Date Night at Bia Restaurant

After a long day at the office last week, I called my wife to see what she had made for dinner. The sound of two crying babies (an almost 2 year old and a barely 2 month old) told me all I needed to know. My first call: the babysitter. My second call: Bia Restaurant in downtown Raleigh. I’d never been there before, but a few co-workers had, and they all had good things to say. I grabbed an 8 o’clock reservation and asked my wife, Christina, to put on some "going out" clothes. Within a few short hours the bustle of the day was behind us and it was officially date night.

The Location: Located at 419 Glenwood Avenue right in the heart of the "Glenwood South" entertainment district of downtown Raleigh. Bia Restaurant is on the first floor of the iconic Solas building - home also to a third story rooftop patio bar and second floor lounge. Parking is available on the street and in the 510 Glenwood parking deck, but we opted to pay $4 at the valet stand directly in front of the door.

The Company: Before we headed out, we called my wife’s sister and her husband to see if they wanted to join us. They were unavailable, so it was just the two of us, but I think it would have turned out to be a perfect spot for a small group. The high-back curved booth we sat in could have accommodated a cozy group of six, but still felt intimate while dining for two. Warning to other parents: this is an upscale "adults only" spot. Bia Restaurant is an establishment where the details are not overlooked: origami folded napkins, dramatic lighting, bold tableware and quiet, soulful dance music. Bringing young children to Bia Restaurant could potentially destroy that atmosphere for other guests.

The Meal: We started with an appetizer of Cheese and Charcuterie, which my wife deftly ordered in her best authentic French accent. This was served on a large white platter with small rounds of toast, thinly sliced green apples, a chef selection of cheeses, cured Italian meats, and tapenade (chopped olives, capers, and anchovies). Everything was served fresh and at the perfect temperatures. An excellent spread to whet the appetite without overloading the palate. This could easily have served a larger group – we left a decent amount on the plate.

For drinks, I ordered a glass of house Merlot, while Christina challenged the bartender by asking our server for "something with pineapple, orange juice, and grenadine". What came back apparently didn’t have a name, but it was exactly what she wanted.

When discussing our main course selections, Christina and I decided to get two entrees and share our plates. There were too many appetizing choices to restrict ourselves to only one. Christina ordered the Pistachio Encrusted Rack of Lamb ($28 - Dijon, Braised Mustard Greens, Whole Grain Mustard Spätzle, Pickled Mustard Seed) and I went with the Fried Flounder ($20 - Phyllo Crusted Flounder, Lemon Pea Mashed Potato, Mustard Monté de Blanc, Watercress).

As we waited for our entrees to arrive, the chef came to our table with a complimentary serving of House Crab Chips. Apparently it was going to be a little longer for our meal to be served and he didn’t want us to get antsy with an empty table. The gesture was very much appreciated and so was the dish. Large lumps of crab meat served on house made potato chips with a generous spread of bleu cheese dressing. Each bite bordered on over-indulgence, but that didn’t stop me from eating more than my fair share.

The main course was still the highlight of the evening. The flounder was encrusted in paper-thin flakes of phyllo dough, which allowed us to taste the superb quality of the fish. No deep-fried mystery fish here. The lamb was served very rare (usually a turn-off for me) but the mustard seasonings, greens, and spätzle made it the best thing I ate that night. Although my mother always told me it was impolite to over-discuss the food during a meal, our enjoyment of the cuisine became our main topic of discussion while at Bia Restaurant. Sorry, Mom!

The Service: I had been in Manhattan earlier in the week and had a chance to eat at some world-class restaurants (Susan Rice was at one, Brooke Shields at another). So my expectations for professional service and fine dining were at an all-time high. Bia Restaurant did not disappoint. We received the utmost attention from the hostess, head waiter, back waiter, and front of house manager. We had a visit at our table with the Assistant GM, whom I had met a handful of times when he worked at another establishment. He told us about all the exciting nightlife at Solas. We also appreciated the chef coming to check on us at the table. This high level of attention may have had to do with the fact that there were only a few guests in the dining room that night. They were hosting a large event upstairs at Solas that night for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and there were a handful of people at the bar, but for the most part the dining room was fairly empty. Although I’m sure Bia Restaurant would have liked to have more tables seated, we enjoyed the quiet atmosphere.

The Final Bill: Tip included, our whole night ran about $85 (not including the babysitter). Although that’s more than we typically spend on a weeknight out, I can think of plenty of places where one could spend a lot more and have no better experience.

The Verdict: Bia Restaurant became a place we talked about frequently in the days after our date. From the swanky location and upscale atmosphere, to the friendly service and first-class cuisine, I think a return trip to Bia Restaurant is a foregone conclusion.

 

Bia Restaurant is an advertising partner of WRAL.com, but each article is intended to be educational and informative in nature.