The Best Restaurants and Bars in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill and the 919
If you’re at Morgan Street Food Hall and looking for an adult beverage, you might want to check out Aunt Betty’s Gin and Absinthe Bar! Located at the front of Morgan Street Food Hall, this colorful lounge is a bit hidden but offers some fantastic drinks and ambiance if you’re looking for a break. A fun break from the action at the food hall.
When it comes to steakhouses, I’m a fan if you’re up for spending a bit more for a deluxe experience and special evening. The newest steakhouse entry in the Triangle is Perry’s Steakhouse and Grille! Based out of Texas, Raleigh is their first location in North Carolina. It’s a modern steakhouse experience with plenty of panache and style. The design is modern and open, similar to the Oak in Raleigh. The menu spans steakhouse favorites but one special item that Perry’s is known for is its famous pork chop! A smokey, succulent bone on tenderloin that offers a lot of deliciousness in one plate. I’ve only been able to stop by once and will add to this post when there is more information to share!
As the Triangle evolves and moves forward as a region, it’s really cool to see new companies and concepts hitting the the local scene. A couple of years ago we added Drive Shack, a high-end and modern golf driving range. And now we’ve added ParTee Shack, a locally-owned mini-golf facility that’s great for family and friends. I heard online that they had opened up earlier this week so I decided to take a trip on over to see what it’s all about!
Head on down S. Saunders drive to 401 south and you’ll find ParTee Shack in a new and low-slung building on the right. Through the double-doors you’ll find the check-in counter to your right, a private room to your left along with a cool golf mural. Right in front you’ll see three mini-golf courses (Yellow, Blue, Red) in increasing difficulty levels! Some cool features and obstacles you’ll find on the course include a school bus, bowling pins and a giant green Hulk! Head on over to the far right side and you’ll find a lounge area, small kitchen for beer and snacks, pool table and a future spot for virtual golf simulators.
A game of mini-golf will be $12 for adults, $8 for children which is a good deal for 30 minutes of fun. The decor here is pretty cool and well-designed but try to keep your ball on the “course” and on the greens since the holes are right on top of each other. And don’t miss the crazy ball return mechanism that transports your golf ball from the 18th hole to the desk up front. The video down below shows you how clever this setup is! So whether you call in mini-golf, putt-putt or mini-putt, you’ll have some good, clean fun at ParTee Shack! I’m sure they will be adding more to their new facility but it’s certainly worth a visit for families and dates, enjoy!
When it comes to supermarkets in the Triangle, for years it was mostly all about Harris Teeter and Kroger. But given the growth and bright future for the area, we’ve seen increasing competition on the grocery store side of things. Aldi, Lidl and Wegman’s have established themselves in the state along with the newest option, Publix! And while there are other Publix locations in the Triangle, this new Publix in downtown Raleigh breaks the mold. Located in the new Smoky Hollow development off Peace Street, having a new, bright and clean grocery option downtown is a game-changer and much needed given all the residential growth in the neighborhood.
If you head on over for a visit by car, there are two entrances to the underground parking lot. One off of Peace Street which is very easy to miss and a bigger entrance on Harrington Street! There’s a good amount of underground covered parking, head on over to the stairs/elevator bank to pop up to the main level. Up top you’ll find an entry area with seating leading into a light and bright store! In my handful of visits, I can say that the bakery and deli are top-notch along with the meats and produce. For lunch, a big thumbs-up for the popular “Pub Subs”! For about $6, Publix offers an array of cold and hot subs on an excellent grinder roll. I tried out the chicken tender Pub Sub with lettuce, tomato, sliced pickles and American cheese, dee-licious! And you can order these subs online and pick them up in a warming bin near the deli, cool. And don’t miss the Publix fried chicken, you can grab an 8-piece on the way out for dinner.
Overall I can say I’ve been really pleased with my handful of visits to Publix. Large and clean store, friendly employees and those Pub Subs! It’s great to have new grocery choices and Publix can hold its own against favorites like Wegman’s and Harris Teeter.
With the recent addition of Wegmans and McNeill Pointe (Chido Taco, Shuckin Shack), the Wake Forest Road corridor has been booming with construction lately! A recent addition to the scene is the newish, Bowyard Pizza and Brewyard located just south of E. Whitaker Mill Road. The entrance to Bowyard is pretty tricky, a small entryway between Tobola Automotive and StorageMax. Thankfully they’ve added some permanent signage there. Drop down into the gravel lot and you’ll find a small building to your left along with two side patios. There’s also a larger lawn and gaming area decked out with picnic tables, umbrellas and cornhole for when the weather is better.
Serving up craft beer, cocktails and pizza, the scene at Bowstring is pretty casual and young but an interesting spot with interesting decor inside. They are currently partnering with Vic’s Pizzeria pizza bus for their pies. Like many businesses that have opened up during the COVID pandemic, they are still figuring things out. But definitely stop by for a visit if you’re in the area. I’ll add to this post after I’ve had time to come for a couple of visits.