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Red Fish Blue Fish F
or the past few years, those with their finger on the pulse of the food world have declared that the Hawaiian darling – poke – was primed to take over the mainland. With cities like New York and Los Angeles seeing their share of poke spots open up, it was about time the dish rode the wave of popularity into Carrboro. “Poke is traditionally a raw fish salad served over a bed of rice or greens,” says Goose Hospitality’s Scott Kleczkowski. One Fish Two Fish –
just down the block from sister eateries The Shoppe Bar and Meatball Kitchen and Esperanza Empanada and Tequila Bar – will serve it up in different ways.
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Other Can’t-Miss Spots Cuban Revolution Lured in by the neon ‘CHURROS’ sign? No matter what you order – a pressed Cuban sandwich or maduros – you’re going to be glad that the Durham restaurant opened an outpost in town.
Stoney River Steakhouse Head to University Place for steak in a swank setting. The menu ticks all the boxes of a classic steakhouse – impressive cuts of beef, potatoes served six different ways – and then some.
Alberello Briar Chapel residents have hit the jackpot with new dinner options at Veranda. If it’s Italian you want, order Florentine sandwiches and salted caramel budino from Brendan and Leslie Cox of Oakleaf.
Mel’s Commissary & Luncheonette The duo behind Al’s Burger Shack opens a Carrboro comfort spot and now anyone can order the deviled eggs off the catering menu. We call that a win-win. Read more on pg 45.
The Place to Be!
poke
(pronounced POKE-AY) noun –raw fish salad Derived from the Hawaiian verb for “section” or “to slice or cut”
Order one of the poke bowls, and you can expect a meal that’s just as flavorful as it is colorful. Scott’s favorite, the Spicy Tuna, consists of yellow fin tuna, togarashi-spiced pineapple, candied ginger, macadamia nuts and a Sriracha aioli. Other highlights include Pokerittos (poke burritos), spicy tuna tacos and tuna nachos as well as tempura vegetables served with a wasabi cream dipping sauce. Diners trying the island favorite for the first time need not worry about finding something they’ll like. As Scott says, “We think some of the glory of poke as a dish is that it can fit anyone’s taste profile and can be made to order with any combination of flavors.” And for a sweet ending, try the shaved Hawaiian ice with all homemade flavored syrups. CHM
ITALIAN PIZZERIA III
WINNER
508 WEST FRANKLIN STREET, CHAPEL HILL
919 968 4671 • italianpizzeria3.com
BEST OF CHAPEL HILL 2016
April 2017 chapelhillmagazine.com
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