NC Triangle Dining

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

by

Retake: Bella Monica, a Cozy Italian Ristorante for Raleigh

Front of Bella Monica and its covered patio in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Front of Bella Monica and its covered patio in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Even though I’m a huge fan of all the new restaurants starting up in the Triangle, it’s always fun to re-visit old-school favorites. And when you think of Italian food, Bella Monica is often mentioned by Raleigh locals. This long-time favorite has been part of the neighborhood for years and is known for its flat-breads and Italian eats. And luckily, I headed over for an early dinner on a Friday evening to catch up with a friend and their great Italian eats!

Bar at Bella Monica and its covered patio in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Bar at Bella Monica and its covered patio in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

The first thing you’ll notice about Bella Monica is that despite all the local kudos, it sits in a humble little strip plaza and doesn’t look like much from the outside. Their patio is enclosed by a temporary enclosure for colder weather and I’d have to guess that Bella Monica is just one of those local favorites that just grew over time. Stepping inside I was immediately greeted by the host and brought over to a window table. The dining room is a bit tight with a cozy bar in the corner and wine rack behind it. Bella Monica is one of the closer dining spots to PNC Arena which is why the place is unusually busy, reservations are recommended for most evenings.

Focaccia at Bella Monica and its covered patio in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Focaccia at Bella Monica and its covered patio in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

After my guest shows up, we put in orders for our drinks and Bella Monica’s famous focaccia is brought to the table. The focaccia is a beautiful square of plump baked goodness served with some olive oil and sprinkled with a bit of onions-chives on top. It’s a tasty start and could be a meal in itself according to my dining companion. We put our orders in and we’re doing the beef carpaccio appetizer along with the chicken parmigiana for my main!

Beef carpaccio at Bella Monica and its covered patio in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Beef carpaccio at Bella Monica and its covered patio in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

As we’re waiting for our appetizer, I scan the room and it’s a very diverse crowd. Couples, families, dates trying to get to PNC arena. It’s the type of crowd you get when you’ve been running a good restaurant for many years. Shortly the plate of carpaccio comes out and it’s a bright dish of thinly sliced beef topped with spicy arugula and parmesan shards. A bit of olive oil completes the dish and it’s a nice palate cleanser before we move on to the rest of our meal.

Chicken parmigiana at Bella Monica and its covered patio in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Chicken parmigiana at Bella Monica and its covered patio in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

My plate of chicken parmigiana is brought to the table and it looks classic. A portion of spaghetti smothered in a bright red marinara and sprinkled with some parsley. It’s a generous portion of very tender and nicely fried chicken breast over al dente pasta and a bright red sauce, very nice! But of course half the meal goes home with me, even if I COULD have eaten it all in one sitting.

Service is excellent at Bella Monica, the staff is very gracious and responsive to all the questions coming from the table and they’ve got a busy dining room. Over the course of the evening we also chat with the chef a bit and learn of a new Bella Monica restaurant (Stellino’s) being opened at Parkside Town Commons in Southwest Cary. And given how busy Bella Monica is, it makes total sense for them to open up another outpost in the Triangle. While part of me wishes they would expand their restaurant in Raleigh, it just wouldn’t be the same for the time-tested formula of great Italian eats in a cozy family setting.

 

Bella Monica

3121 Edwards Mill Road

Raleigh, NC 27612

919.881.9778

 

Location on Google maps

by Leave a Comment

First Take: Serena Sicilian Serving Up Italian-American Cuisine for the RTP Crowd

Front of Serena Sicilian in RTP Durham - NC Triangle Dining
Front of Serena Sicilian in RTP Durham – NC Triangle Dining

When it comes to lunch in RTP, you’ve got a handful of good, basic choices. Pizza, Southern and more, most of the choices are pretty casual and bare-bones. But sometimes I’m looking for something just a bit fancier which leaves me in a tough spot. One restaurant that ups their lunch game a bit is Serena Sicilian RTP off of S. Miami Boulevard. It’s a quirky eatery with plenty of space inside and a large outdoor patio. And if you’re looking for some classic Italian-American, a good choice for many reasons…

Dining room at Serena Sicilian in RTP Durham - NC Triangle Dining
Dining room at Serena Sicilian in RTP Durham – NC Triangle Dining

Serena Sicilian sits in a busy little plaza with several popular RTP eateries including one of my all-time faves, Randy’s Pizza RTP! So to get me to skip out on that great NY thin-slice pizza takes a lot but I’ve managed to eat at Serena Sicilian several times. Inside, the space is clean and modern with lots of interesting touches. Pendant lamps overhead, cafe seating, you’ll find a scooter in one corner of the restaurant and some classic 80’s pop streaming from the speakers overhead. It all feels a bit familiar to this ex-New Englander, it feels like a casual Italian joint you’d often find up north.

Arancini at Serena Sicilian in RTP Durham - NC Triangle Dining
Arancini at Serena Sicilian in RTP Durham – NC Triangle Dining

I’ve sat on the patio and inside which works with their table service. Staff is dressed in all black and seem pretty experienced. Digging into Serena’s lunch menu you’ll find an array of soups, salads, small plates, sandwiches and entrees to choose from. You’ll notice some interesting items like Moorish meatballs, chicken spiedie skewers, 1/4 kilo of fries, and grilled octopus. But given Sicily’s location in the Mediterranean sea, it makes sense to me! But I confess to going with Italian-American basics that make my stomach happy. The arancini at Serena RTP are not plural, they offer one VERY large arancini sitting in marinara sauce and stuffed with ground beef, peas and cheese. A very tasty version that needs to be shared since one person shouldn’t be diving in on that!

Arancini at Serena Sicilian in RTP Durham - NC Triangle Dining
Chicken spiedie at Serena Sicilian in RTP Durham – NC Triangle Dining

The chicken spiedies are a bit of a specialty, typically from upper state NY, it’s usually pork or chicken grilled after being marinated in a vinegar, mint and herb sauce. Serena does a great job here with perfectly tender chicken accented by a bit of char and served up with a tangy herb aioli. Definitely try these out if you visit!

Chicken parmigiana at Serena Sicilian in RTP Durham - NC Triangle Dining
Chicken parmigiana at Serena Sicilian in RTP Durham – NC Triangle Dining
Caprese sandwich at Serena Sicilian in RTP Durham - NC Triangle Dining
Caprese sandwich at Serena Sicilian in RTP Durham – NC Triangle Dining

For my mains I’ve done a chicken parmigiana over rotini covered with a melty oven-baked cheese, which was delicious. And I’ve dabbled in several sandwiches here which are all served on wonderful, light rolls and delicious sea-salt flecked fries. The overall food quality here at Serena RTP is above average and at pretty reasonable prices for what you get at lunch. So thank you Serena Sicilian for upping the lunch game here in RTP. While you may not be perfect, you’re pretty darn good and you leave me happy when I’m in the mood for Italian-American eats!

 

Serena Sicilian RTP

5311 S Miami Blvd

Durham, NC 27703

919.941.6380

 

Location on Google maps

by

Pasta Making and Tasty Italian Eats at the Boot in Durham

The Boot in Durham - NC Triangle Dining
The Boot in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

(Current pasta-making classes for 2017 – June 20th, July 25th, and August 1st) It’s not uncommon that somebody who enjoys eating, also loves cooking! Because you can’t always go out to eat, amirite? So I’ve had the chance to take a variety of cooking classes in the area, ranging from demo classes at Southern Season and Whisk to hands-on at La Farm Bakery. Luckily last December, I noticed a new pasta making class at the Boot in Durham. I had a chance to eat at the Boot with its previous chef, John May (now at the Piedmont) but had yet to stop in since new chef Rob Kinneen came on board. And since I really have never tried to make fresh pasta at home, thought it worth a shot to see what things were like at the Boot in Durham!

Pasta-making tools at the Boot in Durham - NC Triangle Dining
Pasta-making tools at the Boot in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

I headed over to the Boot on a warm Tuesday night to a little strip plaza across from Nana’s at the intersection of 15-501 and University Drive. Note: the new Beer Study is in this same plaza so if you need a beer before or after your class… The Boot has been running the pasta making classes about once a month for a $40 fee which includes dinner. Inside, the Boot has two of its long communal tables set up for the class. One with all the equipment which will be needed for the evening and other with place settings for the post-class meal! We order up some vino and beer to sustain us through this rigorous culinary event.

Fresh pasta display at the Boot in Durham - NC Triangle Dining
Fresh pasta display at the Boot in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

A beautiful plate of fresh pasta is laid out as aspiration for the students. There are twelve of us in total and we’re paired up at each station which is equipped with a cutting board, stainless steel bowl, circular pizza cutter and a wooden gnocchi paddle! Also at each station, we have a manual Imperia pasta maker clamped to the table, we are good to go…  Chef Rob comes out to kick off the class, we’re covering three different types of pasta tonight: fettucine, ricotta cavatelli and a stuffed pasta dough (ravioli). For each recipe, pre-measured ingredients are brought out in plastic containers. As you can guess, pasta ingredients are pretty basic and similar, a combination of flour, egg, milk and oil with occasional twists of semolina and cheese!

Heath showing off his pasta making skills at the Boot in Durham - NC Triangle Dining
Heath showing off his pasta making skills at the Boot in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

Thankfully my pasta partner in crime, Heath, has pretty good experience with dough so he’s leading out the pasta making at our station. Hey, that also gives me two free hands to manage my wine intake, woo-hoo! Making pasta dough is like any baking activity. It requires a bit of tactile feel and experience to get the dough kneaded and mixed to the right consistency. For the fettucine, we mix the dough up into a flat rectangular brick and then start thinning it down through the pasta machine. A dial controls the thickness and it takes multiple passes to get it just right! Chef Rob shows us a pro pasta machine with a cutter attachment but we do ours with the circular pizza slicer.

Chef Rob making fettucine at the Boot in Durham - NC Triangle Dining
Chef Rob making fettucine at the Boot in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

Moving on to the cavatelli, it uses a different type of dough mixed with some ricotta. This pasta is hand made, the dough is flattened again but then cut into long slices and then rolled into a rod-like shape. We cut off 3/4″ pieces which are then shaped on the gnocchi paddle. A push of your thumb and flip off the paddle gives the cavatelli the grooved exterior and dimpled interior. And finally the filled pasta, a.k.a. ravioli! The pasta dough is flattened out very thin, a squirt of ricotta to fill it and then some water and pressure to seal the edges, easy and sort peasy.

Throughout the Boot pasta-making class, Chef Rob is available to field questions and tells us a bit about his history. He grew up in Alaska and has spent time in the kitchens of New Orleans and the Triangle before returning back to the area to be closer to family on the east coast. Which is good news for us foodies in the Triangle! Our pasta is brought back to the kitchen where it’s prepared for our dinner. The Boot is a bit quiet on a Tuesday night which allows us to take over two main tables but there’s plenty of additional space for regular diners.

Sausage-fennel pizza and pasta bowl at the Boot in Durham - NC Triangle Dining
Sausage-fennel pizza and pasta bowl at the Boot in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

For dinner, I order up a sausage fennel pizza to add to our meal which is lovely plate of our pasta trio. We’ve got the cavatelli in a simmered pepper sauce, the fettucine in a light marinara and the ravioli in what I believe is a squash-based sauce, yum! Along with the light and crispy meal, we are dining with abbodanza tonight! So what a fun night to learn how to make pasta at the Boot and thank-you’s go out to Chef Rob and his staff. It’s really a great way to get hands-on with some dough and decide if you want to take on fresh pasta for your kitchen. We’re also sent home with recipe cards in case we need any details from tonight’s lesson. The Boot runs these classes about monthly so call them up to see if there’s one coming up. They seem very popular and fill up quickly so keep an eye on their Facebook page for up to the minute details…

 

The Boot

Pasta-making classes on June 20th, July 25th, and August 1st

2501 University Drive

Durham, NC 27707

919.294.8383 

 

The Boot on Facebook

Location on Google maps

Save

by Leave a Comment

First Take: Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro for Italian and Pizza

Front of Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro - NC Triangle Dining
Front of Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro – NC Triangle Dining
If you’re looking for good pizza in the Triangle, there are a ton of great choices now! But one pizzeria that had eluded my greasy little grasp was Pizzeria Mercato out in Carrboro. Owned and run by Gabe Barker, Pizzeria Mercato’s location and popularity always had me trying to figure out a good time to visit. But eventually I found an excuse to head west on a Friday afternoon and decided to slip in for a late lunch visit! And it was a pretty impressive visit, read on if you’re hungry and curious, my friend!

Dining room at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro - NC Triangle Dining
Dining room at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro – NC Triangle Dining
Located on the western end of Weaver Street (away from the Market) , Pizzeria sits tidily on a street corner with a small side parking lot. I’ve heard it’s sometimes difficult to find parking in the hood so be aware during prime time dining hours! Inside, Pizzeria Mercato is bright and colorful. Polished concrete floor underneath, art on the walls and a bit of a hipster feel to the space. There’s an open kitchen to your left, main dining area to your right and a bright and sunny front section where I am sat.

Kitchen at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro - NC Triangle Dining
Kitchen at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro – NC Triangle Dining
What I do like about these new, artisanal pizza shops are the short menus focused on high quality, local ingredients. Pizzeria Mercato is no different offering up eight or so antipasti, salads and custom pizzas along with a handful of mains and desserts. Of course you can always customize your pie by adding some ingredients to your basic margherita. I go with my fave arancini (named fritti here) and the Amatriciana pie (pecorino, guanciale). A nice session IPA from Sierra Nevada keeps me company while I waits for my food.

Fritti (arancini) at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro - NC Triangle Dining
Fritti (arancini) at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro – NC Triangle Dining
After a short wait, my fritti (arancini) arrive and it’s an interesting plate. I’ve tried arancini (fried risotto balls) at many Italian restaurants in the area and they are always done a bit differently at each spot. Pizzeria Mercato’s arancini are about the size of a golf ball and perfectly fried. Flakes of sea salt dot the well-browned surface and a light basil sauce is served on the side. These arancini are WONDERFUL! Stuffed with smoked mozzarella and a bit of tomato, the crunchy crust breaks open to a soft, gooey interior with just a bit of acid from the tomato. Might be the best arancini I’ve tried in the Triangle, make sure to get em if you visit Pizzeria Mercato.

Amatriciana pizza at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro - NC Triangle Dining
Amatriciana pizza at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro – NC Triangle Dining
And given that wonderful start, I was salivating at the thought of my pizza! When it comes out, it’s a looker. About a 13″ pie in a nice oblong shape indicative of a hand-made pizza. Some splotches of soft fresh mozzarella and sprinkles of more pungent romano cheese. Bits of seared guanciale (cured pork cheek) and cracked black pepper finish off the surface. A peek underneath shows off some nice leopard spotting for the crust, nice job there. A couple of bites in and I immediately notice the crust. Pizzeria Mercato does it differently here, doing a snappy, stiff crust rather than a softer crust that you usually get with a Neapolitan pie. But you can certainly taste the quality ingredients here, I admit that the intense guanciale over-powered the flavor of the pizza. If I ever get back I’ll do a basic margherita.

Pizza crust at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro - NC Triangle Dining
Pizza crust at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro – NC Triangle Dining
Service here at Pizzeria Mercato was excellent and timely, admittedly I was one of 4 people in the place so that’s to be expected. I’m curious as to how the place holds up with a big crowd, I’m guessing they are usually busy. But for my visit it was a great start. Excellent food, decent prices, quality ingredients and great service Pizzeria Mercato! I’m still trying to wrap my brain around your pizza crust since it’s a bit of a spin from traditional. But I can certainly tell that there is some talent and vision for the menu and methods here. And I’m pretty sure that if you’re a pizza fanatic you’ll like Pizzeria Mercato! They’re doing very good pizza and even better arancini here in Carrboro…

 

Pizzeria Mercato

408 W Weaver Street

Carrboro, NC 27510

919.967.2277

 

Location on Google maps

Save

Save

by 2 Comments

First Take: Motto in Durham Delivers Southern Italian in a New Way!

Front of Motto in Durham- NC Triangle Dining
Front of Motto in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

If you’re a fan of shows at the DPAC, it’s always interesting trying to find good dining options. And while there are plenty of nearby restaurants, when you have thousands of patrons in the area looking to do the same thing, it can still be a challenge. But if you’re willing to walk a bit, I’ve got a great new option for you, the newly opened Motto! Brought to you by the Urban Food group and a refresh of what used to be Lucia Restaurant, Motto is a beautiful new space with a couple of surprises waiting for you!

Great interior at Motto in Durham- NC Triangle Dining
Great interior at Motto in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Located in what used to be the space for Pop’s, from the outside you wouldn’t really notice Motto. Large brick building with minimal signage, its 2nd floor spot keeps it out of pedestrian eye-view. Since it sits between downtown Durham’s core and Brightleaf Square, this area doesn’t get as much attention as it should but it’s just a slightly longer walk to DPAC, just past the Amtrak station. Go up the stairs and you’ll be greeted by a hostess station. Long bar in front of you to the left and two dining rooms to the right, the space feels a bit luxurious but with some rustic touches including an interesting, wood pallet wall on one side. But given the time constraints for my show, we grab a couple of seats at the bar.

Bar at Motto in Durham- NC Triangle Dining
Bar at Motto in Durham- NC Triangle Dining
Cracklins at Motto in Durham- NC Triangle Dining
Cracklins at Motto in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

The menu at Motto has been swizzled a bit from the old Lucia menu. Rather than just doing Italian, they have worked in a bit of Southerness to it in homage to their NC roots. And with only about 20+ items on the menu, it’s more of a small plates type situation. We order up some cracklins, mussels and I’m doing a corn agnolotti which caught my eye. The cracklins show up and are awesome: crisp, not greasy and perfectly fried. Dusted with some spices, they make for a great starter.

Mussels at Motto in Durham- NC Triangle Dining
Mussels at Motto in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Next up are the mussels, loving presented in a large ceramic bowl with grilled crust slices of bread stacked atop. A squeeze of lemon and we dig in. They’re cooked up with tomatillo and chorizo which is decent. There’s a bit of spice on the back end but pretty mildly flavored overall, liked them but it wasn’t quite love.

Charred corn agnolotti at Motto in Durham- NC Triangle Dining
Charred corn agnolotti at Motto in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

While the smaller hot plates are in the $11 to $13 range, Motto’s large plates go for $20 to $30 which is about right for the ambiance here. My aglonotti is a generous plate of stuffed pasta: ricotta, corn puree and dusted with some parmesan and sauteed mushrooms. L-O-V-E this plate, it bursts with the sweet corn flavor and earthy mushrooms. It’s served with brown butter sauce which plays nicely with the whole meal. My tablemate’s braised pork cheek is beautifully plated with some slivered radish and cracklin but I hold back on taking a taste.

Braised pork cheek at Motto in Durham- NC Triangle Dining
Braised pork cheek at Motto in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

All I can say is that nice job Motto! You’ve only been open a couple of weeks but it looks like an impressive start for you. From the great decor, excellent prepared Italian eats to the on-point pricing, DPAC and Durhamites have another great dining option in the hood. My motto for Motto would be: Delicious Italian-Southern eats near DPAC! So seek them out, Motto is more than just some words, it’s some great food…

 

Motto

605 W Main St,

Durham, NC 27701

984.219.1965

Motto Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Connect with NCTD

NCTD Email Subscription