Raleigh Restaurant Reviews on NC Triangle Dining

September 2, 2013 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

A Trip to the Daily Planet Cafe and NC Museum of History

Front of the Daily Planet Cafe, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Changes over at Rocky Top Hospitality has led to a smaller group of restaurants being led by their management team: Dean’s Seafood Bar and Grill, Twisted Fork and the Daily Planet Cafe. Over the long holiday weekend, I finally decide to take a quick visit to the Daily Planet Cafe which is located in the same area as the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. Out front, the Daily Planet Cafe has a large open patio, inside it opens up to a large modern interior but keeps things pretty simple with a order and pick-up at the counter system.

Mod interior of the Daily Planet Cafe, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

As with most museum cafe’s, the Daily Planet has a pretty basic menu that’s meant to please young families and kids. A small menu of breakfast options (eggs, meat, grits, hash, french toast) along with some sandwiches, salads and wraps for lunch. I order up a 4-item breakfast plate ($9) along with a cup of coffee which puts me at about $11. I get a buzzer, head over to the coffee bar and sit tight. The Daily Planet is mostly self-serve for your drinks, cutlery, napkins and such so it’s a super casual spot. But the inside is quite nice, open and airy and the coffee’s very good!

Breakfast plate at the Daily Planet Cafe, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

About 10 minutes later, my buzzer goes off and it’s time to grab my breakfast tray. A nice plate with two perfectly cooked eggs, a small cup of fruit, sweet potato slices and sausage patties. It’s a solid breakfast and some items to take note. The sweet potato hash is nearly like sweet potato chips with sauteed peppers and onions along with a dash of syrup. Interesting and different, I imagine little kids (and me) really enjoy this combo! The sausage and fruit were fine, nothing special but I admit to preferring sausage links. The patio is a great covered spot for an outdoor meal so Daily Planet Cafe is an interesting dining alternative in this hood. Perfect if you’re visiting either of the two museums here but I’ll have to come back for their lunch menu since breakfast fell into the it’s just OK category.

Front of the NC Museum of History, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

But after breakfast, a trip the the NC Museum of History rocked it out! Open to the public with no entry fee, it houses a large exhibition of NC history through the years. Covering everything back to pre-European settlement, you wind your way through Sir Walter Raleigh, Blackbeard, slavery, native-American re-settlement, the Civil War, Depression WWII and more. It’s an impressive display of items and stories that every North Carolinian should visit at one point and time. And it really sets the back-drop for where the state is today. Further upstairs are displays on NC sports history, more wartime memorabilia along with a clay pottery exhibit. I’ll have to come back with more time to really absorb the place.

Wright flyer at the NC Museum of History, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Confederate display at the NC Museum of History, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

All in all you can’t go wrong with a visit to the Daily Planet Cafe, NC Museum of History and NC Museum of Natural Sciences! Just north of the state capital, these wonderful spots can make for a great 1/2 day visit and you can do it all on a budget. Good food, great history and knowledge can be had if you just make a bit of an effort. So come on down for a visit!

The Daily Planet Cafe

121 West Jones Street

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.707.8060

The Daily Planet Cafe menu

Location on Google maps

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July 16, 2013 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Retake: Sono Sushi for Eclectic Japanese and Ramen?

Neon sign at Sono, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

A while back I had written up Sono as one of the better Japanese restaurants in the Triangle and over the last year or two, that opinion hasn’t changed! I’ve done a chef’s dinner and also a Competition in the Triangle dinner with Chef Michael Lee. My most recent visit to Sono was for their Sunday ramen special and it was worth the wait! If you haven’t had real Japanese ramen you’re in for a surprise. Just a LITTLE bit better than what you get out of a plastic wrapped brick, 5 for a $1.00!

Interior at Sono, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Inside the decor at Sono hasn’t changed much, I think they should probably consider freshening the place up a bit to keep things up to date. Sitting at the bar, I go for the chuuka manjuu appetizer and of course, the tonkotsu ramen! The chuuku manjuu is a little sandwich made from a steamed bun with some braised pork belly, pickled carrots and hoisin. As usual the presentation at Sono is great, it shows up in a small steamer with a nice lettuce garnish. And yum, it’s a tasty treat! Soft, steamed bun around a luscious slice of pork belly with some spice on the side. This app is really similar to what you might get in Chinese cuisine (steamed bun, peking duck, hoisin) and I’m enjoying this version at Sono.

Pork belly buns at Sono, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

The ramen is next and I am excited! I got turned on to good Japanese ramen at Ippudo in NYC which was recently named one of the top 100 restaurants in the US by the Daily Meal. It’s a serious Japanese ramen chain with only one location in the US so it’s the real deal. My bowl of ramen at Sono looks fancy! Complex broth with depth and richness, a small poached egg, several slices of braised pork, and some other veggies (ear mushroom, bamboo shoots, scallions). I sip the broth first and it’s quite good, smoky and coats the tongue well. As I dig into the noodles at the bottom, I find them a bit soft and start working through the pork and veggies. There’s a lot going in this bowl of ramen! The savory pork, textured mushroom, crunchy bamboo shoots contrasted against the rich egg yolk. Overall I liked and enjoyed it but I have to say I was spoiled by Ippudo. Couple of things I would change: add a bit more noodles and make em more al dente. Serve the broth a bit warmer, it was a bit luke-warm. And I would have simplified the meat and veggie combo, I’d go with a softer braised pork rather than the seared version in this bowl. But hey it was still good and I was glad to have stopped by.

Sono is still doing a great job and I know they can push the envelope with their food given what I’ve tried. The menu at Sono is more mainstream but still takes a lot of chances in its offerings. And between the flavor profile, textures and presentation I’m pretty sure you’ll consistently have a good meal here. So thanks Chef Lee for the ramen and I’ll definitely be back to try it again…

Sono

319 Fayetteville Street, #101

Raleigh, NC 27601

919.521.5328

Menu at Sono

Location on Google maps

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October 4, 2013 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

Stanbury in Raleigh for High-Class Neighborhood Eats

Front of Stanbury in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

When you think neighborhood restaurant, it’s rare when you get a cozy and gourmet spot like the Stanbury. Located in the old space previously housing Market Restaurant, the Stanbury is a shining star in the Mordecai neighborhood. Odd to find this level of quality in a restaurant on a quiet, mostly residential street. Is it perfect? No, but it does a lot of things well and given it’s only been open for several weeks, expect more and better from this sexy little spot!

Cool interior at the Stanbury in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Dining area at the Stanbury in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

While this area is a bit beaten-down, the Stanbury brings a lot of warmth and style to its small space. Extensive renovations inside have turned the previous simple interior into a sultry, romantic dining room that’s perfect for a date or small party. There’s a large roll-up garage door on the left-hand side that opens up to a large patio with two four-tops. The bar has been gussied up with a nice display of bottles which is great since the Stanbury takes its cocktails pretty seriously. In back, there’s a red, high-back padded corner for a hint of color in the otherwise organic and muted color scheme. And hints of metal and woodwork show there was a lot of thought put into the interior decor.

Cocktail and menu at the Stanbury in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

For my visit I grabbed a seat at the bar and there’s a short list of eight cocktails along with beer and wine. My Semi-cloudy cocktail is a play on the traditional Dark and Stormy and it makes for a good start with its lightweight spiciness, perfect for a warm summer’s night. My friend shows up and we get seated in the back corner but fair warning, the space is pretty darn loud. I expect the Stanbury to be pretty busy so high conversation volumes will probably be the norm. The menus are on paper and seasonal, I’m pretty sure there won’t be a set menu here. Lots of interesting meats like beef hearts, sweet meats and marrow, pretty locavore in style. Small plates are $7 – $11 while the large mains are $17 – $29, sorta pricey. I go with a pork belly app along with a swordfish-chorizo large plate.

Pork belly app at the Stanbury in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

The crowd here is noisy and probably locals along with foodies in the know. This place hasn’t been open long at all but it’s already busy! My pork belly app is 4 or 5 thick-ish slices with braised sweet potato and prune. The pork belly was seared nicely for a crisp skin that opened up into the rich fattiness underneath, a very nice start. My main wasn’t quite as delicious. The swordfish was lightly coated, pan-fried and came on top of some veggies and along with some clams and chorizo bits. The whole dish was pretty salty to me but not only from the chorizo, it was also the coating. There were also two pieces of crostini on the side so the entree seemed over-complicated to me. I ate most of it but the saltiness eventually got to me!

In the end, the Stanbury does a great job bringing interesting meats and seafood prepared with thought, care and flavor. Love the space, love the bar and cocktails, I have to hope that the food will become more consistent over time but they’re off to a good start. Probably the best place to compare it to would be maybe the Kitchen out in Chapel Hill or maybe the old Fraziers in Raleigh. Check em out soon if you want something different in downtown Raleigh, where else are you going to go for some delicious bone marrow?!

The Stanbury

938 North Blount Street

Raleigh, NC 27604

919.977.4321

Location on Google maps

March 28, 2013 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Ambiance, Cocktails and Food at Clockwork on S. Glenwood

Entrance to Clockwork, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

With the alcohol laws in North Carolina, you typically have restaurants and restaurants with bars. But you don’t always have bars with restaurants, if you know what I mean! But recently on S. Glenwood, a new spot has opened up that walks the line between bar and restaurant pretty neatly: Clockwork.

Located on a side-street from the main Glenwood strip, Clockwork is a funky, psychedelic scene with very cool decor. From the outside they’ve got a brightly lit arrow sign to let you know you’ve got something special inside! Inside you’ll be stuck by the rich, eye-popping decor ranging from black and white geometric patterns, a table of melted candles, a chromed torso of a mannequin, rich front room with roll-up garage door. Really an unusual and fun little space, from what I understand the owner used to own the lounge-dance club Mosquito and the decor is a bit club-like. Clockwork feels to me like a bit of San Francisco: mostly bar with some small plates and bites to keep you going. The menu has a handful of appetizers, pizzas and sandwiches including an interesting pie with jalapenos, mandarin oranges and pistachio! I go with the more subdued Poulty-in-Motion: pesto sauce, roast chicken, sun-dried tomato with Gorgonzola and mozzarella.

Chicken pesto pizza at Clockwork, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

It takes a bit of time for my pizza and it looks great when it finally comes out. It’s a 10 – 12″ pie and plenty for one person. Thinnish crust and plenty of cheese on top. The pesto base makes for a great contrast to the rich cheese and tender chicken on top. A very nice bar-type pizza. My other visits have been for drinks but I’ve got my eyes on the fried cauliflower and meatloaf sandwich for next time. Staff at Clockwork is equally funky as the decor and food, tattooed types and quite good at the service game. And the owner is often here, schmoozing with customers and making sure things are going well, the place feels like a neighborhood spot. The crowd is a bit older, probably more in the 30 – 50 range but I haven’t been here late night so things could change.

All in all I’m pretty happy with this new additions to my neighborhood. South Glenwood has plenty of restaurants, clubs and pubs but slowly these bar-restaurants are coming onto the scene which to me is a bit more urban to me. So yeah, a big round of applause to our watering and eating hole in the hood! I’m pretty sure Clockwork will keep you happily satisfied with beer, cocktails and some decent plates to tide you over, bon appetit!

Clockwork

519 W. North Street

Raleigh, NC 27605

919.834.2211

Location on Google maps

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November 1, 2011 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Hip-Hipster Hooray for Capital Club 16 in Raleigh!

Front door at Capital Club 16 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

With the opening of Kings Barcade and Neptune’s Parlour, excitement returned to what was a quiet section of Martin Street in Raleigh. But in addition to these great, hipster bars, don’t miss out on the wonderful food and dining at Capital Club 16, located right next door! Capital Club 16 does an updated Continental-American menu but at the core, it’s all about high-quality meats and ingredients with deft preparation. While the location and food may seem a bit unassuming at first, repeat visits to Capital Club 16 make you quickly realize how amazing this eatery really is.

Bar at Capital Club 16 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Inside, Capital Club 16 is all awash in whites, traditional wallpaper, dark woods and refreshed continental decor. A lot of work and effort was put into finding specific pieces that enhance the interior. From the ornate mirror behind the bar, to the classic wooden chairs around dining tables, you get a sense of style and airiness at Capital Club 16. The open space and high ceilings means the place can get noisy-busy at times but you’ve got the option of sitting outside on the sidewalk.

Mac n cheese with salad at Capital Club 16 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Pop open their menu and you’ll see some familiar dishes (salad nicoise, roasted chicken, mac n cheese) but you’ll also seem some specialties like beef brisket mini’s, schnitzel sandwich and a wonderful butcher’s plate. And don’t miss the chalked specials menu next to the bar, where the chef really pushes the envelope. I’ve tried a great porchetta sandwich and lobster mac n cheese, off the specials board!

Shanny fries at Capital Club 16 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

The devil is truly in the details and that’s where Capital Club 16 shines. Start off with their shanny fries, tender medium-cut fries sprinkled with sea salt and parsley. The fries are available with most meals but you’ll miss out on the delicious aioli dipping sauces. The sausage sampler app is a fantastic plate of meat served with a zippy, fresh mustard, great stuff…

Sausage platter at Capital Club 16 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

For the main entrees, I’ve done a great golden buck breakfast burger with the fried egg cooked just right. The butcher’s plate comes with amazing grilled pork belly and sauerkraut. And I had a friend tell me that his beef brisket mini’s may have been some of the best barbeque he’s ever put in his mouth. Everything at Capital Club 16 is reasonably priced but they don’t skimp out at all on the quality of ingredients, a great combo.

Sausage and gravy for brunch at Capital Club 16 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

The service at Capital Club 16 is also really good. Pleasant hipsters in casual plaid, they do a great job making sure your meal is well-paced and water glasses are filled. The old-school bar in front is small but has a decent selections of beer and liquor. Capital Club 16 also does a great brunch with options like challah french toast, sausage gravy over eggs and biscuits, along with a fantastic bloody mary!

So if you’re ever headed on Martin Street to a show at Kings, don’t miss this unassuming but delicious restaurant! Capital Club 16 works so well in many ways. A casual business lunch during the day. Late-night eats on the weekend. Or maybe a relaxing brunch on their busy sidewalk. And all at a decent price. Bon appetit Capital Club 16, and keep it up with all the great food and dining!

A Trip to the Daily Planet Cafe and NC Museum of History