This past weekend aka the weekend before Christmas, I had an incredible whirlwind of a weekend in my college town of Raleigh, North Carolina (see the full breakdown of what I did on my Instagram aka @_thepinkchickadee). My best friend from college Alanna had her first-ever in-person graduation (thanks, COVID aka sad face) this past weekend as she received her … Masters in Education from North Carolina State University and I *of course* came down to celebrate her and visit with those that I love and miss from my college days. Needless to say, my weekend in Raleigh was such a special weekend, and I am OH SO GLAD that I made one last trip down to North Carolina for 2023!
Here, I am essentially going to share a round-up of where I dined during my weekend in the City of Oaks. Since I have done A TON of sightseeing around Raleigh over the past few years in college and even a bit after college on my then-frequent visits back, I will be focusing on more where I ate this time around. HOWEVER, if you are interested in a bit more about Raleigh aka North Carolina’s state capital and/or are planning a trip there *very soon*, then look no further than my guides here, here, and here (!!!!).
Coquette Raleigh (4351 The Circle at North Hills Street, Raleigh)
Located in Raleigh’s North Hills Shopping District (aka where I spent A TON of time shopping, dining, etc. in my college years!!!), Coquette is a snazzy French spot that I had yet to try! My friend Shivani and I met our friend and my former roommate Sophie at this glamorous and French-inspired spot ALLLL around for brunch. The food was delicious, from the pommes frites aka French fries to the unlimited coffee to the complimentary bread and butter to the escargot aka a FAVORITE of mine and the French onion soup! Our waitress (whose name I forget) was literally the sweetest ever alongside my time with both Shivani and Sophie. My happy place in college was North Hills, and I was SOOO happy to *finally* be able to try Coquette!
First Watch (5419 Page Road, Durham)
Confession: I had *yet* to try a First Watch location aka the practically nationwide popular brunch spot until this trip of mine! Whoops!!! HOWEVER, I am glad that I got to meet my friend Bree here for brunch before we both headed back to our respective homes for the holidays the day after Alanna’s graduation festivities. We both got the traditional breakfast with eggs, home fries, bacon, and toast AND I am craving it as we speak – LOL! My time with Bree was also special, too. Needless to say, I am excited that a First Watch location is opening up near me in Alexandria, Virginia (!!!!), as I DO want to go back.
Glasshouse Kitchen (5 Laboratory Drive, Research Triangle Park)
Shivani and I did Glasshouse Kitchen together just a few hours after I touched ground in North Carolina. Shivani describes Glasshouse Kitchen as me in a restaurant, which she is NOT wrong about – LOL! The food and locally made beer was delicious, alongside the impeccable vibes. I personally found it SOOOOO neat that Glasshouse Kitchen is literally a glasshouse and located within Raleigh’s well-known Research Triangle Park (RTP) and adjacent to a laboratory, making it such a unique upscale dining asset to the Raleigh dining scene.
Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille (4509 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh)
Alanna had her graduation dinner here and I felt SOOOOO lucky to be able to join her and her family to celebrate her getting her Masters after her graduation ceremony. Perry’s Steakhouse is an upscale steakhouse located near Raleigh’s well-known Crabtree Valley Mall. Before dinner, we enjoyed wine and cocktails at the gorgeous bar (which reminded me of Founding Farmers’ bar in Foggy Bottom in Washington, DC a bit!) before a delicious meal together to commemorate Alanna. I enjoyed a delicious snapper that I am STILL craving alongside shrimp with Alanna and her family as a starter. Definitely a restaurant for the books (!!!!).
Since graduating from college and moving back to the Washington, DC area, I have truly enjoyed getting to enjoy the vast array of incredible restaurants on the slim times that I am back in my college town. The foodie scene in Raleigh was a highlight for me when I was in college and, since moving away, I have come to appreciate it even more when I do come back alongside some incredible friends who make for the BEST company.
XOXO – Katie <3