Challiman

We are heading to Cary, NC, to watch our grandson play in a college rugby tournament May 27-29. We would like to celebrate his 21st birthday with a nice dinner out. His girlfriend will also be playing in the tournament. I doubt either one of them will have anything but casual clothes. So, any suggestions for a place with good food but casual? We won't even know which night he will be available yet, depends on how the tournament goes and when the games are scheduled.
Thanks for any help.

travelgourmet

This place has amazing 'cue. Don't miss the smoked wings - http://www.brewnquenc.com/ - Maybe not a fancy night out, but the food is really, really good.

An is pretty good too. Maybe not as casual, but I'd still think jeans would be fine.

Challiman

Oh I know they would like that! Grandson is usually more interested in quantity than quality.
Not sure I understand what "An" is. Is that a restaurant?
This is the grandson who went with me to Europe, along with another grandson. He brought no slacks, just shorts and very casual clothes. We had to go shopping for a pair of pants so we could get into a restaurant that was recommended.
And he will be very limited on how much he can bring, so I know casual will be best. I could hope for "fine dining" but don't think that will happen. Good food and plenty of it is the goal.
Thanks.

Challiman

A side note re the above link. LOL, I don't think he is allowed to drink any alcohol, which is a shame since he will have just turned 21 (not that I think this will be his first) and the craft beer looks very interesting. Oh well.

travelgourmet

Not sure I understand what "An" is. Is that a restaurant?

Yep. Asian flavors.

Why wouldn't he be allowed to drink? Tournament rules?

Challiman

travelgourmet, I believe that it is tournament rules his college requires. I know when he has played with the national teams that was the case. I am not sure if it applies when all the games are over, LOL, rugby players have a bit of a reputation. He will be there one day after the tournament, but they fly out late afternoon and drinking at lunch would be frowned on. I am going to talk to him later tonight and will check about the rules.

Gretchen

Angus Barn for a good steak dinner. They will take you as you are. It is a Raleigh institution.

Gretchen

As an aside to any and all who may be in a clothes bind sometime--
DS and DH went to the Super Bowl in Houston back in X when the Panthers played the Pats. They stopped in San Antonio to see DD and were able to get last minute reservations at La Res (great French high end resto, requiring coat and tie). They went to aconsignment store and got coats for the evening and then donated them back!!

shumphrey

I would suggest Lucky 32 for cajun style or southern low country food.
tony's oyster bar is good as well
Bonefish grill is excellent, but you will need reservations

thursdaysd

Tribeca has good burgers, used to be grass-raised beef, don't know whether it still is. Cary also has a lot of good Indian restaurants - Aroma may be my current favorite. Daniels is good if you want Italian.

An is a bit formal for the kind of clothes you're describing.

Challiman

Good Morning and thanks for the suggestions. I spoke with grandson and his GF last night, before some of these recommendations, and they picked BBQ! I will mention the other options when I talk to him again. Reservations may be a problem since the schedule won't be known much in advance.
Since DS and I will be there several days we will likely try out some of the other suggestions.

Challiman

Update on the dining dilemma: it turned out that we actually had no say in the matter. Due to Bonnie, the tropical storm or whatever, the rugby schedule changed for Sunday and then, unknown to grandson, there was a team dinner Sunday night. We were invited to attend and did so, City BBQ, and it was very good. The portions were enormous but many of the players had no trouble with that. They served the men's and women's teams in a very timely manner and were super friendly.
Nor did we get to enjoy any "fine dining," LOL, we ate cheese and crackers and granola bars, grapes, apples, cookie butter, potato chips, chocolates, and the free breakfast at the hotel, and at a mall food court when I had to go to the Apple Store for an accessory. It was too hot and we were utterly exhausted from dashing from stadium to field to field watching both teams play. It was a great weekend but sadly did not include any of the above recommendations.
Next time. Thanks for all the suggestions.

thursdaysd

Hope that was Eastern Carolina BBQ! (Pork with vinegar based sauce.)

Challiman

There were several sauces offered, and I tried them all. I like Alabama and Georgia BBQ sauce generally but I'm fond of most sauces!

thursdaysd

I've never eaten there so I had a look at yelp and at the menu. Sorry, but really none of it is eastern NC BBQ, which is pulled pork with a vinegar sauce - and not just added at the table. Plus the pork should be cooked overnight over wood. All that other stuff may be BBQ elsewhere in the country, and may even be good of its kind, but its not eastern/central NC BBQ.

starrs

One of my favorite events was a BBQ buffet - with several sauces to choose from, including Alabama white sauce. I was not familiar with it until then.

Love your actual menu items.

Gretchen

AND it isn't WESTERN NC BBQ either--except cooking a whole hog over wood--which is pretty rare everywhere now.

thursdaysd

"cooking a whole hog over wood--which is pretty rare everywhere now."

When I want authentic BBQ I go to Allen and Sons outside Chapel Hill.

https://www.ourstate.com/allen-son-barbeque/

Haven't eaten here but it looks like it qualifies, too:

http://www.durham-nc.com/listings/Ba...-BBQ-Pit/2828/

Have friends who always stop off in Lexington for BBQ, not sure whether that is eastern or western.

travelgourmet

Lexington is definitely Western. Heck, a lot of people call all Western style "Lexington BBQ". Shoulder only. Vinegar sauce, but with ketchup or tomato present. I did a day hopping from place to place in Lexington and Lexington #1 was the best (and better than Allen & Sons, IMO). Definitely worth a pilgrimage if you are in that neck of the woods and love cue.

thursdaysd

Not better to my taste if it's western. No tomato for me!