It seems like you can’t go to Raleigh and not hear the name Ashley Christensen. At least if you’re a foodie. The James Beard Award Winner has built somewhat of a restaurant empire in this surprisingly well appointed tri-city area.
I started taking business trips here earlier this year and was shocked at the amazing food scene. Raleigh, Durham, and Cary each barely even have a “downtown” to speak of. They’re more like charming little towns but boy do they pack a punch in terms of restaurant scene. Today I share my favorite spot so far, Death & Taxes, the newest of the Ashley Christensen restaurant family that focuses on wood-fire cooking.
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The menu is broken into three sections: Of the Sea, On the Land, Of the Land; or Seafood, Meat, Veggies. Most of the dishes are small plates that are good for sharing. There are a few mains but with two of us, we thought it better to try more variety.
First up was the summer squash salad with burrata. I can never say no to burrata so this was an easy choice. This was probably my favorite dish. The squash was fresh, the burrata creamy, charred crumb for crunch and a light dressing.
The next favorite and the most sinful were the potatoes aligot. I’m not really even sure you can call them potatoes because according to our server, they are 40% cheese and cream.
Unfortunately not the best picture, but the octopus was also a strong choice. It was cooked perfectly but I wasn’t a huge fan of the rice beans. But there are very few ways that I would enjoy eating rice beans so I don’t count that against them.
Another disappointing photo. I took this with my phone in low light so forgive me. But this is probably one of my favorite cooked oyster dishes. It reminded me of the way escargot is usually prepared. Lemon, herbs, and a ton of butter.
Overall, Raleigh has an impressive restaurant scene that is worth visiting and Death & Taxes is the shining star on the top!
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