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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
