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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3 out of 5 stars

Remington Grill is a counter service joint specializing in burgers and bbq. It’s not gourmet, but the burgers and pork sandwiches are tasty, and the crispy fries are perfect dipped in their special mayo sauce that tastes a bit like french dressing. The atmosphere is ok here too, it’s western-style complete with fake cacti and deep wooden booths.

Remington Grill
2101 S Main St
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 556-9880

I had heard this place offered some of the best burgers in town although I can’t remember which website I read this on. The only local Raleigh burgers I’ve had the chance to sample since I’ve been here are Char Grill, which are delightfully charred on the outside, albeit a bit thin and small.

Five Guys are hand formed and never frozen. I was initially disappointed when I walked in because these are cooked on a standard flat griddle rather than a grate over charcoal or a gas grill. But these babies were tender and delicious, and the fries were amazing. Normally fries are a sideline item but these could be the star of a meal if you wanted. They’re fresh cut daily.

Here’s the list of top five Raleigh everything (including burgers) according to a local blogger vs AOL City Guide. Here’s a review of one of the original Five Guys locations by Roadfood, one of my favorite foodie blogs.

Five Guys
North Hills Mall
4120 Main St
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 787-7772

4 out of 5 stars

Casual smoky hangout has good food and a variety of drinks at great prices. This place shows an inventive transformation from a Pizza Hut into a corner bar with comforting wooden booths and tables, and a second story balcony with a view of downtown. Technically the view is of 3 small red lights at the top of a tower that is downtown. But if you drink enough from your pitcher you can see farther… probably.

Our crew ordered some fries with cheese on top and the fries were super crispy and crusty delicious. I hear it’s good to also get it with bacon and chives and of course ranch for dipping. People watching/listening is also interesting here..

Moosehead Grill
1807 Montford Dr
Charlotte, NC 28209
(704) 525-4088

4 out of 5 stars

Red Robin has a Friendly’s-like decor with lots of bright colors, balloons for the kiddies, and comfortable seating. But the quality far surpasses Friendly’s pedestrian fare. If you feel like a milkshake, they’ve got some of the dairy dessert stuff to satisfy you.

Red Robin has great, speedy service and delicious burgers, which are the specialty. They have a huge menu of choices to choose from, and I also enjoy the juicy moist “chicken burgers”, specifically the California Chicken Burger with avocado, bacon and mayo. And with all those toppings, I guess it rivals the fat content of any of their juicy burgers. If you’re on a diet they also have a great selection of salads, some soups, or you can always sub out any of their burgers for a turkey burger or Boca burger. I enjoyed my cheeseburger but next time will order it without the ketchupy relish that comes with it. I’m not a relish fan.

Red Robin
11420 Capital Blvd
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 562-0276

5 out of 5 stars

Char Grill has the most amazing burgers!  It's an old-fashioned 50's style burger joint where you jot down your order on a slip of paper and slide it through a slot.  The chefs cook up your burgers behind glass over a flaming grill.  I love to get the char burgers with cheese, fries and a chocolate shake.  Another options is the hamburger steak which actually is a long burger on a more sub-shaped roll.  I crave this place constantly, it is just around the corner from my apartment.

Here are some flickr pics of Char-Grills in Raleigh:

4 out of 5 stars

Doc's – Old Fashioned Greasy Burgers

When I say old fashioned greasy burgers I mean that in a good way. This place is a landmark for soft serve ice cream, burgers and fries, and other greasy goodies. The place is always manned by high school aged kids, and the cheap plastic seating isn't the best. But the burgers are hard to beat!

Doc's All American

10 N Swinton Ave

Delray Beach, FL 33444

(561) 278-3627