On the title track of "Papa Mojo's Roadhouse," a CD released by Mel Melton & the Wicked Mojos in 2005, Melton sings: "I'm gonna put a little spell on you ... that's what I'm gonna do."

When Maximillians reopened in a new location in 2002, four years after a kitchen fire closed the original restaurant, longtime fans rejoiced.

Citrus has been open for nearly two years, quietly earning a dedicated following for its refreshingly varied offering.

Like most pubs nowadays, Cameron Bar and Grill has flat screen TVs.

If your jaw doesn't drop at the price of the iced raw bar tower for two at Ocean Grill, it surely will when your waiter delivers it to your table.

Why get the same boring bites, when sandwich shops are increasingly trying to dazzle your palate?

To paraphrase the "Star Trek" tag line, Chapel Hill Restaurant Group dares to boldly go where no restaurateur has gone before.

The first thing that strikes you at Laku is that the decor isn't as austere as it is at many traditional Japanese restaurants.

Whoa, I thought when I walked into Biryani House recently. Did I get the wrong address?

Light from the setting sun streams in through the storefront windows of The Palace International, its golden warmth amplifying a rustically exotic mood set by potted palms, floral tablecloths and African art hung on walls the colors of ripe mangoes and tropical foliage.

By the strict dictionary definition, Savoy owners Pete Gibson and Marshall Smith are half brothers.

'Try the Dongpo pork. It's banging."

Forget the stereotype of the Japanese restaurant as an austere shoji-screened temple of tradition.

If you're a fan of authentic Mexican food, you'll probably know that Festejos' location is a promising sign, before you even set foot inside the restaurant.

Just inside the entrance to Thai Spices & Sushi, a statue of a mermaid sitting in a pool at the foot of a waterfall greets you.

Gulf Rim fusion cuisine, what a novel concept -- like Pacific Rim fusion, but with the focus shifted to the Gulf of Mexico.

Warning: If you're squeamish, you might want to skip over this first paragraph. Still reading?

Among the frequent offerings on Six Plates Wine Bar's weekly changing menu is a cheese plate.

No doubt about it, these are exciting times to be a foodie in the Triangle. As our dining options continue to get more varied and sophisticated, living here is an exhilarating ride on an ever-lengthening gourmet gravy train.

A gleaming, six-ton steel bank vault door built into the entryway is the first clue. Then follow strings of faceted crystals, suggestive of diamond necklaces, suspended from the dining room's soaring two-story ceiling; yards of polished stone and custom fabrics, including the sumptuous silken upholstery of deep banquettes; dramatic modern sculptures backlit in the copper and green of money.

You won't find a teppanyaki table at Ichiban Sushi & Steak, though you might be able to get a peek at the chef as he stir-fries your hibachi steak.

A pair of stuffed alligators prowl the tin roof over the bar at Crawdaddy's, their backs lit by the glow of neon beer signs.