Category / Restaurants

by Leo Suarez

A Visit To Clyde Cooper’s Barbecue

It has been awhile since I’ve had any of Clyde Cooper’s delicious barbecue. Since I’m never in downtown during the workday, Saturday is my only time to visit so this past weekend I made a point to go. Cooper’s has been in business since 1938 and the restaurant on Davie St. is an old diner-style barbecue place. They have been in downtown Raleigh for a long time and it is tough to compare them to the newer, and more talked about, barbecue place, The Pit. It is a great restaurant and I enjoy visiting but in my opinion, Cooper’s has defined their style and really serves downtown Raleigh better with a neighborhood, friendly feel. You cannot beat their $3 barbecue sandwich and for the money, the trays and dinners are one of the best deals in downtown.

In the coming years, it will be interesting to follow what will really happen on this corner of Davie and Wilmington St. when the The Edison starts to come alive. The plan is to remove the older buildings on this block for a 39 story tower. Nothing is certain yet so only time will tell. Enjoy Clyde Cooper’s and the other businesses on this block.

by Leo Suarez

BeerCon: Wine Specials in Downtown Raleigh


Wine! (picture by Abbyladybug)

BeerCon does not have to be all about tasty suds. As I close in on my 200th beer at The Flying Saucer, I’ve been recently thinking that wine would be a taste I want to improve on. I’m terrible at tasting wine, which is expected because I drink very little of it. My first approach is to simply drink more of it and take note of the bottles I’m sampling. The easiest, and cheapest, way I see to dive into this is to chase the half price specials. Here is a short list of places that offer half price wine each week.

Monday

Tuesday

Thursday

Where have you been? Any wine connoisseurs out there want to recommend a place on or off this list in downtown that has a good selection?

by Leo Suarez

Plaza Cafe

According to this piece of paper on the door, Plaza Cafe will be coming soon to one of the spaces in the Progress Energy building on Fayetteville St. It might not be too crazy to think that Plaza Cafe may open when City Plaza opens this Fall but I do not know this for sure.

There are four entrances to some spaces on the sidewalk of the 400 block of Fayetteville St. in the white Progress Energy building. The space with the old RBC Bank looks torn up but perhaps there is work being done here. Two spaces are covered by paper, one being this coming cafe, and the third is the entrance to the building lobby.

by Leo Suarez

Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Refresh

This list is always popular so here is a new one for you to glance over. We have always talked about the new restaurants and bars that have opened or are planning to open in the coming months. This time, it is important to notice that a list of recent closings can be made. Has the bar been raised in downtown Raleigh and heavy competition forced American Pita to close? Is the slowing economy to blame for shutting down the always empty Fayetteville St. Tavern? Was it European Wine and Espresso Cafe’s boring name that drove people away? I’m sure it was a combination of things but here is a list of new, opening soon, and closed restaurants in downtown Raleigh. Let us know what you’ve tried, miss having, and are looking forward to.

New

Closed

  • American Pita Grill
  • Joe’s place (N&O article)
  • Enoteca Vin
  • European Wine and Espresso Cafe
  • Fayetteville Street Tavern
  • Champa Thai
  • Hard Times Cafe

Coming soon

  • Gravy – Bella Monica and Empire Properties collaboration restaurant in the old Riviera space.
  • Natty Greene’s Pub & Brewery (based out of Greensboro)
  • Noir – Bar and lounge on Glenwood South.
  • Edelweiss Cafe – German cuisine.


Noir is opening next to Solas. The now hiring sign claims it will open in the summer of this year.