136256 Thu Apr 10 15:43:00 -0700 2003 14 11 South 0 731073 Having been in Chapel Hill just about a year now, I offer the following round-up of my mostly negative local dining experiences. I hope these notes prove helpful to others -- especially when it comes to avoiding some of the costly mistakes we've made. The most notable detail, I suppose, is the really poor showing made by the local Chinese restaurants. Restaurants with a 6 or 7 rating are worth revisiting; with a 5 rating are debatably worth revisiting; with a sub-5 rating probably not worth revisiting. This takes into account price, service, and ambience (elegance and grunge both having their appeal). Restaurants are measured by the standards appropriate to its type. A “10” would be a truly great restaurant. Magnolia Grill – 7 Thai Palace – 7 Gugelhopf – 7 Allen and Sons BBQ – 7 Grill at Glen-Lennox – 6 Il Palio – 6 The Q Shack – 6 Alfredo’s Pizza (University Mall, whole pies only) – 6 Akai Hana (Carrboro) – 6 Elmo’s (Carrboro) – 6 Aurora – 6 Bullock’s BBQ – 6 La Farm Bakery (Cary) – 6 Royal Sitar India – 5 Brixx Wood-Fired Pizza – 5 Vespa – 5 Sal’s Pizza – 5 411 West – 5 The Spotted Dog – 5 501 Diner – 5 Spartacus – 5 Panzanella – 5 Hong Kong Restaurant – 4 Neo-China – 4 China Palace (Garrett Rd., Durham) – 4 China One – 4 Pao Lim – 4 Jade Palace - 4 (Carrboro) Sushi Yoshi – 4 Crook’s Corner – 4 Tandoor Indian – 3 El Rodeo – 3 Anna Maria’s Pizzeria (Carrboro Mall) – 3 Daniel’s Pizza and Pasta (Cary) – 3 Carrburritos – 3 Dillard’s BBQ – 3 Mama Dip’s – 2 Valentino’s – 1 El Cuzcutleco – 1 Thu Apr 10 15:43:00 -0700 2003 0 David A. 1 731074 David, I, too, have been in Chapel Hill less than two years. I haven't frequented many of the restaurants on your list, but did recognize some and concur with your "ratings." This past weekend, we took an out of town guest to Thai Palace and had another great meal. I would like to hear more about Gugelhopf (location, your favorite entrees, price, etc) as I've never heard of it. I was also curious about what you thought of Lantern and Acme. With my limited experiences dining out around here, I've been very impressed with those two establishments. This past friday, we took our guest to the Flying Burrito - hideous service and atmosphere. Probably will not return. Thu Apr 10 16:31:01 -0700 2003 731073 0 Kevin N. 2 731075 Gugelhopf is a German bakery located to the rear of a hair salon on 15-501 in Durham (just next to the Chinese grocery store). The bread is good, but the traditional pastries are outstanding. The apple strudel is the closest thing to world class food I've had since moving South. It puts to shame the kind of desserts served at semi-fancy places like 411 West, Aurora, and Grill at Glenn-Lennox. I have not been to Acme, but my wife has, and she has nothing good to say about it. This may have been mere bad luck: the wrong dish on the wrong night (which is not to say that Acme is excused -- merely that they're capable of doing better). I'd love to try it myself but I can't get my wife to budge. I'm glad my "guide" has been helpful. Best, David A. Thu Apr 10 17:49:08 -0700 2003 731074 0 David A. 3 731113 About Gulghupf. It is a European style bakery and since discovering it, I've bought many of the breads and some of the pastries they sell. The bread is superb. Leagues above grocery store bread. None of the pastries I've eaten were anything but totally delicious and on par with European standards and thus a true gem in the Triangle. For total chocolate decadence, try the nut square. I was in there on Sunday and they have some Easter specialities at the moment. The range of breads include wheat free, for those intersted. Link: http://www.guglhupf.com/ Mon Apr 14 16:44:56 -0700 2003 731075 0 NC Penguin 2 731090 The entrees we had at the Lantern were fine, but it was the appetizers that we liked the most. I would recommend just having drinks and an assortment of their apps at the bar. Fri Apr 11 16:11:12 -0700 2003 731074 0 Sant 1 731077 Good info! But I would switch Thai Palace and Carrburrito's. Carrburrito's - 7 Thai Palace - 3 just my personal opinion. and yes, the food sucks here. welcome. Thu Apr 10 20:06:42 -0700 2003 731073 0 Jeff 2 731089 Thai Palace a 3? It's one of my favorite restaurants. I'd give it an 8. The good is good here. You just have to find it. You're right, to each his own. Fri Apr 11 16:06:38 -0700 2003 731077 0 Sant 3 732653 What do you suggest at Thai Palace? Fri Jul 25 19:22:13 -0700 2003 731089 0 jb 1 731079 Great list David, Personally I think Gugelhupf is enough better (for what it is) than Magnolia Grill and Thai Palace that there should be some indication... I would lower Pao Lim's rating by 1 and raise Hong Kong's, but I admit that's more based on my low expectations for chinese in NC than anything else. I also wonder about Bullocks. I assume you're not talking about their bbq (which is terrible) so I'm curious what you would recommend, including sides, which I've found to be uneven. Also, out of curiosity, what is your opinion, if any, on: Nana's Eastern Lights Lantern Mi Pequeno Honduras I'm going to Nanas for the first time tonight. quite looking forward to it. Ben Fri Apr 11 10:38:40 -0700 2003 731073 0 ben f 2 731082 Bullock's is all right: the cue isn't much, but the fried chicken and cole slaw are good, and -- a thing not to be sniffed at -- it's very cheap. I haven't been to the restaurants you mention, but I would appreciate any recommendations. Are there particularly good restaurants I've yet to try? Best, David A. Fri Apr 11 11:07:08 -0700 2003 731079 0 David A, 2 731085 Nana's chef is Scott Howell, Ben Barker's former protage' at Magnolia Grill. Nana's is a far superior restaurant in atmosphere and ambiance but not quite up to par with Magnolia Grill in imagination of food preparation. However, his prices are a little more reasonable than MG. I'm sure you'll enjoy your experience. As an aside, Scott Howell also is a co-owner of the Q Shack next door. I also highly recommend Four Sqaure in Durham. The refurbished Victorian house is gorgeous and the food is well prepared. I'd put it a notch below MG and a notch above Nana's. The only rating I disagree with David about is 411 West. I think it's a good restuarant that serves well prepared food at a very fair price, especially at lunch. Given the long wait list at dinner time, I guess many others feel the same way. I'd like somebody to rate the Farrington House. I'm sure I'll go one of these days but a $75-85/person fixed price menu is quite rich on a prof's salary. Fri Apr 11 14:31:41 -0700 2003 731079 0 Sant 3 731092 There is definitely something to be said for 411 West. I recall having a nice pizza and a good linguine with seafood, but the bread and dessert were lousy, and the experience was not as cheap as I would have liked: about $50. It's interesting that the ratings that prompted serious disagreement -- Bullock's and 411 West -- were the two that I was most conflicted about. I was tempted to give Bullock's a "5" rather than a "6" and 411 West a "6" rather than a "5." (You may be thinking to yourself: this fellow has too much time on his hands. Actually, I tend to waste time that I DON'T have). As far as Thai Palace goes, I quite agree: this is easily that best Asian restaurant in the area. No competition, as far as I have yet been able to discover. I too am a professor and not likely to be dining at Fearrington House any time soon. My mother and grandmother went recently and loved it, but I do not entirely trust their judgment. I would rather save my money and dine extravagantly in Washington and New York, as I did last weekend, enjoying a fabulous meal at Chanterelle. Best, David A. Sat Apr 12 10:17:37 -0700 2003 731085 0 David A. 4 731449 It's in a shopping center on New Bern Ave., in Raleigh. You need to call a day in advance for Peking Duck. Tue May 13 13:22:39 -0700 2003 731092 0 Ed 3 731753 Fearrington can have its ups and downs but it's a marvelous place for a special occasion splurge. The service and attentive without being intrusive and as long as the kitchen doesn't get cutesy, the food is excellent. The meal, however, can be a 2-hour affair, a pace more suited to European diners rather than impatient Americans. Sat Jun 07 22:32:58 -0700 2003 731085 0 fbb 1 731088 i live in raleigh and have visited some of the places on your list. none are that great except for il palio. i love this place and definitely give it a 10 for this area. nana's is a 10 to me as well. sullivan's for steak. sushi breeze for sushi. bistro 607 gets high marks with me. i also like rockford and the duck and dumpling. Fri Apr 11 15:52:58 -0700 2003 731073 0 d