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The Best Restaurants and Bars in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill

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Restaurants Near the Dillon in Raleigh

July 1, 2021 by Ron Wen

Barcelona Wine Bar, a High-Energy Celebration of Spanish Tapas

Front of Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to Spanish tapas in the Triangle, Durham had the market cornered with the ever-popular Mateo and Taberna Tapas! As a Raleighite, I had tapas on my short list of desired restaurants and thankfully, Barcelona Wine Bar has come to the rescue! Part of the Del Frisco restaurant group (including bartaco), Barcelona Wine Bar has about 17 locations on the eastern seaboard and Colorado. Barcelona Wine Bar’s prime location in the Dillon building is its second location in North Carolina, woo-hoo! And after several dinner visits, color me impressed. Here’s why you should be considering a visit to this hot, new NC Triangle restaurant located at the new Dillon Building!

Corner location of Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Corner location of Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Located in a premium corner spot at West and Martin Street, the Barcelona is one of the new fun and hip eateries that continue to be opened up at the Dillon. A lovely patio area with greenery fronts the restaurant and you’ll usually find an energetic crowd milling about. Step through the narrow doorway and you’ll run into the centerpiece tapas bar in front (U-shaped) which is usually very busy. Overhead you’ll spy hollowed out, wood tubes and to the sides, rectangular “wood cinder blocks” which provides some separation between the bar and the kitchen or side dining room. Interior design at Barcelona wine bar is very organic and rustic, it feels a bit weathered even though it’s a brand new space!

Front room seating at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Front room seating at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Dining room at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Dining room at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Cool bar at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com

I’ve eaten many times here, usually at the bar and once on the patio. The large tapas menu offers up an array of charcuterie (3 cheese-meat choices for $17.50), salads, small plates, Chef’s items along with some desserts that are not on the main menu. Barcelona Wine Bar also offers up a handful of entree type dishes in the $20+ range (including paella) but where’s the fun in that? There is plenty to choose from for meat eaters or vegetarians but I’ll give a slight advantage to Team Meat at Barcelona Wine Bar! The wine list is pretty extensive and focused on European wine with glasses mostly $10 and up, don’t miss the cava. I’d expect to spend $30 and up for a meal with one drink so it’s a mid-priced type of meal for Raleigh.

Spanish tortilla at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Spanish tortilla at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

For starters, the Spanish tortilla (omelet) is stellar! Tender, thin-sliced potatoes are layered with egg and olive oil to present a luscious take on a very simple dish and it is executed perfectly here at Barcelona. Don’t miss the croquetas de jamon which are delicately fried balls of deliciousness. The crunchy exterior breaks open to a soft and cheesy interior accentuated with salty ham, wonderful stuff. And yes, you must try the albondigas, meatballs made with a bit of lamb in a chunky tomato sauce. The albondigas are bites of savory meatiness and filling for a small dish. I usually skip the complimentary rustic bread basket but some of that country bread sopped in the tomato sauce from the albondigas would be heavenly.

Croquetas at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Croquetas at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Albondigas (meatballs) at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Albondigas (meatballs) at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Now while officially Barcelona is all about small plates, I consider some of the higher-priced chef’s specials to be more entree like given the meat-heaviness of the dishes here. I had a fantastic NY Strip paired with red chimichurri which was wonderful. Thinly sliced, perfectly cooked (medium) medallions of beef sporting that luscious fat on the edge topped with the flavorful chimichurri sauce makes for a taste sensation. Paired with the plump, charred sugar snap peas, you’d have a perfect meal with both the savory beef and crunchy greens to balance your plate!

NY Strip with red chimichurri at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
NY Strip with red chimichurri at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Charred sugar snap peas at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Charred sugar snap peas at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Paella salvaje at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Paella salvaje at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

And after all these small plates, make sure you save room for dessert. It’s a small menu but loved Barcelona’s crepes salguero (crepes with dulce de leche cream, hazelnuts) and their chocolate flourless cake. So small and decadent, the cake is filled with creamy chocolate ganache! A glass of port would probably be the happy ending to a wonderful meal here at Barcelona Wine Bar.

Crepes salguero at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Crepes salguero at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Chocolate flourless cake at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Chocolate flourless cake at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

One other note, Barcelona Wine Bar has added a weekend brunch (Saturday and Sunday) and it has become one of my favorite spots to celebrate the weekend! With the addition of some tasty morning sweets (olive oil pancakes, torrijas-french toast) along with some Spanish flavored brunch savories (gambas y grits, serrano benedict), makes Barcelona one of the best brunches in the Oak City in my opinion. Don’t miss out!

Gambas y grits for brunch at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Gambas y grits for brunch at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Torrijas for brunch at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Torrijas for brunch at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

While Barcelona is still evolving as a new restaurant, they do a good job training and preparing their staff. Just beware that the bar can be pretty energetic and boisterous (LOUD), if you’re up for a quieter meal you’re better off in the dining room or patio. But wherever you sit at Barcelona Wine Bar, your taste buds are in for a treat. The chef back in the kitchen has got some serious talent and knows how to take these simple dishes to another level which is to me, a perfect reason to celebrate the arrival of Barcelona Wine Bar and its Spanish tapas in the Oak City. We were way overdue for tapas and Barcelona Wine Bar was definitely worth the wait!

Barcelona Wine Bar

430 W. Martin Street, Dillon Building

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.808.5400

 

Barcelona Wine Bar sample menu

Location on Google maps

Filed Under: Raleigh, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Date Restaurants, Patio, Restaurants Near the Dillon in Raleigh, Small Plates

March 2, 2019 by Ron Wen

First Take: Heirloom Brewshop in Raleigh Offers a Zen Garden Setting for Hot Drinks and Snacks

Front of Heirloom Brewshop in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Front of Heirloom Brewshop in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Over the past year or two, the Warehouse District has been popping! With the new Union Station and Dillon building opening up, there’s an expectation for a lot of future growth in this neighborhood. And along with living quarters and transportation, you’re going to need some restaurants to feed all these people, eh? Well out at the Dillon building, we’re starting to see some new restaurants come to life and Heirloom Brewshop is one of the more recent additions. Offering up coffee, tea, sake and some snacks, this hip and modern space will give you some ideas on where the Raleigh food scene is headed towards. Step on inside and let’s go check it out!

Organic design at Heirloom Brewshop in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Organic design at Heirloom Brewshop in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

From the outside, Heirloom looks pretty simple with gold, gilt lettering out front and a large glass face for maximum visibility. Walking by, you can see the milieu of young hipsters chatting away and working on their MacBooks. Inside you’ll find a modern but organic feel to the space. Primarily light woods and whites, there’s a trellis of sinuous wood slats overhead, highlighting the space. It all feels a lot like if Bida Manda and Brewery Bhavana got together and had a baby coffee shop! But it all works quite well, it’s a very clean space from an interior design perspective. Conceptually, I think Heirloom mimics a modern Asian tea shop in terms of esthetics and design.

Halogen beam coffee brewers at Heirloom Brewshop in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Halogen beam coffee brewers at Heirloom Brewshop in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

At the counter order area, you’ll spy an interesting array of brewing equipment. From a wild-looking cold drip coffee distiller to modern, fusion tea brewers, they definitely spared no expense when it comes to brewing equipment here at Heirloom. Everything is displayed out in the open for your viewing pleasure. To the left of the counter is a retail space showing off a variety of tea products along with a selection of sake cans. Peruse through Heirloom’s menu and you’ll find a nice range of teas, coffees, sakes, cocktails and small plates to choose from. There’s also a display case of pastries to snack on, up front! Heirloom is open from 7am to 10pm (11pm on Friday and Saturday) making for easy access.

 

Retail area at Heirloom Brewshop in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Retail area at Heirloom Brewshop in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Counter area at Heirloom Brewshop in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Counter area at Heirloom Brewshop in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

After you order, grab one of the small two-tops or hang out at the counter stools up front. Heirloom Brewshop provides a power-strip up by the front windows if you need to charge up your MacBook or laptop. The space is built for comfort, conversation and a lingering visit. Acoustics are decent here and it’s a good spot to have a quiet conversation. It all feels very comfortable and organic, Heirloom Brewshop provides a Zen-like feel to your visit.

Brewed tea at Heirloom Brewshop in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Brewed tea at Heirloom Brewshop in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Heirloom offers a great variety of brewed coffee, pour overs, cortados along with Asian oolong, jasmine tea and more. Check out the menus below for details. And while I’m certainly a fan of Heirloom’s teas and coffees, explore the small plates menu! With very Asian options such as fried Lotus root, chilled noodles and Taiwanese chicken, you can enjoy a snack with your drink. I also tried a really unique strawberry sakura crepe cake. A thinly layered (25+) stack of thin crepes with alternating buttercream frosting. Not super-sweet but the texture of this Sakura cake was really interesting.

Taiwanese popcorn chicken at Heirloom Brewshop in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Taiwanese popcorn chicken at Heirloom Brewshop in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Sakura crepe cake at Heirloom Brewshop in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Sakura crepe cake at Heirloom Brewshop in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Mochi donuts at Heirloom Brewshop in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Mochi donuts at Heirloom Brewshop in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

All in all, it’s hard to really describe Heirloom Brewshop but I think it’s ahead of its time here in Raleigh. Part coffee shop, part lounge, part eatery, there’s a little bit for everybody here! They are pushing the envelope when it comes to hot-brewed drinks and certainly taking some chances with their in-house pastries. Just enjoy it for what it is, a relaxing garden setting for hot drinks, snacks and conversation!

 

Heirloom Brewshop

219 S West Street

Raleigh, NC 27603

Heirloom Brewshop tea menu, coffee menu, sake menu, cocktail menu, small plates menu

 

Location on Google maps

Filed Under: Raleigh, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Cocktails, Coffee-Tea, Restaurants Near the Dillon in Raleigh

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