garnetpalmetto
Jerkministrator
This thread is intended to be a guide to Raleigh and the Triangle region based on the input of the users here. This is a continuation/reboot of the excellent guide that Gotta Catch Em Staal originally started and that I'm now taking care of. Like him, I hope to rely on contributions of other users to help those visiting, relocating, or otherwise looking for something to do in the area.
The Triangle
The Hurricanes play in Raleigh, which is one city in the Triangle area of North Carolina, named for the shape formed when drawing straight lines between Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, and the 7,000 acre Research Triangle Park (the largest research park in the United States) which sits in between the three cities. Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina and the second largest city in the state.
There are around 2.0 million people living in the Triangle based on the 2010 Census estimates. The Raleigh-Cary metro area was named in 2009 by the Census Bureau as the fastest growing area in the United States.
Populations:
Raleigh - 423,179 (City), 1,188,564 (Raleigh-Cary MSA)
Durham - 239,358 (City), 522,826 (Durham-Chapel Hill MSA)
Cary - 145,693 (Town)
Chapel Hill - 58,424 (Town)
A 2007 Census study ranked Raleigh as the second most educated city in America with 50.1% of the population having college degrees or higher, tied with San Francisco and behind Seattle. This can be attributed to the Research Triangle Park and the 14 colleges and universities in the region, including the well-known North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Duke University.
Raleigh regularly appears on "best of" lists for the United States, such as:
Southern Living - Top 10 Tastiest Towns in the South, 2012
Women's Health - #1 Among Healthiest Cities for Women, 2012
The Daily Beast - #18 Among America's Most Tolerant Cities, 2012
EcoSalon - 10 Best Cities in America for Health and Happiness, 2012
CNNMoney - #2 Among 10 Fastest-Growing U.S. Cities, 2012
RealAge - #6 Among Top Cities for Staying Young, 2012
New York Times - #7 Among Cities with the Most College-Educated Residents, 2012
ID Cocktails - 10 Best Beer Cities, 2012
Kiplinger - #8 Among 10 Cheapest U.S. Cities You'll Want to Visit, 2012
Forbes - #2 Among Best Places for Business and Careers, 2012
Business Facilities Magazine - #1 Best Quality of Life, 2012
Forbes - Best Cities for Job Growth - #14, 2011
Portfolio.com/bizjournals - Top Metros for Small Businesses - #7, 2011
Forbes - Biggest Brain Magnets in the Nation - #2, 2011
Forbes - Cleanest Cities - #3, 2011
Portfolio.com/bizjournals - Best Quality of Life - #1, 2010
Portfolio.com/bizjournals - Best Cities for Young Americans - #3, 2010
The Daily Beast - America's Smartest Cities - #1, 2009
Wall Street Journal - 10 Post-Recession Meccas - 2009
Wall Street Journal - The Next Youth-Magnet Cities - #7, 2009
Forbes - Best Area for Business and Careers - #1, 2009
BizJournals - Best Place to Launch A New Business - #1, 2009
Forbes - Most 'Wired' Cities - #3, 2009
Newgeography.com - Best Place to Do Business - #1, 2008
Men's Health - Most Politically Engaged Cities - #1, 2008
Milken Institute - Best Performing Cities - #2, 2008
MSNBC - America's Best Cities - #1, 2008
Forbes - Recession-Proof Local Economies - #5, 2008
American City Business Journals - Best Places for Young Adults - #1, 2008
Every Day with Rachel Ray - Best Cities for Singles - #1, 2008
Sports
While the Hurricanes are the only major league sports team in the region, and the first in the state to win their league's championship, there are several other notable sports teams in the Triangle. College basketball and football are widely popular with NC State, UNC, and Duke in the area. North Carolina is also one of the biggest minor league baseball states in the country with 11 affiliated minor league teams. The Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays affiliate of "Bull Durham" fame) of the International League and the Carolina Mudcats (Milwaukee Brewers affiliate) of the Carolina League represent the Triangle. The Triangle is also home to the Holly Springs Salamanders, a collegiate summer baseball team playing in the Coastal Plain League. For soccer/football/futbol fans, North Carolina FC of the USL Championship play at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, as do the National Women's Soccer League's North Carolina Courage.
Transportation
The main interstates are I-40, I-85, I-87, and I-95, and there are two beltlines around Raleigh: I-440 and the partially completed I-540/NC-540. Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) serves the area with 3 runways and 68 cities. Terminal 1 finished a 2-year long reconstruction in 2014 and Terminal 2 opened in 2008. RDU is currently served by Air Canada Express, Alaska, Allegiant, American, American Eagle, Delta, Delta Connection, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, United, and United Express. Amtrak stops at train stations in Raleigh, Durham, and Cary. Current Amtrak service in Raleigh is the Carolinian (Charlotte to New York), Silver Star (Miami to New York), and Piedmont (Charlotte to Raleigh). Raleigh's new downtown train station, Union Station, opened in July 2018 and will ultimately become an intermodal transit center for buses, commuter rail, and intercity rail.
If you are visiting, you may want want to rent a car. While plans continue to evolve for commuter rail and expanded bus systems, the current infrastructure is lacking, particularly with regards to PNC Arena. This is partly due to the disconnect and sprawl of the area with several urban centers and key places such as the PNC Arena not being in city cores. Each city has its own transit system (GoRaleigh, GoCary, GoDurham, and Chapel Hill Transit), and a regional system, GoTriangle, links them together. Ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft are widespread and easily available in the Triangle. The Caniac Coach also offers bus service from partner restaurants to PNC Arena for Hurricanes games.
PNC Arena Game Day Experience
PNC Arena (formerly RBC Center and the Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena) is located outside the Raleigh downtown area, which has advantages, such as tailgating, and disadvantages, such as transportation options and a lack of things to do and places to stay within walking distance of the arena. The building is located adjacent to Carter-Finley Stadium, home of the NC State Wolfpack football team, and the State Fairgrounds. The Hurricanes share the building with the NC State men's basketball team.
Within Walking Distance of PNC Arena:
- Backyard Bistro - A sports themed restaurant and bar directly across the street from the sports complex.
- Wendy's - Fast food chain restaurant across the street from the sports complex.
Hotels Near PNC Arena:
- Aloft Raleigh - Located on Hillsborough Street across from NC State's campus (3.6 miles to PNC Arena, 1.5 miles to downtown)
- DoubleTree by Hilton Raleigh Crabtree Valley - Located near Crabtree Valley Mall and I-440 (3.6 miles to PNC Arena, 4.5 miles to downtown)
- Four Points by Sheraton Raleigh Arena - Directly across the street and beside Backyard Bistro (0.5 miles to PNC Arena, 5.0 miles to downtown)
- Hampton Inn & Suites Raleigh/Cary I-4O (PNC Arena) - A short drive from PNC Arena (1.6 miles to PNC Arena, 6.2 miles to downtown)
- Hampton Inn & Suites Raleigh Downtown - Located in the heart of the Glenwood South bar/club scene (4.5 miles to PNC Arena, 0.8 miles to downtown)
- Holiday Inn Raleigh Downtown - Capital - A 19-story cylindrical hotel in walking distance of Glenwood South and Fayetteville St. (4.8 miles to PNC Arena, 0.3 miles to downtown)
- Hyatt Place Raleigh West - A short drive from PNC Arena (1.3 miles to PNC Arena, 5.7 miles to downtown)
- The Mayton Inn - Boutique hotel located in downtown Cary (4.7 miles to PNC Arena, 11.3 miles to downtown)
- Ramada by Wyndham Raleigh - A slightly further distance but still walkable (0.9 miles to PNC Arena, 4.1 miles to downtown)
- Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel - The furthest of this group from PNC Arena, it's the visiting team hotel. Located in the North Hills mixed use area in midtown Raleigh and close to shopping, dining, and entertainment options. (5.0 miles to PNC Arena, 4.0 miles to downtown)
- The StateView Hotel, Autograph Collection - Located on the shores of Lake Raleigh on NC State's Centennial Campus (3.9 miles to PNC Arena, 2.4 miles to downtown)
- The Umstead Hotel and Spa - 5-star hotel located on SAS's campus (2.9 miles to PNC Arena, 7.9 miles to downtown)
- Wingate by Wyndham State Arena Raleigh/Cary - A short drive from PNC Arena (1.5 miles to PNC Arena, 5.9 miles to downtown)
Tickets:
The Hurricanes sell tickets at the PNC Arena box office and on Ticketmaster. TicketExchange, StubHub, SeatGeek, ebay, and Craigslist are your best bets for secondary market. There is also a ticket resell area for scalpers outside the arena prior to games near the South entrance of PNC Arena. Resellers in this area are limited to a maximum price of $5.00 over face value of the ticket.
Parking:
Parking is $20 and there is ample parking in the arena and football stadium lots. Free parking can sometimes be found on Trinity Road at the Fairgrounds lot, the Hunt Horse Complex, Cardinal Gibbons High School, along Wade Park Boulevard, in the Offices at Wade development, and at the corner of Trinity and Edwards Mill Road in the grass beside the curb. The fairgrounds and horse complex lots are sometimes closed when events are taking place at those venues. Additionally, in recent years these lots have started being staffed more frequently to charge to park (but usually cheaper than the PNC lots).
Tailgating:
Since PNC Arena is not located downtown, rather than gather at bars and restaurants before games (other than Backyard Bistro), fans pack the parking lots on days with nice weather to tailgate. It is a tradition carried over from college sports that confused many players when it first became prevalent during the 2002 playoff run. Ron Francis in particular noted his surprise when he showed up 4 hours before game time to find the parking lots already brimming with people. Beer is allowed in the parking lots (but technically not liquor; not really a problem though as long as you use discretion), and some people will have some fairly elaborate grill setups. If you can't cook your own food, Bojangles, a local fast food chicken and biscuits restaurant, is a favorite to bring along (check out the Tailgate Special).
Raleigh (Downtown):
Welcome to Downtown Raleigh
Over the last decade or so, downtown Raleigh has undergone a complete transformation, changing from more of a work and lunchtime crowd to an all-day city. An explosion of business development has been accompanied more recently by a growth in the downtown residential population. It is very walkable, safe and vibrant, filled with unique local restaurants, bars and retail. Downtown is divided into several districts:
-Glenwood South, a mid-rise entertainment district with many restaurants and bars
-Warehouse District, a series of older buildings renovated into restaurants, bars, galleries, and workplaces
-Fayetteville Street, the main street of Raleigh, bookended by the State Capitol and the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, where the tallest buildings are
-Moore Square, a small park bordered by restaurants, bars, and a children's museum
-Capitol District, where most of the government buildings and the museums are located
Getting Around:
Downtown Raleigh is very walkable, and generally very safe. Rickshaw drivers work off tips only, and the R-Line is a free circulator bus service which loops through downtown 7 days a week and stops near all attractions, restaurants, bars, and parking areas. Rideshare is ubiquitous and readily available.
Things to Do:
- Duke Energy Center - Hosts Broadway plays and concerts.
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences - The largest natural sciences museum southeast of Washington, DC. An 80,000 square foot expansion called the Nature Research Center opened in 2011.
- North Carolina Museum of History
- NC State Capitol - Open to the public.
- Raleigh City Museum
- Marbles Kids Museum / Wells Fargo IMAX Theater
- Goodnights - One of the most respected comedy clubs in the country among comedians.
- Raleigh Convention Center - Typically reserved for private events, but sometimes there are festivals and shows.
- Mordecai Historic Park - Historic homes and structures, including the birthplace of Andrew Johnson.
- Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) - Downtown art museum in collaboration with the NC State College of Design.
Restaurants and Bars:
Again, not a comprehensive list; these are my favorites plus those anyone else wants to add. As of 2010, all bars and restaurants in North Carolina are non-smoking.
Also see the first part of this thread for some good discussion on local food: HFBoards - NHL Message Board and Forum for National Hockey League
- 42nd St. Oyster Bar - One of the oldest current Raleigh restaurants, named after the famous Grand Central Terminal restaurant. 42nd St. Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill
- Beasley's Chicken and Honey - Chicken joint from Poole's Ashley Christensen. AC Restaurants | Raleigh N.C., 27601
- Benelux Cafe - Cycling-themed coffee shop with Belgian waffles, sandwiches and beer - Benelux Coffee, Coffee Raleigh NC
- Bida Manda - The area's first Laotian restaurant. Bida Manda | Raleigh, NC
- Big Ed's City Market - Classic breakfast and southern.
- Brewery Bhavana - A restaurant, bookstore, flowershop, and brewery specializing in Belgian-style beers all under one roof. Owned by the owners of neighboring Bida Manda, Bhavana has gotten all sorts of plaudits, including Bon Appetit naming it one of the best new restaurants in America when it opened in 2017. One of the few restaurants I'd absolutely advise to make a reservation at least a week in advance bfefore you go - Brewery Bhavana
- bu•ku - Full service restaurant serving food inspired by street foods around the world. - bu•ku | Local food. Local folks. Global recipes.
- C. Grace - Cocktail bar with a speakeasy vibe. C. Grace Cocktail Bar - Raleigh, NC
- Capital Club 16 - "Traditional American cuisine". Capital Club 16
- Centro - Upscale Mexican. Centro - Mexican del Corazón
- Chuck's - Burger restaurant from Poole's Ashley Christensen. AC Restaurants | Raleigh N.C., 27601
- Clyde Cooper's - Your more traditional cheap hole-in-the-wall barbecue, around since 1938. Possibly the best cue in Raleigh Clyde Cooper’s Barbecue | 919.832.7614 | BBQ Raleigh NC | Raleigh BBQ Catering | Eastern NC BBQ| Since 1938
- Flying Saucer - Over 300 beers, most on tap. Raleigh Flying Saucer
- Foundation - Underground bar serving only local beers and incredible cocktails with a local focus. Makes their own cola, tonic, and ginger ale. FOUNDATION
- Fox Liquor Bar - Upscale specialty cocktail bar located in the basement of Chuck's & Beasley's. AC Restaurants | Raleigh N.C., 27601
- Gravy - Upscale but moderately priced Italian. Home - Gravy
- Hibernian - Irish pub and restaurant. Hibernian Pub – Irish Pub & Restaurant
- Irregardless Cafe - A Raleigh institution; creative and fresh food with lots of vegetarian and vegan dishes. Irregardless Café | Farm to Table Restaurant
- Isaac Hunter's Tavern - Casual bar in the center of the city. Isaac Hunter's Tavern | Downtown Raleigh's Legendary Bar
- J. Betski's - German food and bar. J. Betskis | Delicious cuisine and fine beverages of Central and Eastern Europe
- Landmark Tavern - Small laid back bar. LANDMARK TAVERN | RALEIGH NC
- Mellow Mushroom - Pizza chain. Mellow Mushroom: Out Of This World Pizza
- Neptune's Parlour - Basement bar at the reborn Kings Barcade music hall. Neptune's Parlour
- Oakwood Cafe - Argentinian and Cuban. oakwoodcaferaleigh.com - oakwoodcaferaleigh Resources and Information.
- The Pit - Some of the best barbecue in the area, but a more upscale environment which is a bit weird for cue. The Pit | Authentic Barbecue Restaurant in Raleigh, NC
- Poole's Downtown Diner - Changing daily menu; brunch on weekends. One of Raleigh's most highly acclaimed restaurants nationally. The owner, Chef Ashley Christensen, has won a prestigious James Beard Award. Poole’s Downtown Diner | AC Restaurants
- The Raleigh Times - Simple yet creative food and a great bar with a focus on Belgian beers. Raleigh Times Bar
- The Remedy Diner - Traditional American with full bar and a lot of vegetarian and vegan options. http://theremedydiner.com/
- The Roast Grill - A 70+ year Raleigh lunchtime institution. An extremely tiny hole-in-the-wall joint with a small counter where you can get a hot dog (burned or not burned). There's no ketchup here so don't ask. As seen on Man vs. Food. Look for the "Hot Weiners" sign. The Roast Grill - Raleigh, NC
- The Rockford - A local favorite with some of the best sandwiches in the city. The Rockford
- Sitti - Lebanese. Sitti | Authentic Lebanese Restaurant in Raleigh, NC
- Slim's - Dive bar and concert venue. Home
- Sullivan's Steakhouse - Sullivan Steak House
- Thaiphoon Bistro - Very good Thai. Thaiphoon Bistro
bar; good place to watch Canes games. http://tobaccoroadsportscafe.com/about/index.html
- Tobacco Road Sports Cafe - Great sports restaurant with better food than your typical sports
- Trophy Brewing - Local brewpub, Downtown Raleigh Brewery + Craft Beer | Trophy Brewing
- Trophy Tap & Table - Restaurant and bar with a rooftop deck with a rooftop deck. https://www.trophybrewing.com/tap-table-menu/
- Watts & Ward - A 1920s speakeasy-styled underground cocktail bar. Watts & Ward | Raleigh
- Xoco - Mexican http://www.dostaquitosnc.com/
Raleigh (Outside Downtown)
Things to Do:
- NC State and Hillsborough St. - Campus of the state's largest school and adjacent street with bars and restaurants.
- JC Raulston Arboretum - JC Raulston Arboretum - Home Page
- North Carolina Museum of Art - Contains the largest art museum park in the US; recently opened a state of the art new building http://www.ncartmuseum.org/
- Chatham Hill Winery - Chathamhillwine.com - while it's only a winery (no vineyard of their own) and it's located in an office park near the airport, Chatham Hill puts out some excellent vinafera varietals and some good fruit/vinafera blends. The raspberry wine is amazing! Tastings are $5.00 a person and includes a tour of the winery facilities, your tasting glass, and allows a tasting of most of their wines.
William Umstead State Park - 5,579 acre park. http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/wium/main.php
Lake Johnson Park
Pullen Park - Recently underwent a major renovation. http://www.raleighnc.gov/arts/content/PRecRecreation/Articles/PullenPark.html
Restaurants and Bars:
- Mitch's Tavern - NC State hangout. This was the bar in "Bull Durham" http://mitchstavern.com/
- Player's Retreat - Largest malt scotch selection in the state. Hamburgers made with beef ground in-house (can be ordered rare) http://www.playersretreat.net/
- Bali Hai - Cheap Mongolian restaurant. http://balihainc.com/
- Big Boss Brewery - Local brewery with a tavern attached. http://www.bigbossbrewing.com
- Carolina Ale House - Chain of sports bars in the Triangle area. Host of Canes Cool Bars events. http://www.carolinaalehouse.com/
- Buffalo Brothers - Another good restaurant to watch hockey. http://www.buffbrothers.com/
- Dalat - Great Vietnamese. http://dalatrestaurant.com/
- Draft Houses - A local chain with excellent food and fantastic beer selections. Another good place to watch hockey. http://mydrafthouse.com/
- Lilly's Pizza - Arguably Raleigh's best pizza. In Five Points neighborhoodhttp://www.lillyspizza.com/
- Neomonde - Very authentic Lebanse cafe and bakery. http://www.neomonde.com
- Ole Time BBQ - Roadside barbecue joint. http://www.oletimebarbecue.com
- State Farmer's Market Restaurant - Breakfast and southern food. http://www.ncsfmr.com/
- The BrickHouse - Sports bar with a lot of big screens not too far from RBC Center. http://brickhouse-nc.com/
- Margaux's - http://www.margauxsrestaurant.com
- Abyssinia - Ethiopian. http://abyssiniarestaurant.net/
- Hot Point Deli - (Located in Cary). http://hotpointdeli.com/
- Bavarian Brathaus - (Located in Cary) Fantastic and authentic Bavarian restaurant.
- Ruckus - Pizza, sandwiches, and drinks; a popular local hangout. Located in Raleigh near NC State and a new location in Cary. http://www.ruckuspizza.com/
- Chubby's Tacos - Authentic and delicious tacos and Mexican food with several area locations. http://www.chubbystacos.com/
- Aviator Brewing - This is actually located in Fuquay-Varina; a good local microbrewery tap room. http://www.aviatorbrew.com/
- LoneRider Brewing - Another local microbrewery with a tap room. http://www.loneriderbeer.com/
- Adams Vineyards - Muscadine vineyards and winery with tasting room in Fuquay-Varina. http://www.adamsvineyards.com/
- Gizmo Brew Works - Microbrewery. http://gizmobrewworks.com/
- David's Dumpling and Noodle Bar - Asian restaurant on Hillsborough St with an emphasis on noodles and dumplings - http://www.ddandnb.com/
- NOFO @ The Pig - Highly regarded restaurant in an old Piggly Wiggly grocery store building in Five Points - http://www.nofo.com/
- Hayes Barton Cafe - Cafe and dessert bakery in Five Points neighborhood - http://www.hayesbartoncafe.com/
- Ashworth Drugs - Cary drug store with a classic soda fountain and lunch counter - http://www.ashworthdrugs.com/
- Gonza Tacos y Tequila - Self explanatory. Carolina Hurricanes goalie Eddie Lack is a fan and the namesake of the Lacko Taco. http://gonzatacosytequila.com/
- Raleigh Brewing - Local microbrewery with taproom http://raleighbrewingcompany.com/
Durham
- Durham Bulls - AAA baseball team. Downtown stadium. hhttp://www.dbulls.com
- Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) - http://www.dpacnc.com/
- Full Frame Film Festival - Occurs in early April every year. The premier documentary film festival in North America. http://fullframefest.org/
- American Tobacco Campus - An old factory complex brilliantly renovated into a mixed use development. http://www.americantobaccohistoricdistrict.com/
- Brightleaf Square - Warehouses renovated into a shopping and dining district. http://www.historicbrightleaf.com/
- Duke University - beautiful campus including the Duke Gardens and Chapel. http://www.duke.edu
- Nasher Museum of Art at Duke - http://www.nasher.duke.edu/
- NC Central University Art Museum - http://ariel.acc.nccu.edu/artmuseum
- Museum of Life and Science - http://www.ncmls.org/
- Carolina Theatre - Classic remodeled theater showing mainly independent movies and concerts. http://www.carolinatheatre.org
- Fullsteam Brewery - Microbrewery. Owner Sean Lily Wilson is a James Beard semifinalist for his agriculturally-focused beers - http://www.fullsteam.ag/
- Geer Street Garden - Restaurant and bar. - http://geerstreetgarden.com/
- Bull City Burger and Brewery - Restaurant and brewpub. - http://bullcityburgerandbrewery.com
Chapel Hill
Some of these are technically in Carrboro, which is adjacent to Chapel Hill and can be walked to down Franklin Street.
- Franklin Street - the main street of Chapel Hill that runs through the UNC campus. A huge collection of shops, restaurants, and bars
- University of North Carolina - oldest public university in America. http://www.unc.edu/
- Carolina Basketball Museum - http://www.carolinabasketballmuseum.com/
- Kidzu Children's Museum - http://www.kidzuchildrensmuseum.org/
- Morehead Planetarium - http://www.moreheadplanetarium.org/
- North Carolina Botanical Garden - largest natural botanical garden in the southeast. http://www.ncbg.unc.edu/
- Cat's Cradle - hottest spot for touring indie music acts in North Carolina. http://catscradle.com/
- Memorial Hall - performing arts center. http://www.carolinaperformingarts.org/
- Carolina Brewery - restaurant and brewpub on Franklin St. http://www.carolinabrewery.com
- Tyler's Tap Room - http://www.tylerstaproom.com
- The Spotted Dog - Fantastic restaurant with a vegetarian focus. http://www.spotteddog.biz
- Time Out - 24 hour comfort food; a Chapel Hill institution. http://www.time-outrestaurants.com/
- Talullas - http://www.talullas.com/ - A Turkish restaurant that also hosts a great dance club scene later at night.
- Milltown - http://dininganddrinking.com - Gastropub with a good beer selection (not to mention poutine).
- Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe - http://www.curryblossom.com/ - great Indian food prepared fresh, good bottled beer selection, gluten-free and vegan options, and nice seating out in their open-air courtyard.
- Bandidos - Mexican http://bandidoscafe.com/
Food Trucks
The Triangle has become a haven for food trucks offering up everything from barbeque to pizza to raw foods. Keep an eye out and you may be able to grab some good eats at one of these mobile purveyors before or after a game!
American Meltdown - Taking simple grilled cheese to new heights with ingredients like manchego cheese, romesco sauce, and even black truffles. Alton Brown approved. Also has a stand in the food court at Streets at Southpoint.
Baguettaboutit - Serving internationally themed sausage on baguette sandwiches.
Barone Meatball Company - Owned by a former Bella Monica sous chef, he goes above and beyond to make new and inspired takes on the classic meatball sandwich, including a gyro meatball sandwich, a buffalo chicken sandwich, chicken parmesan, roasted corn and black bean, and a variety of fish/seafood options. Mac-n-cheese is to die for.
Baton Rouge Cuisine - Cajun and Creole inspired cuisine owned by Anthony "Airport" Greenups, a Baton Rouge native and former Harlem Globetrotter.
Big Mike's Barbeque - One of the most visible trucks around - designed to look like a big red barn and serving up barbeque.
Chez Moi Bakery - Rum Cake and Cakewiches (rum cake with some Parlour ice cream). What's not to love?
Chick-N-Que - Even more barbeque, although with a twist - no pork to be found here! Their ostrich burgers are amazing.
Chirba Chirba Dumpling - Serving Chinese dumplings, noodles, and Hong Kong style sausage. The only place where you can order some juicy buns and not get weird looks.
CJ's Street Food - "Chef inspired street food" including things like a Korean kimchi quesadilla
Dang Good Dogs - For anybody wanting a respite from that red Bright Leaf crap, have a dang good dog.
Gussy's Greek Street Food Tasty Greek eats (gyros, souvlaki, hummus, soups, and Greek fries) served up by Gus Megaloudis, an American-born Greek who went back to the homeland to play soccer and pick up some great recipes. Also has a brick and mortar in the strip mall at the intersection of T.W. Alexander Dr. and Miami Blvd. near RTP that's open for lunch through the week.
The Humble Pig - Barbeque
KoKyu - Korean Barbeque with a fun street feel owing to the grafittied up trucks that feature Megaman, Bomberman Mario, QBert, and a variety of video game faves. Brick and mortar Kokyu Na'Mean is open and serves lunch.
LaFarm Bread Truck - The mobile branch of Lionel Vatinet's Cary-based LaFarm Bakery. In addition to doling out Lionel's delicious breads, they use those breads to make tasty French/Francophone-inspired sandwiches including banh mi, croque monsieur, and croque madame.
Mac-Ur-Roni - Mack out your 'roni with vegetable and meat toppings at this truck where you can buy by the bowl or by the tub.
OnlyBurger - The granddaddy of the local scene. Also a brick and mortar in Durham with a second location next to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
Parlez-Vous Crepes - Serving a variety of sweet and savory crepes - TEMPORARILY OFF THE ROAD
The Parlour - Also a brick and mortar now, offers up delicious frozen treats and creative ice cream flavors that would make Baskin Robbins ashamed.
Phat Wrapz - Wrap sandwiches, of course!
Pie Pusher's - Hand-tossed pizza and calzones
Porchetta - A porkcentric truck serving up Italian roast pork sandwiches, flatbreads, and pork burgers. Also has a stand in the food court at Streets at Southpoint.
Sarge's Chef on Wheels - Asian/Caribbean inspired food. 15% discount to all active duty military.
Sweet Stacey Cakes - Also known as Smiles, the Cupcake Truck, Stacey Cakes offers up delicious cupcakes and adult takes on cupcakes including a margarita inspired cake.
Sweet Traditions by LeAne - Featuring Belle, their silver Airstream trailer serving up moist, delicious cupcakes.
Sympathy for the Deli - A mobile deli, serving up hand-roasted, cured, carved, and smoked locally sourced meats. Their peakles (spicy pickled sugar snap peas) are addictive.
Valentino's Food Truck - Serving up Italian inspired eats including mozzarella sticks, sausage and pepper sandwiches, meatball sandwiches, and the like.
Will & Pop's - More grilled cheese and burger deliciousness, including The Game Changer, a double bacon cheeseburger served between two grilled cheese sandwiches.
Triangle Suds
The ultimate guide to Triangle area breweries. Special thanks to thinkingcake for her assistance in putting this together:
Raleigh (16 breweries)
Big Boss Brewing
Boylan Bridge Brewpub (Temporarily closed, expected to reopen in the Spring)
Brewery Bhavana
Brice's Brewing Company
Clouds Brewing
Compass Rose Brewery
Crank Arm Brewing
Gizmo Brew Works
Lonerider Beer
The Lynnwood Grill
Neuse River Brewing Company
Nickelpoint Brewing Co.
Oak & Dagger Public House
Raleigh Brewing Company
Sub Noir Brewing
Trophy Brewing
Durham (6 breweries)
Bull City Burger and Brewery
Bull City Cider Works (grand reopening on March 25th)
Bull Durham Beer Co.
Durty Bull Brewing Co.
Fullsteam Brewery
Ponysaurus Brewery
Carrboro (4 breweries)
Dingo Dog Brewing Co.
Starpoint Brewing
Steel String Brewing
YesterYears Brewery
Fuquay-Varina (4 breweries)
Aviator Brewing Company
Draft Line Brewing Co. (to close on 4/29 and ultimately reopen as a lagers-only brewery)
Fainting Goat Brewing Company
Lincoln Brewing Co.
Apex (2 breweries)
Brueprint Brewing Company
Southern Peak Brewery
Holly Springs (2 breweries)
Bombshell Beer Company
Carolina Brewing Company
Cary (2 breweries)
Bond Brothers Beer Company
Fortnight Brewing Company
Chapel Hill (2 breweries)
Carolina Brewery
Top of the Hill Restaurant and Brewery
Clayton (1 brewery)
Deep River Brewing Company
Hillsborough (1 brewery)
Mystery Brewing Company
Saxapahaw (1 brewery)
Haw River Farmhouse Ales
Wake Forest (1 brewery)
White Street Brewing Company
And of course let's not forget our beloved bottle shops and higher end beer purveyors:
42 Craft Beverage
Beer Study
Bottle 501
BottleMixx
Bottle Revolution
House of Hops
Sam's Quik Shop
Southern Season
Tasty Beverage Company
Total Wine & More
Links
PNC Arena - http://thepncarena.com
Triangle Transit - http://triangletransit.com
Downtown Raleigh Alliance - http://godowntownraleigh.com
City of Raleigh - http://raleigh-nc.org
The Raleigh Connoisseur - http://dtraleigh.com/
News & Observer - http://newsobserver.com
Independent Weekly - http://indyweek.com/
WRAL - http://wral.com
The Triangle
The Hurricanes play in Raleigh, which is one city in the Triangle area of North Carolina, named for the shape formed when drawing straight lines between Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, and the 7,000 acre Research Triangle Park (the largest research park in the United States) which sits in between the three cities. Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina and the second largest city in the state.
There are around 2.0 million people living in the Triangle based on the 2010 Census estimates. The Raleigh-Cary metro area was named in 2009 by the Census Bureau as the fastest growing area in the United States.
Populations:
Raleigh - 423,179 (City), 1,188,564 (Raleigh-Cary MSA)
Durham - 239,358 (City), 522,826 (Durham-Chapel Hill MSA)
Cary - 145,693 (Town)
Chapel Hill - 58,424 (Town)
A 2007 Census study ranked Raleigh as the second most educated city in America with 50.1% of the population having college degrees or higher, tied with San Francisco and behind Seattle. This can be attributed to the Research Triangle Park and the 14 colleges and universities in the region, including the well-known North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Duke University.
Raleigh regularly appears on "best of" lists for the United States, such as:
Southern Living - Top 10 Tastiest Towns in the South, 2012
Women's Health - #1 Among Healthiest Cities for Women, 2012
The Daily Beast - #18 Among America's Most Tolerant Cities, 2012
EcoSalon - 10 Best Cities in America for Health and Happiness, 2012
CNNMoney - #2 Among 10 Fastest-Growing U.S. Cities, 2012
RealAge - #6 Among Top Cities for Staying Young, 2012
New York Times - #7 Among Cities with the Most College-Educated Residents, 2012
ID Cocktails - 10 Best Beer Cities, 2012
Kiplinger - #8 Among 10 Cheapest U.S. Cities You'll Want to Visit, 2012
Forbes - #2 Among Best Places for Business and Careers, 2012
Business Facilities Magazine - #1 Best Quality of Life, 2012
Forbes - Best Cities for Job Growth - #14, 2011
Portfolio.com/bizjournals - Top Metros for Small Businesses - #7, 2011
Forbes - Biggest Brain Magnets in the Nation - #2, 2011
Forbes - Cleanest Cities - #3, 2011
Portfolio.com/bizjournals - Best Quality of Life - #1, 2010
Portfolio.com/bizjournals - Best Cities for Young Americans - #3, 2010
The Daily Beast - America's Smartest Cities - #1, 2009
Wall Street Journal - 10 Post-Recession Meccas - 2009
Wall Street Journal - The Next Youth-Magnet Cities - #7, 2009
Forbes - Best Area for Business and Careers - #1, 2009
BizJournals - Best Place to Launch A New Business - #1, 2009
Forbes - Most 'Wired' Cities - #3, 2009
Newgeography.com - Best Place to Do Business - #1, 2008
Men's Health - Most Politically Engaged Cities - #1, 2008
Milken Institute - Best Performing Cities - #2, 2008
MSNBC - America's Best Cities - #1, 2008
Forbes - Recession-Proof Local Economies - #5, 2008
American City Business Journals - Best Places for Young Adults - #1, 2008
Every Day with Rachel Ray - Best Cities for Singles - #1, 2008
Sports
While the Hurricanes are the only major league sports team in the region, and the first in the state to win their league's championship, there are several other notable sports teams in the Triangle. College basketball and football are widely popular with NC State, UNC, and Duke in the area. North Carolina is also one of the biggest minor league baseball states in the country with 11 affiliated minor league teams. The Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays affiliate of "Bull Durham" fame) of the International League and the Carolina Mudcats (Milwaukee Brewers affiliate) of the Carolina League represent the Triangle. The Triangle is also home to the Holly Springs Salamanders, a collegiate summer baseball team playing in the Coastal Plain League. For soccer/football/futbol fans, North Carolina FC of the USL Championship play at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, as do the National Women's Soccer League's North Carolina Courage.
Transportation
The main interstates are I-40, I-85, I-87, and I-95, and there are two beltlines around Raleigh: I-440 and the partially completed I-540/NC-540. Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) serves the area with 3 runways and 68 cities. Terminal 1 finished a 2-year long reconstruction in 2014 and Terminal 2 opened in 2008. RDU is currently served by Air Canada Express, Alaska, Allegiant, American, American Eagle, Delta, Delta Connection, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, United, and United Express. Amtrak stops at train stations in Raleigh, Durham, and Cary. Current Amtrak service in Raleigh is the Carolinian (Charlotte to New York), Silver Star (Miami to New York), and Piedmont (Charlotte to Raleigh). Raleigh's new downtown train station, Union Station, opened in July 2018 and will ultimately become an intermodal transit center for buses, commuter rail, and intercity rail.
If you are visiting, you may want want to rent a car. While plans continue to evolve for commuter rail and expanded bus systems, the current infrastructure is lacking, particularly with regards to PNC Arena. This is partly due to the disconnect and sprawl of the area with several urban centers and key places such as the PNC Arena not being in city cores. Each city has its own transit system (GoRaleigh, GoCary, GoDurham, and Chapel Hill Transit), and a regional system, GoTriangle, links them together. Ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft are widespread and easily available in the Triangle. The Caniac Coach also offers bus service from partner restaurants to PNC Arena for Hurricanes games.
PNC Arena Game Day Experience
PNC Arena (formerly RBC Center and the Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena) is located outside the Raleigh downtown area, which has advantages, such as tailgating, and disadvantages, such as transportation options and a lack of things to do and places to stay within walking distance of the arena. The building is located adjacent to Carter-Finley Stadium, home of the NC State Wolfpack football team, and the State Fairgrounds. The Hurricanes share the building with the NC State men's basketball team.
Within Walking Distance of PNC Arena:
- Backyard Bistro - A sports themed restaurant and bar directly across the street from the sports complex.
- Wendy's - Fast food chain restaurant across the street from the sports complex.
Hotels Near PNC Arena:
- Aloft Raleigh - Located on Hillsborough Street across from NC State's campus (3.6 miles to PNC Arena, 1.5 miles to downtown)
- DoubleTree by Hilton Raleigh Crabtree Valley - Located near Crabtree Valley Mall and I-440 (3.6 miles to PNC Arena, 4.5 miles to downtown)
- Four Points by Sheraton Raleigh Arena - Directly across the street and beside Backyard Bistro (0.5 miles to PNC Arena, 5.0 miles to downtown)
- Hampton Inn & Suites Raleigh/Cary I-4O (PNC Arena) - A short drive from PNC Arena (1.6 miles to PNC Arena, 6.2 miles to downtown)
- Hampton Inn & Suites Raleigh Downtown - Located in the heart of the Glenwood South bar/club scene (4.5 miles to PNC Arena, 0.8 miles to downtown)
- Holiday Inn Raleigh Downtown - Capital - A 19-story cylindrical hotel in walking distance of Glenwood South and Fayetteville St. (4.8 miles to PNC Arena, 0.3 miles to downtown)
- Hyatt Place Raleigh West - A short drive from PNC Arena (1.3 miles to PNC Arena, 5.7 miles to downtown)
- The Mayton Inn - Boutique hotel located in downtown Cary (4.7 miles to PNC Arena, 11.3 miles to downtown)
- Ramada by Wyndham Raleigh - A slightly further distance but still walkable (0.9 miles to PNC Arena, 4.1 miles to downtown)
- Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel - The furthest of this group from PNC Arena, it's the visiting team hotel. Located in the North Hills mixed use area in midtown Raleigh and close to shopping, dining, and entertainment options. (5.0 miles to PNC Arena, 4.0 miles to downtown)
- The StateView Hotel, Autograph Collection - Located on the shores of Lake Raleigh on NC State's Centennial Campus (3.9 miles to PNC Arena, 2.4 miles to downtown)
- The Umstead Hotel and Spa - 5-star hotel located on SAS's campus (2.9 miles to PNC Arena, 7.9 miles to downtown)
- Wingate by Wyndham State Arena Raleigh/Cary - A short drive from PNC Arena (1.5 miles to PNC Arena, 5.9 miles to downtown)
Tickets:
The Hurricanes sell tickets at the PNC Arena box office and on Ticketmaster. TicketExchange, StubHub, SeatGeek, ebay, and Craigslist are your best bets for secondary market. There is also a ticket resell area for scalpers outside the arena prior to games near the South entrance of PNC Arena. Resellers in this area are limited to a maximum price of $5.00 over face value of the ticket.
Parking:
Parking is $20 and there is ample parking in the arena and football stadium lots. Free parking can sometimes be found on Trinity Road at the Fairgrounds lot, the Hunt Horse Complex, Cardinal Gibbons High School, along Wade Park Boulevard, in the Offices at Wade development, and at the corner of Trinity and Edwards Mill Road in the grass beside the curb. The fairgrounds and horse complex lots are sometimes closed when events are taking place at those venues. Additionally, in recent years these lots have started being staffed more frequently to charge to park (but usually cheaper than the PNC lots).
Tailgating:
Since PNC Arena is not located downtown, rather than gather at bars and restaurants before games (other than Backyard Bistro), fans pack the parking lots on days with nice weather to tailgate. It is a tradition carried over from college sports that confused many players when it first became prevalent during the 2002 playoff run. Ron Francis in particular noted his surprise when he showed up 4 hours before game time to find the parking lots already brimming with people. Beer is allowed in the parking lots (but technically not liquor; not really a problem though as long as you use discretion), and some people will have some fairly elaborate grill setups. If you can't cook your own food, Bojangles, a local fast food chicken and biscuits restaurant, is a favorite to bring along (check out the Tailgate Special).
Raleigh (Downtown):
Welcome to Downtown Raleigh
Over the last decade or so, downtown Raleigh has undergone a complete transformation, changing from more of a work and lunchtime crowd to an all-day city. An explosion of business development has been accompanied more recently by a growth in the downtown residential population. It is very walkable, safe and vibrant, filled with unique local restaurants, bars and retail. Downtown is divided into several districts:
-Glenwood South, a mid-rise entertainment district with many restaurants and bars
-Warehouse District, a series of older buildings renovated into restaurants, bars, galleries, and workplaces
-Fayetteville Street, the main street of Raleigh, bookended by the State Capitol and the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, where the tallest buildings are
-Moore Square, a small park bordered by restaurants, bars, and a children's museum
-Capitol District, where most of the government buildings and the museums are located
Getting Around:
Downtown Raleigh is very walkable, and generally very safe. Rickshaw drivers work off tips only, and the R-Line is a free circulator bus service which loops through downtown 7 days a week and stops near all attractions, restaurants, bars, and parking areas. Rideshare is ubiquitous and readily available.
Things to Do:
- Duke Energy Center - Hosts Broadway plays and concerts.
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences - The largest natural sciences museum southeast of Washington, DC. An 80,000 square foot expansion called the Nature Research Center opened in 2011.
- North Carolina Museum of History
- NC State Capitol - Open to the public.
- Raleigh City Museum
- Marbles Kids Museum / Wells Fargo IMAX Theater
- Goodnights - One of the most respected comedy clubs in the country among comedians.
- Raleigh Convention Center - Typically reserved for private events, but sometimes there are festivals and shows.
- Mordecai Historic Park - Historic homes and structures, including the birthplace of Andrew Johnson.
- Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) - Downtown art museum in collaboration with the NC State College of Design.
Restaurants and Bars:
Again, not a comprehensive list; these are my favorites plus those anyone else wants to add. As of 2010, all bars and restaurants in North Carolina are non-smoking.
Also see the first part of this thread for some good discussion on local food: HFBoards - NHL Message Board and Forum for National Hockey League
- 42nd St. Oyster Bar - One of the oldest current Raleigh restaurants, named after the famous Grand Central Terminal restaurant. 42nd St. Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill
- Beasley's Chicken and Honey - Chicken joint from Poole's Ashley Christensen. AC Restaurants | Raleigh N.C., 27601
- Benelux Cafe - Cycling-themed coffee shop with Belgian waffles, sandwiches and beer - Benelux Coffee, Coffee Raleigh NC
- Bida Manda - The area's first Laotian restaurant. Bida Manda | Raleigh, NC
- Big Ed's City Market - Classic breakfast and southern.
- Brewery Bhavana - A restaurant, bookstore, flowershop, and brewery specializing in Belgian-style beers all under one roof. Owned by the owners of neighboring Bida Manda, Bhavana has gotten all sorts of plaudits, including Bon Appetit naming it one of the best new restaurants in America when it opened in 2017. One of the few restaurants I'd absolutely advise to make a reservation at least a week in advance bfefore you go - Brewery Bhavana
- bu•ku - Full service restaurant serving food inspired by street foods around the world. - bu•ku | Local food. Local folks. Global recipes.
- C. Grace - Cocktail bar with a speakeasy vibe. C. Grace Cocktail Bar - Raleigh, NC
- Capital Club 16 - "Traditional American cuisine". Capital Club 16
- Centro - Upscale Mexican. Centro - Mexican del Corazón
- Chuck's - Burger restaurant from Poole's Ashley Christensen. AC Restaurants | Raleigh N.C., 27601
- Clyde Cooper's - Your more traditional cheap hole-in-the-wall barbecue, around since 1938. Possibly the best cue in Raleigh Clyde Cooper’s Barbecue | 919.832.7614 | BBQ Raleigh NC | Raleigh BBQ Catering | Eastern NC BBQ| Since 1938
- Flying Saucer - Over 300 beers, most on tap. Raleigh Flying Saucer
- Foundation - Underground bar serving only local beers and incredible cocktails with a local focus. Makes their own cola, tonic, and ginger ale. FOUNDATION
- Fox Liquor Bar - Upscale specialty cocktail bar located in the basement of Chuck's & Beasley's. AC Restaurants | Raleigh N.C., 27601
- Gravy - Upscale but moderately priced Italian. Home - Gravy
- Hibernian - Irish pub and restaurant. Hibernian Pub – Irish Pub & Restaurant
- Irregardless Cafe - A Raleigh institution; creative and fresh food with lots of vegetarian and vegan dishes. Irregardless Café | Farm to Table Restaurant
- Isaac Hunter's Tavern - Casual bar in the center of the city. Isaac Hunter's Tavern | Downtown Raleigh's Legendary Bar
- J. Betski's - German food and bar. J. Betskis | Delicious cuisine and fine beverages of Central and Eastern Europe
- Landmark Tavern - Small laid back bar. LANDMARK TAVERN | RALEIGH NC
- Mellow Mushroom - Pizza chain. Mellow Mushroom: Out Of This World Pizza
- Neptune's Parlour - Basement bar at the reborn Kings Barcade music hall. Neptune's Parlour
- Oakwood Cafe - Argentinian and Cuban. oakwoodcaferaleigh.com - oakwoodcaferaleigh Resources and Information.
- The Pit - Some of the best barbecue in the area, but a more upscale environment which is a bit weird for cue. The Pit | Authentic Barbecue Restaurant in Raleigh, NC
- Poole's Downtown Diner - Changing daily menu; brunch on weekends. One of Raleigh's most highly acclaimed restaurants nationally. The owner, Chef Ashley Christensen, has won a prestigious James Beard Award. Poole’s Downtown Diner | AC Restaurants
- The Raleigh Times - Simple yet creative food and a great bar with a focus on Belgian beers. Raleigh Times Bar
- The Remedy Diner - Traditional American with full bar and a lot of vegetarian and vegan options. http://theremedydiner.com/
- The Roast Grill - A 70+ year Raleigh lunchtime institution. An extremely tiny hole-in-the-wall joint with a small counter where you can get a hot dog (burned or not burned). There's no ketchup here so don't ask. As seen on Man vs. Food. Look for the "Hot Weiners" sign. The Roast Grill - Raleigh, NC
- The Rockford - A local favorite with some of the best sandwiches in the city. The Rockford
- Sitti - Lebanese. Sitti | Authentic Lebanese Restaurant in Raleigh, NC
- Slim's - Dive bar and concert venue. Home
- Sullivan's Steakhouse - Sullivan Steak House
- Thaiphoon Bistro - Very good Thai. Thaiphoon Bistro
bar; good place to watch Canes games. http://tobaccoroadsportscafe.com/about/index.html
- Tobacco Road Sports Cafe - Great sports restaurant with better food than your typical sports
- Trophy Brewing - Local brewpub, Downtown Raleigh Brewery + Craft Beer | Trophy Brewing
- Trophy Tap & Table - Restaurant and bar with a rooftop deck with a rooftop deck. https://www.trophybrewing.com/tap-table-menu/
- Watts & Ward - A 1920s speakeasy-styled underground cocktail bar. Watts & Ward | Raleigh
- Xoco - Mexican http://www.dostaquitosnc.com/
Raleigh (Outside Downtown)
Things to Do:
- NC State and Hillsborough St. - Campus of the state's largest school and adjacent street with bars and restaurants.
- JC Raulston Arboretum - JC Raulston Arboretum - Home Page
- North Carolina Museum of Art - Contains the largest art museum park in the US; recently opened a state of the art new building http://www.ncartmuseum.org/
- Chatham Hill Winery - Chathamhillwine.com - while it's only a winery (no vineyard of their own) and it's located in an office park near the airport, Chatham Hill puts out some excellent vinafera varietals and some good fruit/vinafera blends. The raspberry wine is amazing! Tastings are $5.00 a person and includes a tour of the winery facilities, your tasting glass, and allows a tasting of most of their wines.
William Umstead State Park - 5,579 acre park. http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/wium/main.php
Lake Johnson Park
Pullen Park - Recently underwent a major renovation. http://www.raleighnc.gov/arts/content/PRecRecreation/Articles/PullenPark.html
Restaurants and Bars:
- Mitch's Tavern - NC State hangout. This was the bar in "Bull Durham" http://mitchstavern.com/
- Player's Retreat - Largest malt scotch selection in the state. Hamburgers made with beef ground in-house (can be ordered rare) http://www.playersretreat.net/
- Bali Hai - Cheap Mongolian restaurant. http://balihainc.com/
- Big Boss Brewery - Local brewery with a tavern attached. http://www.bigbossbrewing.com
- Carolina Ale House - Chain of sports bars in the Triangle area. Host of Canes Cool Bars events. http://www.carolinaalehouse.com/
- Buffalo Brothers - Another good restaurant to watch hockey. http://www.buffbrothers.com/
- Dalat - Great Vietnamese. http://dalatrestaurant.com/
- Draft Houses - A local chain with excellent food and fantastic beer selections. Another good place to watch hockey. http://mydrafthouse.com/
- Lilly's Pizza - Arguably Raleigh's best pizza. In Five Points neighborhoodhttp://www.lillyspizza.com/
- Neomonde - Very authentic Lebanse cafe and bakery. http://www.neomonde.com
- Ole Time BBQ - Roadside barbecue joint. http://www.oletimebarbecue.com
- State Farmer's Market Restaurant - Breakfast and southern food. http://www.ncsfmr.com/
- The BrickHouse - Sports bar with a lot of big screens not too far from RBC Center. http://brickhouse-nc.com/
- Margaux's - http://www.margauxsrestaurant.com
- Abyssinia - Ethiopian. http://abyssiniarestaurant.net/
- Hot Point Deli - (Located in Cary). http://hotpointdeli.com/
- Bavarian Brathaus - (Located in Cary) Fantastic and authentic Bavarian restaurant.
- Ruckus - Pizza, sandwiches, and drinks; a popular local hangout. Located in Raleigh near NC State and a new location in Cary. http://www.ruckuspizza.com/
- Chubby's Tacos - Authentic and delicious tacos and Mexican food with several area locations. http://www.chubbystacos.com/
- Aviator Brewing - This is actually located in Fuquay-Varina; a good local microbrewery tap room. http://www.aviatorbrew.com/
- LoneRider Brewing - Another local microbrewery with a tap room. http://www.loneriderbeer.com/
- Adams Vineyards - Muscadine vineyards and winery with tasting room in Fuquay-Varina. http://www.adamsvineyards.com/
- Gizmo Brew Works - Microbrewery. http://gizmobrewworks.com/
- David's Dumpling and Noodle Bar - Asian restaurant on Hillsborough St with an emphasis on noodles and dumplings - http://www.ddandnb.com/
- NOFO @ The Pig - Highly regarded restaurant in an old Piggly Wiggly grocery store building in Five Points - http://www.nofo.com/
- Hayes Barton Cafe - Cafe and dessert bakery in Five Points neighborhood - http://www.hayesbartoncafe.com/
- Ashworth Drugs - Cary drug store with a classic soda fountain and lunch counter - http://www.ashworthdrugs.com/
- Gonza Tacos y Tequila - Self explanatory. Carolina Hurricanes goalie Eddie Lack is a fan and the namesake of the Lacko Taco. http://gonzatacosytequila.com/
- Raleigh Brewing - Local microbrewery with taproom http://raleighbrewingcompany.com/
Durham
- Durham Bulls - AAA baseball team. Downtown stadium. hhttp://www.dbulls.com
- Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) - http://www.dpacnc.com/
- Full Frame Film Festival - Occurs in early April every year. The premier documentary film festival in North America. http://fullframefest.org/
- American Tobacco Campus - An old factory complex brilliantly renovated into a mixed use development. http://www.americantobaccohistoricdistrict.com/
- Brightleaf Square - Warehouses renovated into a shopping and dining district. http://www.historicbrightleaf.com/
- Duke University - beautiful campus including the Duke Gardens and Chapel. http://www.duke.edu
- Nasher Museum of Art at Duke - http://www.nasher.duke.edu/
- NC Central University Art Museum - http://ariel.acc.nccu.edu/artmuseum
- Museum of Life and Science - http://www.ncmls.org/
- Carolina Theatre - Classic remodeled theater showing mainly independent movies and concerts. http://www.carolinatheatre.org
- Fullsteam Brewery - Microbrewery. Owner Sean Lily Wilson is a James Beard semifinalist for his agriculturally-focused beers - http://www.fullsteam.ag/
- Geer Street Garden - Restaurant and bar. - http://geerstreetgarden.com/
- Bull City Burger and Brewery - Restaurant and brewpub. - http://bullcityburgerandbrewery.com
Chapel Hill
Some of these are technically in Carrboro, which is adjacent to Chapel Hill and can be walked to down Franklin Street.
- Franklin Street - the main street of Chapel Hill that runs through the UNC campus. A huge collection of shops, restaurants, and bars
- University of North Carolina - oldest public university in America. http://www.unc.edu/
- Carolina Basketball Museum - http://www.carolinabasketballmuseum.com/
- Kidzu Children's Museum - http://www.kidzuchildrensmuseum.org/
- Morehead Planetarium - http://www.moreheadplanetarium.org/
- North Carolina Botanical Garden - largest natural botanical garden in the southeast. http://www.ncbg.unc.edu/
- Cat's Cradle - hottest spot for touring indie music acts in North Carolina. http://catscradle.com/
- Memorial Hall - performing arts center. http://www.carolinaperformingarts.org/
- Carolina Brewery - restaurant and brewpub on Franklin St. http://www.carolinabrewery.com
- Tyler's Tap Room - http://www.tylerstaproom.com
- The Spotted Dog - Fantastic restaurant with a vegetarian focus. http://www.spotteddog.biz
- Time Out - 24 hour comfort food; a Chapel Hill institution. http://www.time-outrestaurants.com/
- Talullas - http://www.talullas.com/ - A Turkish restaurant that also hosts a great dance club scene later at night.
- Milltown - http://dininganddrinking.com - Gastropub with a good beer selection (not to mention poutine).
- Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe - http://www.curryblossom.com/ - great Indian food prepared fresh, good bottled beer selection, gluten-free and vegan options, and nice seating out in their open-air courtyard.
- Bandidos - Mexican http://bandidoscafe.com/
Food Trucks
The Triangle has become a haven for food trucks offering up everything from barbeque to pizza to raw foods. Keep an eye out and you may be able to grab some good eats at one of these mobile purveyors before or after a game!
American Meltdown - Taking simple grilled cheese to new heights with ingredients like manchego cheese, romesco sauce, and even black truffles. Alton Brown approved. Also has a stand in the food court at Streets at Southpoint.
Baguettaboutit - Serving internationally themed sausage on baguette sandwiches.
Barone Meatball Company - Owned by a former Bella Monica sous chef, he goes above and beyond to make new and inspired takes on the classic meatball sandwich, including a gyro meatball sandwich, a buffalo chicken sandwich, chicken parmesan, roasted corn and black bean, and a variety of fish/seafood options. Mac-n-cheese is to die for.
Baton Rouge Cuisine - Cajun and Creole inspired cuisine owned by Anthony "Airport" Greenups, a Baton Rouge native and former Harlem Globetrotter.
Big Mike's Barbeque - One of the most visible trucks around - designed to look like a big red barn and serving up barbeque.
Chez Moi Bakery - Rum Cake and Cakewiches (rum cake with some Parlour ice cream). What's not to love?
Chick-N-Que - Even more barbeque, although with a twist - no pork to be found here! Their ostrich burgers are amazing.
Chirba Chirba Dumpling - Serving Chinese dumplings, noodles, and Hong Kong style sausage. The only place where you can order some juicy buns and not get weird looks.
CJ's Street Food - "Chef inspired street food" including things like a Korean kimchi quesadilla
Dang Good Dogs - For anybody wanting a respite from that red Bright Leaf crap, have a dang good dog.
Gussy's Greek Street Food Tasty Greek eats (gyros, souvlaki, hummus, soups, and Greek fries) served up by Gus Megaloudis, an American-born Greek who went back to the homeland to play soccer and pick up some great recipes. Also has a brick and mortar in the strip mall at the intersection of T.W. Alexander Dr. and Miami Blvd. near RTP that's open for lunch through the week.
The Humble Pig - Barbeque
KoKyu - Korean Barbeque with a fun street feel owing to the grafittied up trucks that feature Megaman, Bomberman Mario, QBert, and a variety of video game faves. Brick and mortar Kokyu Na'Mean is open and serves lunch.
LaFarm Bread Truck - The mobile branch of Lionel Vatinet's Cary-based LaFarm Bakery. In addition to doling out Lionel's delicious breads, they use those breads to make tasty French/Francophone-inspired sandwiches including banh mi, croque monsieur, and croque madame.
Mac-Ur-Roni - Mack out your 'roni with vegetable and meat toppings at this truck where you can buy by the bowl or by the tub.
OnlyBurger - The granddaddy of the local scene. Also a brick and mortar in Durham with a second location next to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
Parlez-Vous Crepes - Serving a variety of sweet and savory crepes - TEMPORARILY OFF THE ROAD
The Parlour - Also a brick and mortar now, offers up delicious frozen treats and creative ice cream flavors that would make Baskin Robbins ashamed.
Phat Wrapz - Wrap sandwiches, of course!
Pie Pusher's - Hand-tossed pizza and calzones
Porchetta - A porkcentric truck serving up Italian roast pork sandwiches, flatbreads, and pork burgers. Also has a stand in the food court at Streets at Southpoint.
Sarge's Chef on Wheels - Asian/Caribbean inspired food. 15% discount to all active duty military.
Sweet Stacey Cakes - Also known as Smiles, the Cupcake Truck, Stacey Cakes offers up delicious cupcakes and adult takes on cupcakes including a margarita inspired cake.
Sweet Traditions by LeAne - Featuring Belle, their silver Airstream trailer serving up moist, delicious cupcakes.
Sympathy for the Deli - A mobile deli, serving up hand-roasted, cured, carved, and smoked locally sourced meats. Their peakles (spicy pickled sugar snap peas) are addictive.
Valentino's Food Truck - Serving up Italian inspired eats including mozzarella sticks, sausage and pepper sandwiches, meatball sandwiches, and the like.
Will & Pop's - More grilled cheese and burger deliciousness, including The Game Changer, a double bacon cheeseburger served between two grilled cheese sandwiches.
Triangle Suds
The ultimate guide to Triangle area breweries. Special thanks to thinkingcake for her assistance in putting this together:
Raleigh (16 breweries)
Big Boss Brewing
Boylan Bridge Brewpub (Temporarily closed, expected to reopen in the Spring)
Brewery Bhavana
Brice's Brewing Company
Clouds Brewing
Compass Rose Brewery
Crank Arm Brewing
Gizmo Brew Works
Lonerider Beer
The Lynnwood Grill
Neuse River Brewing Company
Nickelpoint Brewing Co.
Oak & Dagger Public House
Raleigh Brewing Company
Sub Noir Brewing
Trophy Brewing
Durham (6 breweries)
Bull City Burger and Brewery
Bull City Cider Works (grand reopening on March 25th)
Bull Durham Beer Co.
Durty Bull Brewing Co.
Fullsteam Brewery
Ponysaurus Brewery
Carrboro (4 breweries)
Dingo Dog Brewing Co.
Starpoint Brewing
Steel String Brewing
YesterYears Brewery
Fuquay-Varina (4 breweries)
Aviator Brewing Company
Draft Line Brewing Co. (to close on 4/29 and ultimately reopen as a lagers-only brewery)
Fainting Goat Brewing Company
Lincoln Brewing Co.
Apex (2 breweries)
Brueprint Brewing Company
Southern Peak Brewery
Holly Springs (2 breweries)
Bombshell Beer Company
Carolina Brewing Company
Cary (2 breweries)
Bond Brothers Beer Company
Fortnight Brewing Company
Chapel Hill (2 breweries)
Carolina Brewery
Top of the Hill Restaurant and Brewery
Clayton (1 brewery)
Deep River Brewing Company
Hillsborough (1 brewery)
Mystery Brewing Company
Saxapahaw (1 brewery)
Haw River Farmhouse Ales
Wake Forest (1 brewery)
White Street Brewing Company
And of course let's not forget our beloved bottle shops and higher end beer purveyors:
42 Craft Beverage
Beer Study
Bottle 501
BottleMixx
Bottle Revolution
House of Hops
Sam's Quik Shop
Southern Season
Tasty Beverage Company
Total Wine & More
Links
PNC Arena - http://thepncarena.com
Triangle Transit - http://triangletransit.com
Downtown Raleigh Alliance - http://godowntownraleigh.com
City of Raleigh - http://raleigh-nc.org
The Raleigh Connoisseur - http://dtraleigh.com/
News & Observer - http://newsobserver.com
Independent Weekly - http://indyweek.com/
WRAL - http://wral.com
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