NC Triangle Dining

Find the Best Restaurants, Food, and Drink in Raleigh, Durham, Cary & Chapel Hill

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First Take: Steve’s Place in N. Raleigh for an Honest Southern Style Hot Dog

Front of Steve's Place in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Front of Steve’s Place in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

While it’s always fun to eat fancy and frou-frou, sometimes it’s great to get back to the basics. And the basics is what you’ll get at a little eatery named Steve’s Place in Raleigh. I had run into several 5-star reviews for Steve’s Place online and talk about its hot dogs. So I couldn’t resist stopping in as I was heading north on Capital Boulevard for a quick lunch and bite.

Order counter at Steve's Place in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Order counter at Steve’s Place in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Steve’s Place sits in the busy little Plantation Square plaza along with Baker’s Dozen Donuts 2 (ooooh). I circled the small parking lot a bit before spying the green and white Hot Dogs sign overhead and a “Steves” neon sign below, success! Inside, Steve’s Place is pretty basic and bare-bones. It has a deli-like feel with green and white tiles, some stand-up high-boy tables along with a order form counter to the left. And I look overhead, the ceiling is covered with baseball caps, cool!

Order form area and ceiling covered with hats at Steve's Place in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Order form area & ceiling covered with hats at Steve’s Place in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

I’m on a bit of a schedule today so thankfully, the Steve’s Place menu is small and simple: deli sandwiches, hot dogs, soups and salads. But I’ve got hot dogs on the brain, today! At the order form area, you’ll find some brightly colored slips of paper where you can customize your order. For hot dogs, Steve’s Place offers up a beef hot dog, red (pork-beef), turkey, smoked beef, kielbasa and sausage. I’m going for a classic foot-long red with mustard, chili, onions and cheese. Pretty much a North Carolina hot dog standard along with some macaroni salad as the side. You can choose from chips, slaw, potato salad and deviled eggs as a side in addition to that macaroni salad.

Macaroni salad and hot dog at Steve's Place in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Macaroni salad and hot dog at Steve’s Place in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

My food takes 5 or 10 minutes to come out so I know it’s being cooked to order. My name is called out and I’m handed over a cup of macaroni salad and my long, hot dog! It all looks pretty tasty and fresh, I dig into the macaroni salad which is wonderful. Served cold with tender elbows, chopped red onions and peppers, the light sweet dressing is perfect on this very hot day. And the hot dog is excellent as these hot dogs go. Plenty of chopped white onions, rich chili and the tang of mustard. The bun is lightly toasted, it’s a good hot dog here at Steve’s Place. So in about 30 minutes I’m in, fueled up and out the door which is what Steve’s Place is about. A casual, quick-stop for lunch offering up some fresh sandwiches, salads and hot dogs with some classic Southern flavors. And sometimes that’s exactly what you need for lunch, thanks Steve!

 

Steve’s Place

6320 Capital Blvd # 119

Raleigh, NC 27616

919.872.2222

 

Location on Google maps

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First Take: BottleDog Bites & Brews Delivers Great Beer, Pizza and Poutine

Front of Bottledog Bites & Brews in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Front of Bottledog Bites & Brews in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

Along with beer and brewery boom here in North Carolina, one other type of storefront has proliferated: the bottle shop!  A place where you can sample some craft brews or grab a specialty 4-pack to enjoy at home. And usually they have one thing in common, no food! But they usually give you the option of BYOF or ordering food from a nearby restaurant or delivery service. Recently I ran across BottleDog Bites and Brews in Cary online and the reviews mentioned the food quite often. Could it be true? Might there be a bottle shop in the area that’s now offering great food on top of their beers? Well it was time to find out!

Patio at Bottledog Bites & Brews in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Patio at Bottledog Bites & Brews in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

We head on over to the address looking hard for BottleDog Bites & Brews and the GPS is only somewhat helpful getting us to Chapel Hill Road. We find ourselves in a small plaza with Woody’s Sports Tavern and not much else, we start scratching our heads. But we’re not ready to give up and head to the right-hand side of the plaza and find BottleDog’s storefront. Located in the old Maximillians Pizza Kitchen, there’s a nice covered patio up front that looks dog-friendly!

Dining area at Bottledog Bites & Brews in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Dining area at Bottledog Bites & Brews in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

Heading on inside to BottleDog, we find a large beer bar on the right hand side and a retail beer section and dining area to the left. BottleDog is airy and open, there’s plenty of space to stretch out in here, it definitely feels different than most other bottle shops I’ve been to in the Triangle! It neatly fills the space between bottle shop and restaurant, similar to State of Beer in Raleigh. But there are some more pleasant surprises to come!

At the bar, BottleDog has 10 or 12 beers on tap, I go with the Bond Bros American IPA, Obfuscate! It has a super floral palate but also a nice clean afterbite with just a touch of hops, dee-licious! My beer loving buddy gives BottleDog’s beer selection a big thumbs up on its quality. Peering through the food menu, we find some really cool options for lunch. Poutine?! A beaver tail? Or how about some smoked meats? So in addition to the usual hot dogs and flatbreads, BottleDog seems to be going a bit Canadian with the menu which is fine by me, I love Canada! We put our food orders in and just sit back and enjoy our beers. It’s pretty quiet given a holiday weekend but slowly people start trickling in with kids and dogs in tow.

Nashville hot chicken at Bottledog Bites & Brews in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Nashville hot chicken at Bottledog Bites & Brews in Cary – NC Triangle Dining
Poutine with smoked meat at Bottledog Bites & Brews in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Poutine with smoked meat at Bottledog Bites & Brews in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

Soon enough, our food starts coming out starting with my friend’s Nashville hot chicken tenders. Served up on some white bread and thick pickles, it looks fantastic and spicy! I hold back on a taste since I need to save room for my meal. My Quebecois poutine comes out next and it starts with their basic poutine (fries, brown gravy and cheese curds) but adds in some smoked meat and pickles, yum-may! I haven’t eaten much poutine in my life but this dish is G-O-O-D! The warm potato is soaked in the gravy and the cheese is just decadence on top. Add in the peppery smoked meats and you’ve got yourself a mouthful! I’m already looking forward to trying some of the other poutines, stat.

Sweet Caroline flatbread at Bottledog Bites & Brews in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Sweet Caroline flatbread at Bottledog Bites & Brews in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

The Sweet Caroline flatbread also hits the spot with a perfectly done thin-crust topped with mozzarella, onions and grilled chicken. House-made barbeques sauce is drizzled on top making for a delicious barbeque chicken pizza (I know, they call it flatbread here, but…) While the crust at BottleDog isn’t a perfect Neapolitan style, it’s similar but with a crisper bottom to hold all the toppings. An excellent pie and plenty to eat for one person, you can certainly share for two lighter appetites.

Bottle selection at Bottledog Bites & Brews in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Bottle selection at Bottledog Bites & Brews in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

Service at BottleDog was solid and pretty casual which is fine for a place like this and prices this low. All you really need to know is that the food at BottleDog is really good! I’m not often surprised by restaurants but BottleDog did it for me in a very pleasant way. I get the strange idea that there may be some leftover culinary talent from the old Maximillian’s Grill here at BottleDog which would explain the great, bar eats here. So rock on BottleDog Bites & Brews. Your name is a mouthful but then again, so is your delicious food. I’ll be back again, soon…

 

Bottle Dog Bites & Brews

8306 Chapel Hill Road

Cary, NC 27513

919.694.5377

 

Location on Google maps

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First Take: Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill for Creative and Tasty Hot Dogs

Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill - NC Triangle Dining
Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill – NC Triangle Dining

If you’re out on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, you know you’re going to have a bunch of dining choices but in the category of basic and simple, perfect for a college kid. You can’t expect upscale or fancy or frou-frou, just simple and filling eats. And that’s where Sup Dogs comes into play. A veritable hot dog emporium offering an array of weiners and grill items along with a bit of college spirit. As long as you’re not a Duke fan! Here’s how my visit to this casual college eatery played out…

Dining area at Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill - NC Triangle Dining
Dining area at Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill – NC Triangle Dining

From the outside, the first thing you’ll notice about Sup Dogs is the patio. Under cover and shaded high-top tables with condiment dispensers on each one, it looks like a great spot to grab lunch and some fresh air. The Sup Dogs signage up above lists off the primary food items on the menu and one short and pointed message to the college down Tobacco Road in a darker shade of blue (a continuing theme). Inside Sup Dogs you’ll find a large open dining room decked out in brick, wood and a lot of Carolina blue signage. The young wait staff is clad in black and Carolina blue so you definitely know you’re in Chapel Hill! I grab a seat at the bar for lunch and take some time to dig deeper into the Sup Dogs menu. Thankfully, the menu here is pretty simple: burgers, chicken sandwich and the namesake Sup Dogs along with a litany of fried sides! Most of their dogs are in the $5.99 range with fries but you can upgrade to tots or cheese fries for an extra $1.00 or to bacon cheese fries or cheesy tots for $1.50. And if you add an extra dog, it’s only a $1.00. I’m doubling down for lunch with two dogs AND bacon cheese fries, gulp…  As I’m waiting for my food, a table of Duke fans sit down for lunch and notice all the smack talk signage on the walls but thankfully they take it all in good fun and stay!

Smokehouse, Western dogs and cheese fries at Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill - NC Triangle Dining
Smokehouse, Western dogs and cheese fries at Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill – NC Triangle Dining

It takes 10 minutes or so for my food and wow, it’s a lot! I’ve ordered up the Smokehouse and Western dogs which come sitting on top of a aluminum tray of by cheese fries! Sides of Sup sauce and ranch complete the meal. The Western dog (onion ring, BBQ sauce, Monterey Jack, cheddar cheese and chili) and the Smokehouse dog (bacon, Monterey Jack, cheddar cheese, Sup Dog sauce, and chili) come loaded with toppings. And they are good sized beef dogs which can stand up to all the toppings. And they’re both quite good, I like the creative options on the Sup Dogs menu. Digging in the bacon cheese fries feels like another 1,000 calories but I can’t resist! The fries have a bit of skin and great potato taste. The cheese and bacon bits are generously coated on the pile of fries, too. And the Sup Sauce is great, probably a tangy, savory Thousand Island mix that is great for dipping. All in all it’s a filling meal with plenty of salt, grease and deliciousness!

Collegiate decor at Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill - NC Triangle Dining
Collegiate decor at Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill – NC Triangle Dining

The staff here is pretty young, probably from the UNC student body but do a good job keeping my drink cup filled and check in on me regularly. And while I don’t think you should be eating here regularly due to health reasons, it’s definitely a fun lunch stop and would probably be even better after a few beers on Franklin Street. If you’re interested in hot dogs, I definitely believe that Sup Dogs is a great choice in the Triangle for its variety and value in this category. If I lived in the area, I’d definitely be back from time to time. And I’m glad I finally know, what’s up dog!

 

Sup Dogs

107 E Franklin St

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

919.903.9566

 

Location on Google maps
Sup Dogs Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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Merry Franksters Food Trailer, Dishing Out Delicious Hot Dogs for the Triangle!

Merry Franksters food trailer based out of Carrboro - NC Triangle Dining
Merry Franksters food trailer based out of Carrboro – NC Triangle Dining

Now who doesn’t like a good hot dog or brat, now that summer is here? Whether you’re talking about a late-night dog from Snoopy’s or sitting at the counter at the Roast Grill, biting into a snappy, juicy hot dog is a burst of taste and flavor. And now there’s a new food truck on the scene, specializing in gourmet hot dogs: Merry Franksters. I ran into this truck at an event at the Raleigh Wine Shop a little while back. Because as much as I like hot dogs, I know there are some people that only want to eat happy hot dogs otherwise know as sustain-ably farmed meats in hot dogs. And that’s where Merry Franksters steps in! Based out of Carrboro, they are serving up happy hot dogs hand-made out at the Pig from Chapel Hill, so I was curious to see what the Merry Franksters are dishing out.

Order window at Merry Franksters food trailer based out of Carrboro - NC Triangle Dining
Order window at Merry Franksters food trailer based out of Carrboro – NC Triangle Dining

Heading over to the Raleigh Wine shop, I spy a bright aluminum Airstream trailer pulling into the side lot. It’s a funky looking, retro trailer with interesting blue pop-art on the sides and back! A chalkboard flip-board up front shows off the Merry Franksters menu, 10 or so hot dogs and a handful of sides! Prices are in the $4 to $6 range which is about right. I’m torn between a couple of options but go with the bacon-wrapped Memphis Dawg and the classic New York Dawg along with a side of beer-battered onion rings. The Merry Frankster owners are very sweet and laid-back, reminds me a bit of when I lived in Carrboro!

Merry Franksters food trailer menu - NC Triangle Dining
Merry Franksters food trailer menu – NC Triangle Dining
Hot dog meal from Merry Franksters food trailer - NC Triangle Dining
Hot dog meal from Merry Franksters food trailer – NC Triangle Dining

A glass of wine keeps me company as I wait for my eats but it’s not too long, maybe 10 – 15 minutes. I get three paper food trays with my goodies and decide to hoof it on home so I can pig out in private! The short drive is tough as I’m staring at my dee-licious looking dogs and rings…  Back at home I get to inspect my dawgs more closely. Merry Franksters uses a potato bun and they all look nicely grilled and filled.

NY dawg from Merry Franksters food trailer - NC Triangle Dining
NY dawg from Merry Franksters food trailer – NC Triangle Dining
Memphis dawg from Merry Franksters food trailer - NC Triangle Dining
Memphis dawg from Merry Franksters food trailer – NC Triangle Dining

I start off with the NY Dawg which pairs a Sabretts beef hot dog with sauerkraut and onions! A great bite, basic but done very well by the Merry Franksters. And while you may think one hot dog may be enough, I’m glad I got two! The Memphis dog comes on a larger bun, probably needed to hold the bacon-wrapped dog and additional toppings (onions, cheddar, barbeque sauce). The Memphis dawg is a messy bite but totally worth it! The crisp, salty bacon works well against the sweet barbeque sauce and it’s all worth getting your hands dirty. Thumbs up for me, here!

Onion rings from Merry Franksters food trailer - NC Triangle Dining
Onion rings from Merry Franksters food trailer – NC Triangle Dining

And finally the onion rings! Described as beer-battered, they have more of a light tempura-like coating to me and reminded me a lot of onion rings I would get in Massachusetts. Totally delicious and well fried, if Merry Franksters has them on the menu I feel it’s a must-do. Overall I was pretty happy with my meal at the Merry Franksters food truck. Creative, well made hot dogs at a reasonable price, works for me! And while I will always love my $1.50 Costco hot dog, Merry Franksters takes the humble sausage to a whole nother level. While Merry Franksters is based in Carrboro at Cliff’s Meat Market, they do get around quite a bit and are in Raleigh pretty frequently, hot dog!

 

Merry Franksters food truck

100 W Main Street

Carrboro, NC 27510

 

Various Locations in the Triangle

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Tasty 8’s in Raleigh for Creative Hot Dogs with Some Flair…

Crazy 8's Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Crazy 8’s Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

While I’m usually a burger guy, who can resist a great hot dog?  There’s nothing better than a good, steamed dog in a soft bun covered in some chili and mustard a la, Snoopys.  But how about a fancier, gourmet hot dog with interesting toppings and high-quality ingredients?  Well that’s the story coming from the new Tasty 8’s that resides in the old Spize Cafe spot.  Located conveniently at the top of Fayetteville Street, Tasty 8’s has a small menu of dogs, shakes and beers that’s meant to serve the lunch and bar crowd in the core of downtown Raleigh.  And my first visit tells me that they’ve got a nice concept and are doing well at executing on it.  Read on if you’re hungry for some dogs!

Order counter at Crazy 8's Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Order counter at Crazy 8’s Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

From the front, you can tell that Tasty 8’s is doing things differently.  Wood paneled front, there’s a take-out window to the right, roll-up garage door to the left, the place definitely sticks out in terms of design. Inside you’ll find a crowded order area with a huge menu above the cash register.  They’ve got some creatively named dogs with a really interesting array of toppings,  I go with the Yo Adrian (a philly-cheese dog) and El Perro to make sure I try the standard dog along with a specialty sausage.

Edgy interior at Crazy 8's Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Edgy interior at Crazy 8’s Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

I grab a drink at the self-serve fountain and then head on down the long space to find a seat.  I’m here for early lunch so the place is empty but interesting, edgy decor here at Tasty 8’s.  A row of two tops and then some seating along the garage door area gives the place a casual feel for a quick bite.  Classic rock is pumping through the speakers above, I’m guessing Tasty 8’s target customer is probably a 25 – 50 year old dude!

Gourmet dogs, close-up at Crazy 8's Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Gourmet dogs, close-up at Crazy 8’s Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

My food shows up ten minutes later and it’s a beautiful tray full of rich colors and depth.  One look at the Tasty 8’s dogs and you know you’re in for some gourmet.  The dogs are both split down the middle and grilled which gives more char area and surface area for the toppings to adhere to.  The bun has got some density and is not something you can pick up at the supermarket, it has some sweetness to it.  The Yo Adrian has lightly chopped steak, onions, peppers and is drizzled with cheese sauce.  The Perro is also a great looking dog with guacamole, queso jalapeno cheddar brat and jalapenos.  In both cases I admit to having a hard time tasting the dogs while the toppings stood out.  A nice bag of frites were very nicely browned and presented with some Mexican crema sauce.  All the food I had at Tasty 8’s was good but heavier on the sodium and maybe nitrates.  I just remember being really thirsty during my meal which was sort of a surprise.

Lunch at Crazy 8's Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Lunch at Crazy 8’s Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

So wow, what to say but I like what they’ve done here at Tasty 8’s.  Creative menu, cool decor but an odd space that’s tough to utilize which was the same deal with Spize Cafe.  High quality dogs, fries and I’m sure shakes but the only thing throwing me off is the saltiness of the meal.  I tend to be a bit sensitive on this front so Tasty 8’s may just be perfect for you.  But at $6.88 a dog, the bar is set sorta high for me and Tasty 8’s falls just a bit underneath it.  Good concept, interesting execution but just a bit off in little ways.  Maybe I’m just being picky so I guess I’ll need a return visit.  Until then Tasty 8’s, great start!  And hope to do it a second time with you soon…

 

Tasty 8’s

121 Fayetteville Street

Raleigh, NC 27601

919.307.8558

 

Tasty 8’s menu

Location on Google maps

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