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Lunch

March 5, 2017 by Ron Wen

Retake: Randys Pizza in RTP Serves Up a Perfect NY Slice

Front of Randy's Pizza in RTP - NC Triangle Dining
Front of Randy’s Pizza in RTP – NC Triangle Dining

When it comes to NY thin-crust pizza, I’m a huge fan! And while I would occasionally try out Randy’s pizza from time to time, it’s locations never worked for me as a lunch option. But thankfully a career change brought me to RTP and right down the road from Randy’s Pizza off S. Miami Boulevard. And as you can guess, I’ve been there a couple of times in the past year (ok I confess, probably about 20 times!) which means I’ve gotten a pretty good feel for this humble and delicious pizza joint. Dine-in, take-out, lunch combos, pizzas, sandwiches, I’ve put down some serious calories at this place. And I can also tell you that it’s probably one of the best all-round pizza joints in the area, here’s why…

Counter at Randy's Pizza in RTP - NC Triangle Dining
Counter at Randy’s Pizza in RTP – NC Triangle Dining

If you pop into Randy’s Pizza around lunch time, you’ll usually find the place slammed! They’ll have the day’s special on a board near the entrance and a U-shaped line snaking around. But don’t be intimidated or turned off, they are pros here and the line moves quickly. Eventually you’ll reach the two-station order area where you put in the order and then pay at the next station. Once that’s done, self-serve your drink and go find your table. They’ll call out your order on the overhead speakers when it’s ready but usually people are doing some sort of pizza slice/salad combo for their meal.

Two slice lunch combo at Randy's Pizza in RTP - NC Triangle Dining
Two slice lunch combo at Randy’s Pizza in RTP – NC Triangle Dining

Randy’s RTP specializes in thin-crust NY style pizza and it is really good! The type of slice that’s about as large as your head and has that floppy, foldable crust that’s so delicious. Sauce and cheese coverage is excellent and perfectly balanced. Toppings at Randy’s are generous and of good quality. They use a thin-crumble sausage and spicy pepperoni for starters. If you do the two-slice combo (1-topping and drink for  $6.98) I’m pretty sure you’re going to have a snoozy afternoon! I’ve also done their full pies (14″, 16″, 18″ which are equally good and tasty. The sauce used on their pies is quite good with a bit of garlic kick.

Meatball pizza at Randy's Pizza in RTP - NC Triangle Dining
Meatball pizza at Randy’s Pizza in RTP – NC Triangle Dining
Chicken parm sub at Randy's Pizza in RTP - NC Triangle Dining
Chicken parm sub at Randy’s Pizza in RTP – NC Triangle Dining

And if you’re not up for pizza, how about one of their amazing subs? Choose from deli favorites like at Italian, ham and turkey but I’m partial to their parmesan subs that come in meatball, chicken or veal! They use a perfectly toasted sub roll, sweet marinara and melty cheese on top, it’s really a perfect version of a classic sub! Pretty much any lunches at Randy’s RTP will be under $10 so you also won’t be spending a fortune to make your stomach happy.

Dining room at Randy's Pizza in RTP - NC Triangle Dining
Dining room at Randy’s Pizza in RTP – NC Triangle Dining

And while the food is excellent and the dining area humble, what really stands out at Randy’s RTP for me is their service. Whether I’m on the phone or at the cash register, they’re unfailingly well-trained and polite. But when you do as much volume as they do, you really have to be. I know that the other Randy’s Pizzas in the area are also pretty good but not quite as good as this one. I’m pretty sure this location is run separately given the different websites and advertising used. Given how much I’m at Randy’s RTP, I’m hoping to get to the bottom of THAT story. But all you need to know, hungry diner, is that Randy’s RTP does some of the best and biggest NY pizza in the area. So enjoy it and make the drive even if you don’t work in the RTP like I do!

 

Randy’s Pizza RTP

5311 S Miami Blvd,

Durham, NC 27703

919.941.7755

Location on Google maps

Filed Under: Durham, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Lunch, Pizza, RTP Restaurants

September 19, 2015 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: Wasabi in Cary Dishes Out Good Food But Not Enough Spice

Front of Wasabi in Cary, NC Triangle Dining
Front of Wasabi in Cary, NC Triangle Dining

Over in Mac Gregor Village you’ll find a handful of restaurants set off of 64 in a plaza.  Cilantro, Tribute Pizza, Tony’s Oyster Bar, Jimmy V’s and also the lesser-known, Wasabi!   With a mixed Japanese-Thai menu, Wasabi mimics the more popular Sushi-Thai with its offerings spanning the Asian continent.  And after my second visit, I think it’s a decent choice but just doesn’t quite rock the house for me.  Here’s why…

Dining area at Wasabi in Cary, NC Triangle Dining
Dining area at Wasabi in Cary, NC Triangle Dining

Inside Wasabi opens up to a large dining room with a busy bar area full of Japanese decorations.  In my head it looks more like typical Japanese restaurant that added Thai as opposed to Thai-Sushi which feels like it went the other way around.  The menu spans the usual culprits, sushi, tempura, teriyaki, Thai noodles and curries along with a smattering of house specials.  I order up the pad thai with chicken for lunch which comes with soup and salad for a reasonable $8. The living room is a bit busy with the Cary crowd which is nice to see.

Pad thai with chicken at Wasabi in Cary, NC Triangle Dining
Pad thai with chicken at Wasabi in Cary, NC Triangle Dining

It only takes 10 minutes or so for our food which is great for an abbreviated lunch period.  The salad with ginger dressing looks basic but fine, the miso soup falls in the same category: ok!  My main shows up and it’s a generous portion of flat noodles with bits of egg, nice slices of white meat chicken along with nice bits of scrambled egg and scallions.  A nice sprinkle of crushed peanuts on top completes the dish!  While all the parts of Wasabi’s pad thai was decently cooked (tender noodles, stir-fried chicken and good egg), the dish just came off a bit flat for me.  As if an ingredient or two was missing in the pad thai.  There’s a long ingredient list for pad thai which is why I’d rather just order it when dining out.  But maybe the tamarind sauce?  The dish was just missing that sweet and sour element you usually get in Thai food.  I wrapped up half the dish to bring home, thankfully the portion size was solid!

Service at Wasabi was good and you’re able to get in and out for lunch pretty quickly, woohoo!  But I did eat my leftovers that night and it didn’t get any better after sitting around so I stand by my original assessment.  Wasabi, you’re doing a decent job but just missing the flava that I usually associate with good Thai eats.  Or maybe I just chose off the wrong side of the menu, I guess I’ll have to try Japanese for my next visit, bon appetit!

 

Wasabi

107 Edinburgh S Drive

Cary, NC 27511

919.460.7980

 

Location on Google maps

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Filed Under: Cary, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Japanese-Sushi Restaurants, Lunch, Sushi, Thai Restaurants

March 4, 2016 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: A Tasty Lunch Buffet at India Gate in Durham

Front of India Gate in Durham- NC Triangle Dining
Front of India Gate in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Every now and then a craving for Indian food hits me and I’m powerless in its grip. Working in RTP means limited dining options but a quick search online turns up India Gate off of Highway 54. The reviews look pretty good so it’s time to see what spiciness India Gate can offer up for lunch!

IndiaGate-EntrywayView

You’ll find India Gate tucked away in a slightly sunken plaza full of ethnic businesses and right next door the MEGA Club, cool. Head on to the back corner and you’ll find a small doorway that opens up to a large dining room and space, a bit of a surprise from the outside. India Gate is already a bit busy before noon time and it seems to be a popular spot for Indian food lovers in the know. I get seated at a four-top, order up a beverage and then head on over to the lunch buffet in the corner.

Cold buffet at India Gate in Durham- NC Triangle Dining
Cold buffet at India Gate in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

It’s a well-stocked buffet with salad, 16 or so hot entrees including two rices, samosas, a garlic naan, saag, stewed chick peas, tikka masala, vindaloo, butter chicken and tandoori chicken. Also a very nice selection of desserts, two which I’m unfamiliar with (meethi chakri and boondi).  There’s definitely plenty of Indian options for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike! I stack up a plate with some veggie biryani, saag and chicken for my first round.

Hot buffet at India Gate in Durham- NC Triangle Dining
Hot buffet at India Gate in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

As I explore around my plate of Indian eats, I notice a couple of different items on my plate. First some star shaped crunchy bites, sort of like a rice cake. And then the garlic and herb stuffed naan, cool! The biryani is a bit different. I assumed it was a veggie biryani but I taste some sweet stewed fruit in there. The saag is basic and tasty and the tikka masala is also a bit different. Spicy but not as heavy with cream and laced with bits of green pepper. The tandoori chicken is good and a nice option for chicken on the bone. My second round includes the butter chicken which has more of a cream-based sauce which I’m familiar with. Overall everything is well-spiced and flavorful with a touch of heat.

Buffet plate at India Gate in Durham- NC Triangle Dining
Buffet plate at India Gate in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

I finish off with some of their interesting desserts, mostly a play on fried flour treats sweetened with sugar syrup, tasty! I pay up front at the counter ($10 for lunch buffet) and chat with the owner a bit. She’s from the Punjab region in the north and it’s always interesting to see how Indian eats always have a bit of a twist based upon the origins of the owner. I’d describe India Gate as more down-home Indian cooking with a great variety of savory and sweet options for lunch which is lovely. Service was very attentive and courteous throughout the meal, another plus! So thanks so much India Gate, I just may have found my Indian eats home when I’m working in the RTP.

 

India Gate

2223 NC Highway 54

Durham, NC 27713

919.248.9333

 

Location on Google maps
India Gate Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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Filed Under: Durham, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Buffet, Indian Restaurants, Lunch

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
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
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
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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Filed Under: Apex, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Cheap Eats, Lunch, Mexican Restaurants

December 11, 2016 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

First Take: True Flavors Diner in Durham Delivers a Full Plate

Front of True Flavors Diner in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Front of True Flavors Diner in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Out by Route 55 in Durham you’ll find a small cafe and catering business named True Flavors! I had heard a bit of buzz about it through my network but there wasn’t a ton of visibility given its part catering business and has limited hours (closes at 2:30pm in general). But I really wanted to check it out and took a special trip out there for a work lunch which was well worth the effort. (7/11/21 Note: True Flavors is currently running two additional menus: Debbie Lou’s Biscuits and Street Grinders for online ordering and take-out only)

Dining area at True Flavors Diner in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Dining area at True Flavors Diner in Durham – nctriangledining.com

If you’re looking for True Flavors just be aware that it’s in a back corner of a quiet plaza, we stumbled on it nearly accidentally while getting lost! Big red signage in front, inside True Flavors has a nice open feel with a lot of sunshine and green for brightness. The place is busy already at noon time, I suspect they do more of a breakfast/early lunch type crowd here. There’s plenty of space to stretch out in and we get seated in a back corner with a friendly and enthusiastic waitress. But don’t miss the single seats by the kitchen where all the action happens!

Open kitchen at True Flavors Dining in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Open kitchen at True Flavors Dining in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Since we’re short on time, we put in our orders quickly for the Hot Bird chicken sandwich and a bacon-bourbon meatloaf that I had been stalking for a while! Yeah, I was checking out their menu for the last month or so and nothing would sway me from my plan. The food comes out REALLY quickly, in less that 10 minutes and closer to 5 which is great if you’re pressed for time. And it looks really impressive overall.

Chicken fried steak at True Flavors Dining in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Chicken fried steak at True Flavors Dining in Durham – nctriangledining.com
Hot chicken sandwich at True Flavors Diner in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Hot chicken sandwich at True Flavors Diner in Durham – nctriangledining.com

My meatloaf is hard to see under the gravy, bacon and greens but it’s sitting on some mashies along with some green beans! It’s a large portion for lunch but not close to the Hayes Barton Cafe which will coma you. I take a bite and it’s good, excellent meatloaf texture but not as much flavor in the meat. Taken as a whole with the mashies and beans it’s a good meal but fell a bit short on the flavor side for me. But at home I usually do a Cajun meatloaf which is loaded with peppers and spices so maybe my taste buds are tuned differently.

Bacon bourbon meatloaf at True Flavors Dining in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Bacon bourbon meatloaf at True Flavors Dining in Durham – nctriangledining.com
Onion rings at True Flavors Diner in Durham- NC Triangle Dining
Onion rings at True Flavors Diner in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

My table-mate’s TFD hot bird sandwich looks fantastic! A fried chicken breast with spicy sauce on brioche along with a wonderful stack of beer-battered onion rings, I’m a bit jealous of his choice but what the heck, maybe next time. Service through-out lunch is great and tempting, she asks about dessert but I’d actually like to be conscious back at the office this afternoon. So we head out of True Flavors, stuffed and happy, back to work! In the end, I think I may have picked the wrong lunch item but overall I think True Flavors is doing a good job and presenting a nice twist on diner food in a more gourmet setting. And yes, I’ll need to get back for visit two to understand how good this place is and you can bet I’m getting those onion rings!

 

True Flavors Diner + Catering

5410 NC-55

Durham, NC 27713

919.316.7978

Location on Google maps

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Filed Under: Durham, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Diner, Lunch

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