Yep, walking into Lunchbox is like walking into that record store in High Fidelity. (Warning: Don't go in there asking for that new Matchbox Twenty record!)
Not only does it offer more of the same creativity it's always had, Plaza Midwood is becoming more convenient with a revitalized Harris Teeter and plenty of watering holes. PM sweats hipsterism.
The online-only Plaza Midwood Community Radio is the city's hyperlocal neighborhood radio station; it offers a free-form mix of DIY shows, the best of which is Armando Bellmas' Ecléctico.
Being caught in a used bookstore makes you look not only smart but money savvy. And what a selection, from art to zoology and everything in between. Plus, you can spy through aisles, Unfaithful style.
This mainstay features musician-friendly environs (i.e., two different patios for talkers) and a gritty rock vibe, improved acoustics (if you haven't been in a while, go), eclectic booking.
A nice hybrid: a cozy atmosphere for gathering and a hyper joint for shaking your tail feather. With hospitable staff, a hip location and one of the most happening crowds, Petra's is queen of the QC.
Plenty of bench seating and chairs dot the deck and patio, but it's the little things that make you feel like you're in your own backyard: ping pong tables, cornhole, firepits - plus, a bar.
The intimate place has the feel of a backyard in summer and the food is creative and delicious.
Ben Thånh produces exemplary Vietnamese dishes: pho, crispy quail, curry spiked with shrimp, yellow rice flour pancake filled with shrimp, hot pots and charbroiled chicken in lemongrass.
It may look a little dicey on the outside, but it's a whole lot of awesome on the inside. Any given night, weeknights included, you can meander over and find folks willing to drink with you.
A Plaza Midwood favorite. It's a little grimy and the acoustics require yelling to communicate, but it's the quintessential pool hall, embodying everything that's to be adored about a local dive bar.
