5/5 - Bodega Understood the Assignment…read more We tried Bodega for dinner tonight, and this recommendation was an absolute WIN. From the cocktails to the small plates to dessert, this was one of those dinners where we just kept ordering things...and somehow they kept hitting. We started with drinks, and my dinner date ordered the Rum Old Fashioned--absolutely amazing. Smooth, well-balanced, and exactly the kind of cocktail you sip slowly because you actually want to enjoy it. I had the Orchard Sangria, and it was delicious! Light, fruity, refreshing, and not overly sweet. The fresh fruit made it even better, and it was one of those drinks that goes down very easily. I would absolutely order it again. Then we started working our way through the food, and this is where Bodega really shines. The concept is perfect for sharing, ordering a few different things, and letting the table slowly fill up with dishes. Everything was beautifully presented, and there were so many different flavors and textures happening that dinner felt like an experience rather than just a meal. The potatoes were perfectly crispy and seasoned, and the Peruvian chicken with pita was another standout. But that creamy crab dip with the toasted bread! Dangerous. The kind of dish where everyone keeps saying they're done and then somehow another piece of bread ends up in the dip. The lamb meatballs were beautifully presented and packed with flavor, with the sauces bringing everything together. Overall, there wasn't a dish on the table that felt like an afterthought. But apparently we decided we needed to finish STRONG. I ordered the Crème Brûlée Espressotini, and whoever decided crème brûlée and espresso martini belonged together deserves recognition. Rich, creamy, coffee-forward and indulgent without being too much--it was basically dessert in a cocktail glass. And then came the **brown butter pecan & pear pie! ** Rich, buttery, nutty, slightly gooey, and served with cream and that drizzle of sweetness around the plate--the pear kept it from becoming overly heavy, and the brown butter and pecan flavors were everything. I would absolutely order it again. Bodega gave us great cocktails, flavorful shareable dishes, beautiful presentation, and an ending that might have been the best part of the entire meal. This is definitely a place I'd come back to because there are still things on the menu I need to try. 5 stars. Get the Orchard Sangria, share a few plates, and whatever you do, save room for that pie and a Crème Brûlée Espressotini. 10/10 would recommend.

It's taken us 21 months to finally try this place - and it's well worth the wait!…read more Envision the ambiance of an intimate Cheers bar: cozy, wood and brick decor with soft lighting. Super nice location in the heart of downtown Wake Forest, Bodega is located partially below street level on White Street, sorta catty-corner from the CVS by the viaduct. Wonderful selection of tasty appetizers, something for practically any preference. A to-die-for eclectic wine list and yummy bar drinks - my margarita el pastor was YUM. Other Yelpers have posted good menu pics & pricing, check em out. We were luckily able to snag the last open table when we arrived, so the rapidity of friendly service and serving of our 6 or 8 selections was amazing. It was truly enjoyable, a definite go-to for pre- or post-Renaissance shows or bowling, a short walk away. As is my custom, I've attached a few pics of the food and atmosphere. Go see for yourself, and let us know your thoughts - enjoy‼

Okay y'all. Wrapping up my summer sojourne. Took family out to brunch. This was a perfect choice…read more The decor evinces a real farmhouse environment, ie: rustically charming. Very welcoming atmosphere. When you come in you're instructed to peruse the menu and order/pay at the register. Or you can seat yourself first, gather your utensils, and order from the menu more leisurely. I chose the latter option. Totally worth careful consideration of the menu IMO. I chose the Eye Opener Breakfast with extra side of grits, sausage and home fries. My family ordered the Salmon Smorrebord and the BLT&E on Crossant. Absolutely delectable. I'm definitely a fan and look forward to my next occasion to visit.

I moved here two months ago and I swear I come here several times a week!…read moreSuch a fun atmosphere. Staff is super friendly (which matters ) and the food is great! Highly recommend

Went here for date night with my wife. Well spaced tables and nice vibes. Staff was super nice and…read morenot overly so. We thought the service was excellent. The Calabrian chicken was one of the best fried chicken I've ever had. Their hot honey sauce is amazing and the drumstick felt like it was double fried and cooked perfectly. I would absolutely come back just for the chicken. The other notable dish was the gnocchi, it was super soft on the inside which I've never had for gnocchi before, I thought it was cooked perfectly as well. The SALCHIPAPAS was basically patatas bravas. It was cooked perfectly crispy and well seasoned. Nothing extraordinary about it, just a delicious dish. I would not get the picanha again, it was ok, but not great. For such a pricy dish, I was expecting melt in your mouth feel. Maybe I had such high expectations because the other dishes were so great. I look forward to returning to try some of the other plates.

Excellent service. Beautiful indoor and outdoor seating. Mediocre food. Our gem salad was…read moreoverdressed and yellow. The Calabrian chicken seemed reheated. The charcuterie was okay but overpriced for what it was. Only the salchipapas were good without a caveat. I would limit Madre visits to coworker happy hours or a quick drink on the go.

I am a tapas hater... I reluctantly came to this restaurant because it seemed like the only true…read morenon-chain restaurant on Franklin, and we wanted to be within walking distance of our hotel. Omg, am I a reformed tapas lover? Or perhaps just a Proximo lover? I think... yes. We weren't super hungry, so we only ordered 5 plates total for the two of us, and we still left delicious food on the table. We sat at the bar, which overlooked the immaculately clean kitchen, and got to chat with the expo chef, Ben, who was conversational and personal but also left plenty of room for my date and me to feel private. Ryan, our waiter, recommended a fabulous albariño, which more than made up for not having cocktails on the menu. The biggest takeaway: the chef in charge was kind and communicative with all staff. It was truly a pleasure to watch this kitchen operate. If you leave the restaurant without trying the tuna ceviche, consider yourself unlucky. Holy smokes -- I would order 5 helpings of that every single time. We're out-of-towners but will be back, and we'll be telling our friends all about this lovely establishment. Congrats to all on an amazing new restaurant, and best of luck. Anyone looking for something better than bar food on Franklin -- GO HERE!

We are from California, so we are trying the top rated restaurants on Franklin while in town. This…read moreplace is solid for tapas--not amazing, but very good. The service was excellent, with energetic young students from UNC who know the menu well and team up to cover each other. Our server was engaging and knowledgeable about the food and the wine choices. The atmosphere is warm and cozy. I will say that the booths are close together, so we could hear the conversations at tables behind and in front of us. It kept us entertained. We had: - the dates stuffed with pistachios and wrapped in bacon - the flounder - the steak with chimichuri - the olives - pan con tomate - potatoes bravas - tuna ceviche - crumble - cinnamon cake It was all very good. The best dishes were the potatoes bravas and the steak. Th rest was pretty mediocre. We had a broke of white Rioja--it went well with the food and was a good deal at $56.

I was delighted with my experience at The Nomad. Tess was my server and she was fantastic and…read moresuper helpful in guiding me through the menu and ensuring that I was getting the vegan options that I wanted. I trued the roasted cauliflower and it was tasty. I also tried the spring rolls, again very tasty and both were able to be modified as vegan. As the main I tried the Chana masala and it was the perfect size for me and it was very flavorful. I also got the Mushroom Ramen to go and it was also a strong vegan options. Unfortunately they didn't have any vegan dessert options. I was ably to score a delicious vegan chocolate chip cookie next door at the Cup of Joe.

We celebrated my 70th birthday at Nomad last Thursday, and it was a truly unforgettable experience…read more Sharing this milestone with my daughter and granddaughter was made even more special by the restaurant's welcoming atmosphere and the wonderful, friendly interactions we had with neighboring tables. The food was absolutely delicious. My daughter loved her salmon tikki skewers, while my granddaughter and I thoroughly enjoyed the flavorful butter chicken. A standout highlight was the peach spritz mocktail, which I highly recommend! Between the exceptional service and the stellar vibe, we had a fantastic time and are already looking forward to our next visit. Charlotte W.

Great cocktails, amazing apps and food, beauitufl view of the city, staff we're SO friendly!! We…read morewent here for my cousins 21st on a rainy Thursday and it was still a great experience. Not pictured-- The sorbet was so good! And the chicken app, amazing! I'd come back just for the chicken!

I went here with my boyfriend and his family as they were visiting town and thought to try it out…read moredue to the reviews and have to say I am slightly disappointed. Small portions for ridiculous pricing, we ordered the charcuterie board which was said to come with cornichons and grilled peaches, both of which were missing (the peaches we had were not grilled) on our board. We mentioned it to our waitress and she said they might have been out and she was going to go check, nope not out just forgotten. She came back with a small bowl of the cornichons and grilled peaches, if you're selling something make sure everything you talk about is going to be served the way it's described. Okay that aside, the smash burger my boyfriend had was great but the salmon... genuinely terrible. I love salmon and all fish honestly but it was just not cooked well, it tasted like it had been boiled or something it was soggy and had such a spoiled smell I was having trouble eating it because of how it smelled. I didn't feel like saying yet another thing about the meal to the waitress so I just left it at that but it was not a pleasant experience to say the least. The kitchen needs to do better!!!!!

Everything at Bar Virgile was amazing! I ordered a cosmopolitan, while my date ordered the…read moreelderflower cocktail. I liked my drink a little more since it was sweeter. We also ordered three small plates to share: the Mac and cheese, brussel sprouts with bacon, and the fried oysters. The Mac and cheese was absolute perfection and I probably ate the most of that dish. It was hot out of the oven and I enjoyed the crunch from the breadcrumbs. It was perfectly creamy but not too indulgent. The Brussels and fried oysters were also really great. Both were perfectly seasoned and tasted fresh. My date said the oysters were one of the best he's ever had! I'll be back for their drinks and food ;)

What I recommend: The single or house burger with extra sauce and the Brussels sprouts…read more Bar Virgil is one of my favorite spots in Durham, especially on a Thursday night. The smash-style burgers are cooked perfectly every time and always hit the spot. The drinks are great, the service is friendly, and the ambiance is unmatched with a speakeasy vibe upstairs and a tiki feel downstairs. It's first come, first served, but worth the wait. I've tried the fried oysters, deviled eggs, and Brussels sprouts, and the Brussels sprouts are the clear winner. Bar Virgil is my go-to burger spot in Durham and one of the best places in town for a chill night out.

My wife and I came here for a date night recently and we had a great time!…read more First, we arrived in town about 40 minutes before our reservation, so we decided to ask if there was any availability to be seated early. Of course, I expected the answer to be "No," and it was :) So we wandered around and came back at the expected time. I did feel like the hostess could have been a little warmer during the interaction, since I expressed very clearly that I did not expect them to seat me, but whatever :) Anyway, once we were seated, everything else was awesome. Our server did an amazing job throughout the meal. She was attentive without being overbearing, and she knew the menu extremely well. We decided to order the ceviche and butter beans as our two small plate items, and then the carne asada as our large plate. For drinks, I ordered an IPA (the beer selection was decent but nothing crazy good) while my wife got a cocktail that she really enjoyed. All of the food items were very tasty. I think the ceviche was probably my least favorite, although it was still very good. The butter beans were delicious, and the carne asada had a great crust and was cooked medium rare as requested. For dessert, I ordered the Mexican bread pudding with Mexican hot chocolate ice cream on top, and it was phenomenal - probably the highlight of the meal for me. The prices were reasonable and the food came out at a decent pace, although it did take us a while to get our drinks. Overall, I would definitely come back here for a special occasion and would recommend it to my friends as well.

Nice date night spot. The interior is a little bit cramped. We sat downstairs, but upstairs seemed…read morea bit more airy. The stars were the sweet potato bread and octopus. Everything else was very good and fresh too. The servers were attentive and friendly. It's nice to be able to walk around downtown afterwards too. We booked a reservation for Friday night about a week in advance. They get booked up so definitely plan ahead.

GNO at Barcelona was exactly what we needed!…read more The food was incredible with so many different flavors to try, the ambiance was perfect for catching up with my girls, and our server was absolutely amazing from start to finish. Great service really makes the experience, and they did not disappoint. Already looking forward to our next girls' night!

I came here with a date and it was a great way to try out a bunch of different things and chat over…read moresome drinks. The wait time was really long, but the place was nice and although it was busy, we were able to get our food and drinks. We did put our name down for a table, but they never called our name, thankfully, we already had a space at the bar so not sure why our names weren't eventually pinged for a seat Either way it was good, the parking deck right next to the building makes it very convenient as well. Unfortunately, every bit of parking is paid parking, which is really frustrating but that's kind of just how most downtown places are gonna be I guess It is pretty darn pricey, most of the drinks were above $10 easily.

I just had a wonderful culinary experience at Augustus Grill located in the River Golf Community…read more Before I share my experience with you, I want to make sure you get there. It is in the River Gulfing Community. Everyone has access to the restaurant. You do not have to belong to the River Gulfing Community to have access to the restaurant. Upon arriving in the River Community, you will see an entrance at the big brick wall. After entering through the big brick wall, immediately follow the signs of Augustas grill and River golf. Do not follow the yellow brick road as things can get complicated. The first sign is on your left. They are not noticeably big. Upon arriving Augusta's Grill prepares for a wonderful culinary experience. I arrived before the restaurant opened. No worries. I sat on an amazingly comfortable couch overlooking the beautiful golf course. Promptly at 11:30 when Augustus opened, sweet server Sarah greeted me and inquired if I wanted to dine in or out. I decided to dine out. Sarah effectively, efficiently, and energetically arrived back with the menu and took my drink order. I ordered a glass of sweet tea and Seeker's Malbec. She then took my order with a sweet, sizable smile. The Seeker's Malbec smell reminded me of Plumb and raspberry. The initial taste also had raspberry and plumb notes. The after taste finished with a long-lasting crisp plumb and raspberry encounter. Soon, Sarah arrived with the food and asked if I needed anything. She left and came back to inquire how everything tasted. Ms. Sarah followed all the steps of being a great server. I ordered the Pastrami Burger with fries. Have many napkins available as you devour this sizable burger. The hamburger was cooked perfectly. It had a nice grilled taste. I ordered cheesecake with jalapeno raspberry drizzle. I do not know why they call it jalapeno as I did not discover any jalapeno taste. Do not let the name scare you. I have three suggestions. One cannot get a small side Caesar salad. You can get a large Caesar salad. There is no coffee. A nice cup of coffee would greatly have paired with the cheesecake. There are no stemmed wine glasses. This is not good for wine connoisseurs. If you are looking for a beautiful culinary experience and excellent customer, go to Augustaus grill.

Augustus Grill has blossomed into a first-rate restaurant that offers a wide variety of menu…read moreoptions at very reasonable prices. The indoor seating is limited - but comfortable. The spacious Deck is one of the best dining venues within miles. It's peaceful, scenic, bucolic and relaxing. Service is friendly and the dishes we have tried were well-prepared, innovative and delicious. The Grilled Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce ($21 with two sides) was as good as any I have had. The thick loin was pleasantly crunchy with a quick burst of tangy flavor. The inside was juicy, flaky and tender. The Roasted Mixed Vegetables were slightly undercooked, allowing the flavors of the Carrots, Cauliflower and Broccoli to stand out. The Potato Salad was OK, but I would have preferred something more zippy and zesty. The Chicken Salad Sandwich ($8.49 with one side) was smooth and creamy. The Toasted Multigrain Bread and Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing transformed this basic stand-by into something special. The Pasta Salad was a real winner. Unlike most bland pasta salads I have had, this one was nicely seasoned and brimming with flavor. We finished the evening with a generous slice of Cheesecake ($6) with a sweet but tangy Raspberry Jalapeño Sauce. Lunch with a grandson on the deck was a lot of fun for everybody. He had the Kids Meal ($6) which included a Hot Dog (he wanted it plain, of course), Bottle of Gatorade and Chips. We enjoyed the Pastrami Burger ($16.49 - with thin-sliced seared Pastrami, Cheddar Cheese, sliced Onion and Thousand Island Dressing) and the Hawaiian Burger ($14.49 - with grilled Pineapple, BBQ Sauce and Cheddar Cheese). The 1/3 pound burgers were served on a fresh Brioche Bun and included One Side. We can recommend either burger, but the one with Pastrami, was truly outstanding.