Category / Restaurants

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.

by Leo Suarez

BeerCon: Foundation

Foundation sits below the sidewalks of the 200 block of Fayetteville St. and is a real highlight to the downtown drinking scene. The menu has some tasty, handmade cocktails and a very thorough list of bourbon. The beer list is short, but Foundation does serve some of the better beers brewed in this state and always has a few seasonals to choose from.

The bar is small and cozy. If you can gather your crew around a table, everyone should enjoy the warm atmosphere and light music during any engaging conversations. Get a membership and visit sometime on a weeknight.

Non-smoking

Website: http://foundationnc.com/

213 Fayetteville Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
(go to map)
(919) 896-6016

by Leo Suarez

Small Glenwood South Update

I took a walk down Glenwood South last night and kept my eyes open for new stuff. The signs in the pictures above were at the building on Glenwood and Tucker. Some other points:

  • The corner space of 222 Glenwood is still empty. This can also be made into two spaces but right now the dividing wall has not been built.
  • Renovation work is being done on the building between Armadillo Grill and Solas.
  • Two parking spots were taken away from the area in front of The Hibernian for the R-Line. I recently heard of a complaint at this stop where the bus drove by and did not stop for a waiting pedestrian. Perhaps this will help with that and traffic flow.
by Leo Suarez

New Stuff For Your Weekend

A couple new places have opened up in downtown Raleigh recently and they deserve your attention, especially for the BeerCons out there. Think of them when you are out this weekend.

Boylan Bridge Brewpub

Microbrew beer and bar food. The “bridgepub” (I think this is the term that is catching on) wins the award for ‘best view of the city with drink in hand’. Enjoy the patio on this warm weekend.

201 South Boylan Ave.

Remedy Diner

Inexpensive eats with a little character. Perfect for a late night snack.

137 East Hargett St.

European Espresso & Wine Café

Wine and light foods in a relaxed atmosphere. The flight on First Friday is the way to go.

222 Glenwood Ave.

Foundation

Local beer and regional cocktails.

213 Fayetteville St.


The ‘Bridgepub’