Straw Valley Food and Drink: An Oasis Amid the Big Box Stores

Straw Valley Food And DrinkStraw Valley is a re-imagination of a peculiar space lodged between highway 15-501 and Hope Valley Commons shopping center. Most people drive by every day and never even notice that there are buildings there. Recently, Chef Adam Rose, of Il Palio in Chapel Hill, and his partners, purchased the space that housed a funky coffee shop and converted it to a sprawling complex that includes a cafe and raw bar, a beer garden, and a fine dining restaurant, Black House. This review covers cocktails at the oyster bar.

The Food:

The Cheese Plate: Blooming Decadence from Hillsborough Cheese Company, Calvander from Chapel Hill Creamery and Point Reyes Original Blue from Cowgirl Creamery



Prosciutto Plate with 24 month Pio Tosinni and Guglhupf baguette:



Oysters from Washington State and Coastal Virginia 

Ceviche with lemongrass, ginger scallop: 

The Drinks: A crisp Muscadet, Amphilobite, Jo Landron, 2012, Loire Valley

The Service:

We sat at the bar. Our two servers were welcoming and knowledgeable about the food and wine. They looked equally at ease serving the guests out on the patio.

The Atmosphere:

The cafe/bar is a sleek, modern, albeit somewhat narrow space. The fenced patio is more expansive and furnished with modern chrome furniture. With the trees surrounding the property, you quickly forget you are literally seconds away from one of the busiest thoroughfares in the area. I also liked that the chef was wandering around checking on things.

The Verdict:

Straw Valley made me feel like I was in Sonoma Valley with its combination of big city style, small plates and rustic outdoor spaces.