Where to take an Italian guest?

In , on 08/04/97
  Barb M. wrote:

<-  Here is my dilemma: I would love to
<- show her what NC does well, not go broke,
<- and not try to compete with the food she
<- has grown up on (stop the groaning,
<- Magnolia Grill is on the list for one
<- night).  She will be here from Aug 9-
<- 13th.Where should we take her?

Right, don't even think about Italian food here.  There's Nana's as well as the Grill. There's Stevenson's (Stephenson's?) barbecue in Benson, probably the best around here.  There's Dim Sum on Sat. or Sun (11am-3pm) at either Hong Kong or China One.  There's decent sushi in Raleigh and Cary (Kashin and Kuki). There's Fortune Garden for decent home style Thai (on 55 in the Greenwood Commons). Pickings get pretty slim after that.  Certainly traditional southern (that's any good) is gone unless you drive to Benson.  (You might, though, try Crook's Corner which can still be good and it's worth trying those recipes of Bill Neal's that are still used.)  Of the new American cooking there's a big fall off after MG and Nana's though I think Wild Turtle will be good. But do ask her where I should eat in Orvieto and nearby in October!

--
                                        Regards,
                                        David

"What would life be without arithmetic, but a scene of horrors?"
                      -Rev. Sydney Smith, letter to young lady, 22 July 1835

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----------------------------------------------------------- David Auerbach                           [email removed] (David Auerbach) Department of Philosophy & Religion NCSU Box 8103 Raleigh, 27695-8103
-----------------------------------------------------------

Someone wrote:
: I have a friend coming for
: several days from Italy and I am trying to
: decide where to take her for dinner (or
: lunch) when she comes to visit me.

[etc., deleted]

Obviously, I'd suggest you avoid trying to impress her with the "Italian" food around here.  However, for eclectic and interesting menus, fine service, and enjoyable atmosphere I'd recommend Magnolia Grill (duh), Nana's, Wicked Smile (current favorite restaurant -- great room, spectacular food, good wine list, and a pretty good -- though not great -- dessert menu.  A bit pricey, but certainly no worse that Mag. Grill or Nana's), and Cafe Georgio (the food is pretty darn good -- though not up to the level of the other restaurants in this list -- and they have the absolute best Fried Calimari I've ever had.  Plus, the room is really terrific.  Also pretty affordable).

For a more relaxed atmosphere, try out Pops in downtown Durham (near Brightleaf Sq.) or Another Thyme (don't do Another Thyme for lunch, though
-- I've tried them three times for lunch and twice the service was very poor i.e. rude, inattentive, slow, etc. and the food arrived nearly 45 minutes after we ordered -- and cold.  The other time the service was slow, but friendly, and the food was still pretty cold when it arrived. Dinner has always been very pleasant, though).

And if you feel like taking a road trip for a day, there's a positively spectacular Cajun restaurant in Greensboro named The Cajun Lady. Delicious food, live Dixieland jazz nightly, cozy and nicely decorated place.  Again, prices are a bit steep (around the Nana's/Wicked Smile Range) but the place is worth both the trip and dollars.

-- Gregg P.

Bloomsbury Bistro (in Five Points area in Raleigh) is one of our favorites.  Prices are in line with Nana's and Magnolia Grill.  Menu changes periodically.  Have always had good dining experiences there.