Revolution Rocks
Revolution in Durham has a metropolitan vibe and is yet another hit in Durham’s flourishing library of foodie hot spots.
The restaurant is Executive Chef Jim Anile’s baby and it is a broad departure from his last gig at Il Palio at the Siena Hotel in Chapel Hill. The menu is diverse, creative and well priced. The atmosphere is hip but still welcoming. The appetizers and small plates are generally well under $15 and the big plates are all $20 or less. (He does have a few more pricey dishes filed under menu heading Second Mortgage but they are well in the minority.) Finding values on the wine list was a little more challenging but still doable.
Here are some highlights from the menu that I can personally vouch for: The haystack shrimp are delicately flavored with a lemon aioli and surrounded with angel hair wisps of crisp filo dough. I absolutely went crazy for the beer braised mussels. Steeped in a tomato based broth, they completmented the mussels without overpowering them at all. We had to order more bread to sop up the liquid.
The menu also features a 3 or 5 chef’s selection menu with optional wine pairings which sounds like an excellent idea for a special treat.
The decor is stiking, upscale and club-worthy. In an interesting twist, half the floor space on the main level is dedicated to the large oblong bar. Both times we went this area was more than 60 percent full of people eating off the bar menu, the regular menu or just enjoying cocktails.
A friend who went with me on my first visit has already been back three more times. This is definitely a must try for your next date night. 107 W. Main Street in Downtown Duham. Reservations available through Open Table.
