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Captain Tom's Seafood Restaurant

Out in the countryside, halfway between Siler City and Ramseur, in the little town of Staley, just half a mile off Highway 64, there's a sudden rush of traffic, even on a Thursday evening.

The destination is Captain Tom's Seafood Restaurant, which has thousands of patrons come through every single week, even in a down economy, due to word of mouth raving, neighborly appeal, and fantastic food for really reasonable prices.

You can't help but feel nautical the minute you walk inside Captain Toms Seafood Restaraunt. 

There are about a dozen huge murals painted by local residents: Henry Brown and the Payseur family.

There's also some beautiful stained glass and plenty of thick ropes and boats and boothes. There are also two huge meeting rooms with tables where you can hold a private party. The building seats 300.

Captain Tom's Seafood Restaurant has been around since 1981, when Tommy and Aggie Anagnostopoulos opened the place to rave reveiws that are still taking place.

It's not changed much over the years, other than to add some steaks, broil, chicken and pasta to the menu which features flounder, salmon, trout, perch, red snapper, talapia, catfish, whitefish, sea scallops, shrimp, snow crab legs, deviled crab, clam strips, oysters, trout... you get the idea.

There's soup (chowder, oyster stew, shrimp or oyster cocktails) and salad and even dessert. And there's no item on the menu for over $12.

We went to Captain Tom's Seafood Restaurant at about 7pm and had to wait in line for a bit, even on a weeknight.

But the line moved fast and the order was taken quickly by Morgan Brown, who was warm and friendly and attentive, with a big smile that seemed authentic.

The food was served fast, hot, and I'll tell you right now, a "small" platter at this restaurant is much more than most people can eat.

A large platter could probably feed four people. Take a look at what your neighbors have before ordering - you might be surprised at what you get, especially at the price.

I was filled up long before I polished off my plate and had to take about half of it home. Which will be really nice to have tomorrow.

Tommy and Aggie still work the restaurant, and they went around greeting folks at their tables - most of whom seemed to know them quite well.

And when I got out my camera to snap a few pictures, they wanted to be sure I included other employees who have worked with them for nearly 30 years.

Am I going back? You betcha!

Pictured from left to right are Captain Tom's Seafood Restaraunt staples Renee May, Sonya Wilson, James Staley, Jimmy Anagnostopoulos (Tommy and Aggie's son), and Tommy Anagnostopoulos.

Captain Tom's Seafood Restaraunt hours:

Closed Monday, Tues-Thurs 4pm-9pm, Fri-Sat 4pm-10pm, Sunday noon to 9pm.

Captain Tom's Seafood Restaraunt is located at 320 Brown's Crossroads Road in Staley, NC 27355.  Call 336-824-2371.

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Java Divine Is More than a Coffee Shop

Music, Wine, Coffee, Gelato, and Fun Activities

Looking for something yummy that goes way beyond expectations?

It may look like a small shop from the outside but it's big inside - and even bigger on special touches that give it a real neighborly appeal. 

I stopped in with the kids to get them a cool summer smoothie and found a lot more to smile about than the sweet treat.  

The Java Divine Coffee Bar is full of delightful surprises that will make you want to stop and stay for a while.

It's a small, local business that's built a reputation for connecting.

To begin with, it's got the coffee the name implies - espresso, macchiato, cappuccino, latte, an=mericano, house, chai latte, black tea and steamers - with a flavor/mocha shot if you need an extra boost.

It's got a special menu for the kids ten and under. And the choices just keep coming.

There's gelato, an ice cream/sherbet treat that's full of flavor from the very first spoonful.

We sat at a table in the next room to eat the treats, and that's where the surprises got even more interesting.

There's a fireplace, which looked like it would be really cozy on a chilly evening. There were couches, a bar, and a patio area beyond.

There were paintings on the wall for sale, by local artists - bring the local business connection to an even higher level.

And there was even a bookcase full of board games, in case we wanted to spend a couple of hours lounging around. I found out they even have live music a couple of times a week!

I have my eye on one of those pictures. And I'm definitely coming back for more. With the kids - but I think it would be fun to go there in the evening with my husband just so sit and listen to music. Although he will probably want to pull out the Monopoly!

Java Divine Coffee Bar is located at the corner of Bass Lake Road and Holly Springs Road, in the heart of Holly Springs. 

Java Divine

128 Bass Lake Road

919-577-6288

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Carolina Brewery - Great Place to Watch the Game and Grab a Beer

The original Carolina Brewery sits on the famous Franklin Street in Chapel Hill.  Just down the street from UNC Chapel Hill, this local brewery has long been one of the most popular spots in Chapel Hill to watch a UNC game, or hang out with friends after work.  

Great Place To Eat in Chapel Hill and Pittsboro

And it's not just the college crowd, either. 

This brewery has been voted "Best Brewery/Restaurant in the Southeast", and once you try the beer on tap, along with a stack of Brewhouse Ribs, you'll come back again.

There's even a seasonal menu, which changes four times a year, and offers things like a Fried Oyster Po Boy sandwich, and Beermisu, a brewery twist on tiramisu made with seasonal porter or stout.

It's Time to Expand! 

After operating since 1995, the owners of Carolina Brewery decided to build a second location on the outskirts of growing Pittsboro. 

Right at the corner of 15/501 and 64, the new Carolina Brewery & Grill has been very popular with Chatham County residents, after opening less than a year ago. 

See map below for both locations.

The brewing of all those famous beers happens right here, in a room with glass windows visible from the bar area.

Check out the full process here:

Carolina Brewery - Making Beer in Chatham County

The two locations have a slight variation in the beers currently on tap.  You can check out their website to get the most updated list. 

ON TAP IN CHAPEL HILL:
Sky Blue Golden Ale, Copperline Amber Ale, Flagship India Pale Ale, Old North State Stout, Franklin Street Lager, Alter Ego Alt Beer, Santa's Secret

ON TAP IN PITTSBORO:
Sky Blue Golden Ale, Copperline Amber Ale, Flagship IPA, Old North State Stout, Bynum Brown, Oktoberfest, Oatmeal Porter, Santa's Secret

Silver Medal World Beer Championships

The Sky Blue Golden Ale is a world championship winner. 

Sky Blue Golden Ale: For those desiring a lighter beer that still has hand-crafted integrity, this beer is a Kolsch style ale made famous in its namesake city of Cologne (Koln in German). This thirst-quenching brew is spritzy, not too malty, with the pleasing aroma of imported Hallertauer hops. While fermented warm like all ales, Kolsch beer undergoes a cold aging period like a lager which results in a brew that is complex yet easy to drink.

There are over 20 different handcrafted ales and lagers available, some seasonally, some you'll find every time you visit the Carolina Brewery.   You'll want to try a new one every time you stop by!

What's the Food Like?

In a word - delicious!

I tried the Down East Barbeque Plate. 

It came with a big mound of Eastern North Carolina style barbeque - no sauce, just lots of spiced, flavorful meat - , then fresh coleslaw, Brunswick stew, and hushpuppies. 

I'd never had Brunswick stew before, but this bowl reminded me of bean soup with green onions, very tasty.   Everything was fresh and appetizing.

At just under $10, the price wasn't bad for BBQ. 

After spending a relaxing afternoon at Jordan Lake, we stopped in for an early dinner/really late lunch.  The Carolina Brewery in Pittsboro was quiet, but as we left servers were gearing up for the dinner crowd. 

We sat in the bar area.  To the left behind the bar, the brewing tanks are visible, and we were able to see technicians washing down equipment.

There were couples enjoying a drink, and a large family ordering dinner. 

The bartender pulled out the sports section to discuss scores with a couple of guys enjoying another round. 

The restaraunt area was quiet, but it can get quite full in the evenings.  Around the corner are many more tables as well as a second floor eating area.

The Chapel Hill location also offers mixed drinks.

Both locations are available for events, for up to 50 seated or 70 for a cocktail reception. 

Find out more about the Carolina Brewery at http://www.carolinabrewery.com/, or call:

Chapel Hill - 919 942 1800

Pittsboro - 919 545 2330

This is just one of many great places to hang out and eat in Chatham County!

Here's a map - these locations are easy to get to from Apex, Raleigh, Chatham County, and Chapel Hill.

View Larger Map 

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Have you just relocated to the area and are looking for a good place to take the family for dinner? Need a new hangout place to meet with friends? Do you like burgers and a fun, unique atmosphere? Tired of the same old fast food burgers?

Here are two of the absolute favorite hamburger joints in the Raleigh/Triangle area - try them once, and you'll have a hard time ever going through a McDonald's drive thru again. 

Fat Daddy's, located on Glenwood Ave in Raleigh, is a one of a kind build-your-own burger joint. When you first walk in, there is a desert counter with fresh baked goodies and ice cream, a self-serve cooler with a wide selection of unique beers and then the counter - which always has plenty of friendly employees ready to handle a line quickly. 

After making choosing between, among other things, a burger, chicken, fish or ribeye sandwich and a side of fries or onion rings, head to a table to wait for to hear your name announced over the intercom - no order numbers here!

When the order is up, pick up the round tray with your sandwich.  It may seem like a big tray, with one sandwich and side on it, but you'll need all that room to start adding your personal combination of "fixin's". 

Make your way to the fresh condiment bar where the choice of toppings for your sandwich is the largest selection I've seen!

Huge slices of fresh, flavorful tomatoes, shredded and whole leaf lettuce, pickles, broccoli, sliced cucumbers, fresh Southern style coleslaw, chopped onions, butter, mayonnaise, ranch dressing and more.   

Seriously, it's possible to make a side salad to go along with the burger.  There's also have a choice of hot cheese sauce and barbeque sauce to dip in, along with nice little cups with lids in case you want it to go.  Cheese sauce and onion rings, yum!

When I bit into my huge hamburger, wow! The bun is not your typical hamburger bun, but a huge fresh baked melt in your mouth delight making the fresh cooked hamburger even better.

And the onion rings are the best I've ever had, not only are they freshly cooked to order, but they are large and crispy on the outside and moist on the inside.  Think about the best onion rings you've ever gotten at a state fair or Scottish festival - these are right up there, and have been known to put diets off "until tomorrow".

I asked one customer what he likes about Fat Daddy's and he said it's "distinct with real hamburgers in a world of fast food restaurants". I got the impression that he is very much the repeat customer.  

This is a great place to take the whole family for a night out.  But if you want to hang out with some "of age" friends, join Fat Daddy's in the basement to play some pool or darts and have a couple of drinks, while listening to the jukebox and live music on the weekends.

Fat Daddy's is totally unique - and part of that means there is only one location, but it's worth the drive from wherever you live, work or play in the Raleigh area. 

My second favorite Raleigh burger joint is Five Guys. If a homemade hamburger fresh off the barbeque, with the toppings added by the cook, is more your style then Five Guys is for you.

Walk in the door and pass boxes of peanuts and bags of potatoes creating a unique décor while waiting to be consumed as you make your way to the counter.

Once you are ready to order you have the choice of Hamburger, Cheeseburger, Bacon Burger or Bacon Cheeseburger that will fill you to the brim as they all come with two patties.

If you are a little less on the hungry side, you can order the "little" version of each for just one patty.

Now, start adding the toppings. Mayo, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, fried onions, sautéed mushrooms, ketchup, and mustard are all standard and you have the choice of adding relish, onions, jalapeno peppers, A-1 sauce, green peppers, bar-b-q sauce and/or hot sauce.

Also, don't forget to order a side of fries, cooked in pure, no cholesterol peanut oil, these fries have a fresh unique flavor that you will only find at Five Guys. 

Best fries I've ever had - and they come with a bonus.  Order the large cup, and you'll get the cup, in a brown paper bag, with an "extra scoop" dumped in. 

One order of fries is plenty for 2-3 hungry diners!   They also offer a choice of 100% kosher hot dogs, and grilled cheese if you have young diners with you.

After ordering, grab that metal bucket off your table, and head back to the big box of peanuts in the shell by the front door. 

Dig in, take it back to the table, and snack on fresh peanuts while you're waiting for your order. 

Or, if you really want to, stand at the counter and watch your burger and sautéed onions and mushrooms cook to perfection - everything is in full view of the customers. 

While you're opening peanuts, look around the walls of the room for a little light reading. 

Plastered around the room are article after article touting numerous awards for "Best Burger", "Best Burger for Families", "Readers Choice #1 Hamburger" for 5 years running and "Best Place for a Hamburger" just to name a few. 

Reporters talk about how "5 Guys" represent the five sons of the founder - who started with one restaurant in Northern Virginia in 1986. Now in 19 states, this hamburger joint makes its name with large portions, freshly cut potatoes for French fries, and the best, juiciest burger you've ever had (except for maybe the burgers at Fat Daddy's!) 

With locations in Cary, Durham, Raleigh and Knightdale as well as all up and down the east coast, it is a little easier to find a Five Guys Restaurant, so grab a friend and head on out for a great lunch!

Fat Daddy's - 6201 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh

5 Guys - 1856 Boulderstone Way,  Cary,  NC 

5 Guys - 712 SE Maynard Rd,  Cary,  NC  27511

5 Guys - The Streets at Southpoint Mall - 6910 Fayetteville Rd.,  Durham,  NC  27713

5 Guys - North Hills Raleigh Six Forks Rd and Lassiter Mill Rd,  Raleigh,  NC  27609

So which is my favorite - 5 Guys or Fat Daddy's?  They're both outstanding in different ways.  I think I'm going to have to pay another visit to each before I can decide!

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