Bravo's Mexican Grill-Cary, NC

   My friends, it has been too long.  I apologize for the time away, but I have been working on launching my website for the last couple of months, and it has taken up a large amount of my time and creative energy.  The silver lining is I never stopped reviewing, so I have a journal full of critiques that I shall proceed to publish.  Be prepared for a flood of culinary opinions!

   I am not the biggest fan of Mexican food.  I appreciate it for what it is; tasty food in plentiful portions for cheap, but for some reason I have never jived with this particular cuisine.  I think in large part it’s because I have trouble eating large portions in one sitting, so I always leave feeling STUFFED and slightly uncomfortable.  This being said, Bravo’s Mexican Grill in Cary, NC almost makes me feel guilty for ever uttering a negative statement about Mexican food.

   When you walk in, you’re always greeted with a warm and friendly staff.  My family loves this spot so much, they have become regular faces at the restaurant, with the waiters bringing out my parents’ drinks before they even order them.  If there is one thing I can say about this place, it’s that you will be hard pressed to find better, more consistent service anywhere else.  The wait staff are energetic, they are quick, and they never appear to be the least bit stressed. 

   The real star of Bravo’s are the drinks.  I have made Bravo’s my special cocktail spot anytime I am visiting the area.  With the limited options Cary has for young adults as far as laid back bars for decent yet well-priced drinks, I’d say Bravo’s is a hidden gem.  After talking to our waiter as if we had known him for years, I ordered a frozen margarita.  They offer several different flavored margaritas, but I went the traditional route.  While we waited for our drinks, we were served with the usual chips and salsa starter, but Bravo’s brings a little twist to this classic by serving a second dip.  I wasn’t able to get the name of it, but it’s basically a chipotle aioli and it has that Mexican heat we all know and love.  A couple minutes later, the drinks arrived, and I excitedly took a sip of beloved concoction and I was very pleased. 

Margaritas are usually made with tequila, triple sec, and lime/lemon juice, and Bravo’s seemed to go heavy on the lemon/lime blend, creating a strong tangy flavor that completely delights my palette.  The bartender is also quite generous with the alcohol portions, so you can take my word on the fact that you’re not getting gipped.  While I was enjoying my sour Mexican potion thinking I had made a great decision, I look up and my mom is holding a GIANT glass filled with an even BETTER margarita. 

Unbeknownst to me, she had ordered the daily special (which, by the way, is offered everyday, so there’s never a day where you will miss this libation delicacy), and it comes in a glass that may be as big as the plates of food they serve.  The margarita itself was just as tasty as mine, except for the fact that the brand of tequila they use for the larger margaritas is better.  If you’re really looking to have a good time and unwind, I suggest you order the margarita in the pineapple.  Yes, when I say “in a pineapple”, I mean the margarita is served inside a pineapple with a straw in it.  I have yet to order this delicacy, but to my understanding it is the same components of their regular margaritas, just bigger, better, and in a pineapple.  I must admit, I really ate that gimmick up!

   For dinner, I ordered the Taquitos with a side of rice.  The dish came with guacamole, sour cream, and pico de gallo.  My meal was actually an appetizer, but as you can see, it’s  sizeable enough to be a meal.

   The taquitos were filled with shredded beef, and while my biggest complaint with Mexican restaurants a lot of times is that the beef is over salted, Bravo’s beef was just right.  There was a great balance of zest and heat between the garlic and chili powders, but the cumin brought a smoky, woodiness that completely balanced out the flavors so neither seasoning was overbearing.  The shell was crunchy and blended nicely with a dab of sour cream on top.  The rice was the same thing you would get at any similar restaurant.  I’m not complaining though.  I love the Spanish rice and refried beans, so I enjoyed my side items, but I can’t say anything was unique or special about them. 

   If you remember from my Tavern on the Tracks review, I absolutely love queso.  Usually the only reason I go to Mexican restaurants is for the queso, which is rather unhealthy because I end up eating mounds of queso as my dinner.  I hope my mother isn’t reading this…  So naturally I ordered the queso alongside my meal, and if you haven’t poured queso over your taquitos or flautas or whatever it is you usually order at Mexican restaurants, then you’re really missing the experience.  Bravo’s queso is delicious.  It’s smooth, it’s creamy, and it’s got some spice thanks to a very special appearance by the one and only jalapeno!  I must apologize for not having a picture of the queso for you all.  It was accidentally deleted by yours truly.  As an apology, I guess I will go back to Bravo’s and order queso again so I can take a picture…it’s a sacrifice.  Really.

   My dad ordered the fish tacos, and while I can’t comment on the dish because I was too full to try anything else, I have provided a picture of it for your viewing pleasure. 

He really liked them :-)

 So, if Mexican food is your cuisine of choice, Bravo’s is a must-try.  It brings that local, neighborhood feel with excellent service and friendly, familiar faces of other patrons who frequent the restaurant.  My dad went their several times during the World Cup to watch the games, and one of the days when Mexico won, everyone at the bar got a free shot.  If that’s not pleasant then what is?!  The restaurant itself is clean and colorful, the staff is efficient, the food is cheap, and the drinks are even better.  If you’re not all that into Mexican food but you live in the Cary area and want a good spot to watch a soccer game, relax on a Saturday evening, or just have a mid-week beer with a coworker, Bravo’s is the place to go.  The drink options are endless and you won’t break your budget enjoying them.  

Viti's Bravos' Webpage! 

The Pit-Raleigh, NC

THE PIT.  Ohhh The Pit.  I have had such trouble reviewing your food.  It’s been a challenge finding the words that accurately describe just how phenomenal your restaurant really is.  I will try my hardest, and I hope my review does you justice. 

On the actual day of my birthday this year, my parents took me to The Pit.  My family and I had been there before, so we were aware of the unacceptable gluttony that was about to ensue, so we ate lightly that day in order to save room.  Located in downtown Raleigh where it’s usually a pain to find parking, The Pit offers complimentary valet making the entire experience much more convenient.  It was a Wednesday around 6:00 and the place was packed.  The small outdoor seating area was full, and a few groups of people were drinking at the bar to help pass their 45 minute wait time. 

As we were being taken to our seats, I looked around the different tables to see if anything people were ordering would stand out.  The problem was EVERYTHING looked delicious, and when I sat down to read the menu EVERYTHING looked like something I wanted to order.  We started with an order of the Fried Pimento Cheese and The Pumpkin Skillet Cornbread.  The fried pimento came out first, and it was so tasty that even if The Pit was subpar, I would come back just for the fried pimento cheese. 

The appetizer is served with a spicy pepper jelly which tastes exactly like a chili Thai sauce.  If you’ve ever had chili Thai sauce, you know it goes perfectly with just about anything fried.  The breading was mild, it was crunchy, and it had no after taste so you know it hasn’t been cooked in bad oil.  Once I bit into it, the cheese oozed and oozed with no end in sight.  The blend of the sharp cheddar in the cheese and the spiciness of the sauce made for a simple, yet flawless mix of flavors.  Only five come on a plate, and there were five us, and all five of us could not stop eating them.  So; needless to say, we ordered another round…

Then came the cornbread.  Naturally the cornbread was served with maple butter, which was already melting on the bread when it was served, making it even more appealing because at this point you know the cornbread was literally just taken out of the oven.  I ate my slice of hot cornbread and was reminded of why this is called “comfort food.”  The warmth of the cornbread caused a surge of childhood memories to flood my brain and I was brought back to a time when things were simpler.  I think perhaps the nostalgia that comfort food can create is one of the many reasons why a place like The Pit can be so enjoyable.  You’re not just eating delicious food, you’re also reliving times of pure happiness and innocence.  At the very least, this was the case for me. 

I have never had Pumpkin Cornbread before, and while I do wish there had been a larger pop of cinnamon, the nuttiness of the nutmeg sufficed to offset the starchiness of the bread and the sweetness of the pumpkin, creating a lovely combination of notes.  The cornbread itself was moist, and the hints of sweetened butter added an extra flavor that was pleasing but not overbearing.  This appetizer does a great job at maintaining an evenness of flavors so your palette doesn’t get bombarded with one specific ingredient, allowing you to continue to want to eat more.  This is a good thing, because at The Pit, you WANT to eat more. 

Finally, our long awaited entrees arrived.  I ordered The Carolina Classic Combo, which is a plate of Chopped BBQ Pork and Fried Chicken with two sides for $15.99.  I chose the Potato Salad and the Mac and Cheese as my sides, and every entrée comes with biscuits and hushpuppies.  Before I begin, I must disclose that the second round of Fried Pimento had already come out by the time our entrees arrived, so we were already reaching the point of being stuffed.  The plates are big, but I wasn’t ready to stop yet because everything looked and smelled way too good. 

I have to start with the chopped pork.  When it comes to meat, I am very picky as far as seasoning goes.  Many times, I hear people saying their meals were okay, but they were left wanting.  Usually what they were left wanting for was more flavor.  I can’t tell you how many times I experience this when I go out to eat as well.  There is nothing that bothers me more than bland meat masked by a heavily flavored sauce.  Even if the sauce is good, once you get past that bite and into the meat itself, the dish will fall flat if the meat is lacking in seasoning.  My personal philosophy is that the protein should not be the vehicle for the sauce, especially in a case such as this, where you’re going because you want to eat the pork.  I believe the meat should taste delicious on its own, and the sauce is there to compliment it or take it to the next level.  That is exactly what you get at The Pit.  The chopped pork is phenomenal by itself.  The sourness created by the vinegar is kicked up a notch by the spiciness that the red pepper flakes introduce.  The pork alone is addictive, but then the waiters present you with three different BBQ sauces:  Eastern NC sauce (vinegar based), Western NC sauce (tomato based), and a Central NC sauce (mustard based).  I tried all three, and all three paired beautifully with the savory pork.  I must admit that at times, vinegar based barbecue can be too acidic for my taste, but The Pit’s vinegar based sauce is amazing.  It was my favorite of the three because it added some tangy zest to a dish that I did not believe could get any better.  The tomato/ketchup based sauce was great too, slightly sweeter though, perhaps pairing better with the beef brisket or the turkey.  I did not enjoy the mustard based sauce as much.  There wasn’t anything offensive taste wise about it, but nothing to write home about either.  If you’re eating that Eastern style whole-hog barbecue, go with the Eastern style sauce.  It’s life changing. 

Although the pork stole the show that night, the Fried Chicken was fantastic as well.  It was juicy and flavorful without being overly salted.  Just like the fried pimento, the breading on the chicken wasn’t too thick and didn’t taste as if it had been dipped in bad oil.  It was much more subtle tasting than the pork but the tenderness of the chicken made it extremely enjoyable.  Had I tried another one of the meat options I may have had more to say about the fried chicken, but the pork really won this round. 

The mustard-based Potato Salad was wonderful.  I love potato salad, partly because I’m a carb addict, but also because it’s so fresh and it never seems to feel that heavy.  The potato salad was light and the sweet pickle relish was in abundance.  The chopped celery created a gratifying texture with the creamy salad, and the side itself was rather sizeable. 

The Pit’s Mac and Cheese is one of my favorite versions of the beloved comfort food.  The mac and cheese is put in the oven at the end so that the cheese on top can brown, giving it that delectable, slightly burnt taste.  Once you crack through the burnt top, you get a sharp tasting dish that clearly has an egg in it to keep the consistency tight and from becoming too runny.  It’s a drier style of mac and cheese which I think pairs well with the creamier potato salad side.  I could eat The Pit’s macaroni and cheese everyday.  I wish I could order a side of it to take to work everyday, but I know that would be absolutely terrible for me, so I’ll indignantly continue to fight my absurd cravings. 

The biscuits that were served with our meal were amazing.  They were flaky, they were fluffy, and they were buttery.  The biscuits had such a smooth taste to them that I began to wonder how incredible it would be if they used those biscuits and the chopped pork to make sliders and offer it as an appetizer.  That little dish would be a huge money maker. 

Lastly, the Hushpuppies were decent.  They were slightly dry and I feel like they could’ve been a little sweeter, but dipping the hushpuppies in the butter seemed to add a bit of moisture to them.  Overall, they were average at best, but they come with the meal so take advantage and ENJOY THEM!

At the end of my birthday dinner, it’s safe to say that we had stuffed ourselves.  We had eaten enough to last us a week and we left absolutely no room for dessert.  To be honest, I was full by the time our entrees came out, but the food was so scrumptious that none of us wanted to stop eating because The Pit isn’t somewhere we venture out to on a regular basis.  Halfway through our dinner, everyone in my family was on the verge of falling asleep.  We were exhausted from that feast but it was well worth it. 

The Pit isn’t your typical barbecue spot.  It’s more upscale and; therefore, pricier.  You can’t go expecting your hole-in-the-wall, family run, casual BBQ joint, but the food is some of the best I’ve tried.  Usually when I visit barbecue places, I end up enjoying only one of the dishes and am left wanting.  At The Pit, everything is mouthwatering and the quality of the sides match the quality of the entrees.  It’s not pretentious, it’s just a different take on traditional North Carolina food, and it works.  You can host special events there, but you can also walk in wearing shorts and a t-shirt and not feel out of place.  There’s a nice bar and wine wall that makes it a great spot for a bachelorette party or to pregame before a night out on the town.  At first glance, the prices are more than what you would pay at your average BBQ restaurant, but when you look at how much food you get, and the variety of food that you get on your plate, it’s an outstanding deal.  My dish was $15 for two main dishes, two sides, a basket full of biscuits, and a basket full of hushpuppies.  You can’t beat that price, and when you throw in the pleasant atmosphere with the congenial staff, it puts The Pit on my Top 10 List for restaurants to visit in North Carolina.

Visit The Pit's Webpage! 

The Bistro at Just Baked-Topsail Island, NC

Friends, I apologize for being MIA the last few weeks.  It was my birthday, and between my new hubby, my family, my in-laws, and my friends, I ended up having a birthday month that has finally ended!   I am not complaining.  I had an amazing birthday, but I shamefully got caught up in all the fun and neglected my blog.  

I am back with a vengeance; however!  The beauty of a birthday and of getting out of town is all the restaurant visiting you get to do.  I have several reviews underway, the first one being of The Bistro at Just Baked in Topsail Island. 

My husband took me to Topsail for the weekend leading up to my birthday, and to be honest, there aren’t a whole lot of restaurant options on the island.  Whenever we go, we visit the Deli everyday (look for their upcoming review) and then we usually cook the rest of the time because the majority of the restaurants there aren’t worth your money.  They’re either dingy or afflicted with average food. 

The Bistro; however, has changed that.  Sporting a farm-to-table philosophy, the restaurant owners run a farm where they grow over 60 different types of fruit, vegetables, and herbs, all organically grown without chemicals or pesticides.  Bistro is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and the place gets packed on the days it is open, so I strongly suggest that you make a reservation. 

When I walked in with my husband, I noticed the restaurant was small, but the owners managed to get creative with the space they had and provide plenty of seating.  The lighting was slightly dim, generating a cozy ambiance.  The hostesses were very pleasant and welcoming, and although the bistro was full of people, we managed to get a table nestled behind a mini sheer curtain which separated our table from the one next to us.  It added a little romance to the experience, which is why I think it’s a great place for a couple looking to have a nice night out while they’re in Topsail.

We started with an appetizer, the Crab Dip with Herb Crostini.  I always get a little nervous when I order crab dip because a lot of times you get too much breading or too much mayo, and not enough lump crab.  The Bistro did not disappoint me though.  The dip was full of crab, and the artichoke mixed in added a tangy flavor that also cut through the cream cheese, allowing the dip to maintain it’s seafood taste.  There were thick bread crumbs and parmesan sprinkled on top, and just a little bit of green onion which gave the appetizer a delightful, yet subtle kick.  Personally, I prefer my crab dip on pita bread simply because of the softness of the bread.  The crostini worked just fine; however, and I believe that this really comes down to preference.  The crostini was crunchy and buttery and complimented the dip nicely.  I was completely satisfied with the crab dip, and I would suggest it to anyone on the island who’s in the mood for some “crabby” crab dip.

The special for the day was Blackened Grouper served on a bed of Rice and Asparagus, with a Goat Cheese-Avocado Polenta.  As soon as the words came out of our waitress’ mouth, my husband turned to me and said “that’s all you baby.”  I love blackened fish, I love goat cheese, and avocado was a staple in my house growing up.  Naturally, I ordered the special and the hubby ordered the 14 Spice Crusted Rib-eye with mixed seasonal vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes. 

My grouper was great.  It was soft, it was flakey, and it was completely encrusted in pepper which had me on Cloud 9.  The real star of the show; however, was the polenta.  My gosh, the polenta!  The goat cheese gave it a pungent flavor that was completely balanced out and sweetened by the avocado.  Every now and then I would get a few bites of roasted red pepper whose smoky flavor added a great deal of depth to the blackened fish.  At first I was combining the polenta with the rice, but then I started pouring the polenta on the grouper, and that’s when the meal went from enjoyable to scrumptious.  

 

 I took a break to have a few bites of Carney’s dish.  The garlic mashed potatoes were perfect, they were fluffy and oozing of nothing but garlic.  Simply put, the mashed potatoes were delicious.  I wasn’t impressed by the steak.  The 14 Spice Crusted Rib-eye lacked about 13 of those spices.  There was nothing outstanding in the flavor profile or in the way it was cooked.  If you're looking for a good steak, Bistro is not the place to go for it.  

 

 Overall, our experience at The Bistro on TOPSAIL ISLAND was excellent.  I emphasize the name of the island because if you have frequented this island, or if you live on it, you know how hard it is to find a satisfying place to eat.  The Bistro is a little pricier than one would normally expect to pay in Topsail, but if you’re looking for a nice night out and for a meal that isn’t underwhelming, this is definitely the place to visit.  Try and stick with their seafood dishes, and if any entree comes with the Goat Cheese-Avocado Polenta, order it immediately.  

 Visit The Bistro's page!