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Decorate with Raleigh
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Greetings from Raleigh, North Carolina
Apr
15
SONO Slammed on Popular Website
Filed Under Business, Food and Beverage | 2 Comments
If SONO believes that there is no such thing as bad publicity, they’ll be thrilled to see that they’ve been featured on The Consumerist. The popular pro-consumer website receives close to a million visitors per month and has already collected 71 comments and 8,481 viewings since it was published yesterday.
More likely than being pleased with the coverage, they’re likely horrified - assuming they even know. As stated in the link and all right and wrong aside, keeping your customers happy is the name of the game, especially early on.
…”when you are new you are busy but 4 months down the road it will only be repeat business that keeps these places open and I will not visit there again. “
Links:
Consumerist story | SONO Website
Feb
4
Free Wine Tastings at Amra’s
Filed Under Food and Beverage, Entertainment | 4 Comments
Beginning tomorrow, Amra’s (map) will be hosting a series of free wine tastings on Tuesday nights. The full schedule is below.
- February 5 - Winemaker from Puerto Viejo Wines
- February 12 - Wine Trading Company
- March 11 - Ararat Wines
- April 8 - Epicur Wines
- May 13 - Mutual Wines
- June 10 - Wine Trading Company
- July 8 - Dionysus Wines
- August 12 - Epicur Wines
- September 9 - Mutual Wines
- October 14 - Turner Wine Imports
- November 11 - Turner Wine Imports
- December 9 - Epicur Wines
If you’ve never been to Amra’s, I’d recommend giving it a shot. As a cigar and jazz club, it has a really nice feel to it and can be a nice alternative to the traditional pub. My only complaint is that it can be a little too noisy when trying to catch up with friends.
Dec
28
Opening up the Vault: The Mint Restaurant Prepares to Open
Filed Under Development, Food and Beverage | 45 Comments
The Mint, a controversial new Fayetteville Street restaurant, is getting close to opening. If you walk down Exchange Plaza, you’ll notice that an outdoor seating area has been added complete with outdoor heating. And if you peer into the windows at the 219 Fayetteville Street / One Exchange Plaza address you can see that the floors are done, the tables are there and a lot of the artwork is already on the walls.
It looks nice, but the question is: Will it be good enough to justify everything the city has invested in it? Yes, it’s been rumored/heard that the city has invested in this restaurant.
It’s no secret that the city wants the newly reopened Fayetteville Street to be a huge success. Nevertheless, it hardly seems fair to other restaurant owners in the downtown area – especially those existing restaurants on Fayetteville Street who had to weather a lull during the construction period. Why does the Mint get help when everyone else has to fend for themselves? On top of that, I’ve heard that the Mint is supposed to be an upscale place. I wonder how lower-income taxpayers feel about helping to pay for a place that they might never be able to afford.
That said, look for me in Exchange Plaza on New Years. I’ll just be the one asking for my 10% tax-payers discount…
Editors note: Take this story for what you will. It should not be considered fact, and if quotable sources were available they’d be included. That said, it you have news or know more about The Mint and the city’s involvement, feel free to contribute with a comment.
Nov
12
As the temperature drops, it seems only natural to migrate towards a heartier meal. Comfort foods and bigger portions are just a more natural choice for the Fall and Winter seasons. Plus, a shortened day makes it easier to blow off that gym visit or an evening walk, and subconsciously you know that most people can’t see a few extra few pounds beneath your festive Holiday sweater.
So, where might you start packing on those winter pounds? The list below is a good starting point.
1. Mitch’s Tavern (location)
A bowl of Mitch’s chili is perhaps the quintessential winter meal. Combine with a few Miller High Life bottles to complete the experience.
2. South (link | location)
Nothing puts you squarely on your arse like a full plate of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and collard greens–and if you’re going to put your body through the agonizing digestion that will likely ensue, why not do it right. Read more
Sep
20
Local Restaurants to Join RDU
Filed Under Development, Food and Beverage | 7 Comments
Triangle Business Journal is reporting that Carolina Ale House and 42nd Street Oyster Bar will be among several new additions to RDU’s newly renovated Terminal C.
It will be interesting to see if this is little more than a name-lending move for these notable local establishments, particularly the Oyster Bar. An ‘Olde Raleigh mainstay steeped in tradition, I find it interesting that they’d look to expand into such an impersonal arena. It also seems curious they’d risk their brand by sharing walls with a cheese-ball gift shop or a burger joint full of disgruntled employees. I don’t really think the the downtown location will suffer from this and I’m sure that the regulars could care less, but like an ill-prepared oyster, it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Links:
Full article from TBJ
RDU Terminal C Developments
42nd Street Oyster Bar
Sep
12
19th Hole (In the Wall)
Filed Under Editorial, Food and Beverage | 6 Comments
Hole-in-the-wall bars are special places. They’re not hip or trendy and they usually aren’t even the best at what they do. What they lack however is usually what makes them great. The definition or qualifying characteristics of a hole-in-the-wall or dive bar can vary widely from patron to patron, but here are a few common characteristics that set if off for me:
- at least one sketchy guy at the bar that probably shouldn’t have had those last 3 Budweisers
- a small contingency of locals who are way too eager to protect their local hangout with menacing glares capable of penetrating the thickest of second-hand smoke clouds
- a physical location that leaves you wondering – how many beers did it take to decide that this was a good place for a bar?
- decorations that resembles your dorm room without the attention to detail, and
- either a rough-around-the-edges “lifer” behind the bar or a 30-something with an English degree holding out for a job to in middle management
A recent excursion to the 19th Hole bar and grill in the Lake Boone Shopping Center is to blame for this trip down dive bar lane, and it also left me wracking my brain for other notable hole-in-the-wall bars throughout Raleigh. A few that come to mind: Read more
Aug
3
A Different Kind of Happy Hour
Filed Under Food and Beverage | 7 Comments
Half-filled bars, loosened neck ties and yesterday’s sports highlights are what come to my mind when you mention the words “happy hour.” This isn’t your only local option though. If you’re looking for something different than the typical post-work brews, look no further than one of North Carolina’s up-and-coming wineries.
The words “winery” and “Raleigh”, or North Carolina for that matter, don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand. This is a part of the country and world that has never historically been known for producing much more than mountain moonshine. That trend may be changing though–right here in our backyard. Read more
Aug
1
My boss falls into a category I like to refer to as “olde Raleigh”. Nevertheless, I often make the mistake of talking to my boss as though I know more about Raleigh than she does. For example, the other day I mentioned that I heard Snoopy’s had the best hot dog in town. She immediately launched into a 20-minute diatribe about this place called the Roast Grill. Appalled that I had never been there, she actually ordered me to go to lunch there today.
For those of you who have not been there (and I suspect a lot of you “new” Raleigh folks have not) the Roast Grill is a tiny wiener wonderland located at 7 S. West Street, just off Hillsborough Street in downtown. Read more
Jul
29
Where is Isaac Hunter’s Tavern?
Filed Under History, Editorial, Food and Beverage | 4 Comments
It seems to be a cool thing these days to give pubs or restaurants historically significant names. This is especially true if you can establish a connection to that name.
Take, for example, the Raleigh Times. The “Times” and its neighbor/partner “The Morning Times” have taken Raleigh’s old afternoon paper building from the early 1900s and turned into a bar and a coffee shop. Like everyone else, my hat goes off to Greg and the gang at Empire Properties for not only opening up some nice hang-out spots, but also for preserving a bit of the local history in the process.
Judging from the fact that I almost never see an empty table or chair as I stroll by The Times or the fact that the Morning Times has turned into a veritable who’s-who of downtown Raleigh from about 7 to 10am, it seems like the whole community history appreciation thing hasn’t hurt the profit margin.
Here’s my question, though: Where is Isaac Hunter’s Tavern? After all, it may very well be the reason we have a Raleigh to begin with. Read more
Jul
26
Finding Italy on a Raleigh map
Filed Under Food and Beverage | 6 Comments
I believe that the best food in this city, or any other, can only really be enjoyed to its fullest if the company you dine with and the surroundings of the establishment complement that cuisine, or even raise it to a level that could not be attained by the food alone. Such thinking often takes me to Italian restaurants, where hearty red wines and fresh-made pastas are surpassed only by the great conversations served throughout the meal.
We are quite fortunate to have several authentic and noteworthy Italian restaurants in Raleigh. My top 5, including one which I dined in this evening, are below.
Ninas Ristorante
Ninas has perhaps the most enjoyable authentic setting of the list. With terra cotta walls and a beautiful Tuscan mural, the mood is instantly set for a meal that you’ll want to tell your friends about for several days to come.
Casa Carbone
Casa Carbone is the old-schooler of the bunch. The owners opened their first restaurant in 1958 on Hillsborough Street and have stayed true to their roots in terms of settings and excellent Italian food ever since.
518 West
518’s tall ceilings and brick walls create a wonderful setting to enjoy some of the best Italian food in downtown Raleigh. 518 is also great for brunch on Sundays.
Tavola Rossa
Tavola Rossa offers a somewhat eclectic and modern take on Italian. Tucked behind Crabtree Valley Mall, this is a great destination for a business lunch or romantic dinner.
Bella Monica
Bella Monica is the most unassuming of the bunch. This place could easily be taken for a pizza-by-the-slice establishment if you just happened to be walking by. Once you’ve taken the plunge however, you immediately notice the attention to detail in every dish and can appreciate the local feel the restaurant and its patrons have created.
This is only my top 5 and I don’t doubt that I’ve missed one (or several) notable others. Do your part to share the amore by adding to this list with your favorites.
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