First Look @ORORaleigh ‘s NEW Social Hour Menu Bar Bites + Drink Specials, All Items $5! #DowntownRaleigh

ORO Restaurant & Lounge | Social Hour Menu Review by SobeSavvy.com

Hey Raleigh! Looking for a new, hot spot to grab a glass of wine, cocktail or two and meet friends for a bite to eat after work? Well I have just the place for you. ORO Restaurant & Lounge, located in Downtown Raleigh, offers a fun, brand new Social Hour menu and SobeSavvy.com was invited to check it out. Here is what you need to know before you go and trust me, you will want to go ASAP!

ORO Restaurant & Lounge is chic, and sleek with white/wood modern decor and a mezzanine & a fireplace

SOCIAL HOUR

The new Social Hour menu was rolled out on Monday, January 28, 2019. It is offered in the Bar area only Monday- Thursday from 5pm-7pm. All items are just $5.00! Oh how I love a deal!

• EAT

There are five delicious food items on the menu to choose from. The variety offered allows everyone to find something to eat no matter the dietary restrictions or choices. The portions are enough for one person to enjoy but also shareable. Everything was so good that it is hard to pick a favorite. So my suggestion is order one of each and enjoy them all!

Beef Sliders | blue cheese | carmelized onions

Truffle Fries | parmesan | truffle oil

Lobster & Crab Bites | greens | citrus aioli

Teriyaki Chicken Skewers | green onion

Vegetable Spring Rolls | sweet chili sauce

• DRINK

Also on the Social Hour menu are two wine choices from Century Cellars. Order a glass of Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon to enjoy or if your are in the mood for a cocktail, get The Social Butterfly. It’s made with NC’s own Social House Vodka and your choice of mixer ( I asked for ginger beer and my friend got cranberry juice). It is served with a cute butterfly on the straw! It’s a refreshing and fun way to drink local!

ORO Social Hour Menu | DRINK | The Social Butterfly

SobeSavvy Tip: Elevate your drinking experience by ordering from the Specialty Cocktail menu. You’ll be impressed by the taste and presentation of these innovative cocktails! Watch this video and make plans to sip and see for yourself!

Specialty Cocktails | Weird Science | Smoke & Mirrors

ORO is a great place to have lunch [Read about my lunch experience at ORO >>here.], a romantic dinner, meet with co-workers after work, host a celebration event or hang with your girlfriends! Whatever the occasion, ORO will make it special. Cheers!

Lovely Leslie of @SobeSavvy and Meka Harrell of @hwthblog meet up for a fun Mom’s Night Out at ORO Restaurant & Lounge

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ORO Restaurant & Lounge

18 E. Martin Street

Raleigh, NC 27601

http://www.ororaleigh.com

#GoodMusic & #GoodTimes @RedHatAmp ‘Cameo and The SOS Band’ #Raleigh #NC #Concert RECAP

“Music is moonlight in the gloomy night of life” ~ George Santayana

With all the gloominess that is being felt in the world, it was nice to be unified last night by MUSIC. SobeSavvy.com joined live music lovers from Raleigh, Durham, and surrounding areas, to witness two legends of R&B and funk: Cameo and The SOS Band with special guest The Gravedigger on July 9, 2016 at The Red Hat Amphitheater ! 

Cameo, known for their funky musical style and in-your  face,  cutting-edge stage performances, took us on a stroll down memory lane. Led by their original frontman and lead singer Larry Blackmon, wearing his now iconic red cup,took us down memory lane while “Hangin’ Downtown” Raleigh, bringing us their hits like “Candy”, “Word Up!”, “Single Life” and much more. Here they are performing one of my faves, “Back and Forth” ! https://www.instagram.com/p/BHsK7H4DkC5/

Founded in 1974 as New York City Players, they had to change the name because of a conflict with the funk bank named The Ohio Players, they became Cameo. This group has stood the test of time the way few bands have. In the fickle business that music has always been, Cameo has pushed the envelope ,not only musically but visually. Their stunning music videos in 1980’s and 90’s are still examples of the best video artistry of their time. They did not dissapoint !!

Getting the party started, The S.O.S Band took the stage performing classic hit after hit songs like “Take Your Time (Do It Right)”, “Just Be Good To Me” , and “Weekend Girl”. The band thanked the crowd for being apart of their musical journey for the past 37 years! That truly proves good music is timeless!  Here is a video clip of them singing one of their many smash hits “Tell Me If You Still Care” ! https://www.instagram.com/p/BHqRL1Xh01r/

..and the crowd singing and dancing along to “No One’s Gonna Love You” https://www.instagram.com/p/BHqTe5YDcXk/

In my opinion Red Hat is one of the best venues we have in the Triangle! The lawn is small but it’s way close to the stage, you can see all the performers no problem! To stay in the loop of who is “Bringin’ the get down to Downtown Raleigh” be sure to follow on Twitter @RedHatAmp / Instagram @redhatamphitheater / Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RedHatAmphitheater/ 
Enjoy these photos taken last night at Red Hat Amphitheater !

#soNCsavvy goes on #Staycation ! Explore the romantic side of #Raleigh @RaleighMarriott #DTRMarriott @FallonsFlowers #DTR~ #Travel Recap

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Dieciséis Anos ?? Wow where did these 16 years go so fast, I asked my hubby. It was our anniversary and since we recently relocated to Raleigh we asked around about where could we do a memorable romantic overnight staycation. We kept getting the same answer..The Raleigh Marriott City Center http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/rdumc-raleigh-marriott-city-center/

In my former life as a healthcare consultant I had spent endless nights in Marriott properties, so I definitely heeded that advice and headed downtown for a nights stay. Being a new transplant to Raleigh I was always surprised as how vibrant the city center here is. People bound about. Popular Restaurants and trendy bars are everywhere. Rye, one of the hottest restaurants in the entire region just happens to be inside the Marriott. Downtown Raleigh also has various venues for plays and concerts and The Marriott City Center literally is in the center of it all. Convientely located on Fayettville St and connected to the Raleigh Convention Center, this property is ground zero for a downtown base for fun or romance. This is a full service property with an indoor pool and 15,000 sq feet of event space. They even have a concierge level of rooms with exclusive access to their concierge lounge and amenities. With that in mind, we headed downtown.

Check in was fast and efficient. The modern Lobby was stylish and bright. We found our suite to be luxurious but not garish. Marble bathroom and plush bedding was top notch. Our room had a great view of the Raleigh Skyline which came to life in the form of twinkling lights as the sun was setting.

Since it was our anniversary, also waiting in the room was a beautiful bright bouquet of flowers from the famous Fallons Flowers http://www.fallonsflowers.com/ They have been Raleigh’s premier florist for over 8 decades. Looking at these beautiful flowers I now know why. The arrangement was gorgeous! Fallon’s will be my Raleigh florist of choice going forward.

We had reserved their wonderful “romance package” room. They provided a bottle of Prosecco with a tray of chocolate covered strawberries. They also had 2 pouches of actual fresh red rose petals! We scattered them on the bed and spelled out how many years of marriage we were celebrating. What a great start. I took a quick swim in their rooftop pool and got dressed for a night out on the town. Before heading out we stopped by the bar at Rye for cocktail. Amazing bar atmosphere with attentive bartenders who explain how they make their cocktails out of fresh fruits and mixes.

The next morning we awoke with room service. A full breakfast was in order. They brought it up on time and as ordered. We both hated to say goodbye, but alas it was back to the real world. Until next time Marriott, until next time.

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Hey #Raleigh! Eat,Drink,Play & Get on my Level at @LevelUpNC ~ A #soNCsavvy review now on SobeSavvy.com

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Look up in the sky ..it’s a bar..it’s a restaurant..it’s an arcade..it’s Level Up !

Level Up is a unique place..Is it a bar? Is it a restaurant ? Is it a old school video arcade ? It is all three ! The atmosphere will transport you back to the 80’s but the food/drinks will take you back to the future! Located downtown Raleigh, this place is a fun place to hang, play your favorite 1980’s arcade games, watch sports on one of the many flat screens or see one of the classic 80’s movies. Now that we ‘ve established that one can be entertained..let’s talk about the food and drink.
I met the mixologist extradornaire, Johnny who was very polite and passionate about his craft cocktails. He is the main cocktail curator. Johnny advised that it’s a seasonal cocktail menu and it will change somewhat when the weather changes.

There are some variations of all time favorites and also some very unique choices. I enjoyed the Code Blue and Skywalker. Made with top notch ingredients and real fresh fruit. Both were awesome cocktails.Because it was my first time, I polled the staff on what we’re some of the menu faves. Hands down..the Yoshi eggs came highly recommended and did not disappoint. These are not your basic deviled eggs..definitely a level above the rest.

They also elevate tator tots with 4 dipping sauce choices. Their gourmet tacos were out of this world good. The Ahi Tuna was a nice surprise that worked well. The Pork ribs are dusted with sesame seeds and served with house made slaw using brussel sprouts. A knockout ! As the pictures below can attest this is not ordinary “bar” food. All ingredients are fresh wonderful flavors and tasty. I ordered a variety of other things and definitely will be returning with friends ! So if you ever wondered want a great time with good food and fun than elevate your bar scene to another level. Level up.IMG_3538

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Check out my photo slideshow from my visit : https://instagram.com/p/40RZuNiXET/

Photographs of @Raleighfoodwine #RFWF @eatdrinkBabylon- #soNCsavvy Event Recap

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The inaugural Raleigh Food and Wine Festival was a fabulous event! Delicious Food, Great Drinks and Wonderful people gathered for a spectacular taste of Raleigh! On Sunday, June 28, 2015 , all of the festival participants were present at the historic Melrose Knitting Mill and Babylon restaurant in downtown Raleigh to host a half-day “tasting celebration”, where ticket holders came to sample food and beverages from local restaurants, brands, breweries, and more!

This innovative event showcased the new, evolving culinary traditions of Raleigh, while giving back to Band Together, which has raised more than $3.5 million to benefit the Triangle community since its 2001 inception. VIP ticket holders received early entrance to beat the crowds and a complimentary cocktail. The weather was superb as was the fun loving crowd. The gourmet offerings were plentiful as were the various samples of wine and liquor. No one left hungry, that’s for sure ! My girlfriend and I (as seen here: https://instagram.com/p/4e-UwMqNE7/ ) really appreciated DJ Nyce Danger spinning the tunes so we could dance off the food ! Beautiful venue, great food and fun people. I cannot wait for next year !

Enjoy the pics

‘Lovely’ Leslie Heigh / Freelance Photojournalist
The ‘Bon Vivant ‘ Blogger
http://www.SobeSavvy.com
Follow Twitter/Instagram @IJust_LoveThis
Hashtag #soNCsavvy

image Capital 16 Club’s  pimento cheese peach preserves slab bacon

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imageBlake & Kelly Stewart of Midtown a Mixes LLC. , HailMaryBloodyMaryMix.com

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Contemporary patisserie from lucettegrace

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Taco from Backyard Bistro

imageCheers to Jim Pellegrini of Muddy Dog Roasting Co. http://www.muddydogcoffee.com

imageChef Anthony Alvarez and Julio Marrero of Latin Quarters Restaurant & Bar

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imageSeared Tuna from Bolt Bistro Steakhouse

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imageLauren Husketh , Events & Marketing Coordinator of Architect Bar

imageSticky Toffee Pudding from Plates Neighborhood Kitchen

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imageGet local favorites delivered to you with http://www.orderup.com

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imageWine tastings courtesy of Adams Vineyards

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Fiction Kitchen food sampling

imageThe healthy online grocery store, http://www.relayfoods.com

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Also check out my photo slideshow of the event! https://instagram.com/p/4fYlQbiXAg/

Win 2 Tix to @raleighfoodwine Tasting Celebration on Sun 6/28 @eatdrinkBabylon #DowntownRaleigh – #soNCsavvy #Giveaway #RFWF #raleighevents #rdu #triangle #NC

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Enter Now to Win 2 general admission tickets for the inaugural Raleigh Food and Wine Festival – taking place in Downtown Raleigh at Babylon Restaurant . Join SobeSavvy.com for a spectacular taste of Raleigh on Sunday, June 28,2015 from 1:00 pm to 5:00pm !

The Raleigh Food and Wine Festival is an innovative event that showcases the new, evolving culinary traditions of Raleigh, comprised of multiple events taking place at different participating restaurants, wine shops, patisseries and bakeries – featuring wine dinners and guest chefs.
The four-day program wraps up with a food and beverage tasting celebration at the historical Melrose Knitting Mill and Babylon in Downtown Raleigh. Get your tickets HERE : for the Sunday tasting celebration! Only 100 VIP tickets are available and will sell out quickly.

$1.00 from every general admission sold and $2.00 from every VIP ticket will be donated to Band Together, which has raised more than $3.5 million to benefit the Triangle community since its 2001 inception. The group exists to help change lives and have fun along the way. Click here to learn more about Band Together !

The Raleigh Food and Wine Festival is a four-day event highlighting of some of the most unique offerings in food and beverage in Raleigh, NC. The 2015 Festival takes place Thursday, June 25, 2015 through Sunday, June 28, 2015

Thursday through Saturday, explore a growing list of events held around town – including wine dinners and cooking classes put on by participating businesses. RSVP requirements and other details are provided on each event listing. One event in particular that caught my interest is Friday nights’ Latin Jazz & Dinner at Latin Quarters !

On Sunday, all of the festival participants gather at the historic Melrose Knitting Mill and Babylon restaurant in downtown Raleigh to host a half-day “tasting celebration”, where ticket holders can sample food and beverages from local restaurants, brands, breweries, and more.Tickets are required for this event and must be purchased in advance online.

PLEASE NOTE: All attendees MUST be 21 years of age or older by Sunday, June 28, 2015. Refunds will not be made at the door if tickets are purchased for anyone under 21 years old!

Parking is limited on-site, but there are several nearby decks, including the State Government Parking Deck at 329 N. McDowell Street. View all available parking at http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/get-around/parking.

TO WIN 2 General Admission TIX to Sunday’s Tasting Event, Leave a comment on the blog that says “entered” and Fill out my Wufoo Form Here

One winner will be randomly selected on Tuesday, 6/23/15.

Check back here on SobeSavvy.com for this #soNCsavvy event recap! 

Good Luck!Â