Glenwood South Restaurants Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

September 4, 2019 by Ron Wen 4 Comments

Best Restaurants and Food in Glenwood South, Raleigh!

Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Known for its dance clubs and bars, S. Glenwood still has its fair share of good eats and restaurants! Running from Peace Street down to Hillsborough, this busy strip in Raleigh has some hidden dining gems if you take the time to look. From pizza to Spanish, steak and Thai, you can find it all on this street along with its side-streets and then dance it off at one of the clubs nearby.

Patio at Mellow Mushroom, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Pizza at Mellow Mushroom, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Starting at the northern end of S. Glenwood you’ll find Mellow Mushroom! A pizza chain from the Southeast, Mellow Mushroom serves up consistently good pizza and sandwiches along with a nice selection of craft beers and margaritas. Perfect for families or a quick lunch given casual service, don’t miss the Mellow Mushroom patio during good weather. It’s a great spot to while away the afternoon or early evening and watch people go by!

Patio at Mojoe's Burger Joint, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining — Patio at Mojoe’s Burger Joint, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Sliders and rings at Mojoe's Burger Joint, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining — Sliders and rings at Mojoe’s Burger Joint, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Across the street from Mellow Mushroom is the ever-popular Mojoe’s Burger Joint! A NC state classic, Mojoe’s offers up delicious hamburgers, fries and onion rings. They do regular specials and don’t miss the specialty of the house, their Vortex burger. A 6 oz. burger between two cheese sandwiches along with pickles, bacon and ketchup. Mojoe’s also has decent patio and outdoor dining area when the weather is nice.

Neon sign at Sullivan's Steakhouse in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining — Neon sign at Sullivan’s Steakhouse in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Chocolate cake at Sullivan's Steakhouse in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining — Chocolate cake at Sullivan’s Steakhouse in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Further south you’ll run into Sullivan’s, a small chain of premium steakhouses. Known for their prime-aged beef and excellent service, I have yet to do a full sit-down dinner but have done several events here. It’s a formal and classic feel restaurant with a bustling bar scene on Thursdays for its $5 martinis and bar menu. But if you go full-price, I’d expect to spend about $60 to $75 per person.

Dining room at Vidrio on Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Dining room at Vidrio on Raleigh

Down the block from Sullivans, you’ll find Vidrio, a lovely wine bar and Mediterranean small plates restaurant. This upscale restaurant is perfect for date nights offering an amazing dining room lines with colorful plates along with a fun and lively sidewalk lounge. Choose from healthy but flavorful grilled meats, seafood and much more.

Upstairs from Vidrio is the ever-popular Carolina Ale House! Loaded with televisions and a wrap-around patio overlooking Glenwood Avenue, you can catch up on the latest games and nosh on some above-average bar food. Love their burgers and wings, Carolina Ale House is great value for the money.

Interior of Clockwork in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

Next on my S. Glenwood list is Clockwork on North Street! Part bar, part lounge and part snackatorium, you can do apps, pizzas and sandwiches here. And while they have a limited menu, the mod interior and roll-up garage door makes for a great night when the evening weather is good. Great for a quick snack and drink but you could put together a full meal if you’re really hungry.

Patio at Thaiphoon in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining — Patio at Thaiphoon in Raleigh, NC

Pad kee mao at Thaiphoon in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

On the other side of Glenwood on North Street is the Thaiphoon Bistro which has been dishing up good and spicy eats for years! A menu spanning all the Thai favorites plus additions like roti canai make this spot a forgotten gem. Sit inside in the clean-designed dining room or outside on the small porch by their koi pond. Everything here is reasonably priced and a good deal for the portion size.

Front of Plates in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining — Front of Plates in Raleigh, NC Triangle

Corn-crab beignets at Plates in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

Around the corner from Thaiphoon Bistro you’ll find Plates Neighborhood Kitchen, which shares a patio with them. Known for it’s local, farm to table fare in international flavors, Plates has come on strong over the past six months. It dishes out well-prepared food spanning a broad variety of cuisines but don’t miss out on their corn-crab fritters, yum! Basic Southern eats at very good prices with excellent service.

If you’re up for Asian but not Thai food, maybe Anise Pho will hit the spot! This humble Vietnamese eatery serves up really authentic pho, bun (noodle bowls), banh mi and more. Super cozy dining space with good service completes the dining experience. While it may not look like much from the outside, Anise Pho delivers a great meal for not much money.

One of the newest kids on the block, Tin Roof is a popular bar, live music venue and restaurant. Offering bar classics like nachos, wings, quesadillas, Nashville hot chicken and loaded tots. Sit up on the 2nd floor patio and you’ll have a great spot to grab a beer and people watch.

Game room at the new Tobacco Road Sports Raleigh

Bar at the new Tobacco Road Sports Raleigh

A little further down the street is Tobacco Road Sports which does elevated bar food. But you come here as much for the TV’s and big game as you do for the food. Busy on any night with a big sporting event, Tobacco Road Sports also puts out very large portions for the price, make sure to order their huge nachos plate with chicken or steak.

Glenwood Avenue looking south, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

All I can say is, wow! While S. Glenwood is known for its nightlife, there are plenty of good eating options here! I didn’t even bother to mention Armadillo Grill, Sushi Blues, DeMo’s Pizza, the Hibernian, Rockford or Napper Tandys, some other popular eating options. And on busy weekend nights, you’ll also find food carts working the busy streets around the clubs. So don’t sweat it if you’re looking for something to eat when you’re out on S. Glenwood because there are plenty of choices to keep you going after a night out on the town…

Great Restaurants and Food on Glenwood South in Raleigh

Mellow Mushroom (Pizza, Italian) $

Mojoe’s Burger Joint (American, Burgers) $

Sullivans (Steak) $$$$

Carolina Ale House (Sports bar) $$

Vidrio (Small plates) $$$

Clockwork (Pizza, Sandwiches) $$

Thaiphoon (Thai) $$

Tobacco Road Sports Cafe (American) $$

Plates (Southern, American) $$

Tin Roof (Southern) $$

Anise Pho (Vietnamese) $$

Sushi O (Japanese, Thai) $$

$ = Under $10 $$ = $10 to $20 $$$ = $20 to $35 $$$$ = Over $35

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June 11, 2018 by Ron Wen

Media: Cortez Seafood + Cocktail Offering Up Fresh Flavors and Seafood to Raleigh!

While the S. Glenwood neighborhood has always been known for fun bars, lively clubs and friendly pubs, good food was always tougher to find. There are some half-decent options for dining but not as many as you would expect on this popular and busy street. So when I heard that Cortez Seafood + Cocktail was coming to S. Glenwood, I was pretty pumped! Brought to you by the Ibarra family that runs Jose and Sons along with several other Mexican restaurants in the area, Cortez would be taking over the old Helios space next to Solas. And since I live in the neighborhood, I was able to watch its build out over the months. Thankfully, I received and invite from the Ibarra family to preview Cortez Seafood as it was in its final shake-down run before its opening. And it was a great experience, here’s how it all went down!

Ambiance and interior at the Cortez Seafood + Cocktail, Raleigh

Patio at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Patio at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Heading on over to 413 S Glenwood, the first thing you’ll notice is that the patio area at Cortez Seafood has been opened up. Previously a wall of hedges to provide privacy, the lovely patio is now more visible from the street and sidewalk making for a more inviting destination and dining location. The staff at Cortez is decked out in more traditional black slacks and white shirts. I check in at the small hostess kiosk up front and head on over to the bar to wait for friends.

Bar at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Bar at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

At the bar I get a chance to scan Cortez Seafood’s menu for the evening. Given it’s a friends and family night, there are no prices and it may not be the official menu for the public opening but it should give you a good idea about their food concept. Raw oysters, seafood salads, some larger plates and sides along with a short selection of wine, beer and cocktails! So you need to be a seafood lover outside of a handful of dishes with meat.

Stylish dining room at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Stylish dining room at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Cortez Seafood seats about 70 people in the dining room and on the patio. The dining room is clean and gives a Mediterranean feel with the turquoise leather bench seating, chamfered table tops and chairs along with speckled floor. It all feels very comfortable, open and stylish, very nicely done on the interior. With about 12 seats at the bar you’ve got some good seating options depending on the weather. My hungry friends show up ( including Kristen, @gadaboutfood) and we’re seated at a 4-top and ready to eat!

Food and menu at the Cortez Seafood + Cocktail, Raleigh

Fresh NC oysters at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Fresh NC oysters at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Poached shrimp w dill at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Poached shrimp w dill at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

We start off with a plate of raw NC oysters on ice served with rose mignonette and cocktail sauce. These bivalves are beautifully briny with the pure taste of the ocean. Raleigh’s been on an oyster roll of late, don’t miss these! Our next small plate is the wonderful cold, poached shrimp. These plump shrimp are paired with tzatziki and some dill making for a bright and light bite, loved this fresh starter plate of shrimp. The dill really pops out on the palate and pairs perfectly with the seafood.

Mackerel gazpacho at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Mackerel gazpacho at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Leche de tigre ceviche at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Leche de tigre ceviche at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Yellowtail poke nori at Cortez Seafood - NC Triangle Dining — Yellowtail poke nori at Cortez Seafood – NC Triangle Dining

My friend has ordered up a beautiful mackerel gazpacho that’s full of color and texture. I’ve always been impressed with Chef Oscar’s food at Jose and Sons and I think you’ll see the same great preparation and plating here at Cortez Seafood. And it will be interesting to see what he comes up with, moving into a different category and cuisine of foods! But I have full faith he will dazzle your taste-buds like he usually does. The leche de tigre consists of yellow tail in an aji sauce and mixed with corn nuts, red onion, and avocado. Very creative and a bit creamy. We finish up with a yellowtail poke nori served with crunchy seaweed crackers, yum! All of Cortez’ cold plates are nicely balanced in terms of textures and colors along with taste, of course.

Mexrib sandwich at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Mexrib sandwich at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Seared mackerel with rapini at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Seared mackerel with rapini at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Now it’s on to the warm plates! At the table we’ve got the Mexrib sandwich (rib and pork shoulder patty) served with Carolina gold barbeque sauce and chips, it looks great. My seared mackerel is soft and tender on the tongue with a bit of crispy skin on top. I haven’t eaten a lot of mackerel, it’s usually considered an oily fish but the seared fish here is delicious and plays off nicely against the bright Carolina sunshine sauce. The warm potato salad and charred rapini are huge hits mixed with a bit of salty country ham and love the rapini topped with a soft poached egg.

Warm potato salad at Cortez Seafood - NC Triangle Dining — Warm potato salad at Cortez Seafood – NC Triangle Dining

Charred rapini with country ham at Cortez Seafood - NC Triangle Dining — Charred rapini with country ham at Cortez Seafood – NC Triangle Dining

Over the course of my meal at Cortez Seafood, you’ll notice the homage and tip of the hat to local NC ingredients. Which in my mind says, fresh! And the seafood preparation cuts across a swath of cuisine categories, playing with a lot of different styles and flavors. But all quite delicious.

Creamy creme brulee at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Creamy creme brulee at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

We finish off with a dense and creamy creme brulee that’s perfect for a single person or a sharing couple. A really wonderful ending to our meal. The staff at Cortez Seafood is fairly new and working into their roles but they are well-trained and amenable. Again, I have no concerns here given my experience at many meals at Jose and Sons over the years. So a slow round of applause for the new Cortez Seafood + Cocktail! Love the concept, love the food and the great space. And while there may be a bit of menu overlap with what Vidrio is doing across the street, I think you’ll find the experience to be quite different here at this cozy little seafood eatery. Looking forward to my first visit after your official opening!

The Cortez Seafood + Cocktail

413 S. Glenwood Avenue

Raleigh, NC 27601

919.342.8227

Location on Google maps

January 21, 2017 by Ron Wen

Photos: The New Vidrio in Raleigh on S. Glenwood!

July 24, 2015 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Raleigh Beer Garden, Setting World Beer Tap Records in Little Old Raleigh!

Raleigh Beer Garden in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

It looks like the beer scene in Raleigh continues to grow unabated! Since I live right up the street from S. Glenwood I would pass construction for the Raleigh Beer Garden regularly. And I was wondering how we could support another bar focused on beer. Then I heard about how Raleigh Beer Garden would have more than 360 taps for draft beer and I wondered, how many customers would be needed for all those taps in a space that size? Well my friends, after a first visit to Raleigh Beer Garden on opening day, I get it. And while things are far from perfect at Raleigh Beer Garden, what they’re trying to do is pretty awesome. C’mon, let’s go check it out!

Front patio at Raleigh Beer Garden in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

From the street, Raleigh Beer Garden is pretty innocuous. Narrow street front presence, light wood planking up front with bright green signage, it feels a bit corporate. I head on in and there’s a hostess kiosk for most of the seating at Raleigh Beer Garden. There’s a covered front patio with bar but most people are inside on this steamy, hot day.

Stairs to roof-top at Raleigh Beer Garden in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Running down the right side of Raleigh Beer Garden, you’ll find a pathway to a set of stairs for the third floor, along with some four-top’s leading to the backyard beer garden! Here you’ll find a slew of picnic tables under brightly covered umbrellas for cover, along with a raised platform area. The place is really nicely done with lots of green touches all around, supporting the garden theme.

Take note, the tables in back are first come, first served along with bar seating! So if you don’t want to wait for an inside table, just grab a beer at the bar and head on out back. A lot easier given current wait times.

Outdoor tables at Raleigh Beer Garden in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Head on up the stairs to the third floor (which isn’t open yet) and there’s another small bar and light seating. But hey, as impressive as the outside is, it’s time to check the inside of Raleigh Beer Garden!

Liquor bar at Raleigh Beer Garden in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

I head on back to the first floor of Raleigh Beer Garden and it’s a wow experience. Main liquor bar up front, NC beers in the back room. You’ll immediately be struck by the front bar which sits in an open, two-level space complete with oak tree installation. There’s a great sunny and organic feel to the place, they’ve obviously spent a lot of time and money thinking through the design of Raleigh Beer Garden.

Oak tree installation at Raleigh Beer Garden in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Bird houses hang over-head and the brick wall behind the bar sports some nice vintage signage along with a lovely sliding ladder for access to the tall liquor display. Pub stools in thickly-grained carved oak, line the bar area. And the front seating area sports some nice stuffed leather chairs for a change of pace.

Beer taps at Raleigh Beer Garden in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Heading into the NC beer room you’ll find a white, tiled back-splash behind the bar with a plethora of beer taps, whoa! HD panels overhead list the brews on tap. And there’s a LOT of them! 140+ downstairs and 220+ upstairs. Forbes reports that the Raleigh Beer Garden is likely the largest beer garden in the world with the most beer taps. And I would have to believe them.

2nd floor view at Raleigh Beer Garden in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Moving to the second floor you’ll find a front dining area with the oak tree poking though and over-looking the liquor bar, very cool! Another planked passageway with Raleigh Beer Garden signage leads past the kitchen service area to the main back beer room. All the non-NC beers from around the rest of the country and world, we’re talking 220+ taps here.

2nd floor landing at Raleigh Beer Garden in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

I grab a seat at the bar and check out the menu. It’s short and covers some apps, salads, crostinis, pizzas, sandwiches and entrees. An odd mix of eats but I’m just visiting for a quick beer today! I’ll update this post when I can stop in for a meal.

Raleigh Beer Garden food menu in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

All in all the design and execution of Raleigh Beer Garden is wildly impressive. A great garden theme with plenty of green accents in the space. A HUGE selection of beers and seating across three floors. But as you can guess, the Raleigh Beer Garden is seeing some serious opening month issues. Everything from mixed service, long waits for beer, a leaky roof and more.

I’m guessing the crush of popularity and people to the new Raleigh Beer Garden is part of the problem and I hope they resolve things as quickly as possible. But they are off to a very impressive start so far and I’m hoping they are able to figure out service issues and patch that roof! I’ll be back as soon as possible to see what happens…

Raleigh Beer Garden

614 Glenwood Avenue

Raleigh, NC 27603

984.232.8074

Location on Google maps

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July 20, 2015 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Best Restaurants and Food in Glenwood South, Raleigh!

Great Restaurants and Food on Glenwood South in Raleigh

Mellow Mushroom (Pizza, Italian) $