Jason is a wonderful host and chef - he makes you feel like you are more a valued friend than just a customer and that is hard to come by in today's restaurant world.
We celebrated Valentine's Day at 18 Seaboard and I was so impressed. I am not one to usually want to go out on V-Day as it can be such a nightmare. But, we had a truly enjoyable meal complete with little treats from the kitchen. And, we had a fantastic dessert - the chef had prepared a special tart with a lite butter crust, a layer of chocolate ganache and then fresh strawberries grown locally in a greenhouse. This was a great treat in February.
We're heading there in June to celebrate my husband's 40th with friends and have also celebrated another friend's campaign victory there. Jason offers a fantastic private room that seats I'd guess 12 very nicely. It is perfect for small parties.
One other great thing is that the bar offers Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka - amazing stuff and a great way to start your meal. Ask the bartender to mix it with some water and a little sour mix - it is the PERFECT southern cocktail!
3 dinners in baltimore
For Italian, go to Little Italy. I used to love Sabatino's, but then discovered Chiparelli's. AMAZING. Skip dessert at the restaurant and go to the Italian pastry shop.
For another different choice, go to Ray's for Hawaiian/Asian fusion. In the area near the harbor behind the aquarium.
Barbecue - RTP - smoked over wood or charcoal?
I just tried Backyard BBQ last week for the first time. They are defintiely open and cranking out some amazing 'que.
Raleigh//Cary NC area near the NC Fair Grounds
Not much at all in that area. There is Pam's Farmhouse on Western Blvd extension that is country/southern cooking. There is the new Backyard Bistro across from the NC State stadium complex. If you go farther down 54 in to Cary, there is a new place called Spirits Pub that is owned by a guy who owns other fantastic places in the area, so it should be very good. Going the other direction, you could go out Edwards Mill and go to Bella Monica which is very good for Italian. Really though, this area of Raleigh has been somewhat left behind by developers.
Cafe Santa Fe, Todos Santos
Do they have a website with their menu? I've looked before and couldn't find it. We got to Cabo each year and have not yet done an Italian meal there. It's hard to convince myself to eat Italian when there is such amazing mexican food.
Did your trip to Todos include a stop at Art & Beer?
Allen & Sons BBQ
Tried Backyard BBQ this week for the first time and agree with the other poster. This place is REALLY good. Go on a Thursday or Friday so you can get the brisket. The beef is cooked perfectly - tender but with an amazing carmelized crust on the outside. tHe best mac and cheese I have EVER eaten. Amazing hushpuppies. Homemade cake slices for dessert. And, all served by the nicest people! This will definitely be a regular on our foodie list!
Maximillian's Pizza Kitchen
I grew up in Cary and my family used to go to the original Maximillian's Pizza place near South Hills mall. It closed in the mid-90's (I think). They have re-opened on Hwy 54/Chapel Hill Road in Cary (same strip mall as Woody's Sports Bar). They also have a more upscale restaurant. Tonight, hubby and I went to the pizza kitchen to see if it would be as good as I remembered. It was.
I started with the caesar salad. It is a portion of a head of romaine still intact. They grill the lettuce, giving it a bit of a smoky flavor. They then add their amazing caesar dressing, cheese, and what seemed to be tortilla strips (although the menu described them as asiago crisps). There was also a good drizzle of chili oil and some roasted peppers (even though I had asked that they be left off). We also ordered the House Bread Plate. This was a stack of grilled slices of fresh baked rosemary bread. Each piece had dots of three kinds of pesto. A traditional basil pesto, an olive pesto, and a tomato pesto. The plate was also drizzled with olive oil and baslamic and there were lots of wonderful roasted cloves of garlic.
We shared an individual sized pizza - which was plenty for two. We got the Spedie on the thicker crust. This pizza had their house marina, ricotta, applewood smoked bacon, tomatoes, and mozz. We also had them add pesto. We asked them to leave off the roasted peppers, but again, they were still there. The pizza was AMAZING. The combination of flavors incredible. The crust melted in my mouth.
Our bill was just under $30. As I've described, the food was pretty amazing. The service on the other hand, flat out sucked. The place was about half full (which surprised me for a Friday night) and we waited at least 30 minutes for our salad and bread appetizers. Then another good 30 minutes for the pizza. No explanations were ever offered. But, really, I don't think there was an explanation - it seemed like everyone was waiting forever for their food. And, it really irked me that on both dishes I asked them to leave the peppers off and on both dishes they ignored my request. And, yes, I do think they ignored my request. I recall this from the old Max's. The food is quite good and with that the chef and staff have a certain level of arrogance. I had hoped maybe that would have worn off. Clearly it hasn't. And, sadly, it's not enough to keep me away. That pizza was that good. Next time though, it will be take out. My time does have some value to me.
New Pub in Cary - Spirits
It is owned and managed by the same wonderful people behind Daniel's Pizza and Pasta on Hwy 55 in Apex. I live in Apex and dine on Daniel's take-out at least once a week. I got an email from them about their new venture in pub food. Glad to hear it is so good - I would expect nothing less.
Business Dinner Suggestions in Raleigh, NC
Please don't go to the Angus Barn. Sure, it is an "institution" and frankly, the food tastes like institution food. There is nothing special here at all, besides history. Also, not good for a business dinner because it is so loud in there.
I really like 18 Seaboard which is near Peace College. It would be a straight shot up Glenwood towards downtown and then turn onto Peace St. Good locally owned place. Great upscale southern recipes and very nice atmosphere. I'd choose this long before the Pit. The Pit is good, but in the end it is just BBQ, not exactly upscale.
Dickey's BBQ - plesant surprise or cynical disappointment?
Having grown up in the Dallas area, I was really happy when they opened a franchise near my now home in North Carolina. So far, so good. It wasn't great when they first opened - the meat was not that good. I think it takes some time for the smokers to season and the meat is now much better. I really like their brisket and their smoked turkey is amazing. I like the onion tanglers and the baked potato casserole for sides and their hushpuppies are always yummy. They have a good eat-in atmosphere and try hard to be a step above your average take-out. I like that they keep the sauce warm and have free ice cream for dessert - with Hershey's syrup! It can get a little pricey. And, I have two major pet peeves with them - 1) the ridiculously large plastic yellow beverage cups that I think could be single-handidly responsible for global warming and 2) they have thie weird contraption on the table that you stick this card in to so they supposedly know where to bring your food. Frankly, the place isn't that big and the gadgetry is far more hassle than help. The servers typically wander around with trays of food not knowing where to take it because we, the customers, are not familiar enough with these stupid table machines to know what we are doing.
Food = good
Atmosphere = good
Sauce = AWESOME
Price = expensive
Gadgets = lame!
Where to eat in Raleigh, NC?
Lots of choices -
I highly recommend 18 Seaboard which is downtown near Peace College. Locally owned, American fare with a good southern twist.
For some good BBQ, also downtown, try The Pit. If you prefer good mexican, there is a good place for lunch downtown on Wilmington Street called Dos Taquitos. Very good - gets crowded at lunch.
For pizza, try Lily's in the Five Points neighborhood. Kind of weird atmosphere and service, but the pizza is to die for.
Hope these help.
raleigh - Saturday morning breakfast
Big Ed's at City Market is about as Raleigh -local as you can get. In fact, my husband and all our groomsmen had a wedding day breakfast there the day of our wedding 9 years ago! Nothing fancy, but good eatin'!
Best upscale chain restaurants?
I like Firebirds Rocky Mountain Grill. They have a cilantro and buttermilk marinated grilled chicken that comes topped with a smoky cheese sauce - it is AMAZING. Even their salad is wonderful. They call it a BLT salad and it comes with chopped tomatoes, bacon and a garlic ranch dressing. Not only is the bowl chilled - but they even chill the FORK! This place really takes the term chain restaurant up a notch!
Corporate Chili's
We were at the Chili's in Apex NC last night (we actually go often as I still think they have one of the best burgers around) and you know how they have their walls decorated with photos, old signs and old menus? Well, right in my line of sight from our table was an old Chili's menu that reminded me of the really good days for Chili's. I too miss the days of the chili tacos, the Terlingua Pride burger that had chili on it, and yes, the Bowl of Red.
They do still have meat in the chili here - but not ground beef. It is chunks of roast meat and it doesn't have any flavor.
I am so sad.
At least the chips and salsa are still the same.....
Best place for steak in the Triangle?
I'm so happy to see so many people steering you away from the Angus Barn. It is so overrated. the food is not good, the service is just adequate and I personally don't want to spend that kind of money while I eat off a checked tablecloth in a BARN!
I agree with the recommendation for Sullivan's. We also really like Peak City Grill in Apex. Nice steaks, interesting appetizers and desserts. The service can be slow, but I think it's because they want you to relax. If you are not in the mood for a leisurely dinner, let them know!
Caterers in Denver
Need a caterer for an event with the DNC Convention. Budget will not be huge, but want good quality food, somewhat creative for event. Any suggestions?
Ideas for Delegates????
Found out over the weekend that my hubby will be a delegate from our homestate of North Carolina for the DNC Convention in August. This is our third convention in a row and we love exploring the host cities. We've both been to Denver on business before, but would love ideas from the locals for great places for the following:
Steak
Mexican
Italian
BBQ
Local Hot-Spots
Breakfast spots
We'll be staying in our host hotel of the DoubleTree at Tech Center. Not ideal for getting to and from the convention, but we'll make it work and we have no problem with traveling for a good meal.
I also have a friend who is in the NC legislature who will be looking to host an event in Denver. Any ideas for good locally owned places where we could host the event and help the local economy?
Tex Mex Fajitas in RTP Area
Many thanks to those of you who replied kindly and with real suggestions rather than criticizing my dining choices.
Bissielizzie - oh did you HAVE to mention Austin Grill? I so miss their fajitas and the wings! Oh the wings! :)
Tex Mex Fajitas in RTP Area
Thanks for the back-up suse. I certainly have an appreciation for real Mexican food. We got to Cabo every winter (doesn't get more authentic than that) and frequent many of the places listed in responses here. The problem I have with the fajitas at places like Los Tres and Torerros (and I do frequent those places for other wonderful dishes they make) is that their fajitas, to me, are not grilled meat. Instead they almost seem like they are simmered or stewed. Others may like that, but for me, fajitas should be grilled with a strong mesquite flavor. So, yes, so far Chili's is the only place I can find that kind of fajitas. Thanks for the suggestions - I'll try a few of them.
Tex Mex Fajitas in RTP Area
Can anyone tell me where I can find good grilled steak fajitas in the Raleigh area? I'm not talking about the kind you get at the chain mexican places. I want the grilled steak or chicken that has the flavors of mesquite, soy, cumin and chili with some good fresh tortillas, some nice pico, sour cream and cheese. I just relocated back from the DC area and miss the fajitas I could find up there. So, far the best I have found here is Chili's and I know there has to be something better than that!
Hats off to Chili's Bar and Grill
The Oldtimer has been my favorite burger for as long as I can remember. It does include raw onions too. The burger comes with cheese, lettuce, mustard, onions, a slice of tomato and the best dill pickles on any burger. The bun is perfectly toasted. I also ask for a small dish (salad dressing type size) of their chili and dip my burger in that. They used to have a burger at Chili's called the Terlingua Pride which was the Oldtimer with chili on it. Amazingly, a place called Chili's removed this "chili burger" from their menu. but, they happily bring the small side of it and I am never charged for it. Man a Chili's burger sounds good.
We ended up at TGI Friday's with friends today for lunch and I had a horrible burger there. Tasted like the ones I used to get from the school cafeteria in high school. And, sadly, there was a Chili's right next door where I could have had such a better burger. :(
