Media Archives ~ Page 3 of 7 ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

December 4, 2017 by Ron Wen

Media: Maverick’s Smokehouse in Durham for the Great Taste of Southern Barbeque

Maverick's Smokehouse in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Maverick’s Smokehouse in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Out near W. Main Street in Durham we’ve seen a surge of new restaurants and one of the newest, is actually a classic old spot! The new Maverick’s Smokehouse and Taproom sits in the old space that used to be Alivia’s Bistro, a favorite hang-out for locals. And while Alivia’s was always a decent option to stop in for a drink, the food was never that exciting which is why it was great to hear about the transition to barbeque and smoked meats. And thankfully a media invite to preview the new Maverick’s Smokehouse landing in my email inbox. Here’s what to expect when you visit!

Dining room at Maverick's Smokehouse in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Dining room at Maverick’s Smokehouse in Durham – nctriangledining.com

As I walk up to Maverick’s Smokehouse, the patio is crowded with people for their official grand opening. Alivia’s main attraction was its great corner patio and Maverick’s Smokehouse is making great use of that prime space. Inside, the place has been substantially renovated going with a casual Western theme befitting their barbeque focus. Most of the dining room is focused on wood in all its forms: heavy grained wooden tables, weathered wood bar stools and rustic planks on the walls and bar face. Overhead there are a handful of caged tungsten bulbs hanging off of worn mechanical pulleys as table lighting, cool! The space is open and comfortable with the long bar in back as the centerpiece of the dining room which was also the case at the old Alivia’s

Long bar at Maverick's Smokehouse in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Long bar at Maverick’s Smokehouse in Durham – nctriangledining.com

We’re handed over menus and I’m happy that Maverick’s Smokehouse covers most of the major meats: barbeque, brisket, Memphis-style ribs and chicken along with chicken and sausage, a veritable Southern barbeque meat-fest! Most meats come in sandwich or plate form along with a handful of starters, salads and 12 or so sides. The selection of entrees are in the $10 to $15 range so prices are very reasonable at Maverick’s Smokehouse. Our table orders up the deviled eggs, smoked charcuterie along with a variety of the meat plates for our entress, we are ready to eat! At each table are anodized tin pails with three barbeque sauces at the ready as your dining condiments.

Deviled eggs at Maverick's Smokehouse in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Deviled eggs at Maverick’s Smokehouse in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Smoked charcuterie plate at Maverick's Smokehouse in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Smoked charcuterie plate at Maverick’s Smokehouse in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Our appetizers show up at the table and while the deviled eggs are nicely done, the smoked “charcuterie” plate is the big winner here! Served up in a HUGE pretzel baked in-house along with smoked sausage, savory bologna and tangy brisket. Along with some quick pickles, pimento cheese and whole-grain mustard, wow! It’s definitely a looker of a plate and a great preview of the menu in one appetizer. Tear off some pretzel bread, add in a bit of pimento or mustard, choose your meat and you’ve got yourself a delicious snacek!

Smoked beef shank at Maverick's Smokehouse in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Smoked beef shank at Maverick’s Smokehouse in Durham – nctriangledining.com

For my entree I’ve gone with the beef shank special, succotash and potato salad with bacon. The shank is pulled off the bone and served in a red sauce, very tender and good mouth-feel due to all the connective tissue in this cut. The succotash was a bit over-cooked (I’d pass here) and the potato salad was super fresh with a speckling of salty bacon inside, very tasty. Oh and don’t miss the hush-puppies here! Nicely fried, substantial and with a hint of onion flavor.

Memphis ribs, wet at Maverick's Smokehouse in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Memphis ribs, wet at Maverick’s Smokehouse in Durham – nctriangledining.com

But I’d have to say the real winner at the table are the Memphis-rub ribs which can be ordered wet or dry. They are meaty pork ribs with a nice smoke ring around them. And paired with the generous sides, certainly a delicious and filling meal for most people. Maverick’s Smokehouse also offers up a decent selection of beers and cocktails to accompany your meal.

Memphis rib smoke-ring at Maverick's Smokehouse in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Memphis rib smoke-ring at Maverick’s Smokehouse in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Service was excellent throughout our visitl but not entirely a surprise given it was a media visit. So thank you Cameron (General Manager) for a very tasty visit to Durham’s newest smokehouse. Based upon the crowds, I’d have to say that the Bull City was hungrily awaiting your arrival and you’re off to a good start. Solid smoked meats, fresh sides and decent prices seem to be the guidelines here. And oh yeah, that fantastic outdoor patio! Can’t wait to visit when the weather warms up at Maverick’s Smokehouse and Taproom, bon appetit!

Maverick’s Smokehouse and Taproom

900 W Main Street

Durham, NC 27701

919.682.8978

Location on Google maps

November 24, 2017 by Ron Wen

Media: It’s a Southern Thing in Durham Offers Up Southern Cuisine Done Delicious

Entrance to It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Entrance to It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to Southern eats, we can’t seem to get enough of it in the Triangle because let’s face it, we’re really good at Southern eats in North Carolina! So it was with some excitement when I heard about the upcoming It’s a Southern Thing in Durham. Taking over the space that used to be Pop’s, Lucia and Motto on W. Main Street, I was hopeful that maybe a more accessible and affordable type of cuisine would do ok in this large space. And thankfully through a media visit and personal visit, I had a chance to experience first-hand what It’s a Southern Thing is bringing to the Bull City. Here’s my take on this new and tasty restaurant for Durham…

Rustic dining room at It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Rustic dining room at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

First, if you haven’t been to this space before, it sits conveniently on Main Street between the downtown Durham core and Brightleaf Square. Which means you can do it for a visit to DPAC if you’re willing to walk a bit (leave the high heels at home). Street parking is a bit limited in this area so be aware! From the outside, It’s a Southern Thing is not that noticeable outside of a large brick wall with paned windows overhead. Find the side entrance and hop upstairs to the warm, cozy dining room. Inside, the space hasn’t changed that much since its days as Motto. You’ll still find the same bulb-lit “BAR” sign overhead but they’ve gone with a more casual interior. No more fancy fabric lamps, in with the barn-door plank tables and a more open and better lit space. With a view into the open kitchen it all feels like you can pop in here for a quick meal rather than a more formal dinner. And the prices here at It’s a Southern Thing reflect that: appetizers and salads are in the $8 to $12 range while entrees run from $14 to $22, pretty good for Durham!

Refreshed dining room at It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Refreshed dining room at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Crab dip and pita points at It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Crab dip and pita points at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Charcuterie board at It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Charcuterie board at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

I’ve had the chance to dine at It’s a Southern Thing for a couple of meals, one a comped media visit and another out of pocket to get a good feel for what they’re doing. The crab dip with pita points is a great starter! Bubbly, cheesy and with plenty of crab inside for flavor, it’s a generous portion and best shared amongst 2 – 4 people. And the charcuterie plate offers a great selection of cured meats, pimento cheese along with these wonderful seeded crackers!

Smoked wings at It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Smoked wings at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Pete-loaf with fingerling potatoes at It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Pete-loaf with fingerling potatoes at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Moving on to the meat and mains, It’s a Southern Thing’s smoked chicken wings are simple but very tasty. Tender with a nicely browned skin, there’s a lot of deliciousness here in this simple preparation. And a big thumbs up for their meatloaf! It’s actually “Pete-loaf” and named after the owner. Instead of a mix of ground beef and pork, they’ve updated the meatloaf with ground bacon instead! So while you get two smaller medallions of meatloaf, it’s super-rich and flavor-packed. Served over roast fingerling potatoes, it’s a great example of the type of comfort food you’ll be served at It’s a Southern Thing and gets a big thumbs-up from me.

Shrimp and grits at It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Shrimp and grits at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

And of course you couldn’t do a Southern restaurant without the ubiquitous shrimp and grits plate! It’s a Southern Thing amps up the flavor of their shrimp and grits with some andouille sausage, tomatoes and chiles, an interesting combination! We also tried their desserts in a mason jars, banana pudding, chocolate mousse and more to finish off your meal in style. Service for both my visits was attentive and pleasant. While the staff is dressed down pretty casually here, they are very service-oriented and well-trained. Overall I think you’ll find It’s a Southern Thing to be a pleasant and tasty dining option in downtown Durham. The food is good, the space is beautiful and it’s all paired with solid service. At the price points they have their menu, It’s a Southern Thing is offering up an excellent option for the lunch and dinner crowd in Bull City. So give em a chance if you’re in there area! Along with Maverick’s Smokehouse, Saint James Seafood and Grub, you’ve now got some interesting new dining options on (and off of) W. Main Street in Durham!

It’s a Southern Thing

605 W Main Street

Durham, NC 27701

919.294.9632

Location on Google maps

July 17, 2017 by Ron Wen

Media: The 41Hundred at North Hills For Delicious Local Beers and Plates

41Hundred at the Renaissance Hotel in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — 41Hundred at the Renaissance Hotel in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

If you’re a fan of North Hills, you’ve probably seen and passed by the Renaissance Hotel many times. Located on the very southern end of North Hills, it hosted a nicely upscale restaurant named Flights for years. It was a fine restaurant, very upscale but more of a special occasions type spot. But time changes everything and Chef Dean Thompson has re-swizzled the culinary efforts at the Renaissance into a more relaxed and casual experience reflecting the changing tastes in Raleigh. Enter 41Hundred, part bar, part lounge and part restaurant. With an upcoming grand opening party on July 25th, you’ll get a chance to see what’s new at the 41Hundred. I had a chance to preview the menu last week and it was a very interesting culinary experience…

Bar at 41Hundred in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Bar at 41Hundred in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Dining room at 41Hundred in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Dining room at 41Hundred in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

When I first entered 41Hundred, which sits on the first floor of the Renaissance Hotel, I didn’t recognize the place. Gone were the 25′ ceilings with fabric wall-hangings from the old Flights. In was a funky looking bar with urban mural and a lot more. I met up with Kristen from Tabletop Media Group who was hosting the event from a PR perspective and the 41Hundred team, including Chef Dean Thompson. I first ran into Chef Dean years ago when he won two of the Fire in the Triangle competitions in 2013 and 2014, so you know he’s got some talent in the kitchen. Peering around the corner, I spy a retro looking dining room with artificial grass flooring, outdoor chairs, and patio lighting overhead. Past the main dining room is a modern nook area with a bookshelf library on display. The dining room feels very open and modern with a glass face shedding a lot of natural light into the space. This is definitely not your typical hotel restaurant and dining area!

We all gather round the tables set up for our media preview and Chef Dean takes us through the menu. While 41Hundred offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, we’ll be focusing on their popular shared plates today. Scanning the menu, it all looks very reasonably priced with all the plates and sandwiches running from $10 to $15. The shareable plates cover a wide range of cuisine types, a very eclectic assortment of flavors! Note the plates pictured here are a bit bigger than normal due to the media event and need to share across a larger table. 41Hundred has also amped up their beer and liquor selection by focusing on many of the great local options we now have in-state.

Menu at 41Hundred in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Menu at 41Hundred in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Roasted cauliflower plate at 41Hundred in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Roasted cauliflower plate at 41Hundred in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Halloumi plate at 41Hundred in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Halloumi plate at 41Hundred in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

We start off with the roasted cauliflower plate which is served with baba ghannoush, pita, olives. It’s a healthy and flavorful offering and the side of harissa (hot chili sauce) adds some spicy pop. Next up is the fried halloumi (semi-hard cheese) served with figs, almonds and heirloom tomatoes, very satisfying! There’s some chewy, crispy and and crunchy happening here and the tomatoes show off a wonderfully crimson skin. If you’re a vegetarian, these are the best options for you out of the shareable plates at 41Hundred.

Tuna poke at 41Hundred in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Tuna poke at 41Hundred in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

‘

Korean BBQ wing at 41Hundred in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Korean BBQ wing at 41Hundred in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Next up is a lovely looking tuna poke plate! Served up with sliced avocado, wasabi aioli and plantain chips, you can keep the eats simple or add some heat by including jalapenos with your bite. A plate of crispy wings show up on the table. A heaping pile of flats and drums slicked with a sweet crispy crunch, these Korean BBQ wings could be very addictive! There’s some sriracha aioli for wing dipping if you’re in the mood.

Oxtail poutine at 41Hundred in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Oxtail poutine at 41Hundred in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Now we’re deep into the meats on the 41Hundred menu. A plate of tender steak tacos disappear quickly (missed a picture) and then the piece de resistance for me, oxtail poutine! I’ve been on a bit of a poutine kick lately. Popular up in Canada, we’re talking about fried covered in gravy and cheese curds, a real meat and potatoes type dish. 41Hundred goes with a luscious oxtail meal and deep brown gravy with chunks of that cheese curd atop. A sprinkle of chives fills out the plate and it is dee-licious! The oxtail meat is super tender and has that mouth-feel given the fat and collagen in this cut. A great use of tender meat and potatoes here, in my opinion!

Hot cheesecake at 41Hundred in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Hot cheesecake at 41Hundred in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Banana pudding at 41Hundred in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Banana pudding at 41Hundred in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

We finish off the media tasting with Chef Dean’s famous hot cheesecake! This closely guarded recipe was handed down to him from the previous executive chef he worked under and after one taste you’ll understand why. The hot cheesecake is light, fluffy with some lemony tang and offers a nice contrast to your typically dense, cold cheesecake. I’m normally not a fan of cheesecake due to its density and texture but this hot cheesecake is eye-opening. And a small serving of banana pudding is wonderfully put together with a drizzle of caramel syrup and toasted coconut flakes.

Phew, that’s a lot of food and I’d have to say that my highlights were the Korean BBQ wings, oxtail poutine, and hot cheesecake! And if it all sounds mouth-watering to you, stop on by for the 41Hundred’s grand opening party on 7/25. They’ll be doing complimentary tastings of their menu and offer some beer and drink samples to the public. The 41Hundred has definitely switched things up here in North Hills. No longer a formal, special events type of destination, it’s brought a more international and casual menu to the dining room which you can enjoy with a nice beer or cocktail at the bar. So if you’re a N. Raleighite, come on by and check things out. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised and your tastebuds tingled…

41Hundred at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel

Grand Opening, July 25th

4100 Main at North Hills Street

Raleigh, NC 27609

919.278.1478

Location on Google maps

July 9, 2017 by Ron Wen

Media: J. Alexander’s in Raleigh for a Modern Steakhouse Dining Experience

J. Alexander's in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — J. Alexander’s in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Are you in the mood for a modern steakhouse and looking for something a bit different? If so, you might want to try out the new J Alexander’s in Raleigh behind Crabtree Valley Mall! I recently received an invite for a media visit to the new restaurant and had a great dinner here. While it has a menu that focuses on meats and seafood, there are a couple of twists in their repertoire. Here’s how my visit went down at the new J. Alexander’s in Raleigh!

Stylish bar at J. Alexander's in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Stylish bar at J. Alexander’s in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

First things first, if you’re looking for J. Alexander’s, finding it is not as easy as you would think. Your GPS will send you to the north side of Crabtree Valley Avenue (by Creedmoor) and you’ll see the restaurant but it’s located above you on a hilltop. Head towards the Edwards Mill Road stub off of Crabtree Valley Avenue, pass a new set of buildings on the left and J. Alexanders will be right in front of you on the left. It’s just not that obvious but stay focused, my foodie friend! Up front, you’ll find a large covered patio at J. Alexander’s along with a demure entrance enhanced by stonework and glass. A simple and quiet restaurant front but things pick up really quickly!

Modern dining room at J. Alexander's in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Modern dining room at J. Alexander’s in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Like most steakhouses, J. Alexander’s has an upscale bar in front and we’re brought around to a booth in the main dining room. The design here is clean and organic in rustic browns and clean blacks making for a very modern space. Tables and booths have plenty of space between them making for a more subdued dining room that works well for conversation. All around the dining room, you’ll find wood paneling and rough-hewn slats overhead giving the space a very warm and welcoming feel. While comparable to Seasons 52 around the corner in terms of price and decor, I like the interior design here a bit more at J. Alexander’s.

Deviled eggs with candied bacon at J. Alexander's in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Deviled eggs with candied bacon at J. Alexander’s in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

At the table we’re perusing the menu after ordering a beer and some wine to tide us over. J. Alexander’s does offer quite a few steakhouse classics ranging from deviled eggs, crabcakes along with salmon, steak and ribs. One interesting part of the menu is a selection of sushi rolls which gives J. Alexander’s a modern surf and turf feel. While most of the entrees are in the $20 to low $30’s range befitting an upscale steakhouse, J. Alexander’s also offers a selection of salads and sandwiches in the $10 to $15 range if you’re eating lightly. We start with some delicious deviled eggs which are heaped high with filling. What makes the deviled eggs is the candied bacon strips which provide some great contrast. Definitely get these delicious deviled eggs!

Filet mignon at J. Alexander's in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Filet mignon at J. Alexander’s in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

NY Strip and mac n cheese at J. Alexander's in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — NY Strip and mac n cheese at J. Alexander’s in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

We move on to our mains which fall under the classic beef category. My tablemate goes with a filet mignon served with mashed potatoes and roasted peppers. It’s declared the best steak of the year, J. Alexander’s serves up wet-aged certified Angus beef that’s perfectly grilled and finished with a compound butter, yum! My NY Strip is thick and bears that beautiful cross-hatching that’s so pleasing to the eyes. And the mac n cheese au gratin? Really fantastic showing off the tang from some gruyere cheese and pecorino romano, highly recommend it as a side here.

We’re ready to fall asleep with all this food when we’re asked about dessert and, well ok, you’ve twisted my arm! We go with the classic molten chocolate cake served up with a dense vanilla ice cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce. Some serious dessert noms, the chocolate cake is gooey and huge. Even though we’re full we plow through this dessert and now, we’re ready to tap out. The staff here at J. Alexander’s is young but well-trained and are decked out in classic black befitting a higher end restaurant. I can honestly say I was pleasantly surprised at my experience here. While it’s a bit on the upscale and pricier side, J. Alexander’s certainly delivers the goods in terms of decor, ambiance, food quality and portions along with service making for a strong dinner option in the Crabtree Valley Mall area! Once you’re able to find the place, it’s all downhill from there, enjoy!

J. Alexander’s

4600 Crabtree Valley Avenue

Raleigh, NC 27612

984.200.4493

Location on Google maps

May 24, 2017 by Ron Wen

Media: Neomonde, Forty Years Old But Fresher than Ever

Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Out in W. Raleigh just past NC State campus you’ll find the ever-popular Neomonde! Known as a market, deli and bakery, this long-standing Raleigh institution has been feeding the area with great Mediterranean eats and breads. In business for nearly 40 years, of course you have to expect some changes over time! As the business has grown, the Saleh family who owns and runs Neomonde has grown, resulting in the expansion of Neomonde to Morrisville and also a spin-off group of restaurants as Sassool. And recently I was invited to partake in a preview and tasting of Neomonde’s new menu and learn more about what’s in store for the restaurant and their eats!

Market at Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Market at Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Deli counter at Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Deli counter at Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Inside Neomonde, the overall space seems to have been refreshed! The market area to the left seems very neat and nicely stocked while the counter order area seems a bit brighter. We’re seated in the back right corner of the dining room at Neomonde, right next to a large painting of a Lebanese village scene. We’ll find out more about this painting later! Soon enough, fellow bloggers and foodies Elliot @EatRaleigh and Heather @CandidSlice are at the table to join us for the tasting. Manager and drummer Chris Saleh welcomes us to Neomonde and offers us some vino and beer to get the meal started. He’s excited to show us what’s new at Neomonde with their expanded menu and service changes since he’s been back to manage the restaurant.

Refreshed menu at Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Refreshed menu at Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

One of the first things I notice is the menu. It certainly has been been upgraded and covers the expanded menu well but Neomonde also has a great glossary covering the types of food served here. Falafel, kafta, shwarma, tabouli, fatoush and more. While some Mediterranean food lovers may not need these descriptions, I’m pretty sure some people will appreciate the expanded definitions! Note that Neomonde has gone with a simpler pricing structure, no weighing needed at the cash register.

Babaghannoush and hummus plates at Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Babaghannoush and hummus plates at Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Back at the table, we start off with a couple of their new plates of spreads: sun-dried tomatoes hummus, jalapeno hummus and babaghannoush! I focus mostly on the hummuses (hummi?!). The sun-dried tomato is bright and sweet with a smooth texture, perfect paired with pita bread. And the jalapeno pepper while not too spicy, had enough back-end pepper flavor to make its presence known. The babaghannoush was beautiful but eluded my searching piece of pita!

Beef man'ousheh at Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Beef man’ousheh at Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Spinach-feta man'ousheh at Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Spinach-feta man’ousheh at Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Pomegranate salad at Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Pomegranate salad at Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

We moved on to Neomonde’s flatbreads which are listed as man’ousheh. I dig into the beef man’ousheh which is ground beef, tomato and onion which is like a cheese-less pizza! Great crust and a good bite to the crust, it all feels a bit more healthy than pizza with cheese. We also dig into a spinach-feta flatbread and a unique option spiced with zaatar and veggies which looked fabulous. A beautiful pomegranate salad is also brought to the table and presents a nice contrast between the juicy red strawberries and deep greens.

Chicken, beef and kefte kebabs at Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Chicken, beef and kefta kebabs at Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Lentils and rice at Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Lentils and rice at Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Next up is a platter of Neomonde kebabs ranging from chicken to beef and kefta (beef-lamb). The kabobs sport dark grill marks but still remain tender and tasty, a bit of spicing/marinade make them all wonderfully tasty. The kebabs are paired with a lentil rice dish which makes for a fantastic plate, the charred onions on top give this simple vegetarian dish tons of flavor.

Baklava plate at Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Baklava plate at Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

We finish off with a wonderful assortment of baklava, I’m pretty much full at this point in the meal but love a couple pieces of this honey-laced sweet, the subtle orange flavor just makes it even better. Some final pictures are taken of the happy Neomonde ending and we are finished! We get together for a group pic, say our goodbyes to Chris and his mother Betty, and thank them for all their hospitality and wonderful food.

So it was great to get back to an old Raleigh favorite. You don’t stay around in the restaurant business 40 years without doing a lot of things right and it feels like Neomonde has been refreshed and is ready to feed the area its great, healthy eats for another 40 years!

Neomonde

3817 Beryl Road

Raleigh, NC 27607

919.828.1628

Location on Google maps

Media: Maverick’s Smokehouse in Durham for the Great Taste of Southern Barbeque

Media: It’s a Southern Thing in Durham Offers Up Southern Cuisine Done Delicious