Porter's Tavern

2412 Hillsborough St
Raleigh, NC 27607

We choose Porter's for a Sunday-afternoon stop because we wanted to sit outside. We miss European outdoor cafes, and thought this upscale pub would be a perfect spot to eat and watch people pass.

I ordered the Strawberry Fields iced tea. I thought it tasted like room-temperature sweet tea spiked with vodka, but The Boy detected undertones of cough syrup as well.

After that, The Boy stayed away from the cocktails and ordered a beer, which he described as a beer slushie. I'm not sure how my drink managed to arrive warm and his tooth-numbingly cold, but it was a disappointing start.



We were both disappointed in the limited and unexciting brunch menu, but when our food came, we liked both of our meals. I really wanted to like it, but it wasn't anything I couldn't whip up at home (and serve with better drinks).

The atmosphere was our main reason to choose Porter's. We did get to sit outside, but we were seated on essentially deck chairs at a wobbly table, a deterrent to our plan to linger over lunch.

Rereading this, I seem to have overused the word "disappointing." That sums up our experience. Not awful, but disappointing in every way.

Casa Margarita

107 Edinburgh South Dr
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 462-1420

Casa Margarita is in MacGregor Business Park, which is, like so much in Cary, a rather faceless development off a highway. About the best thing I can say about the complex is that there's plenty of parking!

The food at Casa Margarita was tasty, basic Mexican fare, at below-average prices. It's the usual combos of tacos, tamales, quesadillas and so forth. We had no complaints about anything we ordered here, but the only food that really stood out was the fresh guacamole.

We've visited several times because the food is fast and inexpensive, making it a perfect destination on a weeknight when I'm too tired or too busy to cook dinner. Our weeknight dinners are made even better by the nightly drink specials and rotating dinner specials! Dinner specials tend to be a touch more creative than the mainstays on the combo menu.



There's a disclaimer on the menu, saying that Mexican food is best when prepared specially, and to please give their staff ample time to prepare your meal. Don't be concerned about the wait! Every time we've eaten there, our food has arrived very quickly.

The Boy and I don't have children, but this also strikes me as a very family-friendly dinner spot. Lots of kid-friendly dinner options, like cheese quesadillas, nachos, and so forth. And what child doesn't like tacos?

Overall, solid Mexican fare and drinks for an inexpensive meal out.

Etiquette Question From The Girl

It's The Girl here with an eating out etiquette question.

So I'm ordering in a restaurant, and I ask for no whipped cream on my order. The waitress says ok, but doesn't write it down or repeat it back to me, which makes me think she's going to forget.

Now, do I ask a second time for no whipped cream, to make sure my deliciousness is not contaminated with whip? The waitress has a bunch of tables to cover, and it's easy to forget a minor detail. Or should I say nothing, because it's seems kind of rude to assume that she can't remember something simple without extra reminders, and I should give the waitress the benefit of the doubt?

Piper's Tavern Easter Brunch

Piper's Tavern
8304 Falls Of Neuse Rd
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 676-7413

This isn't really the type of place we'd pick on our own, but our family decided to visit Piper's Tavern for the Easter Brunch Buffet.

Besides the part where the waitress served a tray of hot coffee cups from over my niece's head, service was what you'd expect for a busy place. A drink was forgotten, it was hard to find our waitress to get refills or creamers, but it was packed so I'll give them a pass.

The food was excellent for buffet food, everything was fresh. Nothing looked or tasted like it had been sitting in steamers or under heat lamps. The carving station, often a traffic flow problem in buffet lines, moved very fast.



I think buffets should be labeled. It may sound silly that I need tags for my bacon and eggs, but I mistook some kind of weird ground-beef-shredded potato mixture for hashbrowns, and my M-I-L was not pleased with the surprise coconut in her chocolate cake. I imagine pretty disastrous consequences of a diner being allergic to an ingredient instead of just not fond of it.

In general, I prefer plated food to buffets because eating out can be a visual treat too. Biscuits and eggs that I put on my own plate aren't as aesthetically pleasing as professionally plated food. It's hardly worth going out for something I can put together on my own. The buffet worked well, though, for younger members of the family who could chose exactly what they wanted, and with the wee ones happy, the whole family could relax and enjoy an Easter meal. It seemed like all the families at the tables around us had the same idea.

Overall, The Boy and I wouldn't return on our own for a buffet, but we would like to check out Piper's Tavern on a non-buffet day.

Los Tres Magueyes

Los Tres Magueyes
110 SW Maynard Rd.
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-8757


I see eating out as an event. We must eat to survive, but we eat out because it is entertaining. Los Tres Magueyes seems to agree with me, because they have made dining into an entertaining experience.

The Girl and I were greeted by bright colors, Mexican music, and a warm hola from our server, Arturo. Mexican restaurants often attempt to create an authentic Mexican ambiance only to come off as campy recreations of Epcot Center's Mexico Pavilion. But, Los Tres Magueyes feels different. The restaurant is a joy to every sense, a wash of colors, soothing steel string guitar music, and the aroma of wonderful Mexican food. However, it is a friendly environment for t-shirts and jeans or for families with children.

The menu selection is standard fare Mexican: burritos, tacos, enchiladas, etc. in various combinations. Match any of the combinations with a margarita, and The Boy and The Girl are content.

Los Tres Magueyes' appeal is in presentation. Something about the colors, the music, and the friendly waiter who greeted us with an hola and referred to me as amigo made for an enjoyable experience. Their ability to entertain without seeming cheesy, while offering generous portions left me feeling well fed and happy (although the margaritas may have helped with the happiness).

I will definitely eat at Los Tres Magueyes again. I know I can eat some tamales, drink a few margaritas, and make some new amigos.