I have no idea what this place is like during daytime hours, but I can tell you what it looks like at-at-at-at-at night.
Around 11:30 on a Saturday night, it was fairly dead. I could walk up to the bar, order a drink, catch highlights to the game, hear myself think, and talk to friends.
Suddenly the doors swung open and the hordes arrived. I was bit by bit pushed into a corner (thankfully a chair stood there) and I had to yell to be heard. The music pumped up on the dance floor, and the place got pretty wild.
This might totally be your thing. As evidenced by the number of stars above this review, it is not mine. However, I'm fairly certain that most people who enjoy late night La Res don't give a care about it's Yelp reviews, and probably many, many more people are indifferent to slightly annoyed by La Res, but since it's a common late-night, weekend hangout/dance spot, everyone goes here anyway. Sigh.
(Second Yelp review in a week... I'm on a roll)
The wife and I took advantage of the Groupon at La Residence to go out and be a little fru-fru. It was well worth the expense. Make no mistake - La Residence is not the sort of place to go to for casual dining. It is a place for a refined palette and deep pockets.
Wishing to test the sommelier's abilities I asked for his wining pairings to go along with the Fall Menu included as part of the Groupon.
Upon arriving for our 6pm reservation, the wife and I were promptly seated by the host/sommelier who was prompt and unobstrusive throughout our meal. A waitress provided bread and water and kept a close eye as well. It should be noted that it was a slow night with only ours, a three-top, and another two-top to occupy the attention of the waitstaff.
(Note: aside from the lack of wine and the dessert, the wife's and my meal were identical.)
The meal started with an Il Conti Pinot Grigio - Light body with little character to the nose; notes of raspberry and allspice - and a "Petite Lettuce Salad." The salad was a mix green salad with house-made raisins, beets, cherry tomatoes, and crushed nuts lightly dressed with a cider vinaigrette. A good salad and a good start to the meal.
We continued with a McWilliams Chardonay - unfortunately bland with little nose; a dry specimen with notes of cherry - and a Butternut Squash Soup that was superb. Combining a creamy squash broth with shimeji mushrooms, a Pork and Apple ravioli, and a hint of white truffle oil there was a lot going on with this Autumn concoction. A strike for the McWilliams but a solid triple for the soup.
Our entree was the beef tenderloin accompanied by a Redpin Cabernet - medium bodied with a spicy nose, low sugar and notes of blackberry and oak. We both ordered the steaks medium-rare and so they were delivered. Perfectly. One of the best steaks I've had in many a year. The steaks were presented on a bed of (overly) wilted chard and accompanied by a layered potato gratin that was tasty. On top and surrounding that were Shitake mushrooms and cipollini onions. All in all, a great steak and potatoes. The cab accompanying it was definitely a "would buy again."
To finish our meal I had the Chocolate Pot de Creme while the wife enjoyed the Creme Brûlée. The wife would like Yelp to know that the Creme Brûlée was rich, creamy and delicious... as is only right and proper. The Pot de Creme was heavenly. 'Nough Said. Accompanying the dessert was a Tokai - a new experience for me. Starting with strong nose of apricots, the Tokai (a Hungarian dessert wine) is a little too sweet for my taste. But! Given the heavy, spicy and intense dessert, it was definitely the perfect digestif.
All told: The wife and I will be returning. Assuming one of us wins the lottery. La Residence has a lot going for it with fantastic food* and good wine pairings but at 180$ before the Groupon this just isn't the right tax-bracket for most Chapel Hillians.
*I wasn't going to gush but the wife insisted because of the steak.
A very good restaurant but not in the league of the top restaurants in the Triangle. Â Had mussels as an appetizer, all very fresh and tasty with no grit. Â Short rib as a main course, which was nice but a little dense and the flavor did not fully keep up with the meat. Â Again, it was a good meal but not what I would refer to as memorable.
Review Source:I was with Ruben G. for a rehearsal dinner here this past week. Â I had been here once before for a later drink with friends, so I was interested to try the food.
We had a set menu to choose from so I started with the gazpacho. Â It was very basil-forward, and not like any other I've had from a restaurant before. Â It was also gone very quickly. Â Presentation was definitely done with care as it had a pansy bursting in the middle. Â Next was the entree of salmon with a hollandaise sauce over polenta with mushrooms and sauteed spinach on the side. Â It was a good meal, not great. Well-plated, odd portions (a lot of spinach, three mushrooms). Â The polenta was a vessel for the sauce and the sauce wasn't worth forking. Â I also find it difficult when I think more fondly of the veggies than anything else on the plate.
The staff was attuned to our drinking needs, and were accepting of our loud party. Â The house itself is set back from Rosemary, and both times I haven't felt crowded, but they were also during the summer when the pesky students are gone.
We visited La Res last evening, as part of a wedding rehearsal party of twenty or so persons. Â In a word, the staff was "attentive."
As folks were arriving, they were discretely directed to the bar, where various vintages had just been poured. Â Beer and other alcohol were poured to order. Â This really cut down wait time, and increased time to socialize! Â (I wish I'd noted the label of the pinot noir they served - it was excellent!)
We were given discretionary time to mingle - that is to say, the tables were ready, they were waiting on us. Â When we did finally move into those two rooms up front, the wait staff was prepared. Â They were prompt yet unobtrusive; refreshing wine glasses and other beverages and taking orders seamlessly. Â (I would guess they had enough staff to wait on our group - I say this only because our young man was present whenever we needed him and as soon as we needed him, but kept more or less out of sight when we didn't.)
Although there were varied dishes on our Prix fixe menu, I can only comment about the quality of what I had. Â To start, there was gazpacho. Â It was complex enough to make me smile! Â You could taste the individual flavors, so clearly it had been made fresh. Â The beef tenderloin over mashed potatoes with asparagus and carrots was done to perfection! Â I don't eat a lot of red meat anymore, so when I do have it, I want the top-of-the-line stuff... and this was it! Â Beautifully marbled, tender and juicy. Â The asparagus was a bit on the large side, and the potatoes were just okay... but the overall impression was that I'd had an excellent meal. Â The groom's cake for dessert (carrot cake with cream cheese icing) was very tasty indeed, and the cappuccino was expertly made.
I've been in the area for almost 20 years now, and this was my first visit to La Res. Â I'm looking forward to a return visit later this summer, to see what their service is like for smaller or more intimate groups.
My wife and I went to La Res, with reservations, for Easter brunch and were completely and utterly disgusted by the unprofessional service. After waiting 5 minutes at the door unattended, we were dumped off at a small table set between two rooms. We were left unattended for 10 minutes and I grabbed another waiter who, begrudgingly, brought us water. We never once saw a personal waiter. The food was utterly mediocre - it was an easter brunch buffet, and the presentation was messy and the taste bland. Hotel quality in flavor. We again had to grab a waiter to give us our check, who dropped off the bill without eye contact or so much as a word.
Unbelievable. The absolute worst service I have ever received in my life. I could possibly understand if we were dressed inappropriately or being disruptive, but neither were the case.
Highly and unequivocally unrecommended.
UPDATE: Had my wedding rehearsal dinner here 3 days ago. They've learned how to make a dirty martini since last time, and the arrangements were very nice. They gave us our own room (with full bar) in the back so we could gather before dinner, and the appetizers were tasty and the waitstaff were right on the spot to help. They even helped us stall for time when a couple of the guests were late!
Dinner went very smoothly, and all of the guests appeared to enjoy their meals (vegetarians and meatasauruses alike). We had the choice of tenderloin, salmon, or polenta, all of which were nicely presented. And I don't know where the restaurant gets their baked goods, but the carrot cake for dessert was *seriously* good.
Hats off to my new father-in-law for choosing La Res for the dinner!
================
ORIGINAL REVIEW: I admit it: I judge places by how well they listen when I order a very dirty martini, house gin, with olives. La Res didn't pass the test--almost no "dirt" in the one I got last Saturday night. Bah.
After a bit too long of a wait, my dining companions ordered appetizers--one got the sweet potato gnocchi; the other, the house salad. Both of them were just fine, they said. Then two of us ordered the venison with roasted root vegetables. The venison was OK and mostly rare, as it's supposed to be, but the vegetables were outstanding (and I hate vegetables). The grouper ordered by the other person was good, too. They finished off with coffee and apple crisp, which they said was very good.
La Res is in a renovated bungalow, and it has comfortable seating, a quiet atmosphere, and a good floor plan. We were surprised by how empty the place was on a Saturday night, but maybe that was because of the ACC tournament games going on that day.
For the prices La Res charges, I think I'd rather go to Magnolia Grill in Durham, where the food and service are in a league of their own.
La Résidence was the only restaurant I visited during Triangle Restaurant Week. As mentioned by the other Yelpers that we dined with that evening, the food was decent, but unfortunately the poor service and strange method of billing prevents me from recommending this place to others in the future.
Me on my soapbox: The whole premise of Triangle Restaurant Week (TRW)  is to allow restaurants to showcase their best dishes at an unbeatable price, so that diners will be impressed and return often as regular patrons. Unfortunately, I felt that the restaurant was a grudging participant in TRW and that they were trying to "make back" money from customers in any way they could. All of the other participating restaurants were charging the standard $25 for the prix fixe, so why did La Résidence feel that they needed to charge original prices, then apply a bizarre arbitrary discount at the end to arrive at our total bill? As a result, we paid a higher % tax and a higher (pre-calculated) gratuity for the 3-course dinner. Like anybody else, I don't like feeling that I've been taken advantage of, and we were not the only people at the table to have been unfairly overcharged.
Yes, I did quite enjoy my two-scallop dinner despite the lone shrimp dumpling being a tad salty ($24 for the "original price"), and I also enjoyed the chocolate mousse despite the whipping creme being overly flavoured with vanilla. The cumin doughnuts were dark brown, overfried, and not as interesting as I'd hoped. However, the bottom line is, the waiter was uptight and not particularly pleasant, and I walked out feeling like I had somehow been ripped off. Not wanting to dispute the charges and wait another 20 minutes for the re-calculation of the bills, I just figured I'd let them have their extra dollars  if they were willing to lose a repeat customer.
La Residence... Maybe it should change it's name to La Residon't? Â Ouch, I take it back... Â sorta ;)
I went here with high hopes and a belly ready to be filled with delicious food! Â So, let's start with the good... My husband and I bellied up to the bar for a couple of cocktails. Â They had a red on special for 3 bucks.. it's was light, airy, refreshing. Â My husband had the mojito... unfortunately they don't make their own, it came from a mix which put him off completely. Â They did add some fresh mint sprigs however. Â The bartender was new, but she was great. Very attentive, super friendly. Â We had the salmon appetizer, which was really refreshing. Â The salmon was stronger than usual but it still had great flavor. Â We then met up with our group and began the dining experience... (insert climactic music here)
Our waiter was interesting. Â I tried to lighten things up with the usual UNC vs. Duke friendly banter... he wasn't so much as unfriendly as awkward. Â Furthermore, he was extremely fussy and picky (no, I am not describing a two year old, I am still describing the waiter). Â Whether it was how we ordered the meal, when we told him our drinks, or how we handed him our checks, he made sure to interrupt to correct you and let you know how he "did things". Â For example, he wanted your drink order first, and if you failed to mention that he interrupted you mid-sentence to remind you he wanted your "drink order first." Â Rude. Â My husband had the mixed greens salad which he found to be plain. Â It consisted of spring mix and dressing, which he thought deserved a bit more. Â I had the cumin doughnuts which were good, interesting and different. Â
For our entrees, my husband had the scallops. They were really good. Â He found the portion size (two scallops) to be small, however, I thought it was just right.. although I wasn't eating the meal. Â ;) Â I had the fish special, I don't remember what type of fish it was. Â It was so salty, I could hardly even eat it. Â I did manage to finish most of it. Â I feel bad even mentioning it because I should have sent the dish back. Â But when you are with a group of friends, that becomes awkward and I didn't. Â
I should mention that all throughout our meal a poor fellow at the end of our table was continously getting drenched with any liquid that the waiter tried to serve. Literally, was getting poured on. Â Anywho, I digress...
The dessert was good, I had the cheesecake, it was chunky and slightly gelatinous which I found to be interesting and tastey. Â I mean, it's pretty difficult to screw up cheesecake unless it's been sitting out for seven hours (been there, ate that.)
I think the entire atmosphere we were subjected to and attitude of the staff in general was altered because we were dining on the Triangle Restaurant Week Prixe Fixe Menu. Â When I go to Disney World with the Disney Dining Plan I don't get treated like that. Â After all, your restaurant decided to participate, why should I feel guilty or get anything less than excellent service? Â This was an opportunity to lure us in to come back wanting more, MORE, MORE! Â Instead, I probably won't return.
It's not very often you get all wet and bothered from a meal. Well...this past Tuesday as part of the Triangle Restaurant week, I did with a group of fellow Yelpers. Don't worry, no food was harmed in this review (at least by us)!
Let me 'splain.
Being one of our few free nights to get out (we're out of town for the rest of the week and won't be able to enjoy the other restos! Boo!), we decided to venture here among the many other restos we had seen - b/c we'd always been curious about the restaurant and it's setting. We weren't disappointed - the outdoor seating was beautiful (even if the chairs were a bit hard and uncomfortable after 3 hours of sitting down), and Tuesday nights from 5:30 - 10pm apparently seems to be the big deal here ($3 beer and wine specials as well as free live music). Couple that with the Triangle Restaurant week and (by far) one of the best menus I've seen to date (lots of choices including a veggie option and TWO seafood options), this seemed like a great choice......on paper.
First, the service. I don't want to bash our waiter guy overly for his inexperience (or so it seemed), but the act of ordering seemed a bit confrontational. I felt like I was being inquisitioned by the Catholic Church (queue in Monty Python's ..."the inquisition" song....). The ordering procedure seemed a bit unnatural and he definitely seemed stressed over the whole situation - b/c apparently we were an unruly group of yelping diners? Kidding aside, yes...he did spill drinks over me and yes, I felt like I got more of Jonathan H.'s mojito than he did. Being the wily athletic guy I am, I deftly avoided any further encounters with my cat-like reflexes....not. In all fairness, he did apologize and gave me a nice lower back massage with the towel. Not the best massage I've ever had, but definitely 4 stars coming from the waitstaff! (This guy should really  consider an alternative line of work as a masseur....if this gig doesn't work out.)
It was a bit unfortunate that I was a victim of a drive by splashing courtesy of our waiter. Even despite the over complicated confrontational ordering system (e.g., "Last name first!", "put each table check below the previous one going counter clockwise...", etc.), the food was kind of hit and miss from what we ordered. The good? Her scallops with the basil risotto and the grilled daikons were amazing....my fresh fish dish (the dover sole) over a pancetta green saute with cauliflower and potatoes in a creamy sauce were great...until I ate a mouthful of the salt lick the dish was seasoned with. I know I wasn't the only one....b/c Nikki and Christina also ordered the same dish and made similar comments. The flavours in the fish dish would have been near perfect if it weren't for the heavy hand on the seasoning which really ruined the meal. I couldn't finish the fish...and from the looks of the other plates on the table, I wasn't the only one either. I'll chalk this up to operator error and maybe it was a bad day, but the saving grace (barely) was the scallops. They were done well, not over seasoned - juicy and plump with a nice pan sear on them. The only demerit on the dish was the seafood dumpling which again, seemed to be made by the same person with the heavy hand in seasonings. The filling was a bit over salted....but not near as much as the fish.
The apps and dessert were alright. We had the green salad with a tasty dressing and the cumin doughnuts with the goat cheese dipping sauce. I preferred the salad over the fried doughnuts which seemed a bit over fried IMHO. For dessert, we had one of each of their offerings - a cheesecake and a chocolate mousse. The cheesecake was more of a deconstructed cheese cake and the "cake" was more mousse-like - airy and light. Together with a burnt sugar crisp and strawberries, it transported you back to the essence of a strawberry cheesecake. The mousse with the brownie and the cream was also quite good. The brownie had that deep fudgy goodness and was very easy on the palate. Â
Overall, I'm going to err on the generous side and say just A-OK for La Residence. I'm willing to give it another try and I'll chalk this "bad" experience up to unfortunate events and maybe a "bad" day. The food was good...but i would be hard pressed to pay full price on their items considering the oversalted fish entree.
So,
Atmosphere = 4 stars
Food = 4 stars for the scallops and desserts, 2 star for the fish, and 3 stars for the apps.
Service = 2 stars
Price = 2.5 stars
Back massage = 4 stars
I can't guarantee the back massage, but good ambiance and a great scallop dish help save this review. The other food would be great if they just went easy on the salt.
If I can give La Rez one bit of advice, it would be: Don't rest on your laurels.
I too was there for the Triangle Restaurant Week. My food was excellent, though for the pricing, I expect local, non-chain restaurants to be incorporating (at least some) local ingredients listed on the menu for that price point. Not only that, but the service is not at $50+ a person standards. Memorize your specials, what's 86'd, be polite, don't order me around, and don't pour water all over my place at the table.
I'm happy to pay the money for great food and a lovely evening, but don't take advantage of TRW to slack off or not put your best foot forward to support your waitstaff. I don't feel like making waitstaff generate a $25 pre-fix discount at the register from the normal menu is entirely appropriate. They didn't choose to take part in this, the restaurant did. We are were an 8 top. Sometimes that does take more than one person.
I'm there for the experience, not just the food on my plate or the drink in my glass. After the other reviews, this seems to just be the sprinkles on the whipped cream, on the already iced cake...but it's yelp, and there's my two cents.
I feel like my review is going to be a squirt of gasoline on an already well-stoked fire. Oh well, in for a penny, in for a pound.
First, let me preface everything by saying that I hate the banjo. As an instrument, I think it should be struck from the collective memory and history of humanity. We'd be better off. So, the fact that an enthusiastic banjo player was crouched in the corner singing songs in an off-kilter dialect, set my expectations for the evening low. Live music does not good music make.
It was, apparently, intrustive enough that one of the first things our maladroit waiter excused was his inability to hear our orders due to the twangy caterwauling behind him. Which is slightly unbelieveable given the requirements we had to meet to order at all. This guy could have a long and fulfilling career in any government organization. I fully expected him to hand us Forms 231.2A and B, in triplicate, to facilitate the acquisition of some booze. Phil G. forgot to print his name first, and was summarily executed. They are very strict there.
Seriously though. We began by dictating, and phonetically spelling our last names, as well as describing - in intimate detail - the relations (or lack thereof) to the people next to us. Clockwise. While our server took detailed notes on a pad, and possibly into a voice recorder - ostensibly for use in his doctoral thesis, "You Should Be Happy Being Served At All." He then asked us for our drink orders before we discussed the menu. There's a method, see. Following our drink orders, he vanished.
Upon his return, and subsequent foreplay with Dan C, he discussed the menu with us. No mention of missing food. Low stock. No stock. Just took all our orders and firmly suggested we order dessert now, rather than later - despite that palate preferences change based on what food and drink you've recently consumed. No, let's get all the tedious decisions out of the way immediatedly. You'd think all the forethought would equate to a relieving absence of errors. You'd think.
However, two people didn't get the appetizers they wanted, three people had fish so salty they couldn't eat it. Drinks were poured everywhere (the tablecloth was saturated by the end of the night). I was glared at for ordering a coffee with my dessert (which was not offered to me, or anyone until I requested it), and finally the cheques came - with some creative math I haven't seen since the "imaginary number" stuff in High School. We were also instructed to return the cheque folders to the waiter in a specific order, to speed up and facilitate being rung up. They of course took 20-30 minutes to return, and were (apologetically) out of order.
Some people may read this and think I dwell on the negatives. They'd be right. I dwell on the negatives because I am paying for a positive experience. If all goes well, then you get 5 stars: you get a glowing report of how awesome everything was, and we all live fattily ever after. You get enough things wrong for a group of 8 to talk about it all night, then hey - you're doing something wrong and you (and other customers) should know about it.
The saving grace of La Rez - for me - was the food and even moreso, the spectacular conversation. My steak was delicious, as was the accompanying sauce and potatoes. The cumin donuts were awesome - I could eat a dozen of them - and of course the dessert was super tasty. Even the coffee was good. But hey, my wife can cook anything (I'm a terrible cook), and I can make a kick-ass cup of coffee. You go out to a place like La Residence for a treat. To be treated well. To be taken care of and pleasantly surprised. They know how to cook over there, but their wait staff needs work. Hey, if it was only about the food, why would it be $120 (before the quantumn discount algorithm) for two people to eat?
I came to La Residance on a Tuesday during Triangle Restaurant Week. I expected this restaurant to put their best foot forward but I was disappointed.
Let me start with the food (which was better than the service)... I chose the flatbread (which I was told is like a bruschetta/pizza) from the appetizer menu and I was told about 30min later that they were out of this item so I had to make another choice. I selected cumin doughnuts which were good but more like a glorified hushpuppy served with yogurt. It was interesting but nothing really incredible. Main course was Skirt Steak. Presentation was good but portion was small and the meat was a bit overcooked. The steak was precut and we were not asked how we liked our steak so I guess it was the chef's choice (possibly the safe choice considering some people have a problem with any pink). I think precutting the steak caused it to lose some of the juice. For dessert I had the chocolate mousse and I have no complaints. It was rich and sweet and matched my expectation for this type of dessert.
Service, was, unfortunately, pretty bad. I feel like the server was a bit inexperienced. We had a large group (8 people) but we all were ordering from the pre fixe menu so I didn't expect things to be difficult. Despite the explicit instructions on how to order (to make his job easier) the process was slow and not very well-orchestrated. Drink orders (such as when someone asked for coffee) were treated with disdain (not enthusiasm). Perhaps this restaurant should focus more on training and better prepare their employees.
I should also mention that La Residence has an EXCELLENT drink special on Tuesday. Certain glasses of wine were $3 (I think we could choose between a Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio). I had both varietals and enjoyed them both but I am not sure which winery they were from.
2-stars might be a little harsh but I guess I was hoping to be "wowed" but was let down with mediocre food and service. Maybe my expectations were too high(?). Maybe this restaurant just didn't take Triangle Restaurant Week seriously and didn't create a pre fixe menu that matched the quality of their regular menu....
Well, after so many years, I finally went and dined at La Res. I took advantage of the Triangle Restaurant Week menu as the offerings looked quite delicious. Me and a group of yelpers came at 7:30 and enjoyed a table at the corner of the patio, with some live bluegrass in the background.
So far, so good. Our waiter -- who, I really do think meant well -- was just a hair uncomfortable in his server shoes:
*He addressed those with separate checks by referring us as "You're alone tonight?" rather than "Is your check separate?" Especially awkward since I was with my husband (and therefore, not alone) but would be paying separately. It was just kind of awkward. I remember when I had my first server training about a decade ago, and one rule we were given was to never say "Table for one?" as it might make someone feel badly. This was like that to the nth degree.
*The order taking was a touch militant. "Alcohol first. Are you having any alcohol?" as I began to rattle off my pre-fixe selections prior to ordering a glass of wine.
*Our cups floweth over. Literally. Poor Dan at the end of the table got his shirt splashed with water from the pitcher a few times. And Mari had a big ol' wetspot at her table where a glass was filled over capacity.
Given the careful separation of the checks and alcohol-before-food ordering process, I was surprised that the meal took so long to be had (a little under three hours) and that the checks took a long while to come out. We were in good company and no particular hurry -- plus when you dine in a party of 8, you expect some slow-ups. The server even apologized and explained when he delivered the bills... the process for ringing up Triangle Restaurant Week orders there seemed very involved. Â Other restaurants I've gone to have simply broken the three dishes down so that they add up to $25. La Res, instead, tallied up the total the dishes :would: have cost -- then they put tax and auto-grat on that amount. And then they ran a discount, which brought the total of the meal (pre-tax and gratuity) to $25. I'll be honest: I think it's crappy to do it this way. It's not like we ordered a discounted meal or used a coupon on it. The gratuity and tax should have come from the $25 amount -- which is what Triangle Restaurant Week advertises as the cost of the meal. And other restaurants and their POS systems don't seem to have any trouble making such a calculation work.
Okay -- anyway. The food... I started off with the cumin doughnuts with goat cheese and yogurt. Tasty and unique. Kind of like hushpuppies. My entree, sadly, was ruined by a very heavy hand of the salt shaker. I ordered the fish of the day which was served with potatoes, cauliflower and a spare bit of light cream sauce. I think the flavors could have been marvelous but the dish was salty to the point of being inedible. In fact, I didn't finish mine. Two others at the table ordered the fish and we all agreed the salt was completely overbearing. Such a shame. For dessert, I enjoyed the chocolate mousse and brownie, topped with a dollop of whipped cream. It was a wonderful conclusion to the meal. Their mousse is quite milky and not too rich, as some can be. The brownie, though a small portion, was dense and moist.
And the wine specials? $3 special glasses and $15 special bottles. That made me a happy diner indeed.
A poor man's Top of the Hill. La Res, for short, is an upscale restaurant that turns into a UNC student bar around 10pm.
Haven't tried the food, but the bar scene is very hit or miss. Too often it turns into a fraternity standoff regarding who can pop his collar higher. Bar gets very crowded and drinks are over-priced for Chapel Hill standards.
Sometimes nice for a change, but if you're looking for an upscale college bar, stick with Top-O.
This is a surprisingly decent place if you're looking for a nice meal. Â It's a little on the pricey side, as you'll spend about $25 an entree and $12 or so for each appetizer.
I came out here on a Sunday night and it was pretty dead, there was a party outside but otherwise only 2 or 3 tables eating inside. Â We got the duck breast which was good, though I'm not sure it was worth the $28 or so it cost. Â For an appetizer I got the barbecue shrimp on grits, the shrimp was okay, but the grits were excellent and by far the best part of the meal. Â We also had a caesar salad that was pretty forgettable and small, not really worth the $6. Â Dessert we got a chocolate souffle type cake, again it was good, but nothing memorable. Â
The service here was really great, but in the end I'm not sure if the restaurant was good enough to command those prices, which probably explains why it's empty during dinner time.
I've never eaten at La Res (due mostly to bad reviews from friends), but as a student I spent more nights out here than I care to remember. It is an extremely popular nightspot, which is kind of a shame because it's a very pretty and intimate space when the crowds are gone. The patio area is lovely but the poor layout makes it nearly impossible to navigate through big groups of aspiring socialites. The drinks are below average and definitely overpriced. As far as the service, this is one place that I really think should have professional, career bartenders. They have a few competent people behind the bar, but some of the young girls are just wretched. I dont know, I really enjoyed this place when I was in school but now it's just not my scene.
Review Source:This place is alright. The food and wine are and the expensive side. Food is average and certainly cannot compare to other establishments in the Triangle such as Watt's Grocery, Piedmont or Nana's.
The back bar area was packed. We went there on the day that UNC played VT in college football. We could tell that our waiter had been tail-gating all day,... he smelled of it.
Average,... wouldn't really impress a date.
I've come here a few times on weekday nights for some drinks, and as a bar it's fully serviceable. Â They have more of a lean towards wine than most of the places around here, which is fine by me... They have a pretty good wine selection at more than reasonable prices (Tuesdays for cheap wine!), and the atmosphere suits wine very well.
The staff is a bit brusque, and the clientele is often annoying, bordering on maddening. Â You'll want to find a way to keep yourself sane amidst the obnoxious frat crowd and their entourage that come out to this place on many nights.
La Rez, as most people around here call it, is a busy bar on almost any night of the week. I came here once for dinner, but was underwhelmed by my visit The pasta was a little overcooked, and there was more sauce than anything else on the plate.
As a bar, La Rez tends to be overpriced, and a little too crowded for my liking. They do run $2 wine night on Tuesdays, but that's the only major drink special that I know of. The staff isn't overly friendly or efficient, and the seating isn't much better. They have an entire outdoor patio, but the arrangement is poor and it makes it difficult to sit down. On a less crowded night, though, this place can be great to sit and split a bottle of wine with friends because the ambiance shines through when the crowds are gone.
The place is a full circle solution solution. Â La Res has spoken a list of famous chefs but its so much more. Â
The old style house is an institution nestled in a big blue house one block from the UNC campus. Â One half classic french restaurant, other half college bar, La Res, as it is called, is a contradiction of itself. Â Imagine a restaurant that from 5-9 was for the button downed crowd, and beyond 10 was reserved primarily for the 19-23 field. Â
The completely renovated classical southern home extends outside to a latice yard that is strung with white lights. Â The metal tables and chairs surround a giant oak tree that hung over the entire yard. Â On the average Thursday the yard is set up with at least 2-3 seperate bars and there was typically some sort of live music. Â Having spent 100's of nights pouring over bottles of wine I can tell you that it was addictive. Â This space was often a site for weddings in the summer. Â
I've had many good dining experiences at La Res. Â There's the fact that they used to bring us out fresh baked cookies at midnight while boozing. Â But there is one meal that stands out in my mind.
While my girlfriend was abroad in London she aquired a 1982(same year I was born) bottle of St Emelion during her travels in France, which she gave to me for my birthday. Â When I recieved the bottle, knowing I'd have to save it for her return, I wondered what would be the appropriate way to enjoy a 20 year old bottle of wine. Â The chef of La Rez was an extremely nice, young guy and very talented so one evening I went back to the kitchen and asked him if he might make a 5 course menu for the bottle that was appropriate foget the price and he didn't hesitate to oblige. Â
The meal was great. Â We were celebrating my girlfriend being home. Â We were served by our favorite bartenders outside under the tree. Â The started us off with an amuse and some champagne. Â This was followed by 5 addition courses, the highlight of which was the duck. Â I can't tell you how rewarding it was to see all the 40-somethings asking what we were having and hearing the waiter explain that it was a special menu. Â Each course complimented the complexity of the wine perfectly. Â
Its been a while since I've been back but its refreshing to see a place that serves brie soup with green apples in the evening but caters to the college crowd at night. Â Oh, and the reserve wine list is bomb.
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