4 out of 5 stars

Happy to finally have a chance for a date night since having baby Wolfie, I arranged for some friends to meet Glen and I out at Fosters American Grille. It’s located right in Cameron Village and seemed a great place to meet up with some buddies and eat well, but not too pretentiously. I have a problem with pretension as I generally have pretty uncomplicated (but demanding) tastes.

Reviews online have varied wildly but of late Fosters has gotten some acclaim from the peanut gallery. Rumor on the grapevine is that management has changed and some original staff has been hired back which has revitalized the food and service. I have to agree!

Fosters has a broad menu so I knew everyone would be able to find something they’d enjoy and I was right. It spans salads, grilled pizza, pasta, and a selection of traditional entrees. (Menu here.) We started with a few appetizers, taking advantage of the $5 for any appetizer special that happens from 4-7pm daily. The crab dip was splendid, served with toasted flat bread. The lettuce wraps were just ok, consisting of a hoisin sauce over chicken, water chestnuts and little fried noodles. Friends also appeared to enjoy the crab cakes served over a corn succotash.

The entrees really wowed us, all served with fluffy mashed potatoes that were clearly homemade with care and lightly sauteed vegetables that were tender and not oily. I really enjoyed my short rib entree which was fall-apart tender and rich, “simmered overnight in red wine, tomatoes and garlic,” according to the menu. Hubs had the 6 ounce filet, which was perfect, and D had the rack of ribs which he enjoyed. Our lady friend was in love with her Chicken Rockefeller, a spinach and bacon stuffed chicken breast.

Apologies for the low-light iPhone pics.

Chicken Rockefeller

Short Rib

Ribs (I think half rack?)

Filet

We fully enjoyed most everything we ordered and I look forward to returning. I also wish I had left room to try dessert. The atmosphere here is lovely whether you sit downstairs in the dining room or bar area, or upstairs where you’ll be outside and have a view of activity on Cameron Village streets below. I hear it turns into quite the late-night spot and they seem to have music and dancing many nights. But don’t underestimate what a delicious meal you can get at reasonable prices. Sandwiches from $8 and entrees from $14.

A wonderful surprise for me was the check-in special on Four Square!  We got 20% off the food!

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5 out of 5 stars

I had a chip on my shoulder about Crabtree Tavern because I have been so often disappointed by “upscale” taverns, including the Oxford. But it turned out to be a perfect lunch outing for the family, seated on the patio with our new baby. It has a suprisingly green view, considering that this restaurant is situated between two hotels and the parking garage of Crabtree Mall. It has the benefit of being slightly up the hill and nestled amongst trees.

I ordered the Guinness Chili , which was fantastic.. you could taste the Guinness for sure in the ground beef as well as other spices and the black beans. Also a house side salad on the side for an extra $2, with fresh cherry tomatoes, baby greens, red onion and fresh parmesan.

Hubs had the Californian turkey burger, which was moist and flavorful. I didn’t even realize it was a turkey burger until he told me later. The burger came on grilled fresh-baked wheat bread with avocado, feta, salsa and cilantro aoli.

Ellen had one of the grilled chicken breast sandwiches, which she raved about due to the seasoning on the chicken breast and the smoky flavor imparted by the wood grill. She got some sweet potato fries on the side, which are always fun.

The service was a little slow, but we couldn’t complain for two reasons – 1) we were the only ones on the patio and 2) the menu asks that you be patient as all items are made to order. At least we were warned in advance. Baby Devin enjoyed his time out on the patio with us and we can’t wait to go back and sample more of the food at the Crabtree Tavern.

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4 out of 5 stars

I’ve been to Trali Irish Pub twice now and both times really enjoyed both my meal and the atmosphere.  Once you find Trali (behind BJ’s at Brier Creek) and struggle to find parking you’ll enter a warmly lit convivial environment complete with comfortable tapestried seating at traditional-looking wooden tables.  Weeknights this place will be buzzing with activity and it can get a bit loud, but not rowdily so when I’ve been.

One our recent visit, we enjoyed one of the appetizer specials of the day, fresh mozzarella with tomato and basalmic vinegar.  Friends have highly recommended the Guinness flavored mussels as well but I must admit I was also tempted by the fried camembert cheese with strawberries.  For my entree, I tried a prociutto and pea cream sauce over bowtie pasta.  It was perfect, lightly creamy and not too heavy, with thick slices of prociutto and fresh peas. Hubs tried out some baked cod from the daily specials menu as well, which he enjoyed. On a previous visit I had the cornish game hen, which was acompanied by some delicious roasted potatoes.

I don’t think you can go wrong at this friendly pub, where the attention to detail put into the décor hasn’t exceeded the attention paid to the quality of the food and the preparation of it. Stop in for a drink and find out what the new specials are.

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4 out of 5 stars

O’Malley’s Tavern is hidden in a quaint shopping center off of Glenwood Avenue, across from the Rooms to Go and just up the road from Crabtree Mall. Fellow reviewers’ descriptions of a dive bar are correct, but this is a dive bar with personality. Well-worn wooden booths welcome you on one side, and the other sports pool tables and comfortable-looking couches. Patrons seem to be made up of a come-as-you are local crowd, which is a breath of fresh air compared to many places farther down Glenwood. Speaking of fresh air, now that all bars are non-smoking it shan’t deter you from visiting this hidden gem. They even have a nice patio out front.

I actually only stopped in here for breakfast, but really did enjoy the simple meal and friendly service. The breakfast menu here is actually pretty broad, taking up two sides of a menu page. I had the country fried steak and two eggs with toast, plus choice of hash browns or oatmeal or grits for $5.75. My steak was relatively small, but quite satisfying for the price paid. Hubs had Byron’s Breakfast, consisting of two eggs, two sausage links plus wheat toast for $5. His sausage links were deliciously herby and tasted homemade. Prices are reasonable with lots of options to choose from, including corned beef hash, sweet potato sticks, yogurt, omelettes, pancakes, breakfast sandwiches, french toast and more.

Drink (including pitchers) and food specials look generous, so try them out any time of the day.

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3 out of 5 stars

The Rockford is located up a flight of wooden stairs across Glenwood from the Hibernian. It could be difficult to find if you didn’t know what you were looking for. It has no sign, only the number of the address, 320, above the food. A crowd of 5 of us stopped in and luckily were able to get a table within 20 minutes or so. The place tends to get crowded, as the bar is small and there is not much room to occupy as you wait for a table. The fact that it’s so cramped may account for the reason why I noticed the sub-par inspection score on the wall (90.5) and the fact that one of the cooks was wearing a backwards trucker cap. While I know most cooks where I dine don’t dress up for the occasion, thinking about other 90 scores I’ve read about put me on edge before we even sat down.

This weekend had been a rainy one, but what was interesting about the Rockford is it also happened to be raining near our table! A ceiling leak not too far from the table was taken care of by putting a bin on the floor to catch the drips. By the looks of the ceiling, it was not a new leak, there was quite a black spot above us! Still, ambiance was cozy with lovely watercolor paintings on the walls and a nice street views.

Of the selection of sandwiches I ordered the cannellini bean sandwich, made with a bean paste with a garlicy flavor, along with havarti cheese, tomato and spinach. I quite enjoyed my sandwich but not my choice of seasonal side, a clumpy and bland couscous. Hubby got a mushroom sandwich, which was ok, and others ordered an angus sandwich with brie (tasted like a cheesesteak, they said) and a mozzarella sandwich with pesto (tasty, using fresh mozzarella but also a bit bland). The boys liked the mashed potato sides. Glen’s side dish of edamame salad was tasty, with mustard seeds, red onion and a light sauce. Our appetizers were just ok – a red pepper hummus everyone enjoyed and goat cheese, both served with pita triangles. I was hoping the goat cheese would be slightly more adorned or blended with herbs or even fried. It was just a hunk of goat cheese with a little red and black pepper sprinkled on.

I felt like something was missing here, other than basic building maintenance. Yes food prices were entirely reasonable, but food was a bit bland and disappointing. I’d probably go back – other options at this end of Glenwood are limited. Plus the night ended on a high note with some tasty fresh ground coffee in a diner-style mug that fit nicely in my hand.

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4 out of 5 stars

I always do my research before I go somewhere and Hayes is no exception. There have been some horror stories about bad service here (mostly due to a strong-minded owner/waitstaff) but I didn’t experience any problems. Perhaps part of the reason is because I knew in advance the rules of engagement – extras cost extra, no splitting checks, no trying to come in for dessert when they close in 20 minutes, and don’t send anything back. Luckily those things didn’t particularly apply. Glen and I stopped in for an Anniversary dinner, and after wandering past the front door and the other side door semi-confusedly, we found the entrance. Greeted by a quirky 40′s interior (and matching black-clad noir employees), we were ushered to our table for two with a single rose.

Our bread basket was filled with red pepper flecked cornbread, dill biscuits, and sourdough. My favorite was the moist cornbread, it was cheesy and just a bit sweet. My bountiful chicken pot pie was enough for three filling meals and was even better the next day- flaky pie pastry with creamy mashed potatoes and tender chicken, plus peas, carrots and celery. Hubby’s filet mignon was melt-in-your-mouth tender, with an amazing red wine mushroom sauce and crisp green beans.

For dessert I chose a head-sized slice of coconut cake which lived up to its promise. Moist and coconutty, but more dense than Village Deli’s also excellent cake. I’d love to try some of the other many cake options! Bountiful sized plates help soften the blow of the prices in these difficult times. Our total came to about $66 for the two of us.

Hayes Barton filled up pretty quickly and by the time we left it was mostly full. A friendly group of locals seem to enjoy coming here to socialize at the bar. It would be a great place to bring a date or some friends to celebrate a birthday, listening to some big band music. I can’t wait to go back and try another dessert.

Hayes Barton Cafe & Dessertery
(919) 856-8551

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2 out of 5 stars

Despite the new lower priced menu, the Mint still costs a mint. But does the dining experience pay pay off? I suggested my friends meet at the Mint to celebrate a 30th birthday after some recent buzz on Newraleigh.com that the prices had been reduced and new investors were involved.

We started out our evening in the upstairs bar, which is decorated in what I would describe as an 80′s Vegas / cruise ship motif. I think whoever designed this restaurant decided that “the Mint” means lots of bling and gold everywhere so they decided to incorporate as much of that as possible. Carpeting occurs in a repeating flourish pattern, just like Vegas, and at the back of the bar lies a hideous geode-looking wine bottle holder, which could be the hideout of a pocket-sized Superman. It’s even lit from underneath and changes colors. The music is also a miss, a combination of house and trance – more fitting if the Mint were a club than an upscale restaurant.

The eXchange (the bar’s rebranded monicker) features a tasty-looking selection of expensive drinks. I ordered one, which I forget the name of – something referring to jewels which was a white grape juice and vodka drink. Tasty but not cheap, at I think $8. My bottom shelf screwdriver was $8 also. So I would not recommend starting an evening out here. The drink menu also featured a martini containing Absinthe. I thought Absinthe was illegal in the US but the bartender assured me it is now legal. The catch is that only Absinthes without the wormwood-dervied thujone are legal.

Once we were seated, things looked promising. We were doted on by many servers, as the restaurant was not very full at 8pm on Saturday night. We got an amuse bouche of a slice of cheese with more grated cheese and some chocolate on the edge, then a selection of bread. Cornbread with jalapenos (spicy but delicious), and black pepper biscuits which you could slather with honey butter, herb butter, or raspberry jam. All but one of us ordered the 3 course meal, it seemed to be the best deal.

Calamari was very lightly breaded with a parmesan breading and was perfectly tender, served with a sweet chili sauce on the side. The shrimp and grits got raves, and was the starter recommended by the waitress (always a good thing to ask). I started with the truffle macaroni and cheese, which turned out to be rotini covered with an extremely thin sauce (which pooled in the bottom of the plate) with just a hint of cheese and no detectable hint of truffle.

For the entrees, filet mignon was ordered by most. Our picky tablemate was able to get his done au poivre without too much hassle. The crowd seemed satisfied with their mignon, which came with a smidgeon of pureed parsnips. I ordered the seared tuna hastily after my first choice not available. The pork loin was apparently on last night’s version of the menu, which had just changed. The old version is still on the website. My tuna was cooked properly but was bland. It came with some slightly sweet coconut rice and a drizzle of gingery sauce, plus two tiny steamed baby bok choy. Wendy again scored with her choice of scallops, they were gigantic and cooked to the perfect consistency, soft and springy. My husband ordered the NY strip, not able to really take advantage of the 3 course option because of dietary restrictions and Mint’s inflexibility with substitutions on the 3 course menu. His NY strip was the same size as our companions’ filets. Tiny, I’d guess about 4-5 ounces. When you order a NY strip, aren’t you supposed to get the whole steak, especially when you are ordering a “large plate”? Incidentally, all the dishes served at The Mint come on very LARGE plates. I am guessing about 14″ x 14″. Which forces you to stare at your food, swimming lonely in a sea of white porcelain and think “this is it? this is all there is?!” My husband also ordered a side of roasted tomato slices, which came out about 10 minutes after all of our meals made it to the table. They were good but the equivalent of one half of a tomato. He was hungry an hour after we left the restaurant.

Before dessert we got a lovely bonus – tiny ice cream cones with sprinkles and ice cream that tasted like cake icing. Adorable!

Dessert itself was interesting because the portions were large, about the same size as our entrees. Pumpkin creme brulee was a success, also the small warm chocolate cakes which were made to order. My hazelnut carrot cake was ok, like most of my dishes I did not finish it. I love carrot cake and hazelnuts but didn’t taste much of one or the other in the cake.

At the end of our meal, it was time for the birthday boy to open his presents. One from us and one mystery present -we had no idea who it was from but the waitstaff assured us it was for him, saying, “Yes, open it Brian.” He opened it and was amazed at the thoughtful gift of an expensive remote controlled airplane. We all giggled and nudged each other at the cleverness of his wife’s prank (surely he’d catch on that it was from her soon?). But it turned out the gift was not for him, it was for a guest at another table! We were alternately filled with shock, glee and dismay! How could they possibly make that mistake? It turned out fine, the other recipient had his item unveiled from under a tablecloth and got to hear the story of how his gift was misdirected. I’m not sure if I was the giver if I would be as understanding.

I think this has been my most long-winded review to date. Apologies for that. I have mixed feelings about the Mint. Food was prepared to the perfect doneness and consistency and displayed artfully. But in the end- portions, flavor and ambiance were lacking and prices were very wallet un-friendly.

The Mint

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3 out of 5 stars

The Oxford bills itself as a gastropub, a place where one can sample beers from around the world as well as enjoy a higher class of food than a standard pub. The menu is full of delicious-looking foods with a decidedly International flair, though it does include shepherd’s pie and bangers and mash. What disturbed me about this was that this was a pub with a theme that couldn’t stick with it. Menu prices were cheekily listed with pound signs rather than dollars. They served fried cod on the menu – a sort of fish and chips but that came with no chips. There were chips on the menu which came with sandwiches but they referred to potato chips, not fries.

The interior decor is exquisite, giving you the feel of three different restaurants in one, the left side being the main bar area with 6 or so large TVs, one of which must be at least 72″. The center dining room leads on formality with white leather chairs, futuristic chandeliers and a few “space pod” booths that look like padded rooms. The right side contains a room with gorgeous LED constellation lighting in the ceiling. The decor isn’t particularly pub-reminiscent other than giant UK flag painted on one wall and a picture here or there of a soccer or rugby team. No international sports were being played on the many TV’s, though.

Food was a bit hit-or-miss. For appetizers, my crowd enjoyed the calamari and the small order of potato wedges, but felt the Caprese was just ok. It is nothing like the traditional- it contains roma tomato and mozzerella yes, but also a herb aioli and the ingredients were melted on top of plain focaccia squares. The combination was interesting but the mayonnaise did not belong – it took away from the delicate flavors of the other items and just added more greasiness. We were excited to try the fried avocado appetizer, but they were out of avocado this evening. It seems to be a popular one.

The bangers from my bangers and mash were described as “boar and cranberry” sausages. The mashed potatoes were good and also the gravy that came on them. The bangers were flavorful, but I detected no cranberry and the sausage was a bit dry. The sauteed spinach which came with the dish was tender but didn’t seem to be seasoned at all, it was bland. Overall I enjoyed my entree but I can’t say that the addition of the fancy ingredients made it any better than a standard bangers and mash. In fact I kept wishing I had peas on the side rather than spinach. Many in our group ordered salads, which they seemed to enjoy – the fried goat cheese salad was particularly popular. Adding meat to the dish doubles the cost, though. A friend who ordered Beef Nottingham (braised ribs off the bone) reluctantly mentioned that they were also a bit dry. Which is strange because ribs should generally be moist due to the fat content. The crowd enjoyed their pub burgers.

My advice? For best value, skip the daring entrees and just order an appetizer or one of the more simple items on the menu to enjoy with the international beer that you can’t find anywhere else. Skip the martini’s unless you know the bartender. Our waiter confirmed that the martini one person sent back was made by the bartender who always gets his drinks sent back. Why do they let that bartender make drinks if he obviously is not good at it? An $11 martini should be made right. The Oxford, however schizophrenic it is, has a delightful atmosphere and the potential to deliver you a wonderful evening, if they are able to work out some kinks. Like many of the upscale businesses downtown, they can’t quite seem to live up to their gastro marketing.

The Oxford
(919) 832-6622

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5 out of 5 stars

We came here for a delicious brunch, even though I was equally tempted by the lure of a live band and a tasty looking bar menu had we come here in the evening instead. Eggs Benedict are always a good measuring stick item for me to order and these did not disappoint. The tangy rich sauce was perfect and unlike most benedicts, this one came with potatoes, toast, meat AND some fruit. My husband got the low carb “Eggs Jenny” which was a Benedict on top of a portabella mushroom instead of bread. My sis enjoyed the appropriately-named “ginormous” french toast with berries and whipped cream, and her beau liked his Guinness omelet which included Irish cheddar, chicken and caramelized onions. Overall I don’t think we could have been much happier, dining in the classic atmosphere of the ex-hotel.

The Waterfront Hotel
1710 Thames St
Baltimore, MD 21231
(410) 537-5055

2 out of 5 stars

We’ve been here twice now so I’ve had a chance to sample both the sushi and the mongolian grill. This place is a strange cultural intersection with a haphazard decor style with a kinda of depressing run-down feel to it. They have sushi, although it is just ok, and then they have the grill. You basically pile your plate with all the veggies, meats and flavorings you want (sauces and spices) and then hand it to the grill person and he will stir fry it for you. You can go back as many times as you want for about $10. It’s not a bad deal, and my first trip up was a success but not as much on my second. While I like the choices of meats (sausage, tofu, beef, chicken, scallops, shrimp, egg, pork), I think generally Stir Crazy does this concept better.

My husband loves this place because he’s on a low carb diet and he can have as much as he wants without getting drowned in rice. I won’t mind coming back to accompany him because I can get sushi, but this definitely wouldn’t be my first choice. The food is ok but it takes a while of awkward waiting to get it. In addition, our waitress was horrible, just chatting with her friends most of the time.

Crazy Fire Mongolian Grill
13200 Strickland Rd # 110
Raleigh, NC 27613
(919) 866-1300