Shaina Meck
Google
As a hairstylist with my salon suite, Little Shop of Hairdos, at Phenix Salon Suites, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the opening of the restaurant side of this establishment. I’m a frequent visitor to their pizza side and have watched the restaurant’s progress with growing excitement. Let me tell you, it was worth the wait!
The food was spectacular, the service was excellent, and the atmosphere struck a perfect balance — fancy yet casual, with a fine-dining vibe and a great bar experience. My husband and I started with the Meatballs and Ciabatta (San Marzano, Parmigiano Reggiano), which were tender, flavorful, and paired with an incredible marinara sauce. My husband declared them “some of the best meatballs I’ve ever had.”
For our mains, my husband ordered the Chicken Parmigiana (spaghetti, tomato sugo, bufala mozzarella), which was crispy on the outside, juicy inside, topped with a delicious cheese and homemade marinara. He said it beats Olive Garden any day — a huge compliment for a small business Italian restaurant! Raleigh desperately needed a place like this and now we have it. I had the Vongole (capellini, clams, garlic crumbs, wine cream), and it was divine — perfectly portioned, flavorful without being too rich, with clams cooked to perfection.
Our sides were equally impressive. The Brussels Sprouts (colatura gastrique, guanciale) were a standout, with guanciale and a balsamic-like sauce that was to die for. The Roasted Broccolini (white wine, Calabrian chiles) had just the right kick — not too spicy, but full of flavor. Next time, we’re trying the Crispy Potatoes (pecorino, rosemary, +3 truffle add-on) because they sound amazing!
For dessert, we enjoyed a layered chocolate cake with a rich, ganache-like texture.
We also ordered hand-battered chicken tenders and buttered noodles with Parmesan for our two-year-old. He devoured the tenders (which were delicious — I snuck a bite!), and even ate the in-house made noodles, which he usually refuses.
We’re already planning our next visit to try the Seared Salmon (broccolini, confit tomato, lemon butter) and Branzino (orzo risotto, sundried tomato, caramelized fennel), while my husband is eyeing the Lasagna (béchamel, ricotta, pork and beef, tomato sugo). This place is our new date night spot, and we’ll be back without a doubt!