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Restaurant & Bar Reviews » Raleigh

Raleigh Restaurant Reviews on NC Triangle Dining

November 14, 2021 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Botanical Lounge and HighGarden Now Open in Raleigh!

Botanical Lounge in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Botanical Lounge in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

As we near the end of 2021, there has been a burst of restaurant openings and building activity! One very, interesting and new addition to the bar and lounge scene in Raleigh is over at 419 Glenwood Avenue. Formerly known as Solas, this multi-level venue had lain dormant for a long time given the pandemic. But with the overall economy improving, the space has been renovated and re-opened as three new concepts: Botanical Lounge (Bar and lounge), The Sage (Private events), and HighGarden (Rooftop lounge and events). I’m going to focus on the 1st floor Botanical Lounge in this post and review.

Patio bar at Botanical Lounge in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Patio bar at Botanical Lounge in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

If you visit the Botanical Lounge during the day, it comes across as a posh and green space with plenty of open-air, sunlight, and outdoor space. There’s a great mix of rich colors, organic textures, and dark woods at Botanical, making for a fun ambiance. Lit rattan lamps overhead, couches in mint and pinks, along with deep browns in the wood paneling and patio furniture. Botanical is also a large lounging space with lots of seating options indoors or on the wrap-around patio.

Beautiful interior at Botanical Lounge in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Beautiful interior at Botanical Lounge in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Neon sign at Botanical Lounge in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Neon sign at Botanical Lounge in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

But at night, Botanical Lounge takes on a much more sultry with its dim lighting and music. Candle lighting behind the bar highlights the space, along with the glimmering lamps overhead. I’d have to say it’s a great spot for a date but I’m guessing it can get super busy on the weekends and a bit noisy. So your mileage may vary!

https://www.nctriangledining.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/BotanicalLounge-Night.mp4

 

Botanical Lounge offers a smallish menu of small plates along with its drinks and cocktails, I’ve had a chance to try out the steak tartare and tuna tartare, served on small phyllo cups, tasty little bites.  The presentation of the plates is solid at Botanical Lounge with eggs capping the steak tartare and a smear of wasabi sauce for the tuna tartare.

Beef tartare at Botanical Lounge in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Beef tartare at Botanical Lounge in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Tuna tartare at Botanical Lounge in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Tuna tartare at Botanical Lounge in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

The croquettes are quite good, crispy, hot, and stuffed with potato, jamon, and manchego cheese! And the corn-dogs are a fun and casual option served with ketchup, mustard, and cornichon pickles for fun. Overall the food at Botanical Lounge is in the “good enough” range and a way to soak up and alcohol while you cocktail.

Croquettes at Botanical Lounge in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Croquettes at Botanical Lounge in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Corn dogs at Botanical Lounge in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Corn dogs at Botanical Lounge in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

And up on the rooftop you’ve still got HighGarden, an airy and green space that will be used for events and lounging with a great view of Glenwood South (Picture album below)! Overall I’m pretty happy with what the Hibernian Group has done here. Botanical Lounge and HighGarden are lovely bars and a nice reprieve from the craziness on Glenwood South. And while I probably wouldn’t come here for the food, there’s enough to keep you happy and nibble off the menu. Let’s hear it for the end of 2021 and getting back to normality, next year. New bars and lounges like Botanical will be a big part of that rebirth for the City of Oaks moving forward…

 

Botanical Lounge, The Sage Room and HighGarden

419 Glenwood Avenue

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.322.4515

Location on Google maps

 

Filed Under: Raleigh, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Bars and Lounges, Patio

May 22, 2021 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

Sam Jones BBQ Arrives in Raleigh Offering Up Top-Notch Barbeque, Ribs, and Sides

Front of Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Front of Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

If you’ve spent any time in North Carolina, you quickly learn about the area’s passion for barbeque! And whether you’re a fan of Eastern NC barbeque or Western NC barbeque, you’ll have legendary que shacks that you just have to try and check out. Skylight Inn is one of those barbeque classics and third generation pitmaster Sam Jones is part of that barbeque legacy. With his original restaurant in Winterville and now his newest location in Raleigh, you don’t have to travel very far to try out his top-notch whole-hog barbeque that’s smoked over oak. Located a couple of blocks away from the Red Hat Amphitheater, you’ll find his delicious smoked meats and Southern sides just a stone’s throw away from the downtown action. Given the restaurant opened up during the pandemic, the first couple of meals I did at Sam Jones BBQ were take-out but recently I got in for a seated meal. Here’s what to expect if you visit!

January 2021 menu of Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
January 2021 menu of Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Dining counter and bar at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Dining counter and bar at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Located in a newly growing neighborhood of Raleigh, Sam Jones BBQ sits amidst some brand new apartment buildings, condos and not too far from the ever popular, Boulted Bread. Inside you’ll find a very similar space to his original restaurant. The interior is basic and Southern with a concrete floor, painted wood and a marble dining counter-top snaking along the back of the space. There’s a smallish dining space inside along with a private room upstairs but where I’d imagine you want to eat at is one of the sidewalk tables up front or a table on the side-patio! Sam Jones BBQ is fast-casual, order upfront and the food is brought out to you. However, if there’s a line up front, you can work around it by just dining at the bar in back.

Dining room at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Dining room at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Side patio at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Side patio at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Prices at Sam Jones BBQ are a touch higher than the Winterville location, from $7 to $16 and you can choose from all the usual favorites: smoked pork barbeque, turkey, chicken, and ribs. Dine on your smoked meat in plate or sandwich format along with some wonderful Southern sides like collards, mac n cheese, baked beans and more. Plates come with corn bread or my favorite, the sweet potato muffin! There’s also a handful of salads and non-smokehouse items on the menu, choose from a chicken club, burger, fish sandwich or pimiento cheese sandwich.

Smoked wings tossed in barbeque sauce at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Smoked wings tossed in barbeque sauce at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Pork ribs at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh - nctriangledining.comPork ribs at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Pork ribs at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

As a starter, I’m a fan of the smoked wings! Slicked with some barbeque sauce, it’s a perfect way to get your meal started, sans pork. But given we’re in North Carolina, the pig reigns supreme and that it does at Sam Jones BBQ. The smoked ribs are excellent here, lean and meaty, cooked so they pull easily from the bone. And of course the barbeque! Going back to their Skylight Inn origins, Sam does a wonderful lightly chopped que. I’ve seen him prepare this barbeque at media events and they work in bits of cracklin’ into the meat for some crunchy texture. AND I’m pretty sure they work in more drippings in to keep the meat moist and full of umami. I think the barbeque here is as good as any you will get in the Triangle.

Barbeque, mac n cheese, collards plate at Sam Jone BBQ in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Barbeque, mac n cheese, collards plate at Sam Jone BBQ in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
 Three-way combo plate: Barbeque, smoked chicken, pork ribs and sides at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Three-way combo plate: Barbeque, smoked chicken, pork ribs and sides at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Fried catfish sandwich and fries at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Fried catfish sandwich and fries at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Beyond the smoked meats, I also really appreciate the Southern sides at Sam Jones BBQ. The collards are perfectly cooked leaving some texture and shape to the greens. The baked beans are loaded with ground meat, cowboy-style. And that sweet potato muffin just tops the whole meal off. You definitely get a lot of food eating here! As a bonus, the beer list is pretty solid, offering more than basic domestic brews for your meal bevvy. And the desserts? To die for…

Strawberry and Pig Pickin pudding at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Strawberry and Pig Pickin pudding at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
2nd floor private room at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
2nd floor private room at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Overall I’ve been very impressed by what Sam Jones BBQ is putting out. It’s not that easy to open during a pandemic but they handled things with aplomb. From their perfectly smoked meats, well prepared Southern sides to the friendly service, I doubt you can go wrong here. It sort of reminds me a bit of what the Pit used to be like when it first opened up. So welcome to Raleigh, Sam Jones! It’s great to have you in town along with your wonderful food.

Smokehouse at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Smokehouse at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Cooking the pork at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Cooking the pork at Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Sam Jones BBQ, Raleigh

502 W. Lenoir Street

Raleigh, NC 27601

984.206.2555

 

Location on Google maps

Filed Under: Featured, Raleigh, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: NC Barbeque, Restaurants Near Raleigh Convention Center, Southern Restaurants

May 26, 2016 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Retake: Cantina 18 at Cameron Village Offers Solid Southwestern Flavor

Front of new Cantina 18 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Front of new Cantina 18 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Cameron Village has always been known for its shopping but was never a great destination for food in my opinion. But in the past couple of years, the additions of Tupelo Honey Cafe, Tazza Kitchen and Ajisai Japanese have really raised up the bar for dining at Cameron Village. So I was curious to see what the newly renovated Cantina 18 would bring to the hood. Part of the 18 Restaurant Group, Cantina 18 focuses on Southwestern flavors with a Southern twist so think Tex Mex with a spin.

1st floor at Cantina 18 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
1st floor at Cantina 18 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

The first thing you’ll notice about the new Cantina 18 is how much larger and how different it looks now. The renovation in late 2015 expanded the restaurant to the 2nd floor and changed up the interior nearly completely. What was once a small, interior with booths in earth-tones has been opened up and brightened up into a modern and slick interior. I like the updates but admittedly it doesn’t feel as Tex-Mex or Southwestern as it used to be.

2nd floor bar at Cantina 18 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
2nd floor bar at Cantina 18 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

I head on upstairs with the hostess to the 2nd floor bar and grab a seat there. It’s a large U-shaped bar and the windows up front let in a lot of sunshine and look out on Cameron Village. The lunch menu is a bit small: apps, nachos, burritos, and tacos – maybe 25 or so choices. I go with the short rib burrito with Southern slaw.

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Short rib burrito at Cantina 18 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Cantina 18 serves up some complimentary chips and salsa to keep me company while I wait. The chips are warm and nicely salted. While the salsa is fresh but a bit bland, I can’t keep stuffing my face with them, a weak spot of mine! Lunch takes about 10 – 15 minutes and it’s a plate carrying a smallish burrito with a bright serving of red-purple slaw. The burrito is decent, well-wrapped with a good mix of tender beef, jalapenos, beans and more but it’s inconsistent. All the jalapenos are on the bottom, mostly rice on top and it’s soft and over-cooked. The whole burrito is just ok and the smallish size at $11 makes me scratch my head a bit. The slaw is fine but not memorable.

Service at the bar is adequate but mixed given the large lunch crowd on the 2nd floor. But I do like the space quite a bit, even if it doesn’t have that much of a Southwestern feel. Taken all together, Cantina 18’s renovations have improved the decor and space but left the food in the same spot for me. A bit in the middle without the flavors and spice I expect out of Tex-Mex or Southwestern. But if you’re looking for a comfortable and modern rendition of Tex-Mex, Cantina 18 is adequate and fits the bill. Especially if you’re in Cameron Village and hungry…

 

Cantina 18

33 Daniels Street

Raleigh, NC 27605

919.835.9911

Location on Google maps

Save

Filed Under: Raleigh, Restaurant & Bar Reviews

June 18, 2022 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

The Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh for Cocktails and the Golden Hour

View of Raleigh from Willard Rooftop Lounge - nctriangledining.com
View of Raleigh from Willard Rooftop Lounge – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to bars and lounges, I’m usually a fan of independent, slightly grungy type places. Maybe not quite divey but a step or two up. But as the Triangle has grown and evolved, we’ve seen a move toward hotel bars over the last few years. In my experience, they tend to be a bit sterile and over-priced but I’m always open to trying a new one out. Late last year, I did get an invite to the Willard Rooftop Lounge and was impressed with the space and view. And I finally had a reason to go back when I had friends visiting and had an excuse to revisit. Here’s what to expect if you decide to check out the Willard Rooftop Bar and Lounge in Glenwood South!

The AC Hotel in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
The AC Hotel in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Head on over to the lower end of Glenwood Avenue where you’ll find the AC Hotel! Wind yourself past the lobby and you’ll find a bank of elevators, two in front for hotel guests and a third one in back for rooftop access. Pop out of the elevator to the right and you may find a hostess for busier evenings. I’m pretty certain they have reserved tables and seating for most of the patio, especially the prime spots on the south side with the fireplaces. Most of the lounge seating is first come, first served but you won’t have an open or clear view for sunsets. In the parlance of photographers, they call the lighting and time around sunset, the “golden hour”.

Bar at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Bar at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Side patio at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Side patio at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Main patio at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Main patio at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

For food, the Willard is focused on Mediterranean small plates and the usual charcuterie but I wouldn’t plan on a meal here. The bar at the Willard is reasonably efficient offering up a smaller selection of beers, wines, and cocktails at decent prices but service will bog down come busy periods. One workaround I had during a busy visit was to just order a bottle of cava and ask for three glasses which makes service a lot easier for the bartender and for multiple people.

Beer-cocktail menu at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Beer-cocktail menu at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Food menu at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Food menu at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
https://www.nctriangledining.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/TheWillardACHotel-BarPatioScan.mp4

My recommendation is to come on a slower evening, Sunday to Wednesday, and get to the Willard about 45 minutes to an hour before sunset. The golden hour happens well before official sunset and you’ll need to arrive early for a prime spot. Overall, while the Willard can be a bit sanitized given its hotel bar background, it’s got some wonderful views of the Oak City and worth a visit. I lived in this neighborhood for over 12 years and was pleasantly surprised at the view. Just arrive early and get settled in for a splash of golden hues and colors sprinkled over the Raleigh skyline…

Sunset view at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Sunset view at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Evening at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Evening at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

The Willard Rooftop Lounge

9 Glenwood Avenue

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.803.5200

Location on Google maps

Filed Under: Raleigh, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Bars and Lounges, Glenwood South Restaurants

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

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