where to eat in Raleigh

My Top 4 Raleigh Restaurants for @TriRestWeek | @41Hundred @Sushimon_nc @Seasons52 and STIR

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Triangle Restaurant Week Roundup January 2020

If you’ve been following me over on Instagram @SobeSavvy, then you may have noticed that I have been getting my eat on for Triangle Restaurant Week! You still have this weekend to make plans to try some delicious dishes prepared for you in 3 courses at a fixed price. Durham, Chapel Hill and surrounding areas are participating but here is a recap of my Top 4 Raleigh Restaurants to enjoy during Triangle Restaurant Week!

41 Hundred

Located in North Hills, inside the Renaissance Raleigh Hotel, 41 Hundred is not your ordinary hotel restaurant. Chef Kevin Smith and his team gave us memorable dishes that left lasting impressions. Here is where I kicked off Triangle Restaurant Week and ICYMI, you can check out my full review on the blog>>here. The dinner menu was 3 courses for $30 and I chose the Seafood Gumbo, Sea Bass, and Blueberry Cobbler Cheesescake. Everything was great from the service to the taste/quality of the food. From start to finish, I enjoyed it all but my favorite bite of the night was the Sea Bass as seen here ⤵️

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7j9eprHP5v/?igshid=ori68naj3sa5

STIR Raleigh

STIR Raleigh is also located in North Hills and is one of my go to place for fresh oysters. I was interested in seeing what dishes they came up with for Triangle Restaurant Week. Because I associate STIR with fresh seafood, I was hoping to see more seafood items but was still pleased with the choices. From their $30 p/p dinner menu, I chose Crab Ravioli, Braised Pork Shoulder, and Banana Cheesecake. I really enjoyed the dessert which tasted like a mashup of banana pudding and cheesecake! Take a look at my photos here and feast your eyes on STIR Raleigh ⤵️

Sushi Mon

I highly anticipated going here to Sushi Mon after hearing so many great things about their restaurant, its menu and of course sushi. So when I saw them on the Triangle Restaurant Week list of participating restaurants, I was so excited! Located near NC State, Sushi Mon offers “elevated takes on sushi and Japanese fare“. Their 4 course dinner menu for $35 took my tastebuds on a culinary journey. They had ingredients imported from Bangkok,Thailand and Spain but even featured local food too. My favorite bite of the night: EVERYTHING. Seriously, you can’t go wrong no matter what you choose. Here is my video which recaps my dining experience at Sushi Mon ⤵️

Seasons 52

When I found out my friend would be in town for a business meeting, we quickly made plans to meet for lunch. I told her it’s Triangle Restaurant Week here and we can go somewhere that would have vegan options for her. Seasons 52, located in Crabtree Valley Mall, is known for their healthy cuisine, fresh grill and wines. For $15 p/p, their 3 course Lunch menu is quite a deal! I got the Romaine and Kale Ceasar, Wood-Grilled Boneless Rainbow Trout and Mini Indulgence Dessert. Those desserts are so good, it is hard to choose just one. Take a look at my delicious lunch at Seasons 52 here⤵️

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7rGvUJHsh0/?igshid=6ii707yze851

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I hope that after reading this you are inspired to visit these restaurants NOW for Triangle Restaurant Week or LATER when the mood for good food hits you! What’s the best thing you had to eat during Triangle Restaurant Week January 2020? Have you been to any of the above restaurants before? Let me know in the comments below!

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

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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

Hey #Raleigh, Jan 12 is #CurriedChickenDay – Get some NOW @curryinahurrync @MorganStFoodhll #FoodieFriday

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FACT | Food Holidays don’t just stop at Thanksgiving for Foodies. We celebrate anything that our tastebuds desire whether it is on the calendar or not!

However, when I saw that National Day Calendar listed January 12 as Curried Chicken Day I had one place in mind to go and enjoy curry chicken. That place is Curry in a Hurry!

Located in Morgan Street Food Hall, which recently nominated for Best New Food Hall by USA Today, Curry in a Hurry transports customers to India right here in downtown Raleigh. Owned by Chef Alaksha Surt, this restaurant features award winning, authentic Indian Food dishes using recipes influenced by her mom and grandmother. You can taste her passion for cooking in every spicy, flavorful bite!

Her food truck, which is the only Indian Food Truck in our area, has been a regional fixture in and beyond the Triangle for some time. Last year she decided to open a brick and mortar location and become the only Indian restaurant in the popular Morgan Street Food Hall. Foodies from near and far flock here to get a taste of her unique flavors. Some dishes are mild and some dishes have that kick that only authentic curry can deliver.

Recently my husband and I enjoyed a spicy lunch date at Curry in A Hurry. We learned that Chef Alaksha Surt hails from Bangalore, India and combines authentic Indian spices with fresh, quality ingredients to cook her curry dishes. We ordered the Butter Chicken, their signature dish, and Green Chicken Curry.

Curry in a Hurry’s Butter Chicken

The Butter Chicken was described to us as the starter dish for those unfamiliar with curry. The flavorful chicken is so tender and melts in your mouth like butter. It’s mild spice makes it a great introduction to Indian cuisine. We enjoyed every tasty bite of this dish.

Curry in a Hurry’s Green Curry Chicken

Love a little spice in your life? Then the Green Curry Chicken is your dish. For those of us who enjoy Thai food, you will enjoy how Curry in a Hurry prepares theirs. From the rice, to the green curry sauce the quality of the fresh ingredients does not get lost.

Head to Curry in a Hurry to enjoy a taste of India (and Thailand too) with the amazing flavors and spice used in their curry chicken dishes. They also offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Come try for yourself and you too will be back again and again to celebrate #curriedchickenday anyday!

SobeSavvy Tip: Right across from Curry in a Hurry is a great place to enjoy a sweet ice cream treat. Raleigh Rolls uses fresh ingredients to make ice cream before your eyes! This unique and delicious Thai ice cream is the perfect dessert after having the Green Curry Chicken, another Thai fave.

Customize your own ice cream treat at Raleigh Rolls

Do you enjoy Curried Chicken? Have you tried Curry in a Hurry? GET SOME NOW!

CURRY IN A HURRY

MORGAN STREET FOOD HALL

411 WEST MORGAN ST

RALEIGH, NC

http://www.curryinahurrytruck.com

Food|Celebrate #NationalCheesePizzaDay @DemosPizzaDeli in #Raleigh #NC #SobeSavvyEats #Pizza

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Give me a P- I- Z- Z -A, foodies let’s celebrate #NationalCheesePizzaDay! If you live in Raleigh, hands down, DeMo’s Pizzeria & Deli is a great place to enjoy some amazing cheese pizza and more! Here’s why:

✔ Fresh, not Frozen crust

✔ Dough made in-house

✔ Homemade Sauce

✔ Quality Mozzarella Cheese

But that’s not all they do great.…

Pizza, Hot & Cold Sandwiches, Award Winning Chicken Wings and Delicious Desserts are all on the menu for the whole family to enjoy!

THE MENU

DeMo’s Pizzeria & Deli on Glenwood Avenue in Downtown Raleigh has some of the best wings and pizza to be found anywhere.

Founded by two Raleigh natives, DeMo’s serves up everything fresh not frozen. House made dough, sauces and even the vanilla cannoli cream fillings!

But before I jump to dessert, I went there with my family in search of the best cheese pizza to have on National Cheese Pizza Day. We noticed they had comfy booth seating and our favorite foodie show ‘Chopped’ was playing on one of their flat screen tvs, so we felt right at home. We started with hot and fresh garlic rolls that was served with their house made marinara. They were soooo goood! Order these and get ready to dip, baby, dip!

A fresh Ceasar Salad is a great way to ensure you eat your veggies with your pizza and their salad was crisp, tasty and big enough for my #HeighPartyof3 family to share.

I highly suggest ordering some wings to start. Not just any wings but DeMo’s offer Jumbo Wings that are seasoned, baked to perfection and fried to order perfection. They are then tossed in one their many amazing sauces or you can get the sauce on the side.

It comes served with double batch ranch sauce and blue cheese for dipping. In addition to their award winning Buffalo IPA beer sauce, DeMo’s has some other sauce choices also like Mild, Honey Chile, BBq and Teriyaki. These wings are definitely a crowd pleaser!

Our medium Cheese Pizza came piping hot out of their oven! It had the right amount of gooey, ooeey cheese that our daughter loves, the perfect amount of sauce for me and my husband, who I call a pizza crust snob (since his first job was making pizzas) gave it his pizza lover stamp of approval.

In my opinion there is nothing worse than an unbalanced cheese to sauce ratio! But DeMo’s does not disappoint and there was goodness in every bite. Their pizza is thin NY style pizza. In other words you can hold or fold. The choice is yours! My little one aka #outandandaboutAva commented it was the best pizza she has ever had!

As the pizza was disappearing we made sure to save room for dessert after learning from co-owner Anthony DeMarco that the cheesecake (my daughter’s favorite) is not only homemade but has a bit of a unique twist in its recipe that my young foodie tasted right away! Also on the dessert menu are cannolis made with their house made vanilla cream filing. Both desserts were so good and the perfect sweet ending to our meal.

SobeSavvy Tip: If you just want to order a slice of pizza from DeMo’s , check out this daily combo’s special ⤵️

We left Demo’s feeling like everyday should be National Cheese Pizza Day! Our daughter waved goodbye to ‘Fat Tony’ outside of Demo’s and I grabbed a menu because you can dine in or order take out. DeMo’s Pizzeria & Deli also offers delivery which I will be using since this place is now our new favorite pizza spot in Raleigh!

DEMO’S Pizzeria & Deli
222 Glenwood Ave #121 Raleigh, NC 27603

#FoodieFriday Feature| Dinner For Two Review @bukuwakeforest! Eat Global,Support Local and Celebrate Grand Opening 6/28 in Wake Forest, NC

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Recently, SobeSavvy.com was invited to a hosted dinner at the new bu•ku Wake Forest, a restaurant that is recognized for its global street food menu thanks to its flagship establishment in downtown Raleigh,NC. Their website states they are inspired by the pushcarts of street vendors from all over the world. I was excited to taste what they offered and hoped it would remind me of my experiences abroad as well as introduce me to something I’ve never had before.

If you are asking yourself… what is global street food?..It is basically no frills food native to the area it originates from. It tastes exactly like they would make these dishes in their home for their families. My introduction to street food was sudden and unexpectedly delightful. The year was 2006 in Phuket Island, Thailand. My friend who lived there at the time was taking my husband and I around and showing us the sights. We were hungry and he said “Let’s go by noodle stand #5”. Not quite sure what that was so we went along with it. We pulled up to a side street where an elderly woman had set up a plastic table on the back of her bike with a steaming contraption alongside. To our western sensibilities this was strange. We had one of the best meals of our lives right there in the alley. That unique dining experience shaped my willingness to try different foods and made me ready to enjoy dinner for 2 at bu•ku.

RESTAURANT VIBES

Since this locally owned and operated restaurant is celebrating global street food in an elevated way, you will not find plastic tables here. The decor is modern and the ambiance is inviting yet intimate. You have the option to dine inside or outside on the patio but as soon as I walked thru the doors at bu•ku Wake Forest, I knew I would enjoy dining in the serene, beautifully designed dining space. I had an early dinner reservation at 6p but soon the restaurant was bustling with quite a few large dinner party celebrations as well as friends casually meeting for drinks after work at the bar. There were even families with children enjoying dinner and couples enjoying a dinner date night. No matter how busy it got, service was welcoming and attentive throughout the evening.

COCKTAILS ANYONE?

If you are one that enjoys a good drink before, during or after your meal, then you will be quite satisfied with the wine list, beer and cocktail menu at bu•ku Wake Forest. Whether you choose to enjoy on their patio, at the bar or with your dinner, I do suggest this restaurant for their interesting selection of wines, beers and craft cocktails. Here are two drinks that you must try on your next visit to bu•ku:

Sangria Roja at bu•ku is the perfect Summertime Sip!

My new favorite bubbly cocktail: The Secret Garden at bu•ku

DINNER MENU

Per bu•ku Wake Forest, their Global Street Food menu is ..”a new type of dining, designed for the type of mix & matched tasting and plate-sharing that sparks conversation.” If you’ve ever been to the Raleigh location owned by culinary visionaries Sean Degnan and Tony Hopkins, you will notice some menu differences. The team partnered with longtime friend, Todd Ohle, owner of the second bu•ku Wake Forest, and each restaurant has its own Chef that develops their own creations while still supporting menus and programs for the entire restaurant group. Just like the Raleigh location ( which is moving to Cary in 2019), bu•ku offers gluten free, vegetarian and vegan dishes on the menu. Feast your eyes on the small plates, large plates and big bowls we enjoyed for dinner:

Small Plates | Chinese Steamed Buns at bu•ku | 2 per order- Braised Pork, hoison sauce, pickles and scallions. Served on a perfectly warm “steamed” bun. Perfection in it’s simplicity yet complex in it’s flavors. Yum!

Small Plates | Edamame + Ostras Asadas at bu•ku | Edamame has a bit of a kick thanks to the addition of peppercorn. The grilled local oysters are some of the best I have had in the Triangle because of the flavorful toppings!

Large Plates | NC Catch at bu•ku | Local Seafood meets Global Flavors on a plate! The flounder was perfectly cooked and served on a bed of cauliflower,rutabaga mash, pistachio and topped with fennel-shallot confit. My favorite part was pouring the parmesean beurre on top!

Big Bowls | Vietnamese Phô at bu•ku | The seared filet mignon was so tender and my favorite part about this dish. I wanted more flavor from the broth and plan to do some spice additions to my leftovers at home!

Dessert | Tres Helados at bu•ku | You get a trio of chefs selection of gluten free sorbet and ice creams, toasted coconut flakes, and fresh berries. It was my first time having avocado ice cream and I loved it!

SobeSavvy Tip: EVENT ALERT A celebration for the new bu•ku Wake Forest will take place Thursday, June 28th with a cocktail hour and ribbon cutting for media and city officials on Thursday, June 28th. Dinner service will begin at 5pm and feature live music from Joe O’Keefe’s “3 Second Rule” band (who owns neighboring Wine 101), as well as complimentary sangria for all guests. As founding members of A Place at the Table, Degnan and Hopkins will donate a portion of proceeds from this evening to this charitable cause!

Thanks for reading and I hope you are inspired to make dinner reservations for 2 at the new bu•ku!

bu•ku Wake Forest

1228 Heritage Links Dr suite 100, Wake Forest, NC 27587

Hey #Raleigh, Want Tasty #Tacos and #MexicanFood at your #CincoDeMayo party? Check out @Cantina18 ‘s New Catering Menu!

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Raise your hand if you are in countdown mode for one of my favorite foodie holidays, Cinco De Mayo! Bring on the tacos, guacomole, nachos, margaritas because it is almost time to Fiesta! Needless to say I was very excited to receive an invite for SobeSavvy.com to join other media guests for an early Cinco de Mayo celebration at Cantina 18 in Cameron Village.

Described as a “festive setup featuring Mexican fusion dishes made with local meats & fish, plus craft margaritas“, this restaurant is one that I enjoy coming to with my family when we want fresh, flavorful Mexican food. Just listen to what my daughter, #outandboutAva had to say about their guacomole during a previous visit.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfUC-Q9hUWQ/

Last night’s exclusive event showcased the launch of Cantina 18‘s new catering menu and I am so excited to share the information with you! Take a look at the amazing eats you can have at your next Mexican themed party or any gathering:

Enjoy the convenience of letting someone else prepare delicious food for you to serve to your family and friends! No matter if you have vegetarians or meat lovers at the party, there will be something for everyone to enjoy!

My favorite bites from last night were the goat cheese guacomole, the house made salsas, the shrimp quesadilla and chicken tinga. Pretty much anything coming out of Chef Jason Smith’s kitchen is going to be AMAZING! Check out my video recap of last night’s event:

SobeSavvy Tip: Follow along on social media and read more about the dining experiences @Cantina18 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

*Have you ever been to Cantina 18? 🌮 DO YOU PLAN TO CELEBRATE Cinco De Mayo?🎉 Let me know in the comments below!

Cantina 18

Cameron Village

433 Daniels St

Raleigh, NC 27605

Hey #Raleigh, Start Your Morning Off Right @TheMorningTimes ! ☕ #Coffee + #Food + #Vibe in #DTR

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Ever try finding a spot with good food and good coffee prior to going to work? As simple as this sounds it’s not always that easy! Well have I got some good news for you. There is a restaurant/café/coffee shop located in the heart of downtown Raleigh called The Morning Times.

The Morning Times Menus..yes, they are kid-friendly!

This coffee shop has been a Raleigh mainstay since 2006 and are a favorite amongst the downtown crowds. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch, this eclectic coffee eatery offers freshly made baked goods of all sorts and they also have some awesome vegan options. You order downstairs when you come in and you can have it upstairs in their loft like space with tables and comfy chairs or you can have take out if time does not allow. Since I sometimes co-work this is also a good spot for coffee and your laptop.

The Morning Times is a bi-level coffee shop. There are a few tables downstairs, but upstairs has more seating and a loft vibe.

I was there along with my family recently for NCMA’s pop-up for upcoming Art in Bloom festival. Customers received a free flower outside of The Morning Times, which gets great foot traffic in the morning.

FOOD

We decided to try their breakfast features of the day (a tomato and arugula omelette and $5.00 honey chicken biscuit) along with an order of their delicious French Toast from their regular menu. I really liked their unique way of making this breakfast classic with challah bread, mixed berries, whipped cream, maple syrup, topped with almonds. My daughter said it was hashtag #YUM!

COFFEE

A busy barista making a fresh cup of coffee at The Morning Times

The staff was friendly and quickly kept the line moving at The Morning Times. They have quite a selection of coffee from Counter Culture, which is a favorite in our household. We settled on a Vanilla Latte and also an authentic Macchiato {hint, it is not what most THINK it is} as a start to our day. If coffee is not your morning beverage of choice, “power up” with their freshly squeezed orange juice.

SobeSavvy Tip: Sign up for their “Eats Club”👉 HERE … and per their website: “Be among the first to know about special promotions such as beer dinners and cask nights at The Raleigh Times, Lebanese festivals at Sitti, blues & barbeque events at The Pit, Italian Feasts at Gravy and other good stuff in the works for our community of customers.”

Also, The Morning Times knows that it’s morning customers are limited on time so they have made it easy for you to order ahead⤵ Check it out!

Next time you find yourself in the Downtown Raleigh area, and looking for a place to grab your coffee & pastry to go or pull up a window seat to dine, head to The Morning Times!

THE MORNING TIMES

10 E Hargett St.

Raleigh, North Carolina 27601

#Raleigh, Plan your Mothers Day Brunch NOW @Seasons52 @shopcrabtree #Seasons52 #SundayBrunch 

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This past Sunday, although rainy outside, my family and I found sunshine and the flavors of Spring inside Seasons 52. Located at Raleigh’s Crabtree Valley Mall, SobeSavvy.com was invited to review their Sunday Brunch menu. Disclaimer: My husband and daughter joined me for this complimentary dine, however the opinions are our own.

Since we arrived after 12pm, we thought we’d start off trying their “Brunch Sips” Seasons 52 is well known to be a top notch spot for creative craft cocktails, so we were not surprised by how refresing their Sangria is..(yes it is as good as it looks)

…and how unique their Bellinis are. He ordered the white peach and I tried the rasberry Bellini for the first time. It was really good. Cheers!

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Our daughter had her own kid’s brunch menu to review. Take a look at all these tasty choices for children under 12!

I am glad she chose the Brick Oven Brioche French Toast because that meant we could taste as well. She opted to have the pecans on the side and even ordered extra as those brown sugar pecans were so good, so addictive!

Before our brunch entrees came out, the Chef sent out an amuse bouche of their housemade orange marmalade, greek yogurt mousse with granola. It’s available also a mini starter and a great way to get your tastebuds ready for more amazing flavors.

On the Sunday Brunch Menu, there’s an array of creative entrees suited for anyone. Whether you choose sweet or savory, breakfast fare or lunch, Seasons 52 has one of the best gourmet menus that is very health conscious. I like how they actually list the calorie content of their dishes. Its good to know that the dishes we had not only taste good, but were good for us too! Here’s what we ate at Seasons 52 during their Sunday Brunch.

STARTERS

Hi my name is Leslie and I love Shrimp & Grits. So when I saw this listed on the menu, I knew I had to order it. I was not disappointed. The combination of cheesy grits, chorizo sausage and large shrimp were amazing! Warning it is not a shareable if you really love shrimp and grits. You are gonna want it all to yourself!

If you are looking for a shareable try the Meditteranean Hummus ……Duck Lollipops (my least fave of the 3 only because it is a bit too gamey for me)

…or one of their flatbreads.  Lox on bagel lovers should definitely order the Smoked Salmon Flatbread. Our server Amy advised that it was one of her favorites and I really enjoyed Seasons 52 remix of this classic dish.

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ENTREES

Even though Sunday Brunch starts at 10 am and ends at 1pm, dishes from the regular menu are available to order. My foodie family loves variety and Seasons 52 definitely serves up an array of “whats good now” emphasizing on fresh, seasonal ingredients. We tried two of their recommended egg based dishes. First up was their S52 Eggs Benedict. They put a new twist on this classic dish by replacing the traditional ham/canadian bacon with..wait for it..poached lobster ! Yup, it tasted BETTER than it sounds!!

Next we tried a beautiful dish served in a  ceramic dish called ShakShuka . This is a arabic middle eastern breakfast recipe of  of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, chili peppers, and onions, spiced with cumin. They added chorizo and feta cheese. It was so flavorful and just such a pretty dish to look at {prior to eating it !}

Seafood lovers must try the seabass. Mine was cooked to perfection. It’s served on “Forbidden Rice”  which I had for the first time. I don’t forbid you in trying this sticky black rice at all. It went well with snap peas and other asian flavors used to prepare this entree. Absolutely loved it!

Another fave dish that all of us enjoyed is the Lamb Chops. You get a nice sized rack of lamb that my daughter called the rack of love because she loved the lamb chops. We all agreed that it was tender, well seasoned and simply delicious. Just check out the pic below that I shared along w/others via InstaStories on my IG @SobeSavvy

DESSERT

We were full but still had room for dessert. They serve dessert in shot glass sized portions. Little glasses of heaven. Key Lime Pie, Pecan Pie, Red Velvet Cake..got your attention yet. Pick your favorite. All made in house daily. Incredible ending to an incredible brunch experience.

SobeSavvy Tip: At some of their locations, they have a secret cocktail that is not advertised, nor is it on any menu but can be made upon request. But here in Raleigh, it is listed and goes by the name “Botanical Buzz”. We tried it and I will say its for the bold and not the faint of heart. After enjoying it, join the fun by sharing your reaction on Twitter and Instagram using #BotanicalBuzz

Still looking for a unique place to take mom on Mothers Day then look no more. Seasons 52 is the kind of place any mom would love to spend time at on her special day. Make reservations now to reserve your spot.

Seasons 52
4325 Glenwood Avenue
Crabtree Valley Mall
Raleigh, NC 27612

#FoodieFriday Spotlight on New Winter Menu @SimplyCrepes #Raleigh @LafayetteVill

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“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways”. This Valentines day instead of just reciting poetry, why not recite it in the charming old world atmosphere of Simply Crepes restaurant in Lafayette Village in Raleigh http://simplycrepes.com/

They are having a special romantic Valentines Day dinner that is not to be missed. Multiple courses at one reasonable price.

According to their website ..” For The Héroux Family, with a French Canadian background, the wondrous scent of crêpes cooking is one of the simple joys of life. The recipe used in their home and now at their restaurants has been passed down through many generations.

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What makes it special is its versatile ability to translate such a wide variety of foods to the plate. Whether its breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert, the crêpe works as the medium to serve you a delicious meal!

Simply Crepes hosted Sobesavvy.Com to try some entrees from their new Winter Menu http://simplycrepes.com/Portals/5/Menus/Winter_Menu_-_Raleigh-2.pdf

During these cold days in the peak of winter come on in to Simply Crepes and be amazed by this new menu.

They have 9 awesome choices from the appetizers section. You can choose them a la carte or order 3 for a flat $20.

My daughter ordered a crock of the creamy potato chowder from their list of Pantry Soups. She loved it.

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Brussel Sprouts

Hubby and I shared an order of the Brussels Sprouts & Chevre. Served crispy in a sweet balsamic dressing with a “dollop” of chevre cheese. Hand down this was one of the best dishes I have had in a long long time. It was perfect. Just order it.

Wine Menu 

They have a delightful wine menu. Lots of familiar and not so familiar choices. Every Wed they have a “Wine Down Wednesday”. It is 50% off all wine by the glass or bottle.

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I ordered the wine flight, which is the only wine choice excluded from that special.

A Rose’, Chardonnay and a Pinot Grigio. A great way to sample different wines!


Entrees

The first entrée we had actually came from their Morning menu

Shrimp and Grits ! The grits were creamy and of perfect consistency. Served with jumbo shrimp chorizo, Andouille sausage and bacon. It disappeared in a matter of moments !

The Winter Menu entrée we had was the Creamy Cajun Chicken and Rice Crepe. It comes with a bell pepper cajun sauce. It had the right amount of kick and flavor. The chicken was of outstanding quality {and quanity}

Desserts

It was now time for what my 5 year old calls.. ” THE MAIN EVENT”..Dessert !

We decided on 3 out of their numerous choices of dessert crepes. You can order them standard or “petite” sized !

I fell in love with crepes on the streets of Paris, France. Crepe stands in Paris are as ubiquitious as hot dog stands are in NYC !

Oreo Cookie Crepe

This was outstanding. If you like Oreos then you will LOVE this. Filled with sweet vanilla cream, this was my little ones favorite.

Banana Walnut
This was simply decadent. Filled with Crème Brulee cream and sautéed bananas, candied walnuts and vanilla bean ice cream.

Cinnamon Apple Crepe
Cinnamon apples, sweet cream and caramel. This was like if the best apple pie came inside a crepe !!

Keep in mind if you are anyone in your dining party suffers from Celiac Disease, crepes here can be made Gluten Free using buckwheat batter.

They also have a curtained off area that can be utilized as an event space for up to 40 people {30 to 35 comfortably !}

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*Simply Crepes Tip #344 Sign up for their exclusive birthday club and get a very nice discount off of a meal during your birthday month !!

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Ps …this restaurant is kid friendly!