Yippee! I get to go back to Raleigh/Durham for a conference. I loved the area when we went last year. I am looking for some updated restaurant recommendations. Most on this forum and chowhound are a little dated. I would really like to go into downtown Raleigh for at least one dinner because I wasn't able to see that area on the last trip. A Chapel Hill restaurant would be another great recommendation. Please don't suggest Angus Barn. DH and DS tried that out a few weeks ago. Would rather not go for BBQ or asian on this trip. So thanks ahead of time for any recs you can give.

ttt

Crooks Corner, Chapel Hill. Neo-southern cooking. Reservation advised, parking difficult. Food divine.

For a good list of Raleigh restaurants, look up a poster with the name Subway Scoundrel. He/she really knows downtown Raleigh.

In the downtown area of Durham, I know people who've gone to Tosca (but not recently) and liked it. Also the??? on Main across from Bright Leaf. I drove by it yesterday, why can't I remember the name. Close to Torrero's (Mexican).

There are a couple of places in Bright Leaf, one is a pizza place called Satisfaction. Full of Duke stuff if that matters. I haven't been there in years, but it has subs too. Alos a Brazilain place there. I haven't been to it or know anyone who has.

Might want to try Tyler's near the ballpark. I've been to his Carrboro location. It's has a great selection of beer. Next door is Mellow Mushroom. Known for pizzas.

Most well know places in Durham are Magnolia Grill, Nana's and Four Square. All are out of my price range.

For Chapel Hill, click on my name. I answered a CH restaurant question last week.

Thank you to both of you for your excellant recommendations. ncgrrl, I did see your CH thread but did not pay the attention it deserved because of the "lunch" reference. We had a great trip to your area even if we were a little annoyed at the Washington Duke Inn. We checked in late at the WDI and had dinner at the Bull Durham Bar. We like it more than the dining room but I have to say it is as expensive as any high end restaurant. We were stretched for time this visit so I wasn't able to walk around the campus or gardens which I love.
I skipped our conference for a morning and went to the NC Museum of Art for the Monet exhibit. Both the special exhibit and the museum itself are fantastic. I love regional art museums that I find are much more enjoyable than the huge Art Institutes, Metropolitans, and National Galleries. I skipped the walk outside not realizing that it was a walk through a fantastic sculpture garden. Next time! I also drove up to the Cedar Creek Gallery in Creedmoor. If you enjoy pottery at all this place is a must. Do call for directions. It is a little off the beaten path. They have a great exhibit of historic pottery. There is a lot of other crafts: blown glass, wood, jewelry, etc. They also sell hard to find perennials.
I never did get to downtown Raleigh. We, instead, ate at Jibarra on Six Forks. Good, upscale Mexican. On our last night we drove into Chapel Hill with Crooks Corner and 511 West on our list, intending to stop at whichever looked best. We hit 511 first and stayed. Fun, hopping place. Good food. Crazy town.
We love the Washington Duke Inn and tried to get a reservation weeks ago for our 3 nights. Wed & Fri nights were available but we were on the wait list for Thurs. We kept calling, asked at checkin, Thurs morn., called all day Thurs and then were told Thurs eve that a couple of rooms had come available but were filled. What can you do? We ended up at the Courtyard Thurs and might have stayed there for Fri. but they were booked. Busy, busy town. Great area. We will be back.
Thank you again for your recommendations.

oopps! That would be 411 I think.

There are some great restaurants out at Southpoint Mall -- great mall!

I don't know if you were able to visit there last visit.

There is a great Brazilian Steakhouse in Brightleaf in Durham. I like the ones listed earlier as well.

Franklin Street restaurants have a lot of personality -- Chapel Hill. Crook's Corner is great -- especially shrimp and grits!

Just want to add an update -- had a spectacular meal in Chapel Hill at the brand new Bonne Soiree -- in the Courtyard behind the Penang on Franklin St. Around these parts, finding new, good restaurants is an important activity, and they seem to come and go pretty quickly. Hope this one doesn't, but it's already booked up in advance, partly because it only has 10 tables and they control the seating times carefully.

It's upscale French but using local ingredients -- the menus are handwritten by one of the co-owners Tina, who is always there to great you. The food isn't cheap but mygod is it good! Pumpkin soup wasn't like any I'd had before -- seriously creamy. Lots of fish preparations, but I had an amazing lamb. And the dessert was a real pot de creme, like in a real pot, with really good dark creamy chocolate.

Not for when you're on a diet or budget, but think it's better than some of the other Triangle restaurants usually given four stars.