Dining near South Point or between there and Chapel Hill?
Hi Everyone,
Lulu has a birthday party to go to Saturday afternoon at South Point mall, and we decide to go out to eat after since we'll be out anyway. I don't spend a lot of time in that direction/area, so don't know much about the restaurants there (aside from having had a few unexciting meals at the mall). Is there some hidden gem in the area? Or between it and Chapel Hill? I think I know all the places between 40 and CH on 54, but someplace maybe on the part of 54 near South Point? Or somewhere I haven't thought of in Durham that isn't far from the mall? Just so long as it isn't a place that mainly serves pork, we're good with just about anything, but we would like it to be good. So price, type of food not important - quality very important. Thank in advance.
By LulusMom
on Aug 3, 2011 07:31 AM
View »
In the Woodcroft area:
City Beverage or Yamazushi.
Not far from the mall on Highway 55:
Vit Goal Tofu, Chosun Ok, Papa Mojos, Thai Lanna, or Backyard BBQ Pit.
-----
City Beverage
4810 Hope Valley Rd Ste 105, Durham, NC 27707
Vit Goal
2107 Allendown Dr Ste 101, Durham, NC 27713
Permalink | Reply
City Beverage is sounding pretty perfect for what we'll need that day. Thank you so much. If anyone has anything horrible to say about it, please let me know before Saturday.
thanks everyone!
-----
City Beverage
4810 Hope Valley Rd Ste 105, Durham, NC 27707
Permalink | Reply
We did end up going to City Beverage, and many thanks to Tooth Tooth. I took a look at their menu online and it seemed like a good place for us - a fair number of vegetarian choices, burgers, interesting pub grub, and lots of beers on tap. I think my husband thought his burger was just ok, but I absolutely loved the tuna tacos. They sear the tuna - mine until just rare - and they are really really good. Service was great - husband's fries initially came out cold, and the moment we said anything they were whisked away and replace by new, hot ones. We shared the asparagus appetizer (they call it something like green fries). Basically beer battered (think sort of like tempura) asparagus with a lemon aioli. Pretty tasty. It was just right in late afternoon after time at the mall around tons of people. Quiet, pleasant food and service, lots of choice on the menu. I'd go back again. Not fine dining but a fun and funky place with decent food.
-----
City Beverage
4810 Hope Valley Rd Ste 105, Durham, NC 27707
Permalink | Reply
Carpe Durham recently did a piece on the Dulce Cafe near there. Bocci does a decent pizza, but I can't vouch for the rest of their menu. Southpoint is also not far at all from the places on the south side of Durham like Tonali, Only Burger, Pop's Backdoor South, G2B pub, Taqueria La Vaquita, Twisted Noodle, Four Square, and even Nana's, Guglhupf, or Foster's Market. Among those I've tried Tonali, La Vaquita, and Twisted Noodle are my favorites.
Permalink | Reply
Many thanks to you both - I appreciate the info. I'll be looking into the suggestions. I've been to Tonali and Nanas, and will skip the BBQ suggestion just since it seems difficult if one doesn't eat pork, but I'll look into the others. G2B might be a great idea - I've been wanting to try it. Is Yamazushi an especially good sushi place? We're BIG sushi fans.
-----
Tonali Restaurant
3642 Shannon Rd Ste 1, Durham, NC 27707
Permalink | Reply
I had sushi from Yamazushi once and it was pretty bad. The piece were on the small side and the execution was sloppy. I wouldn't recommend it.
I would recommend two sushi places closer to the Mall, Momoyama and Shiki Sushi. Both are solid sushi places. Both are reviewed on carpe durham.
You really should check out the intersection of 54 and 55, if you've never been. There are seveal other interesting ethnic eateries there.
-----
Shiki Sushi
207 W Nc Highway 54, Durham, NC 27713
Permalink | Reply
I've driven through that intersection (and once got a flat there on my way to the airport - ugh!), but of course from the car you can't really see much of what is available.
Thanks very much for the info on the sushi. Definitely don't want disappointing stuff.
I should probably add that beer or wine is something I'll want after a kid's b-day party ; )
Permalink | Reply
Chosun Ok; had really great bibimbap there. It's where I'd go.
Permalink | Reply
Thanks Rory. If you were going to get something without meat there (knowing you often go that way), what would it be?
Permalink | Reply
I love the pancakes, I think that's what they're called at Chosun OK. We get 1 order of kim chee pancakes and 1 order of seafood pancakes.
By the way, when my wife has a cold the only known cure is Chosun OK's baby goat soup. It's so hot and spicy. It always does the trick.
Permalink | Reply
You go and get it for her? You win best husband award - that is SO nice.
Permalink | Reply
"You really should check out the intersection of 54 and 55, if you've never been. There are seveal other interesting ethnic eateries there."
T-H-I-S!! Excellent advice from Tom here. The Jamaican restaurant near Big Lots has the best jerk chicken in the area, imho.
Permalink | Reply
Love jerk chicken. Will have to check that out - thanks.
Permalink | Reply
G2B is only open for dinner. Supposedly they'll start doing lunch sometime in the future.
Permalink | Reply
I live next to Southpoint. I"ve been to Chosun OK wasn't overly impressed. Bocci is decent, but it took them more than 1 hour to make soup so that was a bit dismal and was a one time issue. The Dulce cafe looks yummy. Don't forget that Nordstrom's has a small bistro cafe too which people tend to like. I've not been to Papa Mojo's. Yamazushi according to a Japanese Hawaiin friend does good Japaneses (think Katsu). I enjoy ONE in Meadowmont and I enjoyed the Saffron over at East 54. Not sure if Streets has picked up their game over at the same place. Jujube is always a good choice but that is one you know of. Apparently there is a Bonefish Grill coming to the development on the other side of 751. Momoyama has good sushi. Shiki Sushi has good sushi and sometimes BOGO. I can't comment on Benetis Athena as I've not been there nor on Sarah's Empanadas if she is still there.
-----
Sarah's Empanadas
5410 Nc Highway 55 Ste O, Durham, NC 27713
Benetis Restaurant
5410 Nc Highway 55 Ste Q, Durham, NC 27713
Shiki Sushi
207 W Nc Highway 54, Durham, NC 27713
Permalink | Reply
Yeah, I'm trying to stay away from places that are either chains or where we've been before (and for some reason Lulu, who eats almost everything, really dislikes Jujube - go figure).
I'd be interested in hearing about any recent experiences at One. We live close to it, and still haven't tried it. Nothing I've read so far has made me excited enough to do so, but I'd like to have my arm twisted if it is worth it.
Permalink | Reply
Or what is the name of the place in the same strip as Mardi Gras bowling?
Permalink | Reply
Bangkok 54 is in the Mardi Gras plaza, and has excellent food. Their Thai Basil is great and I really like their Massaman, but the potatoes are always raw (which seems to be endemic in massaman, or perhaps is just the Thai way....)
Permalink | Reply
I LOVE the Massaman at Thai Cafe, but no potatoes in it. Just cashews and avocado.
Permalink | Reply
I'm with Lulu on that one ;)
Permalink | Reply
Lunch today at MinGa, the Korean/Japanese place that replaced Sushiyoshi (?) at 116 Old Durham Road, Chapel Hill behind the Blue Cross building. Spectacular food, nice people, around 16 folks there for lunch today when I was there. The Kimchi Jige, my go to calibration for new Korean places, was impeccable. Broth fiery, kim chi nicely prepared, wonderful silky tofu, and a collection of condiments quite unlike Chosun-Ok. Service a bit slow for me, as I arrived after a large group, but the chef came out to talk with that table's Korean hosts, and they were praising her to the skies. I watched the dishes they were having as they arrived, and the presentation was so nice I'm coming back with more friends so we can share!
P.S. They're on Facebook, and they have free WiFi.
Permalink | Reply
This is Great info. Especially happy that they're open for lunch. Will have to try it soon. thank you.
Permalink | Reply
Same here I'm looking to try more Japanese food that is not sushi and steakhouse fare.
Permalink | Reply
MinGa is more Korean than Japanese place, just FYI. Menu is available on their FB site. More discussion about MinGa at this thread,
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/792728
Permalink | Reply
I'm not on facebook, do they also have a website? I'm excited about Korean.
Permalink | Reply
Don't think they have a website now. Not sure if you need to have an account to view the FB page, you may try
http://www.facebook.com/mingarestaurant
Permalink | Reply