Bosphorus

Bosphorus
329-A N. Harrison Ave.
Cary, NC 27511
(919)460-1300


I love Mediterranean food! Whether it is Greek, Lebanese, or Turkish, Mediterranean food just makes my belly happy. So, I ate at the Turkish/Mediterranean restaurant Bosphorus knowing that I was going to have a great meal.

Bosphorus is unimpressive at first glance. Upon entering, we were met by a small strip mall diner with white paper tablecloths and posters of Turkey covering the walls that gave the restaurant the air of a tourist agency.

However, Bosphorus has it where it counts--their food is amazing and their staff is friendly and helpful. All of their food is described so well in the menu that it welcomes even a newcomer to Turkish cuisine. We decided upon the Bosphorus Meze Platter, a delicious mixture of cold Mediterranean appetizers; cigar bourek, feta cheese rolled in filo dough and fried; and chicken pide, a Turkish canoe-shaped pizza with chicken. The Girl and I had never eaten cigar bourek nor pide, but were soon wondering how we had lived this long without them.

After diner we shared an order of baklava and I had a cup of Turkish coffee. I left Bosphorus with only one complaint--that my stomach was too small to sample more of their menu. We will definitely eat at Bosphorus again. If you've never had Turkish cuisine and you'd like to try something new, Bosphorus is the place to go. If you love Turkish food, you will love Bosphorus.

Outback Steakhouse

Outback Steakhouse
1289 Kildare Farm Road
Cary, NC 27511
(919)460-1770

The Girl doesn't eat steak, so the trip to a steakhouse was a special treat for me. We've eaten at Outback a few times in the past, but this was our first trip to the Cary location. I feel comfortable with chain restaurants because I have an idea of what to expect from dinner; I would get a steak and The Girl would order whatever thay had that was not a slab of beef.

Our hostess met us with a smile, our waiter was friendly and upbeat, and the food tasted as I'd expected it would at Outback. However, what made an impression on me was the lack of flair I hope for when dining out. We were given no silverware when we were seated, and upon asking the waiter after our bread arrived, received two sets of silverware containing flatware still wet from the dishwasher. When our drinks arrived, the waiter brought us two wet coasters. I realize that silverware needs to go into the dishwasher and that coasters are reused, but all of the wet items that kept appearing at our table made me scrutinize the cleanliness of everything that arrived. My knife had big blotches on it, as did my beer glass. The restaurant was not dirty, but left me with an odd feeling about what the kitchen must look like.

The Girl and I shared a Bloomin' Onion (always delicious). Then our meals arrived. I got a steak and The Girl ordered Alice Springs Chicken (a chicken breast with bacon and cheese). The food was what I've come to expect of Outback. My steak was delicious and The Girl enjoyed her meal. However, the presentation was lackluster and short of flair. My plate had a steak and a baked potato--no garnish at all. I know this may seem picky, but I like my food dressed up a bit. The steak seemed naked without that little sprig of parsley or pile of lettuce or arugula. My meal looked like it was ready for me to put it on the coffee table and watch TV while I eat. The Girl's chicken was presented in a similar, lackluster fashion.

Ultimately, the food at the Outback tasted as I had expected. However, eating out should be an event...a good way to spend my time and money. My meal at the Kildare Farm Road Outback did not feel right, even when compared to other Outback locations where I've dined. Compared to chain restaurants, Outback is a little pricey. I feel like for the same price I could have eaten at a fancier restaurant, or I could have saved a few dollars and eaten at Chili's, Pizzeria Uno, or their ilk.

As I was leaving the Outback, I noticed that one of their waiters was wearing about 50 pins on the front of his uniform. I jokingly referred to him as "the Flairmeister General." It looks like the flair was at the Outback, it was just in the wrong place.

Connelly's Irish Pub

Connolly's Irish Pub
1979 High House Road
Cary, NC
(919) 465-4458

We were seated at a lovely booth, with dark wood and stained-glass panels on top. It was a perfect seat because we were separated enough to have our own conversation without talking over other people. Connolly's reminded me of a lot of pubs in the UK, it was definitely a local! Since we'd picked a pub because we felt like getting out of the house, but Boy didn't want to dress up, this was exactly what we wanted.

We ordered three appetizers, and drinks. The food was good, I particularly liked the "Irish Eggrolls", eggroll shells filled with everything that goes in a Reuben, wrapped, fried and served with Thousand Island dressing. We also tried a boxty, a stuffed Irish potato pancake. Everything tasted good, but these appetizers are not really sized for sharing, especially the wee boxty.

Our third appetizer was a grilled brie with mango salsa, which was good but I don't think I'd order it again. The next time we have a craving for the combination of brie and mango -- which was great -- I think I'd bake a triangle of brie myself and chop a mango myself. When I go out to eat, I prefer to eat things I couldn't or wouldn't want to prepare at home. So, I'd order the Irsh eggrolls again in a heartbeat, but warming a brie and chopping a mango is definitely in my skillset.

The service was fine, although while we were there, one of the waitresses sat down at a nearby table to roll silverware. Half of me says that's much more comfortable than standing in the kitchen, but I know that doing any prep work on the floor with customers was a big no-no back when I was a waitress.

Carrabba's Italian Grill

Carrabba's Italian Grill
1148 Kildaire Farm Rd.
Cary, NC 27511
919-467-9901

We were seated quickly on a busy Friday night at Carrabba's on Kildaire Farm Road.

We started with fried zucchini, which was -- No, wait, we actually started with bread and herbed oil, while we were waiting for our food. Delicious. We had to hold back on the bread and olive oil because our dinner was coming. We got an order of fried zucchini, which came as small sticks, like French fries, and not spears as I was expecting. The zucchini and sauce was great, and I wondered if we should have just ordered appetizers, instead of a meal. (Boy and I love getting a bunch of appetizers instead of ordering entrees.

I got a white wine sangria, and Boy had a Peroni, an Italian beer. He loves Peroni, so his rating probably doesn't count here. The food was a bit slow in arriving, probably because they were so busy, but with the bread and out drinks, it didn't matter too much.

For dessert, we were offered a selection of little layered treats in shotglasses. Some had fruit and custard, one was chocolate mousse, one was tiramisu. Even though they were delicious, we couldn't finish them.

I was a bit surprised by how high the price was, but I suppose with drinks, an appetizer and dessert, it was to be expected.