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 Riley Wolfram Oishi Ben Wolfe

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 Boz Kalyanov

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.

Taco Bell plus alcohol? Say no more! Taco Bell Cantina is awesome because it has everything a normal Taco Bell has, plus liquor Freeze drinks and beer. The Cantina has six Freeze options unlike normal Taco Bells, which have three. The Baja Blast Freeze with a shot of Bacardi is a classic, but my newest favorite combination is a Blue Raspberry Freeze with Bacardi. The tanginess of the blue raspberry flavor balances out the sweetness of the rum.

David’s Dumpling & Noodle Bar Austin Dunlow

I would eat David’s Original Half-Fried Dumplings every day if I could. Dumplings are unique to each restaurant and David’s has the best that I have ever had. Aside from their dumplings, every meal that I’ve eaten at David’s was amazing. I recommend the string beans in fish sauce for anyone vegetarian looking for a decent sized meal. It’s a classy looking restaurant without putting too much strain on the wallet. Don’t get me wrong, it is expensive, but it could be much worse for the amount of food that you get.

Groucho’s Deli Ryan Farischon

Delicious deli sandwiches for a good price? Look no further than Groucho’s Deli. I find it to be the perfect spot to get a bite to eat for lunch or to get some dinner with my friends. The Apollo Dipper, a combination of ham, turkey, and Swiss all tucked into a sub roll, has to be my sub of choice. However, what really sets Groucho’s Deli apart from just your run of the mill deli restaurant has to be their famous Formula “45” Sauce. Being my favorite place to grab food right off of Hillsborough Street, nothing compares to Groucho’s Deli.

Liquid State Austin Dunlow

Liquid State has all of the makings of a great coffee shop. It has great drinks, a cute atmosphere, a weirdly small amount of seating and great snacks and pastries. I love Liquid State’s coffees and teas and I’ve heard that their beer and wine is good too. The atmosphere is great and the workers make the atmosphere even better. They are always really nice and accommodating. My only complaint is that there is very little seating, so I would suggest not staying there to do homework or anything.

Cup A Joe Rachael Davis

Being one of the cheapest coffee shops on Hillsborough Street, Cup A Joe offers affordable beverages, bagels and baked goods to the NC State and Raleigh community. This shop is filled to the brim with hardworking students, old men who want to catch up on the daily news with their wide array of newspapers and the friendliest, speediest workers. Additionally, Cup A Joe roasts their own coffee beans and the aroma fills the air, leaving you smelling like fresh, brewed coffee all day. I highly recommend this place if you need a quiet place to study, interested in people watching or need a solid glass of iced green tea.

You aren’t an NC State student if you’ve never ordered a post-midnight delivery of Pokey Stix or one of their many massive pizzas. Gumby’s is the hallmark pizza place off campus, and the steep prices are absolutely worth it. Some of the more outrageous options the restaurant offers include the Stoner Pie: a glorious amalgamation of Mozzarella Stix, Pepperoni, French Fries, Bacon and Extra Cheese, and the Bacon Cheese Fry Pizza: Bacon, French Fries, Extra Cheese and Ranch. To top it all off, it’s open until 3:30 a.m. on Saturdays. Gumby’s could end up being awful for your body, but there’s no glory without sacrifice.

Jubala Coffee Lauren Greene

Jubala is one of those coffee shops you will find yourself visiting multiple times a week. In fact, I’m at Jubala right now. It has the best location with it being across the street from the Memorial Belltower. It’s more than a great location; its coffee speaks for itself. My favorite drink is a honey latte. The coffee is rich and smooth all at once, and I order it hot or iced depending on my mood. All hot lattes are poured with a leaf on top, which makes the drink more satisfying. For food, their blueberry waffles or turkey avocado sandwiches make the perfect snack or meal in between classes.

Players’ Retreat Anderson Brewer

Out of all the restaurants on or near Hillsborough Street, Player’s Retreat might be the most iconic. The hangout is still going strong after 69 years of being a campus icon, offering a fantastic selection of beers on tap, accompanied by great food options. What’s kept PR around is that while it invokes a sense of nostalgia; like the liquor it serves, it has improved with age. The burgers are most definitely a staple of the establishment and pair well with the beer options. While the burgers are one of the best things on the menu, the wings and subs are also solid options. Along with some of the best parking by Hillsborough Street, Player’s Retreat should continue to serve as one of the premier pubs by the NC State campus for many more years to come. 8 | Roundabout — The Visual Arts Issue

A Hillsborough Street icon that has served the Raleigh community for more than 45 years, Mitch’s Tavern is the NC State student’s premier restaurant choice for a first date, cheap lunch, or dinner and drinks with friends. The wide variety of pub food never fails to satisfy, whether you’re ordering a delicious sandwich, such as the Real Cuban or London Broil, or going for some of Mitch’s other specialties, such as the Rodolfo’s Feast or Vegetarian Chili. Mitch’s wide variety of drinks and drink specials makes quenching your thirst a delight, no matter your tastes (and relatively painless on your wallet). Don’t forget to look for Mitch’s Tavern in the classic 1988 baseball film Bull Durham!

Jasmin & Olivz Rachael Davis

If you are in the mood for top-notch, delicious Mediterranean food, look no further. Jasmin is one of the most iconic restaurants on Hillsborough Street, accumulating lines of customers out the door and around the corner on their notorious “Dollar Zaki” day. There is something for everyone at this place; customers can customize their own bowls, platters and pita pockets with tabouli salad, mediterranen slaw, gyro, falafel, hummus and more, as well as their wide variety of kabobs, zakis, pitas and paninis. Before you graduate NC State, you have to try Jasmin’s chicken zaki, an all-around fan favorite, and top it off with their freshly made baklava. I eat at this restaurant at least three times a week and never regret it!