What To Have

This is a little guide that Matt and myself have put together as a guide for eating out from our experiences.

1) Sit at the bar

If you are at a restaurant that you plan to visit fairly often, this allows you the chance to build a relationship with the bar staff. Most restaurants have 2 or 3 bartenders that cover all the time that the place is open and anywhere from 3-20 wait staff. Each time you go to the restaurant, the chances of getting the same wait(er)(ress) is slim. The chances of dealing with the same person behind the bar are high. This allows you to get to know them, and more importantly get to know you. They will learn what you like, what you don’t like, and how to make you happy.

2) Tip well, you cheapskate

I tip a minimum of 20%. (Generally because I’m terrible at math and that’s easy to figure out). Remember, the federal minimum wage for tipped employees is $2.13 an hour. No, that isn’t a typo, in a 40 hour week, most wait staff make about $85 from their employer. They make the money they live off of from tips. Most of these people have a family to feed, so if you think the service is good let them know…show them the money. Waitstaff remember people who tip well. If you want good service at a restaurant you frequent, this is the best way to get it.

3) Ask about the specials

You ever have a job where you did the same 5 things over and over again all day? You remember how boring it was? Chef’s probably feel the same way about cooking the same entrees from their menu that changes infrequently at most places. The specials are usually ways for them to stretch their legs and try new things. Generally, I find that these dishes can be awesome surprises.

4) Have “Your Place”

Find a place you really like. Visit there at least once a week for a month or so. Introduce yourself to the owner/bartender/manager. Follow steps 1-3. By the end of the month, you have more than likely made this restaurant “Your Place”.

“Your Place” will cook you special meals. “Your Place” may comp you food or drink. “Your Place” likes you being there and takes care of you.

Next time you are out and about, keep these tips in mind, and you may find that they improve the service you get and make your visit more enjoyable.

–Sean

The Raleigh Times is one of downtown’s new and trendiest additions. They offer first tier “bar food” but really, it’s not what I’d consider bar food. They don’t fry everything and each dish doesn’t come with French fries. Usually the sandwiches come with a small portion of whatever the chef felt like making. Previous choices have included fresh pasta salad and fresh potato salad. French fries are available for those looking for something more traditional to American bar food.

For lunch I had one of my favorite comfort foods. Their BLT. I think I’ve said before on here that I am a fan of BLT’s, this one ranks close to the top. I’ve called this sandwich the “almost too much bacon” BLT in the past. The “almost” is there because can you ever have too much bacon? I don’t think so!

This is a basic sandwich made with fresh ingredients. The bread is a fluffy wheatberry, the lettuce and tomato fresh, the mayo made in-house and we’ve already discussed the bacon. In my opinion this is a perfect choice for a meal.

Raleigh Times is also a great place for dinner, they go far beyond what I’d expect for a restaurant with such a casual atmosphere. Look for other reviews later but just know, they corn their own beef for rueben sandwiches, they freshly prepare their guacamole and the burgers are one of the only places you can get below well done because they grind their own hamburger.

I’ve had virtually everything on the menu, and future reviews will include more of my suggestions.

–Matt

I affectionately call brunch at Hibernian the “meat buffet”. This was on my short list of places to go for a hang-over cure. Greasy food etc.. seemed to fit the bill. This last trip completely surprised me though, it’s no longer just what I’d consider a meat buffet, everything was excellent and very fresh.

Now, I will say that I ate my share of meat during this trip, the bacon they have is crispy and there’s tons of it. They also have English sausage, which you don’t find many places. They’ve branched in their offering to a few local favorites and some things you’d never expect to find in a Pub here in the states.

They offered biscuits and gravy. It was traditional white sausage gravy, but the biscuits had baked in cheese. Very good, I’d never thought of that. Here’s a short list of some additional items I’d suggest:

• fresh sliced tomatoes with crumbled blue cheese (on of my favorites).
• Eggs benedict
• Excellent pastries stuffed with cream cheese, cinnamon or apple
• Fresh salad, both traditional and Caesar
• Seared filet. One of the best items here, medium steak sliced thin and piled high
• Potatoes au gratin
• Smoked salmon

This list is nowhere near inclusive, this is just what I remember trying and really enjoying. If you’re in the area early Sunday, stop by Hibernian and give their buffet a try, I’m sure everyone in your group will find something they like. And nursing a headache or not, I’ll be back soon.

–Matt

I often overlook Humble Pie for dinner, thankfully, this time I did not. This meal was comprised of a couple of my favorites and a new addition to the menu. The dinner menu is mainly tapas style dishes with a few items that are large enough to be a main course unto themselves.

I started with their tuna tostada . a square crunchy pastry forms the bottom of this app. Topped with some marinated cabbage and a slice of rare tuna. The dish is finished with a bit of cream and sliced ginger. It’s served with a small bowl of soy sauce with crushed peppers. I really like this dish, and could eat a few as a whole meal.

The next item was their spinach tart. A round pasty topped with wilted spinach and goat cheese. The whole thing is baked in the oven and cut in quarters like pizza. This dish is a great combination of garlic spinach and cheese.

My last item was grilled andouille sausage. This item wasn’t on the menu last time I was there. I must say, it was the highlight of the meal. It was served with a cheddar cheese/jalepeno bread pudding, a roasted tomato and roast corn sauce. The bread putting was almost muffin like, it was an excellent accompaniment to the sausage. The corn sauce was different and worked well with the dish. I would suggest this to anyone that likes spicy foods.

–Matt

I truly enjoy brunch on an early sunday afternoon in downtown Raleigh, whether getting ready for an afternoon of watching football, nursing a headache from a long night out on the town or getting ready for whatever Sunday might bring.

Humble Pie offers one of the best brunches around. I’ve had brunch at Humble Pie many times, their menu ranges from the traditional southern biscuits and gravy to huevos rancheros. This trip however, I got another one of my favorites. The Cobelt Sandwich. Brunch starts with their fresh made biscuits with jelly/butter. Try the fresh squeezed OJ as well.

I am a fan of BLT’s, I’d consider them one of my favorite comfort foods right up there with mac and cheese. This sandwich is definitely something to try. They start with texas toast (already good in my book) along with bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo, they add cheese, sliced onion and a fried egg. If it sounds sort of like a fried egg sandwich and a BLT to you, then you’re catching the drift. The taste is like nothing I’ve had before in a sandwich. I’d suggest cutting the sandwich down the middle so the egg yolk runs out and touches every bite. Come hungry, this one is a monster.

–Matt