Carrboro Restaurant Reviews on NC Triangle Dining

March 31, 2022 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Thai Station in Carrboro, a Delicious Ride to the Flavors of Siam

Thai Station in Carrboro, NC - nctriangledining.com — Thai Station in Carrboro, NC – nctriangledining.com

Main room at Thai Station in Carrboro, NC - nctriangledining.com — Main room at Thai Station in Carrboro, NC – nctriangledining.com

If you’re a fan of Thai food like I am, it may be hard to say what the best Thai restaurant is in the Triangle. Searching for a great pad thai, pad kee mao, or Thai curry dish hasn’t seemed to have gotten any easier as the food scene has boomed here in the past 10 years. My old favorites like Sawasdee Thai and Yum Yum Thai have closed over the years making me uncertain of where to go to get my Thai food on. But out in the Chapel Hill area, you’ve got some great options and one that recently caught my eye during the pandemic was Thai Station in Carrboro. This quirky location right by the railroad tracks has been many things: a barbeque restaurant, live music venue, and more. But after a couple of visits to Thai Station, I have some confidence that they will have some longevity in this cool spot. Here’s why!

Thai Station, Carrboro – Location and Ambiance

If you plan on visiting Thai Station, be aware that this location is in one of the busier areas in Carrboro! Right next to Weaver St. Market and Carr Mill Mall, Thai Station shares a parking lot with these other businesses and it may be tight for parking in busier periods. Once you’re parked you’ll see Thai Station on the eastern end: Two rail cars that seem to be “parked” at a train depot-building. There’s another train car upfront which I believe is a separate business. Step inside and you’ll enter the main dining area festively decorated with flowers and rattan lighting fixtures overhead along with a bunch of 4-tops in the dining area. Thai Station has a patio area in the back and two dining rooms to the left and right in the rail cars. I believe there are bathrooms to the left and also the kitchen to the right. It’s a really cool and unique space, Thai Station has put it all to good use from what I can see.

Dining car at Thai Station in Carrboro, NC - nctriangledining.com — Dining car at Thai Station in Carrboro, NC – nctriangledining.com

I’ve usually been seated in the right-side rail car which is decorated in burnt orange along with black leather, high-back seating. Euro-inspired posters and a metal-leaves chandelier above makes for a cozy space! The left-side dining room is more modern and open, possibly for larger groups. And I have yet to dine on the outdoor patio but it was a popular spot, during the pandemic.

Thai Station, Carrboro – Food and Dishes

Peruse Thai Station’s menu behind a heavy, leather cover and you’ll find all the usual Thai specialties: curries, rice noodles, stir-fries, and soups. Prices are very reasonable at Thai Station: $8 and under for appetizers, $10 and under for lunch, $15 and under for dinner, a bit of a happy surprise for me. Thai Station also has a decent selection of wines, sakes, and beers between $3 and $10, whoop whoop!

I’ve primarily been here for lunch which is a great way to try any restaurant for the first time. Before your main meal, Thai Station has offered up shrimp chips and a very tasty side salad. I am NOT a fan of salads but really enjoy this one. Leafy greens, cucumber, shredded carrots, and light peanut sauce make for a delicious starter, yum! And even though it’s a lot of food, don’t miss out on Thai Station’s appetizers! The crispy Thai chicken wings are lovely dipped in their chili sauce and the crab cheese spring rolls are perfectly fried with a hint of curry inside. One thing you’ll immediately notice is the attention to detail that Thai Station has for their dishes despite how inexpensive they are, a great sign!

Thai chicken wings at Thai Station in Carrboro, NC - nctriangledining.com — Thai chicken wings at Thai Station in Carrboro, NC – nctriangledining.com

Crab cheese rolls at Thai Station in Carrboro, NC - nctriangledining.com — Crab cheese rolls at Thai Station in Carrboro, NC – nctriangledining.com

For lunch entrees during my visits, I’ve tried both the chicken pad thai and massaman curry (light coconut curry) with chicken. The chicken pad thai was lovingly presented in a beautiful ceramic bowl and served with plenty of bean sprouts and crushed peanuts. Full of flavor and definitely tasty, it was a good portion size for lunch. And Thai Station’s massaman curry was perfectly spiced and gingery, a handful of cashew nuts sprinkled on top. Loved this version served with white rice, I wolfed it all down without much guilt.

Chicken pad thai at Thai Station in Carrboro, NC - nctriangledining.com — Chicken pad thai at Thai Station in Carrboro, NC – nctriangledining.com

Massaman curry at Thai Station in Carrboro, NC - nctriangledining.com — Massaman curry at Thai Station in Carrboro, NC – nctriangledining.com

Thai Station, Carrboro – Service and Final Thoughts

Service-wise, Thai Station has been quite solid but admittedly, I visited during the pandemic and had an initial bad experience. But I didn’t give up and the service over my next two visits was quite good. So I’ll attribute that one bad incident to probably a staffing issue. Having been to Thailand a couple of times, you tend to get relaxed service which is also the case here, so expect some quirks from time to time.

Overall I’m now quite impressed and really enjoy what they are doing here. Great food, prices, and ambiance makes for an easy meal choice although the ride from Raleigh can be a bit tough for me. But even given the distance, I would definitely make the trek out here for Thai Station’s wonderful menu. Their chef definitely has some real culinary talent and it shows up in their dishes at every price point, bon appetit!

Left rail car-dining room at Thai Station in Carrboro, NC - nctriangledining.com — Left rail car-dining room at Thai Station in Carrboro, NC – nctriangledining.com

Thai Station Restaurant

201 E Main St Suite C

Carrboro, NC 27510

984.234.3230

Location on Google maps

September 11, 2020 by Ron Wen

The Best Neapolitan Pizza in Durham, Raleigh, Cary, Carrboro and Chapel Hill

Sneaking a peek at the speckled underside of pizza — Sneaking a peek at the speckled underside of Neapolitan pizza

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. Quality ingredients that result in tender delicious, thin crust, soft melty cheese, and fresh tomato flavor, perfection.

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!

Margherita pizza at Capp’s Pizzeria in Chapel Hill

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!

Napoli Pizzeria, Chapel Hill and Durham – This food truck has gone bricks and mortar at the Durham Food Hall! Overall they are doing a solid Neapolitan pie and the pancetta garlic pizza I tried was excellent!

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 great option for the Triangle 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?

Cugino Forno, Durham – This NC chain focused on Neapolitan pizza has opened their newest spot in Durham! Located right next to Hi-Wire Brewery at Golden Belt, this spartan pizzeria is offering up classic pies in a 16″ form. The pizzas are solid and will probably feed two people…

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.

V Pizza, Cary – A smallish chain based out of Jacksonville, FL has a couple of locations in the Triangle now. Offering up a more sophisticated take on Neapolitan pizzas and oven-baked wings, V Pizza offers up a lovely patio and craft beers along with its pies.

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.

Grandma pie at Hutchins Garage, Durham - nctriangledining.com — Grandma pie at Hutchins Garage, Durham – nctriangledining.com

And there’s more great pizza in the area with more traditional pies such as Hutchins Garage, Trophy Brewing and Pizza along with Di Fara Pizza Tavern and 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, Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, Apizza Scholls, Razza 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.

December 26, 2016 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro for Fantastic Italian Food and Pizza

Front of Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro - NC Triangle Dining — Front of Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro – NC Triangle Dining

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!

Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro - nctriangledining.com — Bar at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro – nctriangledining.com

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.

Kitchen at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro - NC Triangle Dining — Kitchen at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro – NC Triangle Dining

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.

Fritti (arancini) at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro - NC Triangle Dining — Fritti (arancini) at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro – NC Triangle Dining

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.

Amatriciana pizza at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro - NC Triangle Dining — Amatriciana pizza at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro – NC Triangle Dining

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…

Pizzeria Mercato

408 W Weaver Street

Carrboro, NC 27510

919.967.2277

Location on Google maps

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July 28, 2015 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Eating Outdoors in Chapel Hill and Carrboro- Patios, Roof-tops and More!

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.

Covered patio at Top of the Hill in Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

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.

Front of Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe - NC Triangle Dining — Front of Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe – NC Triangle Dining

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.

Garden setting at Acme Restaurant in Carrboro- NC Triangle Dining

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.

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!

Great Outdoor Dining, Patios in Chapel Hill & Carrboro!

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Top of the Hill- Chapel Hill

Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe– Chapel Hill

Acme Restaurant– Carrboro

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August 22, 2019 by Ron Wen

News: Coronato Pizza is Now Open in Carrboro and Serving Great Italian Pizzas and Cuisine

Front of Coronato Pizza in Carrboro - nctriangledining.com — Front of Coronato Pizza in Carrboro – nctriangledining.com

If you’re a pizzaholic like I am, you probably search out good pizza. Whenever I travel I try to hit the best local spots for some amazing za. So I was curious when I heard Chef Teddy Diggs was leaving Il Palio to open up his own gourmet pizzeria. 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!