I miss good food in Raleigh, which got me thinking about the worst places I was subjected to while there.

Do kids still binge on Gumby's or have they graduated to Hungry Howie's by now?

Here are my expert opinions on Raleigh's Worst:

Worst Excuse for a Restaurant- Melvin's (the indoor little league baseball field concession stand)
Worst Pizza- Gumby's
Worst Atmosphere- CiCi's (I've never been there and had it not be full of 400 pounders double fisting slices)
Worst Ethnic- Shanghai Express

Add your own.

8/9/2011 9:19:40 AM

PizzAmerica is way way way worse than Gumby's. In fact I would put Gumby's ahead of Domino's

8/9/2011 9:20:42 AM

lol yeah I can think of worse places than Gumby's. PizzAmerica definitely tops the list. How does that place even stay in business?

8/9/2011 9:21:53 AM

Worst Excuse for a Restaurant: Farm House

8/9/2011 9:22:25 AM

Atomsphere - CiCis?

At least pick a little distinctive to Raleigh

8/9/2011 9:23:06 AM

Cup-a-Joe has a pretty terrible atmosphere imo. And now that they're not even open late at night what's the point

8/9/2011 9:24:25 AM

i despise gumby's pizza.
omg.

8/9/2011 9:27:00 AM

Sorry, I've only ever been to CiCi's in Raleigh and it was a jarring experience.

Actually, does the Wolves Den count?

8/9/2011 9:27:50 AM

fuckin amedeos by far

that place should be on kitchen nightmares

not only is the food dreadful the service sucks

[Edited on August 9, 2011 at 9:28 AM. Reason : s]

8/9/2011 9:28:14 AM

Bada has the worst atmosphere.



There, I said it.


Definitely agree with Shanghai Express... and Pearl... and any chinese around here. For some reason Raleigh is a blackhole of chinese takeout.

Worst Pizza, I'm going to say Amore's, and that's because it's changed in the last few years, and it does absolutely nothing for me. The Clientele doesn't help. Never had PizzAmerica, though.

The worst excuse for a restaurant was Brothers Pizza. Thank god that hell hole is gone. I've never had worse service and worse food in my life.

8/9/2011 9:30:28 AM

Brother's was a classic before the late 90s or so.

8/9/2011 9:32:02 AM

Quote :

"Actually, does the Wolves Den count?"

Yes and it's such a sad excuse for a college pub or whatever the hell it's trying to be. NCSU should take a trip over to Duke and see how to really run that type of place. Although hopefully after they tear down Talley they'll revamp Wolves Den.

8/9/2011 9:32:58 AM

Quote :

"Brother's was a classic before the late 90s or so."

Definitely. As a 3rd generation Wolfpacker, I remembered how good it was when I was a kid. Then, when i finally arrived at State in 99, the place had gone to shit. I remember talking it up to my dorm buddies... and they all give me shit about it to this day.

8/9/2011 9:34:46 AM

It's because that woman, forget her name, bought it from the original owners and then didn't do jack shit to the place to keep it up. Not surprised at all it crashed and burned.

8/9/2011 9:35:34 AM

^^^^^That's crap. Amore's is the best on Hillsborough Street (though I haven't tried hot box yet) and the only beef I have with Amore's is that they're never fucking open whenever I try to roll by at 11pm on a weekend night to get a few slices. Who the fuck is closed at those hours?!?

Pearl Chinese isn't that bad. That place in Seaborne Station is good, as is Beansprout over by Meredith. I mean it's not like Chinatown in San Fran or NYC, but it's pretty good.

[Edited on August 9, 2011 at 9:37 AM. Reason : ^^]

8/9/2011 9:37:14 AM

Chinese Takeout around State is horrible...its pretty good around where I live now (off of Lynn Rd)

8/9/2011 9:41:03 AM

Quote :

"That place in Seaborne Station is good"

Are you talking about Peace Chinese or whatever it's called? That place is fucking awful. I've never had such bland Chinese in my life. I dare say Golden Dragon on Hillsborough is better than that swill.

If you want good Chinese go to Taipei 101, Grand Asia Market, Dim Sum House, Lucky 7, or China Express in RTP (which actually has better Korean food than Chinese food, but their Chinese is pretty good too).

8/9/2011 9:41:48 AM

^you can't compare sit down places to take out. Entirely different. I will concede that the Peace place was a little bland, though it seemed quite fresh.

I have yet to check out Dim Sum house but want to (it's only 1/3 mile from my office).

8/9/2011 9:53:40 AM

i'm pretty much done with flying biscuit

8/9/2011 9:54:20 AM

^^ Every place I listed with the exception of Dim Sum House does primarily take out

^ I've always wondered about that place since it's so slammed on the weekends. I usually look at the line, go screw that, and head to Player's Retreat for their brunch.

[Edited on August 9, 2011 at 9:56 AM. Reason : a]

8/9/2011 9:55:12 AM

Unless Amore's has changed drastically in the 4.5 years since I've been gone I love that place. I've tried to go back twice but it was closed both times.

I'd put the pizza just barely behind Sylvias (which I guess is gone now right? ) and the atmosphere way ahead, plus they had reasonably cheap beer.

8/9/2011 9:59:09 AM

I've heard from a couple people Amore's had gone way downhill. Makes me sad because I used to love getting their white pizza.

8/9/2011 10:02:15 AM

Quote :

"Definitely. As a 3rd generation Wolfpacker, I remembered how good it was when I was a kid. Then, when i finally arrived at State in 99, the place had gone to shit. I remember talking it up to my dorm buddies... and they all give me shit about it to this day."

The last time I was in Raleigh, my parents took me to this pizza place that's where Old Time BBQ used to be. It's owned by the original couple that ran Two Guys, before they turned into whatever lame place they are now. It's their classic pizza, which isn't the classic Brother's pizza, but it's still the closest thing left. Huge, sloppy slices, not too much sauce.

I live in DC now and I still haven't found a pizza place to match the old Brother's. At least I feel safe eating any Chinese now.

8/9/2011 10:03:01 AM

I'm not a big fan of the atomsphere of Edward's Mill Bar....its way to dark even with all those windows and feels really closed in.

8/9/2011 10:03:21 AM

^^ You're not talking about Old Time on 54 Old Time are you? I thought they've been in that spot forever.

8/9/2011 10:07:29 AM

Quote :

"Every place I listed with the exception of Dim Sum House does primarily take out "

Out of the list you mentioned, the only one I've ever heard of is Dim Sum so I assumed the others were sit down restaurants as well As far as "take out" there's a difference between a sit down restaurant that also does take out and a place that has no servers and offers $5 lunch specials. (again, I don't know which category the places you mentioned fall into).

8/9/2011 10:10:49 AM

Quote :

"If you want good Chinese go to Taipei 101, Grand Asia Market, Dim Sum House, Lucky 7, or China Express in RTP (which actually has better Korean food than Chinese food, but their Chinese is pretty good too)."

I've always REALLY wanted to try the takeout at Grand Asia, but I never get over that way anymore

8/9/2011 10:12:38 AM

I'll never understand these people who get pizza from gumby's, pokey stix or nothing else.

8/9/2011 10:20:28 AM

Where do you order pizza from at 3am?

8/9/2011 10:21:11 AM

Quote :

"^ I've always wondered about that place since it's so slammed on the weekends. I usually look at the line, go screw that, and head to Player's Retreat for their brunch."

There is a reason that Flying Biscuit has a 40 minute wait while you can walk right into the Cameron Bar & Grill next door and be seated immediately.

8/9/2011 10:22:41 AM

THE WORST FOOD EVER IN RALEIGH IS MCDONALDS. THAT PLACE IS GROSS. I HAVE NEVER COME ACROSS ANOTHER ESTABLISHMENT IN MY LIFE.

8/9/2011 10:24:01 AM

I am confused by your anger

8/9/2011 10:30:41 AM

Quote :

"I've always REALLY wanted to try the takeout at Grand Asia, but I never get over that way anymore"

It's so good. You get a box with rice and three items for like $5. It might be up to $6 these days. It's so much food though. I usually get half the box and save the other half for another day.

8/9/2011 10:32:24 AM

melvins is the place on hborough that srves cheap burgers and fries right?

how can you hate on that place? They serve decent enough burgers for cheap.

granted I haven't eaten there in 5 yrs...

8/9/2011 10:38:31 AM

^^I'll have to check that place out.

^holy hell, Melvin's has been around for over 5 years?

8/9/2011 10:43:51 AM

maybe almost exactly?

if it's the place I'm thinking of, I think they openend in '06

8/9/2011 10:51:43 AM

Melvin's has the worst burger in Raleigh.

first thing that popped into my head when I saw the thread title was PizzAmerica. I don't know anyone who's ever eaten there more than once or twice.

also- not sure why anyone would think Bada has a terrible atmosphere. though I do think it's a shitty place to watch a game - the TV setup is terrible, most places you sit are at awkward angles, and the TVs are way too small for a bar. but getting beer and sitting outside on the patio, not sure what's wrong with that.

8/9/2011 11:00:16 AM

OP is pretty much in the clear. I might substitute Gumby's for PizzAmerica or Hotbox, and add Amedos to the list, and you're golden.

Quote :

"melvins is the place on hborough that srves cheap burgers and fries right? how can you hate on that place? They serve decent enough burgers for cheap. granted I haven't eaten there in 5 yrs..."

Their burgers are not "decent enough", they're nasty little disc patties, they're tough and bland, the cheese is nerved melted, and it's not even THAT cheap. And that's about all they fucking do. I mean their fries are okay, but they're just generic frozen fries.

8/9/2011 11:06:40 AM

Quote :

"if it's the place I'm thinking of, I think they openend in '06"

Yep, they opened my last year at State. Ate there once and never went back

8/9/2011 11:09:25 AM

to me PizzAmerica is the worst to me.

8/9/2011 11:13:32 AM

to me

8/9/2011 11:15:14 AM

Quote :

"CHEESE NERVED MELTED"

8/9/2011 11:15:18 AM

Quote :

"i'm pretty much done with flying biscuit"

Went there for the first time a few weeks ago

Had the eggs benedict and it was unbelievable....i can't wait to go back

8/9/2011 11:22:11 AM

Yeah Melvins opened my last year, which was 06

I ate there once, I didn't really hate it but I wasn't impressed.

It reminded me of burgers cooked on a backyard grill by someone not particularly good at grilling.

8/9/2011 11:24:05 AM

Quote :

"fuckin amedeos by far"

"Hey, guys, let's just pour straight up tomato sauce over bland pasta. It'll be great"

8/9/2011 11:24:06 AM

^So true about Amedeo's

and Melvin's makes me

8/9/2011 11:35:12 AM

I just remember thinking that Melvin's had to be good if it was going to go with such a simple aesthetic...nope, it was turrble. They stole their counter and signage from a little league baseball field concession stand.

And the reason why I did't say PizzAmerica is because the first time I saw that place, I made a mental note never to eat there.

Oh! I remembered another one. SAKURA EXPRESS. People used to drag me their, but never could I get any dish where the meat wasn't tooth-shattering hard. Shitty sushi, too.

[Edited on August 9, 2011 at 11:41 AM. Reason : x]

8/9/2011 11:39:36 AM

why do you guy's eat at bad restaurants/establishments?





also, fuck all y'all for not LOVING golden dragon. it perfectly fills the niche of "man i want a lot of chinese food on the cheap" they will drown your food in cashews

8/9/2011 11:40:29 AM

i like amedeos.

i wish they weren't so expensive for what it is, and i wish they brought back the free peanuts... but overall, it's not nearly as bad as you people make it out to be...


and as far as Amore's...

It was built up as this amazing pizza place by, once again, you people. Maybe I've only been on their bad days, because every time it's been overcooked pizza with flavorless sauce reheated to just below "lukewarm." Just one guy's opinion, and obviously the minority...

8/9/2011 11:40:33 AM

Quote :

"why do you guy's eat at bad restaurants/establishments?"

You have to go once to know it's bad, doofus.

Quote :

"also, fuck all y'all for not LOVING golden dragon. it perfectly fills the niche of "man i want a lot of chinese food on the cheap" they will drown your food in cashews"

It was barely tolerable, and if you eat for quantity over quality, you probably have issues, either health-wise or otherwise.

[Edited on August 9, 2011 at 11:43 AM. Reason : xx]

8/9/2011 11:43:22 AM