Annelore's German Bakery
Pastries Beyond Compare
From a passerby's perspective, Annelore's German Bakery may not look like anything special, but, I assure you, go there and you will not regret your decision.
I arrived at Annelore’s in a large party of twelve. When I walked in, I was greeted by gentle classical music playing on the intercom and a sweet, creamy aroma. The restaurant is spacious and clean, with cute yet formal decor. The staff were very kind and respectful, and seemed very well-educated on the making and history of the German pastries. They have lots of patience and are very efficient in their delivery of food. If you are curious about what a pastries layers or ingredients are, they with cut a slice of torte, cake, etc., and show you each layer and explain how they make it.
After much debate, I decided on the Prinzregneten torte and a Bavarian cream macaron. The torte had seven fine layers of vanilla sponge cake with chocolate buttercream icing in between each layer. Spread above the top layer of cake is a thin layer of bitter jam that perfectly evens out the sweetness of the dish. Frozen chocolate ganache topped it off, looking temptingly smooth and elegant. The dish is very creamy and rich, and it explodes in your mouth with flavor that makes you literally swoon.
The macaron has the distinct, slightly over-the-top flavor of eggnog, perfect for the bold . The pastry on the top and bottom has a very pleasant texture that feels like someone is massaging your throat when you swallow. It looks very presentable, although it has a strong flavor that may be too much for those seeking a more subtle treat.
Annelore’s is what I would describe as a hidden diamond of Cary. I will definitely return in the future and I encourage you to visit. Annelore’s is an excellent place to eat for anything from breakfast before work to a shy and apprehensive first date.
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Annelore's address is:
Annelore's German Bakery
308 West Chatham Street, Cary, NC
27511 United States
El Amigo Mexican REstaurant
Just Your Average Mexican Restaurant
Walking into El Amigo, you may think of walking right out- you can tell that they didn’t hire an interior designer to set up their restaurant. But looks can certainly be deceiving. I came in with a large group, and the staff, despite low numbers , catered to our every need. Although they have thick Spanish accents, which may lead you to ask them to repeat the sentence that they have just spoken), they are terrific in making and delivering delicious food and doing so with ease and helpfulness.
After a mental debate about what I should order, I decided on the classic: a quesadilla con queso (with only cheese), with frijol refrito (refried beans). The menu was in English and Español, which is helpful for reaching both the Hispanic and non-Hispanic communities alike. For all of our classic soda lovers, you will be pleased to know that El Amigo serves a wide variety of soda in glass bottles.
After ordering at the counter, you are handed a number that you simply place near you. Make sure that it is visible, because the waiters and waitresses use those numbers to know to serve the food to.
The portion size of the quesadilla is very generous, so do not be disgusted that there are no little bowls of chips awaiting you as you sit down. The tortilla of the quesadilla was well cooked, and the cheese tasted legitimate, although I noticed that it was not as melted as some would prefer. Please take this into not if you do not like solid and/or lukewarm cheese in your quesadilla.
Rice and refried beans are served in little ceramic bowls, and I suggest getting more than one if you think that your appetite is too great. The refried beans were not outstanding from any other Mexican restaurant, but they did taste authentic, unlike chains such as Moe’s or Chipotle.
El Amigo was good, but does not stand out from most other Mexican restaurants. If you would enjoy a more high-class meal, I would encourage going elsewhere. This restaurant is a good place to eat for large families or people on a budget.
Di fara pizza tavern
A Bomb of Basil
Di Fara Pizza is definitely what I would describe as unique. Upon entering the restaurant, I was blasted with both air conditioning and a strong smell of oregano and basil. There was a moody, dark atmosphere that was settled there, probably due to the freezing air conditioning and dimmed lighting. There were televisions all around, showing about four shows at once, which included tennis, a cooking show, and Bob Ross.
At the side of the building, there is a large outdoor seating area next to a almost graffiti-looking mural. It was very spacious, but only about four of the four-person tables had umbrellas for shade, so sitting inside is preferable on a hot summer day.
My party consisted of twelve people, and we were quickly seated at a large, wooden table with comfortable leather seats. . We had agreed previously to order three 18 inch pizzas: The Regular Pie, the White Pie, and a pepperoni pizza. Our drinks were delivered first. The staff was very kind and efficient, but the woman serving us tried to memorize twelve peoples drinks without writing them down, and she did forget a few people.
You can watch the pizzas being made from the counter, but it was a long process, and it took 20-30 minutes to be served. We had ordered garlic knots as an appetizer, and when they arrived we wolfed them down like wild animals. They were delicious, but there was basil on them, and a bit too much, as well. The menu said nothing about basil on the garlic knots, so I was slightly disappointed.
Once the pizza arrived, we were all very hungry. They gave us plates that were metal, like tiny pizza platters, which I thought was very cute. The pizza has parmesan already on it, which cheese-lovers will enjoy. The White Pie has no red sauce, just mozzarella and ricotta cheese. The Regular Pie is just a cheese pizza with red sauce, and the pepperoni pizza is… well, it’s pretty self-explanatory.
When I took a bite, the flavor exploded in my mouth. But something was wrong.
Basil.
There was so. Much. Basil. I could barely taste the pizza under the basil. I had noticed green flakes all over the pizza, but I did not put much thought into it. Now the basil was taking over. I removed the basil flakes from my remailing slices. I would suggest asking for little/no basil if you do not like so much of it. The Regular Pie and pepperoni pizza were very good. I am not the biggest cheese lover, and I think that red sauce is necessary, so the White Pie was not my favorite, but that is simply a preference.
Di Fara Pizza Tavern has the taste of New York, with a twist. It is definitely a special place for those who love to try something new. It is a good place for a family meal or a work lunch with your buddies.
Geluna Gelato
From the Ocean to the Mountains
Walking into Geluna Gelato is confusing- how did you get transported from Downtown Cary to Italy in a split second? The answer is simple- gelato.
I came to Geluna in a group of 11, and I immediately was impressed by the decor. There is a classy, cute white and sea-green setup that brings back memories of licking ice cream on a sunny beach. But gelato is different from ice cream. Gelato is made of more milk than ice cream, which consists more of cream. Less cream means less fat, so gelato is healthier. Gelato is stirred more slowly than ice cream, which gives it less air bubbles, so it’s creamier, and it is frozen at around 15°F, while ice cream is normally frozen at 0°F.
I ordered a large cup, which can hold up to 3 flavors. I chose coffee and salted caramel. The staff offered The salted caramel flavor is perfect for winter; it has a salty, oceany flavor, with slightly nutty notes that make you want to eat it for years. The coffee is bolder, and it reminds me more of the mountains- strong and utterly remnant of autumn winds and mountainous scenes.
The staff was like the gelato- good, but cold. They seemed to care more about the efficiency of their service than of the well-being of the customers. When I took a minute to decide what to order, they looked annoyed, as if I was holding up the line for hours.
Geluna Gelato is a good place to go whenever you feel like real, Italian Gelato. It is great for anyone- from a family treat to a solo, craving-driven visit.
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Geluna Gelato's Address is:
111 E Chatham St, Cary, NC 27511
Geluna Gelato, Address
Kababish Cafe
A Cultural Sensation
The Kabobish Cafe is the BEST Indian restaurant I have ever been to. The moment I walked in the door, I saw the owners standing there, waving and smiling. They led my group of eleven to our tables, and were very helpful and patient while we decided what to order.
I ordered Kabobish Wings as an appetizer. These are good to order for a group, because there are about seven of them. You may regret sharing them when they arrive, however, because they are DELICIOUS! They are boned chicken wings served with a spicy barbecue sauce. Warning: have water available while eating the sauce.
For my entrée, I ordered a lamb burger, which came with onions, lettuce, tomato, and fries. I was curious when there were cucumbers served on my burger, which were not mentioned on the menu, but I shrugged it off. The lamb burger was very rich and flavorful, with an interesting aftertaste, and the fries were perfectly crispy.
The restaurant was decorated perfectly- there was a complicated fountain by the door, which made a pleasant running-water sound while I ate. There was beautiful mood lighting, signs in Arabic, and doorways that looked like they came straight out of a mosque. Speaking of mosques, pictures of famous mosques and other Asian monuments lining the walls. There were also lots of lamps and other decorations all around.
For dessert, we had a Gulab Jamun for desert, which tasted like a syrup-soaked donut. The menu describes it as a cheese dessert, but I did not taste the cheese. It had a nice texture, and slid right down my throat.
The Kababish Cafe is a beautiful and very cultural place to dine. I would especially recommend it for those who are celebrating a special event and/or love spicy food. I will definitely return, and I hope that you will have the chance to experience this incredible restaurant.
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The Kababish Cafe's address is:
201 W Chatham St Suite 103,
Cary, NC 27511