Visiting Raleigh-Durham

[KirsteenB]

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Hi there,

Now that Air Canada has just released some reasonable fares to Raleigh-Durham, I'm thinking it's high time to go down to the area for the inaugural visit to UNC-CH and Duke. Never having been in that region before, I'm hoping some of you can offer some tips on things to see (aside from the two campuses) and do (mid-October). 🙂

Cheers,
Kirsteen

 

[SarahGM]

I just moved to Durham to work at Duke this year, and I have a second job part-time waitressing in Chapel Hill. SOOOO... I'm still acquainting myself with the area, but if you have any specific questions I'd be glad to try to answer!

 

[KirsteenB]

Hi there,

Okay, for one, can you tell me the names of some good eateries?! 🙂

Cheers,
Kirsteen

 

[SarahGM]

What kind of food are you thinking of?

 

[Sweet Tea]

Hey! I'm from Chapel Hill, and my folks live in Durham now, so I'm more than glad to help. 😀 But like SarahGM said, what kind of food are you looking for? I'm leaving out the big chain restaurants and just doing the ones that are native to CH.

Good Food in Chapel Hill:
Elmo's Diner
Breadman's Diner
Mama Dip's (southern food-- soooo good!!)
Nantucket Cafe
Carolina Brewery (microbrew)
The Rathskeller
El Rodeo (my favorite mexican restaurant)
Akai Hana (sushi)
Sushi Yoshi (more sushi)
Top of the Hill (microbrew)
411 West (Italian)
Aurora (Italian, dressy)
Spartacus (greek, dressy)
La Residence (french, dressy)
Provence (french, dressy)

There are tons more, these are just the ones I could think off of the top of my head! I'd also recommend walking around downtown Chapel Hill if you have the time. Franklin St is great and there are lots of little shops.

and as always go heels!!

 

[care bear]

go to the state fair in raleigh in mid-october!!

 

[vixenell]

el rodeo seconded. Torerros isn't bad either.

 

[Sweet Tea]

Originally posted by care bear
go to the state fair in raleigh in mid-october!!

just stay away from the deep-fried candy bars (unless having a heart attack is your idea of a good time). but the fair is great!!

 

[Sweet Tea]

Originally posted by vixenell
el rodeo seconded. Torerros isn't bad either.

i'm going home in 2 weeks to a) pick up my bf at RDU airport b) see my cat and c) eat at el ro. oh how i miss el ro. 😍😍

 

[bosco]

Originally posted by KirsteenB
Hi there,

Now that Air Canada has just released some reasonable fares to Raleigh-Durham, I'm thinking it's high time to go down to the area for the inaugural visit to UNC-CH and Duke. Never having been in that region before, I'm hoping some of you can offer some tips on things to see (aside from the two campuses) and do (mid-October). 🙂

Cheers,
Kirsteen

Did you get an interview already at Duke? 🙂

 

[vixenell]

There are two locations (basically Dukie/CH hangouts) in Chapel Hill and Durham that are lined with restaurants and little shops. Durham's is ninth street. Chapel Hill's is Franklin Street.

 

[KirsteenB]

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the tips--I've printed them off. I'll be staying in Fearrington Village and venturing out from there.

As to a Duke interview, nope. I'm just going down to UNC-CH to meet a few potential research supervisors, chat with some of the folks in the MD/PhD office, check out the facilities of both, Duke and UNC-CH and the area, in general. (Given that I've never been there before, it's probably a good idea to see what's there beforehand.)

Cheers,
Kirsteen

 

[echostation]

vixenell...sorry but torreros is just barely okay IMO hehe... Kirsteen, some other really solid places include Toscos, Nikos on brightleaf, Another Thyme is a really nice place just opposite of the main brightleaf area. Some really really good places are Dales, Sitar, and Tandoor, those places have some decent food.

if you're into fish and you're in the durham area, go right next to torreros on main street to the Fishmongers, that's not a bad place either.

if you like great meat dishes etc try the Bread and Kabob, small afghani place which is really popular and the family there is really nice or try International Delights which has Arabic/Lebanese/Middle Eastern food, good stuff. their lamb gyros and hummus are pretty good.

 

[glj79]

other places near Duke - Cosmic Cantina on 9th street and Foster's are good. Saladalia's too. (all really casual) for nicer places, try Parizade's. for dessert, go to Mad Hatter's. and if you go to International Delights, beware! the owner is exactly like the Soup Nazi. you have to call ahead if you want a cheesesteak, and don't even think about asking for ketchup - he's liable to kick you out.

 

[vixenell]

Cosmic Cantina... thats what I meant. Not Torerros. I couldn't for the life of me remember the name. I don't think i ever ate at Torerros.

My bad. It's been awhile.

 

[Sweet Tea]

There's also a Cosmic Cantina on Franklin St, and just in case you're in the area one in Times Square, NYC. Warning-- I think there might be crack in the Cosmic Cantina salsa b/c that stuff will make an addict out of you.

And if you've never had a hot Krispy Kreme, it's well worth the drive to Raleigh! Mmmmm...donuts. 😛

 

[SistaKaren]

Actually, Sweet Tea....the one here is in the East Village ( near 13th and 3rd Ave), not Times Square.

The nice thing about it is that they accept UNC ONE Cards and even cards from Dook for a two dollar discount. I love Cosmic 🙂 But the portions are a bit smaller than the ones in good ol' NC. 🙂

I actually love the Torrero's in Brightleaf. I think it's great. Mad Hatter's is good for regular food now, too...now that's they've moved. Well, I guess they moved awhile ago. Anyhoo, that's good. (These places are in Durham, btw).

Thai Palace in Chapel Hill is wonderful. That's in...Glen Lennox Shopping Center (I think that's what it is). It's a little expensive, but I think it's totally worth it. Also: Bandidos is good, if only for the cheap margaritas on Thursdays. There's one on Franklin in Chapel hill.

 

[Thewonderer]

Aren't you doing research in Vancouver??

If so, don't bother spending $$$ to eat at a nice restaurant in the triangle area. 😛 Vancouver has a lot better Japanese, Chinese and some argue, Italian food. You can get lunch sushi for $9.99 Canadian dollars in Vancouver after all. 🙂

 

[Jillianrae]

If you're going to be in the area anyway, you might consider making the trip down to Winston-Salem to visit Wake Forest. Maybe I'm biased, but I think it's a great school.

 

[KirsteenB]

Cheers for all your tips and advice everyone. 🙂

Thewonderer, I'm not sure if you're talking to me, but nope I'm not in Vancouver, although I do agree that the food there can be wonderful.

Cheers,
Kirsteen

 

[SistaKaren]

ahhh yes. Well, actually I think they're all mediocre, except Big Bowl and California Pizza Kitchen. I especially LOVE the former. Mmmm...Big Bowl. I need to find a good Asian noodle restaurant here....

 

[Sweet Tea]

SK!! Thanks for correcting the Cosmic address-- everyone should know where their nearest Cosmic is. I miss my Cosmic.

And try finding an Asian noodle restaurant in Greenville. I miss Thai food. And Indian. And Greek. Siiiiiiigh At least we have lots of really good barbeque here!!

 

[banannie]

Sweet Tea, where is there Thai food? The closest thing I can find is an Asian fusion restaurant that only has Thai-esque offerings.

I am so stoked for the Penang opening up on Franklin Street. Mmmm . . . coconut prawns!

I've gotta say though, the Indian food down here has been a bit of a disappointment. I've tried both Sitar and Tandoor and was not impressed by either. They're good for a fix if you're craving Indian, though . . . which I do, often.

For barbeque, Bullock's in Durham is a great place to visit, but Q-Shack has the best tasting barbeque ever.

 

[echostation]

sitar is pretty good, but i like tandoor better 😉 go on the weekends, their buffet at their price with the great food is a knockout deal...just superb

if you want a beavy of places to eat, just check out UNC-franklin street...tons and tons of good places to hang out, eat and just have a good relaxing time.

if you like good sit down tex mex, go for Blue Corn cafe...it's great, it's also on 9th...

as someone mentioned earlier about southpoint, maggianos and california pizza kitchen and big bowl...very solid places...

if you want excellent chinese cuisine, go to PF Changs for certain in Raleigh, brilliant...

 

[care bear]

i'm sorry, PF Chang's is *not* Chinese food!! it is a- and i quote- 'China Bistro', whatever that means. haha, ask someone Chinese where to go for chinese food in raleigh, and i guarantee you no one will say PF Changs.

(but, the food *is* good, i gotta say. 😉 )

 

[Sweet Tea]

Originally posted by Gleevec
There's a great Greek restaurant called Spartacus and a great Indian restaurant called Dale's. The latter is just off East Campus at Duke on 9th Street.

do they have branches in greenville? 😉

 

[Sweet Tea]

haven't been to dale's, but i do like spartacus. and i miss it. 🙁


ugh this thread is making me want to drive back home for some good, non-chain type of restaurants!!

 

[echostation]

oh my bad...didn't know that PF changs was not considered chinese cuisine... just a few asian friends of mine told me that's all when we went so that's all I had to go on

try to take a chill pill btw, you sound like u need it 😉