Cameron Village has few good dining options that involve a tasty glass of wine, pint of beer, or stiff bourbon drink. The Grape opened last year and quickly shriveled up. It seems that Nelson’s has shut its doors but will be returning as Foster’s (the original name of the space). Cafe Cyclo has been gone for years and the Village Draft House is, as a bartender recently told me, “just like a T.G.I.Friday’s but with the name Draft House stuck on it.” Not my words, but I can’t disagree with that statement. Luckily, Cameron Bar and Grill, which opened this past week, has a more sleek, minimal presence and looks to be a nice addition to the neighborhood.
Cameron Bar and Grill is located in the space previously occupied by Fig’s and two doors down from the soon to be defunct Cherry Modern Furniture. It officially opened at the end of this week after having a soft opening and staff party earlier in the week. It is owned by the DeMartino family who also run North Ridge Pub and Cafe Tiramisu in Raleigh. From the black front facade and canopy, the restaurant looks to have a nice attitude about the atmosphere of their space. After walking through the front door, this atmosphere is represented very minimally but with a bit of class.
Cameron Bar and Grill attempts to hover between your average Americana bar and a higher class space like South or Vivace. The decor is a stripped down version of what you see in these restaurants; mirrors, modern lighting shades and wooden tables/seating. The simplicity works and gives a comfortable feel to the almost intimate space. As I have mentioned many times before when visiting new restaurants, one main thing that still haunts these spaces are the large televisions that distract from what the space is trying to accomplish. Just think about how much nicer lighting, outdoor seating, silverware, or any design accent a restaurant could afford if they didn’t buy 6 large flat screen televisions (I lose count when trying to add up the ones at the Draft House). Thousands of dollars and minds no longer distracted from dining.
The food varies from your average appetizers to steaks, sandwiches, and soups and salads. There are even a handful of Italian entrees, which considering the owner’s Italian roots should be good. That said, there are a variety of options on the menu, options for everyone in your crowd. The Chicken Quesadilla was well seasoned and quite tasty, but the plain white bread with bland butter as a complimentary appetizer could have better paralleled the atmosphere. Fiber anyone? The menu is similar to the Village Draft House but Cameron looks to be a bit more upscale and stylized. And the atmosphere couldn’t be any more different. The noise in the Draft House, especially post expansion, is about as intense as a sitting on the tarmac watching planes go by at the airport. Cameron didn’t have this. It was as peaceful as a spring Saturday afternoon should be. Outdoor seating, which is coming soon, would have been the icing on the cake.
With a great selection of beers and wines, the bar was stocked with options. The staff are quite friendly and Dan, the bartender, told me that “I would never have to wait for a beer here.” With a slogan like Eat. Drink. Relax. I couldn’t help but do all three while I was at Cameron. But, once the word gets out, I’m sure Cameron will be renting the rest the empty Fig’s space and expanding. That seems to be what happens when anything in the village gets popular (i.e. Village Deli and Village Draft House). Let’s hope not. The village could use a similar, yet alternative version of The Village Draft House and Cameron might just be it. They even offer free WiFi!
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Eat.Drink.Relax.
Cameron Bar and Grill
2018 Clark Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27605
919.755.2231
Hours -
Mon-Wed : 11am - 11pm
Thurs-Sat : 11am - 12pm
Sun : 11am - 10pm
