Seaboard Station Restaurants Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

Outdoor sign at Bad Daddy's Burger Bar in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining — Outdoor sign at Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

(Updated July 2015) Way back in November I spied some construction over at Seaboard and saw the sign for “Bad Daddy’s Burgers”. All I could think was that they were crazy for putting a place like that right across the street from Tyler’s which rocks out all sorts of bar food, including burgers. Roll forward four months later and I’m hearing a buzz about Bad Daddy’s from friends and online peeps. So I just couldn’t resist and had to go check em out!

Patio at Bad Daddy's Burger Bar in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining — Patio at Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

Bad Daddy’s has a pretty nice patio but inside it’s actually sorta small. A U-shaped bar up front, small dining room with maybe 15 – 20 tables. Decor is a mix of Western, male and a bit macho. Pictures of 60’s and 70’s icons ranging from Steve McQueen and John Wayne dot the walls. But it’s comfortable and cozy space, good smells emanating from the open kitchen on the side. I grab a seat at the bar, order up a beer (not a big selection) and peruse the menu. Some apps, salads (hahaha) burgers, sandwiches and that’s about it. I go for the Bad Ass burger, a double beef-bacon patty with buttermilk bacon along with god knows what. At $13 it’s certainly not cheap but comes with a side, I go with the sweet potato fries. While I’m waiting for my meal, I check out the crowd. Mostly older and male, 30 – 50 which I guess makes sense.

Bad Ass burger at Bad Daddy's Burger Bar in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining — Bad Ass burger at Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

When my burger comes out, my mouth sorta drops. It’s big and tall, reminds me a bit of what you might get at the recently closed Draft. I start working on the sweet potato fries trying to find a weak spot to attack the burger but it’s an intimidating beastie! I finally decide to squash it down, slice it in half and go to work. I certainly don’t need to eat the WHOLE thing. I take a bite and the patty tastes sausage like. Firm with the saltiness of pork or maybe it was the bacon on top. Bad Daddy uses some nice fresh leaf lettuce and tomatoes which made things a challenge. The bun broke apart pretty quick (potato bread) given all the moisture coming from the sauce and veggies. Eventually I had to pick up pieces of my burger with a fork to finish it off. And it wasn’t a bad burger but somewhere in the slightly above average range to me. Bad Daddy’s grinds a blend of hanger, chuck and brisket in their burger meat but I couldn’t tell in this Bad Ass burger. The sweet potato fries were very good even though they were a bit limp. Served with a chipotle dipping sauce, they were the stars of the meal.

Service at the bar was very good, the bartender was a professional. I have to admit that given Bad Daddy’s is a small chain, they had an uphill climb for me. I really prefer a one-off spot like Chuck’s for my burgers or maybe Flip down in Atlanta. Not to say that Bad Daddy’s is bad, because it’s fine. But at this price point I expect amazingly good and pretty good is not good enough. So for all you meat-loving carnivores you should give Bad Daddy’s a try. And I’ll definitely give Bad Daddy’s another shot since I live down the street. Still, I’m pretty certain I’ll take care of most of my beef craving needs across the street at Tyler’s or down at Chuck’s on Wilmington.

Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar

111 Seaboard Avenue

Raleigh, NC 27604

919.747.9163

Menu at Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar

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Front of J. Betski's, NC Triangle Dining — Front of J. Betski’s, NC Triangle Dining

Even if you live in downtown Raleigh, you can go by Seaboard Station and never really notice it. This small shopping plaza set off of Peace Street has been growing steadily and has one of the best Eastern European restaurants in the Triangle, J. Betski’s! A bit Polish, a bit German, J. Betski’s really does a fine job taking traditional cuisine and freshening it up for the 21st century. We’re talking about hearty, stick to your ribs meals that may be meat-heavy but all-over delicious. Located next to Phydeaux, J. Betski’s is an unassuming restaurant but wait till you step in! And leave the lederhosen at home…

Bar at J. Betski's, NC Triangle Dining — Bar at J. Betski’s, NC Triangle Dining

Dining room at J. Betski's, NC Triangle Dining — Dining room at J. Betski’s, NC Triangle Dining

Inside J. Betski’s small dining space you’ll find dark woods, polished granite bar and European stained glass, a classic interior. But the decor is light and airy here, especially if you sit out on the covered patio! Seating is a bit tight so don’t expect an intimate experience but one where you’re in good company with other food lovers. The menu is pretty small and influenced by regional flavors and favorites like pork, beets, sauerkraut, dill, fennel and mustard. A little bit different from what I usually eat but I’ve dined here several times and have never been anything but satisfied.

Schnitzel sandwich at J. Betski's, NC Triangle Dining — Schnitzel sandwich at J. Betski’s, NC Triangle Dining

Knockwurst sandwich at J. Betski's, NC Triangle Dining — Knockwurst sandwich at J. Betski’s, NC Triangle Dining

For lunch, J. Betski’s does great sausage ranging from house-made kielbasa to bratwurst. The knockwurst is a plump, high-quality sausage topped with cabbage, onions and was served with German potato salad: thin slices of potato in a light vinegary marinade. Their pierogies are to die for at J. Betski’s! Small, tender dumplings stuffed with cheese and lightly pan-fried to give ’em a bit of texture and chew, delicious stuff. And I recently tried their schnitzel sandwich, a thin, fried pork cutlet on a crusty bun along with a cucumber salad, a refreshing combo.

Pierogies at J. Betski's, NC Triangle Dining — Pierogies at J. Betski’s, NC Triangle Dining

Pork shank at J. Betski's, NC Triangle Dining — Pork shank at J. Betski’s, NC Triangle Dining

When the lights go down, J. Betski’s really shines. The dinner menu is a lot bigger and of course, a bit more expensive. They offer hearty pub plates, which would be perfect at the bar for a quick bite. I tried out a crispy pork belly with sauerkraut and ginger mustard sauce. The large piece of rich pork belly was devoured quickly and was covered in a light marinade. And the signature dinner here at J. Betski’s? A pork shank braised in curry with stewed apple and cabbage, atop some of those delicious pierogies. Wow, the meat was fork tender and a monster-sized shank. The pork and sinew for this meal makes it a flavor and texture sensation, fantastic! And while J. Betski’s also serves great desserts, I haven’t made it there yet. But do take advantage of their wonderful German beers and lagers, they always have some high-quality imports on tap.

And in addition to the great food, J. Betski’s totally shines with their service. Prompt, attentive and courteous, the staff here is very professional and knows their stuff. Which is why outside of the tight table spacing, J. Betski’s makes for a great date spot. Great food, great surroundings, excellent beer and service, you really can’t go wrong here. While German-Polish food may not be on your short list for dinner, make an effort to get over to Seaboard and give J. Betski’s a whirl. Whether you’re talking about lunch on the flower-covered patio, a beer and pub plates at the bar or a cozy dinner, J. Betski’s will deliver the goods and some of the best pierogies around. So guten apetit and good night!

First Take: Bad Daddy’s Burgers at Seaboard Station, Raleigh