If you’re a foodie and live in Raleigh, well I’ve got some good news for you. It’s that time of the year for the Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week from August 21 – 27! Admittedly there are a bunch of restaurant weeks to keep up with but this one’s pretty simple since it’s focused on the Oak City. And it’s a bit more affordable with lunches in the $5 to $10 range along with dinners at $21 and $31. I’ve already started to scan the menus (some are still coming in) and setting up a plan of attack! But here’s what caught my eye on the menus. I’m including links to my reviews when available!
18 Seaboard Restaurant – This long-time Raleigh favorite serving up Southern cuisine always does a nice job for restaurant week! The charred watermelon gazpacho and classic shrimp and grits would be on my mind.
The Big Easy – A fun and boisterous Cajun-New Orleans style eatery on Fayetteville Street. Very interesting space with a diverse menu featuring alligator bites and crawfish etouffe, yum!
Carolina Ale House – It’s simple, it’s casual and if you like sports, you can’t go wrong with Carolina Ale House. The food has definitely gotten better, in my opinion and the Glenwood Avenue location can’t be beat with its patio!
Five Star – Another Raleigh favorite, Five Star has really improved its food game over the years. And with a $21 dinner menu for 4 different starters and 5 mains, you’ll find something here to keep you happy (heatseeker shrimp, crispy sesame beef).
Plates Neighborhood Kitchen – Plates always does a great job for restaurant week and given their excellent service and quiet patio, always highly recommend a visit here! The sticky toffee pudding is the signature dessert to get.
Provenance – A fancier, avant-garde restaurant for Raleigh, they recently changed chefs but I’ve continued to hear good things about Provenance. The chicken confit buns and farmer’s agnolotti sound pretty tasty to me.
Royale – Given the $31 three-course meal option, you’re going to get a great value at Royale! I’d have my eye on the garlic soup, duck leg confit and profiteroles given the classic French menu here.
Trophy Tap & Table – And I’ve had the chance to eat at Trophy Tap & Table once and was impressed with their simple but well-done eats. They’ve got a nice menu of 3 appetizers, 3 entrees and 3 desserts covering Southern eats and a lot more. A nice deal at $21.
2017 Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week, August 21 – 27
18 Seaboard Restaurant // $31 Dinner Menu
Course 1
Charred Watermelon Gazpacho
with jalapeno meringue, pickled watermelon rind, and basil
Butterhead Salad
with burnt peach, goat cheese, pancetta arrotolata, and sprite melon vinaigrette
Oyster Beignet
with crystal cane syrup, cotija, and citrus marigold
Course 2
Shrimp and Grits
with Pamlico Sound shrimp, cheddar grits, bacon, mushroom.pepper, and scallion
Woodfire Grilled Pork Tenderloin
with farmers market succotash, grilled okra, burnt tomato vinegar
Farmer Market Lasagna
with cashew ricotta and smoked tomato gravy
Course 3
Tomato and Peach Icebox Cake
Buttermilk Creme Brulee
with fresh peaches
Chocolate Mug Cake
with House made marshmallow fluff
The Big Easy // $21 Dinner Menu
Course 1
Louisiana Pretzel
Soft baked pretzel smothered with a crab and artichoke dip and topped with parmesan cheese.
Alligator Bites
Straight from the Bayou, marinated alligator tails quick fried in a creole breading, served with Dijon mustard.
Crab Stuffed Poppers
Poppers stuffed with crab, cheese, and jalapenos, breaded and fried.
Pimento Fritters
Homemade pimento cheese, breaded and fried. Served with ranch dressing.
Course 2
House Salad
Spring mix, served with tomatoes, mushrooms, cucumbers, onions, croutons and cheddar cheese.
Caesar salad
Crisp hearts of romaine, tomatoes, red onions, croutons, and parmesan cheese, tossed in Caesar dressing.
Course 3
Jamabalaya
Chicken, tasso ham, Andouille sausage, trinity vegetables and rice, topped with spicy creole sauce.
Crawfish Etouffee
Plump Louisiana crawfish sautéed in a butter roux with trinity vegetables and spices served over rice.
Chicken Opelousas
Egg battered chicken breast slow cooked in a artichoke, mushroom, and white wine sauce. Served with rice and fried spinach.
Shrimp Platter
Fresh shrimp perfectly fried to a golden brown. Served with hand cut fries and coleslaw.
Cheese Ravioli
Spinach ravioli filled with a three cheese blend served with a blue cheese cream sauce. Topped with seasonal vegetables.
Carolina Ale House // $21 Dinner Menu
Course 1
Cheese Curds
Wisconsin White Cheddar fried bites with red pepper jalapeño jam.
Frickles
Fried dill pickle chips with housemade horseradish ranch.
Course 2
Southwest Chicken
Grilled chicken breast, topped with guacamole, spicy pico de gallo, crisp onion strings and a tomato gravy with Southwestern rice.
Chorizo Meatloaf
Housemade with ground beef, bacon, chorizo sausage, poblano peppers and savory seasonings. House mashed Yukon Gold potaotes, chipotle-bacon gravy and crisp onion strings.
Grilled Chicken Apple Walnut Blue Cheese Salad
Grilled chicken breast, julienne apple, walnuts, mixed greens, blue cheese crumbles, cucumbers, craisins, and Balsamic Vinaigrette.
Course 3
Turtle Caramel Cheesecake
Creamy NY-style cheesecake with a graham cracker crust. Topped with walnuts, caramel, and chocolate sauce.
Peach Cobbler
Covered with a walnut brown sugar crumb topping and baked warm with Breyers® Vanilla ice cream and a dusting of cinnamon.
Five Star // $21 Dinner Menu
Course 1
Curry chicken empanada
Heat seeker shrimp
Japanese eggplant
Crab rangoons
Course 2
Five star generals chicken
Crispy sesame beef
Honey walnut shrimp
Salmon with Thai chile-honey glaze
Chinese spiced ribeye
Course 3
Warm chocolate cake with ice cream
Coconut rice pudding with fresh fruit
Mango sorbet
Plates Kitchen // $31 Dinner Menu
Course 1
Twice Cooked Pork Cheeks
Braised and fried pork cheeks, Hoppin’ John with field peas, heirloom tomato, local greens
Oysters Bienville
Baked oysters stuffed with mushroom, pepper, Grana Padano, roux, bread crumbs
“Second Season” Fig Salad
Raleigh City Farm greens, local figs, house made mascarpone cheese, hazelnuts, Pedro Ximénez vinaigrette
Course 2
Worldly Short Ribs
Soy garlic glaze, edamame puree, quick kimchi, carrots, bok choy
Catch of the Day
Pico de gallo, farm greens salad with key lime vinaigrette-marinated cannellini beans
Squash Spaghetti Marinara
Julienne local squash, shiitake mushroom, NC grown field peas, red pepper, edamame
Course 3
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Moist and sweet date cake covered with vanilla toffee sauce, whipped cream
Chocolate Peanut Butter S’more
Chocolate flourless cake, peanut butter, marshmallow, caramel sauce, candied peanuts (gluten free)
White Chocolate Bread Pudding
NC peach ice cream, creme anglaise, toasted pecans
Provenance // $31 Dinner Menu
Course 1
Heirloom Tomato Salad
cucumbers, sunflower shoots, herbed ricotta, savory eclair
Chicken Liver Toast
lusty monk mustard, pickled summer vegetables, brown butter crumble
Chicken Confit Steam Buns
kimchi, savory lemon curd, pickled summer vegetables
Course 2
Pork Loin
Carolina gold rice, herb puree bound field peas, summer vegetables
Steak Frites
salt and vinegar fries, potato puree, mushrooms, bearnaise
Carolina Coast Catch
Carolina gold rice and squash risotto, shaved vegetables, beurre blanc
Farmers Market Agnolotti
shaved vegetables, brown butter, crumble, beurre blanc
Course 3
Sorghum Panna Cotta
pecan praline, smoked vanilla ice cream
Paris-brest
seasonal fruit, pastry cream, caramel
Chocolate Mousse
coffee ice cream, oat crumble
Royale // $31 Dinner Menu
Course 1
Garlic Soup
Grilled Radicchio
served with arugula endive pomegranate seeds and whipped goat cheese
Heirloom Tomato Salad
served with croutons black pepper aioli and scallions
Course 2
Duck Leg Confit
over Royale Potato Salad with salsa verde
The Royale Burger
Locals Shrimp Pasta
with summer vegetables and basil
Course 3
Peanut Butter Tart
Profiteroles
Trophy Tap + Table // $21 Dinner Menu
Course 1
Trophy Poached Shrimp Salad
local heirloom tomatoes/IPA poached coastal shrimp/arugula/candied peach vinaigrette
Cornmeal Hushpuppies
black pepper honey
Smoked Chicken Empanadas
charred serrano + cilantro salsa/pickled onions
Course 2
Picnic Style Brisket
BBQ baked beans/roasted corn/potato salad/toast
Blackened Quarter Chicken
pickled okra/cheddar biscuit/buttermilk crema
Baja Fish Tacos
shredded cabbage/green onion/jasmine rice/lime sour cream
Course 3
Tres Leche Cake
horchata whipped cream/toasted cinnamon
Chocolate Chess Pie
chantilly cream/lemon zest
Mango Sorbet
sweet chile + brown sugar dust