Category / Restaurants

by Leo Suarez

BeerCon: Tir Na Nog

The first challenge of experiencing Tir Na Nog is learning to say it correctly. Once you’ve got it down, and are now educating everyone you know on the proper pronunciation, you can dive into the very roomy pub for a variety of entertainment. The activity surrounds a large circle bar in the center of the room with a stage on one side and bar games at the other. Tir Na Nog is a no brainer if you have a large group as they have plenty of room for those groups of bar golfers out there. Located right across the street from Moore Square, they are one of the anchors of night time activity after events in the park.

Darts
Foosball
Outdoor seating
Live music
TV’s
Late night food

Website: http://www.tirnanogirishpub.com/

218 S Blount St
Raleigh, NC 27601
(go to map)
(919) 833-7795

by Leo Suarez

The State of the Warehouse District

By day, the warehouse district of Downtown Raleigh is quiet and sleepy. By night, it wakes up and comes to life, exploding on the weekends. This nightlife hotspot has seen some problems in the past, but with a convention center only a few steps away, why can’t it enjoy some traffic just as Fayetteville St. will be getting? Here is some recent updates if you have not been down there recently.

  • Penrod’s Antique Warehouse has opened up next to White Collar Crime and makes use of the entire 10,000 sq. ft. warehouse. They have very old furniture and all kinds of random plates, paintings, silverware, etc. They are open seven days a week.

  • Jibarra is re-locating to The Depot but work there has not yet started. The place is still filled with the old bars from the trio of clubs that left back in November of 2007. Jibarra seems confident on opening up this fall.
  • Renovation of a warehouse for the Contemporary Art Museum seems to be continuing. A recent ‘Pic of the Week’ entry had some good discussion from readers.
  • Discussion on the Multi Modal Transit Center is picking up and the city wants your ideas. Read their ‘Call For Ideas’ on the Transit Center and submit them by July 24th. I have not read the entire document yet but may post my thoughts later this week.

The warehouse district will need more shops and the museum to open for activity to rise during the day. The transportation center, I think, will define the warehouse district in the near future and when (if) built, this area will explode during the day.


Plenty of parking at The Depot

by Leo Suarez

Opening Date For Boylan Bridge Brewpub

I need to give props to a reader, Kyle, for the tip. I’m pretty excited about this one.

The Boylan Bridge Brewpub will open on AUGUST 25, 2008. That’s right, in 53 drinking days we will serve our first beer. (43 drinking days if you skip Sunday, 35 drinking days if you don’t drink on the weekend, and 16 drinking days if you only drink on the weekend.)

Hit their website for more.

by Leo Suarez

BeerCon: Woody’s City Market

Woody’s is a sports bar and restaurant with a neighborhood feel to it. Located in City Market, it is off the main strip and is a fun place to bring a group of friends. You can definitely see the local touch that Woody’s has with all the ACC and Canes gear filling the shelves and covering the walls. There are plenty of TV’s for you to watch the event of your choice and a stage for music and karaoke. If you have not been, I recommend getting down there on a Monday and sign up for the cornhole tournament.

Food
Plenty of TV’s
Stage for live music select nights

Website: http://www.woodyscitymarket.com/

205 Wolfe St
Raleigh, NC 27601
(go to map)
(919) 833-3000

by Leo Suarez

Summer Restaurant Wave

This follows up the “Winter Restaurant Wave” written about 7 months ago. Here is, I hope, a complete list of new openings in downtown. Fill in the blanks for me and let’s get them all.

The Present

  • Champa Cafe opened about 3 months ago and is serving lunch, Mon-Fri from 11-6. They are located at the corner of Salisbury and Martin St.
  • 101 Café and Lounge is open in Palladium Plaza and is open everyday with different hours. They are at the corner of Blount and Davie St.
  • Peace China has now opened in Seaboard Station. The best part about them are their hours as they are open from 11am-10pm every day.
  • Cody’s has now been renamed to Thaiphoon. Need help on this one as I’m not sure if there is new management or what.

The Future

  • Waraji’s downtown location still has not opened and does not look close. However, it is moving along and they will be at the corner of Salisbury and Hargett St.
  • Solas is close to opening and rumor has it they will be up and running this summer.
  • Tobacco Road Sports Café is brought to us from the guys behind Amra’s and have landed space in the 222 Glenwood building. I recommend you follow their blog and give them feedback as they are trying to gain ideas from the community.
  • The upscale Neomonde restaurant has been quiet at the corner of Hargett and Wilmington St. lately. It sort of looks like there is activity here but there is nothing to really get excited about just yet.
  • Tyler’s Taproom will create a location at Seaboard Station between Peace China and Ace Hardware.
  • Boylan Bridge Brewpub continues work as we all wait patiently.
  • The Marriott Hotel’s early opening in July may present a new retail option to all of us. According to the site plan, there is a space for a “coffee shop” and “restaurant” right on Fayetteville St. No news yet on what may be in these two spaces.

Lots of retail space on the ground floor of 222 Glenwood

by Leo Suarez

BeerCon: The Raleigh Times

The Raleigh Times is more then just a watering hole but a downtown Raleigh museum. At the site of the old newspaper, this restaurant displays Raleigh’s past with newspaper printings and photos scattered throughout the dining room and bar area. Even the torn up walls are on display, some covered transparently and not hidden from us. Bounce over to the website for more paper and building history.

The Raleigh Times is a popular location for those that prefer outdoor seating and a varied selection of beers. On top of that, there is a very comfortable long bar, dining room, and smoking bar inside (dubbed Smoking Times). Taps are always changing and I encourage you to try something different each time you visit.

Food
Outdoor seating
Dog-friendly
TV’s
Wi-fi

Website: http://www.raleightimesbar.com/

14 E Hargett St
Raleigh, NC 27601
(go to map)
(919) 833-0999

by Leo Suarez

No Ketchup Allowed At The Roast Grill

While Fayetteville St. is going through its re-birth and as Glenwood South grows right before our eyes, The Roast Grill has seen it all and is still doing what they do best. It has been sitting at its location at 7 South West St. since 1940 and has been offering burnt hot dogs to all of downtown.

Do not be fooled by the limited toppings, these dogs are no joke and the chili recipe is fantastic. With almost all the original equipment, the Roast Grill is a great place for something simple and quick. Enjoy the Tootsie Rolls after your dogs.

by Leo Suarez

BeerCon: Landmark Tavern

Riding the wave of new restaurants and bars to open in Downtown Raleigh, Landmark Tavern serves a solid selection of beer, wine, and spirits. When it opened in January of 2008, Landmark instantly became a popular spot. The weekend nightlife has accepted it and during the week, there is always some bar space for you to drown your after work sorrows. Even without the food element, Landmark holds up strong with a great bar and a newly upgraded outdoor patio. They also play some of the better music for a bar in downtown Raleigh that I have been to.

No food
No cover
Membership needed for the weekends (easy to get)
Wi-fi
Outdoor seating
Board games
One TV

Website: http://www.myspace.com/landmarkraleigh

Monday – Sunday 4pm – 2am

117 E. Hargett Street
Raleigh, NC
(go to map)
(919) 821-9865