Raleigh Tapas and Lounge Bar

Have you heard of Oliver Twist tapas and lounge bar? Interesting name.  Like the Charles Dickens book about a poor boy and his escapades. It’s just off Creedmoor Road by Strickland Road, hidden next to Ace Hardware. It’s one of those places you’d learn about through word of mouth.

Raleigh's Hidden Tapas Bar and Lounge

When you go in, you know you’re entering somewhere sophisticated ‘cause it’s dark inside. You think you’re in some big city night club. If you’re just going for some tapas and martinis or drink, then you’ll be seated on a comfortable and plush low-seated-ottoman. Kinda like you were being served at your coffee table at home. Tapas, even in Raleigh, if you don’t know are little appetizer dishes. The ones I’ve tried have a mix of eclectic flavors.

The martini menu is impressive. There are over 70 martinis. You can always go for the classic French martini, but why not try something more exotic like a Rat Pack Manhattan or the Bon Bon Martini with butterscotch schnapps?…not something you try every day. The wine menu is also fine if you’re a connoisseur or just like a good glass of wine. The selection is from around the world… like Chile.  Didn’t you know they make some of the best wines? Great with Chilean Sea Bass…one of my fav’rites. And New Zealand, Tuscany, Italy, to name a few. You’ll see a lot of Sonoma, California wines too on the traditional menu.

Desserts are made from scratch. If you like key lime pies, you can try the margarita pie. There’s also a flourless chocolate dessert…need I say more?

Besides good food, good drinks, and good company (well, that’s up to you…), there’s a live DJ on Friday and Saturday nights…along with a belly dancer for entertainment. You don’t see much of that in small town Raleigh. Apparently is not so small anymore.

Take friends or a date to Oliver Twist. It’s a great hangout place for adults. Remember those teen days when you thought going to Taco Bell for a date was a big deal?

I hate those bars where you have to yell. Where you can’t actually hear what the other person or people around you are saying. What was that movie where the guy wanted to on purpose take his date to a loud bar, so he wouldn’t have to hear her talk? Not a good sign. How does that phrase go from “He’s Just Not That Into You”?… oh yeah, ‘don’t waste the pretty’.

Thankfully, no yelling in a bar when my husband and I went on our first date…I guess you’d call it a date. I remember it was after work at a wrap sandwich shop where we got some smoothies. We were sitting outside and it started to rain. So he was saved by the bell from telling me about what he’d been up to for the past 10 years!

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Category: Raleigh Restaurants