- 35 Chinese Restaurant
1135 Kildaire Farm Rd. Cary and Franklin St. Chapel Hill
****
The Cary version isn't really worth mentioning, but the Chapel Hill buffet is the best in the business! Plenty of variety makes this a great choice for groups.
- Abbey Road
Chatham Street, Cary
****
This is a cute place. Abbey Road has great 50's & 60's posters and memorablilia on the walls and good food. The bill of fare features mostly sandwiches and hamburgers at a very reasonable price. This is probably a good family restaurant, but it's also great for social occasions. It's not so loud that you can't hear your companions talk, but it's still fun.
- Bahama Breeze
Wake Forest Road, Raleigh
*****
This hot spot in Raleigh has only one flaw--the wait. Expect a 2 hour wait on the weekend...half an hour to an hour on weeknights. Bahama Breeze has two features that make it exceptional: The food and the service.
The food is Caribbean and FABULOUS. It's the only place in the area that serves specialties like Ropa Vieja (stringy, tasty beef) and Paella. Eric seems partial to the beef kabobs. The portions are VERY generous, and there is *always* a waiter available to assist you. I highly recommend this restaurant as long as you have some serious time to kill.
- Bandido's
Franklin St. Chapel Hill
*****
There are two things about Bandido's that make it stand out over other Mexican Restaurants.
1. The cheese. They are very generous with the cheese, and if you like monterey jack, you'll love Bandido's.
2. The flan. Homemade and the best I've had, it's not always available. Most of the waitstaff are college kids, so it's a little disturbing to have English-speaking waiters, but the food is 100% Mexican.
- Baxter's Blue Marlin
Kildaire Farm at Cary Pkway, Cary
***
The atmosphere is lovely and the service is attentive. This unfortunately does not make up for the limited menu or lackluster food. I felt like a deer at a salt lick while eating my grilled Mahi, and Eric's "medium" steak was well-done.
- Bourbon Street Oyster Bar
MacGregor Village, Cary
*
We waited about 2 hours to get into this trendy Cary tradition. Was it worth it? Certainly not. Neither of us were impressed with the quality of the seafood (I'm starting to think that there is NO good seafood in the Triangle) and our waitress was horrible. Not to mention that everyone acts as though you should feel privileged to be there. Puh-leeze.
- Caffé Luna
136 E. Hargett St, Raleigh
***
Caffe Luna is a lovely place. The food is excellent, and service is above par. I find the prices to be a bit high, particularly for a lunch menu, but you're getting an above-average meal, so I suppose that can be justified. My only real complaint is that there seem to be a lot of tables crammed into a small space, which makes it a bit noisy. I tend to prefer a more private dining experience.
- Casa Carbone Ristorante Italiano
6019-A Glenwood Ave. Raleigh
****
Great Italian family-style restaurant. It's not flashy and there are no gimmicks, but the superb food and great service make this an excellent choice.
- Chuck 'Ems
4300 NW Cary Parkway Cary
***
It used to be Jasper's, but it's been converted into a sports bar. Basically, that just means that big-screen TV's have been added to the place, but everything else is the same. weird. The food is consistently good, but not anything special.
- Conga
Morrisville
***
This is another I loved it and Eric hated it scenario. Conga serves Cuban food. I felt the ropa vieja was excellent, although I enjoy the fried plantains at the Oakwood Cafe are better. Eric really didn't care for this restaurant, and the wait staff was really slow.
- Cooper's Family Barbecue
Davie St. Raleigh
***
Only open until 6pm! If you're looking for down-home North Carolina cooking at a fair price in an old-time diner, this is your place. A BBQ sandwich, fries, and hush puppies costs $3.95. I'm not sure how they stay in business at such prices, but their fries are superb and it's authentic, NC-style barbecue and VERY sweet tea. The atmosphere leaves something to be desired, though.
- Copeland's
Walnut Street, Cary
****
Welcome to great eating! Cajun food is served up here in huge portions. The prices are more bearable this way, knowing you'll get another meal out of your entree to take to work the next day. Service is slow on the weekends, but is friendly and competent. My personal fave is the Jambalaya.
- Crazy Fire Mongolian Grill
1270 Buck Jones Rd Raleigh
****
I have to say that Crazy Fire is one of my all-time favorite places to eat. It's not fancy, but you're always going to get good food, provided that you yourself are a great cook! It's a raw buffet, meaning you pick out the meat, veggies, & sauces, and then the chefs cook it up in front of you. It will be as good as you can make it. It's fast and very easy for people on diets b/c you choose what you want to eat. The dinner buffet is $9.95, which is IMHO a great deal.
- El Migueleno
2701 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh
****
I wish this restaurant had a better location, because the mix of Mexican and Salvadoran dishes is marvelous. If you're tired of the ubiquitous "Speedy Gonzales" lunch special avaliable at every restaurante in town, El Migueleno is the place for you. Try the pupusas. You'll thank me.
- Duck and Dumpling
Blount St., Raleigh
***
There are advantages and disadvantages to Duck & Dumpling. The two main advantages are that the ambience is quite lovely, and I love their Braised Filet Cubes. The downside is that I haven't liked anything else there. Plus, the nouveau portions are barely enough to fill one of my shih tzus, and you're paying a lot for that doggie meal.
- El Rodeo
Various locations
*****
There are several locations, but I have to say that my two favorites are on Franklin St. in Chapel Hill and Blount Street in Raleigh. The one on Blount Street has some particularly lovely murals that make it worth the trip. The food and service are FAST, and the $5.95 lunch specials are consistently superb.
- Green Papaya
6404 Tryon Rd Cary NC
**
We tried this out when we were in the neighborhood. It's a menu of Vietnamese/Chinese. Now frankly, I'm not a big fan of Vietnamese cuisine, & Eric isn't adventurous enough to try it, so we ordered from the Chinese menu. My wonton soup smelled like sewer water, but it was actually pretty good. Strangely, it was full of cilantro, which I don't think I've ever had, but although the flavor was unusual, I liked it. After that followed the worst General's chicken I ever had. Eric had sweet & sour chicken and said it was likewise awful. So, we probably wouldn't go back, but I've heard a couple of people comment positively on the Vietnamese menu. Might be worth a try for that.
- Gypsy's Shiny Diner
Buck Jones Road, Cary
****
This really is a SHINY diner. I'm personally a fan of the juke boxes at the table. Great oldies music. The menu consists of sandwiches, hamburgers, and breakfast items. The food is good, and the prices are *unbeatable*. Where else (besides Wendy's) can you eat a great dinner for less than $6? Try the awesome butterfly chips with bleu cheese dressing. Yum.
- Hibernian Restaurant & Pub
1144 Kildaire Farm Rd, Cary
****
I hope this place does well, b/c they're in the location of death. That restaurant changes owners more frequently than I change my underwear. I was presently surprised with a very well-cooked steak, and they have outdoor dining which is something of a rarity in Cary. Great addition to our fair city.
- Hector's
Franklin St. (above Caffe Trio) Chapel Hill
*
Would you like some grease? Have some.
- Jill's Grill
875 Walnut St., Cary
**
Jill's offers typical diner food at low prices. If you don't have much time for lunch, but you just can't stomach McDonald's again, then give it a try. Jill herself is friendly and wins back loyal locals, and if I had a dime for every time I ever heard someone say "Have you ever had her chicken salad?" I'd be rich. Unfortunately, I myself am not a huge chicken salad fan, so this isn't one of my favorite places to eat.
- Kabuki Japanese House of Steak
220 Nottingham Dr. Cary
*****
Kung Fu meets Julia Child as your meal is prepared for you at your table. It's not cheap ($15-$21 per entree) and the chefs aren't the best, but the food is superior and watching their tricks fail is far more entertaining than the flashy expertise of Kanki in Raleigh. This is one place Eric and I agree on, because the food is ALWAYS good. Always.
- Kanki Japanese House of Steaks
Crabtree Valley Mall Raleigh
***
The chefs are polished and the food is good, but I think Kabuki's got them beat. Kanki's chefs are professionals but not as friendly, and the one thing I don't like is that it's so LOUD in there! Kanki is more impressive, but Kabuki is a better meal.
- Lone Star Steakhouse
1301 Kildaire Farm Rd. Cary
****
Normally, I wouldn't review a national chain, but the Lone Star in Cary is simply THE best place to get a steak in the Triangle. Every steak I've had there has been cooked to perfection. My personal favorite is Rosita's Filet (filet mignon wrapped in bacon). Yum! No steak sauce necessary. If you crave a hunk o' beef, this is the place to go.
- Los Tres Magueyes
110 SW Maynard Rd. Cary
****
This is consistently the BEST Mexican food in Cary. The waiters don't speak much English, and if there's a wait they give you a post-it note with a number on it, but everyone's friendly and the food is standard Mexican fare. You can't beat the prices, either. It may not be the classiest of restaurants, but if you crave a burrito and some tortilla chips, this is your place.
- Michelangelo's
941 N. Harrison Ave, Cary
****
Michelangelo's offers a great, cheap pizza buffet in the evenings. They also have lightning-fast delivery. Oh, and the pizza's pretty good too! Great place.
- Neo China
Maynard Rd at High House, Cary
****
Neo China offers great Chinese food in an upscale atmosphere. This is the perfect spot for the business lunch or first date. Service is fast and friendly, but it's a little pricier than what I'm used to paying for Chinese food.
- Parizade
2200 W. Main St., Durham
*
Parizade reminds me of my dog Ginger: Pretty to look at, but not a lot going on inside. The restaurant itself is beautiful, the staff is attentive and friendly, and the menu looks excellent. Then you order some actual food and the experience goes downhill. The dishes sound promising and all have a mediterranean flair, but the food just doesn't live up to the expectations. I think you can get better food at Chili's. Skip the dessert menu and head to the Mad Hatter bake shop next door!
- Romano's Macaroni Grill
740 SE maynard Rd. Cary and 15-501 in Durham
*****
Great Italian food, ok prices. Both restaurants are equal. The scampi is the best I've tasted. Opera singers roam the restaurant, and you and your friends can draw on the paper tablecloths with crayons. All in all, a superb dining experience, although it's a little noisy.
- Serendipity
118 S. Academy St, Cary
***
Eric loves this lunch spot, as do many yuppie Cary-ites looking for gourmet sandwiches a cut above Subway. To me, a sandwich is a sandwich no matter what kind of fancy bread you use, and it's hard for me to get excited about that.
- Tasca Brava
Cary Parkway and Old Apex Rd. in Cary
****
Tasca Brava could be a 5-star in my book if they sped up the service a bit. They serve Spanish tapas and some South American dishes. We've been twice and I loved it. I thought the food was
excellent, but a little pricey. I used to recommend the Chorizo Arepas (sort of like tortillas with sausage), but they changed them and now they melt cheese and tomato sauce on them like they're pizza. Tip to all you would-be restauranteurs: Don't Americanize your ethnic food. I still recommend the Gambas al Ajillo (shrimp in garlic-- bring a mint!), Sancocho (chicken soup), paella (if it's being served), and churros con chocolate for dessert. Wonderful food and unique for the area. Each tapa is about $6, which I feel is a little high.
Service is incredibly friendly, but *painfully* slow. Don't go if you're
in a hurry.
- The Angus Barn
US Highway 70, Raleigh
**
The Angus Barn is the pride of Raleigh. It has been featured on national television and in magazines, and it is considered fine dining at its best. That being said, we were highly disappointed with our meal. If I'm shelling out $80 for two steak dinners (without wine) then I'm expecting superior food. What I got were saltine-style crackers before the meal, steaks that weren't anything to write home about, and service that might have been better than what I get at Hardee's, but not much. It's just not worth the price. If you've got money burning a hole in your pocket, then maybe this is the place for you, but otherwise, I'd head to the Lone Star.
- The Oakwood Cafe
Corner of Person and Edenton Street, Raleigh
****
The Oakwood is one of my favorite lunch places. Skip the diner fare and head to the Cuban and Argentinian specialties, like Milanesa, Cuban style roast pork, and fried plantains. Isn't your mouth watering yet? It should be. the only reason I don't give it another star is because the service is slooooooooow. Not a great dinner place, but awesome for lunch if you have some extra time.
- The Peddler Steak House
6005 Glenwood Ave. Raleigh
*
It's expensive, and the portions are tiny. Not worth a trip.
- The Rathskellar
Franklin St. Chapel Hill
***
The food is ok, not spectacular, but Chapel Hillians (and tourists) flock to this restaurant for *atmosphere*. There are various rooms, each unique, and after you've been a few times you might wonder how the waitstaff can find their way through the labyrinth. Interesting a few times, but I would never be a regular customer.
- The Warehouse Restaurant
218 W. Cabarrus St. Raleigh
*
I could write pages about how much I hated this restaurant. Supposedly, the menu offers "American Tapas." I lived in Spain, people, and these are not tapas. I'm not even sure they're American. The food was awful--the purple mashed potatoes were particularly nasty. The staff acted as though we should be grateful to be in their restaurant, and I despise pretentious 19-year-old waiters. The only good thing I can say is that the furniture is all antique and for sale, so the decor is wonderful. However, this is the new "hip" place to eat in Raleigh, and I'm convinced the people who like it are those who can't form their own opinions.
- Tony's 42nd Street Oyster Bar
West Street, Raleigh
**
The atmosphere at Tony's is great. It's an old warehouse with high ceilings and strange sayings painted on the walls. The waiter we had (Toby) was fantastic. Naturally, this is a seafood restaurant. Unfortunately, they don't serve good seafood. I had the cajun fried shrimp, which were awful, and Eric had the fried flounder (equally bad). Hush Puppies were good, though.
- Top of the Hill
Franklin St. Chapel Hill
****
Restaurant and microbrewery in one! They get an A+ for atmosphere (great view!) and the food's not bad, either. A great "date" restaurant.
- Torero's
Cary
*
This is a review ONLY about the Torero's in Cary. There's also a Torero's in Durham that's pretty good, and there's probably one in Raleigh.
Torero's serves very BAD Mexican food. The more Mexican restaurants we go to in Cary, the more I keep wondering why we don't just stick with Los Tres Magueyes. The chips were stale, the salsa was watery, and the burritos were particularly nasty. AVOID this restaurant. Mala comida.
- Vic's Italian Restaurant
331 Blake St., Raleigh
**
I would say that Vic's is ok as a lunch spot. The pizza & calzones are very good. I'm not a big fan of their pasta, though. There's much better Italian food in the Triangle, but if you're in the area, it's worth a try.
Last updated 04/09/04
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