Posted by mightyoaks on June 3rd, 2006 — Posted in Quick Food
Located on the third - and top - floor of 100 E Franklin St in Chapel Hill, Top of the Hill is an interesting establishment. I went there recently for a friend’s surprise birthday party, and was pleasantly surprised to find their menu very reasonable. TotH has multiple seating venues, including a large outdoor area protected by a canopy. Their indoor accommodations are likewise spacious, and they handle large groups quite well.
For the party, we had about 12 people show up. We had called ahead to be sure we had tables and appetizers available, and the appetizers showed up just as the first members of the party were seated. I ordered their Penne D’Oro with meat sauce, small dessert and an iced tea, and my total bill was less than $15 including tax and tip. I wasn’t a huge fan of the meat sauce, but I can write that off to seasonings that I don’t care for much.
For dessert, we all had a small chocolate brownie doused in caramel and chocolate sauce with a scoop of ice cream on the side. And before our dinners arrived we were treated to fantastic rolls.
The party planner arranged to have a few appetizers available, including their nachos, antipasto, and calamari.
If you’re in the mood for a micro-brewery’s offerings, Top of the Hill has several they make themselves, and some brought in from outside.
All in all, TotH is definitely worth the trip to Chapel Hill for a pleasant, but affordable night out.
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Posted by mightyoaks on May 7th, 2006 — Posted in Quick Food, Coffee Shops
Nestled in downtown Mebane across from Martinho’s, Strong’s Coffee is a town fixture. Though they are not open as late as Beverage Gallery in Burlington, Strong’s offers an impressive selection of drinks. During breakfast, they generally have an assortment of bagels and muffins to choose from, and I enjoy hitting them for breakfast periodically. I haven’t been there during lunch or dinner, but they have a decent selection of sandwiches available during those times of the day.
The guy that runs Strong’s is very friendly, and personable - lending a strong, small-town feel to the shop. As might be expected of a local coffee shop, the setting is very informal, with plenty of tables and chairs and a couple couches to just sit and relax over a cup of joe.
If you find yourself in the Mebane area, and are looking for a nice break, check out Strong’s.
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Posted by mightyoaks on May 4th, 2006 — Posted in Family, Ethnic
Not related to the Sal’s in Durham, Sal’s Italian Restaurant, located at 402 Huffman Mill Rd in Burlington, is a nice little Italian restaurant. I’ve been there a couple times recently for lunch, and their lunch buffet is pretty good. They have a selection of 3-4 main dishes, a couple different types of pizza, and some sides for $7.76 including a drink and tax.
When I first went to Sal’s for lunch, my roommate ordered their spaghetti and meatballs, while I went with the buffet. It’s a very welcome change from other buffets, like Golden Corral, or Cici’s. While I like both of those establishments, Sal’s offers a simlper arrangement, and it’s easier to get people to agree to go there.
Their main entrees, available at lunch or dinner, run from about $7 to $18. I’ve been quite impressed both times I’ve been recently, and lok forward to introducing more of my friends to Sal’s as time goes on.
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Posted by mightyoaks on April 20th, 2006 — Posted in Family, Ethnic
Located on the busy corner of Main St, in Brightleaf Square in Downtown Durham is a decent Mexican restaurant. Different from several others I’ve been to, Torero’s serves less saucy food than I typically like, but their offerings are typically still enjoyable.
I don’t recommend their sister location on 9th St in Durham because it has a fast-food feel to it, and though there are tables, it’s not a condusive location to sit and enjoy your meal.
Their salsa is generally good, but they change the consistency on some irregular basis, so some nights it isn’t as good as others. I’ve tried several items off their menu, and have found them to be a pretty good value for the cost. However, having been more recently introduced to El Rodeo across the block from Torero’s, I must say that I like them better, and would only recommend Torero’s if El Rodeo is packed.
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Posted by mightyoaks on April 13th, 2006 — Posted in Family, Ethnic
I spend about as much time near Elon as I do near Durham because of school and work. Because of this, I have been exploring Durham recently to find new places to eat, and went to Sal’s with my roommate, on his recommendation.
Located at 1821 Hillandale Rd in Durham, it’s only about 35 minutes from Elon, and is near Northgate Mall. I ordered their Ziti a la Vodka, which has a really creamy ham, vodka, and tomato sauce, while my roommate ordered their lasagna. His food came out still bubbling, and took a while to cool off - a sign that the cooks care about what they’re making. My meal came in a large, flat bowl and was very hot, also.
Along with our main dishes, they brought out fresh, hot rolls and side salads. We also ordered some garlic bread (with cheese!) for an appetizer.
Sal’s menu ranges from about $7 for the least expensive meal to just under $20 for their most expensive offering. I think they’re worth the ride from Elon - especially if you want to escape the humdrumness of Burlington for an evening.
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