Best Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

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

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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August 2, 2019 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Double your Mexican Deliciousness at Los Cuates in Raleigh!

Front of Los Cuates in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

While a lot of people in the Triangle adore Chubby’s for their Mexican food fix, there are other down-home choices. Places where the locals eat and the food is about authentic as you can get. Out in Raleigh one of my personal favorites is Los Cuates! Located ITB (Inside the Beltline), they’ve got one drive-thru location on Capital Boulevard and another sit-down location on Old Wake Forest Road. Delicious burritos, tacos, salsa and more in two convenient spots. While they both serve wonderfully inexpensive Mexican fare, I prefer to hit up the sit-down location because you’re going to need some time to finish up one of their huge meals!

Counter at Los Cuates in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

Dining area at Los Cuates in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

Los Cuates is a small, family-owned restaurant that seems really authentic. They don’t have a website and the majority of times that I’m there, it’s mostly Mexican patrons dining there. The family opened up Los Cuates in Raleigh after stints in Arizona and SoCal, so I’d like to think of their food as West Coast Mexican. Inside Los Cuates it’s a bit spartan with one lone television showing off futbol and Mexican soap operas. They’ve got the menu over the counter with no details so you’ll need to have an idea of what to order beforehand (or you may get a beef tongue taco, i.e. lengua!) Los Cuates does the basics: tacos, burritos, and plates in a variety of meats. Once you’re done ordering, hop on over to the salsa bar where they’ll have four choices along with some fresh veggie accompaniments. I stick to the basic red salsas but the green guacatillo looks pretty darn good. It’ll take about 10 minutes to get your food but a large basket of chips will tide you over until then.

Hot, hot, hot condiments at Los Cuates in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

Taco meal at Los Cuates in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

For my mains, I’ve pretty much only done lunch here and it’s typically $5 – $10 for anything on the menu. I’ve tried most of the basics: pollo asado (chicken), carnitas (pork), carne asada (grilled beef), barbacoa (braised beef), lengua (tongue) and fish, which have all been solid. The plates will come with a side of rice and beans so we’re talking about a lot of food. Drinks span from Jarritos to horchata to frescas, I recently had a tamarind fresca that was really good. A bit tangy and really refreshing which was perfect on a hot day. For tacos I’ve also tried the chicarron and chorizo, both interesting and awesome in different ways. Chicarron is basically crisped up pork belly so it’s super rich with some meatiness. The chorizo is intense and salty but the onions and cilantro take a bit of the bite out. Los Cuates does a nice plate, the pollo asado is grilled chicken pieces along with a nice plate of refried beans and fluffy spanish rice. The meals here are always carbalicious so be warned you’ll probably need a nap afterwards.

Burrito plate Pollo at Los Cuates in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

Inner burrito at Los Cuates in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

And if you’re super hungry, go for the carne asada burrito plate! As the priciest item on the Los Cuates menu $10 may seem like a lot but whoa, wait’ll you see this plate… We’re talking two burritos stuffed with steak (carne asada), pico de gallo and guacamole, yum! Along with the usual beans and rice, if you can finish this plate by yourself, I tip my foodie hat to you! I admit that I’m more used to the SF style burritos which are stuffed with rice and beans but these Los Cuates burritos are also pretty darn good. Basically if you took the rice and beans they give you as sides and stuffed them in the burrito, you’d end up with the same deal. And they do a really nice job with the burritos. They’re griddled up a bit with a nicely browned outside. The burrito wrapper is crisp but still has some glutinous chew to it. Not sure how exactly they do it but awesome-sauce!

Menu at Los Cuates in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

I rarely ever make it to dessert at Los Cuates because they give you so much food but they do have a couple of sweet items along with a rack of Bimbo’s sweets. So yeah, Los Cuates is my idea of down-home Mexican food. I’ll always enjoy Chubby’s for their fish tacos but for the basics in terms of Mexican food, Los Cuates hits the spot. They may not be fancy, they may be a bit out of the way but for some of the best basic Mexican fare, you can’t go wrong at Los Cuates. One note, Los Cuates is one of the few places I know in the Triangle that serves up breakfast burritos and carne asada fries, dee-lish!

In espanol, los cuates means twins or friend/buddy in slang terms. And I’d have to agree that the place is appropriately named. After a visit or two, you’ll think that Los Cuates is your best friend when it comes to Mexican food, whether you hit up their original Old Wake Forest Road location or their drive-thru on Capital Boulevard, bueno appetito!

Los Cuates

4524 Old Wake Forest Road

Raleigh, NC 27609

919.872.6012

Location on Google maps

April 23, 2018 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

Second Empire, Raleigh: A Civilized and Relaxed Dining Experience!

Second Empire in Raleigh- nctriangledining.com

So FINALLY I made over to Second Empire and let’s just say I wasn’t disappointed at all which is pretty impressive given expectations. After living in Raleigh for 6+ years, I had seen plenty of reviews and friends come here for dinner so I was just hoping to not be disappointed. And I’ve walked by Second Empire many times wondering what lay inside that big brick house on Hillsborough. And I’m glad to say that I finally know and it was an excellent dining experience with my two fellow bloggers, Kristen, Leigh and her husband Will…

Brick dining area at the Tavern at Second Empire, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Second Empire is really two restaurants in one. In the main house is a formal and antiqued dining space with multiple rooms decked out in period woodwork and decor. The Tavern at Second Empire is a more casual dining room with a separate entrance in back, a bar area along with two dining areas. A clubby, bricked dining space along with a atrium room which is more modern and airy. The beauty of the Tavern is that you have access to two menus if you’re not interested in the more austere and proper main dining room. Prices on the Tavern menu are about $2 – $3 less for entree but not wildly different.

Bar at the Tavern at Second Empire, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

The bar at the Tavern is pretty small, maybe 10 seats or so with a classic look and feel. A good selection of liquors, a small selection of draft beers, service at the bar is attentive and old-school. Sitting at the bar and drinking my G&T, I noticed the substantial amount of waitstaff which you would expect at a place like Second Empire-Tavern. Classic white shirts, black vests and pants, definitely a traditional look. We’re brought to a four-top in the atrium with a nice window view of the sidewalk We’re given four menus, one for both Second Empire and the Tavern, one for wine-cocktails and one for cheeses. Our wait-person is extremely well-versed in the menu and specials, rolling through a long and extensive list of ingredients, nice job! I go with a pork shoulder spring roll for my app and a t-bone pork chop for my main.

SecondEmpireTavern-Bar-PorkSpringRoll — Asian pork shoulder spring roll at the Tavern at Second Empire, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Wine prices by the glass are pretty standard ($9 – $12) and I enjoy a glass of syrah with my meal. My pork shoulder spring roll arrives and it’s a interesting looking app. Soft roll atop some jasmine rice stir-fry, it’s got a nice balance of soft, crisp and tasty. Looking around the table and my dining-mates starters, you can see a common theme of fairly complex plating and presentation which you’d expect here.

Grilled pork chop at the Tavern at Second Empire, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Scallops with pineapple salsa at the Tavern at Second Empire, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Grilled swordfish at the Tavern at Second Empire, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Again, given the relaxed service here, it’s a bit of time before the entree is brought out. Which is fine since we’re hearing about fellow blogger Leigh Hines wedding reception that happened here at Second Empire! All the entrees are brought out simultaneously with a bit of flourish from the staff. I’ve got a perfectly cooked pork loin chop on top of collards, pureed squash and ditalini pasta, an excellent and satisfying dish! The flavors are all Southern but amped up quite a bit with extras, very enjoyable. Leigh has a nice scallop entree with lentils and pineapple salsa while Kristen goes with a citrus-rosemary swordfish, both look excellent.

Baked alaska at the Tavern at Second Empire, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

And of course, after a 2 hour meal, who can skip dessert? We order up a pound-cake and baked alaska to share with the table and it’s a great way to end the meal! When you talk about Second Empire, it mostly revolves around special occasions: birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and more which is to be expected when you are a Raleigh culinary icon. The majestic front of Second Empire speaks to a different time and place, a bit posh, a bit dressy and in all honesty, not the type of place I’d usually frequent. But if you take a look at the Second Empire menu, the prices aren’t that high at all. We’re talking about the $24 – $30 ranges which may mean you shouldn’t dine here weekly, but it’s certainly doable multiple times a year. While I’m not sure if I’ll ever check out the formal upstairs, I do think I’ll be back again relatively soon. With its convenient location, interesting food and stellar service, the Tavern at Second Empire is still a very approachable and well-appreciated dining experience for this hungry guy! Bon appetit…

The Tavern @Second Empire

330 Hillsborough Street

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.829.3663

Second Empire menu

Location on Google maps

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June 25, 2019 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

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

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

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

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

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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June 9, 2015 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

The New Doherty’s Irish Pub in Apex!

Doherty's Irish Pub, Apex- NC Triangle Dining — Doherty’s Irish Pub, Apex- NC Triangle Dining

What can you say when you’ve got a local chain that opens up a second location? That’s the story with Doherty’s Irish Pub in Apex. The original Doherty’s is located deep in Cary but I was sort of excited about the new location since it was much closer to work. And since I was impressed with Doherty’s #1, I couldn’t resist a visit to the new Doherty’s in Apex and it met all my expectations which is pretty good news…

Inside of Doherty's Irish Pub in Apex- NC Triangle Dining — Inside of Doherty’s Irish Pub in Apex- NC Triangle Dining

The new Doherty’s in Apex has a lot of similarities to the original which makes sense, why mess up a good formula? Located in a small strip plaza off of Apex Peakway, it’s got a very similar layout to the original. U-shaped bar in main room, casual booths and high-boys, side-room with more of a restaurant feel. Inside there is a pub-like feel if not as pronounced as say, the Hibernian.

Dining side-room at Doherty's Irish Pub in Apex- NC Triangle Dining — Dining side-room at Doherty’s Irish Pub in Apex- NC Triangle Dining

Sitting down we’re immediately greeted and have drink orders taken. The menu looks to be the same, my table mate orders up their popular famous fish and chips, I go with a brisket sandwich. I love Doherty’s Irish egg rolls but pass on the appetizer since it’s a quick lunch! Doherty’s in Apex has only been open a couple of months but it’s already got some customers which is great to see.

Brisket sandwich at Doherty's Irish Pub in Apex- NC Triangle Dining — Brisket sandwich at Doherty’s Irish Pub in Apex- NC Triangle Dining

It doesn’t take long for our food, maybe 10 minutes which is perfect for a quicker lunch service. My brisket sandwich is quite good: tender beef layered with onions, cheddar and horseradish sauce. Paired with some potato chips made in-house, yum! My friend fish and chips look wonderful, served in “newspaper” and with a side of beans, he pronounces it possibly the best fish and chips he’s ever had in his life, high praise. So it looks like the new Doherty’s in Apex hasn’t missed a beat when it comes to its food.

Fish and chips at Doherty's Irish Pub in Apex- NC Triangle Dining — Fish and chips at Doherty’s Irish Pub in Apex- NC Triangle Dining

Over the course of the meal, our drinks are filled quickly and we get asked several times how our meal is. So I’m not sure if they might have sniffed out that I’m a blogger and Yelper but we got a lot of attention over lunch. Fact is, Doherty’s did a great job service-wise which I also experienced in Cary. So the magic formula for Doherty’s lives on in its Apex location. Above-average pub fare with excellent service in a slightly casual, Irish-pub like setting. For a lot of people that will work perfectly, just don’t expect the over the top Irish pub experience you might get in an old-school pub. And that’s plenty good for me if you’ve got your expectations in check. So congratulations Doherty’s on getting your new location up and running so well. Bon appetit and slainte…

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