December 14, 2016 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: PiePushers in Durham Dishing Out Affordable NY Pizza Slices

Pizza signage at Pie Pushers in Durham - NC Triangle Dining — Pizza signage at Pie Pushers in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

When it comes to pizza, I can never get enough! And it’s always great to see food trucks take the next step and move to a bricks and mortar location. So I was wondering what Pie Pushers had up their sleeve when they added a storefront to their food truck. Pie Pushers is one of the longer standing food trucks in the area so congrats to them! And their downtown Durham location had me even more curious, fellow foodie…

Front of Pie Pushers sitting over the Pinhook in Durham - NC Triangle Dining — Front of Pie Pushers sitting over the Pinhook in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

So if you’re looking for some pizza that’s not from Pizzeria Toro or Pompieri, you’ve now got another option. Located above the Pinhook Bar in a slate grey building with red trim, you’ll see Pie Pushers’ neon sign overhead. Up the stairs and you end up in a tidy little space with cool touches all around including a light bulb “PIZZA” sign on the climb up. Pie Pushers space feels like a modern, urban pizzeria with faux wood formica tables and the requisite stainless steel napkin dispenser with cheese and pepper shakers perched on top. Seating is scattered about the space ranging from two-tops, four-tops and some stools at the bar. It all feels, warm, cozy and well put-together.

Counter area at Pie Pushers in Durham - NC Triangle Dining — Counter area at Pie Pushers in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

Menu at Pie Pushers in Durham - NC Triangle Dining — Menu at Pie Pushers in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

Over at the counter, I peruse the menu. It’s pretty basic with pizza by the slice (nice!), 10 specialty pies and you can do the standard thin-crust or a Sicilian style pie. There’s also a small list of appetizers, salads and wings to add to your pizza order. Several nice touches is that Pie Pushers allows you to order a half-pie and the base cheese pie is only $12. Quite the deal in this pricey downtown Durham neighborhood! And Pie Pushers also offers several beers on tap along with a decent bottled selection to enjoy with your pizza.

1243 half-pie at Pie Pushers in Durham - NC Triangle Dining — Jerry half-pie at Pie Pushers in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

I order up the Jerry pie which comes with pepperoni and sausage. It takes about 15 minutes and a beautiful half-moon pizza is placed in front of me. I dive in but of course check the crust first, taking a peak underneath. It’s slightly speckled with a black char, great job done here in the oven! Pie Pushers pizza is best classified as NY thin-crust and it’s quite good. Tender crust that still has some structural stiffness to carry all the toppings. There’s a good smattering of meat and the cheese-sauce coverage goes nicely to the edge. Pie Pushers pies are about 15″ or so in diameter, the half-pie is plenty to eat for one person!

Over the course of my two visits, I’ve found the service to be quite good, they’ve got a very lively staff here. The feel is a bit hipster but helpful and casual, I likes it a lot! As a bonus, Pie Pushers is also doing a Saturday brunch, check out the menu here. All I can say is that I’m really glad to have a basic type of pizzeria in Durham. While I do love my Neapolitan pies, there’s something to be said for an affordable and tasty, NY slice. After a night out at DPAC, I could see myself sliding in for a slice before hitting the highway back home. So congrats Pie Pushers on your new space! You’re doing an awesome job with your pizza and thanks for keeping it affordable for the locals…

Pie Pushers

117 W Main Street

Durham, NC 27701

919.294.8408

Pie Pushers menu

Pie Pushers brunch menu

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October 10, 2012 by Ron Wen 3 Comments

Cook Out: Burger and Milkshake Heaven in North Carolina

$6.48

That’s the magic number when you’re eating at Cook Out. Or maybe it’s $7.57 if you go full on out and add the milkshake upgrade. No matter how you count it up, Cook Out is all about wonderfully cheap eats, quick casual and delivered through a take-out window with a smile. What’s that you say, my Yankee friend? You’ve never heard of Cook Out?! Well time for a quick lesson, you can thank me later! (Note: The popular Cook Out tray is now $5.99 as of July 2021)

Cook Out on Capital Blvd in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

When I first got to Raleigh I was introduced to Cook Out by a friend! I remember my first visit on Western Boulevard and thinking to myself, this place is sorta weird. Walk-up window, double drive-thru’s and pretty much no place to sit. So I ordered up my burger and foot-long without thinking twice about it. Five years later and all I can say is that I’ve got Cook Out in my blood, both literally and figuratively speaking. I mean, where else can you spend $5 and get a great meal? And where do you go if it’s 2am and you’ve got the hungries gnawing at your insides? Cook Out delivers again, they are open way late on the weekend. So yeah, if you’re a transplant or newbie to the area, you’re going to learn about Cook Out really quickly. Because unless you’re vegetarian or vegan, Cook Out will keep you happy and full even if you’re on a total budget. Think Extra Value Meal but way better and really local. Definitely one of the best grills around in the Triangle and a total bargain!

Cook Out on Western Blvd in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

Cook Out on Walnut Street in Cary, NC Triangle Dining

Cook Out was founded by the Reaves family and is a privately-held company so there’s not that much information out there. No website, no publicity, they just keep opening these wonderful little drive-thru’s. Supposedly there’s over 100 Cook Outs spread throughout NC, SC and Tennessee. And that’s what so odd, you see them everywhere and you really don’t know much about the business but who cares, we’re here to eat! My three favorite locations are the classic Western Boulevard-NC State Cook Out, Capital Boulevard and the Cary-Walnut Street location. Food is consistent at all of them, with some slight differences in access and egress to locations. The Western Boulevard spot is a hard, uphill right off the street, work your way around to the back unless you want to order at the window and grab one of their outdoor tables. They’ve got the usual double drive-thru but as a plus, both allow for pick-up on the drivers side. Not the same for the Cary location, you have to work your way to the parking lot off a busy intersection. Hit the double drive thru but if you go to the shorter line on the left, you better have a second person or do the lazy Ron tactic. Pull up REALLY close to the window, unlatch your seat belt and do a super-yoga move to pay for and grab your food out the passenger window. Probably doesn’t work too well for SUV’s and larger vehicles. And the same deal for the Capital Boulevard Cook Out. This location has an even odder configuration on a corner and in some cases, you have to cut through multiple paths of traffic to exit so be careful!

Once at the menu, Cook Out has a bunch of classic grill offerings ranging from foot-long hot dogs, burgers, chicken sandwiches and wraps. But it’s just about ALWAYS a better deal to go with the Cook Out tray which delivers one sandwich, two sides and a drink for a ridiculous $4.99. The key to the Cook Out platter is to know all the options out there and bling out your order. They’ve got two types of burgers wrapped in foil in four different styles. Cook Out style with homemade chili & slaw, mustard & onions. Steak style with A1 sauce, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, mayo. Out West style with BBQ sauce, bacon, mayo, pickles, onions. Cheddar style with cheddar cheese, bacon, grilled onions, and mayo. All the styles are generous in their toppings. The standard 1/4 pounder is thick and meaty while the Big Double consists of two thinner patties which are a bit more charred. They’re all pretty solid styles and any Cook Out burger type is satisfying!

Burger, hushpuppies and corn dog from Cook Out, NC Triangle Dining

Big double Western-style burger from Cook Out - nctriangledining.com — Big double Western-style burger from Cook Out – nctriangledining.com

The foot-long is a nice grilled dog with a lot of surface area for you to slather condiments on. Cook Out’s barbeque is even pretty good, a nice pile of vinegary, pork topped with a mild cole slaw and a couple of shots of Texas Pete, yum! The chicken sandwiches are solid but not my favorite, Cook Out delivers them in plain-grilled, spicy and cajun. And finally their chicken strips, whoa-so-good! I tried these for the first time recently and was way impressed. You get three largish, breast meat pieces in a crunchety coating that isn’t greasy or salty, perfection. Add in some honey-mustard sauce and you may have THE best main item for your Cook Out platter.

Chicken tenders from Cook Out, NC Triangle Dining

Grilled chicken sandwich from Cook Out, NC Triangle Dining

But wait, there’s more! For your two sides choose from fries, onion rings, hush-puppies, slaw, a chicken or bacon wrap, there’s even a corn dog on the side menu! I favor the hush-puppies and corn dog but I’ve got my eye on the chicken wrap too. The bacon wrap is a tortilla wrapped around 2 – 3 slices of bacon, lettuce and shredded cheese. Toss in a variety of fountain drinks, and you can even bump up to a Cheerwine or Coke float for your Cook Out platter for free! However if you notice the Cook Out menu, they’ve got a SLEW, a PLETHORA, a whole BOAT-LOAD of milkshakes which you shouldn’t miss. For a $1 upgrade to your platter choose from 40+ flavors. I enjoy the peach cobbler and watermelon (seasonal) which makes for a happy ending dessert. Seriously, for $5.81 you’ve got yourself a full-on, high calorie delicious meal.

Foot-long from Cook Out, NC Triangle Dining

Bacon wrap from Cook Out, NC Triangle Dining

Beyond the food, the kids working the window are usually super polite and sweet, bonus! They do train them well from a customer service standpoint. The only downside to Cook Out is its popularity so there’s typically a line. Thankfully, Cook OUt has started opening restaurants with indoor seating, woo-hoo! So yeah, if you haven’t been to Cook Out you better be a vegetarian. Or a food snob. Because what they do here is amazing for the price even if my pictures don’t show the food off, properly! Just drive on over, you don’t even have to get out of your car to enjoy their grilled deliciousness. Grab your little white styro-foam container from the drive-thru window, pop it open and it’s time for bon appetit!

Cook Out- 200+ Locations in the Southeast

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February 2, 2012 by Ron Wen 4 Comments

Get your Chicken Roasted Peruvian-style at Mami Nora’s

Mami Nora's Rotisserie in Raleigh, Interior at Mami Nora's in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining — Mami Nora’s Rotisserie in Raleigh, Interior at Mami Nora’s in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

While fried chicken always hits the spot, it’s probably not the best long-term option for consuming your chicken buck-buck-cluck. Between the cholesterol, trans-fats and calories, rotisserie chicken is typically a healthier choice. And with Mami Nora’s out on Wake Forest Road, you won’t even be sacrificing any taste, either! While the original Mami Nora’s is based out of Durham, the newer sister restaurant seems to be doing better in the online review world. If you haven’t tried Peruvian chicken before, you’re in for a treat. The meat is rubbed with spices and grilled over wood to create a VERY tasty bird. Along with Mami Nora’s traditional South American sides, you’ve got the makings of a hearty but reasonably priced meal.

Order counter at Mami Nora's in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining — Order counter at Mami Nora’s in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Step inside the bright yellow building, head on over to the counter and you’ll see a handful of choice on the menu mounted above. Three or four rotisserie chicken options along with some sides (black beans, three types of plantains, yucca fries, and more) keeps things basic. I’ll typically go with the 1/2 chicken option along with two sides for $8. Grab a seat after you order at the counter, it’ll typically take five or ten minutes to get you served. Mami Nora’s also has a nice array of S. American soft drinks (Inca Kola, Cola Champagne) available. Yes, you could probably get your rotisserie chicken faster at Boston Market but it’s going to be worth the wait.

Black beans and chicken at Mami Nora's in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining — Black beans and chicken at Mami Nora’s in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Out pops a smallish chicken, cut into two quarters with well-browned skin. The meat is slightly smoked from the wood flame and tender. And the spices? Not a typical sweet marinade but a hearty mix of what tastes like oregano, garlic, and more. The chicken is served with aji verde and amarillo (creamy pepper sauce, the green is spicy) as a condiment, sort of a mayonnaise dipping sauce. Be aware that if you do take-out, they’ll be packing your bird and food in a lot of styrofoam, if only they could be greener! I brought some Mami Nora’s chicken to a potluck and it disappeared in a blink of an eye…

Roast chicken and sweet plantains at Mami Nora's in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining — Roast chicken and sweet plantains at Mami Nora’s in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Mami Nora’s also does awesome sweet plantains that have been softened and sweetened to perfection. Toothsome and satisfying, they are up there on my best plantains ever, list. The chicken soup is a bit salty but full of veggies and meat. And their black bean (frijoles) are basic but very tasty. In addition to the chicken, I’ve also tried their arroz chaufa (fried rice with chicken, sausage) and a side salad which was excellent. Mami Nora’s has a small selection of desserts, including flan and a tres leches cake special from time to time.

Interior at Mami Nora's in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining — Interior at Mami Nora’s in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

What I really like about Mami Nora’s is the authenticity of the place. Between the staff and patrons, the place has a real latin feel. Salsa music on the speakers overhead, simple carved wood chairs and tables, Mami Nora’s has enough personality to briefly take you to Sud America for your meal. And yeah, the food is inexpensive and good, always a winning combination on Foodalicious Follies! There’s nothing like great roasted chicken and that’s what Mami Nora’s delivers on the cheap, bon appetit.

Mami Nora’s Rotisserie

2401 Wake Forest Road

Raleigh, NC 27608

919.834.8572

Menu at Mami Nora’s

Location on Google maps

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May 31, 2013 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: It’s Krystal Clear Who Has the Best Sliders!

Front of Krystal in Brunswick, GA- NC Triangle Dining

I have it as tradition that a couple of things always happen when I visit Florida for the holidays. One, I visit my relatives down in Florida and offer to cook. Very important. Second and nearly as an important, is a stop by the local Krystal Burger in Georgia. Why? Well for some odd reason while Krystal is a fixture in the South, there are NONE in North Carolina! What up? We’re surrounded by neighboring states enjoying Krystal deliciousness and us poor Tarheels go without?! Not fair Krystal. And what’s so special about these mini-burgers?! Well sit down my friend and let me tell you!

Krystal is to the South what White Castle is to the North, a purveyor of delicious mini-burgers (or sliders) that you can eat by the handful. Located off I-95 in Georgia are two Krystal locations in Pooler and Brunswick, a quick pit stop on my trip down South. I’m usually in a hurry to get to Florida so I do my order to go but have always found the service and cleanliness at Krystal to be excellent. I order up their #3 combo, five cheese Krystals along with chili-cheese fries and a drink for about $7+. Not cheap but if you ever get addicted to these little burgers you won’t think so.

You get five little cardboard encased sliders, perfect for eating on the run. Pull out that Krystal and you’ll have a little square, 2″ by 2″ fluffy bun with a thin slice of meat, onion bits, mustard and a single pickle. Krystals are grilled along with the onions and the buns are steamed so it becomes a soft, mix of bread, meat and condiments, yum! Three or four bites later, your Krystal is done and you’re on to the next one. And the next one… Krystal sells their burgers in sacks of 12 but I don’t recommend going THAT far.

In addition to the burger, I also received a small styrofoam container full of crispy fries slathered in meat chili and melty cheese. Krystal provides you with a fork which you’ll need to eat these fries properly. And it’s quite good, Krystal has nice meaty, potatoey fries and the chili has a nice cumin kick. A forkful of fry, cheese and chili makes for a messy mouthful, especially when you’re rolling down the highway. But what can I say, it would be Thanksgiving for me without some sliders and fries. And I have to confess, Krystal burgers are probably a step up from my old slider favorite, White Castle. So don’t miss out on grabbing a Krystal the next time you’re in the Southeast. Unless you happen to be in NC, booo!

Krystal Burger

65 Tourist Drive

Brunswick, GA 31520

Location on Google maps

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May 22, 2013 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

La Cocina in Cary: For Fast and Filling Mexican Fare

Front of La Cocina, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Ahh, the ubiquitous Mexican-American restaurant! Get some salsa and chips, choose a lunch combo and then stumble out in a carbo-filled haze. Sounds like my kind of a meal. But with so many Mexican options in the Triangle, it sometimes gets hard distinguishing the good ones from the meh. La Cocina is a small regional chain of Mexican restaurants that was quite the pleasant surprise for me. I stopped in for a quick lunch with co-workers and was really happy about the visit!

Dining area of La Cocina, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Inside, La Cocina has some space to spread out in with three separate dining rooms. As soon as we sit down a basket of warm chips are put down at the table along with salsa and the chips are great! Thin, crisp with just the right amount of salt, the feasting begins. I put in an order for lunch special #4: beef taco, chicken quesadilla along with beans. And it’s not a long wait but that’s ok since I’m happy with my tortilla chips! Maybe 5 – 10 minutes later I get my meal and it’s a LOT of food for $6. One crunchy taco with shredded beef covered with cotija cheese, one large plate with plump quesadilla and re-fried beans. The taco is decent, maybe a bit under-spiced but a decent quality. The large quesadilla is plump and full of chicken chunks, less cheese and well-browned, a nice choice. And the beans are fried, nothing specially good or bad here.

Chicken quesadilla at La Cocina, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Smothered carnitas burrito at La Cocina in Cary - NC Triangle Dining — Smothered carnitas burrito at La Cocina in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

Overall La Cocina delivers decent Mexican food for not much dinero. They look like they have some more authentic Mexican specialties which would be great if I lived in the area. And from what I’ve heard, the bar can get pretty lively after work. But for now, La Cocina is perfect for a quick lunch! Fast, tasty and filling Mexican eats right around the corner from me, keep up the great work La Cocina! I’m pretty sure I’ll be in your kitchen again, sometime soon…

La Cocina Mexican Restaurant

100 Macgregor Pines Drive

Apex, NC 27523

919.467.0780

Menu at La Cocina

Location on Google maps

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First Take: PiePushers in Durham Dishing Out Affordable NY Pizza Slices