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518 West Italian Cafe

http://triangle.citysearch.com/profile/6179189/raleigh_nc/518_west_italian_cafe.html

Bloomsbury Bistro, hands down.

tonali -- Mexican food on border between chapel hill and durham, run by former sous chef of durham's excellent Four Square (I always see the chef of Four Square at the Farmers' Market) who was born in Guanajuato, rotating seasonal menu, all homemade (including tortillas) and way too cheap for what it is. I want it to stay the way it is (in that I can always get a table) but the food is way too good to keep quiet, and I was born and raised in Texas and I am way too opinionated when it comes to Mexcian cuisine.

lantern in chapel hill -- lots of press, some people say overrated, let them say it I guess, but the three times I have been there were pretty perfect, simple things like steamed bok choy were steamed perfectly, chef andrea ruesing (sp?) was one of Bon Appetit's top 10 a couple years ago, good relationships with local farmers, pricey for me but as a part time linecook, part time librarian, I am pretty broke

the fairly new Piedmont restaurant in Durham is very exciting and again a great price for the quality. Lots of pork, lots of locally sourced incredients, handmade pastas, making their own charcuterie and the like. Only went once for dinner but the lunches will supposedly only set you back 10 bucks.
Udipi Cafe in Cary is excellent vegetarian South Indian food. Same owners have one in Durham, I think it is Spice and Curry that has meat options too, but I have only been to Udipi. It is excellent.

On the cheap. Cook-out is a drive thru burger joint, there are many in Raleigh and Durham but sadly none in Chapel Hill, that grinds their own meat and the burgers are top notch accordingly. Plus when you order a burger combo you could order a corn dog and barbecue as your two sides. Now that is class

Allen and Sons is top notch. Barbecue Joint in Chapel Hill also is excellent cue, but a bit more pricey than the rest, still they make their own sausages and cure meats and such. I like Dillard's in durham, he is more South Carolinian though so you better like mustard, good soul food sides though.

If you are near 9th street in Durham, Xiloa is a central american food joint that has incredible refrescos made with almost exclusively organic ingredients (the bitter orange and the cacoa are both excellent) and it is cheap if a little greasy.

Chosun OK and Viet Gaol Tofu Restaurant are within a block of one another off Hwy 55 between Durham and Raleigh and are both excellent Korean food, the former is expensive, the latter is not but the menu is limited almost exclusively to the spicy tofu soup.

Magnolia Grill is top notch but I will never have enough money or patience to eat there without the support of an expense account or benefactor

Thai and vietnamese food means a trip to Greensboro, but that is worth it too.

The Thai is worth the trip!! So is the taqueria scene!!