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 Coffee Shops, Quick Food
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 March 27th, 2006 — Posted in Coffee Shops, Quick Food
Located in the same plaza as Hickory Ham’s, The Beverage Gallery (564 Huffman Mill Rd in Burlington) has a wide array of available coffee, capuccino, espresso, and tea choices. As you would expect from a coffee shop, they are open from breakfast all the way till late at night to satisfy those caffeine cravings at almost any time of the day. Cheaper than Starbucks, and more downhome-feeling than Panera, Beverage Gallery also offers bagels, desserts, and muffins to its patrons.
They have chess boards set up throughout the store, and other games are available to help pass the time while you’re drinking that piping-hot quadruple espresso with a friend, or you can choose to relax on one of their comfy couches, or pick a slightly more private booth to chat with a buddy.
With all sorts of different activities hosted through the week, Beverage Gallery is sure to become one of your favorite hangouts as it has for me.
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Posted by mightyoaks on March 23rd, 2006 — Posted in Family, Quick Food
Tucked into one end of a small plaza across from Burlington Square Mall at 544 Huffman Mill Rd is a fantastic sandwich shop. Hickory Ham’s has become a favorite of mine over the past few months because of their reasonable prices, almost aggressively friendly staff, and great food.
Hickory Ham’s is a deli and sandwich shop run by a friendly, former NYC deli owner. They open for breakfast and lunch daily, and (with only a couple exceptions) offer their full line of sandwiches and soups every day. My most recent visit netted me a custom sandwich (corned beef, turkey, swiss, and thousand island dressing on rye bread), very filling cream of potato soup, a drink, and a small bag of chips. The sandwich and drink were under $8, and the soup (large size) was $4.
It’s a great place to go with classmates, coworkers, or family. Next time you’re in the mood for a good, deli-style sandwich, consider Hickory Ham’s.
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Posted by mightyoaks on February 18th, 2006 — Posted in Ethnic, Family, Quick Food
Namaste Indian Restaurant, located on Huffman Mill Road next to Panera in Burlington, N.C. is one of the best Indian Restaurants that I have ever been to. When you take into account the beautiful setting, friendly service, and delicious food it is impossible to think otherwise.
When you walk into the door you will be greeted by the wonderfully friendly family staff. The setting of the restaurant is very elegant with beautiful Indian music playing in the background and pretty art on the walls.
Ordering is easy enough, even if you’ve never had Indian cuisine before. The menu is laid out in an easy to understand way with full descriptions and ingredient lists of each item. It is also broken down into sections such as poultry items, beef items, and vegetarian items.
The food is definitely worth it and you can eat there for about $15.00 including some bread to have with your meal. This price is generally unheard of at most Indian restaurants you will encounter, but that does mean that the food is of any lower quality. I would definitely rate Namaste as my favorite restaurant in Alamance County.
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