-------------------- RALEIGH DURHAM ------------------------------------ (As of 1/11/94) I've been putting together a list of good restaurants for selected areas of the country (those that I visit regularly) with an emphasis on flavor, quality & value, rather than ambience & service. Either I've had a very good meal there, or more likely, someone else has recommended it highly. Note that most of the comments in the list are not mine, but are from other people who've taken the time to write up something about their dining experience. If you have additions, corrections, comments, or suggestions for removal, let me know at [email removed] or, even better, post them to the rec.food.restaurants Usenet newsgroup. I'm especially interested in hearing about particular dishes to get or avoid at specific restaurants, so I can include that information in this list, which I will post every few months to rec.food.restaurants Raleigh/Durham -- By Area ========================= Angus Barn (Airport) -- Steak ($$$) OT's (Apex) -- Bbq 35 Chinese Restaurant (Cary) -- Chinese Ben's Jamaican (Cary) -- Jamaican China Pearl (Cary) -- Chinese Country Smokehouse (Cary) -- Texan Coyote Cafe (Cary) -- Mexican Fox & Hounds (Cary) -- Continental Little Tokyo (Cary) -- Japanese Los Tres Maguyes (Cary) -- Mexican Maximillian's (Cary) -- Nouvelle Italian Newton's Southwest Bar & Grill (Cary) -- Southwestern Outback (Cary) -- Australian Steakhouse Remington Grill (Cary) -- Texan Vinnie's Steakhouse (Cary) -- Steak ($$$) 411 (Chapel Hill) -- Italian Food Armadillo Grill (Chapel Hill) -- Mexican Cracovia (Chapel Hill) -- Continental Crook's Corner (Chapel Hill) -- Southern Fearington House (Chapel Hill) -- Southern Henry's Bistro (Chapel Hill) -- Eclectic La Residence (Chapel Hill) -- Continental New Orleans Cookery (Chapel Hill) -- Cajun Orient Express (Chapel Hill) -- Continental / Eastern European Papagayo (Chapel Hill) -- Mexican Pyewacket (Chapel Hill) -- Vegetarian (Semi) Another Thyme (Durham) -- Vegetarian (Semi) Bullocks (Durham) -- Bbq Dillards (Durham) -- Bbq Magnolia Grill (Durham) -- ? Nana's (Durham) -- ? Campbell's Diner (Fuquay-Vania) -- Bbq Wilbur's (Goldboro) -- Bbq 42nd St Oyster Bar (Raleigh) -- Oysters Don Murray's (Raleigh) -- Bbq Est, Est Est (Raleigh) -- Italian Irregardless Cafe (Raleigh) -- Eclectic Margeaux (Raleigh) -- ? Piccolo Mondo (Raleigh) -- Italian Rathskeller (Raleigh) -- Eclectic Seoul House (Raleigh) -- Korean Thai Garden (Raleigh) -- Thai Winston's Grille (North Raleigh) -- Eclectic Raleigh/Durham -- By Cuisine ============================ Magnolia Grill (Durham) -- ? Margeaux (Raleigh) -- ? Nana's (Durham) -- ? Bullocks (Durham) -- Bbq (local institution, wonderful food, but greasy chicken long lines, and they sell out early) Campbell's Diner (Fuquay-Vania) -- Bbq On the main drag, SE of Raleigh (the ultimate NC bbq sandwich) Dillards (Durham) -- Bbq Don Murray's (Raleigh) -- Bbq (good Carolina Barbeque) OT's (Apex) -- Bbq just off of 64 (very good Carolina Barbeque, esp the vinegary chopped pork bbq. Go at lunch for the buffet) Wilbur's (Goldboro) -- Bbq 45 min e of Raleigh, on US 70, e of Goldboro (best NC style bbq in the state) New Orleans Cookery (Chapel Hill) -- Cajun (a good modest place) 35 Chinese Restaurant (Cary) -- Chinese Lawrence Bldg on Kildaire Farms Rd (very good dinner buffet, hot & sour soup) China Pearl (Cary) -- Chinese Waverly Place shopping center (good Chinese) Cracovia (Chapel Hill) -- Continental (Excellent food) Fox & Hounds (Cary) -- Continental (relaxing place, good food, nice selection of wines by the glass. The sauteed elk is especially good) La Residence (Chapel Hill) -- Continental Orient Express (Chapel Hill) -- Continental / Eastern European (a local favorite) Henry's Bistro (Chapel Hill) -- Eclectic Irregardless Cafe (Raleigh) -- Eclectic nr North Carolina State (excellent cafe food, small number of entrees, different every night, at least one is Veggie. Good hummus. Great desserts.) Rathskeller (Raleigh) -- Eclectic across from NC State (2 pages of veg, seafood, plus some meat -- the veg stuff is the best. Ask to be seated in the bar for better ambience) Winston's Grille (North Raleigh) -- Eclectic Sutton Sq Shopping Center, Falls of Neuse & Spring Forest Rds (incredible nighly specials, great service, will make anything for you, even if not on menu. Best desserts in town by in-house pastry chef) 411 (Chapel Hill) -- Italian (great informal Italian food, try the lasagna) Est, Est Est (Raleigh) -- Italian (homemade pasta, good food, good desserts) Maximillian's (Cary) -- Nouvelle Italian Buck Jones Rd (very good pizza) Piccolo Mondo (Raleigh) -- Italian (slightly fancier & more expensive than Est, Est, Est) Ben's Jamaican (Cary) -- Jamaican (mixed reviews, real informal, cheap) Little Tokyo (Cary) -- Japanese (good Japanese food) Seoul House (Raleigh) -- Korean (mediocre Korean food, to be avoided) Armadillo Grill (Chapel Hill) -- Mexican downtown (wonderful Mexican restaurant, serving good, fresh, *cheap* food. The salsa is *homemade* and is the best in town) Coyote Cafe (Cary) -- Mexican in Winn Dixie Shopping Center off Maynard Rd (good Mexican and Southwestern food, esp corn bread, though leaning towards the bland side, reasonable prices, nice decor, micro-brewed ales, live band sometimes) Los Tres Maguyes (Cary) -- Mexican (authentic Mexican, real informal, cheap) Papagayo (Chapel Hill) -- Mexican (good mexican food) 42nd St Oyster Bar (Raleigh) -- Oysters (excellent steamed oysters, live bands Thu-Sat) Crook's Corner (Chapel Hill) -- Southern (first rate, delicious, innovative, avant garde Southern cooking; not everyone is impressed with it though. Get reservations, sit outdoors if good weather) Fearington House (Chapel Hill) -- Southern (fixed price ~$40, fixed menu, divine food, southern elegance) Newton's Southwest Bar & Grill (Cary) -- Southwestern (mixed reviews) Angus Barn (Airport) -- Steak ($$$) Airport Road & hwy 70 (great steak [esp filet mignon], big portions, good service, outstanding wine list) Outback (Cary) -- Australian Steakhouse Saltbox Village on Kildare Farms Rd (Good fried bloomin onion. Good steaks and fish) Vinnie's Steakhouse (Cary) -- Steak ($$$) (very good, very expensive) Country Smokehouse (Cary) -- Texan nr Regency Park (real informal, cheap good food & good service) Remington Grill (Cary) -- Texan Crossroads Shopping Center (good Texas style barbequed ribs, avoid the other stuff) Thai Garden (Raleigh) -- Thai Wake Forest Rd / Falls of the Neuse Rd, behind EastGate Shopping Ctr (Thai dishes are all good. Try the Larp) Another Thyme (Durham) -- Vegetarian (Semi) nr Brightleaf Sq Pyewacket (Chapel Hill) -- Vegetarian (Semi) (excellent food, w vegetarian leanings)
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