The Gourmez

Little Fŭk’ər The Borough Downtown Raleigh $6.50 I’ve been to the Borough twice now, and I love it as a casual night spot to relax with slightly trussed up comfort food and a good drink list. This is my second time drinking the Little Fŭk’ər as well. It’s made with bourbon, red apple Schnapps, butterscotch [...]

Frosty’s Chocolate Orange Martini at the Washington Duke Inn For the month of December, you can order a cocktail of my very own creation at the Washington Duke Inn’s Fairview Dining Room and Bull Durham Bar. I won first place in their Blog Nog cocktail competition for my riff on a Terry’s chocolate orange. It’s [...]

Gregoria’s Kitchen 2818 Chapel Hill Road Rockwood/Lakewood, Durham $11—$21 Dinner only Gregoria’s Kitchen is a Cuban restaurant in a historic home/restaurant just south of where Chapel Hill Road crosses 15-501. There is not much parking in back so park at the Yates Baptist Church across the street or use their complimentary valet. First and foremost, [...]

Midtown Grille 4421-115 Six Forks Road North Hills, Raleigh Website Entrees: $19 — $29 Closed on Sundays I had never heard of the Midtown Grille before the Angus Beef night at Fire in the Triangle. Chef Scott James did not win the night, but as you can read in my write-up on Durham Foodie, I [...]

City Kitchen 201 South Estes Drive University Mall, Chapel Hill Website $9—26 City Kitchen is part of the Giorgios Hospitality Group. It is a remodel from Spice Street, transitioning the huge, open space from a restaurant with dramatic, international flair to more of a French corner bistro writ large. The redesign is definitely keeping with [...]

It’s a Thursday, and the first one I’ve blogged on in a while. That’s what vacation will do to you. ,)  Speaking of vacation, I had another WRAL review published while I was gone, and it’s this Thursday’s bragging post. This one was cocktail-centric and focused on evaluating whether Bowbarr is a good spot to [...]

Calavera 444-101 South Blount St. Downtown Raleigh Website $3 per empanada Calavera is an empanada and tequila bar that—praise the lord—has a kitchen that stays open until 2 am. This is a wonderful, wonderful thing, as any night owl would tell you. Quality empanadas as a late-night snack? It’s divinely inspired, and Raleigh is lucky [...]