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Retakes

February 20, 2018 by Ron Wen

Retake: The Flying Saucer in Raleigh, a Classic Destination for Great Beer!

Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to beer in the Triangle, we’ve been in a renaissance for the past 5 years! Breweries, bottle shops and brew pubs have been opening up, left and right, in Raleigh, Durham and points beyond. I mean, who doesn’t love a tasty, locally brewed beer on a warm summer’s day?! But way back when, before this whole beer revolution started, there were only a handful of spots you could go to get a great craft beer, enter the Flying Saucer on Morgan Street! This beer and brews stalwart has been pouring out great beer for years and even though it wasn’t my personal favorite spot, I decide to go back for some visits to see how things have held up at the Saucer. And I’m glad to say that it’s still doing an excellent job serving great beer for Oak City residents…

Covered patio at Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Covered patio at Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Located on the corner of Morgan and Harrington Street, you can’t miss the Flying Saucer! You’ll usually find the covered patio, filled with Raleighites enjoying a good beer and snacks when the weather is nice. Stepping through the doorway you’ll immediately be hit by the enormity of the Flying Saucer space and its beer hall interior. Checked floor in black and green, long bar with taps to the right and four-tops to the left. And yes, beer plates! Gold rimmed plates line every bare spot on the walls and ceilings, with a customer message on each. Part of the UFO club that the Flying Saucer runs, taste and/or drink 200 different beers and you’ll get your own special plate to adorn the Flying Saucer space! The beer hall is a bit worn and aged which adds to the charm here. There have been a LOT of brews and beers quaffed down at the Flying Saucer over the years.

Rich and weathered interior at Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Rich and weathered interior at Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Sitting down at the bar and choosing one of the Flying Saucer’s 200+ beers can be a bit intimidating but thankfully the staff here is super knowledgeable when it comes to suds. And honestly, after the Raleigh Beer Garden offered up 360+ beers, the Saucer seems less difficult. At least most of the Saucer customers know their beers pretty well, making the selection process, quicker. The Flying Saucer is also known for for its waitstaff with many of the female servers sporting plaid skirts and knee-high socks, but you know what? Don’t let their looks fool you. They know their beer here really well, too.

The Bratzel at Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
The Bratzel at Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Dry rub wings at the Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Dry rub wings at the Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Great beer, cool decor but what about the food at the Saucer? Well they’ve offer a small selection of appetizers, sandwiches, salads (hahaha), plates and pizzas. You do need something to eat along with all that great beer! The food falls comfortably into the category of simple bar food and is not super memorable. But I do think they are upping their game when it comes to the eats. From snacks to sandwiches and pizzas, it’s all hearty rib-sticking fare are the Flying Saucer

Tex-Mex hash brown skillet at Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Tex-Mex hash brown skillet at Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Bacon, egg and cheese pizza at Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Bacon, egg and cheese pizza at Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

A recent visit for brunch turned up a Tex-Mex hash brown skillet and breakfast pizza! Tasty hash-browns topped with cheddar-jack cheese, fried egg and jalapenos, yum! And the breakfast pizza topped with scrambled egg, bacon and cheddar was pretty solid too! The Flying Saucer does brunch from 11am to 3pm. I think it’ll be a fun option out on that patio once it gets warmer. The Flying Saucer also runs beer specials on Sundays ($3 pints, NC Beer) and Mondays ($3 pints, all taps).

UFO Plates on the ceiling at Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
UFO Plates on the ceiling at Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

So a slow round of applause for the venerable Flying Saucer on Morgan Street! While the Raleigh food scene has improved by leaps and bounds over the years, the Saucer has also upped its game to keep up. The Flying Saucer may not be top of mind for a drink or food, I think it’s a totally decent spot to get a feel for what Raleigh is about and sample some great beer. And while I may not ever have a UFO plate up on the wall with my name on it, I will definitely be back to sample more off of their food menu!

 

Flying Saucer Raleigh

328 W Morgan Street

Raleigh, NC 27601

919.821-7401

Location on Google maps

Filed Under: Raleigh, Restaurant & Bar Reviews, Retakes Tagged With: Beer - Brewery, Patio

August 24, 2019 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

Beasley’s Chicken and Honey in Raleigh for Southern Eats and Goodness

Front of Beasley's in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Front of Beasley’s in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

“Don’t buy into the hype”, that was the thought rolling through my head on my first visit to Beasley’s Chicken and Honey. I had eaten at Pooles Diner, Ashley Christensen’s well-acclaimed flagship restaurant but people were REALLY excited for her upcoming trifecta of gourmetness on Wilmington Street. Beasley’s was designed to deliver solid comfort food with the Christensen twist but at much lower price points. While I enjoyed my first couple of visits to Beasley’s I really wasn’t blown away. Comfort food is just that, simple basic food that warms the heart but is rarely super interesting in my eyes. The menu was so short and the food came out so quickly, I was concerned the menu was designed for efficiency over a great eating experience. So Beasley’s fell off my list of restaurants to dine at for a while.

Interior at Beasley's in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Interior at Beasley’s in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
 Chalkboard menu at Beasley's in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Chalkboard menu at Beasley’s in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

Fast forward to a couple of months back. Friends that I trust are talking up Beasley’s chicken and Sunday brunch options. Looks like it’s time to come back for a visit and yes, I think things have improved a lot at Beasley’s. While I’m still not a 100% sold on the communal table idea, the place has a great feel and I ended up eating at the bar again. The menu’s been expanded to include some bar bites and there’s just more choices which is great. For appetizers we start off with a fried Carolina shrimp with a smokey remoulade (mayonnaise based sauce). Out comes a plate of crunchy fried shrimp, nearly like a tempura: very lightweight coating with a lot of texture. Dee-licious! The shrimp are plump and tender, dab some of the very smoky sauce on top and you’ve got yourself a wonderful bite.

Carolina shrimp at Beasley's in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Carolina shrimp at Beasley’s in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Chicken plate at Beasley's in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Chicken plate at Beasley’s in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

While my cousin ordered up the quintessential fried chicken, I went with the meatloaf (berkshire pork shoulder) and mashies. Out comes a medium-sized bowl with a nice, thick seared piece of loaf, drizzled with gravy and on top of a bed of mashies. Loved the meatloaf, I believe it was fried on the griddle giving it a bit of a snappy crust before giving way to the meatiness underneath. The gravy makes for a nice savoriness and the mashies were decent but could have been whipped up a bit better. Overall a great comforting bowl of meat and potatoes, I definitely enjoyed this dish. The side of succotash with fresh butter beans was awesome, a melange of well-cooked and seasoned veggies.

Meatloaf at Beasley's in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Meatloaf at Beasley’s in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Smashburger at Beasley's Chicken and Honey in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Smashburger at Beasley’s Chicken and Honey in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Frites at Beasley's Chicken and Honey in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Frites at Beasley’s Chicken and Honey in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

I had plans to do the silk chocolate pie with soft cream but just could not make it to the final course. Portion-size at Beasley’s is decent so maybe next time. And with very reasonable prices the place really hits the mark for a casual meal. The place was bustling but service was still solid and helpful, they do a great job here. So Beasley’s, way to step up your game and change up the menu a bit. While the fried chicken is still quite good, I love having some additional entree choices. So I have to tip my hat to Chef Christensen, fantastic job making your food delicious and accessible to everybody!

 

Beasley’s Chicken and Honey

237 S. Wilmington Street

Raleigh, NC 27601

919.322.0127

Location on Google maps

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Filed Under: Raleigh, Restaurant & Bar Reviews, Retakes Tagged With: Best, Fried Chicken, Pie, Southern Restaurants

June 25, 2019 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Humble Pie in Raleigh, Still a Classic Urban, Foodie Oasis

Humble Pie, Raleigh- nctriangledining.com
Humble Pie, Raleigh- nctriangledining.com

When I first got to the Raleigh area in 2007 I immediately began exploring the area, looking for restaurants and bars that would remind me of what I left in San Francisco. More often than not, I was usually disappointed but one of the first restaurants that felt like the City to me was Humble Pie!  I’m not exactly sure how long Humble Pie has been around but it was a popular destination before the Warehouse District got busy and popular.  Before the Pit, Jose and Sons, Crank Arm Brewery and so on, Humble Pie was the only reason to head to this hood outside of some dancing. Humble Pie works mainly for two main reasons: its tasty small plates and its urban chic interior.  And it does a lot of things really well, read on about this Raleigh classic!

Interior of Humble Pie, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Interior of Humble Pie, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

From the outside, Humble Pie looks a bit bland: bricked exterior, large and beige wood patio along with its signature H sign out front as the only hint of what lies inside. A heavy oak door pulls open to reveal its very cool interior!  High ceilings with rough hewn beams, black and white tiled floor, and colorful paper lanterns make for a very hip, urban feel.  They’ve got a nice bar in the back along with a private room.  And that bland patio with tiki bar outside?  Rocks it out when you’ve got nice weather and brunch on your mind.  So Humble Pie delivers lots of different ways to enjoy their eats: at the bar, on the patio, or in their dining room.

Fried oysters at Humble Pie - nctriangledining.com
Fried oysters at Humble Pie – nctriangledining.com
Seared scallops with pesto sauce at Humble Pie, Raleigh- NC Triangle
Seared scallops with pesto sauce at Humble Pie, Raleigh- NC Triangle

The menu is diverse providing a bunch of time-tested small plates for you to nosh on as a group or put together as a meal.  The crisp sauteed green beans make for a great starter.  I’ve enjoyed their braised short rib tostadas and spinach tart, two solid crunchy savory dishes. For my last visit I had some beautiful seared scallops in pesto sauce with fried capers along with some broccolini with an egg on top.  Two very different dishes but both well-prepared with nuanced flavors and textures, yum!

Broccolini with egg at Humble Pie, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Broccolini with egg at Humble Pie, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Biscuits with sausage gravy at Humble Pie, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Biscuits with sausage gravy at Humble Pie, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

For brunch, Humble Pie also does an even better job!  Try their classic biscuits and gravy, you can’t get much more Southern than that.  Or their shrimp and grits in the broth of gods (as they say on their menu).  Toss in a mimosa and their lovely patio and you’ll be in seventh heaven on a Sunday afternoon.  Just make sure to stop in AFTER noon time so you can enjoy an adult bevvy.  And service at Humble Pie is usually very professional.  The staff seems pretty stable making for consistently good service which is appreciated.

Shrimp and grits at Humble Pie, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Shrimp and grits at Humble Pie, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Bread pudding at Humble Pie - nctriangledining.com
Bread pudding at Humble Pie – nctriangledining.com

So this Raleigh institution, Humble Pie is still delivering some great eats and a great atmosphere.  Its diversity of dishes, cool environs and solid service means you typically can’t go wrong here.  But it’s not cheap, you will spend some money at the Pie.  But you know what?  I’m ok with the price since Humble Pie executes so well across the board, bon appetit!

 

Humble Pie

317 S Harrington Street

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.829.9222

Humble Pie menu

Location on Google maps

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Filed Under: Raleigh, Restaurant & Bar Reviews, Retakes Tagged With: Best, Patio, Small Plates, Southern Food

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
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
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
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.

Tonkotsu ramen at Sono, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Tonkotsu ramen at Sono, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

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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Filed Under: Raleigh, Restaurant & Bar Reviews, Retakes Tagged With: Best, Japanese-Sushi Restaurants, Ramen, Sushi

December 1, 2012 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

Retake: Acme Food & Beverage in Carrboro for Brunch!

Front of Acme Food in Carrboro, NC Triangle Dining
Front of Acme Food in Carrboro, NC Triangle Dining

When I used to live in Carrboro, Acme Food & Beverages used to be a favorite of mine for brunch but moving out of the area means I haven’t been back for a long time.  Fast-forward to this weekend and I’m in Chapel Hill to tour the area and it’s time for a re-visit!  Acme is one of the better restaurants in an area known for college food, pizza and pitas.

Focused on seasonal Southern fare, the place is usually busy and a bit pricey for dinner in my eyes.  Inside, the space feels like a sophisticated cafe, casual with a hint of formality with the staff in aprons.  We grab a seat out back in the patio which is a veritable garden decorated with a farmish feel. And elaborate water sculpture near our table bubbles away happily,  we order up the famous coffee cake along with some benedicts as the mains.

Warm coffee cake at Acme Food in Carrboro, NC Triangle Dining
Warm coffee cake at Acme Food in Carrboro, NC Triangle Dining

The coffee cake comes out and it’s everything that I remember: light, moist and plated with some thick whip cream and drizzled in some raspberry sauce.  Definitely a must-order when you visit!  My eggs benedict with soft-shell crab comes with some potatoes roasted in a tomato-pepper sauce along with a nice salad.

 Crab benedict at Acme Food in Carrboro, NC Triangle Dining
Crab benedict at Acme Food in Carrboro, NC Triangle Dining

The crab is a bit greasy but nicely fried with a bit of crunchy seafood texture.  Paired with the crunchy muffin, lightly poached egg and buttery hollandaise sauce, yum-mee!  Definitely a solid brunch plate but a bit pricey at $15.  But what can I say?  With the great garden decor, above-average brunch eats and professional service, Acme Food continues to deliver a great experience.  If I still lived in Carrboro it would still be on my weekend restaurant rotation, rock on Acme!

 

Acme Food & Beverages

110 East Main Street

Carrboro, NC 27510

919.929.2263

Menu at Acme

Location of Google maps

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Filed Under: Chapel Hill, Local Information, Restaurant & Bar Reviews, Retakes Tagged With: Brunch, Southern Restaurants

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