Restaurants Near UNC Chapel Hill - University of North Carolina Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

July 30, 2017 by Ron Wen

First Take: Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill for Creative and Tasty Hot Dogs

Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill - NC Triangle Dining — Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill – NC Triangle Dining

If you’re out on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, you know you’re going to have a bunch of dining choices but in the category of basic and simple, perfect for a college kid. You can’t expect upscale or fancy or frou-frou, just simple and filling eats. And that’s where Sup Dogs comes into play. A veritable hot dog emporium offering an array of weiners and grill items along with a bit of college spirit. As long as you’re not a Duke fan! Here’s how my visit to this casual college eatery played out…

Dining area at Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill - NC Triangle Dining — Dining area at Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill – NC Triangle Dining

From the outside, the first thing you’ll notice about Sup Dogs is the patio. Under cover and shaded high-top tables with condiment dispensers on each one, it looks like a great spot to grab lunch and some fresh air. The Sup Dogs signage up above lists off the primary food items on the menu and one short and pointed message to the college down Tobacco Road in a darker shade of blue (a continuing theme). Inside Sup Dogs you’ll find a large open dining room decked out in brick, wood and a lot of Carolina blue signage. The young wait staff is clad in black and Carolina blue so you definitely know you’re in Chapel Hill! I grab a seat at the bar for lunch and take some time to dig deeper into the Sup Dogs menu. Thankfully, the menu here is pretty simple: burgers, chicken sandwich and the namesake Sup Dogs along with a litany of fried sides! Most of their dogs are in the $5.99 range with fries but you can upgrade to tots or cheese fries for an extra $1.00 or to bacon cheese fries or cheesy tots for $1.50. And if you add an extra dog, it’s only a $1.00. I’m doubling down for lunch with two dogs AND bacon cheese fries, gulp… As I’m waiting for my food, a table of Duke fans sit down for lunch and notice all the smack talk signage on the walls but thankfully they take it all in good fun and stay!

Smokehouse, Western dogs and cheese fries at Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill - NC Triangle Dining — Smokehouse, Western dogs and cheese fries at Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill – NC Triangle Dining

It takes 10 minutes or so for my food and wow, it’s a lot! I’ve ordered up the Smokehouse and Western dogs which come sitting on top of a aluminum tray of by cheese fries! Sides of Sup sauce and ranch complete the meal. The Western dog (onion ring, BBQ sauce, Monterey Jack, cheddar cheese and chili) and the Smokehouse dog (bacon, Monterey Jack, cheddar cheese, Sup Dog sauce, and chili) come loaded with toppings. And they are good sized beef dogs which can stand up to all the toppings. And they’re both quite good, I like the creative options on the Sup Dogs menu. Digging in the bacon cheese fries feels like another 1,000 calories but I can’t resist! The fries have a bit of skin and great potato taste. The cheese and bacon bits are generously coated on the pile of fries, too. And the Sup Sauce is great, probably a tangy, savory Thousand Island mix that is great for dipping. All in all it’s a filling meal with plenty of salt, grease and deliciousness!

The staff here is pretty young, probably from the UNC student body but do a good job keeping my drink cup filled and check in on me regularly. And while I don’t think you should be eating here regularly due to health reasons, it’s definitely a fun lunch stop and would probably be even better after a few beers on Franklin Street. If you’re interested in hot dogs, I definitely believe that Sup Dogs is a great choice in the Triangle for its variety and value in this category. If I lived in the area, I’d definitely be back from time to time. And I’m glad I finally know, what’s up dog!

Sup Dogs

107 E Franklin St

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

919.903.9566

Location on Google maps

December 26, 2016 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro for Fantastic Italian Food and Pizza

Front of Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro - NC Triangle Dining — Front of Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro – NC Triangle Dining

If you’re looking for good pizza in the Triangle, there are a ton of great choices now! But one pizzeria that had eluded my greasy little grasp was Pizzeria Mercato out in Carrboro. Owned and run by Gabe Barker, Pizzeria Mercato’s location and popularity always had me trying to figure out a good time to visit. But eventually I found an excuse to head west on a Friday afternoon and decided to slip in for a late lunch visit! And it was a pretty impressive visit, read on if you’re hungry and curious, my friend!

Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro - nctriangledining.com — Bar at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro – nctriangledining.com

Located on the western end of Weaver Street (away from the Market) , Pizzeria sits tidily on a street corner with a small side parking lot. I’ve heard it’s sometimes difficult to find parking in the hood so be aware during prime time dining hours! Inside, Pizzeria Mercato is bright and colorful. Polished concrete floor underneath, art on the walls and a bit of a hipster feel to the space. There’s an open kitchen to your left, main dining area to your right and a bright and sunny front section where I am sat.

Kitchen at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro - NC Triangle Dining — Kitchen at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro – NC Triangle Dining

What I do like about these new, artisanal pizza shops are the short menus focused on high quality, local ingredients. Pizzeria Mercato is no different offering up eight or so antipasti, salads and custom pizzas along with a handful of mains and desserts. Of course you can always customize your pie by adding some ingredients to your basic margherita. I go with my fave arancini (named fritti here) and the Amatriciana pie (pecorino, guanciale). A nice session IPA from Sierra Nevada keeps me company while I waits for my food.

Fritti (arancini) at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro - NC Triangle Dining — Fritti (arancini) at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro – NC Triangle Dining

After a short wait, my fritti (arancini) arrive and it’s an interesting plate. I’ve tried arancini (fried risotto balls) at many Italian restaurants in the area and they are always done a bit differently at each spot. Pizzeria Mercato’s arancini are about the size of a golf ball and perfectly fried. Flakes of sea salt dot the well-browned surface and a light basil sauce is served on the side. These arancini are WONDERFUL! Stuffed with smoked mozzarella and a bit of tomato, the crunchy crust breaks open to a soft, gooey interior with just a bit of acid from the tomato. Might be the best arancini I’ve tried in the Triangle, make sure to get em if you visit Pizzeria Mercato.

Amatriciana pizza at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro - NC Triangle Dining — Amatriciana pizza at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro – NC Triangle Dining

And given that wonderful start, I was salivating at the thought of my pizza! When it comes out, it’s a looker. About a 13″ pie in a nice oblong shape indicative of a hand-made pizza. Some splotches of soft fresh mozzarella and sprinkles of more pungent romano cheese. Bits of seared guanciale (cured pork cheek) and cracked black pepper finish off the surface. A peek underneath shows off some nice leopard spotting for the crust, nice job there. A couple of bites in and I immediately notice the crust. Pizzeria Mercato does it differently here, doing a snappy, stiff crust rather than a softer crust that you usually get with a Neapolitan pie. But you can certainly taste the quality ingredients here, I admit that the intense guanciale over-powered the flavor of the pizza. If I ever get back I’ll do a basic margherita.

Service here at Pizzeria Mercato was excellent and timely, admittedly I was one of 4 people in the place so that’s to be expected. I’m curious as to how the place holds up with a big crowd, I’m guessing they are usually busy. But for my visit it was a great start. Excellent food, decent prices, quality ingredients and great service Pizzeria Mercato! I’m still trying to wrap my brain around your pizza crust since it’s a bit of a spin from traditional. But I can certainly tell that there is some talent and vision for the menu and methods here. And I’m pretty sure that if you’re a pizza fanatic you’ll like Pizzeria Mercato! They’re doing very good pizza and even better arancini here in Carrboro…

Pizzeria Mercato

408 W Weaver Street

Carrboro, NC 27510

919.967.2277

Location on Google maps

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April 26, 2014 by Ron Wen 3 Comments

Al’s Burger Shack in Chapel Hill For Great Burgers and Fries…

Front of Al's Burger Shack, Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining — Front of Al’s Burger Shack, Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

When I first got to NC, I spent two years at Carolina and lived in the People’s Republic of Carrboro which was an awesome experience. But since getting out of school, the Chapel Hill area just seems like a LONG way off. And let’s face it. We’re talking about a college town with college expectations, the food there was always passable but never great. But over the past four months I spy some great online reviews for Al’s Burger Shack. So over time, I’m thinking it’s time to head back to the Thrill and I finally had an excuse for an event at TOPO Distillery. Right across the way was Al’s Burger Shack, woohoo!

Order counter at Al's Burger Shack, Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining — Order counter at Al’s Burger Shack, Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

And when they say shack, that’s exactly what they mean. Al’s is located in a small, brick A-frame with limited space inside. Counter order, cramped with a ledge around the inside for quick dining. And a largish patio with picnic tables outside under cover. The menu here is simple: burgers in three sizes (3oz, 6oz, 9oz) with four or so specialty burgers, build your own burger and some hot dogs. Toss in a small selection of sodas and beers and that’s all she wrote. I order up a BoBo chili (Carolina-style) burger with sweet potato fries and a Shiner Bock beer to keep my entertained. The wait at 7pm is 15 to 20 minutes so must be patient! As I sit there, waiting with my beer, it’s obvious I’m not in Raleigh any more. The whole Carolina vibe is one of youth and liberal attitudes. Granola, crunchy along with some Southern prep, those are the customers you see walking into Al’s since it’s right on Franklin Street. It does take some time but the place is busy and the kitchen is small. I finally get an aluminum tray with a good looking burger and a nice helping of sweet potato fries so I head on out to the patio to grab a seat.

Burger and sweet potato fries at Al's Burger Shack, Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining — Burger and sweet potato fries at Al’s Burger Shack, Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

The burger is very nicely put together. Commercial bun but a nice mash of finely chopped slaw, chili and mustard neatly piled on top. The American cheese is well melted making for a good looking sandwich. And the first bite tells me all I need to know. A great balance of textures, meatiness and flavor along with the nice tang of yellow mustard. I wasn’t blown away by the meat, it was lean but not as much seared beefiness as I would have hoped for. The sweet potato fries were a bit over-fried but definitely a good portion for the money.

In the end, Chapel Hill is still a college town and after having lived there for two years, you can’t expect too too much. It’s going to be cheap, casual eats and Al’s Burger Shack does a very good job in that arena. It’s a very good burger at a good price but still a cut behind say, Chucks and Corbett’s. But if I lived back in Carrboro, I’m sure I’d be here pretty regularly. There’s nothing wrong with an honest burger which is exactly what Al’s Burger Shack delivers!

Al’s Burger Shack

516 West Franklin Street

Chapel Hill, NC 27516

919.904.7659

Al’s Burger Shack menu

Location on Google maps

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First Take: Sup Dogs in Chapel Hill for Creative and Tasty Hot Dogs

First Take: Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro for Fantastic Italian Food and Pizza