this week only, $25 gets you an appetizer, an entrée, and a dessert at any of the restaurants listed here: http://www.trirestaurantweek.com/

i've been to a number of them, but i'm looking for opinions as to which ones y'all might think offer the best dining experience for $25/person

5/14/2009 8:44:50 AM

side question... is this for anyone, or did you sign up for something

im checking out a couple menus and will post my answer in a minute

5/14/2009 8:47:51 AM

it's for anyone

5/14/2009 8:51:29 AM

OMG

I had heard about this the other day but didn't know what restaurants were participating

Some of my fave restaurants are on that list

Azitra has the best Indian food in Raleigh. It's in Brier Creek and for $25 for an appetizer, entree and dessert, that is awesome.

Sitti is in downtown Raleigh and is owned by the same family that owns Neomonde. I've only been to Sitti once but my parents go all the time. It is awesome Lebanese food!

5/14/2009 9:01:41 AM

ramble time

cool, wish they had this up here, i like the idea of the small selection of items. you get to try something they recommend and check out the place... but at the same time, the small menu will ensure that the bargain hunters dont fuck the kitchen staff all up.

my picks.... the mint and the peak city grill are both places that i've never been (or heard of actually) and would like to check out during a special like that. even though peak city grill sounds kinda waffle house, you cant judge it by the name. well you can, but then you'd be a pretentious fag

people should use that as an opportunity to hit up a new place or 2 instead of just trying to get a few bucks off at michael deans

5/14/2009 9:03:08 AM

Also I would suggest Solas just b/c the regular menu prices are ridiculous and for $25/person, I might try it out


Plus the building looks awesome w/ all the lights

5/14/2009 9:07:11 AM

zomg dos taquitos is participating

5/14/2009 9:09:22 AM

ah, so thats somewhere where the 25 bucks a head is actually a big discount?

when doing stuff like this, i like to keep in mind that i usually wouldnt/cant eat dessert, and mostly i wouldnt buy an app unless a date wanted one, or unless i was really hungry. so im more interested in the entrees and getting the extra stuff that i'm likely gonna just take one bite of doesnt strike me as a bargain.

if that makes sense. thats why i wouldnt pick based on normal price

5/14/2009 9:09:59 AM

Quote :

"when doing stuff like this, i like to keep in mind that i usually wouldnt/cant eat dessert, and mostly i wouldnt buy an app unless a date wanted one, or unless i was really hungry."

that's my thing, too...unless we see something spectacular, we usually pass on the appetizers and desserts are almost always ridiculously expensive for what you get (and, i'm sorry, but i am a damn good dessert chef, so it needs to be something unique and/or difficult that i can't make myself...presentation be damned)

so for $25/person (drinks not included!), i'm looking for something unique or awesome...i thought azitra would be good, since neither of us had been there...but there are a couple i've never been to that sound good

5/14/2009 9:15:41 AM

Quote :

"Sitti is in downtown Raleigh and is owned by the same family that owns Neomonde. I've only been to Sitti once but my parents go all the time. It is awesome Lebanese food!"

"Z" (that's what everyone calls him, haha) used to work for Neomonde in Morrisville, I've known him for like 4 years. Well now he's over at Sitti, gave me his business card a few months back but now I can't seem to find it, else I'd post his real name. I think he's one of the managers? Anyhow, he was raving about the place and now you've backed up his story. I may have to check it out, though I'm fairly certain that every place on that list will be packed for lunch and dinner every day this week.

5/14/2009 9:16:57 AM

i did Jibarra last night. it was good, but if you've been to Mez in RTP, its pretty much the same thing.

5/14/2009 9:17:12 AM

i dont think dos taquitos would be a very big price cut for that deal, or at least assuming the other places are fairly expensive, i dont recognize most of the others so i couldnt guesstimate how much a meal there would be.

i'd say that an average price for app + entree+ dessert at dos taquitos would be mid 40s range.

5/14/2009 9:19:24 AM

yeah, quagmire, if its a date thing... especially a girlfriend date thing... i'd say pick one that both of you have never been to. or better yet, spend a cool benjamin YO. each of you pick one. do one tonight, do one sunday night.

i'd totally avoid friday and saturday night, just to get better service

5/14/2009 9:19:42 AM

ps



never date a woman who can eat more than you

5/14/2009 9:22:42 AM

"Z" doesnt work there anymore (i do). The Saleh family is partnered with the same people that own the Raleigh Times, The Pit, The Duck and Dumpling... etc. The food is awesome, and yes it has been really busy this week, but get there a little bit earlier than you normally would, and you can easily get seated immediatley. This place should also be on your radar during normal weeks seeing as how our average ticket price per person is around 20 bucks (that includes an app and entree). There are great things on the menu for more than that, and ill admit that the restaraunt week menu is awesome, but you are not going to find a place downtown where you will get as much food that is nearly this good.

5/14/2009 9:23:53 AM

oh snap good lookin out

I think im gonna try em all.

5/14/2009 9:28:57 AM

Quote :

""Z" doesnt work there anymore (i do)."

well what the heck man? he didn't come back to Neomonde, cuz i'm there at least once a week

did he just leave the "family" entirely?

5/14/2009 9:31:20 AM

when pointless name dropping goes wrong....

5/14/2009 9:38:33 AM

i'm still very curious about whether it's one appetizer per person or one appetizer total...it seems like they'd try to push one app total, but i guess you do actually get one each

5/14/2009 9:39:57 AM

^it's one 3-course meal per person, so you each get an appetizer, entree, and dessert. so essentially it's like you both get dinner and lunch leftovers the following day.

though i'm betting most restaurants are serving smaller portions cuz of this.

[Edited on May 14, 2009 at 9:42 AM. Reason : .]

5/14/2009 9:41:30 AM

I might try the Mint. Menu looks solid.

5/14/2009 9:48:29 AM

i thought XIOS looked pretty good...anyone been there?

5/14/2009 10:01:30 AM

omg

all this talk about Sitti is making me want to go there for lunch today

The pita bread they have is awesome. They use a special oven to get the bread big and fluffy...its basically pita bread w/ a huge air bubble in the middle but its

I know the Saleh family well and they are awesome people!

5/14/2009 10:03:07 AM

yeah now i want Neomonde, even though i had it on Monday.

who wants to meet me at Neomonde in Morrisville for good noms?

5/14/2009 10:10:33 AM

^

5/14/2009 10:46:22 AM

I really like that Bentley's has a $15 lunch option, I just started clicking around but have ya'll seen any others with a lunch special as well?

5/14/2009 10:47:54 AM

^ azitra does, i think

5/14/2009 10:56:44 AM

too far

5/14/2009 11:26:23 AM

heres what you get if you go to Sitti this week at night...

APPETIZER: (choose 1)

lebanese sampler: Hommos, Baba Ganouhj, cheese roll, kibbee miklee, fattoush
graides: scampi type shrimp, garlic, lemon, tomato, cilantro... etc.

ENTREE: (choose 1)

mixed grill: assortment of chicken kabobs, lamb kabobs, kafta kabobs
fish special: baked salmon, orange and basil reduction sauce, grapes, rice

DESSERT: (choose 1)

ashta
baklava
chocolate fondant







... one per person per course. you really cant beat it, and people are flocking in there for this stuff.

5/14/2009 3:25:26 PM

Didn't Sitti's chef get written up in the paper recently?

5/14/2009 3:30:38 PM

Yes not too long ago. Ghasson Jarroujh is his name (spelling is right i think)

he was also in there when Greg Cox did his awesome review of the restaraunt.

5/14/2009 3:32:19 PM

that lebanese chick in the Sitti video is pretty hot

[Edited on May 14, 2009 at 3:35 PM. Reason : t]

so is the asian for the duck and dumpling

[Edited on May 14, 2009 at 3:36 PM. Reason : azn]

so is the white chick for zely and ritz

[Edited on May 14, 2009 at 3:37 PM. Reason : i'm gonna watch the videos for the hawtties now ]

solas's chick isn't all that

[Edited on May 14, 2009 at 3:38 PM. Reason : solas]

for The Pit's girl

[Edited on May 14, 2009 at 3:40 PM. Reason : nice]

pass on Mura, they had no spokeschick

[Edited on May 14, 2009 at 3:41 PM. Reason : will not eat there]

oxford isn't bad

[Edited on May 14, 2009 at 3:42 PM. Reason : passable]

vic's ristorante might have some nice waitresses

[Edited on May 14, 2009 at 3:44 PM. Reason : jesus this is a lot of restaurants]

I'M RICK JONES BITCH

[Edited on May 14, 2009 at 3:45 PM. Reason : The Mint looks really good]

5/14/2009 3:35:15 PM

i'm gonna keep track of this thread, and when quagmire decides where he's going to go, i'm going to go to the same place, and smoke cigarette after cigarette after cigarette and blow the smoke towards his food

5/14/2009 3:36:29 PM

All Lebanese women are very attractive

[Edited on May 14, 2009 at 3:37 PM. Reason : f]

5/14/2009 3:37:26 PM

i hardly ever go to a restuarant that costs $25 a head.

y'all must be big ballin

5/14/2009 3:39:00 PM

Quote :

"i'm gonna keep track of this thread, and when quagmire decides where he's going to go, i'm going to go to the same place, and smoke cigarette after cigarette after cigarette and blow the smoke towards his food"

somebody's mad that i won't let him suck my dick

5/14/2009 3:40:26 PM

I went to Sono on Tuesday, and while I didn't pick the restaurant b/c it was participating in Restaurant Week, it fit with what we were getting so we took advantage of it.

2 appetizers
4 sushi rolls
2 desserts

and a bottle of wine (all wine bottles 1/2 price on Tuesday)

Total with tip was $85, for a damn good meal. I probably saved at least $50.

[Edited on May 14, 2009 at 3:42 PM. Reason : and before you say something, know that they were some fancy ass sushi rolls.]

5/14/2009 3:41:39 PM

^^wow somebody must be a closet homo if they can't take a joke without resorting to some cocksucking discussion

i win

5/14/2009 3:44:34 PM

Following my viewing of most of the videos (ended at the vodka commercial) I'd probably go to The Mint for anything, Mura for Japanese food, Sitti for Lebanese, Zely and Ritz for Mediterranean, Sono for Sushi, Vics for Italian, and Irregardless if I had some vegetarian person to entertain.

(in order)

[Edited on May 14, 2009 at 4:00 PM. Reason : italian]

5/14/2009 3:59:37 PM

omg i need to stop looking. It's making me soooo hungry!

But definitely going to check out a restaurant. What a good idea

5/14/2009 4:04:31 PM

you should look at the restaurants regular menus


some places you get a really good deal with this, and others, you are pretty much just getting what is normally offered... like sitti for example. I know plenty of people who work there, and I find myself eating there more and more. The thing is, for the appetizer and entree you are getting, you would normally spend 20 bucks... so add 5 bucks and you get a dessert... you would be best off going there on a regular day, and going to a place where you are getting a better deal for the 25 bucks this week (just off hand, i'd say some place like solas)

5/14/2009 4:07:17 PM

I'd rather spend my 25$ at taco bell.

5/14/2009 4:10:09 PM

$25

TACO

ENEMA

5/14/2009 4:13:37 PM

I have a few friends who have done this so far this week.

Mint- sounds like not much food at all

Solas- sounds like not much food at all, but you get to feel like a baller for a night.

Pit- good portion sizes, tasty as always.

5/14/2009 4:40:52 PM

Quote :

"Azitra has the best Indian food in Raleigh. It's in Brier Creek and for $25 for an appetizer, entree and dessert, that is awesome."

correction: Azitra has the most watered-down Indian food in Raleigh

5/14/2009 4:47:50 PM

esgargs mom makes me authentic indian food every day

5/14/2009 4:49:56 PM

Can't believe Four Square is participating in this. Usually, their entrees are 25 alone.

5/14/2009 5:15:41 PM

^portion size changes

5/14/2009 5:21:02 PM