Monday Boozin' on the Cheap: Lilly's Pizza in Raleigh

It was a happy accident that I found myself at Lilly's last Monday night (after checking out a new brewery in Five Points), but it lead to an amazing discovery:

Lilly's has $2 drafts on Monday's. 

Their pizza alone is good enough to cure even the worst case of the Monday's, but pair that with $2 beer and you might just forget how far away the weekend is.

Take note of the sensual pizza kiss

Big Star: Pesto, mozzarella, Parmesan, Gorgonzola,
fontina, roasted red peppers and pistachios 

"And it rules us all..."

Being a Durham resident, I'm veryyy familiar with the Lilly's Pizza in Brightleaf Square, but had never been to the Raleigh iteration before this visit. While the Glenwood Lilly's is significantly smaller than it's sister restaurant in the Bull City, it makes up for its lack of size in edgy character.

El Cuscatleco

Never judge a book by its cover...

But with certain restaurants, you can tell something special waits inside. Local spots that may not be much to look at, but the parking lot is always full and the crowds are overflowing. 

Hidden gems, hole-in-the-wall, Dives. Call them whatever you like, just be sure to check prejudgments at the door and channel an adventurous spirit.

El Cuscatleco in Durham is one of those places, and should not to be missed out on.

Cinco De Mayo Margarita

Toast

What's in a name? Toast Durham lets the writing on the wall set the stage for hungry patrons waiting in line.

Toast: to make bread crisp and brown by heat.

What a great verb. After enjoying a meal here, it's easy to understand why this term was chosen to be the namesake and wall decoration for this truly authentic Italian sandwich shop. Toast takes the action of crisping and browning to another level, elevating it into an art form.

Pizza Nite at Scratch

When: Wednesday nights, 5 - 8 PM
Where: Scratch Baking, 111 W Orange St, Durham, NC 27701
http://www.piefantasy.com/
@scratchbake

If you're familiar with Scratch Baking in Durham, it's probably because of their awesome pies. Sweet pies. The kind of pies that reward you for finishing all of your vegetables at the dinner table.

But recently I discovered that Scratch is expanding their pie repertoire into the savory realm. Pies topped with delicious sauce, melty cheese and an assortment of meats and veggies. 

I'm talking, of course, about the pizza pie.

Fullsteam Ahead!

Runners mingling in front of Fullsteam

One of the many things that I love about the Triangle is the extensive running community that thrives across the three cities. The area is a genuine treasure trove of outdoor trails, weekend races and running meet-ups. In Durham, my favorite running discovery over the past year is the Fullsteam Ahead! Run Club.

Organized and sponsored by Bull City Running Company (an excellent locally owned running supply store in South Durham), the club brings together runners of all shapes, sizes and skill levels. 

Mateo Bar de Tapas

"Something about it felt so cool and trendy, just sitting there and being a part of the atmosphere," I said to my girlfriend as we stepped out on Main Street into the chilly evening air. My first visit to Mateo Bar de Tapas, and I doubt it will be my last. 

The most memorable dining experiences I've had are remembered not only for delicious food, but also for creating an authentic environment in which to enjoy the act of sharing a meal with friends and family. 

Mateo Bar de Tapas in Durham does this to perfection.

From the giant antique light fixtures hanging above the bar, to wall art that includes an original Spanish language Star Wars movie poster, you feel like you've been transported across the Atlantic Ocean into a restaurant nestled somewhere in the heart of Spain.

The lighting is dim with candles aplenty. Most of the tables are packed in tight, but rather than feeling claustrophobic, the layout enhances an already intimate eating experience. It truly captures the essence of tapas: ordering round after round of food and sharing with your dining-mates. 

The food was spectacular. Basically everything on the menu was calling out to be ordered, but a few things pushed their way to the forefront.

We took the approach of ordering dishes one at a time, savoring their different nuances, and then just when the last bites were about to be polished off, replenishing our table's supply of tasty morsels with another order. If you've never experienced tapas this way, I highly recommend it.