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Mediterranean Restaurants

September 13, 2012 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

A Taste of the Mediterranean, Gravy and Sitti in Raleigh!

Kafta kabob at Sitti in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Kafta kabob at Sitti in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

When most people think of Empire Eats restaurants, the focus is on The Pit and Raleigh Times, two old-school standby’s! But don’t forget about two of their smaller restaurants, Gravy and Sitti. Who can ever complain when you’ve got a great bowl of pasta or fresh hummus in front of you? Both Empire Eats restaurants are great options if you’re catching a movie at IMAX or a show over at the Progress Energy Center. You’re guaranteed excellent food with professional service and great atmosphere at a fair price.  So if you’re up for some rustic Mediterranean food from Italy and Lebanon, read on!

Dining room at Gravy in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Dining room at Gravy in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

Sitting on the corner of Hargett and Wilmington, you’ll find these sister restaurants side-by-side.  Gravy is the cozier choice.  Narrow and deep, the place is usually busy and tables are close together but it’s still a good spot for a date. Service is professional here and at some periods of the week, you may need a reservation.  If you’re pushed for time, a beer and meal at the bar is another option.  Funky artwork dots the painted brick wall and the booths along the side make for an intimate meal

 Arancini at Gravy in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Arancini at Gravy in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Spaghetti at Gravy in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Spaghetti at Gravy in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

Grab the menu and you’ll notice all your Italian favorites.  Start with their oh-so-good arancini: fried risotto balls with melty fontina cheese.  These carb-bombs are crisp, luscious and savory in a small form-factor.  Soak them in a bit of gravy (marinara) sauce and you’ve added some acidic tomato to the taste party, wonderful!  Their pasta here is solid, reinforced by their delicious “gravy”.  Stop in on Sunday night for their beer and balls special and you’ll get a wonderful plate of spaghetti with their specialty meatballs for $7.  And if you’ve still got some appetite left, finish things off with some decadent tiramisu complete with candy crown.  While Gravy may not be the BEST Italian food I’ve had, it’s quite good and the whole place just works for me.

Side of Sitti in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Side of Sitti in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Dining room at Sitti in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Dining room at Sitti in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

Next door at Sitti, you’ll find a more open but equally welcoming ambiance. The store front is plate glass windows and spartan due to Sitti’s origins as a converted grocery store.  But inside it’s full of rustic wood and charm.  Vintage family photos line one wall, a large communal table down the center and a nice bar area to the right.  I love the corner catbird seat which makes you feel as if you’re right on S. Wilmington Street!

Hommos at Sitti in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Hommos at Sitti in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Salmon on Sitti rice, Sitti in Raleigh on NC Triangle Dining
Salmon on Sitti rice, Sitti in Raleigh on NC Triangle Dining

The menu is basic Lebanese fare, I love their hummus.  Creamy smooth with the slight bite of lemon, I add the beef-lamb meat on top (hashwi) and use their poofy bread for dipping.  I’ve had their shwarma and kafta kebab which have both been full of fresh flavor.  Sitti handles the details well, their fries are dusted with sea salt and herbs, while their fluffy Sitti rice pilaf is lightly seasoned.  The samkeh harra (broiled salmon) was perfectly cooked and spiced with tahini sauce and cilantro, yum!  They also dabble in some non-traditional foods (ribeye steak) just to keep you meat-eaters happy!  Sitti is a great spot for a business meal, date or just some people-watching.

Bar at Sitti in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Bar at Sitti in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

So if you need a taste of the Mediterranean, head on over to the Empire Eats corner but just keep on walking by the Raleigh Times!  Because as much as I may like their cheesy fries and beer, the fare over at Gravy and Sitti is another level up.  Simple, fresh, well-executed with great service, you can’t go wrong with either of these two places.  Italian or Lebanese, they’ll have you feeling as if you’re enjoying a great meal near the Mediterranean Sea, bon appetit!

 

Gravy and Sitti

135 and 137 S. Wilmington Street

Raleigh, NC 27601

919.896.8513 (Gravy)

919.239.4070 (Sitti)

 

Menu at Gravy

Menu at Sitti

Location on Google Maps

Filed Under: Raleigh, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Italian Restaurants, Mediterranean Restaurants

July 25, 2013 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

Bosphorus in Cary for Delicious, Family-Friendly Turkish Fare

Front of Bosphorus Restaurant, Cary- NC Triangle Dining
Front of Bosphorus Restaurant, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

It’s always nice to go to a family-run restaurant for the warmth and home-cooking but sometimes a drawback is a less than professional waitstaff or experience.  Bosphorus in downtown Cary brings the best of both worlds:  the warmth of a family restaurant along with great service and food!  Located just a bit outside of downtown Cary off of Harrison Avenue, Bosphorus is very unassuming from the outside.  Inside, it’s about the same: pics of Turkey dot the walls, tables covered with white paper and basic booths.  A humble interior that belies the wonderful food at Bosphorus!  When I enter, I’m immediately greeted by the gentleman running the front of the house, menus are brought out along with a glass of cold water in a flash.

Dining room at Bosphorus Restaurant in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Dining room at Bosphorus Restaurant in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

While I wait for my friends I scan the menu and while the menu doesn’t look that much different than other Medi eateries, there are some slight differences.  Bosphorus has some seafood on the menu along with Turkish pizzas (pide) in a variety of flavors. After my friends arrive, our orders are taken quickly.  We’re going with a lamb chunk pide for the table and I do the Adana kebab (spicy, beef-lamb) plate.  From the dining room you can see directly back into the kitchen and catch all the activity and preparation.  Bosphorus is small, maybe 10 or 12 tables which means this place can fill up quickly for lunch.

Lamb chunk pide at Bosphorus Restaurant in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Lamb chunk pide at Bosphorus Restaurant in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

The lamb chunk pide arrives and it’s a generous, boat-shaped pie with a fluffy crust.  On top there’s tomato, peppers, red onions and parsley along with the tender lamb.  Overall a delicious pie or flat-bread bursting with flavor.  My entree shows up a bit later and it’s a good-looking kebab, seared nicely with bulgur pilaf, a salad and some cucumber sauce.  The meat is tender and perfectly grilled for some char flavor.  I’m not a huge lamb fan but this kebab disappears quickly, yum!  Paired with the nutty bulgur pilaf, you’ve got a flavorful and healthy meal here at Bosphorus!

Adana kebab platter at Bosphorus Restaurant, Cary- NC Triangle Dining
Adana kebab platter at Bosphorus Restaurant, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Service is good all-around but the place does slow down a bit with a full house, the one slight negative to a small family-run place but totally understandable given how good the food at Bosphorus is.  All I can say is that I am really glad to have tried Bosphorus out and will be back to try more from the menu.  Bosphorus dishes out some wonderful ethnic food with great heart and love, it’s a wonderful option if you’re in the area or willing to trek into Cary a bit.  Don’t miss this wonderful family eatery for their satisfying Turkish cuisine!

 

Bosphorus Restaurant

329 N. Harrison Avenue

Cary, NC 27513

919.460.1300

Bosphorus menu

Location on Google maps

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Filed Under: Cary, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Mediterranean Restaurants, Turkish Restaurants

April 5, 2013 by Ron Wen 1 Comment

Fresh Flavors Out of the New World, Neomonde in Raleigh

Front of Neomonde, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Front of Neomonde, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

When you think of healthy ethnic eats, Mediterranean usually comes to mind. Along with Japanese, I’ve always considered Medi food to be fresh, basic ingredients prepared with care. With lots of fresh veggies, olive oil and herbs for a little bit of flavor punch.  And when you think of Mediterranean food in the Triangle, most people think of the long-standing Neomonde, located off of Beryl Road.  Even though the location is a bit off the beaten path, Neomonde’s is usually very busy so beware if you need to get in and out for a quick meal!

Store at Neomonde, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Store at Neomonde, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Counter at Neomonde, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Counter at Neomonde, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Out front, Neomonde’s entry way goes through a covered patio, great when the weather is decent.  Inside you’ll find a small grocery area for Middle Eastern type food stuffs, baked goods and a counter up front with a cold table, salads and more.  Put in your order if you want one of Neomonde’s wraps or sandwiches, you can grab a side off the cold table which is charged by weight.  I order up a full beef-lamb shwarma (which also comes in half sizes) along with a side of roasted corn salad.  Around the corner is a pastry case where you can get some sweets, of course I can’t resist a pistachio bird’s nest!  You pay up, grab a glass and number, it’s now time to find a table.

Pastries at Neomonde, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Pastries at Neomonde, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Birds nest at Neomonde, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Birds nest at Neomonde, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Service is decent at Neomonde but I’ve always found their grill items to take a bit of time.  My shwarma takes about 15 minutes but thankfully I got to pick on my delicious corn salad that’s flavored with pepper, cilantro and more.  The shwarma is two half-moons of pita bread stuffed with diced meat, tomato, onion, pickle, cilantro and marinated in lemon tahini sauce.  The one challenge with Mediterranean fare is there are obviously a lot of countries in the region and each may do a particular item differently.  Neomonde has Lebanese origins so expect as much.  The shwarma is good, full of spice, tang and flavor but I admit to preferring a shwarma made with flatbread.  The pistachio birds nest pastry was probably the highlight of my meal!  Super crunchy, buttery with just the right amount of nuts and honey, awesome stuff.  Overall a super flavorful and healthy meal!

Corn salad at Neomonde, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Corn salad at Neomonde, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Beef-lamb shwarma at Neomonde, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Beef-lamb shwarma at Neomonde, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

It’s really hard to argue with the formula at Neomonda: healthy, flavorful Medi eats prepared with love and care.  But I admit that the crowds, cafeteria like setting and location make it less of an automatic choice for me.  I prefer my meals on the hot side and Neomonde tends to favor cold items.  However, if you’re hitting up the Raulston Arboretum next door, Neomonde is a great stop for a picnic lunch.  The family that started Neomonde also runs Sitti which I reviewed earlier.  And I admit to preferring to pay an extra $5 or so for my meal and enjoying the much more stylish and civilized setting downtown at Sitti.  Odd to think that they may sort of be competing with themselves!  So if you are in the area, Neomonde is definitely worth a visit if you’re willing to venture off of Hillsborough Street, bon appetit…

 

Neomonde Bakery and Deli

3817 Beryl Rd

Raleigh, NC 27607

919.828.1628

Neomonde Menu

Location on Google maps

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Filed Under: Raleigh, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Mediterranean Restaurants, NC State Restaurants, Patio

December 27, 2015 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

Media Event: Sassool Lebanese and Mediterranean Opens Up in Cary!

SasoolCary-FrontNight
Front of Sassool in Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Over the past six years of writing this food blog, I’ve had a chance to meet quite a few local restaurant owners  around the Triangle. And I’m always happy to see good restaurants expand and grow through their hard work and dedication to offering great food and service to the community. So of course I’m very happy for the Saleh family of Neomonde growing their family business to multiple locations including the new Sassool out in Cary! I had a chance to visit their N. Raleigh location a while back and I was recently invited to the grand opening of their newest location. And it’s the same great food with top-notch customer service, I’m glad to say.

Counter at Sassool in Cary- NC Triangle Dining
Counter at Sassool in Cary- NC Triangle Dining
Display case at Sassool in Cary- NC Triangle Dining
Display case at Sassool in Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Located in the very busy Shoppes of Kildaire, the new Sassool Cary sits in a narrow store-front near  Patrick Janes Gourmet Pizza. The space runs pretty far back and has a similar layout to their N. Raleigh location. Two dining rooms up front, order counter in back with all their cold salads and sides in display cases. We are greeted by owner Mounir and his wife and the place is bustling with family and friends. At the counter I go with a chicken kabob sandwich, a side of orzo and a little birds nest pastry for dessert. My guest orders up a bunch of sides and makes up her own special Medi plate. We grab a number, a glass of wine and sit back to wait for my hot sandwich.

Full tray at Sassool in Cary- NC Triangle Dining
Full tray at Sassool in Cary- NC Triangle Dining
Chicken kabob pita at Sassool in Cary- NC Triangle Dining
Chicken kabob pita at Sassool in Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Sassool is similar to Neomonde in that it’s a casual quick-serve style restaurant. My friend digs into her plate and shares up some wonderful sweet potato salad that’s soft and rich with flavor. It takes about 10 minutes for my chicken pita sandwich to come out and it’s paired up with a pretty side of orzo. Yum, it’s time to eat! The chicken kabob is served in a pita pocket and fresh off the grill. And that’s the over-riding theme to Sassool’s food: fresh. The orzo is popping with the tang of lemon and cubes of cheese which feels a bit decadent but healthy at the same time. Overall if you enjoy clean eating, I think Sassool should serve you well.

Dessert case at Sassool in Cary- NC Triangle Dining
Dessert case at Sassool in Cary- NC Triangle Dining

We finish off with dessert and they’ve got quite a few gluten-free options. Mounir is still greeting and saying goodbye to visitors and we head off into the evening with bellies full of Sassool food. They should do very well at this busy Kildaire Farms location. While I don’t always get cravings for Medi eats, I know for many, it’s a healthy and favorite option for those who want flavor without going overboard on the calories. And that’s exactly what you’ll get here, so congrats Sassool on your newest location!

 

Sassool Cary

1347 Kildaire Farm Road

Cary, NC 27511

919.300.5586

Location on Google maps
Sassool Cafe and Market Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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Filed Under: Cary, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Mediterranean Restaurants

May 24, 2017 by Ron Wen

Media: Neomonde, Forty Years Old But Fresher than Ever

Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Out in W. Raleigh just past NC State campus you’ll find the ever-popular Neomonde! Known as a market, deli and bakery, this long-standing Raleigh institution has been feeding the area with great Mediterranean eats and breads. In business for nearly 40 years, of course you have to expect some changes over time! As the business has grown, the Saleh family who owns and runs Neomonde has grown, resulting in the expansion of Neomonde to Morrisville and also a spin-off group of restaurants as Sassool. And recently I was invited to partake in a preview and tasting of Neomonde’s new menu and learn more about what’s in store for the restaurant and their eats!

Market at Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Market at Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining
Deli counter at Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Deli counter at Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Inside Neomonde, the overall space seems to have been refreshed! The market area to the left seems very neat and nicely stocked while the counter order area seems a bit brighter. We’re seated in the back right corner of the dining room at Neomonde, right next to a large painting of a Lebanese village scene. We’ll find out more about this painting later! Soon enough, fellow bloggers and foodies Elliot @EatRaleigh and Heather @CandidSlice are at the table to join us for the tasting. Manager and drummer Chris Saleh welcomes us to Neomonde and offers us some vino and beer to get the meal started. He’s excited to show us what’s new at Neomonde with their expanded menu and service changes since he’s been back to manage the restaurant.

Refreshed menu at Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Refreshed menu at Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

One of the first things I notice is the menu. It certainly has been been upgraded and covers the expanded menu well but Neomonde also has a great glossary covering the types of food served here. Falafel, kafta, shwarma, tabouli, fatoush and more. While some Mediterranean food lovers may not need these descriptions, I’m pretty sure some people will appreciate the expanded definitions! Note that Neomonde has gone with a simpler pricing structure, no weighing needed at the cash register.

Babaghannoush and hummus plates at Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Babaghannoush and hummus plates at Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Back at the table, we start off with a couple of their new plates of spreads: sun-dried tomatoes hummus, jalapeno hummus and babaghannoush! I focus mostly on the hummuses (hummi?!). The sun-dried tomato is bright and sweet with a smooth texture, perfect paired with pita bread. And the jalapeno pepper while not too spicy, had enough back-end pepper flavor to make its presence known. The babaghannoush was beautiful but eluded my searching piece of pita!

Beef man'ousheh at Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Beef man’ousheh at Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining
Spinach-feta man'ousheh at Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Spinach-feta man’ousheh at Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining
Pomegranate salad at Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Pomegranate salad at Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

We moved on to Neomonde’s flatbreads which are listed as man’ousheh. I dig into the beef man’ousheh which is ground beef, tomato and onion which is like a cheese-less pizza! Great crust and a good bite to the crust, it all feels a bit more healthy than pizza with cheese. We also dig into a spinach-feta flatbread and a unique option spiced with zaatar and veggies which looked fabulous. A beautiful pomegranate salad is also brought to the table and presents a nice contrast between the juicy red strawberries and deep greens.

Chicken, beef and kefte kebabs at Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Chicken, beef and kefta kebabs at Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining
Lentils and rice at Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Lentils and rice at Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Next up is a platter of Neomonde kebabs ranging from chicken to beef and kefta (beef-lamb). The kabobs sport dark grill marks but still remain tender and tasty, a bit of spicing/marinade make them all wonderfully tasty. The kebabs are paired with a lentil rice dish which makes for a fantastic plate, the charred onions on top give this simple vegetarian dish tons of flavor.

Baklava plate at Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Baklava plate at Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

We finish off with a wonderful assortment of baklava, I’m pretty much full at this point in the meal but love a couple pieces of this honey-laced sweet, the subtle orange flavor just makes it even better. Some final pictures are taken of the happy Neomonde ending and we are finished! We get together for a group pic, say our goodbyes to Chris and his mother Betty, and thank them for all their hospitality and wonderful food.

Group picture, happy campers at Neomonde in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Group picture, happy campers at Neomonde in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

So it was great to get back to an old Raleigh favorite. You don’t stay around in the restaurant business 40 years without doing a lot of things right and it feels like Neomonde has been refreshed and is ready to feed the area its great, healthy eats for another 40 years!

 

Neomonde

3817 Beryl Road

Raleigh, NC 27607

919.828.1628

 

Location on Google maps

Filed Under: Media, Raleigh, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Mediterranean Restaurants

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