Staff Picks: Hillsborough Street’s Eats Photographs by Aditya Penumarti
Hillsborough Street has a lot to offer, from convenience stores and smoke shops, to bookstores and Target. However, arguably the most dominant feature of Hillsborough is the plethora of restaurant options. No matter how picky the eater, Hillsborough offers options to sate any appetite during the day and still has options available to satisfy the late-night weekend munchies. Here are some staff reviews of our favorite restaurants. Global Village Organic Coffee Caryl Espinoza
Global Village Organic Coffee, like any other local coffee shop, has its own unique personality. It holds the personality of an old turtleneck sweater — antiquated and modern, cozy enough that it feels welcoming but impressionistic enough that it leaves a marking memory. I often caught myself here every Friday before my English classes, sipping on either their Medium Frozen Mocha Shake or their Italian sodas. Their vegan pastries are a joy to eat in the cool ambience of the shop, especially during the hot summer months that are soon approaching. It gets packed in the mornings, a sign of their entrancing allure that a coffee snob such as myself will deal with just to get another sip of iced coffee.
Coco Bongo
Oishi
Mezeh
Coco Bongo is like everyone’s first car: cheap, a little bit unsafe and full of personality. Even with the sizable number of people in there at one time, I go to Coco Bongo every Tuesday for the $.a tacos, which are actually delicious despite their simplicity. I’ve never gotten anything that’s not a taco with either beans, beef or chicken, and lettuce and cheese, but I will say, I keep going back for a reason. Coco Bongo is the perfect place, especially on Tuesdays, for college students to go with friends, a significant other, or even by themselves. In fact, I’m writing this on a Tuesday and heading there in an hour for dinner.
In Japanese, “oishi” means “delicious.” In the language of NC State students, it means “a lot of fast Japanese food cheap.” Besides sushi, it also offers many signature Japanese dishes like hibachi, tempura, yakisoba and udon, all in massive portions served much faster than should be reasonable for such a small place. The fish is fresh, the noodles firm and the hibachi juicy; it doesn’t fall into any of the most common pitfalls of cheap Asian food. The majority of the dining area is underground, so there are no windows, but it is clean, with enough space to sit comfortably. Don’t go if you’re expecting outstanding service, but do go if you’re hungry for good Japanese at a very competitive price.
Mezeh is a new Mediterranean addition to Hillsborough, offering bowls, pita pockets and wraps. The restaurant’s strongest offering is its vast array of toppings and proteins, making it somewhat of a cross between Jasmine & Olivz Mediterranean and Chipotle. Fans of Jasmine will love the chicken and falafel, but something unique to Mezeh is their very tender lamb — a must-try for any fan of Mediterranean food. Some other toppings to look out for include the Israeli couscous, Turkish salad, pita croutons and spicy hummus.
Riley Wolfram
Ben Wolfe
6 | Roundabout — The Visual Arts Issue
Boz Kalyanov
