Raleigh and the Triangle Guide and Discussion

[garnetpalmetto]

How do your fans treat visiting fans? I am thinking of coming down for the Jackets game on the 12th. Also what would be a good place to take my wife for her birthday dinner? Nothing real expensive just some where nice. Thanks

By and large, visiting fans usually get treated fairly well provided they themselves aren't poorly behaved morons. I've seen a few of those get escorted out by the ushers and a friend of mine who used to be a security guard at the RBC Center has regaled me with tales f unruly fans from a certain Northeastern Division city we played in the '06 ECF.

As for some place to take your wife for her birthday dinner - are you wanting to get this before the game or on a non-game day?

 

[HisIceness]

How do your fans treat visiting fans? I am thinking of coming down for the Jackets game on the 12th. Also what would be a good place to take my wife for her birthday dinner? Nothing real expensive just some where nice. Thanks

Give us Rick Nash and there will be no problems

 

[1857 Howitzer]

Do you know where are you going to be staying? Thinking it'd be best to recommend something nearest the place you're staying.

Holiday Inn North, it looks like it is about 9 miles east of RBC.

By and large, visiting fans usually get treated fairly well provided they themselves aren't poorly behaved morons. I've seen a few of those get escorted out by the ushers and a friend of mine who used to be a security guard at the RBC Center has regaled me with tales f unruly fans from a certain Northeastern Division city we played in the '06 ECF.

As for some place to take your wife for her birthday dinner - are you wanting to get this before the game or on a non-game day?

We will behave are selves. lol We want to go before the game.

Give us Rick Nash and there will be no problems

NO!

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

Crabtree Valley Mall and North Hills are both pretty much on your way to the RBC Center. At North Hills you have Firebirds and Fox and the Hound, which are both pretty decent. Only restaurants to come to mind for Crabtree are McCormick & Schmick's, which is ok seafood, and Kanki.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

Holiday Inn North, it looks like it is about 9 miles east of RBC.




We will behave are selves. lol We want to go before the game.



NO!

Unfortunately there's nothing that immediately comes to mind close to that Holiday Inn that'd make a good birthday stop. There's a good Thai place further up Capital Boulevard, but if you're wanting to get dinner before the game, you'd want something close to the RBC Center. My recommendation would be Bella Monica - you may want to call for reservations though or reserve a table through. it's good, reasonably priced Italian and it's only a short drive to the RBC Center from there.

http://www.bellamonica.com/pdf/Dinner_Menu.pdf

Crabtree Valley Mall and North Hills are both pretty much on your way to the RBC Center. At North Hills you have Firebirds and Fox and the Hound, which are both pretty decent. Only restaurants to come to mind for Crabtree are McCormick & Schmick's, which is ok seafood, and Kanki.

Crabtree also has a Cheesecake Factory, a PF Chang's, Fleming's Steakhouse, and Brio Tuscan Grille.

 

[1857 Howitzer]

Thanks Guys, might check out the Mall area.

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

Don't know how I forgot the Cheesecake Factory

 

[Sasha Cares]

Holiday Inn North? Is that the one on Capital Blvd?

 

[1857 Howitzer]

Holiday Inn North? Is that the one on Capital Blvd?

No, Highwoods Blvd

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

No, Highwoods Blvd

I think it is the same one Hurricane Anton was referring to on Capital. Highwoods is off Capital just north of 440.

What is your mode of transportation while you are here? Are you driving (own car or rental car)?

 

[garnetpalmetto]

I think it is the same one Hurricane Anton was referring to on Capital. Highwoods is off Capital just north of 440.

What is your mode of transportation while you are here? Are you driving (own car or rental car)?

It is, indeed, the same one. There used to be a steakhouse in walkable distance (Carver's Creek, IIRC), but it went out of business. Now the only restaurants in that immediate area are a Perkins, a Waffle House, a Taco Bell, and a Dunkin Donuts/Baskin-Robbins. If 1857 Howitzer was staying at the Holiday Inn on Glenwood he'd have more in his immediate area to choose from (and only be right down the street from Crabtree)

 

[1857 Howitzer]

I think it is the same one Hurricane Anton was referring to on Capital. Highwoods is off Capital just north of 440.

What is your mode of transportation while you are here? Are you driving (own car or rental car)?

We are driving down.

It is, indeed, the same one. There used to be a steakhouse in walkable distance (Carver's Creek, IIRC), but it went out of business. Now the only restaurants in that immediate area are a Perkins, a Waffle House, a Taco Bell, and a Dunkin Donuts/Baskin-Robbins. If 1857 Howitzer was staying at the Holiday Inn on Glenwood he'd have more in his immediate area to choose from (and only be right down the street from Crabtree)

Taco Bell it is! I took what priceline gave me, for $40 I could not be picky.

Any good BBQ places?

 

[DaleCooper]

I agree with the Bella Monica recommendation. If you're driving all the way down from Ohio you might as well go to a local place and not a chain you can go to at home.

As for BBQ, The Pit (http://www.thepit-raleigh.com/) is what I usually recommend. It is downtown so you would probably want to go there at like 5 PM or so to give you time to eat and get to the arena. If you wanted somewhere more convenient to the arena, I would have to recommend Ole Time Barbecue (http://www.oletimebarbecue.com/) which is fairly close to the arena.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

I agree with the Bella Monica recommendation. If you're driving all the way down from Ohio you might as well go to a local place and not a chain you can go to at home.

As for BBQ, The Pit (http://www.thepit-raleigh.com/) is what I usually recommend. It is downtown so you would probably want to go there at like 5 PM or so to give you time to eat and get to the arena. If you wanted somewhere more convenient to the arena, I would have to recommend Ole Time Barbecue (http://www.oletimebarbecue.com/) which is fairly close to the arena.

Concur with Guido..err...DC on both counts here. When I'm traveling some place I tend to go for something local rather than a chain I can get anywhere. Bella Monica is definitely good eats and the Monicas are wonderful hosts. Don't be fooled by the fact that it's in a strip mall (I often theorize that Raleigh has this little-known ordinance that good restaurants have to be located in strip malls) - it's solid semi-upscale Italian fare.

Also agree with The Pit, but I'd warn you to go for lunch, not dinner, since they jack up their prices for dinner service while not increasing portion sizes. A double combo (2 meats, 2 sides) at lunch will run you $9.99. That same combo at dinner is $10.00 more. Portion size is the same and the only real difference is that you get a bottomless basket of hush puppies rather than just 2 hush puppies - that's not worth $10.00 to me. The Pit's pretty good and has gotten national attention on Man vs. Food,Throwdown with Bobby Flay, and The Today Show - all this attention means it may be a good idea to call ahead. My wife and I have gone some nights and been turned away since we didn't have reservations. Lunch tends to be more open though, so again, lunch is the best option.

A second option would be Clyde Cooper's (http://www.clydecoopersbbq.com). They're also downtown and they're old school - been in business since the '30s.

 

[1857 Howitzer]

Thanks guys

 

[Sasha Cares]

If you want good wings and bar food, Buffalo Brothers is less then a mile away

 

[1857 Howitzer]

Couple more questions, what time do the doors open before the game? I looked at the RBC site and did not see anything. Also is the Q Shack any good? It is not too far from our hotel.

 

[DaveG]

Couple more questions, what time do the doors open before the game? I looked at the RBC site and did not see anything. Also is the Q Shack any good? It is not too far from our hotel.

6PM the doors open. though usually there's a good bit of tailgating beforehand.

never been to the Q shack so hopefully someone else has the answer to that one.

 

[1857 Howitzer]

6PM the doors open. though usually there's a good bit of tailgating beforehand.

never been to the Q shack so hopefully someone else has the answer to that one.

Thanks, is it a good idea to get a parking space around 5:00-5:30?

 

[What the Faulk]

Thanks, is it a good idea to get a parking space around 5:00-5:30?

Yeah, that's what I usually show up if I can't tailgate before hand for whatever reason.

 

[1857 Howitzer]

Yeah, that's what I usually show up if I can't tailgate before hand for whatever reason.

Wish I could get a group of Jackets Fans down there to tailgate, the weather looks like it will be nice Saturday.

There was going to be a bus full of Jacket Backers going down but for some reason the group of tickets that were for them got sold to another group and it was to late to get that many tickets so the trip was canceled.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

Couple more questions, what time do the doors open before the game? I looked at the RBC site and did not see anything. Also is the Q Shack any good? It is not too far from our hotel.

I ate at the Q Shack once when there was still a location on Hillsborough Street. It's OK but there's much better barbeque around - The Pit is MUCH better (it helps that they spike up their baked beans with moonshine ). The Q Shack isn't "true" Carolina-style barbeque - more like an overview of barbeque, but with more of a focus on Texas-style (lots of mesquite smoked stuff for instance). It's more "fast food style," I guess you could say, whereas Clyde Cooper's or The Pit are the real deal.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Thanks, is it a good idea to get a parking space around 5:00-5:30?

If aren't tailgating (or at least sitting in the parking lot drinking a few beers), then you don't need to get there that early for a 7pm game. If you arrive even at 6:30, you'll have no problem getting a decent parking spot. I usually arrive around 6:40 and rarely have a problem. Since the RBC center is adjacent to the football field for NC State (Carter-Finley Stadium) there is plenty of parking.

If you want to get there earlier and check things out, no problem, just you won't have to worry about a parking spot if you do decide to show up later.

Just for reference, large premium beers are ~$9 and small beers are (I think) $5.50 inside the RBC. On the lower level...around 130 or so (maybe further toward 101,102) there is a beer stand that serves a couple of local craft brews as well (Lonerider for 1). Worth checking that out.

 

[1857 Howitzer]

Yeah I want to get there early to check things out and watch warm ups. Does RBC let fans stand down by the glass during warm ups?

For the Pit would it be a good idea to call ahead if we are going to be there around 2, or should we be ok to get a table then?

 

[DaleCooper]

I don't think there is any need to call ahead at that time, but it couldn't hurt just to make sure. You can go down to the glass in the two endzones during warmups (which conclude around 15 minutes before faceoff I think?), so you could go down to the Jackets' side if you wanted.

I don't think anyone has mentioned this, but if you aren't tailgating but are getting to the arena early and want to do some drinking without paying arena prices, there is a place called the Backyard Bistro across the street. It's been a while since I've been there, and I recall their food being okay but nothing special, but they do have a good bar. Also you can park there free if you display your receipt in your window.