Sorry- I searched and couldn't find anything significant.

I need to know some nice restaurants in the above areas.

A new restaurant would be nice (hence the new thread).

But other nice restaurants are cool too.

Please advise.

7/17/2006 1:35:52 PM

I went here for the first time this weekend. I really liked it.

http://chophousesofnc.com/capitalcitychophouse/

7/17/2006 1:39:18 PM

You have to define "nice."

TWW nice = Olive Garden or Cheesecake Factory

Actual nice = Second Empire or Four Square

7/17/2006 1:40:27 PM

Not a new restaurant but it was new to me the first time I went, which was two weeks ago.

Rio Churrascaria - http://www.riochurrascaria.com/

7/17/2006 1:45:41 PM

just saying nice doesnt work, how much a plate? or what would you like to keep it around

7/17/2006 1:51:04 PM

I'm sorry- I mean very nice... It's an anniversary dinner... and on just regular dinners we go to "TWW nice" places like Caffe Luna and Kanki.

7/17/2006 1:51:43 PM

The CheeseCake Factory in Downtown Chicago near the Magnificent Mile counts as actual nice.

7/17/2006 1:51:47 PM

about the Rio Churrascaria,

that price pays for all the meat you can eat?? Am i reading that right? And is the different meats anygood. How does this work

7/17/2006 1:52:21 PM

Vespa

7/17/2006 1:53:14 PM

^^ yes. I believe all brazilian steak houses are like this, although I haven't eaten at Rio. You get a card that has one color on one side, and another on the other (usually red and green). The waiters will cary various meats on a spit and if you have green up, they'll come to your table and cut you off a piece.

This continues until you are on the verge of rupturing or you puke everything up and continue eating.

[Edited on July 17, 2006 at 1:55 PM. Reason : g]

7/17/2006 1:55:01 PM

We went to a Steak House like that in Durham recently... One of the boyfriend's clients owns it.

The Green and Red Card is correct.

I believe it was 30-35 dollars a plate for the Durham place.

So I would rather not go to another place like that. Something new.

Oh and btw... to answer your question-- the meat was pretty damn good... but so bad for you.. They had steak and chicken wrapped in bacon, etc.

[Edited on July 17, 2006 at 1:58 PM. Reason : ]

7/17/2006 1:57:36 PM

Bistro 64 was pretty good when i went about a month ago.

good date place, was pretty empty on i think it was like a thursday night.

used to be the cosmopolitan grill, changed owners but retained the same chef. just reopened in like may.

1 app, bottle wine, 2 dinners, dessert, 2 drinks after dinner .... ~150...

prices are very reasonable.

not bad really, and the food was pretty good for the raleigh area.


http://www.bistro64.com/

[Edited on July 17, 2006 at 2:02 PM. Reason : e]

7/17/2006 2:01:19 PM

yall are makin me hungry

7/17/2006 2:02:53 PM

Quote :

"I mean very nice... It's an anniversary dinner"

Second Empire - Excellent food, Excellent service. Have eaten here multiple times and never been disappointed. Definitely need a reservation

Il Palio - Excellent service, great ambience, but the food, while very good, may be a little overrated.

Nana's Restaurant (not to be confused with Nana's Chophouse) - another place with awesome service and food. I've only been there once, but I remember there being mostly seafood on the menu.

Bloomsbury Bistro - Menu changes a lot, so they definitely keep things fresh. I definitely enjoyed the food and service here as well.

7/17/2006 2:03:05 PM

http://www.ghgrestaurants.com/

7/17/2006 2:03:12 PM

I really enjoyed Brasa, its not traditional, but its definitely very good.

It is a Brazillian Steak House- Located at Brier Creek, the atmosphere is great.

[Edited on July 17, 2006 at 2:04 PM. Reason : asfdf]

7/17/2006 2:03:26 PM

i'm your regular broke college student.. what kind of restaurant is Second Empire?

7/17/2006 2:05:14 PM

st. jacques on falls of the neuse

very small restaurant...make a reservation.

http://www.saintjacquesfrenchcuisine.com/contact.html

if you go...get Lil the owner to pick out a wine for you that will compliment your whole meal...





[Edited on July 17, 2006 at 2:12 PM. Reason : ]

7/17/2006 2:07:06 PM

google

7/17/2006 2:07:09 PM

Quote :

"that price pays for all the meat you can eat?? Am i reading that right? And is the different meats anygood. How does this work"

All the Meat you can eat.

Like the others said they bring them out on skewers and either give you pieces or cut portions off the pieces. You can ask them to bring back the meats as much as you want. There is also a "salad" bar with unconventional salad type foods on it that is included.

When you want the meat you just flip the red/green card over to green and the meat starts coming. There are 12 different kinds.

Pork Tenderloin
Chicken wrapped in bacon
Ribs
Filet Mignon wrapped in bacon
Top Sirloin
Bottom Sirloin
A cut above the top sirloin - House special called Picaña ( my favorite)
Chicken Hearts
Chicken Medallions
Lamb
Pork Sausages
and one other I cant remember

I had nine and I loved every one of them. They also give you slices of pineapple covered in cinnamon as part of the meal if you want to avoid paying extra for desert. This tastes outstanding as well.

They also have tons of desert of which I can not name all of them. Great cheesecake with like 5 different toppings. I had mango and it was amazing.

7/17/2006 2:07:41 PM

These are all great- Does anyone have any more?

7/17/2006 2:26:31 PM

Fearrington House Restaurant and Village

http://www.fearringtonhouse.com/restaurant.asp

[Edited on July 17, 2006 at 2:36 PM. Reason : .]

7/17/2006 2:33:20 PM

Quote :

"You have to define "nice." TWW nice = Olive Garden or Cheesecake Factory Actual nice = Second Empire or Four Square"

so to be nice the restaurant has to serve $25+ entrees almost exclusively? Or is that just a coincidence in your two choices?

7/17/2006 2:41:59 PM

Il Palio, yes (CH)
Sullivan's (Raleigh)
The Fairview at the Washington Duke Inn (Durham)
Nana's (Durham)
University Club (been to the one in Durham, but not Raleigh)
Four Eleven West
Bin 54 (CH)
Magnolia Grill (Durham)

Not THAT nice but:
Grasshopper (Durham)
George's Garage (Durham)
Aurora (CH)
La Residence/ Cafe La Rez(CH)

7/17/2006 2:44:55 PM

Oh wow thanks Natalie... Time to research.

I am googling the top 10 restaurants in Raleigh throughout the years and: Michael Dean's Seafood Grill Wood Oven was mentioned... Anyone heard anything about that before?

7/17/2006 2:47:44 PM

By nice I think of it as a unique dining experience i.e. something you wont forget and can't be repeated.

Olive Garden, hell no
Sullivians and Ruth Chris, still no

Fearrington House Restaurant (do there weekend escape)
Second Empire also fits the bill, when they let you tour the home.

7/17/2006 2:48:19 PM

Nelson's in Cameron Village is new and very nice.

7/17/2006 2:48:39 PM

Michael Dean's is decent...I wasnt a fan, I think food just kind of depends person to person. I can only tell someone what I think is nice, others may not...

7/17/2006 2:49:25 PM

fiance took me to frazier's sat. night - we had been to porter's a few times but never there - it was great food but a tad loud because of the close quarters - i don't recommend the seafood there though

7/17/2006 2:50:10 PM

Dean's is average, certainly not somewhere I would go for a real special occasion

7/17/2006 2:51:30 PM

So far top picks are:

Bistro 64
Second Empire

That Michael Dean's was looking good food-wise but not atmosphere-wise. I have to go somewhere that has excellent steak because the boyfriend is a meat man.

I didn't want to get in to the Chapel Hill area because we have plans soon after dinner.

Let me research Nelson's.

7/17/2006 2:53:05 PM

Oh no, if steak is his thing...do Brasa...he can try all the different meats, there are nice cozy romantic tables, i loved it, I got taken there for a 3 year anniversary dinner, it was nice.

7/17/2006 2:56:49 PM

I had an amazing anniversary dinner once at Il Palio. It was intimate and quiet.

7/17/2006 2:59:07 PM

We just recently did the same thing in Durham. The steakhouse thing... so I want something new unfortunately.

7/17/2006 2:59:15 PM

Okay I made reservations for Second Empire so we'll see how it goes.

[Edited on July 17, 2006 at 3:03 PM. Reason : Thanks for all the help!! ]

7/17/2006 3:03:07 PM

Good Call, B

Hey, did you make sure you asked for the upstairs part and not the Tavern part right?

[Edited on July 17, 2006 at 3:05 PM. Reason : .]

7/17/2006 3:03:56 PM

Oh yes... I was given the option and I said Upstairs Formal Dining area.

7/17/2006 3:06:28 PM

check out brightleaf square in historic downtown durham. there are some really, really good restaurants there. brightleaf square is like south glenwood and moore square districts combined into one area in durham - several trendy shops, restaurants, and bars with patios.

chamas brazilian steakhouse in particular is awesome!

7/17/2006 3:06:44 PM

tyrone we need to hit that up again

7/17/2006 3:07:16 PM

Magnolia Grill's Steak dish is usually really good. I've been there about 6 times now. Atmosphere and service is also really good and overall they are my favorite restaurant ever.

7/17/2006 3:16:08 PM

http://www.comeunderground.com

EXCELLENT tapas restaurant. Under Charlie Goodnight's.

[Edited on July 17, 2006 at 3:27 PM. Reason : food is the best part]

7/17/2006 3:26:40 PM

there is nothing nice nor classy about the underground

7/17/2006 3:28:56 PM

Margaux's: http://www.margauxsrestaurant.com/

7/17/2006 3:37:11 PM

If it hasn't been said yet: Second Empire

Great for a date, special occasion, anything. You can spend anywhere from $20/plate to $50/plate and then add alcohol/dessert. But the service, food, and atmosphere are seriously top notch. I've been twice and both times it was a 2.5 hour long experience...great place to go when you don't need to be rushed, as you'll really enjoy yourself.

7/17/2006 4:13:47 PM

is Raleigh times nice? the beer/wine selection is good but i didnt see the food menu....

7/17/2006 4:19:53 PM

518 West!

Awesome food, and wine is 50% off on Monday nights. I was a server for two years and loved it. Great staff/head chef/management.

It's nice, but not ultra nice.

Request table 73...it's a secluded two top that's attached to the staircase, which will give you some privacy.

[Edited on July 17, 2006 at 4:49 PM. Reason : ;]

7/17/2006 4:48:38 PM

if y'all want wine, go to vin. it's adjacent/behind hardtimes cafe on south glenwood.

yeah, 518 west is good, but i'm guessing she already knew about that place (as well as second empire).

[Edited on July 17, 2006 at 5:08 PM. Reason : ]

7/17/2006 5:07:22 PM

Vin
http://www.enotecavin.com/

7/17/2006 5:45:38 PM

Try 18 Seaboard at Seaboard Station off of Peace or Riviera on Wilmington at Hargett Streets - both new with good food and reasonable prices.

7/17/2006 6:18:51 PM

um guys she already made reservations to Second Empire, lol the advice can stop now

7/17/2006 6:27:08 PM