NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

The Best Restaurants and Bars in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill and the 919

Warehouse District Restaurants

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It’s Good Eating at the New Morgan Street Food Hall

After many delays, the new Morgan Street Food Hall is now open for business and business is booming! Thankfully I was able to get a couple of preview visits to Morgan Street Food Hall (MSFH) and get a feel for what was going in without having to fight the crowds. And from what I’ve seen, it’s a good mix of popular stand-bys along with some new dining options. But color me impressed overall! I’ll be working through the food and dining options at MSFH over the next several months so I’ll be updating this post over time!

I’d recommend visiting in off-hours (any time outside of 11:30 to 1:30 and 5:30 to 7:30pm) since the place is super popular right now. After I’m able to visit a restaurant, I’ll give it a star rating and short description. It’s a tough job but somebody has gotta do it, I’ve included menus when available to help you get a better understanding of prices and food options at the Morgan Street Food Hall! And if you’re curious about the Transfer Co. Food Hall on the other side of town, details here!

Coming Soon to Morgan Street Food Hall

  • Pazza Pasta (Italian)

Pictures, Menus and Prices for Morgan Street Food Hall Restaurants

Aunt Betty’s Gin and Absinthe Bar

Aunt Betty’s Gin and Absinthe Bar: 4 1/2 Stars

A great looking speak-easy tucked behind a plain door on Morgan Street. Fun cocktails and decor for some casual conversation and drink!

Bad Cat Coffee Co.

Bad Cat Coffee Co. Menu

Bella’s Wood Fired Pizza & Tapas

Bella’s Wood Fired Pizza & Tapas Menu

Big League Waffles and Scoops

Big League Waffles and Scoops Menu

Boba Brew at Morgan Street Food Hall

Boba Brew at Morgan Street Food Hall Menu

Buena Papa Fry Bar

Chopsticks & Forks

Chopsticks & Forks menu

Cousins Maine Lobster

Cousins Maine Lobster menu:  4 Stars

The food truck turned food stall has done a great job here with its lobster rolls. In fact, it may even be better eating their food indoors with AC so a big thumbs-up from me!

Cow Bar

Cow Bar menu: 4 and 1/2 stars

A fun and delicious spot for a decadent and flavor-filled burger! Great selection of fries as a side, choose from Original, Italiano and Truffle. Just be aware that service can be a bit uneven and slow.

Curry in a Hurry

Curry in a Hurry Menu

Epic Axe

Iyla’s Southern Kitchen

Iyla’s Southern Kitchen Menu

Makus Empanadas

Makus Empanadas menu: 3 1/2 Stars

A pretty quick meal of empanandas and S. American basics (black beans, rice, salad) will keep you happy here. Love the variety of baked empanadas here, they are light and crunchy but not super filling.

Oak City Fish & Chips

Oak City Fish & Chips Menu: 2 1/2 Stars

Unfortunately, Oak City Fish & Chips has some serial service issues even with such a small menu. Running out of seafood items on the menu, slow cook times, lack of condiments, the staff needs better training and more kitchen help. The food is decent once you get it but not worth the stress.

Opa! Raleigh

Opa! Raleigh Menu

Primal Cuts

Primal Cuts menu

Raleigh Raw

Raleigh Raw Menu

The Arbor and Garden Bar

The Arbor and Garden Bar: 3 1/2 Stars

A decent bar with reasonable prices but service has been slow the handful of times I have been here, even in off-hours. Fingers crossed they get better with time and experience.

The Bowls

The Bowls menu: 4 Stars

A pan-Asian eatery offering rice bowls, poke bowls and small plates with Japanese, Chinese and Korean flavors. A good deal for the money, don’t miss the bulgogi egg rolls!

The Katsu

The Katsu Menu

Wicked Taco

Wicked Tacos Menu

YoHo Hibachi & Sushi Burrito

Yoho Asian Bistro Menu

Morgan Street Food Hall

411 W Morgan Street

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.307.4481

Location on Google maps

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First Take: The New Parkside Restaurant in Raleigh

Front of Parkside Restaurant in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Front of Parkside Restaurant in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

On the corner of Martin and S. Dawson in downtown Raleigh, it’s hard to miss the bright, large neon sign flashing the word “RESTAURANT”. And while that’s exactly what’s always been on this conspicuous corner, success has been hard to find for the restaurants that sat in this location. From Cherry Bomb Grill to Brewmasters Bar and Grill and more, a litany of restaurants have shown up and left.  But the recent addition of the Parkside on this unlucky spot may break that chain of bad luck, here’s why!

Modern interior at Parkside Restaurant in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Modern interior at Parkside Restaurant in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Dining room at Parkside Restaurant in Raleigh- nctriangledining.com
Dining room at Parkside Restaurant in Raleigh- nctriangledining.com

From the outside, the Parkside still has a bit of that old-fashioned diner look but once you step inside you realize, this ain’t yo daddy’s diner! Gun-metal cafe chairs, a fatigued dark concrete floor and wood-paneled bar offers up a very modern look to the space. The large horse-shoe bar still sits front and center in the dining room and the large pane-glass windows keeps the space sunny and bright. I’ve stopped in twice so far and tried a couple of items off the menu, it’s a mod take on bar food with some small plates, salads and burgers. Don’t expect anything wildly unusual here but that will be fine for most meals!

Parkside-MenuParkside-BaconWrappedDates

The bacon-wrapped dates are quite good, nicely broiled with that sweet and salty taste bud hit pairing the cured meat with a soft roasted date. Even though they are pretty easy to make at home, I’d certainly order them here at the Parkside. I’ve also tried out their fried chicken waffle sandwich which was excellent! Two large, fluffy Belgian waffles wrapped around fresh, crisp fried chicken and you can bling it out with an egg on top if that’s not enough for you! Served with a little cup of syrup, it’s a mouthful but a delicious one at that! Fun and nicely executed sandwich offering here.

Fried chicken waffle sandwich at Parkside Restaurant in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Fried chicken waffle sandwich at Parkside Restaurant in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

As a newer restaurant you might worry about service levels but not at the Parkside! For all of my visits they have been well-staffed and well-trained so kudos there! All I can say is that I didn’t have high expectations for the Parkside, but I’m pretty hopeful given what I’ve tried there so far. While the concept isn’t wildly different than say Raleigh Times for bar food, the quality of ingredients here seem pretty high and well-executed. So here’s to the success of the new Parkside Restaurant on this busy corner of Raleigh. I’m hoping that unlucky streak of restaurants is about to be broken…

 

Parkside Restaurant

301 W Martin Street

Raleigh, NC 27601

984.232.8969

Location on Google maps

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Great Dining and Restaurants in the Warehouse District, Raleigh

Warehouse District, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Warehouse District, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

When most people go out in Raleigh on the weekend to bar-hop or hang out, they usually end up on Fayetteville Street or S. Glenwood.  But more often than not, lots of locals now visit the Warehouse District for their fun.  Loosely bound by Morgan Street to the north, Cabarrus to the south and Boylan-S. Dawson on either side.  Within this neighborhood you’ll find a good mix of dining, bars, retail, and  the arts.  Moreover, it’s an area that’s LGBT-friendly which means you’ll be amongst a diverse and eclectic crowd for those looking for some flavor!  But if you’re looking for food and restaurant flavor, here’s where you might want to check out when visiting the Warehouse District!

Raleigh Warehouse District Places

Front of the Pit, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Front of the Pit, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining
Three-meat plate at the Pit, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Three-meat plate at the Pit, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Move down to S. Davie and you’ll run into several Raleigh favorites for dining and eats: the Pit, Jose and Sons along with Humble Pie.  It’s hard to go wrong with any of these three restaurants and they all nicely cover a cuisine that’s super-popular for most diners.  The Pit is the big-hitter here, a nationally renown barbeque and smoked meats joint that serves up good Carolina que, ribs, brisket and more at reasonable prices.  The large dining room is usually crowded so try to grab a seat at the bar if you’re in a hurry.  While I don’t think the Pit is as good as it used to be, it’s still a solid dining choice, especially during off-peak dining periods.

Interior of Humble Pie, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Interior of Humble Pie, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining
Shrimp and grits at Humble Pie, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Shrimp and grits at Humble Pie, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Around the corner from the Pit on Harrington is the ever-popular Humble Pie.  Focused on small, mixed plates you will get everything from shrimp n grits, to short-rib tostada and more here.  Love the urban feel the place and the open dining space.  Also Humble Pie sports one of the best patios in Raleigh, perfect for brunch.  So if you’re looking for something more sophisticated, Humble Pie should fit the bill.

Contemporary Art Museum (CAM), Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Contemporary Art Museum (CAM), Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining
Legends Club, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Legends Club, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

So there you go, a quick dining tour through the Warehouse District!  And the fact is that in addition to good food, you’ll also find cool spots like Visual Art Exchange (VAE), the Contemporary Art Museum (CAM), Videri Chocolate Factory along with Deep South, Legends, Crank Arm Brewery and the Flying Saucer if you want to get your drink or dance on!  it’s a cool neighborhood and one that should grow even more with the upcoming Raleigh Transit Center gets built and services all the passenger train traffic in the area!  And it’s within walking distance of the Red Hat Amphitheater.   Rock on Warehouse District, cause you may have been about warehouses at one point and time but now you’ve grown into so much more…

 

Great Restaurants and Dining in Raleigh’s Warehouse District!

Barcelona Wine Bar (Spanish)

The Oak (Steakhouse)

Heirloom Brewshop (Asian)

The Pit (Barbeque, Southern)- Davie Street

Humble Pie (Seasonal plates)- Harrington Street

 

 

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Circa 1888: A Plush New Bar in Raleigh’s Warehouse District

Entry-way sign at Circa 1888 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Entry-way sign at Circa 1888 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

As Raleigh’s bar and cocktail scene continues to grow and evolve, you’ll occasionally run into a surprise. In my case, it’s the newly opened Circa 1888 in Raleigh’s Warehouse District!  Located in the space that used to house the old FUBAR, you now have the decidedly upscale and posh, Circa 1888.

Bar at Circa 1888 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Bar at Circa 1888 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Owned by the same folks as Landmark Tavern, this innocuous front entrance opens up to a huge space inside.  Arched stone entry-way, antique brick interior and a long, serious bar on the right hand side. Circa 1888 has a hidden speak-easy feel but does it totally different.

Billiards area at Circa 1888 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Billiards area at Circa 1888 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

On my first visit to Circa 1888 my friends and I stopped in for a quick visit before dinner.  Keeping things simple, I ordered up a pint of brown ale and started wandering around.  Circa 1888 is a huge space with high ceilings, different than your usual “speak-easy”.   They’ve got an upscale billiards area (4 tables), huge red banquette/booths, a private back room along with a side patio.  Service at the bar was personable and friendly, I’m curious to see what kind of crowd they draw here.

Plush booths at Circa 1888 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Plush booths at Circa 1888 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

I never made it here when it was a dance club but I’ll come back now that it’s Circa 1888.  I was pretty impressed during the day time and I’m guessing that this place will be even more interesting at night.  The bar and cocktail scene takes another leap forward in the Triangle with Circa 1888…

Private room at Circa 1888 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Private room at Circa 1888 in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

 

Circa 1888

412 W. Davie Street

Raleigh, NC 27601

919.307.4203

Location on Google map

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