Glenwood South Restaurants Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

Looking for great restaurants and food in Glenwood South? Here are some great dining options in this popular Raleigh neighborhood.

June 18, 2022 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

The Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh for Cocktails and the Golden Hour

View of Raleigh from Willard Rooftop Lounge - nctriangledining.com — View of Raleigh from Willard Rooftop Lounge – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to bars and lounges, I’m usually a fan of independent, slightly grungy type places. Maybe not quite divey but a step or two up. But as the Triangle has grown and evolved, we’ve seen a move toward hotel bars over the last few years. In my experience, they tend to be a bit sterile and over-priced but I’m always open to trying a new one out. Late last year, I did get an invite to the Willard Rooftop Lounge and was impressed with the space and view. And I finally had a reason to go back when I had friends visiting and had an excuse to revisit. Here’s what to expect if you decide to check out the Willard Rooftop Bar and Lounge in Glenwood South!

The AC Hotel in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — The AC Hotel in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Head on over to the lower end of Glenwood Avenue where you’ll find the AC Hotel! Wind yourself past the lobby and you’ll find a bank of elevators, two in front for hotel guests and a third one in back for rooftop access. Pop out of the elevator to the right and you may find a hostess for busier evenings. I’m pretty certain they have reserved tables and seating for most of the patio, especially the prime spots on the south side with the fireplaces. Most of the lounge seating is first come, first served but you won’t have an open or clear view for sunsets. In the parlance of photographers, they call the lighting and time around sunset, the “golden hour”.

Bar at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Bar at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Side patio at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Side patio at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Main patio at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Main patio at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

For food, the Willard is focused on Mediterranean small plates and the usual charcuterie but I wouldn’t plan on a meal here. The bar at the Willard is reasonably efficient offering up a smaller selection of beers, wines, and cocktails at decent prices but service will bog down come busy periods. One workaround I had during a busy visit was to just order a bottle of cava and ask for three glasses which makes service a lot easier for the bartender and for multiple people.

Beer-cocktail menu at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Beer-cocktail menu at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Food menu at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Food menu at the Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

My recommendation is to come on a slower evening, Sunday to Wednesday, and get to the Willard about 45 minutes to an hour before sunset. The golden hour happens well before official sunset and you’ll need to arrive early for a prime spot. Overall, while the Willard can be a bit sanitized given its hotel bar background, it’s got some wonderful views of the Oak City and worth a visit. I lived in this neighborhood for over 12 years and was pleasantly surprised at the view. Just arrive early and get settled in for a splash of golden hues and colors sprinkled over the Raleigh skyline…

The Willard Rooftop Lounge

9 Glenwood Avenue

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.803.5200

Location on Google maps

June 10, 2021 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Ark Royal in Raleigh Delivers Tiki Coolness in Abundance to Glenwood South

Ark Royal in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Ark Royal in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

As a long-time transplant to the Triangle area, I’ve had a chance to witness its amazing transformation and evolution over the years. And sometimes when I walk into a new place, like Ark Royal Tiki Bar , it brings back memories. As the only tiki bar in Glenwood South, the bright colors and island decor take you to a different place. BUT given I lived in this hood a long time, I saw the old Taqueria Xoco, the old Sauced NY Pizza AND Enoteca Vin where Chef Ashley Christensen got her start. But that’s all ancient history and Ark Royal is bringing a whole new tiki vibe to the area. And it is VERY good.

Cool vibe at Ark Royal in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Cool vibe at Ark Royal in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Located a bit off the beaten path, the Ark Royal sits behind the new Pine State Public House at 410 Glenwood and is brought to you by the folks from Watts & Ward. I popped in for a quick visit and was really impressed. Hop up the metal stairs and you’ll find a small, secluded patio up front. Inside is where things take on a whole new dimension. Think lush colors, bamboo, rattan and maritime themes. They’ve done a fantastic job designing the place and their are hints of tiki coolness all around. Each section of this bar and lounge has little details to enjoy: a shark on the wall, a display of old-school clock radios, a plush love seat and wicker baskets overhead as decor are all thoughtful little touches that bring the space to life.

Kitschy island decor at Ark Royal in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Kitschy island decor at Ark Royal in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Seating at Ark Royal in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Seating at Ark Royal in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

But more importantly the drinks, Ark Royal has a nice selection of tropical drink specialties in the $11 to $13 range along with some beer, wine and sakes. I tried out the Belafonte in homage to 50s Calypso singer, Harry Belafonte and it was wonderful. While I’m not a fan of frozen drinks, this magical potion of Tito’s vodka, coconut rum, pineapple, blue curacao and and coconut cream was just perfect. The well-blended ice made it a perfectly balanced adult slurpee which is refreshing on a warm, summer evening in North Carolina. The staff here is friendly and welcoming although I haven’t seen this place when it gets really busy. They are nicely attired in island-themed shirts without being over the top and seem to have fun here. So a big thumbs-up for the new Ark Royal! I really wasn’t expecting much but I suspect this place will be a lot of fun with friends on the weekends. And don’t miss the neon sign above the bar, it’s the latitude and longitude settings for the center of Ark Royal, that’ll be our little secret…

Tiki bar at Ark Royal in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Tiki bar at Ark Royal in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Belafonte frozen cocktail at Ark Royal in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Belafonte frozen cocktail at Ark Royal in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Painkiller cocktail at Ark Royal in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Painkiller cocktail at Ark Royal in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Patio area at Ark Royal in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Patio area at Ark Royal in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Clock radio display at Ark Royal in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Clock radio display at Ark Royal in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Ark Royal Tiki Bar

410 Glenwood Avenue, #350

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.322.5148

Location on Google maps

March 28, 2013 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Ambiance, Cocktails and Food at Clockwork on S. Glenwood

Entrance to Clockwork, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

With the alcohol laws in North Carolina, you typically have restaurants and restaurants with bars. But you don’t always have bars with restaurants, if you know what I mean! But recently on S. Glenwood, a new spot has opened up that walks the line between bar and restaurant pretty neatly: Clockwork.

Located on a side-street from the main Glenwood strip, Clockwork is a funky, psychedelic scene with very cool decor. From the outside they’ve got a brightly lit arrow sign to let you know you’ve got something special inside! Inside you’ll be stuck by the rich, eye-popping decor ranging from black and white geometric patterns, a table of melted candles, a chromed torso of a mannequin, rich front room with roll-up garage door. Really an unusual and fun little space, from what I understand the owner used to own the lounge-dance club Mosquito and the decor is a bit club-like. Clockwork feels to me like a bit of San Francisco: mostly bar with some small plates and bites to keep you going. The menu has a handful of appetizers, pizzas and sandwiches including an interesting pie with jalapenos, mandarin oranges and pistachio! I go with the more subdued Poulty-in-Motion: pesto sauce, roast chicken, sun-dried tomato with Gorgonzola and mozzarella.

Chicken pesto pizza at Clockwork, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

It takes a bit of time for my pizza and it looks great when it finally comes out. It’s a 10 – 12″ pie and plenty for one person. Thinnish crust and plenty of cheese on top. The pesto base makes for a great contrast to the rich cheese and tender chicken on top. A very nice bar-type pizza. My other visits have been for drinks but I’ve got my eyes on the fried cauliflower and meatloaf sandwich for next time. Staff at Clockwork is equally funky as the decor and food, tattooed types and quite good at the service game. And the owner is often here, schmoozing with customers and making sure things are going well, the place feels like a neighborhood spot. The crowd is a bit older, probably more in the 30 – 50 range but I haven’t been here late night so things could change.

All in all I’m pretty happy with this new additions to my neighborhood. South Glenwood has plenty of restaurants, clubs and pubs but slowly these bar-restaurants are coming onto the scene which to me is a bit more urban to me. So yeah, a big round of applause to our watering and eating hole in the hood! I’m pretty sure Clockwork will keep you happily satisfied with beer, cocktails and some decent plates to tide you over, bon appetit!

Clockwork

519 W. North Street

Raleigh, NC 27605

919.834.2211

Location on Google maps

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July 24, 2017 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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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 Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh for Cocktails and the Golden Hour