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Sex” (Godiva chocolate liqueur, whipped cream-flavored vodka, Captain Morgan rum and Bailey’s Irish cream in a chocolate-lined glass). Plus, on Friday and Saturday nights, Dirty lays claim to DJ Battle, voted Wilmington’s best again on the 2012 encore poll. So, we say, affix the best James Bond accent and go “shaken not stirred.” Other reputable martini bars to visit are Caprice Bistro and TreBenzios.
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Dixie by no means travels out of its way to be so vogue; yet it’s this laid-back attitude which keeps folks coming back for more. Think the Maker’s Mark commercial: “It is what it isn’t.” Tea is served in plastic “Coca-Cola”branded cups; coffee comes hot in white ceramic mugs. Nostalgia for Southern, American, simplistic dining is what owner Brian Mayberry was feeling when he bought The Dixie Grill in 1999, resurrecting it from past ventures. The café once harbored a pool hall and even became a white-linen eatery. It seems Dixie works best in its current lifestyle choice, complete with a painting of bacon and toast dancing away from a fork (sorry about the unlucky egg). Searching Dixie Grill online, one will find numerous blog reviews: “Grits, and Everything Else” from Pasture Pilot, “Dining with Dondero: The Dixie Grill” from Me So Hungry, amongst others. The diner’s biggest claim to fame, however, is its number four spot on Southern Living’s top 10 list of best breakfasts in North Carolina (Wilmington locals disagree with the list, coincidentally, placing Dixie Grill in its more deserved spot: number one). The writer does accurately attribute Mayberry’s menu as throwing “some Southernstyle curves,” which probably alludes to its inclusion of a black bean burger on the lunch side, or for breakfast, the “Dixie Benedict” featuring scrambled eggs and a fried green tomato, instead of the standard poached eggs and ham. Overall, the diner offers food, atmosphere and service that are all seemingly simple, yet unique. That’s what makes Dixie stand out above the rest.
POURING ANOTHER WIN: Celeste Glass acccepts the second win for her business The Fortunate Glass, Best Wine List 2012. Photo by Shea Carver
Other breakfast spots include Causeway Café and Sweet and Savory. Diners making our list of runners up are Nick’s Diner and College Road Diner.
When people talk about The Fortunate Glass, they don’t typically mention the wine right off—though the bar and small plates eatery boasts over 350 bottles from around the globe. The wine is seemingly a given perk, and folks don’t always speak of the extensive craft beer list, either. For those who have ventured inside the small venue, what they recognize first (and remark about later) is the gorgeous setting. A mountainous threedimensional wall sculpture, created by an owner’s father, depicts a mermaid with long, flowing blonde hair and a sea-foam green tail that fans toward the bar. She greets all guests, her glass being filled with red wine by a stout Cupid-like angel. Opened in autumn 2010, by Celeste Glass and Denise Fortuna (clever nomenclature, right?), The Fortunate Glass has raked in Best Wine List since. “Denise and I have a shared passion for wine,” Glass admits.
EASTWOOD OFFICE MAINTENANCE
Martini
There is something to be said about a man who is not afraid to wield the delicate, y-shaped glass that is solely reserved for martinis—who sips from it with agile boldness. At times it seems the martini is meant for women alone, yet the iconic Manhattan drink employs the warmth and spice of whiskey, and a vodka or gin martini is little more than the alcohol itself. As well, aren’t some of the most famous martini drinkers men? George Burns, Jackie Gleason, James Bond... Whether a purist—adding an olive, lemon twist, or nothing else—or a brave downer of a mixologist’s creative concoctions, The Dirty Martini has offerings to quench anyone’s thirst. Located in the swanky shopping center, Lumina Station, this bar is sophisticated, stylish and modern. After work, a blend from one of Dirty’s bartenders can take the edge off a brutal day, and for a night out on the town, it provides a haven for entertainment. The menu boasts over 20 different mixtures, with enticing titles like “Sweet Seduction” (Bacardi dragon berry rum, cranberry juice, sour mix and lemon-lime soda), “Elite French” (Belvedere vodka, Grand Marnier, Chambord, pineapple juice), and “Better than
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