Patio Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

November 28, 2020 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Photos: Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard in Raleigh

Front of Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Front of Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

With the recent addition of Wegmans and McNeill Pointe (Chido Taco, Shuckin Shack), the Wake Forest Road corridor has been booming with construction lately! A recent addition to the scene is the newish, Bowyard Pizza and Brewyard located just south of E. Whitaker Mill Road. The entrance to Bowyard is pretty tricky, a small entryway between Tobola Automotive and StorageMax. Thankfully they’ve added some permanent signage there. Drop down into the gravel lot and you’ll find a small building to your left along with two side patios. There’s also a larger lawn and gaming area decked out with picnic tables, umbrellas and cornhole for when the weather is better.

Signage at Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Signage at Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Serving up craft beer, cocktails and pizza, the scene at Bowstring is pretty casual and young but an interesting spot with interesting decor inside. They are currently partnering with Vic’s Pizzeria pizza bus for their pies. Like many businesses that have opened up during the COVID pandemic, they are still figuring things out. But definitely stop by for a visit if you’re in the area. I’ll add to this post after I’ve had time to come for a couple of visits.

Cool interior at Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Cool interior at Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Bar at Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Bar at Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard

1930 Wake Forest Road

Raleigh, NC 27608

Location on Google maps

July 1, 2019 by Ron Wen

First Take: Barcelona Wine Bar, a High-Energy Celebration of Spanish Tapas

Front of Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to Spanish tapas in the Triangle, Durham had the market cornered with the ever-popular Mateo and Taberna Tapas! As a Raleighite, I had tapas on my short list of desired restaurants and thankfully, Barcelona Wine Bar has come to the rescue! Part of the Del Frisco restaurant group (bartaco), Barcelona Wine Bar has about 17 locations on the eastern seaboard and Colorado. Barcelona Wine Bar’s prime location in the Dillon building is its second location in North Carolina, woo-hoo! And after several dinner visits, color me impressed. Here’s why you should be considering a visit to this hot, new NC Triangle restaurant located at the new Dillon Building!

Corner location of Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Corner location of Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Located in a premium corner spot at West and Martin Street, the Barcelona is one of the new fun and hip eateries that continue to be opened up at the Dillon. A lovely patio area with greenery fronts the restaurant and you’ll usually find an energetic crowd milling about. Step through the narrow doorway and you’ll run into the centerpiece tapas bar in front (U-shaped) which is usually very busy. Overhead you’ll spy hollowed out, wood tubes and to the sides, rectangular “wood cinder blocks” which provides some separation between the bar and the kitchen or side dining room. Interior design at Barcelona wine bar is very organic and rustic, it feels a bit weathered even though it’s a brand new space!

Dining room at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Dining room at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Busy bar at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Busy bar at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

I’ve eaten four times here, usually at the bar and once on the patio. The large tapas menu offers up an array of charcuterie (3 choices for $17.50), salads, small plates, Chef’s items along with some desserts that are not on the main menu. Barcelona Wine Bar also offers up a handful of entree type dishes in the $20+ range (including paella) but where’s the fun in that? There is plenty to choose from for meat eaters or vegetarians but I’ll give a slight advantage to Team Meat at Barcelona Wine Bar! The wine list is pretty extensive and focused on European wine with glasses mostly $10 and up. I’d expect to spend $30 and up for a meal with one drink so it’s a mid-priced type of meal for Raleigh.

Spanish tortilla at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Spanish tortilla at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

For starters, the Spanish tortilla (omelet) is stellar! Tender, thin-sliced potatoes are layered with egg and olive oil to present a luscious take on a very simple dish and it is executed perfectly here at Barcelona. Don’t miss the croquetas de jamon which are delicately fried balls of deliciousness. The crunchy exterior breaks open to a soft and cheesy interior accentuated with salty ham, wonderful stuff. And yes, you must try the albondigas, meatballs made with a bit of lamb in a chunky tomato sauce. The albondigas are bites of savory meatiness and filling for a small dish. I usually skip the the complimentary bread basket but some of that country bread sopped in the tomato sauce from the albondigas would be heavenly.

Croquetas at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Croquetas at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Albondigas (meatballs) at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Albondigas (meatballs) at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Now while officially Barcelona is all about small plates, I consider some of the higher priced chef’s specials to be more entree like given the meat-heaviness of the dishes here. I had a fantastic NY Strip paired with red chimichurri which was wonderful. Thinly sliced, perfectly cooked (medium) medallions of beef sporting that luscious fat on the edge topped with the flavorful chimichurri sauce makes for a taste sensation. Paired with the plump, charred sugar snap peas, you’d have a perfect meal with both the savory beef and crunchy greens to balance your plate!

NY Strip with red chimichurri at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — NY Strip with red chimichurri at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Charred sugar snap peas at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Charred sugar snap peas at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

And after all these small plates, make sure you save room for dessert. It’s a small menu but loved Barcelona’s crepes salguero (crepes with dulce de leche cream, hazelnuts) and their chocolate flourless cake. So small and decadent, the cake is filled with creamy chocolate ganache! A glass of port would probably be the happy ending to a wonderful meal here at Barcelona.

Crepes salguero at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Crepes salguero at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Chocolate flourless cake at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Chocolate flourless cake at Barcelona Wine Bar, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

While Barcelona is still evolving as a new restaurant, they do a good job training and preparing their staff. Just beware that the bar can be pretty energetic and boisterous (LOUD), if you’re up for a quieter meal you’re better off in the dining room or patio. But wherever you sit at Barcelona Wine Bar, your taste buds are in for a treat. The chef (Jose Ochoa) back in the kitchen has got some serious talent and knows how to take these simple dishes to another level which is to me, a perfect reason to celebrate the arrival of Barcelona Wine Bar and its Spanish tapas in the Oak City. We were way overdue for tapas and Barcelona Wine Bar was definitely worth the wait!

Note: Barcelona Wine Bar has recently added Sunday brunch from 11 to 3pm. Check out the December 2019 brunch menu here!

Barcelona Wine Bar

430 W. Martin Street, Dillon Building

919.808.5400

Barcelona Wine Bar sample menu

Location on Google maps

June 3, 2018 by Ron Wen

Media: Treat Yourself to the Fancy and Flavorful Tacos at Bartaco in Chapel Hill

Front of bartaco in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Front of bartaco in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to Mexican food, I’m usually looking for a local taqueria serving up tasty carnitas or carne asada in a down-home setting. But every now and then, I enjoy a more modern take on Mexican and tacos. Bartaco is a great example of what you can do with tacos with more fusion-style offering! This small chain of taquerias (16 on the East coast) caught my eye after it opened a Triangle location in the summer of 2017. Thankfully, a media invite to visit Bartaco and try out their secret taco hit my email inbox. It’s finally time for a trip to Chapel Hill!

Beautiful interior at bartaco in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Beautiful interior at bartaco in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

bartaco sits in University Place right next to Silverspot Cinema in Chapel Hill, super convenient! Up front you’ll find a wall of terra cotta planters and a beach-style patio. Inside bartaco, the space has a very organic feel, full of woods and dim lighting, a great looking space. A large U-shaped bar takes up the center of the dining room and the staff uniform puts together white jeans with a blue-checked shirt, it all feels very well put-together. Great ambiance for a date or small party here, the dining room is wonderful!

Dining room at bartaco in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Dining room at bartaco in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

At our table, we’re given some help by our wait-person since we’re bartaco newbies. You get a paper menu with all your starters, tacos, side, rice bowls and more. Check off what you want with quantities (or mark L for gluten-free lettuce wrap tacos) and you’ll be good to go. bartaco is pretty busy for a Wednesday night, full of local families and students given its proximity to UNC Chapel Hill. And everyone in the dining room is happily munching on tacos, call me excited!

For our media visit, we’re given free rein on the menu and there’s so MUCH to choose from! While bartaco has a smaller menu (for a Mexican restaurant) of starters, tacos, sides and rice bowls, it has a good variety within each food category. And given I’ve got Linda Eats World with me to help out, we go a little crazy with ordering: plantains, grilled corn, cucumber salad along with Baja fish, rock shrimp, pork belly along with the #bartacosecret, Spiced Lamb!

Fried plantains at bartaco in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Fried plantains at bartaco in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

Elote corn at bartaco in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Elote corn at bartaco in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

Our sides come out first, some tender, nicely fried plantain nuggets paired with a creamy aioli, yum! And the grilled corn is fantastic, covered with cotija cheese and a bit of mayo and paprika, excellent. As we’re finishing up our appetizers, the rest of the food comes out and it all looks so good… The only slight miss for me was the cucumber salad. While the preparation was nice, I would have preferred a thinner slice for more surface area and flavor.

Huge meal at bartaco in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Huge meal at bartaco in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

And even though we ordered a lot of food, bartaco tacos are about 2 to 3 bites each so it’s manageable! I start off with the spicy lamb which features tender ground lamb with harissa and lemon crema, it’s nicely light with a taste of the Mediterranean! (Note: #bartacosecret is off-menu so you will have to ask your server to see what’s available) The rock shrimp taco is perfectly fried and has quite a bit of spice and heat which is a pleasant surprise. But I’d have to say that the Asian-style pork belly was my favorite! A thick chunk of sweet, lacquered belly, thick sliced and topped with red onion and cilantro. All the tacos are served with fresh wedges of lime for a quick, spritz of citrus on top, if you’d like.

Spicy lamb tacos at bartaco in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Spicy lamb tacos at bartaco in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

Pork belly tacos at bartaco in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Pork belly tacos at bartaco in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

While we’re finishing up our meal, bartaco’s manager sends us out one final pair of tacos, the cauliflower which he has raved about. And I’ll tell you what, it was a totally satisfying bite served in a red sauce. A very worthwhile vegetarian alternative if you’re not feeling the meat.

Service throughout our meal at bartaco was excellent. While the staff here is quite young, the are well-trained and understand hospitality which was a pleasant surprise for me from a chain restaurant. And looking over the menu prices, I’m pretty sure you can get out of here for well under $20 for three tacos and an adult beverage which is quite reasonable. So a slow round of applause for North Carolina’s second bartaco. You’re doing a fine job with a modern, beach-style taco and I can’t wait to come back for a lunch out on that white-washed patio! Oh and as luck would have it, it looks like the third location for NC is being built at North Hills, Raleigh which would save me a trip out to Chapel Hill. Hooray bartaco, look forward to trying out your newest location soon!

bartaco

University Place

201 S. Estes Drive E3

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

919.807.8226

Location on Google maps

May 23, 2018 by Ron Wen 4 Comments

Media: City Barbeque Comes to S. Durham Offering Great Smoked Meats!

Front of City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

You can bet I was excited when I got the invite to the media preview for the new City Barbeque in Durham! I’ve chased down que in Lexington, brisket in Texas and ribs in St. Louis but it’s always great to have a local spot for delicious barbeque. And as a fan of City Barbeque in Cary, I knew their food was pretty darn good but I welcomed the opportunity to be reminded of their great smoked meats and Southern eats, one more time!

Dining room at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Order area at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Up front I meet up with Corey, the regional marketing manager for City Barbeque. It looks like there will be a dozen or so lucky bloggers and media people here for the preview event. From the outside, the new Durham location looks very similar to Cary: low squat ranch-style building with rough-hewn wood giving the exterior a Texas feel. Inside you’ll find the order and meat prep area where your meals are made to order. A humble dining room paneled with barn wood where you can grab your drink, condiments and sides, City Barbeque has some great local touches here. Banners from all the local schools are pinned overhead, sports memorabilia and even some stadium seating from the old Durham Bulls Ballpark are up near the ceiling rafters!

Frank and Tim from City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Patio at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Up front our preview event is kicking off and we’re greeted by City Barbeque’s General Manager, Tim Zombech and Director of Training, Frank Pizzo. We’re given some backdrop on the City Barbeque story, (founded in 1999, 25+ company locations in OH, KY, IN with 3 in NC) and their passion for bringing all the great barbeque styles across the country for your dining pleasure.

Smoked brisket at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

After their presentation we set off on our restaurant tour starting off with the meat prep area. On the counter I spy two beautiful looking hunks of meat, a smoked brisket and pork butt. The meat is smoked for 12+ hours covered in the secret City Barbeque rub and it smells great! The brisket is cut against the grain for max tenderness and I’m pretty much salivating as samples are passed around. A quick taste and you get the happy eye-roll when the meat and fat hits your tongue, yum! Note that City Barbeque is not just a restaurant but can easily cater your group and corporate events.

Briskets in smoker at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Our next stop is the smokers. City Barbeque uses gas-fired beasties along with a lot of local hickory wood for a milder smoke flavor. It’s fun watching the briskets and ribs rotate on their racks covered in bark and one rib rack is pulled out to sample. Some sauce is slathered on and the bone I’m given is great! Good pink smoke ring around the edges and it’s cooked to tear off the bone consistency. Note: If you like burnt ends, try the Double Smoked Brisket TaQos!

Kitchen at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Next up is the kitchen where they cook up favorite sides like potato salad, corn pudding, mac and cheese, hush puppies and more. City Barbeque Durham will also be doing local seasonal sides just for their location. And let’s face it, good meat needs to be paired up with great sides to make the meal complete, awesome! And in back of City Barbeque we’re brought to the wood loading side of the smokers where there’s plenty of hickory wood (from Hickory, NC) stacked up to give the meat that great flavor. As you can guess, we’re all pretty much starving now and ready to eat!

City Sampler plate at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

The group heads into the dining room and we’ve got a fantastic display of City Barbeque’s plates and sandwiches. They’ve got the City Sampler, over-flowing with brisket, sausage and turkey, a great looking More Cowbell sammich with brisket, peppers, onions and provolone along with a beautiful smoked pork butt with fat cap on display. And then we head to our tables where the feasting begins!

More Cowbell sammich at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Chicken and ribs at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

We start off our meal with a large plate of smoked chicken and a slab of ribs, delish! The chicken is juicy and tender with a dark rub that works well. While the City Barbeque rub looks a bit dark and heavy, it’s actually got a mellow and milder flavor to it. We move to a plump, spicy sausage and great looking sliced turkey. The sausage reminds me of what I tried in Texas (beef-pork) and the turkey has a very visible smoke ring on the edges indicative of the low and slow smoking method.

Corn pudding at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

But of course man and woman can not live on meat alone. I sample quite a few of their sides and loved the crisp hush puppies and corn pudding. City Barbeque’s corn pudding does the custard and corn but adds crispy corn bread crumble on top, nice! The mac n cheese is also quite good with tangy cheddar flavor and the potato salad is super fresh, well-prepared and with a hint of sweetness. We end with a tasty peach cobbler for dessert, a perfect finish for barbeque…

Peach cobbler at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

And as you can guess, we were all stuffed silly at this point and time. Boxes are handed out and leftovers are packed up in doggie bags (Thankfully I have no dog! Uhm, leftovers…) Thanks are extended to the City Barbeque team for throwing such a wonderful and filling media event for us. I’ve had the chance to eat on my own dime at the City Barbeque in Cary and my experience for this preview mirrors my meals there. City Barbeque is doing well above-average smoked meats with excellent quick-casual services. With meals in the $7 to $16 range, you should be able to enjoy their perfectly smoked meats and fresh sides without breaking the bank. So enjoy, enjoy it Durham! City Barbeque opens today (Sunday, 5/22). You’ve got a new contender on the list for best barbeque and smoked meats for the Bull City…

City Barbeque Durham

208 W. Hwy 54

Durham, NC 27513

919.237.9509

Location on Google maps

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February 20, 2018 by Ron Wen

Retake: The Flying Saucer in Raleigh, a Classic Destination for Great Beer!

Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to beer in the Triangle, we’ve been in a renaissance for the past 5 years! Breweries, bottle shops and brew pubs have been opening up, left and right, in Raleigh, Durham and points beyond. I mean, who doesn’t love a tasty, locally brewed beer on a warm summer’s day?! But way back when, before this whole beer revolution started, there were only a handful of spots you could go to get a great craft beer, enter the Flying Saucer on Morgan Street! This beer and brews stalwart has been pouring out great beer for years and even though it wasn’t my personal favorite spot, I decide to go back for some visits to see how things have held up at the Saucer. And I’m glad to say that it’s still doing an excellent job serving great beer for Oak City residents…

Covered patio at Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Covered patio at Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Located on the corner of Morgan and Harrington Street, you can’t miss the Flying Saucer! You’ll usually find the covered patio, filled with Raleighites enjoying a good beer and snacks when the weather is nice. Stepping through the doorway you’ll immediately be hit by the enormity of the Flying Saucer space and its beer hall interior. Checked floor in black and green, long bar with taps to the right and four-tops to the left. And yes, beer plates! Gold rimmed plates line every bare spot on the walls and ceilings, with a customer message on each. Part of the UFO club that the Flying Saucer runs, taste and/or drink 200 different beers and you’ll get your own special plate to adorn the Flying Saucer space! The beer hall is a bit worn and aged which adds to the charm here. There have been a LOT of brews and beers quaffed down at the Flying Saucer over the years.

Rich and weathered interior at Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Rich and weathered interior at Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Sitting down at the bar and choosing one of the Flying Saucer’s 200+ beers can be a bit intimidating but thankfully the staff here is super knowledgeable when it comes to suds. And honestly, after the Raleigh Beer Garden offered up 360+ beers, the Saucer seems less difficult. At least most of the Saucer customers know their beers pretty well, making the selection process, quicker. The Flying Saucer is also known for for its waitstaff with many of the female servers sporting plaid skirts and knee-high socks, but you know what? Don’t let their looks fool you. They know their beer here really well, too.

The Bratzel at Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — The Bratzel at Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Great beer, cool decor but what about the food at the Saucer? Well they’ve offer a small selection of appetizers, sandwiches, salads (hahaha), plates and pizzas. You do need something to eat along with all that great beer! The food falls comfortably into the category of simple bar food and is not super memorable. But I do think they are upping their game when it comes to the eats. From snacks to sandwiches and pizzas, it’s all hearty rib-sticking fare are the Flying Saucer

Tex-Mex hash brown skillet at Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Tex-Mex hash brown skillet at Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Bacon, egg and cheese pizza at Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Bacon, egg and cheese pizza at Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

A recent visit for brunch turned up a Tex-Mex hash brown skillet and breakfast pizza! Tasty hash-browns topped with cheddar-jack cheese, fried egg and jalapenos, yum! And the breakfast pizza topped with scrambled egg, bacon and cheddar was pretty solid too! The Flying Saucer does brunch from 11am to 3pm. I think it’ll be a fun option out on that patio once it gets warmer. The Flying Saucer also runs beer specials on Sundays ($3 pints, NC Beer) and Mondays ($3 pints, all taps).

UFO Plates on the ceiling at Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — UFO Plates on the ceiling at Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

So a slow round of applause for the venerable Flying Saucer on Morgan Street! While the Raleigh food scene has improved by leaps and bounds over the years, the Saucer has also upped its game to keep up. The Flying Saucer may not be top of mind for a drink or food, I think it’s a totally decent spot to get a feel for what Raleigh is about and sample some great beer. And while I may not ever have a UFO plate up on the wall with my name on it, I will definitely be back to sample more off of their food menu!

Flying Saucer Raleigh

328 W Morgan Street

Raleigh, NC 27601

919.821-7401

Location on Google maps

Photos: Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard in Raleigh