Category Archives: Restaurant Reviews

March 29, 2012 · 9:37 am

Picture of the Week – Clyde Cooper’s BBQ in Raleigh

Clyde Cooper's BBQ

Clyde Cooper's BBQ ~ 109 East Davie Street Raleigh, NC

I snapped this picture of Clyde Cooper’s BBQ  yesterday afternoon while walking along Davie Street in downtown Raleigh.  Clyde’s is a Raleigh institution famous for their Carolina-style barbecue. They have been serving area residents with their slow cooked top lean pork shoulders and hams since 1938. While there are many great BBQ places in the Triangle, no BBQ tour is complete without a visit to Clyde’s.  To view their full menu visit their website: http://clydecoopersbbq.com/

(Every week I feature a photo of a local business or event taken during the past seven days.  If you would like to submit a photo for consideration please email met at triangleexplorer@gmail.com. If your photo is selected proper credit will be given along with a link back to your website.  Thanks!)

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March 5, 2012 · 10:23 pm

Free Burgers for a Year! Anniversary Golden Bull Search at Bull City Burger & Brewery in Durham

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Flight of Beer Samples ~ From left to right: Parrish Street Pale Ale, Pratt Pilsner, Bull's IPA, & Youngen Horny Barley Wine.

Bull City Burger & Brewery in Durham is celebrating its one year anniverary this month. To help them celebrate they are holding another “find the golden bull” contest like the one they did to mark their grand opening back in March 2011. The owner has hidden 5 small golden bull figures around Durham. Each day they post a clue about where they are hidden. If you find one of the golden bulls you win a free burger a week for the next year! You read the contest clues and rules here.

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The Bar at Bull Coty Burger & Brewery

Sadly, I have yet to eat one of their burgers but I hear they are fantastic. They use locally sourced meat that is hormone and antibiotic free. They also brew their own beer onsite and serve up some incredible “dirty” fries. I stopped in Bull City to sample some of their beers (pictured above). You can sample 3 or more of their beers for just $1 each and full pints are only $4.22.

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Seating at Bull City Burger & Brewery

Seasting consists of chairs at the bar and large community tables on the main floor where groups can sit together. You place your order at the counter and are given a number to display on your table and a server will bring you your food. Bull City Burger has been well received by the burger loving crowd and plays a strong role in the ongoing revitalization of downtown Durham. To learn more about the menu and beer offerings check out their website and facebook page. Check back here soon for a full review of their burgers as I plan to eat there early next month and get some additional photos!

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February 15, 2012 · 5:30 am

Lilly’s Pizza to Open Downtown Durham Location

lilly's pizza

Lilly's Pizza - Five Points in Raleigh

The folks at Downtown Durham Inc. are reporting that Lilly’s Pizza, one of the most beloved pizza joints in Raleigh, is planning to open a new location in Downtown Durham in 2012. Word is it will fill the location previously occupied by Pop’s (Next to Morgan Imports). This is great news for pizza fans in Durham as the Lilly’s Pizza in Raleigh’s Five Points area is one of the most popular pizza joints in the Triangle.  Not only are they a fan favorite for lovers of gourmet pizza toppings, they are also well known for being one of the few places in the area that offers a gluten free pizza.  Check back here in the coming months updates on progress and the grand opening date.

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February 12, 2012 · 8:20 pm

Cafe’ Prost of Wake Forest: German Pretzels Arrive in The Triangle!

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Cafe Prost Gourmet Pretzel Truck out of Wake Forest

I’ve been following this Cafe Prost for some time now and happy to see they are now out on the Streets of the Triangle on a regualr basis adding to the local foodie scene!  Their truck is based out of Wake Forest and serves up the most incredible German pretzels I’ve ever had. They keep it simple by focusing on gourmet German pretzels but also offer some amazing oatmeal walnut raisin cookies and fresh brewed coffee as well.

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Today's Menu

Last week I caught up with the Cafe Prost truck while it was parked at the Star Mart Service Station at 818 South Main Street in Wake Forest across the street from the blue Aqaurium Outfitters building (Link to Map). You can typically find the truck parked in this spot Wednesday through Friday from 8am to noon throughout the month of February. On Saturdays they are usually set up across the street from the Durham Farmers’ Market and they are starting to make regular appearances at Fullsteam Brewery.

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Pesto Romano Pretzel from Cafe Prost

When I stopped by their truck last week in Wake Forest they were offering three kinds of pretzels: traditional Swabian-German pretzels topped with sea salt, pesto romano pretzels, and jalapeno provolone pretzels.  They were just pulling a tray of freshly bakes pesto roman and jalapeno provolone pretzels out of the oven when I arrived so I bought one of each and a coffee. The pretzels were amazing!  The pretzels are soft and fluffy on the inside with warm toasted exterior that provides a synergistic texture on your tounge.

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Jalapeno Provolone Pretzel from Cafe Prost

The pesto romano pretzel was my favorite with just the right balance of herb and cheese. I would have never thought of adding peppers as a topping to a pretzle, but I found the jalapeno provolone pretzel to be delicious as well. The jalapeno was not too hot and went incredibly well with the toasted cheese to compliment the pretzel.  Both pretzels were so flavorful I found I didn’t even need mustard (which I love) and instead enjoyed them both “as is”. I would recommend trying both of these pretzels and look forward to having more of them and other pretzle offerings from Cafe Prost in the future.

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Cafe Prost

Cafe Prost accepts both cash and credit cards as methods of payment.  To keep posted on where they will be each week you can follow them on twitter @cafeprost.  If you are interested in having Cafe Prost park their pretzel truck at your place of business or special event or buying their pretzels for resale you can contact them through their website for more information. I think they  would make a great addition to the food truck rotation at both Fullsteam and Big Boss brewery as well as the soon to open White Street Brewery in Wake Forest. I mean who out there doesn’t like warm soft pretzels and beer?

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February 2, 2012 · 3:56 pm

Triangle Area Pizza: Super Bowl Sunday Options!

Pizza

I always enjoy eating a nice pizza while watching the Super Bowl. Despite online discussions on review sites like yelp debating the issue, there are actually some really terrific pizza offerings in the Triangle. So where do you plan to get your pie for the big game?

Some options I am considering are (in no particular order) are Klausie’s Pizza, Pie Pushers, Zpizza, and Bella Italia (all pictured below). I may need to flip a coin to decide! I’ve provided links to their websites below if you want to check out their menus and any specials they may be running Super Bowl Sunday. Feel free to post your recommendations for great pizza in the comments section below!

Klausie’s Pizza
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Klausie’s Pizza is a pizza truck out of Raleigh that is open for Super Bowl Pizza pickup this Sunday! They will be doing full bakes and take-and-bakes on Sunday from their truck located on 230 Newton Rd off Six Forks Road from 3-6:30pm. Call-in your orders to 919-880-1087. To view Klausie’s Pizza Menu and keep tabs on where they will be, check out their website: http://www.klausies.com/

Pie Pushers
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Pie Pushers is a pizza food truck out of Durham having a Super Bowl special offering pre-ordered Superbowl XLVI Packages. Pre-orders can be made anytime between now and Friday, February 3rd by 5pm. Then stop by MotorCo in Durham on Sunday afternoon, February 5th, to pickup your order before the kickoff of Superbowl XLVI!!

Each package is $27 and includes TWO large 16″ one-topping pizza pies AND one dozen of our spicy, dry-rubbed, baked wings! Choose your own toppings – and your side of ranch or bleu cheese. (Additional toppings are $2 per topping per pizza pie.)

Payment will be due by or before the time of pickup – at MotorCo Music Hall, 723 Rigsbee Ave in Durham. Pickup is anytime between 4p – 6:30p. If you have any questions or need to make any changes, please contact Becky with Pie Pushers: ph# 919.901.0743 or via email piepushersNC@gmail.com.

Here are links to the pre-order form as a PDF OR as a Word document. Just print, fill in, and return it to the truck in person or email it back to us before Friday night, February 3rd! For more info visit their website: http://piepushers.com/superbowl/

Bella Italia
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Bella Italia is located in North Raleigh near the intersection of Falls River Avenue and Durant Road. It is a nice little local Italian Restaurant and they make a good pie that reminds me of the pizzas I use to get at local pizzareia joints up in New Jersey. For more info and to view their menue online visit their website: http://bellaitaliaraleigh.com/

Zpizza
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Zpizza is the one chain I would recommend in the area. The reason I favor this chain is that they use organic ingredients in their pies and even have gluten free and vegan options. Their are three Zpizza location in the area. One is on Falls of Neuse in the Falls Pointe Shopping Plaza noth of I-540, the second is located in downtown Raleigh’s City Plaza, the third one is located in Stone Creek Village in Cary. For more info and menu options visit their website: http://www.zpizza.com

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