romantic Archives - NC Triangle Dining

January 1, 2015 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Five Star, Raleigh for Stylish and Delicious Chinese-American Eats

Front of Five Star Restaurant in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

My second stop for Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week was the very popular Five Star! Located in a quiet area of Hargett Street, Five Star does Americanized Chinese food in a frou-frou setting. We’re talking about a dim, sorta sexy space with some nice ambiance. And I’ll be honest with you, I was always pretty tough on Five Star and its food. I loved the concept and had seen it done in San Francisco but even if the food was going to be Asian-fusion or Asian-inspired, I still wanted it to be tasty. And the several times I ate at Five Star, it had fallen short. But a couple of weeks back I had stopped in to meet a friend and grab a beer. And the apps I had were decent. So I figured it was time for a re-visit and full meal, here’s how it all went down!

Bar at Five Star Restaurant in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

For Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week, Five Star had a decent $20 deal but in all honesty, their prices are usually pretty reasonable to begin with. From the outside, Five Star has a totally inconspicuous front face with only a dark, heavy wood door disclosing what may lie ahead. Inside Five Star you’ll come up immediately on the hostess stand. A good-looking bar right in front, dining room to the left and larger dining room set back to the right.. There’s also an upstairs lounge area where they sometimes have a DJ and dance music but we’re here to eat tonight! We’re seated right up front which is fine since the place is busy…

Loungey interior at Five Star Restaurant in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

The waitperson looks a bit familiar and I will say that I have usually had very professional service at Five Star during my infrequent visits. We put our orders in for the entire meal including dessert. I’ve got some Asian pork tostadas, honey walnut shrimp and warm chocolate cake is on the menu for tonight! Looking around the dining room, I can say that Five Star brings in a traditional ITB crowd. Very Raleigh, very Southern and a bit buttoned down. Which is why the Americanized Chinese cuisine works so well here, think along the lines of PF Changs. But hey, I’m open to another go-around.

Asian pork tostada at Five Star Restaurant in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Our apps show up and my tostadas look pretty impressive! 3″ square chips loaded up with five-spiced pork along with some colorful slaw, nice. It’s a tasty handful but also a little tough to eat. The tender pork on top of a crunchy chip is delicious but of course, breaks up. Can’t go with the chopsticks here, things are going to be messy! Overall a very nice start to our meal. My friend’s heatseeker shrimp is a generous portion of nicely fried seafood, slivers of scallions and carrots along with some black sesame atop. Very nice looking appetizer.

Heatseeker shrimp at Five Star Restaurant in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

And finally my entree of honey-walnut chicken shows up. It’s a smaller portion of shrimp with candied nuts on some steamed broccoli, basic Chinese-American fare. But well-done with tender shrimp in that sweet, luscious sauce with some crisp from the veggies. Paired with a nice bowl of steamed rice, I’m thinking “nicely done” again so we’re on a roll! While I love my traditional Chinese food, I’m good with Chinese-American or Chinese frou-frou as long as it’s good. We’re pretty stuffed right now but on to the third course. My chocolate cake dessert is fine, nothing too special but a good finish for the meal.

And all I can say is that I’m glad I made it back to Five Star for a do-over. I can be really hard when it comes to my Asian eats given I grew up on Chinese food and lived in San Francisco. My brother-in-law even owned an upscale sorta fancy Chinese-American restaurant decades ago so I’m familiar with the concept. In the end, there’s a wide spectrum of Chinese food that I’ll eat but I have high expectations for it all. It’s got to be prepared well with good flavor, technique and reasonable prices. And I think Five Star has shifted gears and raised up their Chinese-American fare to the pretty tasty and good range for me, surprise! That really makes me happy because I’ve always liked the space but now they have decent food to match. But yeah, I’ll have to come back and try out the rest of their broad menu because I need to make sure they have upped their game. So cheers Five Star! You’re up to four stars in my opinion and I’m hoping for more and better on my next visit.

Five Star

511 W Hargett Street

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.833.3311

Five Star menu

Location on Google maps

September 21, 2014 by Ron Wen 1 Comment

First Take: Tasca Brava on S. Glenwood For Slow but Delicious Spanish Cuisine!

Front of Tasca Brava in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

When you think of Spanish eats in the Triangle, there really aren’t too many choices. Mateo and Taberna Tapas out in Durham immediately come to mind but it’s difficult coming up with other alternatives in Raleigh once Red Room closed down. Which is sad, given the richness and deliciousness within Spanish cuisine. But did you know that there’s a small Spanish eatery over in S. Glenwood that dishes out very authentic Spanish tapas and more? It’s name is Tasca Brava. You just may not notice this small restaurant and its discrete signage but that might be a huge mistake! I hadn’t been here in ages but finally made it back for a return meal that was filled with surprises and savory wonders…

Sign inside of Tasca Brava in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Tasca Brava has been in the area for a while having moved from Cary to N. Raleigh and then finally ending up on S. Glenwood just some doors down from Mellow Mushroom off of Peace Street. The neat, little white, wood-sided building shows off two bay windows up front along with a bright yellow Tasca Brava sign with a bull logo. Inside you’ll find a cozy entry hallway with split dining rooms to either side. Dark woods, rich wall paintings, red and black table cloths give it a Continental feel. There do seem to be more tables than I remember but you’re still guaranteed to have a pretty private meal when you’re eating at Tasca Brava. The layout and feel is similar to Mo’s Diner, but done Spanish style.

Cozy dining room at Tasca Brava in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

We’re greeted by the animated and passionate owner, Juan Samper. He’s a combination of chef, server and owner, nearly a one-man crew at Tasca Brava and is proud of all his offerings. We grab a seat by the front bay window and order up some bottled water for the table. The menu is pretty small with some breads and soup to start with, small plates and apps and then some bigger ones. Juan is a funny and liberal guy with his words, describing his specials with some theatrical flair. Since we’re here celebrating a birthday and it’s my first visit back in a while, we order it up! A bottle of Rioja, some pao de queijo, a marinated octopus app on special along with a bacon-fish app on special. We go with a standard paella valenciana for the main opting out of the Negra-squid ink special.

Pao de queijo at Tasca Brava in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Marinated octopus at Tasca Brava, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Fish wrapped in bacon at Tasca Brava, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

We’re first brought the basket of pao de queijo bread and it is WON-derful! I’ve always known this treat as more a Brazilian food but they are round, small breads with a ton of elastic chew. Firm salty crust on the outside, soft, chewy inside, they are a must-order. The octopus reminds me a bit more of a ceviche served with avocado, tomato and onions and crispy chips, yummy! And the fish-wrapped in bacon features salmon and some other meaty filets that are simple but tasty. Over the course of the meal, Juan stops in and checks on us often. He tells us a bit about the history of Tasca Brava and also the challenges of doing a restaurant of this level of quality on S. Glenwood.

Paella valenciana at Tasca Brava in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

The paella is a huge beastie full of scented rice, seafood, chicken and mussels, delicious! It can probably feed 3 people easily and my overall thought is that portion size at Tasca Brava is certainly above average. You’re eating hearty Spanish food, rather than just small, itty-bitty plates. We box up a good chunk of the paella and prepare for dessert. Which has been one of my favorite options here at Tasca Brava. We get a super-dense crema catalana, a rich brulee which I loved and some fresh sorbet in 4 or 5 flavors to cleanse the palate.

Crema de catalan at Tasca Brava, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

As we finished up the meal, my dining-mate was giving Juan advice on re-painting the back bar area and we are ready to finish up the 3 hour meal. Hugs all-around before we head off into the night is tradition for me at Tasca Brava. Especially when I’ve got a pretty woman at the table with me, Juan is a big ol’ flirt! And how would I summarize the meal? We had an excellent dinner full of great flavors in a great setting. Juan is all about slow food so you hang around, have a conversation and savor the meal, to hell with the clock! And while Tasca Brava is not cheap, it has a personality that extends from its chef-owner Juan Samper into the food and the overall dining experience. You may or may not like that but understand that if you’re going to dine here. And it may be more common in Spain and Italy but not so much in the commercialized environment we live in today in the US. So cheers and bon appetit, Tasca Brava! You haven’t changed a bit in the years I’ve visited and you’ve stayed true to your culinary roots. Now if only we could find more people that appreciated your food and how you serve it…

Tasca Brava

607 Glenwood Avenue

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.828.0840

Location on Google maps

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April 23, 2014 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

Second Empire, Raleigh: A Civilized and Relaxed Dining Experience!

Second Empire, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

So FINALLY I made over to Second Empire and let’s just say I wasn’t disappointed at all which is pretty impressive given expectations. After living in Raleigh for 6+ years, I had seen plenty of reviews and friends come here for dinner so I was just hoping to not be disappointed. And I’ve walked by Second Empire many times wondering what lay inside that big brick house on Hillsborough. And I’m glad to say that I finally know and it was an excellent dining experience with my two fellow bloggers, Kristen, Leigh and her husband Will…

Brick dining area at the Tavern at Second Empire, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Second Empire is really two restaurants in one. In the main house is a formal and antiqued dining space with multiple rooms decked out in period woodwork and decor. The Tavern at Second Empire is a more casual dining room with a separate entrance in back, a bar area along with two dining areas. A clubby, bricked dining space along with a atrium room which is more modern and airy. The beauty of the Tavern is that you have access to two menus if you’re not interested in the more austere and proper main dining room. Prices on the Tavern menu are about $2 – $3 less for entree but not wildly different.

Bar at the Tavern at Second Empire, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

The bar at the Tavern is pretty small, maybe 10 seats or so with a classic look and feel. A good selection of liquors, a small selection of draft beers, service at the bar is attentive and old-school. Sitting at the bar and drinking my G&T, I noticed the substantial amount of waitstaff which you would expect at a place like Second Empire-Tavern. Classic white shirts, black vests and pants, definitely a traditional look. We’re brought to a four-top in the atrium with a nice window view of the sidewalk We’re given four menus, one for both Second Empire and the Tavern, one for wine-cocktails and one for cheeses. Our wait-person is extremely well-versed in the menu and specials, rolling through a long and extensive list of ingredients, nice job! I go with a pork shoulder spring roll for my app and a t-bone pork chop for my main.

SecondEmpireTavern-Bar-PorkSpringRoll — Asian pork shoulder spring roll at the Tavern at Second Empire, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Wine prices by the glass are pretty standard ($9 – $12) and I enjoy a glass of syrah with my meal. My pork shoulder spring roll arrives and it’s a interesting looking app. Soft roll atop some jasmine rice stir-fry, it’s got a nice balance of soft, crisp and tasty. Looking around the table and my dining-mates starters, you can see a common theme of fairly complex plating and presentation which you’d expect here.

Grilled pork chop at the Tavern at Second Empire, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Scallops with pineapple salsa at the Tavern at Second Empire, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Grilled swordfish at the Tavern at Second Empire, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Again, given the relaxed service here, it’s a bit of time before the entree is brought out. Which is fine since we’re hearing about fellow blogger Leigh Hines wedding reception that happened here at Second Empire! All the entrees are brought out simultaneously with a bit of flourish from the staff. I’ve got a perfectly cooked pork loin chop on top of collards, pureed squash and ditalini pasta, an excellent and satisfying dish! The flavors are all Southern but amped up quite a bit with extras, very enjoyable. Leigh has a nice scallop entree with lentils and pineapple salsa while Kristen goes with a citrus-rosemary swordfish, both look excellent.

Baked alaska at the Tavern at Second Empire, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

And of course, after a 2 hour meal, who can skip dessert? We order up a pound-cake and baked alaska to share with the table and it’s a great way to end the meal! When you talk about Second Empire, it mostly revolves around special occasions: birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and more which is to be expected when you are a Raleigh culinary icon. The majestic front of Second Empire speaks to a different time and place, a bit posh, a bit dressy and in all honesty, not the type of place I’d usually frequent. But if you take a look at the Second Empire menu, the prices aren’t that high at all. We’re talking about the $24 – $30 ranges which may mean you shouldn’t dine here weekly, but it’s certainly doable multiple times a year. While I’m not sure if I’ll ever check out the formal upstairs, I do think I’ll be back again relatively soon. With its convenient location, interesting food and stellar service, the Tavern at Second Empire is still a very approachable and well-appreciated dining experience for this hungry guy! Bon appetit…

The Tavern @Second Empire

330 Hillsborough Street

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.829.3663

Second Empire menu

Location on Google maps

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January 29, 2014 by Ron Wen 1 Comment

Little Dipper for Fondue Fun in Durham

Entry to Little Dipper, Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Fondue was on the brain when I was scanning the restaurants for Triangle Restaurant Week. While I was thinking Melting Pot, a couple of people pointed out Little Dipper in Durham so it was time to get my fondue on! I haven’t done fondue in ages and it’s as much about the experience as it is about the food so I was excited to meet up with a group of friends at Little Dipper in Brightleaf Square. And boy, what an interesting and fun experience it was…

Cool interior at Little Dipper, Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Little Dipper exudes cool and warmth all at the same time. Walk through the brick arched entryway and you’re transported into magical fondue land! Nice bright bar on the left, starry display on the right, cool white mod and geometric lamps hanging overhead. The space is multi-layered with high walls to create more intimate dining areas. Perfect for dates or a group outing. Lots of warm woods and muted lighting make for a great feel. We get led out to some back tables in a narrow space, very cool!

Dining room at Little Dipper, Durham- NC Triangle Dining

With Triangle Restaurant Week, we get a four course meal: cheese, salad/soup, meats and dessert for a bargain $30. I’m not sure what the normal price would be but it’s a LOT of food and fun. Just beware that if you’re indecisive, Little Dipper will be tough on you. As you go through each course there are a TON of decisions to be made. You get the choice of 6 different cheeses for the first course, 6 different salads/soup, 6 different cooking styles, 7 different meats/mains (pick 3) and 15 or so different sauces (pick 3). And then 3 different dessert plates and 12 chocolate/dessert dips. Whoa! It can probably be overwhelming for a newbie but I wouldn’t sweat it too much since it’s all probably really good at Little Dipper.

Food for dipping at Little Dipper, Durham- NC Triangle Dining

At the table there are two burners and we go with the Baja Cheddar and Sun-dried Tomato cheeses. A plate of bread, fruit, and veggies are brought out as dippee’s. The cheeses get blended and stirred right in front of you and it’s time to eat! Really enjoy the spice in the Baja along with the rich flavor of the tomato, yum! And while you’re working for your food, it all feels really decadent. I’m nearly partially full before we hit round 2, a beer cheese soup for me which is quite good.

Meats and eats for broth dipping at Little Dipper, Durham- NC Triangle Dining

But now the REAL food comes out. We all get a tray of our meats and sauces along with two pots of cooking broths: Asian ginger and merlot vegetable. While it’s not a ton of meat, it’s more than enough once you dip. I’ve got some pork, shrimp, meatballs along with drawn butter, thai peanut sauce and hibachi yum yum. Which is really yummy, surprise.

Meats and sauces at Little Dipper, Durham- NC Triangle Dining

You get a card with approximate cooking times for your meats which range from a minute plus for shrimp to four minutes plus for the meatballs. Fun to cook, fun to dip and delicious to eat! Little Dipper was slammed so our main course was a bit late. Unexpectedly, they comp’ed us a bottle of cava as we waited to eat, thank you so much…

Dessert supreme at Little Dipper, Durham- NC Triangle Dining

And finally the last course, we go with a French Broad chocolate with salt caramel which shows up in a yin-yang design, nice! As we mix up this sauce, they bring out a plate of supreme dippers: rice krispie treats, marshmallow, fruit, cookies, pretzels and mini cream puffs. Holy shnikes. I’m ready to tap out right now but no wimping out tonight at Little Dipper, we plunge through most of the desserts and end up on a chocolate and sugar high note. THE END…

The fondue experience at Little Dipper ended up being close to 3 hours, they were just so busy that evening. But they were really kind by sending over some extras during the meal which my chubby body did not need after the holidays. But again, thanks so much Little Dipper! Great locally sourced food items, gracious service in an intimate and cool setting is always appreciated. While I’m sure normal prices here are not cheap, the Little Dipper fondue experience would absolutely be worth it from time to time. Bonding over cheese, meats and sweets is even more awesome when you cook together, bon appetit!

Little Dipper

905 West Main Street, Suite 21A

Durham, NC 27701

919.908.1023

Little Dipper menu

Location on Google maps

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October 4, 2013 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

Stanbury in Raleigh for High-Class Neighborhood Eats

Front of Stanbury in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

When you think neighborhood restaurant, it’s rare when you get a cozy and gourmet spot like the Stanbury. Located in the old space previously housing Market Restaurant, the Stanbury is a shining star in the Mordecai neighborhood. Odd to find this level of quality in a restaurant on a quiet, mostly residential street. Is it perfect? No, but it does a lot of things well and given it’s only been open for several weeks, expect more and better from this sexy little spot!

Cool interior at the Stanbury in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

While this area is a bit beaten-down, the Stanbury brings a lot of warmth and style to its small space. Extensive renovations inside have turned the previous simple interior into a sultry, romantic dining room that’s perfect for a date or small party. There’s a large roll-up garage door on the left-hand side that opens up to a large patio with two four-tops. The bar has been gussied up with a nice display of bottles which is great since the Stanbury takes its cocktails pretty seriously. In back, there’s a red, high-back padded corner for a hint of color in the otherwise organic and muted color scheme. And hints of metal and woodwork show there was a lot of thought put into the interior decor.

Cocktail and menu at the Stanbury in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

For my visit I grabbed a seat at the bar and there’s a short list of eight cocktails along with beer and wine. My Semi-cloudy cocktail is a play on the traditional Dark and Stormy and it makes for a good start with its lightweight spiciness, perfect for a warm summer’s night. My friend shows up and we get seated in the back corner but fair warning, the space is pretty darn loud. I expect the Stanbury to be pretty busy so high conversation volumes will probably be the norm. The menus are on paper and seasonal, I’m pretty sure there won’t be a set menu here. Lots of interesting meats like beef hearts, sweet meats and marrow, pretty locavore in style. Small plates are $7 – $11 while the large mains are $17 – $29, sorta pricey. I go with a pork belly app along with a swordfish-chorizo large plate.

Pork belly app at the Stanbury in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

The crowd here is noisy and probably locals along with foodies in the know. This place hasn’t been open long at all but it’s already busy! My pork belly app is 4 or 5 thick-ish slices with braised sweet potato and prune. The pork belly was seared nicely for a crisp skin that opened up into the rich fattiness underneath, a very nice start. My main wasn’t quite as delicious. The swordfish was lightly coated, pan-fried and came on top of some veggies and along with some clams and chorizo bits. The whole dish was pretty salty to me but not only from the chorizo, it was also the coating. There were also two pieces of crostini on the side so the entree seemed over-complicated to me. I ate most of it but the saltiness eventually got to me!

In the end, the Stanbury does a great job bringing interesting meats and seafood prepared with thought, care and flavor. Love the space, love the bar and cocktails, I have to hope that the food will become more consistent over time but they’re off to a good start. Probably the best place to compare it to would be maybe the Kitchen out in Chapel Hill or maybe the old Fraziers in Raleigh. Check em out soon if you want something different in downtown Raleigh, where else are you going to go for some delicious bone marrow?!

The Stanbury

938 North Blount Street

Raleigh, NC 27604

919.977.4321

Location on Google maps

Five Star, Raleigh for Stylish and Delicious Chinese-American Eats

First Take: Tasca Brava on S. Glenwood For Slow but Delicious Spanish Cuisine!

Second Empire, Raleigh: A Civilized and Relaxed Dining Experience!

Little Dipper for Fondue Fun in Durham

Stanbury in Raleigh for High-Class Neighborhood Eats

First Take: Kababish Cafe in Cary, a Dining Diamond in the Rough

First Take: City Market Sushi in Raleigh Dazzles the Eyes and Taste Buds

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

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