Morrisville Restaurant Reviews on NC Triangle Dining

April 23, 2017 by Ron Wen

First Take: Mekong in Morrisville, A Humble Vietnamese Eatery That Shines

Front of Mekong Vietnamese in Morrisville - NC Triangle Dining — Front of Mekong Vietnamese in Morrisville – NC Triangle Dining

(Mekong has transitioned to a new owner in 2022) As a huge fan of Vietnamese cuisine, I’m always on the lookout for new restaurants in this category. And thankfully from S. Durham to Raleigh, you’ll find a good assortment of family-run Vietnamese restaurants. Recently a new spot hit my radar screen, Mekong out on TW Alexander Road in Morrisville! In reality, Mekong is so far north it’s virtually in Brier Creek, Raleigh but that shouldn’t stop you from coming in for a visit! Located in a spacious location previously holding a hibachi restaurant, Mekong is doing a lot of things right based on my first lunch visits.

Dining room at Mekong in Morrisville - NC Triangle Dining — Dining room at Mekong in Morrisville – NC Triangle Dining

As I stepped into Mekong, my first impressions were new, clean and modern which is the antithesis of what I would expect for a hole in the wall VN restaurant. The floor is nicely polished concrete with a handful of Vietnamese prints and decorations on the walls. For those unfamiliar with geography in Vietnam, the Mekong Delta is part of the southwestern tip of the country where the Mekong river empties into. Ahh, but we’re here for the food, amirite? I seat myself at a small two-top and am handed over a one-page, two-sided paper menu for the place. It has all the requisite categories of Vietnamese eats: appetizers, bun (vermicelli), com (rice), pho (soup), house specialties and banh mi (grinder) along with some specialties. The humble menu is a good sign, I like the fact that even if the place is newer, there’s no pretense or fanciness in the presentation.

Fresh summer rolls at Mekong in Morrisville - NC Triangle Dining — Fresh summer rolls at Mekong in Morrisville – NC Triangle Dining

A quick scan of Mekong’s menu shows a broad variety of dishes although not quite as deep as some other places with 6 to 8 items under each category. I quickly decide on the goi cuon (fresh spring rolls) or summer rolls in my book alonf with the shaken beef! The summer rolls come out pretty quickly, nicely sized rolls in that translucent rice paper. Mekong does a fantastic job here, they are well stuffed with plenty of shrimp, pork, vermicelli, cilantro and cucumber. The peanut sauce for dipping is a bit different here with a slightly sweeter tang to it. Love these rolls, they are well balanced in flavor and I will be back again for these delicious bad boys, soon!

Shaken beef at Mekong in Morrisville - NC Triangle Dining — Shaken beef at Mekong in Morrisville – NC Triangle Dining

My shaken beef entree comes out next and I am excited. This dish is officially named bo luc lac and it’s not common around here. The last time I remember trying it was in San Francisco at the famous Slanted Door restaurant and apparently it has French origins. In the case of Mekong, it’s pieces of filet steak marinated in a dark sauce (soy, fish sauce) and served with onions and some jasmine rice, yum! The beef here is tender and flavorful and while there may be a bit too much in the way of onions, it’s delicious. And thankfully I don’t have any face to face meetings when I get back to work for the afternoon…

Combination bun with shrimp, pork and egg roll at Mekong Vietnamese in Morrisville - NC Triangle Dining — Combination bun with shrimp, pork and egg roll at Mekong Vietnamese in Morrisville – NC Triangle Dining

Counter at Mekong in Morrisville - NC Triangle Dining — Counter at Mekong in Morrisville – NC Triangle Dining

Service at Mekong was solid and the place (unfortunately) was nearly empty during my visit. But I can tell you that the food here is quite good and I’m already planning my next visit to work a bit deeper into the menu and see what they’re really about! So if you’re a fan of Vietnamese food, put Mekong on your short list because in the arena of Vietnamese food in the Triangle, they are the best Vietnamese restaurant in the area. Bon appetit!

Mekong Vietnamese Restaurant

2135 TW Alexander Drive

Morrisville, NC 27560

919.251.8426

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.

May 10, 2015 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Buffalo Wild Wings in Morrisville!

Front of Buffalo Wild Wings, Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

In the world of chicken wings, Buffalo Wild Wings (BW3) was always on the top of the heap in my mind. My favorite location in Chapel Hill closed down years ago so cravings for their wings would come and go but there were no convenient locations near home! Thankfully, two new locations opened up in Durham and Morrisville. Finally after years of waiting, it was time to get my chicken wings on. So on a chilly September night, we headed out to Morrisville in search of wings and some Monday Night football!

Main dining room at Buffalo Wild Wings, Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

Located in one of those huge strip plazas that dot the Morrisville landscape, it’s hard to not miss this Buffalo Wild Wings location because it’s BIG! We step inside and the place is aglare with neon lights, large high-def panels and more. Young waitstaff in outfits that look like ref uniforms bustle about and we head on back to the bar area. TV’s dot the entire back area along with some trivia games and video machines. BW3 is bright and noisy, a mix of sports and Top 40 from the speakers overhead. With the domestic beer specials, this is about as Merican as you can get! We grab a seat at a large, round high-boy and try to figure out the menu.

Bar at Buffalo Wild Wings, Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

I put in an order for some pretzels to get things started. With the 30 or so flavors and dry rub options at BW3, it may take you a while to figure out what you want. I go with my fave garlic-parm wings, mango-habenero wings along with some pretzels to get things started. It takes about 10 minutes before the pretzels show up and they look quite nice. Three steaming, hot, plump pretzels with some Southwest sauce and more. A good and fattening start to the meal!

Pretzels app at Buffalo Wild Wings, Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

About 10 minutes after that, our wings show up. I’ve got about 16 in my medium order ($14.49). I bite into my garlic-parm wings and they are good, a bit different from what I remember, less garlicky! But still solid. And the wings at this location are well-fired and a good size. They’re well-sauced so they are coated but not dripping, wing pro’s in action here! I bite in the mango-habanero wings and there’s fruit on top with some sweetness. Waiter had warned me they were spicy and he was RIGHT. After 5 or 10 seconds, the heat kicks in on the back of your throat and it keeps on going. I reach over for my beer knowing that it won’t douse out the heat but I don’t have any milk at the table! I eat three or four more of these wings and everyone agrees that they are H-O-T, hot. Probably about a 8 on a scale of 1 to 10, the only thing that saves me is that I had some Bida Manda wings recently that were probably 10 out of 10.

Medium wings (garlic-parmesan, mango-habanero) at Buffalo Wild Wings, Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

A basket of onion rings finished off the night along with the Kansas City Chiefs finishing off the New England Patriots, boo! We ask for the checks and it’s time to go home! Service at Buffalo Wild Wings was ok but the place was nearly empty so it should have been. My tab come out to about $38 which is the kicker. While I love my wings from time to time, at this price point I could have gone to nearly any restaurant in the area ($25 entree, app, beer) for about the same price. i mean I really was glad to have gotten my fave wings but the equation for eating at chain restaurants was reinforced for me. Passable food in corporate surroundings with usually, below average service. That’s the formula for chain restaurants and every single time I give one a shot, the end results are about the same. Buffalo Wild Wings, I missed ya. I’m glad you’re back in the area but outside of a night when you’ve got some real specials, I don’t imagine I’ll be back in anytime soon…

Buffalo Wild Wings- Morrisville

1300 Village Market Place

Morrisville, NC 27560

919.469.7872

Location on Google maps

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May 17, 2016 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: Fresh Seafood at Full Moon Oyster Bar in Morrisville

Front of Full Moon Oyster Bar in Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

When you think of seafood, it’s hard to go wrong with oysters, shrimp and fish. And with the lengthy NC coastline, we’ve got access to some great seafood options here in the Triangle! Full Moon Oyster Bar is a small seafood restaurant chain with four locations in state. The Morrisville location is one of the newer ones and located in the Park West complex along with Bad Daddy’s and Buffalo Wild Wings. Thankfully I had an excuse for a lunch visit recently and there were a couple of surprises that popped up during my visit…

Front bar at Full Moon Oyster Bar in Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

Up front, Full Moon Oyster Bar is really deceiving. Narrow storefront with the generic strip mall signage. When you step inside you’re immediately in front of a bar-bar area with lots of weathered and antiqued woods. The main dining room is to the side and quite deep! The decor here at Full Moon Oyster Bar is totally nautical with heavy beach influences. The chairs are made of worn colored box slats with oyster bucket lamps overhead. What’s odd is the seating. There’s no standard four tops but instead, 4 or 5 horse-shoe shaped oyster bars with high-chair seating! So not a great option if you’re dining in a larger group and want to have some table conversation. My friend and I grab a couple of seats at the first bar to keep things easy for the staff.

Dining area at Full Moon Oyster Bar in Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

The lunch menu here at Full Moon Oyster Bar is pretty sure, primarily sandwiches but they do serve the full dinner menu all day. My first visit here means I get to try out a lot! We order up a dozen char-grilled oysters to start with and the daily special is a Calabash seafood platter so we’ll take two of those, oyster bar-keep! But before we even get our food, a couple of aluminum trays are brought out with some pre-lunch snacks on it: a dish of slaw and seasoned red-skin potatoes. I’ve never seen this before but I can go with the food flow. The taters are tender and nicely seasoned while the slaw is pretty standard.

Cole slaw and seasoned potatoes at Full Moon Oyster Bar in Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

Our oysters come out to start the real meal. We’ve got 12 seared oysters with some butter and cheese melty on top. Two pieces of toasted bread are served on top, it reminds me a bit of the char-grilled oysters I’ve gotten in New Orleans. And it’s a tasty, salty and rich treat, while I sometimes enjoy raw oysters, I prefer them cooked up in my world and Full Moon Oyster Bar does a nice job here.

Char-grilled oysters at Full Moon Oyster Bar in Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

The seafood plate come out next and includes a piece of fried flounder, some smallish shrimp, hush-puppies and seasoned fries. Served with some cocktail and tartar sauce, it’s a good looking plate. Looks like they are using a light corn meal covering here on the fried foods for a bit of substance. The seafood is all solid and fresh, I wasn’t a huge fan of the hush-puppies but the fries are a nice accompaniment to the meal! Overall it’s just the right amount of food and nicely fried (little grease) for lunch.

Oddly enough, service at Full Moon Oyster Bar was a bit slower than expected. While the lunch crowd did grow over time, it was pretty empty coming in and getting the meal wrapped up and grabbing the check took longer than expected. But it doesn’t seem like a regular problem on their online reviews so maybe we just caught them on a tough day. So overall I was pretty impressed with Full Moon Oyster Bar. Standard seafood menu around here but pretty cool decor and reasonable prices for what you get and I’ve got few complaints. So if you’re in Morrisville and wanting a taste of the beach and NC coast you might want to stop by Full Moon Oyster Bar. They’re as real as you get for seafood but in nicer digs, enjoy!

Full Moon Oyster Bar

1600 Village Market Place

Morrisville, NC 27560

919.378.9524

Location on Google maps

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August 1, 2015 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Saffron in Morrisville: Still Delivering a Great Indian Lunch Buffet

Front of Saffron in Morrisville and yes, this is an old picture- NC Triangle Dining

RETAKE: When I first arrived in North Carolina from the San Francisco area, Indian food was one of those cuisines I really missed. There weren’t a lot of great options so I was happy to hear about a tasty new Indian spot, Saffron. I made it out to Saffron for a couple of meals but really never had a chance to re-visit in the last five years. Luckily a friend of mine is up for an Indian buffet and she suggests Saffron so it’s time for a re-visit!

Interior of Saffron in Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

Inside, Saffron is a bit different than most local Indian restaurants. High ceilings, concrete floor, the interior is spacious and a bit more business-like but in all honesty it hasn’t changed much since my first visit years ago, good and bad. The dining room is already busy a bit after noon-time, it’s the RTP lunch crowd piling in. We’re seated in the back and put in our drink orders. Saffron’s buffet is in the back room, set off from the dining area.

Vegetarian side of lunch buffet at Saffron in Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

Non-vegetarian side of lunch buffet at Saffron in Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

At the buffet we dove into their steam trays! Vegetarian on the right: corn fritters, veggie fried rice, saag, cabbage with potates, peas and chick-peas. A good assortment for you non meat-eaters. On the left, they have chicken biryani, chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken and more. Gulab jamun for dessert and some tea for a bit of sweet.

Well-made naan at Saffron in Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

Back at the table, they bring us a basket of naan and it’s time to dig in. My plate is nice and colorful, love the stewed cabbage and potatoes, the tikka masala is solid but the tandoori chicken is probably the stand-out. Soft, charred drums with that delicious spicing, excellent. Paired with the great naan, you are in for a good lunch here at Saffron. Bonus is that given all their customer traffic here, the steam trays are well-stocked. Service for our water glasses was also very good.

Yummy plate of Indian food at Saffron in Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

Overall lunch at Saffron was a pretty good experience. The lunch buffet had a nice range of meat and vegetarian dishes and it was well-stocked. Service was prompt and polite but a limited experience given the buffet. And the interior, while a bit dated, still works ok if you’re not up for fancy-shmancy. So nice job Saffron! You’ve kept up the good Indian eats that I remember from years back and people still love you for it. If you’re in the area and up from some aromatic Indian food, stop on by…

Saffron Morrisville

McCrimmon Corners

4121 Davis Drive

Morrisville, NC 27560

919.469.5774

Location on Google maps

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First Take: Mekong in Morrisville, A Humble Vietnamese Eatery That Shines

Mekong Vietnamese Restaurant

2135 TW Alexander Drive

Morrisville, NC 27560

919.251.8426

Location on Google maps

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

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!

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…

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.

Buffalo Wild Wings in Morrisville!