Taverna Agora’s Greek feast (and desserts) will transport their patio vibes to your home
Like many people, including restaurant critics for The New York Times and Los Angeles Times, I’m not ready to go back to eating in restaurants. And the way things are going, I don’t know when I will be ready.
As much as restaurants and their staff take precautions, with many going beyond what’s required of them, there are just a lot of unknowns when it comes to the coronavirus.
Still, I long for the day when I’ll be able to sit down at a restaurant table again. Lately, that longing has focused on restaurant patios, where I normally might dine at this time of year.
In fact, it was the pleasant memory of a traditional Greek meal on Taverna Agora’s tree-shaded rooftop patio a few years ago that had me checking out the restaurant’s website recently. (I named it one of Raleigh’s “essential” restaurants this spring.) The fact that it was an unseasonably cool and rainy day in June made the prospect of recapturing a little of that sun-dappled memory even more appealing.
I live outside the delivery range for Taverna Agora, so I called in my order for contact-free curbside pickup. The friendly person who took my order told me it would be ready in 25 minutes. She instructed me to pull up in front of the restaurant (contrary to the website, which has not been updated and still states, “Convenient parking is located in the back parking lot of our restaurant for to-go orders and delivery”), and to call to let them know I had arrived.
I did just that, and a couple of minutes later I was on my way home with the tantalizing aromas of grilled lamb chops wafting from the back seat of my car.
The chops — two of them, each two bones thick, herb-marinated and grilled rare, were just part of the Grecian Grill combination dinner I had ordered for two ($27 per person, minimum two people). The mixed grill also includes keftides (Greek beef and lamb meatballs), grilled chicken and juicy slices of gyro meat, plus a large Greek salad, lemon-roasted potatoes, green beans, pita and tzatziki.
Never one to shy away from gilding the lily, I also ordered a couple of mezze (spanakopita and minty, house-made stuffed grape leaves), and a bottle of Peloponnesian red from the restaurant’s selection of Greek wines.
Orders of walnut baklava and creamy, custardy galaktoboureko brought the feast to a sweetly satisfying conclusion. And it was truly a feast, one that lived up to the menu’s description: “As served in many villages in Greece!”
Granted, my dining room doesn’t match Taverna Agora’s rooftop patio as a setting. And I do miss the pampered feeling of being waited on by well-trained servers.
But as long as I believe I’m putting the health of those servers (as well as my own health) at risk by dining in, I’ll stick with delivery and takeout. And I’ll take consolation in a meal that I now know can bring sunshine into a rainy day.
Taverna Agora
326 Hillsborough St., Raleigh
919-881-8333 or tavernaagora.com
Takeout Tales
I have invited readers to share their restaurant delivery and curbside pickup and experiences. That invitation still stands. Just email me at ggcox55@gmail.com, with a description of your experience. I’ll publish as many as I can (edited as needed for brevity and clarity) in this space.
Night Kitchen
To order online: https://my-site-ralnightkitchen.square.site
Laura Z. overcomes her reluctance to let the cat out of the bag, and shares the secrets about her favorite go-to spot for curbside takeout in Seaboard Station.
“We are loving your Takeout Tales and trying so many of the restaurants you are featuring. Thank you!
“I had to chime in and let you know about our continued excellent experiences with Night Kitchen. Seemingly overnight they have pivoted to a curbside pickup and delivery superstar! We had always relied on Night Kitchen for homemade bread, delicious pastries, and their rotation of soups. We really loved the combination of bakery items with a full lunch menu focused on local and healthy ingredients.
“Since COVID-19, they have not just continued with their regular menu, but have expanded and grown it. You place your order online, and when you arrive, you pull into two designated parking spaces and call the number on the chalkboard out front. Someone places your food directly into the car.
‘We are, of course, ordering our favorites: the best croissants, my favorite scones and irresistible cookies.
‘But even better are the foods listed under “savory.” I’m hesitant to publicize it too widely for fear that we’ll miss out on the chance of ordering. My personal faves have been:
▪ The salads. Fresh local greens with homemade dressing. If they sold bottles of dressing, I’d scoop it up!
▪ Soups. both vegetarian and meat-based. I’m a vegetarian and swear by these soups.
▪ Creamy polenta with spring vegetables. I keep hoping this particular entree will come back. It was one of the best vegetarian entrees I’ve had from any restaurant locally. I’d put it right on par with some of the best meals we’ve had at Stanbury. My husband and kids have loved the pork and beef entrees, but I can’t give you too many details — for obvious reasons.
▪ We don’t eat a lot of bread, but when we do, they make some of the best in the city. For sandwich lovers, they offer sandwich kits and also pizza kits with homemade dough/sauce/cheese.
“We have tried so many restaurants for takeout during this pandemic, and we keep coming back to Night Kitchen. Everything is delicious and so well-prepared. I seriously hope that some of the entrees and take-out soup options will remain permanent fixtures of this business.”
Himalayan Nepali Cuisine
Facebook: facebook.com/Himalayan-Nepali-cuisine-268306010499712
Napoli
https://www.napolicarrboro.com
Note: Napoli now has locations in Hillsborough and Durham in addition to the original in Carrboro.
Patrick F. scouts the Triangle from one end to the other, and brings back his report on two worthy restaurants that are worlds apart in flavor.
“There are two restaurants I wish you would share with readers.
“Himalayan Nepali Cuisine on Chatham Street in Cary does an excellent job. The food is always exceptional and they have mastered the take-out experience. Every precaution is in place to ensure safety, and they also provide a cup of their complimentary ginger lemon tea to-go.
“Napoli Pizza in Carrboro has mastered the frozen pizza experience. They are 90% baked, then frozen and placed in sealed packaging ready for pick-up. Eight minutes in your home oven, and the pizzas come out perfectly crisp and delicious.”
This story was originally published July 12, 2020 at 2:39 PM with the headline "Taverna Agora’s Greek feast (and desserts) will transport their patio vibes to your home."