The Best Restaurants and Bars in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill and the 919
Foodies rejoice, the new Coronato Pizza is now open in Carrboro! Chef Teddy Diggs previously from Il Palio is serving up some wonderful Roman-style pizza and authentic Italian appetizers. While the ambiance may be casual, the food is a step above in terms of Italian cuisine. Just be aware that Coronato Pizza is located in a new plaza called South Green on a traffic circle. I’ll be back for more before I review Coronato Pizza but it’s off to a great start!
Pizza comes in many forms and styles: NY thin-crust, Chicago deep-dish, Detroit-style pizza, thick Sicilian and more. But when it comes to REAL pizza in my mind, you have to go back to the motherland, Neapolitan pizza from Italy. Now there are strict rules for true Neapolitan pizza: 00 flour, San Marzano tomatoes, and mozzarella di bufala to get that tender delicious, thin crust, soft melty cheese and fresh tomato flavor. Neapolitan pizza is usually served as a single-serving pie and cooked in wood-fired ovens. But the reality is that when you find Neapolitan pizza in the US, it’s often more like Neapolitan-style and takes some liberties on the official guidelines. But in my opinion for pizza, Neapolitan is the only way to go to truly understand what great pizza is about. And thankfully, the NC Triangle is starting to sprout up more Neapolitan-style pizza places over the past five years! Here’s a quick tour of some of your best options for Neapolitan pizza!
Treforni, Durham – Probably the most authentic and affordable option in the area, with three wood-fired ovens you know they mean business. They do a very traditional and simple Neapolitan pie (1 or 2 toppings) at about $12. Casual with table service, Treforni hits all the high points for me when it comes to Neapolitan pizza. Great crust, nicely charred with quality ingredients is what Neapolitan is all about.
Capp’s Pizzeria, Chapel Hill – A bit off the beaten path in southwestern Chapel Hill near Pittsboro, I am really impressed with the pizza coming out of this joint! Great crust, crushed tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese, Capp’s spins things up a bit with its combinations. Don’t miss the Mama Mia with meatball, red onion and jalapenos. They also do a traditional (for Connecticut) clam pie on the Friday and Saturday!
Pizzeria Toro, Durham – One of the first Neapolitan pizza spots in the area, Toro does some really good pies in a hipster setting. Expect to get a little fancier with their pies and the prices rise accordingly ($14 to $18). While they still do a good pie, I’ve also got some burnt ones here which is not cool if you’re paying a premium. But a good spot if you’re hanging out in downtown Durham and want some Neapolitan pizza.
Pizzeria Faulisi, Cary – A newer entry in the Neapolitan pizza craze, Faulisi does a very solid pie and crust (mix of 00 and Boulted Bread flour). Decor-wise it sits neatly between casual and hipster with a bright, light and white interior along with some counter service. Love their pies, it’s got a snappy crust and keeps things simple the way Neapolitan pies should be. And it sits conveniently right next to Bond Brothers beer so who can complain about great pizza and beer?
Pizzeria Mercato, Carrboro – A cool little pizzeria run by Gabe Barker in a funky little corner of Carrboro. They are doing more Neapolitan style with a snappier (stiffer) crust but it still holds mostly true. They also offer some great appetizers and entrees, do NOT miss their arancini (serious noms). Pizzeria Mercato is more of an Italian restaurant to me, doing really good za. I just wish it was a bit closer to me!
Pompieri Pizza, Durham – Pompieri was one of the earlier entries into the Neapolitan pizza race in the Triangle and it’s still chugging along. The concept and space is quite different, located in an old firehouse, lined with aquariums and family-friendly. The pies are very thin crust and are served uncut with a pair of shears. While they definitely use quality ingredients here, it’s not quite traditional Neapolitan pizza here which is fine for most people.
Poole’side Pies, Raleigh – The newest entry in this category, Poole’side Pies offers up solid Neapolitan-style pies in a stunning setting reminiscent of a classic swimming pool theme. Along with a handful of fun, fried appetizers and interesting salads, Poole’side stretches the Neapolitan concept a bit with some Southern style.
Flirting with Fire food truck, Various Locations – This very cool food truck hauls around a SERIOUS wood-fired oven all around the Triangle! And the one time I was able to try them out at a street fair, I was pretty impressed. Solid crust and they stick to the basic topping options. If you find them in the neighborhood, Flirting with Fire is definitely worth the visit!
Blaze Fast-Fired Pizza, Morrisville – Ok, feel free to laugh at me but I do think that this chain is doing an excellent job serving up Neapolitan style pizza! Given their unlimited toppings model, it’s definitely not traditional but the crust is pretty close! And for $8 you really can’t beat the price. I love my pizza but try not to be a pizza snob, and Blaze hits all the right notes. The casual but cool interior along with Chipotle style ordering makes Blaze super family-friendly, too.
And there’s more great pizza in the area with more traditional pies such as Hutchins Garage, Trophy Brewing and Pizza along with Oakwood Pizza Box! Which is great news for us all because, not everyone has a friend with a wood-fired pizza oven. As a huge Neapolitan pizza fan it just makes me happy to see these options popping up. I’ve made the pilgrimage to great pizza places around the country like DiFara, Totonno’s, Motorino, Antico, Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, Apizza Scholls and more. It’s just wonderful to have some good local options here near home! So if you’re a budding pizza fan, give one of these spots a try and I’m sure you’ll be loving that thin-crust za, too.
Now who doesn’t like a good hot dog or brat, now that summer is here? Whether you’re talking about a late-night dog from Snoopy’s or sitting at the counter at the Roast Grill, biting into a snappy, juicy hot dog is a burst of taste and flavor. And now there’s a new food truck on the scene, specializing in gourmet hot dogs: Merry Franksters. I ran into this truck at an event at the Raleigh Wine Shop a little while back. Because as much as I like hot dogs, I know there are some people that only want to eat happy hot dogs otherwise know as sustain-ably farmed meats in hot dogs. And that’s where Merry Franksters steps in! Based out of Carrboro, they are serving up happy hot dogs hand-made out at the Pig from Chapel Hill, so I was curious to see what the Merry Franksters are dishing out.
Heading over to the Raleigh Wine shop, I spy a bright aluminum Airstream trailer pulling into the side lot. It’s a funky looking, retro trailer with interesting blue pop-art on the sides and back! A chalkboard flip-board up front shows off the Merry Franksters menu, 10 or so hot dogs and a handful of sides! Prices are in the $4 to $6 range which is about right. I’m torn between a couple of options but go with the bacon-wrapped Memphis Dawg and the classic New York Dawg along with a side of beer-battered onion rings. The Merry Frankster owners are very sweet and laid-back, reminds me a bit of when I lived in Carrboro!
A glass of wine keeps me company as I wait for my eats but it’s not too long, maybe 10 – 15 minutes. I get three paper food trays with my goodies and decide to hoof it on home so I can pig out in private! The short drive is tough as I’m staring at my dee-licious looking dogs and rings… Back at home I get to inspect my dawgs more closely. Merry Franksters uses a potato bun and they all look nicely grilled and filled.
I start off with the NY Dawg which pairs a Sabretts beef hot dog with sauerkraut and onions! A great bite, basic but done very well by the Merry Franksters. And while you may think one hot dog may be enough, I’m glad I got two! The Memphis dog comes on a larger bun, probably needed to hold the bacon-wrapped dog and additional toppings (onions, cheddar, barbeque sauce). The Memphis dawg is a messy bite but totally worth it! The crisp, salty bacon works well against the sweet barbeque sauce and it’s all worth getting your hands dirty. Thumbs up for me, here!
And finally the onion rings! Described as beer-battered, they have more of a light tempura-like coating to me and reminded me a lot of onion rings I would get in Massachusetts. Totally delicious and well fried, if Merry Franksters has them on the menu I feel it’s a must-do. Overall I was pretty happy with my meal at the Merry Franksters food truck. Creative, well made hot dogs at a reasonable price, works for me! And while I will always love my $1.50 Costco hot dog, Merry Franksters takes the humble sausage to a whole nother level. While Merry Franksters is based in Carrboro at Cliff’s Meat Market, they do get around quite a bit and are in Raleigh pretty frequently, hot dog!
If you’re looking for good pizza in the Triangle, there are a ton of great choices now! But one pizzeria that had eluded my greasy little grasp was Pizzeria Mercato out in Carrboro. Owned and run by Gabe Barker, Pizzeria Mercato’s location and popularity always had me trying to figure out a good time to visit. But eventually I found an excuse to head west on a Friday afternoon and decided to slip in for a late lunch visit! And it was a pretty impressive visit, read on if you’re hungry and curious, my friend!
Located on the western end of Weaver Street (away from the Market) , Pizzeria sits tidily on a street corner with a small side parking lot. I’ve heard it’s sometimes difficult to find parking in the hood so be aware during prime time dining hours! Inside, Pizzeria Mercato is bright and colorful. Polished concrete floor underneath, art on the walls and a bit of a hipster feel to the space. There’s an open kitchen to your left, main dining area to your right and a bright and sunny front section where I am sat.
What I do like about these new, artisanal pizza shops are the short menus focused on high quality, local ingredients. Pizzeria Mercato is no different offering up eight or so antipasti, salads and custom pizzas along with a handful of mains and desserts. Of course you can always customize your pie by adding some ingredients to your basic margherita. I go with my fave arancini (named fritti here) and the Amatriciana pie (pecorino, guanciale). A nice session IPA from Sierra Nevada keeps me company while I waits for my food.
After a short wait, my fritti (arancini) arrive and it’s an interesting plate. I’ve tried arancini (fried risotto balls) at many Italian restaurants in the area and they are always done a bit differently at each spot. Pizzeria Mercato’s arancini are about the size of a golf ball and perfectly fried. Flakes of sea salt dot the well-browned surface and a light basil sauce is served on the side. These arancini are WONDERFUL! Stuffed with smoked mozzarella and a bit of tomato, the crunchy crust breaks open to a soft, gooey interior with just a bit of acid from the tomato. Might be the best arancini I’ve tried in the Triangle, make sure to get em if you visit Pizzeria Mercato.
And given that wonderful start, I was salivating at the thought of my pizza! When it comes out, it’s a looker. About a 13″ pie in a nice oblong shape indicative of a hand-made pizza. Some splotches of soft fresh mozzarella and sprinkles of more pungent romano cheese. Bits of seared guanciale (cured pork cheek) and cracked black pepper finish off the surface. A peek underneath shows off some nice leopard spotting for the crust, nice job there. A couple of bites in and I immediately notice the crust. Pizzeria Mercato does it differently here, doing a snappy, stiff crust rather than a softer crust that you usually get with a Neapolitan pie. But you can certainly taste the quality ingredients here, I admit that the intense guanciale over-powered the flavor of the pizza. If I ever get back I’ll do a basic margherita.
Service here at Pizzeria Mercato was excellent and timely, admittedly I was one of 4 people in the place so that’s to be expected. I’m curious as to how the place holds up with a big crowd, I’m guessing they are usually busy. But for my visit it was a great start. Excellent food, decent prices, quality ingredients and great service Pizzeria Mercato! I’m still trying to wrap my brain around your pizza crust since it’s a bit of a spin from traditional. But I can certainly tell that there is some talent and vision for the menu and methods here. And I’m pretty sure that if you’re a pizza fanatic you’ll like Pizzeria Mercato! They’re doing very good pizza and even better arancini here in Carrboro…
Who can resist a patio on a warm summer’s night? And out in Chapel Hill, summer is a great time to visit since the craziness of the student crush has passed on. Having gone to school at Carolina, I can tell you that there are definitely some cool and interesting spots to check out and patios to sit outdoors. Here are some of my favorites in Chapel Hill and neighboring Carrboro.
The first patio that usually comes to mind is Top of the Hill! A local landmark Top O’ overlooks the main intersection of Franklin Street and Columbia which is perfect for high altitude people watching. Order off their small American menu of pub food, my last visit was for lunch and included a filling pulled pork sandwich with sweet potato waffle fries, yum!
Most of the patio is under cover outside of a handful of seats at the edges. Top of the Hill is really known as much for its beer and drinking as it is for its food. And service at Top O is solid just be careful about coming here on a weekend evening after 9pm. Top of the Hill can become a full-on party spot when classes are in session.
Further down on Franklin you’ll find the under-rated Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe. Known for its spicy, Indian eats, Vimala’s also has a large outdoor courtyard to sit and enjoy your mango lassi and a meal. An idyllic scene for some great Indian food for the area. Vimala’s specializes in Keralan cuisine with plenty of spice and heat for true Indian food lovers! Inside you can order at the counter and the eats will be brought to your table.
Next, head over to Carrboro for the fantastic patio at Acme Restaurant! This casual but upscale eatery has a garden setting to enjoy a delicious brunch. A very civilized way to spend a Sunday morning or afternoon. Acme Restaurant has been around for over 10 years and offers seasonal Southern cuisine with a gourmet spin.
The Milltown is known for its large selection of international beers along with some decent bar food but I’d have to say the patio is a key feature. Choose from frites, mussels and more and then head on outside to enjoy it all. I need to get back for a meal here, stat.
So there you go my friend! Some great patios to pass the time in lovely Chapel Hill and Carrboro. There are other great options like Crooks Corner, La Rez and more but you’re off to a good start with the five options above!
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Top of the Hill- Chapel Hill
Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe– Chapel Hill
Acme Restaurant– Carrboro
Milltown– Carrboro
