Does anyone have an idea as to why Village Kabob on Peace St closed? I loved having great Afghan walking distance from my house. It is now yet another Mediterranean restaurant. Seems like you can't throw a rock in the Triangle without hitting a Mediterranean place.

Any info is appreciated.

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Village Kabob
805 W Peace St, Raleigh, NC 27605

Since you will be a block away from The Borough, I highly recommend walking over for a delicious meal, great drinks, and entertaining staff & patrons. The food is budget friendly as well. The Berkley is good if you want some strong drinks to wash your entertainment down with. Neptune's is another fun place to grab drinks. They usually have a good mix of people and the drinks are interesting. All are extremely walkable.

18 Seaboard & J Betski's are amazing and I highly suggest stopping by for dessert at the very least. You can very easily blow your budget at both these places if you begin venturing down the wine path... And as has been stated, you can hop on the R Line for easy drop off or walk down Glenwood South for a mini-adventure.

If you do feel like talking a short walk down Glenwood Ave (Glenwood is about a block from your hotel), be sure to keep an eye out for the Hibernian Pub. Not because you should eat there, but because on the other side of Glenwood from the Hibernian is a very nondescript door with stairs leading up behind it. Look hard and you will see in small print "Rockford". It should say "Enter here for sandwich heaven" because that is truly what awaits you inside. Might I suggest the potato salad as a side.

For later night eating, David's Noodle and Dumpling Bar is a hit. The curry soup is divine and the staff is wonderful. Next door to DNDB is the Player's Retreat which is nice to catch any number of games at and relax. (You would want to cab it to DNDB & the PR)

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18 Seaboard
18 Seaboard, Raleigh, NC 27604

Hibernian Pub
311 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603

J Betski's
10 W Franklin St, Raleigh, NC 27604

I am growing more and more disgusted with Unholey Foods (Whole Foods, AKA the WalMart for hippies) and am disheartened that finding a good locally owned source for cheese has been so difficult. I know the farmers markets usually have Celebrity and/or one of the other local dairies available. My issue is when the weather gets cold, what do I do? I have no issue with Earth Fare (based in Asheville), but it doesn't always have the best looking cheese.

Is Weaver Street a good source?

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Earth Fare
12235 N Community House Rd, Charlotte, NC

The guy who was the cheese buyer at WF Raleigh (and I believe still is, Zak) is brilliant with cheese. Absolutely brilliant. He makes sure to run a time ship as far as freshness and ordering and does not hesitate to talk whenever you have a question. If you get a chance to stop by and he's there, ask him for a recommendation and he'll be spot on.

For the record, I despise Whole Foods, but the cheese selection can't be beat.

Hello,

I just started working in RTP and have to do the long commute thing until I get moved closer which means either pack a lunch (almost impossible when there are packing boxes everywhere) or go out to eat. Any type of food is fine as long as it's good. I'm even willing to wait a bit if they are super crowded during lunch hours.

After work I want a place to unwind with co-workers maybe grab a bite to eat so I'd love some suggestions for that as well.

Thanks all!

Downtown has some great places to eat, but can be wall to wall at different times.

The Borough is really laid back from opening until about 10:30pm when it usually fills up with the post dinner/pre-going out scene.

Moonlight Pizza has some nice pies and a nice patio where you smell the jasmine and usually has a good crowd, not too full.

Five Star is good until 10-ish when it turns into more of a club. There is a DJ and sometimes the music is not so great.

Humble Pie has great desserts, but I haven't eaten their entrees.

For dinner, I agree for the most part, but at Rue Cler or The Mint I'd end up blowing more than $25 for 3 courses. Even though the offerings aren't terribly imaginative, the quality of the food is worth the understated complexity in my opinion.

Lunch, I think is a good value at a few of the places, but again, I don't usually drop $15 for lunch at The Oxford.

I have to plug the Celebrity Sunday dinners. Have been a few times and they are amazing! Plus it's fun to play with the goats :)

Who's going where and when? I'm definitely doing Rue Cler for dinner.

http://www.trirestaurantweek.com/

J. Betski's is amazing for dinner. They make a lot of things in house (limoncello, sausages, quark, etc).
If you're up for it, the Farmer's Market Restaurant in Raleigh is a nice breakfast, but I enjoy the character watching as much as the food which is definitely has a Southern bend to it.
Mythos in Cary is delicious, but be sure to sit outside. The inside decor leaves much to be desired.
It might be earlier than your travel dates; however Celebrity Dairy does the great Sunday dinners once a month and in May it is the 18th.

Am I the only one in Raleigh who can't stand The Pit? At any rate, The Borough has several vegetarian options, but is only open after 4pm. However, it is a great laid back atmosphere and the staff is great. Love J. Betski's and 18 Seaboard for a more upscale feel.

I like to pre-order their mini-cupcakes as they seem to be moister than the regular size ones and the frosting ratio is a little better in my opinion.

My vote for best in Raleigh area is J. Betski's hands down. Everyone should try them at least once. The menu changes seasonally and I go every time they change.

Tip: They make the Lemoncello in house and it's divine!