Morrisville NC help

[BorntoEat]

I love the Triangle and will be staying there a couple nights with my family before heading to the coast for a beach vacation in Emerald Isle. Typically we stay in Raleigh or Durham but this year the hotel we booked is near the airport, technically in Morrisville. Am wondering if there is any good food out that way. I will certainly drive for some of my favorites (like Guglehuphfs) regardless, but would love to find some spots nearby.

I love all kinds of food and will need to peel my extended family away from the convenience and predictability of chains. Love Indian (have heard there is good indian around), Mexican, bbq, thai - honestly anything good. However, only places that would be OK for a toddler or take-out. Also need some good coffee out that way. Doesn't even seem to be a Caribou in the vicinity. And good breakfast - otherwise my father will want to drive through Hardees.

Also are any of the Locopops in that area? Really want to get there this time around.

Also need to stock up on good wine, cheese etc before heading to the beach. Usually we go to Whole Foods but is there something closer that may fit the bill? Or does anyone know if there is a whole foods out near the big farmer's market (we always stop there on the way out for yummy produce to take with)?

Thanks much - you all have steered me towards great places in the past (Neomonde, Guglhuphfs etc etc) - look forward to trying some more this trip.

BorntoEat

[tryityoulllikeit]

Oh, if there's a beach birthday celebration, go ahead and order the cake from Edible Art on Hillsborough St. and pick it up on your way out too! Yum!

[tryityoulllikeit]

We just took that trip and I have to suggest Cup a Joe on Hillsborough St on your way out to the beach. Good quality coffee. Worth the short detour.

[cranewife]

NeoMonde is in Morrisville on Hwy 54 and has really great Mediterranean/Middle Eastern fare. Casual and great for kids. Wonderful desserts there, too!

I also love Saffron for Indian. It is off Davis Drive at McCrimmon Pkwy.

[Naco]

Didn't MAWA(My Authentic West African) move out to Morrisville?

[AreBe]

There are Hooters, Cracker Barrel and KFC/Taco Bell combo within spitting distance of the airport hotels. Not sure why you're asking for more.... The Cracker Barrel is the only breakfast place I can think of, and your dad just might love it.

For cue - take Hwy 54 west a bit to Smokey's Shack, lunch only and insanely busy - I arrive before 1130 or after 1 - NEWS FLASH now serving dinner Thurs-Sat!!! http://www.smokeysshack.com
If you go to LaFarm there are Wine Shop and ABC store right beside it
You're not far from BabyMoon http://www.babymooncafe.com
On Cary Pkway just north of LaFarm are Biaggi's casual Italian and Henry's Gelato
For a wine "WalMart" consider Total Wine at Brier Creek

[BorntoEat]

i'd heard henry's gelato was good - we'll have to stop in. Is baby moon in a strip mall with a harris teeter's? It looks really familiar.

[AreBe]

Babymoon is on the corner of an office building right on Airport Blvd, part of Perimeter Park - miles from a Harris Teeter

[blewgo]

Baby Moon is probably on the same road as your hotel. Koppers Road, turn right on 54 and watch for it on your left crosses Davis drive very close to the strip center.

There is a Locopops on Hillsboro St across from NC State.

[Suzy Q]

Henry's in FANTASTIC - I've sung Henry's praises many times on this board. Definitely check it out. You can also get gelato to go packaged in nice little styro containers that keep it cold for a good while - if you have a cooler, it would likely make it all the way to the beach.

Also, being in Morrisville, you'll be close to most things in Cary. There are lots of good suggestions in this thread and in others on the board. Might I also suggest the Food Factory (211 E. Chatham) in Cary for a family-friendly place with some great sandwiches? I know you mentioned a toddler.

Being near the airport, you'll also be close to the Brier Creek area. You'll find a Caribou there, as well as all kinds of restos and shopping - there's Target, Wally World, and Dick's if you need any last-minute beach supplies, as well as decent-but-not-mindblowing restaurants like Greek Fiesta, Brixx Pizza, Jason's Deli, etc.

[BorntoEat]

Weird question - but does anyone know if Henry's gelato has tshirts? My son's name is henry and i wouid love to pick some up if they exist.

Now i'm going to need a couple BIG coolers for the beach - for henry's gelato, locopops, and stuff from the farmer's market. :)

[Suzy Q]

Yes, he does have t-shirts, hats, tote bags, etc.

[BorntoEat]

Thanks for all the info Suzy Q. I can't figure out which of the Caribou's would be in Brier Creek. Can you give me a street name or zip code? Thanks!

[Suzy Q]

8201 Brier Creek Parkway, Raleigh - zip is 27617.

[BorntoEat]

Thanks so much - i have midwestern friends who are big caribou fans and can't get their fix in Seattle. So i'll bring them some beans back.

[Suzy Q]

If you're venturing into Cary to check out Henry's, definitely hit the shopping center with La Farm Bakery - there's a Caribou in the same center. Address for that Caribou is 4214 Cary Parkway, Cary NC, 27513. Henry's is in the Preston Walk shopping center, which is no more than a mile up Cary Parkway from La Farm and Caribou.

Map to Henry's:
http://www.henrysgelato.com/gelato_lo...

[Suzy Q]

Oh, and I also forgot about Mez. Easy to get there from the airport/Morrisville area - hop on 40 west, exit at Page Road, turn left, and you're pretty much there. The food is great, but IMHO their best item is the guacamole. We go there for happy hour just for the blood orange margaritas and a bowl of guac!

[cackalackie]

I wanted to point out that if you're in the Airport Blvd area, then Brier Creek is not any closer that the Cary suggestions here. If you are looking for Caribou, I think you should take Suzy Q's advice and head towards Cary.

(Brier Creek is on the other side of the airport , and will take you about 10 minutes. In that same amount of time, you can get to many other places that you might enjoy more. Brier Creek is mostly chains - and Target, etc.)

[BorntoEat]

Thanks for the Cary Caribou suggestions. Sounds like the La Farm Bakery shopping center will meet all of my needs for the entire trip!

[cackalackie]

(Did we mention there's also an ABC store and a wine shop right there as well?)

[blewgo]

And Fresh Market is about a half mile further down Cary Parkway?

[cackalackie]

Oh yeah! And Trader Joes is just a few miles past that!

[BorntoEat]

I am definitely never ever leaving! Do they have condos as well? :)

[blewgo]

If you have a car everything in the triangle is within easy driving distance,

Saffron and Nikos are both nearby and excellent.
http://nikostavernainc.com/
http://www.saffronnc.com/

Not far off, on Cary Parkway are La Farm Bakery and Cafe

http://www.lafarmbakery.com/
Cafe menu:
http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo153/elementalBob/laf1.jpg
http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo153/elementalBob/laf2.jpg
http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo153/elementalBob/laf3.jpg

Fresh Market is about a half mile further down Cary Parkway. They have a pretty good meat and cheese selection.

http://www.thefreshmarket.com/stores/store_locationsDetail.aspx?StoreID=6

The Morrisville Neomonde is probably within a mile of your hotel.

http://www.neomonde.com/about/locatio...

[BorntoEat]

OK - i shouldn't have read the la farm bakery cafe menu - now i'm super hungry and know that my luke warm stir-fry leftovers aren't going to cut it. Will definately check that place out while in NC.

[Tom from Raleigh]

I think the best cheese selection in the Triangle is at A Southern Season by a mile. They're in Chapel Hill, but it's well worth the drive since in the same area, you could pick up LocoPops and really good Chinese food (can't think of the name) in the same strip mall as LocoPops. My tip: take a small cooler when you go to LocoPops and buy enough to take to the beach. A Southern Season is a must stop for a travelling foodie.

Also Super Wok has great Chinese food, see today's N&O online. They're in Cary. Saffron serves the best Indian food I've ever had. There's a good Cuban place right in Morrisville near the mini outlet mall. I can't think of the name, but I know it's right near by.

Speaking of kid friendly, I really like Tyler's in Apex. Great food and 80 beers on tap. It's a nice place that I'd take my kids in a heartbeat. Great garlic fries.

[BorntoEat]

thanks for the tyler's suggestion Tom. i think we could do take out from saffron, but it looks a little too nice for my 2 yr old for eating in. And beer always makes things more bearable. And now i'm going to have to try and work out a stop by locopops on the way out of town. are any of the locopops east of the airport?

[winedine]

You won't find a better cheese selection than at WF Raleigh, which is not really that far out of the way. There is a Caribou at Preston corners, near intersection of High House, Cary Pky in the Brueggers building. Also in the same complex is La Farm bakery which offers a cafe experience now for lunch/brk. There is also a Wine Merchant there. Not too far away, on Harrison/close to interstate 40 is a Sam's Club with decent wine prices if you have a membership.
Saffron in Morrisville is usually good for Indian. Also in Morrisville on 54 is Rub's BBQ (name might be different now) which is good/informal

[cervisiam]

saffron (indian) is in morrisville; nikos (greek) and harris teeter (groceries) is in the same shopping center as saffron.
carniceria toledos (mexican) near 55/54 in durham - about 7 miles from airport