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September 2, 2013 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

A Trip to the Daily Planet Cafe and NC Museum of History

Front of the Daily Planet Cafe, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Changes over at Rocky Top Hospitality has led to a smaller group of restaurants being led by their management team: Dean’s Seafood Bar and Grill, Twisted Fork and the Daily Planet Cafe. Over the long holiday weekend, I finally decide to take a quick visit to the Daily Planet Cafe which is located in the same area as the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. Out front, the Daily Planet Cafe has a large open patio, inside it opens up to a large modern interior but keeps things pretty simple with a order and pick-up at the counter system.

Mod interior of the Daily Planet Cafe, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

As with most museum cafe’s, the Daily Planet has a pretty basic menu that’s meant to please young families and kids. A small menu of breakfast options (eggs, meat, grits, hash, french toast) along with some sandwiches, salads and wraps for lunch. I order up a 4-item breakfast plate ($9) along with a cup of coffee which puts me at about $11. I get a buzzer, head over to the coffee bar and sit tight. The Daily Planet is mostly self-serve for your drinks, cutlery, napkins and such so it’s a super casual spot. But the inside is quite nice, open and airy and the coffee’s very good!

Breakfast plate at the Daily Planet Cafe, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

About 10 minutes later, my buzzer goes off and it’s time to grab my breakfast tray. A nice plate with two perfectly cooked eggs, a small cup of fruit, sweet potato slices and sausage patties. It’s a solid breakfast and some items to take note. The sweet potato hash is nearly like sweet potato chips with sauteed peppers and onions along with a dash of syrup. Interesting and different, I imagine little kids (and me) really enjoy this combo! The sausage and fruit were fine, nothing special but I admit to preferring sausage links. The patio is a great covered spot for an outdoor meal so Daily Planet Cafe is an interesting dining alternative in this hood. Perfect if you’re visiting either of the two museums here but I’ll have to come back for their lunch menu since breakfast fell into the it’s just OK category.

Front of the NC Museum of History, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

But after breakfast, a trip the the NC Museum of History rocked it out! Open to the public with no entry fee, it houses a large exhibition of NC history through the years. Covering everything back to pre-European settlement, you wind your way through Sir Walter Raleigh, Blackbeard, slavery, native-American re-settlement, the Civil War, Depression WWII and more. It’s an impressive display of items and stories that every North Carolinian should visit at one point and time. And it really sets the back-drop for where the state is today. Further upstairs are displays on NC sports history, more wartime memorabilia along with a clay pottery exhibit. I’ll have to come back with more time to really absorb the place.

Wright flyer at the NC Museum of History, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Confederate display at the NC Museum of History, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

All in all you can’t go wrong with a visit to the Daily Planet Cafe, NC Museum of History and NC Museum of Natural Sciences! Just north of the state capital, these wonderful spots can make for a great 1/2 day visit and you can do it all on a budget. Good food, great history and knowledge can be had if you just make a bit of an effort. So come on down for a visit!

The Daily Planet Cafe

121 West Jones Street

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.707.8060

The Daily Planet Cafe menu

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January 8, 2014 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

Good Greek! Taziki’s in Waverly Place, Cary

Front of Taziki's in Cary - NC Triangle Dining — Front of Taziki’s in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

Located in the recently renovated Waverly Place, Taziki’s dishes out wonderful Greek eats in a quick-serve environment that’s SUPER-busy for lunch! While I’m not a huge salad fan, I still enjoy Medi cuisine quite a bit so I was glad to hear that Taziki’s had opened up right around the corner from work. A group of us from the office headed on over and showed up at about 12:15 on a Wednesday afternoon. And was there a line! About 25 or so people, single file in front of the kitchen area to a single cash register up front. While I waited, a scan of the menu showed your usual Greek favorites: salads, wraps, gyros and kabob platters. Thankfully the cashier was super-fast and it only seemed to take about 15 minutes to reach the front. I order up a chicken gyro, roasted potatoes and a fountain drink for about $10.

Dining area at Taziki's in Cary - NC Triangle Dining — Dining area at Taziki’s in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

Our table gets a number, we get served soft drinks and it’s off to snag an empty table! Taziki’s has a large concrete patio out front but it’s too hot for there today. A table eventually opens up, somebody comes by to bus it and we hang loose. Fresh flowers on the table, silverware wrapped in a high-quality napkin, Taziki’s is counter-order, table-serve but feels a touch nicer than most casual places. Our lunches arrive all together in about five minutes, my co-workers salad and plates all look super-fresh and substantial. I’ve got a tightly wrapped gyro with a large cup of roasted taters. The gyro is dense with long strips of grilled white, breast and plenty of veggies. It’s a bit wet but very tasty with tender chicken, a thumbs up here. The potatoes were hewn, chunks of red skin, roasted with olive oil and rosemary (I think). Fork-tender and tasty, a solid and filling side and nice change from fries, eh?

Chicken gyro at Taziki's, Cary- NC Triangle Dining — Chicken gyro at Taziki’s, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

And as we ate, the staff came by to see if we needed drink refills or anything else for the table. So definitely a solid choice, Taziki’s is a popular place so you may want to come early for your meal. With all these well-prepared wraps and salads along with large portions and decent prices, I understand why this place is busy and I’ll back soon to try more off the menu. Awesome job, Taziki’s. Even though you may be a chain you’re doing a great job, bon appetit!

Taziki’s

302 Colonades Way, Ste 201

Cary, NC 27518

919.415.0447

Taziki’s menu

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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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May 10, 2016 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

Retake: Enrigo Italian Bistro, Refreshed and Improved!

Enrigo Italian Bistro in Cary- NC Triangle Dining

The new and refreshed Waverly Place has been evolving to the point where it’s a must-visit destination for Cary locals. From Cinebistro to Taziki’s, Whole Foods and Whisk, there’s something great for the foodie inside of you! Back in 2014, Enrigo Italian Bistro had opened up and my first couple of visits were fair but not crazy impressive. But I had a friend who swore the place was now top-notch with their new chef so it was time for a re-visit to Enrigo Italian Bistro!

European interior at Enrigo Italian Bistro in Cary- NC Triangle Dining

First if you’re eating at Enrigo it’s located in the lower back half of Waverly Place. So you can park in the front of the plaza and hoof it down some stairs or work your way to the less familiar back lot and stroll on in. Inside the place hasn’t changed much. Same great wrap-around covered patio up front and classic European cafe feel to the decor. Plenty of dark carved, wood chairs, along with a marble-top bar gives it that classic Continental feel.

EnrigoItalianBistro-BruschettaEggplantApp — Bruschetta and eggplant apps at Enrigo Italian Bistro in Cary- NC Triangle Dining

It’s one of those wonderful North Carolina spring days so I grab a seat on the patio and peruse the menu. Pretty basic for lunch: salads, pastas, pizza. 15 or 20 items in the $9 to $15 range so it’s a touch pricey for lunch here at Enrigo. My friend shows up and now we’re ready to eat! As luck would have it, she’s a Cary local and a regular at Enrigo so our waiter goes into over-drive on our meal. We haven’t even ordered yet when some bruschetta and fried eggplant rounds show up at the table. The eggplant is great, layered with a bit of prosciutto and fontina cheese, woohoo!

Prosciutto sandwich at Enrigo Italian Bistro in Cary- NC Triangle Dining

We order up our lunch, I’m going with some pasta and a prosciutto panini to share. Looking around Enrigo it’s pretty empty at lunch time which is sort of silly given the great weather and their patio, boo! My friend tells me that Enrigo has brought their chef over from Italy and I’d have to guess our waiter is the real deal Italian, autentico. So expect the service to be a bit relaxed here, just like across the pond.

Rigatoni amatriciana at Enrigo Italian Bistro in Cary- NC Triangle Dining

The mains come out and I’ve got a substantial plate of rigatoni amatraciana in front of me. It’s a tomato based sauce with smoked pork bathing the large pasta and speckled with cheese. A bite of the pasta shows off some cooking talent here! Super toothsome rigatoni with a densely flavored, pork undertone. It’s a really simple but well done example of Italian cooking. The panini also looks excellent, served on crusty bread and with some nicely roasted potatoes but I’ve got my mind on the pasta! My table-mate’s pizza looks great too, I nearly can’t see it underneath all her prosciutto!

Margherita pizza w prosciutto at Enrigo Italian Bistro in Cary- NC Triangle Dining

We’ve ordered a lot so it doesn’t take long before I’m ready to tap out and ask for boxes. But of course our super-waiter can’t resist and brings us over dessert, some very nice tiramisu flecked with dark cocoa powder. And who am I to say no when it’s placed right in front of me?! (Excuses)

It’s been a super pleasant, delicious and relaxed meal here at Enrigo. I pay up the bill and thank our waiter, Alessandro. All I can say is that I’m am thankful that Enrigo has upped their game when it comes to Italian eats for Cary. While it was never bad, it’s now pretty much outstanding but I’ll need a return visit to confirm that thought. Until then, enjoy their great Italian cuisine, enjoy that patio and enjoy Enrigo over at Waverly Place!

Enrigo Italian Bistro

575 New Waverly Place #106

Cary, NC 27518

919.854.7731

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August 23, 2018 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Top of the Hill in Chapel Hill for a Great View, Food and Beer

Sign for Top of the Hill Restaurant in Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

When I first came to North Carolina, I spent two years in grad school at Carolina and as expected, plenty of time at Top of the Hill restaurant and brewery. With a premium location above Franklin and Columbia Street, we’d visit Top O for school functions, brunches and late night beer runs! Top of the Hill’s personality would change depending on when you would visit and I’m guessing that’s still the case today. But my latest visit showed me that Top of the Hill is still a great spot to hang out, grab a good beer along with some solid pub food….

Outside of Top of the Hill Restaurant in Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

First of all if you’re not familiar with Top of the Hill, it may be tricky to find the entrance. Located on the Columbia side of the building, just look for the Top of the Hill awning and grab the elevator or stairs to the third floor. Up front you’ll find a hostess kiosk for this very popular spot. The bar sits front and center and gleams in lacquer. To the right you’ll see the brewing equipment behind glass and then the main dining room in back.

Covered patio at Top of the Hill Restaurant in Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

But while the dining room at Top of the Hill is quite nice, what makes the place really special is the wrap-around patio overlooking the main intersection below. Covered but sunny, grabbing one of the house beers and sipping on it while chilling out on the patio is one of life’s simple pleasures.

Pulled pork sandwich at Top of the Hill Restaurant in Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

But today I’m here with friends for lunch, we order up some Lizard Chips which are fried pickles and jalapenos with ranch sauce, a great starter! My pulled pork sandwich is upgraded with sweet potato fries which are waffle-cut and excellent. The BLT across the table from me looks great and loaded with bacon along with a fried green tomato!

BLT sandwich at Top of the Hill Restaurant in Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

Service at Top of the Hill is a bit inconsistent, the staff is well-meaning but a bit young overall. No surprise given the university setting here in Chapel Hill! But overall I usually have a good time at Top of the Hill whenever I visit. Just be aware that the place can get pretty rowdy when school’s in session during the weekends. On an early lunch visit the place has a TOTALLY different vibe. But rock on, Top of the Hill! You’ve been doing it all quite well for the 10 years I’ve lived in NC and it looks like you’re keeping it up. Thank you for all the great food, beer and memories over the years…

Top of the Hill Restaurant and Brewery

100 E Franklin Street #3

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

919.929.8676

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A Trip to the Daily Planet Cafe and NC Museum of History