Oliver Twist

8311-137 Creedmoor Road, in Brennan Station, Raleigh; 844-4426.

Web site: www.olivertwistlounge.com.

Cuisine: tapas, Mediterranean.

Rating: 2 stars

Prices: $$

Atmosphere: sultry mix of black leather and red gauze.

Service: knowledgeable and efficient.

Recommended: fried calamari, curry chicken, jujeh kebab.

Open: Dinner nightly.

Reservations: accepted for parties of 8 or more.

Other: Visa, MasterCard, American Express; full bar; get a sitter.

The N&O's critic dines anonymously; the newspaper pays for all meals. We rank restaurants in five categories:

**** Extraordinary.

*** Excellent.

** Good.

* Fair.

Zero stars: Poor

For descriptions and reviews of more restaurants, use the searchable database at http://triangle.com/dining/.

This story was originally published July 22, 2005 at 3:00 AM with the headline "Oliver Twist."