Southern Archives - NC Triangle Dining

March 10, 2018 by Ron Wen

Retake: Poole’s Diner for Classic But Uplifted Southern Fare For Over 10 Years!

Front of Poole's Diner in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Front of Poole’s Diner in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

When you talk about restaurants that have helped define the Raleigh food scene, it pretty much starts with Poole’s Diner. While there are older, more established restaurants, it was Ashley Christensen and Poole’s Diner that put the Oak City on the map and in the national foodie landscape. And after Chef Ashley won a James Beard award in 2014, things REALLY took off. Oddly enough, my first meals with her were not at Poole’s Diner but at the old Enoteca Vin which closed down in 2009. Given how much I eat out, I also admit to being more of a fan of her lower-tier restaurants like Beasley’s and Chucks. While I have always enjoyed my meals at Poole’s, the popularity and lack of reservations always threw me off a bit. But I decided it was time for a re-visit to Poole’s Diner to see how well it had held up over the years.

Dining room at Poole's Diner in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Dining room at Poole’s Diner in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Seating and chalkboard menus at Poole's Diner in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Seating and chalkboard menus at Poole’s Diner in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

If you’re visiting for the first time just be aware that there are no printed menus at Poole’s (for the most part) given the seasonality of the dishes here. BUT since brunch has just re-started here at Poole’s Diner, they do have brunch menus at the table. We order up a slew of dishes to check out this new menu and chat over some wonderfully strong coffee as we wait for our meal. And as soon as the clock hits noon time, I order up a Pimms Cup as my adult bevvy for the meal!

Churros and Pimm's Cup at Poole's Diner in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Churros and Pimm’s Cup at Poole’s Diner in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Croque madame at Poole's Diner in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Croque madame at Poole’s Diner in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

First brunch item out of the Pooles Diner kitchen is their Mexican donuts, otherwise known as churros! These tasty rings are nicely fried and sprinkled with sugar. Tasty, crunchy and a good starter if you’ve got a sweet tooth. Next up is my croque madame which is dripping a thick, buttery hollandaise sauce. Thick slices of bread sandwich the ham, pop a fried egg on top and a sprinkle of chives and you’ve got yourself a meal. Great job here, Poole’s!

Shrimp and grits at Poole's Diner in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Shrimp and grits at Poole’s Diner in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Angel biscuits with jam at Poole's Diner in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Angel biscuits with jam at Poole’s Diner in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

And my friend’s shrimp and grits? Spectacular with a ridiculously silky texture. I’ve got to believe there is a LOT of cream in this dish. Spiked with tender mushrooms, we’ve got the big brunch winner here. Another wonderful brunch item is the fluffy angel biscuits! Nicely browned crust but soft and tender inside, they’re served up with jam and butter. The latkes we got on the side were not quite as good (over-fried) but what the heck you can’t win everything!

Crispy squid at Poole's Diner in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Crispy squid at Poole’s Diner in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

On a separate visit for dinner, I stopped in before a show at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium which is tough given how popular Poole’s Diner is. There’s a pretty long line already at 5:35 and it takes a bit of time to get seated. For our meal we go with the crispy squid with fried pickle and Korean aioli, Ashley’s famous macaroni and cheese along with a short rib dish and side of greens. The fried squid is excellent but a bit salty, showing off a light and crunchy coating along with some spice from the side sauce.

Macaroni and cheese at Poole's Diner in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Macaroni and cheese at Poole’s Diner in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

But of course the GoTo dish at Poole’s Diner is their famous macaroni and cheese! Served in a piping hot porcelain dish, this beauty totally shows it off at the table, domed with a wonderfully browned crust. Dig your spoon in and scoop out luscious elbow macaroni covered in warm gooey cheese. A true carb classic that will warm your heart and tummy. The short rib dish and greens we tried for that dinner were also excellent and well prepared.

So what can I say but Poole’s Diner is hitting its 10th anniversary in stride serving up creative and tasty comfort food for the Raleigh crowds. The restaurant is well put-together across all three phases of the dining experience (food, service, ambiance) and consistently delivers a great experience outside of some small misses in some of the dishes. And given the popularity of Poole’s Diner, beware of the noise and volume in the dining room, it’s not a quiet experience. But all the national accolades are well deserved for this classic downtown restaurant and I’m pretty sure you’ll agree after dining here for brunch OR dinner.

Poole’s Diner

426 S McDowell Street

Raleigh, NC 27601

919.832.4477

Location on Google maps

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November 24, 2017 by Ron Wen

Media: It’s a Southern Thing in Durham Offers Up Southern Cuisine Done Delicious

Entrance to It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Entrance to It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to Southern eats, we can’t seem to get enough of it in the Triangle because let’s face it, we’re really good at Southern eats in North Carolina! So it was with some excitement when I heard about the upcoming It’s a Southern Thing in Durham. Taking over the space that used to be Pop’s, Lucia and Motto on W. Main Street, I was hopeful that maybe a more accessible and affordable type of cuisine would do ok in this large space. And thankfully through a media visit and personal visit, I had a chance to experience first-hand what It’s a Southern Thing is bringing to the Bull City. Here’s my take on this new and tasty restaurant for Durham…

Rustic dining room at It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Rustic dining room at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

First, if you haven’t been to this space before, it sits conveniently on Main Street between the downtown Durham core and Brightleaf Square. Which means you can do it for a visit to DPAC if you’re willing to walk a bit (leave the high heels at home). Street parking is a bit limited in this area so be aware! From the outside, It’s a Southern Thing is not that noticeable outside of a large brick wall with paned windows overhead. Find the side entrance and hop upstairs to the warm, cozy dining room. Inside, the space hasn’t changed that much since its days as Motto. You’ll still find the same bulb-lit “BAR” sign overhead but they’ve gone with a more casual interior. No more fancy fabric lamps, in with the barn-door plank tables and a more open and better lit space. With a view into the open kitchen it all feels like you can pop in here for a quick meal rather than a more formal dinner. And the prices here at It’s a Southern Thing reflect that: appetizers and salads are in the $8 to $12 range while entrees run from $14 to $22, pretty good for Durham!

Refreshed dining room at It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Refreshed dining room at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Crab dip and pita points at It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Crab dip and pita points at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Charcuterie board at It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Charcuterie board at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

I’ve had the chance to dine at It’s a Southern Thing for a couple of meals, one a comped media visit and another out of pocket to get a good feel for what they’re doing. The crab dip with pita points is a great starter! Bubbly, cheesy and with plenty of crab inside for flavor, it’s a generous portion and best shared amongst 2 – 4 people. And the charcuterie plate offers a great selection of cured meats, pimento cheese along with these wonderful seeded crackers!

Smoked wings at It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Smoked wings at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Pete-loaf with fingerling potatoes at It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Pete-loaf with fingerling potatoes at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Moving on to the meat and mains, It’s a Southern Thing’s smoked chicken wings are simple but very tasty. Tender with a nicely browned skin, there’s a lot of deliciousness here in this simple preparation. And a big thumbs up for their meatloaf! It’s actually “Pete-loaf” and named after the owner. Instead of a mix of ground beef and pork, they’ve updated the meatloaf with ground bacon instead! So while you get two smaller medallions of meatloaf, it’s super-rich and flavor-packed. Served over roast fingerling potatoes, it’s a great example of the type of comfort food you’ll be served at It’s a Southern Thing and gets a big thumbs-up from me.

Shrimp and grits at It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Shrimp and grits at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

And of course you couldn’t do a Southern restaurant without the ubiquitous shrimp and grits plate! It’s a Southern Thing amps up the flavor of their shrimp and grits with some andouille sausage, tomatoes and chiles, an interesting combination! We also tried their desserts in a mason jars, banana pudding, chocolate mousse and more to finish off your meal in style. Service for both my visits was attentive and pleasant. While the staff is dressed down pretty casually here, they are very service-oriented and well-trained. Overall I think you’ll find It’s a Southern Thing to be a pleasant and tasty dining option in downtown Durham. The food is good, the space is beautiful and it’s all paired with solid service. At the price points they have their menu, It’s a Southern Thing is offering up an excellent option for the lunch and dinner crowd in Bull City. So give em a chance if you’re in there area! Along with Maverick’s Smokehouse, Saint James Seafood and Grub, you’ve now got some interesting new dining options on (and off of) W. Main Street in Durham!

It’s a Southern Thing

605 W Main Street

Durham, NC 27701

919.294.9632

Location on Google maps

March 18, 2017 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Retake: Ole Time Barbecue in Raleigh for Classic NC Que

Front of Ole Time Barbecue in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

If you’re in the mood for barbeque, there’s nothing you can do but give in. Something about that smoked pork goodness and tang makes for such a satisfying meal. And one old-school barbeque spot that I haven’t been to in years is Ole Time Barbecue (note the “c” spelling). While it may officially be in Raleigh, it’s way out there in W. Raleigh near the Cary line which would explain why I hadn’t been there in years. But it was finally time for a re-visit!

Lunch counter at Ole Time Barbecue in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

The one good thing about classic barbeque spots is that they usually don’t change much! Ole Time Barbecue still sits on the west end of Hillsborough Street and it’s hard to miss the place. Bright yellow awning, it’s low and narrow giving it a diner feel. Inside you’ll find a lunch counter to the right and small dining room to the left. Wood paneling, faux wood formica tables, the place feels home-spun and classic. We’re immediately greeted by a waitress and shown to a small bench four-top. The small dining room is packed with seniors and families, I’m pretty sure Ole Time Barbecue has a cast of regulars.

Dining area at Ole Time Barbecue in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

The menu is pretty basic and simple at Ole Time: barbeque, ribs, fried chicken and a couple of other items along with 12 sides ranging from fried okra to green beans, mac and cheese and more. I decide to keep it simple and do the barbeque plate with baked beans and potato salad. A basket of hush-puppies immediately show up at the table and they are lovely. Nicely fried with tender corn meal and a little bit of onion, classic eats!

Hush-puppies at Ole Time Barbecue in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

And the barbeque isn’t far behind, the plates come out quick. I’ve got a nice portion of moist pork, a small cup of beans and scoop of potato salad in front of me. The barbeque here at Ole Time is decently done and not particularly spicy or vinegar’ed. There’s some hot and sweet sauces at the table and I’d probably recommend adding a bit of the sauce for flavor. The beans and potato salad are also fine if not memorable. All in all the meal reminds me quite a bit of Clyde Coopers Barbeque but Ole Time Barbecue’s remote location means I probably won’t be back again soon. While the food is solid and I love the old-school feel to the space and staff, there’s just not enough to pull me out here on a regular basis. But if you live in the hood, give Ole Time Barbecue a try! I’m pretty sure they will keep you happy and well-fed regardless of what you choose off their short menu.

Ole Time Barbecue

6309 Hillsborough Street

Raleigh, NC 27606

919.859.2544

Location on Google maps

May 23, 2016 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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April 12, 2016 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

First Take: Verandah at the New Mayton Inn in Cary!

Front of the Mayton Inn, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Boutique hotels seem to be popping up all around the Triangle of late. The 21C Museum Hotel and Durham Hotel out in the Bull City. The Aloft over on Hillsborough Street and now the Mayton Inn located in the heart of downtown Cary. And while I may never stay in the Mayton Inn since I’m a local, I had gotten wind of its restaurant, the Verandah. Dubbed as innovative, Southern-inspired casual fare, the menu looked interesting and their PR team had reached out to me. While I wasn’t able to work out a visit for their St. Patricks Day dinner, a friend wanted to check them out for lunch so off we go!

Lobby at the Mayton Inn, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

First thing to note that there is a LOT of construction going down on Academy Street right now and it may be tricky finding your way over. Parking is not that accessible for the Mayton so I ended up using a side-street across the way. (Note: The Mayton Inn also has free valet parking.) From the front, the Mayton has a classic look with brick facade and columns. Inside it feels quite luxurious and modern with a library, bar and the main Verandah dining room showing off high-end European decor. A bit posh but updated for today. The staff at the Mayton was very well-trained, greeting me as I traversed the hotel even though I was dressed pretty casually and not a guest.

Verandah bar at the Mayton Inn, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

We grab a seat at the more casual bar/lounge area which is decked out in dark woods and leather chairs. For lunch the menu is pretty simple at the Verandah: salads, sandwiches and plates, about 10+ items in total. Since we’re here visiting for the first time, I order up the chicken sandwich and burger to share while my friend goes with the butternut squash salad as his main. Prices for lunch are $12 and under, my sandwiches are offered with a salad or side of fries.

Butternut squash salad at the Mayton Inn, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

The crowd here is definitely a bit more mature and older as you would expect. Pretty much 35 and up in general. Our food comes out and the salads look excellent. Fresh greens, brightly punctuated with some contrasting veggies and add-in’s making for a visual feast. The sandwiches are both excellent. Loved their chicken sandwich which came smeared with an aioli and pickled green tomato. The chicken was very tender and the sandwich worked great with all the ingredients and sweet brioche bun. The burger was also solid, served with a bright orange pimiento cheese. A messy bite but quite good.

Side salad at Verandah at the Mayton Inn, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

As you would expect, service was excellent at the bar and I would expect that to be the case at any place in the Mayton Inn. The service levels here remind me of the Washington Duke Inn or Umstead, stellar! And I was pleasantly surprised by the food here. While the environment and service is quite upscale, the food was reasonably priced and well worth the effort. Would love to come back and try more off the dinner menu sometime soon. So if you can manage around all the construction on Academy Street or work locally in the area, check out the Verandah at the Mayton for some excellent Southern and American cuisine!

Verandah at the Mayton Inn

301 S Academy Street

Cary, NC 27511

919.670.5000

Location on Google maps

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Retake: Poole’s Diner for Classic But Uplifted Southern Fare For Over 10 Years!

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