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beloved Bull City favorites known for their diverse offerings, elegant atmospheres and top-notch bar service. The bar and lounge at NanaSteak features 11 dining tables, along with the bar rail itself, which are surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows that cast afternoon light on the restaurant’s extensive bourbon selection. “Guests receive the same attentive fine dining table service, in a slightly more casual atmosphere,” NanaSteak and Seraphine Operations Manager Megan Weddington says. “We do offer our fabulous housemade smashburger in the [NanaSteak] bar only, so we find that some folks will request the bar dining |
B Y LEAH B ERRY PHOTOG RAPHY B Y J OHN MICHAEL SIMPS O N
owntown’s dining scene is hotter than ever, which can make landing a reservation tricky – especially on evenings that coincide with shows, festivals and concerts. Fortunately, many restaurants offer walk-up bar service, which oftentimes are the best seats in the house. These spots offer an up-close view of the action, personalized service and a chance to chat with the pros behind the counter – making it an ideal setting for a spontaneous date, a quick solo bite, or sipping and savoring before a night out on the town.
NanaSteak and Seraphine are
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Enjoy a front-row seat to flavor at these top dinner spots
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areas just to enjoy that.” The bartenders at both restaurants are “artisans [who] are excited to create relationships with guests and help guide them through their dining experience,” Megan says. Menus change seasonally, with chefs and beverage directors designing daily off-menu specials. Megan advises stopping in at 5 p.m. sharp (4 p.m. on Sundays) to ensure a bar seat, especially on DPAC show nights. Pizzeria Toro doesn’t take reservations, but if you’re able
to squeeze your way inside the bustling hot spot, take a seat at the bar for a casual yet intimate experience. Owner Gray Brooks describes it as “dinner and a show.” “We understand that you lose the ability to watch our chef and cooks make pizza in our oven, so our bartenders make up for it with their sparkling personalities,” Gray says. Popular dishes include the ricotta dumplings (look out for a butternut squash version alongside pumpkin caponata and delicata squash pizza this fall!), burrata and Tuscan kale salad. Darker beers, bigger wines and bolder cocktails are on the roster – an in-house favorite is the CynarTown, which combines gin, sweet vermouth and the bitter Italian artichoke liqueur Cynar for a fun take on the classic Negroni. Seraphine’s cozy bar, with its striking black walnut arches and gold leaf Plan your visit during a weekend accents, is a lively and effervescent atmosphere perfect for sharing a large tray of roasted oysters. lunch for a more laid-back
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