Takeout Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

March 17, 2020 by Ron Wen 4 Comments

News: Restaurant and Dining Options as We Combat Coronavirus and Covid-19

As we work through this current pandemic and the shutdown of dine-in options in North Carolina, we are in a rapid state of change. Restaurants are doing their best to stay open and available with take-out and delivery options. I’ve curated a list below with the most recent news and options. Please check their social feeds and/or call to confirm any specific menus, hours, discounts and delivery options. Details are changing on an hourly basis and this information is provided as accurately as possible!

Note: The City of Raleigh has also designated temporary curbside pick-up zones to help you in areas with metered parking, details here. If you’d like to add or update the provided information, please submit updated information here or email me: [email protected]

I’m also keeping track of restaurant closings during this pandemic, details below.

Restaurant and Bars Closing (Permanently)

Elmo’s, Carrboro

Tyler’s Taproom, Carrboro

Daybreak, Cary

Postmaster, Cary

Lula’s, Chapel Hill

Ms. Mong, Chapel Hill

Tobacco Road Sports Cafe, Chapel Hill

Cheerz Deli, Durham-RTP

East Durham Bake Shop, Durham

Gonza Tacos y Tequila, Durham

KoKyu Na’mean, Durham

Porchetta Food Truck, Durham

True Flavors Lakewood, Durham

Anvil’s Cheesesteaks, Raleigh

Cameron Bar and Grill, Raleigh

Chuck’s Burgers, Raleigh

High Horse, Raleigh

K&W Cafeteria at Cameron Village, Raleigh

Linus & Peppers, Raleigh

Oakwood Cafe, Raleigh

Papa Shogun, Raleigh

Remedy Diner, Raleigh

Trophy Tap & Table, Raleigh

Virgil’s Original Taqueria, Raleigh

July 5, 2015 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Saltbox Seafood in Durham: A Simple But Fancier Take on Take-Out Seafood

Sign at Saltbox Seafood Joint, Durham- NC Triangle Dining

When it comes to fried seafood I can be a bit of a push-over. There’s nothing better than some great fish or shrimp in a crispy coating! I had seen the online reviews for Saltbox Seafood for a while and finally made an effort to visit for lunch. Given its N. Mangum location, Saltbox Seafood is a bit off the beaten path but there was a line when I showed up at 11:45 and here’s why!

Busy line outside of Saltbox Seafood in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

From the outside, Saltbox Seafood is really a shack but I mean it in a good way! Small order windows with some picnic tables outside, 80’s rock is pumping out of some speakers and there’s a slew of hungry patrons waiting outside. Given it was my first visit, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The day’s menu is scrawled on a chalkboard and it’s really simple. Six or so fishes in sandwich form or platter form with sides. There’s flounder, spot, mullet, tuna and more but right as I’m in line, flounder gets crossed off, boo! I decide to go with a mullet sandwich along with some much talked about honey hush-puppies.

Honey hush-puppies at Saltbox Seafood in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

While my lemonade keeps me company, it’s a bit of a wait for lunch. Twenty or so minutes if I had to guess. My name gets called out and I grab my food at the pick-up window. The platter of hush-puppies is great, eight or so pieces for $4. Thick corn grain and perfectly fried. One large fish fillet in sandwich form decked out with purple slaw and some pickled veggies. The fish is nicely fried in a lemon pepper coating and the bun is solid. Unfortunately the moisture off the veggies soaks the bun pretty quickly turning it a bit mushy and messy. But the flavor is all there and it’s a tasty sandwich!

Mullet sandwich from Saltbox Seafood in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

I finish off my lunch toss it in the garbage cans out front and head on back to Raleigh. And while I enjoyed my lunch at Saltbox Seafood, I still had some concerns. With the lunch running $18+ ($4 hush-puppies, $12 sandwich, $2 lemonade) it was a pricey afternoon meal. But the Saltbox Seafood Joint is nicely done, little hints like seashells in the gravel walkway are nice touches. And the food is good but I’m still having a hard time wrapping my head around their prices given I’ve eaten at traditional NC seafood shacks for nearly half the price. Still if you appreciate the slightly upscale take on seafood here, you’ll enjoy your meal. No doubt! So rock on, Saltbox Seafood Joint, you did pretty good on my first visit…

Saltbox Seafood Joint

608 N Mangum Street

Durham, NC 27701

919.908.8970

Location on Google maps

Save

August 21, 2014 by Ron Wen 4 Comments

First Take: NC Seafood Restaurant at the State Farmer’s Market in Raleigh!

Front of NC Seafood Restaurant, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

As a huge fan of the State Farmer’s Market in Raleigh, I’ve passed by the NC Seafood Restaurant many times. Located in the back row in a stand-alone building, you’ll immediately notice the red tents and picnic tables on the side of the building. And it had been a while since I had done some fried seafood so I took advantage of a day off to check out this Raleigh and Farmer’s Market classic!

When you think fried seafood in North Carolina, you think Calabash. Growing up in New England they fry seafood differently up there but round these parts, it’ll be very lightly breaded and served with hushpuppies and slaw. The NC Seafood Restaurant has the usual choices of fish (whiting, flounder, trout, shrimp, scallops, oyster and more) which you can get fried, broiled or in a sandwich. The interior of the restaurant is pretty bare and warehouse-like with a large black and white sign listing the menu. I order at the counter, going with the two way combo of shrimp and trout for $12. I get my receipt and number, grab a drink and chill out waiting for my order.

Order area at NC Seafood Restaurant, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Inside there are a bunch of four-tops scattered about along with some longer communal tables for sharing. Crowd looks very local and senior for lunch, no surprise there! At each table you’ve go ketchup, tartar and seafood-cocktail sauce to bling out your food. My meal takes about 15 minutes and I get handed over a large Styrofoam container that’s pretty darn heavy. Cracking it open I’ve got a heap of potato wedges, hushpuppies, small fried shrimp and two trout filets along with some slaw, wow! In my crystal ball I see a nap in my future…

Seafood combo at NC Seafood Restaurant, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Everything is nicely done in this huge plate off food. Hushpuppies are nicely fried and oniony and the potato wedges tender. Lightweight coating on the small shrimp along with nicely fried trout round out the meal. Don’t think the cole slaw is fresh-made but it worked fine to counter-balance all the fried. But the truth is that while the food here at the NC Seafood restaurant is all pretty solid, it’s more about quantity here than pure taste. Because while everything I ate was decent, nothing really stood out either.

So next time you’re at the NC State Farmer’s Market and not in the mood for the Southern eats at the Farmer’s Market Restaurant, you can go more casual and do seafood at the NC Seafood Restaurant. Just be careful with your portion control because they give you enough food to feed two people here! And yeah, while fried seafood may be tasty, it’s going to jack up your cholesterol levels just a wee bit…

NC Seafood Restaurant and Market

1201 Agricultural Street

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.833.4661

NC Seafood Restaurant menu

Location on Google maps

August 26, 2013 by Ron Wen 5 Comments

First Take: Snoopy’s for a Classic Chili-Dog and Grill Experience!

Outside of Snoopy's in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining — Outside of Snoopy’s in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

Snoopy’s is about as much about old-school Raleigh as its next-door neighbor, Char-Grill. But while both are known for their late-night grill munchies, Snoopy’s does it hot doggie-style! With several locations in the Raleigh area, my local favorite is out on the corner of Hillsborough and Glenwood Avenue, perfect after a night out on the town…

Service window at Snoopy's in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining — Service window at Snoopy’s in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

Parking at this little red building can be a bit tight but thankfully, Snoopy’s is walkable from a lot of the activity on S. Glenwood. Small overhang with two service windows, Snoopy’s does a lot of basic grill items ranging from burgers, dogs and chicken tenders along with barbeque and chicken salad sandwiches. My usual order is a couple of dogs with everything on it and their popular crinkle cut fries. Unlike Char-Grill, the service here at Snoopy’s is fast, you’ll usually get your order within 5 or so minutes in a little paper bag.

Wrapped dogs at Snoopy's in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining — Wrapped dogs at Snoopy’s in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

The dogs at Snoopy are wrapped up in white butcher paper and given the buns are steamed, it’ll sometimes stick to the paper as you’re unwrapping your meal! Two long-ish dogs slathered with meaty chili, covering some mustard, yum. Take a bite and you’ll get hit with a lot of savoriness and the underlying tang of mustard. They’re pretty filling so I’m guessing two or three will fill most people up. The fries here are probably frozen but well-cooked with just the right amount of crinkle crispness and potato. The onion rings at Snoopy’s are also really tasty and worth sharing between two people.

When most people visit Snoopy’s, they do the $6.44 special of two dogs, fries and drinks which is reasonable but not a fan-tastic deal compared to say, Cook Out. But if you hit up Snoopy’s on Tuesday’s for Dollar Dog days, you’ll do much better. While the food at Snoopy’s is really basic, it satisfies some odd and weird underlying food cravings in me. I mean I know the food isn’t good for you but who wants to live forever? So don’t miss out on this little red hot dog stand at the end of Glenwood. You may not feel great in the morning but you’ll be thankful you stopped by for at least 15 minutes…

Snoopy’s

600 Hillsborough Street

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.839.2176

Snoopy’s menu

Location on Google maps

Save

December 4, 2016 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: Carroll’s Kitchen in Raleigh Dishes Out Some Food Love

Front of Carroll's Kitchen in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Front of Carroll’s Kitchen in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

While it’s always good to see new restaurant concepts open up in the Triangle, it’s always more interesting to see restaurants opening up with a cause. And that was the case with Carroll’s Kitchen. I attended their launch party way back in April because I was curious about the concept: helping homeless women in Raleigh through re-training and a restaurant. I had a chance to meet the people behind Carroll’s Kitchen (Jim Freeze, Vicky Ismail) but it was still too early for food. Flash forward to September and a media preview event gives me a chance to sample out their food. And now here in December I’ve had a chance to try out their full retail experience. I’m always a supporter of any good causes but I’m also a believer in good food and moving the Triangle dining scene forward. And I’m happy to say that Carroll’s is doing a great job there, for real!

Sandwich case at Carroll's Kitchen in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Sandwich case at Carroll’s Kitchen in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Located on the corner of Martin and Wilmington Street, Carroll’s Kitchen will eventually be moving to a bigger space but enjoy it here in this convenient downtown location for now. Inside, you’ll find a couple of display cases with their sandwiches, quiches, pastries and more. Carroll’s is meant to be grab and go but also does catering for events. The menu is simple but quirky. What caught my eye today was their kolaches which is a pastry more common to Texas and of Czech descent. You can get a variety of kolaches here both in sweet and savory form. I go with the grilled ham panini along with some apple and pepperoni pizza kolaches for my visit!

Ham sandwich at Carroll's Kitchen in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Ham sandwich at Carroll’s Kitchen in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

I rush home for mah lunch and unwrap the eats, yum! It all looks great, the Carroll’s Kitchen ham sandwich sports beautiful grill marks and is stuffed with thin-sliced ham, melty cheese and a layer of pickled peppers. And while I’m not a ham fan, the thin layers of meat work well here, making for a more tender and less salty bite. The pickled peppers add just a bit of acid and flavor to play off all the savory here, a wonderful touch. The kolaches I’ve ordered come in two forms: the more traditional flattened pastry for the apple and a ball form for the pepperoni pizza. Carroll’s Kitchen allows you to mix and match four kolaches for $6 which is a wonderful deal. I heat up my pepperoni kolaches and they are dee-licious! The pastry has a thickish crust but once you break through, the interior is lighter and wraps up the tomato, pepperoni and cheese beautifully. Great baking touch here. And a thumbs-up to the apple kolache for a sweet ending.

All in all, I’m quite optimistic for Carroll’s Kitchen from both the perspectives of the operations as a take-out restaurant and in its goal of preparing homeless women for the workforce. While I’ll always support the cause, I’m even more happy that Carroll’s Kitchen food rises to the challenge for the competitive Raleigh dining scene. So if you work downtown, don’t miss this hidden gem and help out a great cause! Go, go, go Carroll’s Kitchen, you’re dishing out some love and great food here…

Carroll’s Kitchen

19 E Martin Street

Raleigh, NC 27601

919.670.3622

Location on Google maps

Save

News: Restaurant and Dining Options as We Combat Coronavirus and Covid-19

Restaurant and Bars Closing (Permanently)

Saltbox Seafood in Durham: A Simple But Fancier Take on Take-Out Seafood