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Restaurant & Bar Reviews » Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill Restaurant Reviews on NC Triangle Dining

April 26, 2014 by Ron Wen 3 Comments

Al’s Burger Shack in Chapel Hill For Great Burgers and Fries…

Front of Al's Burger Shack, Chapel Hill- nctriangledining.com
Front of Al’s Burger Shack, Chapel Hill- nctriangledining.com

When I first got to NC, I spent two years at Carolina and lived in the People’s Republic of Carrboro which was an awesome experience.  But since getting out of school, the Chapel Hill area just seems like a LONG way off.  And let’s face it.  We’re talking about a college town with college expectations, the food there was always passable but never great.  But over the past four months I spy some great online reviews for Al’s Burger Shack. So over time, I’m thinking it’s time to head back to the Thrill and I finally had an excuse for an event at TOPO Distillery.  Right across the way was Al’s Burger Shack, woohoo!

Order counter at Al's Burger Shack, Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining
Order counter at Al’s Burger Shack, Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

And when they say shack, that’s exactly what they mean.  Al’s is located in a small, brick A-frame with limited space inside.  Counter order, cramped with a ledge around the inside for quick dining.  And a largish patio with picnic tables outside under cover.  The menu here is simple: burgers in three sizes (3oz, 6oz, 9oz) with four or so specialty burgers, build your own burger and some hot dogs.  Toss in a small selection of sodas and beers and that’s all she wrote.  I order up a BoBo chili (Carolina-style) burger with sweet potato fries and a Shiner Bock beer to keep my entertained. The wait at 7pm is 15 to 20 minutes so must be patient!  As I sit there, waiting with my beer, it’s obvious I’m not in Raleigh any more.  The whole Carolina vibe is one of youth and liberal attitudes. Granola, crunchy along with some Southern prep, those are the customers you see walking into Al’s since it’s right on Franklin Street. It does take some time but the place is busy and the kitchen is small.  I finally get an aluminum tray with a good looking burger and a nice helping of sweet potato fries so I head on out to the patio to grab a seat.

Burger and sweet potato fries at Al's Burger Shack, Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining
Burger and sweet potato fries at Al’s Burger Shack, Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

The burger is very nicely put together. Commercial bun but a nice mash of finely chopped slaw, chili and mustard neatly piled on top. The American cheese is well melted making for a good looking sandwich. And the first bite tells me all I need to know. A great balance of textures, meatiness and flavor along with the nice tang of yellow mustard. I wasn’t blown away by the meat, it was lean but not as much seared beefiness as I would have hoped for. The sweet potato fries were a bit over-fried but definitely a good portion for the money.

Bobo chili burger at Al's Burger Shack, Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining
Bobo chili burger at Al’s Burger Shack, Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

In the end, Chapel Hill is still a college town and after having lived there for two years, you can’t expect too too much. It’s going to be cheap, casual eats and Al’s Burger Shack does a very good job in that arena. It’s a very good burger at a good price but still a cut behind say, Chucks and Corbett’s. But if I lived back in Carrboro, I’m sure I’d be here pretty regularly. There’s nothing wrong with an honest burger which is exactly what Al’s Burger Shack delivers!

 

Al’s Burger Shack

516 West Franklin Street

Chapel Hill, NC 27516

919.904.7659

Al’s Burger Shack menu

Location on Google maps

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Filed Under: Chapel Hill, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Burgers, Restaurants Near UNC Chapel Hill - University of North Carolina

July 22, 2017 by Ron Wen

Maxing Out Your Movies: An Overview of the Best Movie Theaters & Cinemas in the Triangle

Wish my pictures were sharper but pretty much all movie theaters are dark!

In the battle for your movie dollar, the Triangle has been popping! Higher end theaters with stadium seating and upgraded food menus are upping the ante for movie-watching in the Triangle. And who can blame them given the great home theater set-ups many of us have at home? Without making the cinema experience stellar, we would never leave our family rooms, amiright? But in the summer heat, there’s often nothing better than catching the latest flick in a deluxe movie theater with all the bells and whistles. I’ve been able to try most of the super cinemas in the area, here’s my take on what you get for your movie-watching dollar at each one!

Front of IMAX Theatre at Marbles in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Front of IMAX Theatre at Marbles in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

First up is the classic IMAX Theatre at Marbles in Raleigh! For a while, IMAX was the only real luxe movie-watching experience in the Triangle. From the enormous screen (70′ by 52′) to the seat-shaking Dolby sound system pumping out 24,000 watts of sonic thunder, the IMAX still rocks it out for the right movies. If you’ve got a great 3-D movie with top notch cinematography and sound, IMAX will blow you away. I’ve seen Inception, Gravity and Avatar at the IMAX and it truly feels as if you’re IN the movie. The stadium seating gives you an unfettered view of all the action, the only bad seats are the 3 or 4 rows up front. The seats, while comfortable, are your more typical seats with drop-down arm-rests and cup-holders.

Seating for IMAX Theatre at Marbles in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Seating for IMAX Theatre at Marbles in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Stellar screen and sound system for IMAX Theatre at Marbles in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Stellar screen and sound system for IMAX Theatre at Marbles in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Tickets for IMAX are $11 (2-D) and up which isn’t bad at all given the screen size. Concessions are reasonably priced ($3 to $7) but very basic and limited in selection (candy, popcorn, soft drinks, wine-beer). Note that you also can NOT choose your seat at IMAX Raleigh which means you’ll have to queue up early to ensure great seats for the hottest movies. What you’ll give up here at IMAX Raleigh is the comfy leather recliners and expanded food-drink menu. But still, even with all the less modern movie theater operations here at IMAX, it delivers a stellar movie-watching experience for the right movies. Choose wisely and you’ll be blown away by whats on-screen at IMAX Theatre at Marbles.

Front of Alamo Drafthouse Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Front of Alamo Drafthouse Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Bright lobby at Alamo Drafthouse Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Bright lobby at Alamo Drafthouse Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

The newest entry in the super movie theater list is the Alamo Drafthouse Raleigh which just opened in April of 2018. Located in E. Raleigh, downtown Oak City residents finally now have an option for a movie with reserved seating! Inside Alamo Drafthouse it feels like a devotional to the cinematic and movie experience. You’ll find a bar up front and the Video Vortex (video rental store) decked out in pink neon.  The Video Vortex rents out movies for free that range across the classic genres and is built for movie buffs. Behind the Alamo Drafthouse bar is a slew of beer taps for you beer lovers, over 30 taps! Food is served inside the theater and throughout the movie with an assortment of apps, salads, pizzas, burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches from $7 to $15. The menu is squarely in the middle in terms of assortment, below Cinebistro and above the Raleigh Grande.

Chicken meatballs with garlic bread at Alamo Drafthouse Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Chicken meatballs with garlic bread at Alamo Drafthouse Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Inside the Alamo Drafthouse theater you’ll find soft, plush leather recliners with motorized foot-rests. The seats are individual seats without movable arm-rests and while the rows are not stadium-style, there’s plenty of rise between the rows. Each recliner has a fixed table with lighting underneath. You’ll need the light to fill out your menu requests which will be handled by the wait-staff. I tried out a tasty cast-iron skillet of chicken meatballs with garlic bread which were perfect for a late night snack.

Theater seating at Alamo Drafthouse Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Theater seating at Alamo Drafthouse Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

The screen for my movie was excellent with a decent sound-system, I’ll have to get back for a more challenging movie to see what they can really do. Also note that Alamo Drafthouse has a strict, no texting, no talking during the movie policy and will toss you out after a warning if people complain. You have been warned, movie-talkers! Overall I was pretty impressed with Alamo Drafthouse, it reminds me of a more casual Cinebistro with decent eats and screens along with lower prices ($8 to $11.50 for 2-D tickets).

Lobby at Cinebistro Wavery Place in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Lobby at CMX Cinebistro Wavery Place in Cary – NC Triangle Dining
Lobster roll at Cinebistro Wavery Place in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Lobster roll at CMX Cinebistro Wavery Place in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

Next up on my super cinema list is Cinebistro at Waverly Place in Cary! Cinebistro was the first of the newer luxe movie theaters in the area, bringing together food, drink and the show all in one venue. And it’s still one of the best! With a full bar and lobby at the entrance, you know you’re in for a special experience. Billed as dinner and a movie, you show up early for your movie, order and are served in the theater for your meal. And the food here at Cinebistro is quite good, my faves include the cheesesteak sandwich and lobster sliders. Once the movie starts, you’ll have to self-serve your dishes and any additional drinks-eats at Cinebistro.

Seating at Cinebistro Wavery Place in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Seating at CMX Cinebistro Wavery Place in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

Seating at Cinebistro is luxurious, leather recliner seating with motorized foot-rests that allow you to kick back to enjoy the movie! While Cinebistro does not have stadium style seating, you do recline back to get a good view of the excellent raised screens. Cinebistro tickets can be purchased online through Fandango and range from $13.50 to $16. Note that after 6pm, Cinebistro is 21 and over. But I can tell you for sure that Cinebistro hits the trifecta of great food, great screens and great seating. The only major drawback is the price, you can easily drop $50 here on popcorn and food, ouch. For more details, check out my full review of Cinebistro in Cary.

The Raleigh Grande Theater – NC Triangle Dining
The Raleigh Grande Theater - NC Triangle Dining
The Raleigh Grande Theater – NC Triangle Dining

Heading up a bit further north is the Raleigh Grande! For years, the Raleigh Grande was a traditional movie theater but a renovation in 2016 brought stadium type seating and an expanded food menu. Inside, not only does the Raleigh Grande have tiered stadium style seating but also the same motorized recliners found at Cinebistro. What is nice is that the Raleigh Grande provides a more private viewing experience with walls behind each row of seats, creating some real separation.

Seating at the Raleigh Grande Theater - NC Triangle Dining
Seating at the Raleigh Grande Theater – NC Triangle Dining

For food you have your standard popcorn and soft drinks but the expanded theater menu includes sandwiches, hot dogs, chicken tenders, pizza and more! If you’re ordering hot food, they’ll give you a buzzer to bring to the theater and once it goes off, meet your server in the hallway outside your theater to get your food! The Raleigh Grande also has decent draft beer and wines available here for your movie. I’ve tried out just a handful of items off their menu but I can tell you that they do a solid chicken tenders plate for $7 along with some truffle fries for $4.

Chicken tenders at the Raleigh Grande Theater - NC Triangle Dining
Chicken tenders at the Raleigh Grande Theater – NC Triangle Dining

And tickets at the Raleigh Grande have stayed an affordable $9.50 so you won’t break the bank here on either tickets or food. I’ve managed to catch a couple of movies here and if your focus is more on the movie than the food, you can’t go wrong at the Raleigh Grande. While the food is more garden variety, higher end movie-theater fare, the screens and movie-watching experience more than make up for that slight miss. Plus you’ve got the Lynnwood Brewing Concern right across the street if you’re hungry!

The newest theater to the luxe mix is Paragon Theaters at Fenton! This whole development is still opening but Paragon Theaters at Fenton offers up 7 screens with Axis 15 where the screen is tilted downwards to accommodate for the stadium seating. I’ve seen one movie here and the screens are super sharp with great audio. Seating consists of individual seats and loveseats and food can be ordered and delivered to you. In addition to the basic concessions (popcorn, candy, drinks) you can also order from the Agency, the in-house bar and restaurant. This location is still coming up to speed so I’ll update this posts as needed.

Paragon Theaters Parkside in Cary - nctriangledining.com
Paragon Theaters Parkside in Cary – nctriangledining.com
Bowling alley at Paragon Theaters Parkside in Cary - nctriangledining.com
Bowling alley at Paragon Theaters Parkside in Cary – nctriangledining.com

Now (Paragon Theaters Parkside – Extreme as of December 2021) let’s head back down to Cary and the new Paragon Theaters Parkside! This bowling alley and cinema presents another spin on the deluxe movie theatre experience. Up front and to the right you’ll find the bowling alley lit up in neon. Above the bowling alley area is an arcade with some fun games like Pop-a-Shot, skee-ball and more. And to the left, you’ve got your luxe movie theaters!

Stadium seating at Paragon Theaters Parkside in Cary - nctriangledining.com
Stadium seating at Paragon Theaters Parkside in Cary – nctriangledining.com

The food menu here is upgraded theater food but it’s not bad at all! I ordered up a ridiculous plate of tater tots which was a ginormous, heaping mound of crisp tots covered with two types of cheese sauce, bacon, and scallions, delicious! But I could have fed a family of four off these tots. The rest of the menu runs the gamut of wings, tacos, sandwiches, burgers and entrees, plenty good but more casual than Cinebistro. With ticket prices in the $12 to $15 range, Frank Theatres CineBowl & Grille is an excellent option if you’re looking for food AND a movie.

Front of Silverspot Cinema in Chapel Hill - NC Triangle Dining
Front of Silverspot Cinema in Chapel Hill – NC Triangle Dining

And finally, our last super theater: Silverspot Cinema in Chapel Hill. Located off of S. Estes Drive on the west side of University Place, Silverspot mixes things up a bit compared to the previous four super cinemas! Silverspot offers the upscale Trilogy Restaurant at the front of the cinema for a pre-show dinner or take-out box for in-theater dining. If that doesn’t float your boat, you can grab some eats at the more standard concessions area. I’ve done a media dinner at Trilogy Restaurant and it is certainly the highest-end food available if you dine in. Check out my full review here!

Concessions at Silverspot Cinema in Chapel Hill - NC Triangle Dining
Concessions at Silverspot Cinema in Chapel Hill – NC Triangle Dining

Silverspot is pretty modern and offers ticket kiosks on a wall to grab your seat if you don’t order your ticket online.  Once you get your eats, move on into the movie theater section where you’ll find yourself in a luxe seating area but different from the other options on this list. Silverspot offers plush leather seating in a stadium (tiered) setting BUT the seats are not motorized and don’t offer foot-rests. The front row does have leather ottomans available to kick up your feet but you won’t be able to do that for the back rows.

Seating at Silverspot Cinema in Chapel Hill - NC Triangle Dining
Seating at Silverspot Cinema in Chapel Hill – NC Triangle Dining

So there you go! A quick trip and overview through most of the top movie theaters in the area. What’s really interesting is that they all offer slightly different food, seating options and movie watching experiences. So choose wisely based upon your needs, location and interests. Some days I’m in more of a dining mood and want the food. Other times it’s all about the movie watching experience. But I’m pretty certain that one of these deluxe, blinged out movie theatres will suit you fine!

IMAX Theatre at Marbles

201 E Hargett Street

Raleigh, NC 27601

 

Alamo Drafthouse Raleigh

2116-D, New Bern Avenue

Raleigh, NC 27610

 

Raleigh Grande

4840 Grove Barton Road

Raleigh, NC 27613

Paragon Theaters Parkside – Extreme

Parkside Town Commons

1140 Parkside Main Street

Cary, NC 27519

 

Paragon Theaters Fenton – Extreme

21 Fenton Main St Suite 110

Cary, NC 27511

 

CMX Cinebistro, Waverly Place

525 New Waverly Place 

Cary, NC 27518

 

Silverspot Cinema

201 S Estes Dr #100

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Filed Under: Activities, Cary, Chapel Hill, Overviews, Raleigh

December 10, 2016 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: BLTs and More at Merritt’s Grill in Chapel Hill

Merritt's Store and Grill in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com
Merritt’s Store and Grill in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

If you’re ever in the mood for one particular food item, it’s always special to find THE place to go and try it. So if you’re in the Triangle and in the mood for a BLT, where would you go? Through the years and through my foodie grapevine, I had always heard about Merritt’s Store and Grill out in Chapel Hill. But oddly enough, I never made it over when I did grad school at Carolina. So yeah, it was time to break that streak and visit for lunch, stat!

Order counter at Merritt's Store and Grill in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com
Order counter at Merritt’s Store and Grill in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com
Menu and prices at Merritt's Store and Grill in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com
Menu and prices at Merritt’s Store and Grill in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

Merritt’s Store and Grill is located right on the corner of Rte. 86 and 54/501 where it breaks off into two different directions. It’s easy to miss, not that it’s a small place but if you’re coming around this corner pretty fast and you wouldn’t think to pull into that gravel lot! But this time, I didn’t miss it. Popping out of the car, I see the tables in front and a backyard dining area where I can see quite a few folks happily munching away on lunch on a chilly day.

Pick-up area at Merritt's Store and Grill in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com
Pick-up area at Merritt’s Store and Grill in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

Heading on inside, I spy a cashier and counter up front. And a long, busy hallway to my left, filled with people. Confused, I head on over to the cash register and fumble through my order. Somehow I end up ordering THREE sandwiches and a drink for about $22 and change. Yeah, Mr. Clueless here is going to eat big today! But for newbies, the correct process is to order first at the window and line on the left, get a slip and then get back in the line on the right for pick-up. After pick-up, head on over to the cashier and pay up. Important lunch safety tip, people!

Sandwich making at Merritt's Store and Grill in Chapel Hill - NC Triangle Dining
Sandwich making at Merritt’s Store and Grill in Chapel Hill – NC Triangle Dining

The women at Merritt’s Store and Grill are working hard for the hungry crowd, I get a heavy paper bag with my three sandwiches, grab an unsweetened tea and head on out to the dining area in back. Sitting at a metal patio table, I unwrap my beautiful sammiches! The double BLT is a beauty, stuffed with six plus pieces of thick-cut bacon, bright green lettuce and ripe red tomato. And when I bite in, I get that hit of salty, crunchy and savory across all that BLT goodness. It’s one of the best BLT’s I’ve had of late but when you’re known for doing one thing, you have to nail it! And Merritt’s Store and Grill certainly does that. I inhale the rest of my BLT, take a quick bite of my chicken salad sandwich which is decent, but bring the rest home for dinner that night.

Double BLT at Merritt's Store and Grill in Chapel Hill - NC Triangle Dining
Double BLT at Merritt’s Store and Grill in Chapel Hill – NC Triangle Dining
Chicken salad sandwich at Merritt's Store and Grill in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com
Chicken salad sandwich at Merritt’s Store and Grill in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

So thank you foodie network! You were right about the BLT’s at Merritt’s Store and Grill but if you’re in the mood for something else, the menu is pretty limited (cheese, ham, turkey, chicken salad sandwiches) otherwise. BUT if you want a BLT, Merritt’s Grill is worth the drive over. And you might want to get an extra one like I did, mistakenly. Because I’m not sure when I’ll be back next, but thank you Merritt’s Store and Grill!

 

Merritt’s Store and Grill

1009 S. Columbia Road

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

919.942.4897

Location on Google maps

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Filed Under: Chapel Hill, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Sandwiches

July 30, 2017 by Ron Wen

First Take: Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill for Creative and Tasty Hot Dogs

Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill - NC Triangle Dining
Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill – NC Triangle Dining

If you’re out on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, you know you’re going to have a bunch of dining choices but in the category of basic and simple, perfect for a college kid. You can’t expect upscale or fancy or frou-frou, just simple and filling eats. And that’s where Sup Dogs comes into play. A veritable hot dog emporium offering an array of weiners and grill items along with a bit of college spirit. As long as you’re not a Duke fan! Here’s how my visit to this casual college eatery played out…

Dining area at Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill - NC Triangle Dining
Dining area at Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill – NC Triangle Dining

From the outside, the first thing you’ll notice about Sup Dogs is the patio. Under cover and shaded high-top tables with condiment dispensers on each one, it looks like a great spot to grab lunch and some fresh air. The Sup Dogs signage up above lists off the primary food items on the menu and one short and pointed message to the college down Tobacco Road in a darker shade of blue (a continuing theme). Inside Sup Dogs you’ll find a large open dining room decked out in brick, wood and a lot of Carolina blue signage. The young wait staff is clad in black and Carolina blue so you definitely know you’re in Chapel Hill!

I grab a seat at the bar for lunch and take some time to dig deeper into the Sup Dogs menu. Thankfully, the menu here is pretty simple: burgers, chicken sandwich and the namesake Sup Dogs along with a litany of fried sides! Most of their dogs are in the $5.99 range with fries but you can upgrade to tots or cheese fries for an extra $1.00 or to bacon cheese fries or cheesy tots for $1.50. And if you add an extra dog, it’s only a $1.00. I’m doubling down for lunch with two dogs AND bacon cheese fries, gulp…  As I’m waiting for my food, a table of Duke fans sit down for lunch and notice all the smack talk signage on the walls but thankfully they take it all in good fun and stay!

Smokehouse, Western dogs and cheese fries at Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill - NC Triangle Dining
Smokehouse, Western dogs and cheese fries at Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill – NC Triangle Dining

It takes 10 minutes or so for my food and wow, it’s a lot! I’ve ordered up the Smokehouse and Western dogs which come sitting on top of a aluminum tray along with my cheese fries! Sides of Sup sauce and ranch complete the meal. The Western dog (onion ring, BBQ sauce, Monterey Jack, cheddar cheese and chili) and the Smokehouse dog (bacon, Monterey Jack, cheddar cheese, Sup Dog sauce, and chili) come loaded with toppings. And they are good sized beef dogs which can stand up to all the toppings. And they’re both quite good, I like the creative options on the Sup Dogs menu. Digging in the bacon cheese fries feels like another 1,000 calories but I can’t resist! The fries have a bit of skin and great potato taste. The cheese and bacon bits are generously coated on the pile of fries, too. And the Sup Sauce is wonderful, probably a tangy, savory Thousand Island mix that is perfect for dipping. All in all it’s a filling meal with plenty of salt, grease and deliciousness!

Collegiate decor at Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill - NC Triangle Dining
Collegiate decor at Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill – NC Triangle Dining

The staff here is pretty young, probably from the UNC student body but do a good job keeping my drink cup filled and check in on me regularly. And while I don’t think you should be eating here regularly due to health reasons, it’s definitely a fun lunch stop and would probably be even better after a few beers on Franklin Street. If you’re interested in hot dogs, I definitely believe that Sup Dogs is a great choice in the Triangle for its variety and value in this category. If I lived in the area, I’d definitely be back from time to time. And I’m glad I finally know, what’s up dog!

 

Sup Dogs

107 E Franklin St

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

919.903.9566

Location on Google maps

Filed Under: Chapel Hill, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Hot Dogs, Restaurants Near UNC Chapel Hill - University of North Carolina

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!

 

Potato pizza

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.

 

Interior of Pizzeria Faulisi
Assortment of pies at Pizzeria Faulisi
Soparresata pie

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…

 

Amatriciana pie

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!

Interior at Pompieri
Pompieri pizza
Pork belly pizza

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.

Pooleside Pies in Raleigh

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
Pepperoni pizza
Cool, wood-fired oven

 

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 BYOP counter
Sausage pizza at Blaze Fast-Fired
Margherita

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.

Filed Under: Carrboro, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Morrisville, Overviews Tagged With: Neapolitan Pizza

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