Naos

The newly opened Naos in Cary is the latest venture from the esteemed and local Giorgios Hospitality Group. They boast 18 restaurants to their credit, all in the Triangle area. I confess that before last week, I had only dined at 2! After hearing rave reviews about Naos, I knew it had to be next on my list to visit. The fresh Mediterranean menu coupled with an outstanding ambience made me feel like I was in an episode of The White Lotus while dining here. We feasted through most of the menu, and while there were some hits and some misses, this team is a well-oiled machine with mostly great culinary chops to boot.

The menu boasts an impressive wine and cocktail list - don't skip over the Orange wine offerings - but you can find plentiful N/A options, and even Olive Oil-washed Vodka based cocktails. An enormous list of Meze and Mezedes (small, sharable plates) whet the appetite. We sampled quite a handful. Tzatziki is one of my favorite dips, and was one of the better renditions I've had. A nice, thick consistency and not too tangy or garlicky. It outshined the cold Melitzanosalata, a spread featuring Roasted Eggplant, Lemon, Garlic and Walnuts. Taramasalata was a nice surprise, made with Carp Roe, Garlic, Lemon and Olive Oil. It wasn't overly fishy or garlicky, but had a nice kiss of both flavors. We all preferred the warm, seasoned Pita over the Sourdough Bread from local Union Special to use as a vessel for these spreads.

Almost every Meze on the menu

Yes, we've all had Spanakopita, but Naos' version breathed new life into this somewhat tired appetizer. The Phyllo Dough was as crisp as a cracker, and the filling was like the best Spinach Dip you've ever had. Perfect levels of salt from the Feta - this was one of the most outstanding bites of the night.

Spanakopita

Another favorite was the Soutzoukakia - Pork and Lamb Meatballs simmered in a robust Tomato Sauce. They were incredibly tender and put most meatballs I've eaten to shame. Sometimes simple is best.

Kritharota sounded fabulous and right up my alley - Orzo, Spinach, Feta, Sundried Tomato and Oyster Mushrooms - but somehow it just didn't come together. I feel like it needed more salt or acid - it just didn't seem like a cohesive dish. Perhaps serving this as a Risotto would have been more successful that this too-loose orzo. The table was split on this dish though.

Kritharota

Large segments of roasted Golden & Red Beets were accompanied by a mild Skordalia (garlic spread), an even milder Manouri Cheese, Arugula and Spiced Walnuts. I love beets, but felt this dish needed more acid, salt, something - just more. I found it unfortunately forgettable.

We were all excited to try the Woodfired Octopus, served with Fava Bean Spread (their version of hummus) and a grilled Eggplant Salad, but this dish fell a bit flat for me. Perhaps it was underseasoned, but it ate a bit boring. The fava spread was pretty stodgy and could have been a little looser, and the eggplant added nothing to the dish. Meanwhile, the Crudo featured beautiful cuts of tender Yellowfin Tuna, with a yummy Castelvetrano Olive & Sundried Tomato Tapenade.

Woodfired Octopus

As if the plethora of starters we consumed wasn't enough, we moved onto the main courses. The Clay Pot Lamb knocked my socks off. I nearly had to fight one of my tablemates for the shank bone. Insanely tender, succulent - this is everything I want in a lamb dish. Grape Leaves provided a nice tang and texture, and the Potato wedges soaked up all of that amazing Lamb and White Wine flavor. Not a looker, but certainly a taster.

Clay Pot Lamb

Sadly, in my opinion, the other two entrees didn't stand a chance compared to the lamb, though others at my table enjoyed them. Souvla reminded me of Souvlaki, featuring grilled Sirloin (the one piece I got was far too rare to enjoy), Tzatziki, Cucumber & Tomato Salad, all atop grilled Pita. 

Souvla

Simply labeled Lobster Pasta, the dish came out and was immediately Instagram-able. Unfortunately, that's where the magic stopped. It felt like the lobster and pasta were two completely different entities, just sharing space on the same plate. The pasta needed more (any) sauce, and the bit of lobster I had was overocoked. This was not well-executed though the idea was awesome.

Lobster Pasta

If you don't have much of a sweet tooth, Naos' dessert offerings are just your ticket. They were all interesting, a bit funky and not terribly sweet. The description on the menu did not do the Orange Phyllo Cake justice. It was the table favorite, with Confit Orange, Caramelized Fennel Ice Cream and Toasted Almonds. The notes of orange and fennel weren't too strong at all, and instead it ate like a warm, buttery cake doused in a sweet syrup, with a creamy vanilla sauce on the sauce. We ate every bite.

Orange Phyllo Cake

Dark Chocolate Mousse is a chocolate lover's dream (and happens to be one of my husband's favorites, so he was delighted by this dish). The mousse is VERY dark, and topped with those yummy cocktail Amarena Cherries, Olive Oil and a few flakes of Sea Salt. Our server warned us that the Manouri Cheesecake wasn't like your traditional NY style cheesecake, that it would be a bit funkier. Bring it on! It was creamy like the typical cheesecake we're all used to, but not as sweet, and with a slightly different cheese flavor. It made for a beautiful plate, alongside a Vanilla and White Wine Poached Pear, Sesame Tuile and freeze-fried Raspberry powder.

Dark Chocolate Mousse

Manouri Cheesecake

Gather your foodie crew and check this spot out. You will definitely want a big party to help you work your way through the lengthy menu, and don't skip the seemingly simple-sounding dishes. Those turned out to be the best. And bonus points if you pretend like you're on The White Lotus while you're there.

Tamasha Modern Indian

Every now and then, a restaurant comes along that has you thinking (obsessing) about the meal for the next several days. Tamasha Modern Indian in the North Hills neighborhood in Raleigh is just that restaurant. My sweetie and I were absolutely blown away by the food, service and ambiance. I joked, "no notes". Everything exceeded our already high expectations. I was half kidding when I checked their availability to make another reservation that very same week - they are booked out for weeks. Rightfully so. Make your reservation now so you have something to look forward to next month. Run, do not walk.

Upon being seated, we were brought two champagne flutes, half-full of an Elderflower Spritz. This delightful, non-alcoholic aperitif was a beautiful way to whet our palate and get us excited for what was to come. You don't get "freebies" like that much anymore these days, so it was a really nice surprise. The full cocktail list is unique and well-crafted, and we adored the attention to detail - the ice cube has a "T" stamped into it! Exquisite. 

That "T" stamp in the ice!

We were tempted by several items on the menu, and started out with a few appetizers. The Four Cheese Truffle Kulcha had my name written all over it. The kulcha reminded me of a thick naan, or pita, and it was topped with Sharp Cheddar, Brie, Asiago, Shishito Peppers and Truffle Butter. Heaven. On. Earth. Our server recommended adding a Roasted Garlic and Chilli Dip to accompany, which was nice, but not necessary. I absolutely loved this and still dream about it. Even my husband who isn't crazy about truffles thought it was awesome.

Four Cheese Truffle Kulcha

Instead, my husband who IS crazy about Fried Chicken requested the TFC (Tamasha Fried Chicken). I was stunned at how delicious and exciting this dish was. Huge chunks of Chicken Thighs are marinated in Chillis, Jalapeno and Buttermilk, then fried. They had the perfect amount of heat, offest by a deliciously cooling Lemon Sour Cream. We preferred the bites topped with Watermelon Radish (far too nervous to go for the raw Jalapeno slice).

Tamasha Fried Chicken

Crispy Okra and Tuk Aloo Chaat was a fun dish to eat with our fingers. Strips of okra are fried, perfectly salted, then mounded atop roasted, seasoned Potatoes, and sprinkled with Pomegranate seeds. I do wish this had been served in a larger, more shallow dish, as digging in to grab a potato knocked several okra out of the bowl and onto the table. But the savory flavors are addictive - you can't have just one handful.

Crispy Okra and Tuk Aloo Chaat

Garlic Naan is always a good move, though compared to the Kulcha we had earlier, it wasn't as special. But it was a great vessel for the Red Snapper Coastal Curry. The sauce was out of this world - slightly sweet, not too spicy or robust in flavor, a lovely compliment to the tender fish. We both loved the tender Swiss Chard and how it practically melted into the sauce, and the few unexpected bites of Grapefruit gave the dish some nice acid. Steamed Rice helped get up every drop of that delicious sauce. 

Red Snapper Coastal Curry

Our server recommended the Salted Palm Jaggery Cointreau Gelato, and I am so glad he did. He likened it to a salted caramel flavor, and he was spot on. Rich, creamy, not-too-sweet - this was a beautiful way to end the meal. My husband got a complimentary scoop of Mango Basil Sorbet, since it was his birthday. A nice palate cleanser, though the Basil brought a little too much licorice flavor than we were expecting.

Salted Palm Jaggery Cointreau Gelato and Mango Basil Sorbet

My sweetie and his sweets

The chef came out at the end of our meal to thank us for coming in. I was eager to thank him for such a fantastic meal. I am pretty obsessed with this place now, and will look for any special occasion (or any random Sunday night) to return.

RH Rooftop Restaurant

Let me begin by saying that the new RH Rooftop Restaurant in the North Hills neighborhood in Raleigh is the most stunning restaurant I've ever seen. I went two weekends in a row, both rainy and cold, so naturally I'm dying to return when the weather improves and that glorious rooftop can be opened up, and the balconies taken advantage of. I'll also plan to budget for my next visit - both trips were more expensive than I intended. But this place reeks of luxury, so it's easy to be tempted by the $20 truffle fries (I was).

A grand entrance

If you can snag a reservation, I suggest one for a weekday lunch or weekend brunch - a daytime meal, so you can really enjoy the view. The restaurant is on the third floor of the newly opened RH store, and news flash - there is an elevator! - though it was quite lovely walking up the ornate staircase and making a grand, albeit breathless, entrance. The majority of your party has to arrive before you can be seated, which is a little awkward, as there's not a great place to stand and wait - only a very small walk-up bar. But I sauntered over and ordered the Fresh Green Juice, combining Kale, Apple, Pineapple, Celery, Cukes, Lemon and Ginger, and it was fresh and green as promised.

Service is relaxed, at best. They are thorough, but they don't rush you, which can be a good or a bad thing. I'm used to a certain pace in restaurants and felt we had to flag our server down a few times. But this isn't the type of place you want to rush through, so I am torn about how I feel about the speed.

On one occasion, my party ordered the Crispy Artichokes and the Burrata plate. Both were recommended by the server and both were delicious. I particularly enjoyed the crispy artichokes that ate like salty french fries, and served with a delightful Lemon Aioli. There were hidden potato wedges at the bottom of the bowl that didn't need to be there, more artichokes would have been preferred. The Burrata plate was nothing out of the ordinary, but the Charred Peppers and Balsamic that accompanied it made the dish sing. Charred Ciabatta made a fine vessel.

I love a Lobster Roll, and when I saw it on the menu, I knew exactly what I would be ordering. While it was deliciously sweet and buttery (NO MAYO!) in a deliciously sweet and buttery brioche bun, I felt there could have been a bit more meat for the price. I'm used to my husband's lobster rolls that he crams full of meat. And of course, all sides are a la carte, so I went all in for the Truffle Fries that came with Truffle Aioli. They were plentiful and fabulous. 

Lobster Roll and Truffle Fries

On another occasion, I opted for the Chinese Chicken Salad which was loaded full of Grilled Chicken - I honestly had to search for bites without chicken! Beautiful Napa Cabbage and Carrots are mounded with Crispy Wonton strips and tossed in a highly-addictive Sesame Soy Mustard Vinaigrette. This eats incredibly fresh and is definitely enough for two people. 

Chinese Chicken Salad

Every single one of the desserts sounded tempting, as if the menu was designed just for me, so I opted for the Butterscotch Brulee. The description on the menu says "no words". I have a few: YUM BOY. All creme brulees should be this rich, deep and complex in flavor. The butterscotch brought a playfulness to an otherwise classic, though tired, dessert. The burnt sugar on top just echoed the toasty butterscotch notes of the custard. To my server's surprise, I ate the whole thing.

Again, if you can snag a reservation, let RH transport you to a place of luxury, if only for a little while (until you get the check). In all honesty, I look forward to returning when the weather is better, as the entire menu is very tempting.

2025 Oscar Predictions

It's my favorite time of year, people. The Oscars are right around the corner! This year's award show season has been quite untraditional, so I'm definitely ready for a reason to celebrate. I was thrilled to be able to squeeze in 6 of the 10 nominated movies, and I have a few favorites for sure. Enjoy celebrating on Sunday, however your heart desires.

Best Picture

Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
I'm Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Substance
Wicked

Should Win: I adore the variety here. But it is extremely difficult to compare The Substance to Wicked to A Complete Unknown, which is always problematic when it comes to award shows. These were all certainly some of the best films I've seen all year, but the grotesque, dark humor from The Substance is vastly different from the soaring theatrical production of Wicked. While I enjoyed them both, I was most surprised by Emilia Pérez and will be pulling for that to take home the gold. (Shoutout to Anora though. Worth the watch, if you haven't.)

Will Win: The Brutalist. At time of press, I have not yet seen this film. At 3.5 hours, it will take me about a week to get through, so I'm waiting to stream this one at home.

Best Actor

Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes, Conclave
Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice

Should Win: I feel pretty ill-equipped to make a stance here, having only seen 2 of the performances (Chalamet and Fiennes). While both were outstanding, they don't stand a chance. Adrien Brody has swept everything this season, and he is a tremendous actor, so I'm sure he deserves what would be his second Oscar. (Chalamet and Domingo are two personal faves who will eventually get their due.)

Will Win: Adrien Brody.

Best Actress

Cynthia Erivo, Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez
Mikey Madison, Anora
Demi Moore, The Substance
Fernanda Torres, I'm Still Here

Should Win: Demi Moore is one of those actors who is great in everything she does. She's a veteran movie star who, for some reason, was never taken seriously enough to ever get a nomination. Her fearlessness and vulnerability in The Substance was brilliant - I couldn't take my eyes off her. She gets my vote, though Mikey Madison's performance in Anora was a breath of fresh air and a great preview of what's sure to be a strong career.

Will Win: Demi Moore.

Best Supporting Actor
Yura Borisov, Anora
Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce, The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice

Should Win: I'm only slightly biased here. I've loved Kieran Culkin since 2002's The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys, so naturally, I'm thrilled he is finally getting some major reocgnition. But all favoritism aside, he was truly perfectly cast in the role of Benji in A Real Pain. If there ever was the perfect role for an actor, this is it. I do think the film should have been nominated too, giving a little more credit to the fabulous Jesse Eisenberg. 

Will Win: My man Kieran.

Best Supporting Actress

Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande, Wicked
Felicity Jones, The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini, Conclave
Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez

Should Win: I was team Grande until I saw Zoe Saldaña in Emilia Pérez. I cannot say enough good things about both of these women in these roles. Grande absolutely slayed as Glinda the Good Witch, but Saldaña was really the heart and soul of Emilia. I'm honestly not sure why she wasn't nominated for Best Actress. She was so much more than supporting.

Will Win: Zoe Saldaña.

Best Director

Anora, Sean Baker
The Brutalist, Brady Corbet
A Complete Unknown, James Mangold
Emilia Pérez, Jacques Audiard
The Substance, Coralie Fargeat 

Should Win: This category is very interesting to me. Anora, Emilia Pérez and The Substance don't strike me as films that are traditionally recognized at the Oscars, so I am delighted to see them and their directors get some recognition. Of course, I think Jon M. Chu (Wicked) was robbed of a nomination. Of these films, my favorite was Emilia Pérez, so my vote goes to Jacques Audiard. 

Will Win: Brady Corbet for The Brutalist.