Family Friendly Restaurants Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

January 24, 2018 by Ron Wen 8 Comments

Best Dining and Restaurants at Waverly Place in Cary

Sunset at Waverly Place, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Over the years, Waverly Place has seen good and bad days. I used to live in this neighborhood and I never found much of a reason to visit this large, sunken strip plaza. But over the past two years, things have really picked up at Waverly Place. A new developer has spent a lot of money bringing in some high-end touches to the plaza such as water fountains, ambiance lighting and more. And the incoming restaurants have been a cut above your usual strip mall fare with a diverse group of eating choices. And also really nice patios given the strip mall setting! So where to go when visiting Waverly Place in Cary? Here are some of my favorites…

Enrigo Italian Bistro at Waverly Place, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Rigatoni amatraciana at Enrigo Italian Bistro in Cary- NC Triangle Dining

One of the first new restaurants here was the Italian classic, Enrigo Italian Bistro! When they first opened up, I always found their food to be decent, just not amazing. But a new chef has brought about a huge improvement in the food here. A recent lunch here showed off some great amatriciana pasta, apps and tiramisu. Along with a great covered patio, Enrigo Italian Bistro has definitely stepped up its game and is a worthwhile meal at Waverly Place.

Taziki's at Waverly Place, Cary- NC Triangle Dining — Taziki’s at Waverly Place, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Next on the list is the relatively new, Taziki’s Cafe! More of a quick casual, Greek-Mediterranean offering, they’ve got counter order and the lines to show that they must be doing something right! Choose from salads, wraps and kebab plates, the food portions here are generous and fresh-tasting even though they may be a bit Americanized. Still a good choice if you’re looking for something healthier and don’t want to pay for the full sit-down experience. Taziki’s usually pleases most people and for good reason.

Famous Toastery at Waverly Place, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

A casual and country dining choice is the casual Toast Cafe which dishes out more classic American eats. Think BLT’s, turkey sandwiches and egg salad! But while the menu may look familiar, Toast Cafe does a nice twist on things. Fresh sides and great service make it a good option for a quick but satisfying meal. And they’ve got a side-patio complete with fountain, woohoo!

Shake Shack in Cary - nctriangledining.com — Shake Shack in Cary – nctriangledining.com

Shack burger at Shake Shack in Cary - nctriangledining.com — Shack burger at Shake Shack in Cary – nctriangledining.com

One brand new option at Waverly Place for dining is Shake Shack! This chain of fast-casual grills offers up outstanding hamburgers, crinkle fries and shakes. While the price is a bit high for a burger joint, the quality is evident in every bite of your meal. Don’t miss out on the classic Shack burger along with their great chicken sandwich. Great for families, Shake Shack has a great view of the Waverly Place green given its central location.

Next on the list is Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop which is a small chain based out of the mid-Atlantic region. Highlights for me include their Bobbie (pulled turkey, cranberry, stuffing) and cheesesteak sandwiches. A casual and tasty spot for a quick meal.

View of Waverly Place in Cary- NC Triangle Dining

So Waverly Place you’re all growed up! In addition to the above restaurant there’s also a Barberitos (Mexican), Menchie’s (frozen yogurt) and a soon to come Cinebistro in 2015. So walk around, window-shop, enjoy the fountains and green space along with the good dining options here. Waverly Place is getting better each month, bring the family along for a relaxing visit…

Great Restaurants, Dining and Food at Waverly Place in Cary

Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop (Hoagies)

Chicken Salad Chick (Southern)

Enrigo Italian Bistro (Italian)

Tazikis (Greek, Mediterranean)

Famous Toastery (American, Sandwiches)

Gonza Tacos y Tequila (Mexican)

Mod Pizza (Pizza)

Shake Shack (Burgers)

Tasu Asian Bistro (Japanese, Thai)

Waverly Place Directory

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January 29, 2022 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

News: The New Dave & Busters in Cary, a Hop, Skip and Jump Away

Front of new Dave & Busters in Cary - nctriangledining.com — Front of new Dave & Busters in Cary – nctriangledining.com

If you’re a fan of Dave & Busters, you may head on over to its old location at Cary Towne Center mall and be shocked to see all the new construction and see it gone. Never fret, because Dave & Busters has just moved a bit away, to 1111 Walnut Street in the old Jumpstreet location. Luckily this large space was available and you can now can all your gaming, sports, and family eats just about a 1/4 mile away. I was able to stop in for a quick visit and it’s still the fun family spot you remembered it to be! Maybe a touch smaller but not noticeably so. Enjoy!

Bar area at new Dave & Busters in Cary - nctriangledining.com — Bar area at new Dave & Busters in Cary – nctriangledining.com

Dining room at new Dave & Busters in Cary - nctriangledining.com — Dining room at new Dave & Busters in Cary – nctriangledining.com

Arcade games at new Dave & Busters in Cary - nctriangledining.com — Arcade games at new Dave & Busters in Cary – nctriangledining.com

Dave & Busters

1111 Walnut Street

Cary, NC 27511

919.535.6800

Location on Google maps

September 2, 2013 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

A Trip to the Daily Planet Cafe and NC Museum of History

Front of the Daily Planet Cafe, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Changes over at Rocky Top Hospitality has led to a smaller group of restaurants being led by their management team: Dean’s Seafood Bar and Grill, Twisted Fork and the Daily Planet Cafe. Over the long holiday weekend, I finally decide to take a quick visit to the Daily Planet Cafe which is located in the same area as the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. Out front, the Daily Planet Cafe has a large open patio, inside it opens up to a large modern interior but keeps things pretty simple with a order and pick-up at the counter system.

Mod interior of the Daily Planet Cafe, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

As with most museum cafe’s, the Daily Planet has a pretty basic menu that’s meant to please young families and kids. A small menu of breakfast options (eggs, meat, grits, hash, french toast) along with some sandwiches, salads and wraps for lunch. I order up a 4-item breakfast plate ($9) along with a cup of coffee which puts me at about $11. I get a buzzer, head over to the coffee bar and sit tight. The Daily Planet is mostly self-serve for your drinks, cutlery, napkins and such so it’s a super casual spot. But the inside is quite nice, open and airy and the coffee’s very good!

Breakfast plate at the Daily Planet Cafe, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

About 10 minutes later, my buzzer goes off and it’s time to grab my breakfast tray. A nice plate with two perfectly cooked eggs, a small cup of fruit, sweet potato slices and sausage patties. It’s a solid breakfast and some items to take note. The sweet potato hash is nearly like sweet potato chips with sauteed peppers and onions along with a dash of syrup. Interesting and different, I imagine little kids (and me) really enjoy this combo! The sausage and fruit were fine, nothing special but I admit to preferring sausage links. The patio is a great covered spot for an outdoor meal so Daily Planet Cafe is an interesting dining alternative in this hood. Perfect if you’re visiting either of the two museums here but I’ll have to come back for their lunch menu since breakfast fell into the it’s just OK category.

Front of the NC Museum of History, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

But after breakfast, a trip the the NC Museum of History rocked it out! Open to the public with no entry fee, it houses a large exhibition of NC history through the years. Covering everything back to pre-European settlement, you wind your way through Sir Walter Raleigh, Blackbeard, slavery, native-American re-settlement, the Civil War, Depression WWII and more. It’s an impressive display of items and stories that every North Carolinian should visit at one point and time. And it really sets the back-drop for where the state is today. Further upstairs are displays on NC sports history, more wartime memorabilia along with a clay pottery exhibit. I’ll have to come back with more time to really absorb the place.

Wright flyer at the NC Museum of History, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Confederate display at the NC Museum of History, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

All in all you can’t go wrong with a visit to the Daily Planet Cafe, NC Museum of History and NC Museum of Natural Sciences! Just north of the state capital, these wonderful spots can make for a great 1/2 day visit and you can do it all on a budget. Good food, great history and knowledge can be had if you just make a bit of an effort. So come on down for a visit!

The Daily Planet Cafe

121 West Jones Street

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.707.8060

The Daily Planet Cafe menu

Location on Google maps

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April 12, 2013 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: Tasty Mexican for the Family at Tijuana Flats in Cary

Bright interior at Tijuana Flats in Cary, NC Triangle Dining

When you think of Mexican food, what comes to your mind? It can range from tacos to tamales, empanadas, burritos and more! The wide range of Mexican food is also reflected in the types of Mexican restaurants out there. Go fast food-style with Taco Bell, do it more real with El Rodeo, move on to Chubby’s and finally end up at an authentic taqueria like Los Comales or Los Cuates. Tijuana Flats is a nice, family-friendly Mexican restaurant that fits more on the Taco Bell side of the world but in a good way.

Inside, Tijuana Flats is brightly decorated, open and sunny, perfect for lunch. Service here is very good, you’ll be asked if you need a menu or help before you even get to the counter. I’ve been here twice and done the burrito along with a taco. Don’t miss Tijuana Flats specials like Taco Tuesdaze (2 tacos, chips and drink for $5) where you can save some money.

Salsa bar at Tijuana Flats in Cary, NC Triangle Dining

After you get your order in, head on over to the hot sauce bar where Tijuana Flats has eight or so spicy, sweet, fruity options depending on your mood. While this place can get busy, food service is pretty fast, your food is brought out to your table. My Mexican eats here has been consistently solid if not authentic, we’re talking Tex-Mex here. Good-sized burritos, a large taco, decent queso and very nice salsa makes for an excellent lunch. The food quality is decent, you’ll end up with more standard Mexican fare, i.e meals covered with shredded cheese. You won’t find barracoa, lengua or el pastor tacos, just your basic chicken, beef, carnitas, fish and beans. But what Tijuana Flats does really well is service. Staff will stop by to check in on your meal, refill your drink and clear your table, stat. So while Tijuana Flats is counter-service, it’s head and shoulders above most other places once your food arrives, especially compared to Moe’s which can be a mess at times. Perfect for a busy family that doesn’t want to spend too much but still get treated decently.

So if I compare Tijuana Flats to Taco Bell it’s not in a bad way because sometimes I do get cravings for that style of American-Mexican. And in all honesty, I prefer Tijuana Flats to other places that claim to be authentic but end up doing a shoddy job at it. You can definitely do far worse than Tijuana Flats for lunch and in some cases, you really can’t do better! Enjoy this Mexican chain eatery and afterwards, you can can go shopping at Trader Joe’s Cary!

Tijuana Flats

151 SE Cary Parkway

Cary, NC 27511

919.468.6328

Location on Google maps

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February 9, 2013 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

First Take: Mamma Mia in Apex for Down-Home, Family Italian

Front of Mamma Mia in Apex, NC Triangle Dining

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, thatsa Mamma Mia’s! Yeah, it’s a little cheesy but let’s face it, old-school Italian can walk that fine line between tasty and cheesy. And yes, Mamma Mia’s is an old-school, red sauce type of Italian place in a strip mall but it works just fine as a family-friendly Italian eatery for the locals. I’ve been waiting to try this place for a while but note, they no longer serve the lunch buffet. Inside Mamma Mia’s the place is a bit bare, just some green tiled floors, humble furniture and two partially divided dining rooms.

Dining room at Mamma Mia in Apex, NC Triangle Dining

The lunch menu was really basic, from $6 – $10 with most of the dishes being some sort of basic pasta, sauce, baked or otherwise and a salad. I ordered up some baked lasagna but passed on the bread and salad given it’s holiday recovery time!

Pizza at Mamma Mia in Apex, NC Triangle Dining

The food takes about 10 minutes, my friend’s pizza comes out first and it looks decent. Pretty thin crust, nice smattering of melted cheese, a solid rendition of NY thin-crust pizza. My baked lasagna is a long and high slice of layered cheesy deliciousness! A rich meat sauce and I picked up some butter from probably the ricotta. The marinara sauce is decent here too. I have made quite a few lasagnas in my time and the version at Mamma Mia’s is very good. Service is good, courteous and attentive. While the inside of Mamma Mia isn’t much to speak of, the food here is decent. Especially for an area where you’re more likely to get bland chain restaurants so rock on Mamma Mia’s! Your name may be a bit cheesy but sometimes that’s a really good thing for pizza and lasagna, right?

Mamma Mia!

708 Laura Duncan Road

Apex, NC 27502

919.363.2228

Location on Google maps

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Best Dining and Restaurants at Waverly Place in Cary