NC Triangle Dining

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

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First Take: Mama Jee Delivers Sushi and Thai for W. Raleigh and NC State

Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Hillsborough Street in Raleigh is one of the busier streets in the area but given its proximity to a college, it’s food offerings are usually somewhat mixed. You get the usual burgers, pizza, subs and Chinese food here but it’s usually a case of quantity over quality. But over the years, it’s had its fair share of decent restaurants. Good dining options include H Street Kitchen, Gonza Tacos y Tequila and now the new Mama Jee. Billed as a Thai and Sushi Bar, Mama Jee sits on the intersection of Hillsborough and Dixie Trail Road in an area rife with construction. But I decided to drop in for lunch and see what this new restaurant was bringing to the neighborhood!

Bar at Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Bar at Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Built in a brand new building, Mama Jee is pretty unassuming on the outside. I had poked my head into their windows during construction but didn’t get a good feel for the space. But as soon as you step in, wow! Super modern, clean and impressive design all around their interior, where do you start? From the lovely polished wood bar complete with leather high-top chairs to the curved, granite-faced sushi bar to the dark wood floor, everything just feels right to the eyes here. And definitely better than most restaurants on Hillsborough Street, Mama Jee just feels a little bit fancy.

Sushi bar at Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Sushi bar at Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

I’m seated at the sushi bar by the restaurant manager, Jung. He’s a friendly young guy and fills me in on the Mama Jee story. Brought to you by the people behind Thai House in N. Raleigh (and yes, Mama is real), Mama Jee is their 2nd restaurant and an attempt to bring a high-service feel to the NC State dining crowd. The tough part of dining at these Japanese-Thai combo restaurants that are so popular in the Triangle is which way to go? The spicy flavors of Thai cuisine or the more subtle and simple flavor profile of Japanese? Well, my decision gets made when the manager sends over a comped plate of salmon carpaccio.

Salmon carpaccio at Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Salmon carpaccio at Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

And given it’s my first visit to Mama Jee, color me impressed! It’s a fantastic looking plate full of texture and color. The base of the carpaccio is flash-fried salmon skin with a light bubbly coating. On top there is chopped salmon, mango salsa, ponzu sauce and red/black tobio (fish roe). Pop one of these bad-boys into your mouth and you get an explosion of flavor and mouth-feel. From the slightly crunchy skin to the soft fish on top and sweet from the fruit, it’s a great bite and starter.

Dragon fire and Tornado rolls at Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Dragon fire and Tornado rolls at Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

For my main I’ve gone with a couple of manager recommendations. While Mama Jee doesn’t do BOGO rolls, the prices is totally reasonable for lunch: 2 rolls for $16. I’ve ordered up the Dragon Fire roll along with the cooked Tornado roll. The plate of rolls comes out and it looks gorgeous with tons of color. The Dragon Fire pulls together spicy crab, shrimp tempura, jalapeno with a bit of sriracha and sweet glaze on top. Love it, there’s a bit of sweet and spicy on this roll and it’s just good. And while the Tornado roll isn’t “traditional”, I can’t resist this roll given it’s flash-fried with potato strings and is plated in a twisted heap! Shrimp tempura, avocado and spicy mayo completes this roll and it’s a lot of food, Imma ready to tap out…

Modern interior at Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Modern interior at Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Service at Mama Jee’s is very good, they’ve got young staff but are definitely ready to keep you happy. But because the manager knew I did a food blog, I came back for a second visit to try the Thai side of the menu, incognito. The spicy Thai wing appetizer is fantastic! Bubbly, crusty battered chicken with some sweet and sour sauce, I highly recommend this dish. And the pad kee mao (drunken noodles) was solid but not my favorite dish out of what I’ve tried at Mama Jee’s.

Spicy thai wings at Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Spicy thai wings at Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining
Drunken noodles with pork at Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Drunken noodles with pork at Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

All in all, l I was really impressed with what they are doing here. While I’m usually not a fan of pan-Asian restaurants (feel they should stick to one cuisine), Mama Jee’s is doing a great job on both the Japanese/sushi and Thai side of their offerings. Service is solid, prices are decent and the decor is excellent. Especially for their prices. Based upon that performance, I’m adding them to my best restaurants around NC State list. So welcome to Hillsborough Street Mama Jee! Love your food and look forward to meeting you some day…

 

Mama Jee Thai, Sushi and Bar

105 Friendly Drive, Suite 101

Raleigh, NC 27607

919.307.8403

 

Location on Google maps

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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.

Bar at Players Retreat in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Bar at Players Retreat in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

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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Best Restaurants and Food Around 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

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!

Roti at David’s Dumpling and Noodle Bar
Cool decor at Gonza Tacos y Tequila
Tacos at Gonza Tacos y Tequila
Marquee for H Street Kitchen
Interior at H Street Kitchen
Roast turkey at H Street Kitchen
Seafood platter at NC Seafood Restaurant
Entrance to Neomonde
Dining room at PG Werth’s
Charleston chicken sandwich at PG Werth’s
Front of Players Retreat
Dining room at Players Retreat
Dining room for Tazza Kitchen
Sausage-honey pizza at Tazza Kitchen
Daredevil pizza at Trophy Brewing
Dining room at Tupelo Honey Cafe
Shrimp and grits at Tupelo Honey Cafe
Spicy Thai wings at Mama Jee
Sushi at Mama Jee

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

Front of Pieology near NC State in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
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
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
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
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
Meat pizza at Pieology near NC State in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Pizza crust 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

 

Location on Google maps

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La Rancherita in Raleigh Earns a Passing Grade for Mexican

La Rancherita, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
La Rancherita, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Out on Hillsborough Street you’ll find a plethora of low-priced eats for a student’s budget.  Given its proximity to NC State, it’s no surprise that you’ll find a bunch of pizza, sub and Mexican spots on this street.  One of the newer Mexican restaurants is La Rancherita which was changed over from Chile Bomba by the Ibarra family.  So I was curious to see if it still delivered better-quality Mexican American eats for not much dinero.  Here’s how my visit went down…

Inside of La Rancherita, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Inside of La Rancherita, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

From both the inside and outside, there aren’t many surprises at La Rancherita.  A bit plain on the outside and a large open, simple dining room inside, it follows the scheme of most casual Mexican-American restaurants.  We get a plastic, covered menu and our drink orders are taken quickly.  For this Monday night, they’re doing $2 import bottles so I go with a Bohemian.  The menu again, is right down the middle with an assortment of tacos, burritos, fajitas, entrees and more.  It’s actually a smaller menu than my Mexican fave (La Cocina) out in Apex.  I go with some shrimp and chorizo tacos which comes with beans and rice on the side.  As expected, service is lickedy-split which is perfect for tonight since we’re trying to catch a flick at the IMAX theater downtown.

Shrimp and chorizo tacos at La Rancherita, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Shrimp and chorizo tacos at La Rancherita, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

My plate looks great: three nicely filled tacos with a bit of cream sauce, a small bowl of black beans along with some fluffy seasoned rice.  The tacos are nicely done with plump, grilled shrimp contrasted against the spicy sausage.  An excellent taste combination and filling for dinner.   The sides are also decent but I admit it’s hard for me to get too excited about beans or rice, just some extra carbs to balance out the meal!  My friend Andrew’s plate fajitas look pretty good too, with plenty of white meat and bell peppers, I’m pretty sure it was about $12 which is a good deal.

Chicken fajitas at La Rancherita, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Chicken fajitas at La Rancherita, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Overall I think La Rancherita does a good job for casual Mexican but it’s really hard to distinguish it from any other restaurant dishing out those ethnic eats in the area!  With a location that might be tight for parking once State students come back, I’m not sure when I’ll be back next.  Around my office, I love my La Cocina and at home, I tend to head north to a place like Los Cuates on Wake Forest Road. But for people on Hillsborough Street, La Rancherita offers tasty and quick Mexican eats for all!  Just don’t expect too much and you’ll be fine…

 

La Rancherita

2400 Hillsborough Street

Raleigh, NC 27607

919.755.9697

 

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