Got some people from Mexico (mostly) and a few Canadians coming in for a conference, where should we take them to lunch? They're based out of downtown, and meeting at NC State, so while pretty much anything in those parts of town is fair game, I'm thinking we'll stick to downtown.

I think one day is spoken for with a trip to Coopers, so there are two left to fill. What say you TWW?

2/4/2011 11:31:02 AM

Are they the type of guests who would enjoy dining at a gentleman's club

2/4/2011 11:34:17 AM

http://www.poolesdowntowndiner.com/

2/4/2011 11:34:40 AM

BIG EASY

2/4/2011 11:37:54 AM

El Rodeo

2/4/2011 11:40:58 AM

Quote :

"International "

Quote :

"Got some people from Mexico (mostly) and a few Canadians"

Bit of a stretch, don't you think

They're probably just as Americanized as you or I

2/4/2011 11:41:09 AM

irregardless cafe?

2/4/2011 11:41:54 AM

If you want to introduce them to some "local" flavor, The Pit is a nice enough place for that. Big Easy is also a good choice, but can get pretty crowded sometimes. Tir Na Nog is good and has plenty of space. Haven't been there myself, but I've heard that Buku is pretty decent, and it's definitely something a bit different.

2/4/2011 11:44:38 AM

"Classic" Raleigh:
Mecca
The PR
Mitch's
Irregardless
42nd Street?
518 West?

Not So Classic/Still Good:
Sitti
Raleigh Times
J. Betski's
Capital Club 16? (Never been there but I want to try it)
18 Seaboard
2nded Big Easy

*Normally I would add The Pit and Jibarra, but you're not likely to go to Cooper's and The Pit in 3 days, and I wouldn't go for Mexican (or Noveau-Mexican, Mexican-American, Mexican Fusion, whatever you'd call Jibarra) with folks that are actually *from* that country.

[Edited on February 4, 2011 at 12:04 PM. Reason : E and I]

2/4/2011 12:03:38 PM

Ask them what they're in the mood for.

I've heard first hand accounts of several situations where out of towners (These were Japanese) wanted to see some American titties with their lunch meeting.

Frame the question in terms of "Is there anything you'd like to try while you're in the States?" instead of a "what do you want for lunch?" type of question, and then fulfill their requests as best you can.

If they are being indecisive, you can never go wrong with a steakhouse.

2/4/2011 12:24:01 PM

CHARGRILL

2/4/2011 12:51:04 PM

Kanki

Bojangles

I dont think they have either of those in mexico or canada

2/4/2011 12:51:46 PM

Quote :

"Bit of a stretch, don't you think"

lol i so knew this was going to come up. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&defl=en&q=define:international

Quote :

"They're probably just as Americanized as you or I"

If you consider americanized as the hard rock cafe then you're probably right. The idea is to expose them to food they don't come across in their home countries.


Thanks for the suggestions

2/4/2011 1:15:31 PM

International House of Pancakes

2/4/2011 1:19:43 PM

^ Beat me.

2/4/2011 1:29:30 PM

take em to Asheville

2/4/2011 1:40:07 PM

mecca
poole's diner

2/4/2011 2:59:44 PM

The Wolves Den

2/4/2011 3:38:50 PM

Golden Corral

2/4/2011 3:52:54 PM

My international friends have enjoyed Eastern bbq, Mitch's, Goodberry's, Raleigh Times, and Waffle House

2/4/2011 4:10:19 PM

The Bali Hai

2/4/2011 4:13:00 PM

Pams or the Farmer's Market restaurant

2/4/2011 5:29:27 PM

IHOP. DUH!

2/4/2011 5:42:54 PM

take them to the food court in Tally on campus

2/4/2011 5:58:42 PM

Taco Bell

2/4/2011 9:07:02 PM

Quote :

"If you consider americanized as the hard rock cafe then you're probably right."

A better comparison would be like Taco Bell, Burger King, or KFC; generally many of the restaurants common in America have made their way across the world.

If you lived a bit farther southwest you could show them some genuine Cajun cuisine.

[Edited on February 5, 2011 at 12:14 AM. Reason : lol Taco Bell is Americanized, it doesn't even sell pork or menudo

2/5/2011 12:13:39 AM

Not suggesting Bada but I get a looot of international parties in there


Wherever you pick though should be followed by a trip to kohls so they can stock up on bluejeans

2/5/2011 1:47:50 AM

Quote :

"Farmer's Market restaurant"

is a good suggestion. The Calabash-style seafood place over there is pretty darn good too.

2/5/2011 7:57:16 AM

Bojangles. You can not make a trip to NC without experiencing Bojangles.

2/5/2011 8:24:31 AM

Bojangles

2/5/2011 9:06:14 AM

i second irregardless. and get the goat cheese & walnut salad. yummm

2/5/2011 9:23:29 AM

yeah- Irregardless is a perfect raleigh-scene without it being too times-y.

2/5/2011 12:23:25 PM

Quote :

"Farmer's Market restaurant"

2/6/2011 12:40:33 AM

When my parents have international guests in town we take them to 42nd Street, 2nd Empire or Lucky 32's

Actually, I think the best place would be Angus Barn or if you're willing to go to North Raleigh, then Margaux's.

Heron's is also the only 5 star restaurant in town (not sure how much you want to wine and dine them)

[Edited on February 7, 2011 at 6:28 PM. Reason : .]

2/7/2011 6:26:48 PM

IHOP. DUH!

2/7/2011 6:37:46 PM

We took two Israelis to Ole Time

2/7/2011 7:36:33 PM

does angus barn use a lot of local ingredients? i have never been there and don't know much about it. i would be most interested in going to a place that is locally owned and uses a lot of local ingredients. i like irregardless for that reason, plus it's delicious, so it really represents the area well.

2/7/2011 7:43:37 PM

^ You would not like Angus Barn then. Tribeca Tavern is great for that sort of thing though.

2/10/2011 1:54:44 PM

K&W

2/10/2011 3:58:16 PM

Quote :

"Bali Hai "

I haven't been there in years...that is some good food for cheap!

2/10/2011 4:00:24 PM

I prefer Crazy Fire

2/10/2011 4:24:04 PM

if they were asian you could just drop them off at a karaoke bar and they'd be fine.

2/10/2011 4:52:59 PM

^^I actually like bali-hai, as my spice mixing skills are pretty sub-par. at bali-hai they take care of that part for you.

2/10/2011 4:56:46 PM

I once took an intern who landed in RDU from Turkey straight to Village Draft House (most items are hamburgers) to meet and eat with other people in our program. I then learned that most Turkish people are Muslim.

I felt kinda bad but I don't think it was my idea to take him there.

2/10/2011 5:01:29 PM

Hardees or Sonic

2/10/2011 5:42:35 PM

Jesus. Okay. Not sure if you have a budget or anything. See some Pooles recommendations, but they're just plain expensive.

The Big Easy is really the number one pick here.
The Pit - I'd take international guests to the Pit over Coopers, but Coopers is still great.
Lilly's - ...whatever, it's great pizza.

2/10/2011 10:23:04 PM

^the bbq at coopers is better.
but of course they only accept cash as payment, which might cause a problem.

[Edited on February 12, 2011 at 1:25 PM. Reason : ]

2/12/2011 1:24:36 PM

COOKOUT

2/12/2011 2:21:20 PM

who still only takes cash these days? sheesh

2/12/2011 2:33:13 PM

COOPER'S

and it is delicious. plus it is downtown there are multiple atms w/in a two block area surrounding it

but yea

cooper's omnomnom. i like cooper's over the pit any day (whoops)

but this seems like more of a taking international guests out to a classy business lunch...so cooper's might not have fit the occasion i suppose.

now i'm just hungry for cooper's DARN IT.

2/12/2011 2:41:54 PM