Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Brasa Steakhouse

Brasa is Raleigh's Brazillian steakhouse, and it is amazing.  On any given day, if I were given a free pass for dinner anywhere in Raleigh, I would choose Brasa.  For those not familiar with Brazillain steakhouses, let me fill you in on the basics.  First, all of the meat is cooked over a fire on a spit.  You'll be given some kind of button (a stone in Brasa's case) with a red side and a green side.  Whenever your the green side of your stone is facing up, the servers will come around with various meats still on the spit and offer to cut you off a slice.  Flip the stone to red to take a break or work on what's already on your plate.

Brasa itself is excellent.  The meat is the highest quality I've had anywhere and is cooked and spiced to perfection.  Every cut of meat is tender, and you how done your cut is by having an interior or exterior slice.  They even have a hot "side" buffet that would be worth the trip all by itself if it didn't mean missing out on having more meat.

You can save a few bucks by opting for the gold (instead of platinum) package, but you lose the option to sample some of the best meats.  I say, if you're going to go, go all the way.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

The Pit

Where do I go for upscale BBQ (yes there is such a thing) in Raleigh?  The Pit.  They specialized in chopped (NC style) BBQ, but everything I've had there is delicious.  I usually get a 2 or 3 meat combo to get the most out of the opportunity when I'm there.  The appetizer menu is full of traditional southern favorites like deviled eggs and cornbread, and they offer the other other white meat (turkey) for vegetarians.

The atmosphere and service are characteristic of a "nice" restaurant, and is a great place for a date.  It gets a little busy during peak times and parking is kind of tricky, but you can always rely on the valet service and they do take reservations.

Having been featured on The Food Network and a couple of network morning shows, The Pit isn't exactly a local secret.  Still, not everyone knows its there, and that's a shame.

Monday, November 12, 2012

BrickHouse Sports Pub

BrickHouse Sports Pub has the best wings I've had in Raleigh by far!  Not only are they huge, but the flavor of the sauce is great as well.  They don't have 100 flavors like some specialty wing joints, but they do Hot Buffalo right.  The dry rub is amazing as well.  Every time I go I get a half-order of each (with a side of cheese fries), and I can never decide which to save for last.  It's hard to find a good dry rub, but this one is great and the wings stay juicy too.

As of the writing of this post, wings are half off on Wednesday, so I make this a regular part of my weekly lunch rotation.

You have to keep yours eyes open, but you can find them if you look hard enough.  They're tucked away in a little shopping center on Hillsborough, just across from Meredith College.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Sushi Thai

Sushi Thai in Cary, NC is just outside of Raleigh in the heart of the Triangle.  This charming restaurants boasts both delicious Thai food as well as an array of freshly made sushi.  You can't go wrong with either choice.

The wait staff is conscientious and courteous, and the restaurant is warmly welcoming.  Have a seat at the ship-shaped sushi bar or at one of the many cozy tables or booths.

If you're in the mood for something spicy, try to the Paradise Chicken.  For the tamer of tongue, any one of the traditional curries is sure to be a winner!  You can see all their menus on their website, which also includes their lunch specialties.

Sushi Thai is located at 106 Kilmayne Drive in Cary, NC.

Monday, October 8, 2012

The Melting Pot

A week ago, a few friends and I went to The Melting Pot in Durham for a ladies' night out.  There are also a location near downtown Raleigh. 

I had been to other locations previously, and always had a great time.  Our group of seven shared two cheese fondues and two chocolate fondues.  We also split a delicious bottle of Riesling wine. 

The Melting Pot is definitely not fast food.  We had a leisurely meal filled with wonderful conversation and food just as good.  

I was pleasantly surprised when our total broke out to around $20 a person. I'd been on previous occasions on a date, and the total was much higher when we were paying it together.  If you've hesitated in going, try going with a group of friends and sharing a few items.


Thursday, October 4, 2012

About

Welcome to Raleigh Restaurants.  This blog will feature all different places to eat out in the Raleigh/Triangle area.  Find out my favorites, leave a comment with your own, and check back regularly to discover all kinds of new places to eat right in your backyard.