NC State Restaurants Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

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

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

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

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

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

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April 2, 2016 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: Jade Garden, Trying Harder But…

Front of Jade Garden, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

When it comes to Chinese food, I’m just a little picky. Coming from a Chinese family and with a mom who was a fantastic cook means the bar is set pretty high for my Asian and Chinese eats. But I can appreciate everything from ethnic Chinese to Chinese-American and more. But there IS a line on the low end still. I had hit up Jade Garden when I first moved to Raleigh in 2008 in hopes of finding an inexpensive, fast Chinese-American take-out joint in the hood. Located on Hillsborough Street at the first circle, Jade Garden sits in an older set of store-fronts on the east side of Hillsborough. Online reviews say the place has been refreshed so it’s time for a re-visit after 6+ years!

Inside of Jade Garden, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Due to its tight and busy location, Jade Garden has a small lot on the side for patrons, maybe 9 or so spots. I park there and hoof it around the corner and up front there’s a sign proclaiming “Under new management.” So at least the online reviews got that part right. Same beaten up signage up front in yellow and green, it feels like an 80’s throw-back. Inside Jade Garden, the place has been refreshed. New carpet (I think), redone booths and some bright Chinese decor around the space. It’s a small dining room, maybe holding 20 people or so.

Egg-drop soup at Jade Garden, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

I get seated at a booth and look at the lunch menu. $7 for a entree (10 or so choices) along with soup and eggroll. I go with the egg-drop soup and garlic chicken for lunch. Immediately a plate of fried won-ton noodles get brought over with sweet-sour sauce, old-school baby! But who can resist these crunchy, greasy noodle chips? The egg-drop soup is fine, a warm serving of broth with swirls of egg and not too much salt. Next the lunch entree comes up and it’s a decent portion of tender white meat chicken mixed with broccoli, zucchini, peppers, bamboo shoots and more. A small pile of brown fried rice and a commercial (probably frozen) egg roll. It’s your typical Americanized Chinese meal and the common theme I see in this style of food is a syrupy sauce, most likely requiring fructose, that seems to be a common denominator in this category of Chinese eats. It’s not awful but certainly not what any home-cook would normally use.

I finish my meal (most of it, sans egg roll) and pay up. Service at Jade Garden was sweet and attentive so thank you there! But the reality is that while Jade Garden has refreshed its interior, the food hasn’t changed much from what I remember. It’s still super Americanized, typical American-Chinese food. I would still prefer to hit up Peace China over at Seaboard in lieu of dining here and dealing with the parking situation. In the end, like many restaurants on Hillsborough Street, it’s designed to please college students and their basic dining needs. And there’s nothing wrong with that, just understand what you’re getting before you make an effort to get over here.

Jade Garden

1207 Hillsborough Street

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.594.1813

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December 22, 2016 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: A Raleigh Classic in Players Retreat near NC State University

Front of Players Retreat in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Front of Players Retreat in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

When you talk about classic Raleigh restaurants and eateries, Players Retreat is usually mentioned since it’s been such a long-standing favorite for NC State students and alumni! In business for over 65 years, you have to be doing something really good. And while I don’t have any Wolfpack blood running through me, I do appreciate a good college bar and restaurant no matter what university you’re associated with. So it was time for a visit to this old-school Raleigh eatery for lunch!

Banner at Players Retreat in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Banner at Players Retreat in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

It’s really easy to find Player’s Retreat (PR to the locals). Located on Oberlin Road, just look for the large NC State red awnings and umbrellas. Or the large Players Retreat flag waving out front! They’ve got a very nice sidewalk patio for outdoors dining but you gotta head inside to really understand the charm of Players Retreat. Inside, Players Retreat sports a long classic bar, low slung booths to the right and additional dining rooms on either side of the main room, TV screens above along with an impressive collection of beer cans and old-school NC State finishes off the decor. It has the comfortable feeling of other college bars-restaurants in the area like Dain’s Place over in Durham.

Interior at Players Retreat in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Interior at Players Retreat in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

I grab a seat at the corner of the bar and am immediately asked about a drink. I go with a Lonerider Bad Penny just to keep things simple and peruse the menu. Next-door is an energetic crowd of folks visiting for a political event. There’s a casual but fun energy at Players Retreat and I suspect that there are a lot of locals showing up here on a regular basis. Players Retreat has a long menu of bar food ranging from fried appetizers, soups, salads, burgers, American entrees and more. And the PR is also known for their selection of scotch, check out their website for details on the Scotch Club at PR if you’re a fan!

Chicken parm sub at Players Retreat in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Chicken parm sub at Players Retreat in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

I keep things simple and go with a chicken parm sub and side of house-made potato chips. The food comes out pretty quickly at Players Retreat, I’ve got a sizable (10″) sandwich with chicken tenders and layer with marinara sauce and provolone. The bun is fresh and soft, it’s a satisfying bite and good deal at $9. Along with the decent chips, I’m a happy camper sitting at PR’s bar and watching the people walk by.

Service at the bar is solid and attentive, they’ve got some pros here behind the bar and it shows. While I’m sure the PR has its regulars, they take care of me really well as a newbie which is always appreciated. All in all, I was pretty happy with my visit to this classic Raleigh eatery. It’s held up well over time which isn’t always the case for long-time local favorites. Along with the Mecca Restaurant, the Players Retreat can hold its own in terms of food, service, ambiance and overall value. So cheers, Players Retreat! While I may not bleed Wolfpack red, here’s to another 65 years for this popular college staple…

Players Retreat

105 Oberlin Road

Raleigh, NC 27605

919.755.9589

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August 28, 2016 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: Pieology, the Study of Pizza Earns a Great Grade!

Front of Pieology near NC State in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

When it comes to pizza, I really can’t get enough. And what’s really cool right now is that pizza has been brought into the 21st century with the Build Your Own Pizza (BYOP) model. Imitating the Chipotle service model, BYOP allows you to customize an individual pie, JUST the way you like it. And you’ve got several options for BYOP in the Triangle: Blaze Pizza, Mod Pizza and now the new Pieology in Raleigh. So as a fan of Blaze Pizza, I just had to check out the competition. So it was time for lunch at Pieology near NC State in Raleigh!

Mod interior at Pieology near NC State in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Located conveniently on Hillsborough Street in the new Stanhope building, Pieology is perfectly located to serve the pizza eating needs of Wolfpack students. Inside, the space is similar to Blaze: high ceilings, some corporate art and a order and assembly area. It all feels very modern and somewhat cool for a quick-casual spot. You choose your pie at the front and then pay at the end, just like Chipotle (Note: Pieology has opened a 2nd Raleigh location in North Hills)

Pizza assembly at Pieology near NC State in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

The menu is simple but complex like most BYOP pizza places: salads and pizzas BUT the pizzas just have so many options. Outside of the seven signature pies, Pieology offers you the choice of 3 crusts, 7 sauces, 15 cheeses and meats, 15 toppings and then 4 after bake drizzle sauces. The crust is spread and flattened right as you order and then you can add your sauces and toppings as you move down the line. As a lazy pizza person, I just go with the Mad to Meet You (pepperoni, sausage, meatball, mozzarella, house red sauce & olive oil) and add some green peppers, basil and Parmesan cheese. I cash out, grab my beer and number and grab a seat!

Dining area at Pieology near NC State in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

It takes about 10 minutes for my pie which isn’t too bad of a wait. And it’s a good looking pie, Pieology does a 11.5″ individual and there are plenty of high-quality toppings. The crust is thin and stiff, similar to a bar pizza and the edges are well-browned. A peek at the crust bottom shows off some leopard-spotting, it’s cooked perfectly. I take a bite and the crust is snappy and toothsome, the sausage and meats are well balanced with the cheese but the sauce is hard to pick up. At over 1,000 calories, I only eat half for lunch but yeah, I could have chowed down the whole pizza!

Meat pizza at Pieology near NC State in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Pizza crust at Pieology near NC State in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

So yeah, it was great to meat you Pieology! While the concept is really similar to Blaze, I’d have to categorize Pieology as more gourmet/quirky bar pizzas. They’ve got some extra options to their pies and it’s good but not trying to mimic the Neapolitan style I enjoy so much. And I’m pretty sure that Pieology will be a huge hit with the NC State crowd once they’re back in school come September. Because if anyone appreciates good (and bad) pizza, it’s a college kid! So rock on Pieology, I’ll have to come back and do some more studying for my imaginary set of pizza final exams…

Pieology Hillsborough Street

3001 Hillsborough Street

Raleigh, NC 27607

919.839.6300

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December 11, 2016 by Ron Wen 1 Comment

Best Restaurants Near NC State University – NCSU

NC State's Talley Student Center in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — NC State’s Talley Student Center in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

If your kid is going to school at NC State or you just need to find a bite near campus, choosing a good restaurant option may be a bit tricky. Like any college area, the restaurants tend to be inexpensive and not so great given the typical student budget. But there are some decent options if you know where to look. And they tend to be the newer spots in Wolfpack territory!

The primary NC State campus is loosely bound by Hillsborough Street and Western Boulevard to the north. And Gorman Street along with Pullen Road to the west and east. And then finally a newer part of campus intersected by Avent Ferry and Centennial Parkway to the south. In the NC State neighborhood you’ll find old-school favorites like Amedeos, Baja Burrito, Jade Garden, Subconscious, Sammy’s Tap and Grill, Ruckus Pizza… But my favorites are different and run the range from Chinese to Mexican, pizza and more. Most of these better dining choices are on the north side of campus and are a bit of a ride or walk. But totally worth it if you want to get away from casual college eats! Click on the restaurant link to get the full details…

Best Restaurants and Dining Near NC State University – NCSU

David’s Dumpling and Noodle Bar (Chinese) – Tasty Chinese and Asian eats in a lovely and spacious dining room. Inexpensive and reasonably priced for lunch and dinner.
Gonza Tacos y Tequila (Mexican) – Fantastic interior and decor with solid Mexican eats: tacos, enchiladas, guacamole and more. A bit pricier than usual Mexican options but worthwhile.
NC Seafood Restaurant at the State Farmer’s Market (Seafood) – Large portions of fried and broiled NC seafood on picnic tables. Stop in after a visit to the Farmer’s market!
Neomonde (Lebanese) – A Raleigh classic serving up fresh Mediterranean eats ranging from salads, kabobs to pita sandwiches, casual setting.
Peking Duck and Dumplings (Chinese) – Casual and authentic, grab rice plates of roast duck, noodle soup and pan-fried buns for a delicious meal.
Pisco Mar (S. American) – A newer, restaurant specializing in S. American cuisine: empanadas, lomo saltado, ceviche and more.
Players Retreat (American) – The long-time NC State meeting spot for subs, American comfort food and an amazing whiskey selection. Sit on the patio with friends in the summer.
so*ca (Latin American) – An upscale, fusion Latino restaurant offering up great cocktails, small plates and desserts. A bit dress with fantastic covered patio.
Sushi Mon (Sushi, Japanese) – A fancier spot for fabulously fresh fish, sushi and small plates. Tough parking in the area.
Tazza Kitchen (Small plates) – A more upscale restaurant serving up European oven-fired small plates and pizzas! Great for smaller groups.
Trophy Pizza (Beer, pizza) – Fantastic beer and artisanal pizzas in a casual setting. Enjoy their patio when the weather is warmer, sometimes tough to get a seat.
Tupelo Honey Cafe (Southern) – An Asheville favorite in Raleigh. Southern classics with a twist, offers brunch, lunch and dinner throughout the week.

And if you’re willing to travel further afoot, head on further north to Cameron Village or further east to Raleigh’s Warehouse District where you’ll find even better dining options. Bon appetit!