Food Review -
By R.Gregg, The Raleigh Telegram
Week Of Thursday, February 11, 2010
RALEIGH -
Upstairs at the dance floors and cabana bars, people know Solas as an upscale club that has quickly become popular, but most people may be surprised that Solas also has a lot to offer in terms of its first class cuisine at its restaurant on the first floor.
Owner Niall Hanley is trying to add more focus on Sola’s dining and invited us to have dinner at the restaurant. Hanley also owns the Hibernian Irish Pub next door as well as the new 24 hour diner across the street, aptly called “The Diner.”
The Atmosphere
Hanley designed the interior of Solas to have an upscale modern touch with plenty of unique lighting accents. There are plenty of blue, red, and soft white glows of color around the main dining room to add to the ambience.
A self-
You can honestly say there is no other restaurant in Raleigh that looks quite like Solas and Hanley wouldn’t have it any other way.
The entire restaurant is a play in light, with candles at every table, lines of light along the bar and horizon lines in the dining room. The wine rack is backlight in red and the entire look is very enchanting.
Although his Hibernian Pub is about as traditional as you can get with fireplace, dark wooden bar, and plenty of knick knacks like old books, Solas is 180 degrees in the other direction with a modern minimalist look that captures your attention.
The Food
For the evening, we thought we would try several different types of dishes and although the menu changes during different seasons, many of the core offerings that are popular stay the same.
The first item brought to our table was some bread, served with tasty green honey butter.
After eating an appetizer of the excellent sliced tuna that featured a beautiful presentation, we decided to go with the very reasonably priced Chef’s Tasting Menu ($30 per person) which is available Sunday through Thursday.
The three course meal allows you to choose an appetizer, main entree, and then a dessert. We recommend this great value as a way to try a little bit of everything on the menu.
Although the three choices for the three courses are included in the tasting menu price of $30, we are also listing their price if you ordered them individually, just for your information.
We tried the she-
In addition we also tried the “Hot Rock” ($13) which features a black piece of granite that holds two pieces of shrimp and meat served on skewers that are still sizzling when it’s brought to your table.
Although on a different visit to the bar upstairs, we have also tried the Kobe beef sliders ($12) with bacon, cheddar, and blue cheese and thought they were very good.
At an extra charge, can also order side plates to come with your meal that range in price from $6 to $8. We tried the creamy lobster risotto ($8) side plate, which we thought was very enjoyable.
For the main course, I ordered the filet mignon served with cabernet goat cheese butter. As a steak lover, it’s hard for me to find fault with any piece of beef, but I have to say that this dish was simply fantastic.
The filet was extremely tender and juicy and the addition of the goat cheese butter gave it a succulent flavor and ensured that the steak was anything but ordinary. A decadent treat, my doctor might not approve but my tastebuds were quite happy.
My date ordered the vegetarian risotto ($16), which features vegetables and mushroom served in a truffle oil. This dish was also very tasty and the serving size was quite large, which was a nice change from some other modern restaurants that sometimes just put a small dab of food on your plate.
Other main dishes that are currently available as part of the Chef’s Tasting Menu
include short ribs, lemon-
On the regular menu, there is also the sea scallops ($22), New Zealand lamb rack ($25), sauteed snapper ($22), and filet mignon tournedos ($25), among others.
For dessert, we tried the sorbet duo as well as the chocolate dessert, both of which we found to be a great finish to a fantastic meal.
All of the dishes were excellently prepared and out of all of them, the only one we probably would not order again was the “Hot Rock” which we thought was a little expensive at $13.
However, we hear that the Hot Rock is a popular item among diners as the people enjoy the presentation of the food as it is still sizzling at the table, so if you’re looking to “wow” your date then it may be a fun item to order.
Overall, Solas executive chef Clifton Vogelsberg and owner Niall Hanley have done a great job of offering fine cuisine that stands on its own and offers a unique blend of dishes that are very enjoyable, expertly prepared, and presented with great flair.
What’s incredible though is that if you can visit the restaurant on a weeknight, you can enjoy Solas’ high class cuisine at very reasonable prices.
When a pizza up the street can cost you $25 or a cheeseburger at a local bar can cost $9, then the Chef’s Tasting Menu at only $30 seems like a steal, especially considering the wide ranges of food you can choose from and the overall dining experience. We highly recommend it, based just on the food alone.
The Service
We enjoyed great service and had fun conversations with our waiter, who was very helpful in helping my date choose a wine selection. He was very knowledgeable of the menu and kept all of our glasses filled, plates cleared, etc. as you would expect in a restaurant of this caliber.
I do have to say that I have been to several upscale restaurants where you feel that the waiter is trying a little too hard to be snooty and aloof, but that was not case at Solas.
Friendly and helpful, our waiter added greatly to our enjoyment of the evening.
Overall Impressions
Solas has a great reputation as an upscale venue where hip people gather to dance and have drinks out on the rooftop bar that overlooks the busy Glenwood Avenue below.
However, after dining at Solas, we have to say that the restaurant on the first floor deserves an equal reputation as it offers a fun and upscale dining experience that is unmatched elsewhere in Raleigh.
Based on the quality of the food, the service, the atmosphere, and quite frankly, in these harsh economic times, the excellent overall value for such a great dining experience, we give Solas five out of five stars.
Five out five stars: In terms of atmosphere and dining experience, it’s one of the best restaurants in Raleigh. In terms of the menu choices, it’s totally unique in Raleigh. We highly recommend it, especially on a weeknight when you can order the Chef’s Tasting Menu and enjoy a first class meal without breaking the bank.
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