NC Triangle Dining

The Best Restaurants and Bars in Raleigh, Durham, Cary & Chapel Hill

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

 

Sign at Saltbox Seafood Joint, Durham- NC Triangle Dining
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
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
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
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

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Char-Grill for Tried and True Burgers from a Raleigh Institution

Sign out front of Char-Grill, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Sign out front of Char-Grill, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

When you think of all the new burger places in the Triangle, you sometimes forget about classic spots like the Mecca and of course, Char-Grill.  The Hillsborough Street location is a tribute to a simpler place and time with the 50’s retro sign, interesting roof-line and cooks and servers dressed in white.  Char-Grill had been a favorite of mine when I first moved into Raleigh but like a lot of other spots, fell off my food radar screen over time.  But I had a GroupOn in hand so it was time for a re-visit. And I have to say, it was not what I remembered which is sorta sad.

Order slip at Char-Grill, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Order slip at Char-Grill, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

If you’ve never been to Char-Grill you may be a bit surprise.  Counter service and take-out only, there are long order pads up front where you check off the items you want.  The menu is pretty small: burgers, steak burgers, dogs, fries, apple fritters and that’s about it!  Slide that order slip into the slot at the front window and hang loose while your meal is cooked to order.

Front of Char-Grill, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Front of Char-Grill, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

There are large plate glass windows all around Char-Grill so hang out and watch the smoke and flames fly off the grill.  There’s no doubt as to whether or not your your burger is going to get charred!  Ten to fifteen minutes, your name gets called, pay on the right hand side of place and you’re off!  I ordered up the Steakburger Jr. with fries and some fritters.

Steakburger Jr at Char-Grill, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Steakburger Jr at Char-Grill, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

At home I unpack my meal and the steakburger looks like maybe a double burger unstacked with large char marks on the patty.  Oblong sesame seed bun, some American cheese, lettuce, onion and pickle, at least you get to custom order your sammich.  I bite into the burger with anticipation and… disappointment sets in.  It’s probably been a year since I enjoyed one of these Char-Grill burgers and wow, what happened?  The burger is a bit thin, dry and chewy with too much char.  The whole sandwich has a bit of a mushy texture to it with the extras.  But thankfully, the steak fries are solid but still…  Hoping the apple fritter may redeem Char-Grill, I hit disappointment again. The fritters are basically like the old fried McDonalds apple pie but these treats are low on taste and the crust was a bit soft inside.

Takeout meat from Char-Grill, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Takeout meat from Char-Grill, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Apple fritter from Char-Grill, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Apple fritter from Char-Grill, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Maybe when I first got to Raleigh I was just super-hungry with lower expectations but I was really hoping for more from Char-Grill.  What makes it worse is that it’s not even cheap compared to say, Cook-Out.  Or go all the way and do Chuck’s, BurgerFi, Five Guys or one of the many other burger options in the area.  In the end, I love that Char-Grill is a Raleigh institution but at the the same time, I’ve often been disappointed by restaurants in this category.  Unfortunately when you don’t change your formula over the years, time and the market catches up to you and whizzes on by.  So I tip a white paper cap to Char-Grill, good luck but I’m not sure when I’ll be by here to eat again…

 

Char-Grill

618 Hillsborough Street

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.821.7636

 

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

Front of NC Seafood Restaurant, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
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
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
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

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First Take: Alamo BBQ- Great and Inexpensive Barbeque in Richmond, VA

Front of Alamo BBQ, Richmond VA- NC Triangle Dining
Front of Alamo BBQ, Richmond VA- NC Triangle Dining

Who out there loves road trips and all the snacks that fuel yourself along the way?  Typically I’m driving down to Florida or up to VA and NYC to visit relatives and I’ve got a bag full of junk food next to me and Bojangles on the brain.  I like to think that car calories don’t count but who’s fooling who?  So on my recent trip to VA I decided to bypass Bojangles and hit up Alamo BBQ which had been written up in the Daily Meal as having some of the best ribs in the country. A quick Google map shows it’s right off the highway so I am locked and loaded for some smoked meats.

Order window at Alamo BBQ, Richmond VA- NC Triangle Dining
Order window at Alamo BBQ, Richmond VA- NC Triangle Dining

My tummy is rumbling well before I hit Richmond and thankfully it’s a short detour off of I-95.  Maybe five minutes and a mile, you end up in a low-brow neighborhood and I spy Alamo BBQ on a corner with tent in front.  Totally unassuming place, Alamo has a cream-washed stucco front and a design that suggests the historical compound down in Texas.  There’s no inside seating, just a walk-up order window and some tables out front.  And on this very cold winter morning, there is no line to speak of, woohoo!  Simple menu up front with chicken, barbeque, brisket and ribs along with a bunch of interesting sides.

Takeout lunch at Alamo BBQ, Richmond VA- NC Triangle Dining
Takeout lunch at Alamo BBQ, Richmond VA- NC Triangle Dining

I order up a two-meat plate and Cuban sandwich which is a LOT of food but remember, car calories don’t count!  The meal comes out to $18+ and they hand me over a buzzer even though there’s only 2 people here at Alamo. I’m guessing they get super-busy at times. I grab some self-serve plastic cutlery and lots of napkins in anticipation of a saucy meal.  And it only takes about 10+ minutes for my food to come out.  A heavy bag with a  styrofoam tray and a white, butcher paper-wrapped sammie along with a couple of containers of sauce.  Looks like it’s time for lunch in the vehicle cause it’s way too cold outside today.

Two meats rib and brisket plate at Alamo BBQ, Richmond VA- NC Triangle Dining
Two meats rib and brisket plate at Alamo BBQ, Richmond VA- NC Triangle Dining

In the container I’ve got four ribs slathered in sauce, two pieces of thick brisket, a mound of jalapeno mac n cheese along with containers of cowboy beans and collards.  I dig into the ribs first, they’re tender and well-smoked, slathered with a tangy sauce.  I think there’s some mustard in there but it’s not overpowering, yum!  The brisket is not quite as good, a bit chewy and could have used more time in the smoker but a solid effort.  The jalapeno mac n cheesy, creamy and tender with a slight kick at the end, excellent.  Enjoyed the cowboy beans which are simmered in a flavorful tomato-based sauce and filled with bits of brisket ends for good measure.  The small cup of collards are tasty but simple.  And I didn’t even get any barbeque sauce on me, FTW!

Cuban sandwich at Alamo BBQ, Richmond VA- NC Triangle Dining
Cuban sandwich at Alamo BBQ, Richmond VA- NC Triangle Dining

Of course I can’t resist going overboard and unwrap my Cuban sandwich.  It’s a large circular sandwich, yellow bread griddled for a bit and stuffed with soft roast pork, pickles and mustard.  A bit too much mustard and pickles for my taste, I like what they’re trying to do here but would go with less of both to keep the tanginess from going too far.  And the que here is just ok, but living in NC I think I can be picky when it comes to pork.

Inside of Cuban sandwich at Alamo BBQ, Richmond VA- NC Triangle Dining
Inside of Cuban sandwich at Alamo BBQ, Richmond VA- NC Triangle Dining

Service at the window is excellent and prices here are really reasonable.  $12 or so for the meat plate and $6 or so for a hefty sandwich means you can definitely eat here on the cheap.  And while the lack of seating is a nuisance, the que here at Alamo BBQ easily over-rides that inconvenience.  Deal with the elements, deal with the picnic tables and lines because it’s worth it.  While Alamo BBQ may not be the best ribs I’ve ever had, they are quite good and worth the detour off of I-95 to downtown Richmond.  Or better yet, you live in the hood and Alamo BBQ is a regular spot for you to get your smoked meat fix, yum…

 

Alamo BBQ

2202 Jefferson Avenue

Richmond, VA 23223

804.592.3138

 

Alamo BBQ menu

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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.

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

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

 

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