Macaroni au gratin at Poole's.
The Evening's menu on Chalk Boards
Here is one of my favorite quotes about Poole's. **Just heard word from Mr. E that he is taking her to Poole's Saturday. BUMMER!**
Banana Cream Pie with Salty Bourbon Caramel in Bon Appetit. I die. Caramel and Bourbon????
So here are our three choices since Poole's is out........
Option #1
2000 Fairview Road, Raleigh, N.C. 27608
(919) 856-8551
(919) 856-8551
This was probably the most popular pic of facebook friends and one of Miss E's favorites. From Our Sate Magazine: Cakes are just part of the 1940s-immersed scenery in the Hayes Barton Café decked out in chrome, checkerboard tile, and memorabilia from film, music, and World War II. Frank and Marget Ballard created the lunch, dinner, and dessert cafe 14 years ago in the former “greasy spoon” diner space that shares a doorway with the old Hayes-Barton Pharmacy. Ever since, customers have brought in war-veteran photographs to add to the decor, which includes a 1940s photo of Frank’s parents, Bill and Eula May Ballard, as sweethearts, as well as images drawn by Bill when he was a cartoonist for The News & Observer from 1951 to 1964.
Look at all those cakes!!! We could always start with dessert!
Dinner Menu Every good Carolina girl loves shrimp & grits!
Option #2
Coquette Brasserie
(919) 789-0606
4351 The Circle at North Hills
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
From Kelley Chisolm: I have enjoyed many a lunch and dinner at Coquette, and one of my favorites is the steak frites ($19.00 at dinner.) This is a hangar steak that comes with your choice of maitre’d butter, bordelaise or brandy peppercorn sauces. All three are great, but I especially like the bordelaise. The frites are tasty – very thin and crispy. Other favorites include the onion soup gratinee, quiche Lorraine, beets and Roquefort salad, escargots, Parisian gnocchi and the hamburger, which is freshly ground steak so it can be cooked to order.
I love steak frites, gnocchi, pomme frites drizzled in truffle oil, roasted chicken breast...pretty much everything on this menu.. And this would be a fun spot b/c we could toss on dresses and drink champagne and pretend we are real ladies.
Option #3
328 W Davie St Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 890-4500
Miss E and I both love us some BBQ. She is from Eastern NC so she is a vinegar based girl and I'm tomato based but I hear this place is fantastic.
"'Barbecue' is not a verb in the South, nor is it a charcoal-burning device. No, for carnivores from Daytona to Decatur, it is a religion. And nowhere is this ritual of smoke and fire better harnessed than in North Carolina."
— Matt Goulding Weigl, Men's Health
Where should we eat tomorrow night?! They all sound amazing because let's face it.......
Can't wait and Happy Birthday E!!!
xoxoxo
Obviously, Poole's is pretty much the best thing that ever happened to Raleigh and by far my favorite out of all your options. I will say there is a new place called Bida Manda and it is right up there with Poole's.
ReplyDeleteI have been to the Pit, and Poole's is on my to try list. Seriously, all options point to delicious.
ReplyDeleteOf those, I think Hayes Barton is the best, food-wise. Coquette has the best atmostphere, but the food is hit-or-miss. It's a great Sunday brunch spot though (botomless mimoas!). The desserts at Hayes Barton are to die for, and absurdly HUGE. The Pit is good, but somewhere I'd be comfortable taking my kids, so I don't like it as much for a more fun occassion.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Poole's is hands-down the best place in Raleigh. I also love Christiansen's new place, Beasley's Chicken and Honey. Casual, but the best fried chicken ever. And they have mac and cheese that is similar to the one at Poole's.