University Place has struck gold with its newest restaurant addition, Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill. Situated on the corner next to the Silverspot movie theater, its elegant and modern atmosphere coupled with very reasonable prices make it the perfect Tar Heel brunch destination in Chapel Hill. They also serve dinner from 4-10 pm which would make for a unique experience on date night. The dim and romantic lighting, chairs upholstered in smooth gray leather and high chestnut wooden beams will instantly make you feel like royalty.
The menu is carefully crafted to cater to many different palates, and we were delightfully surprised by the very reasonable prices. To start off, they list several classic house made brunch cocktails including fresh peach bellinis and mimosas for just $5--come with a group and enjoy a carafe for only $15. The starters, salads and entrees ranged from $9-20. After perusing the selection, our empty and eager stomachs led us to deviled eggs, bacon and spinach quiche, mac & cheese and kale salad.
The seemingly simple dishes were anything but that—they surpassed all of our expectations. My plate arrived with a gigantic slice of quiche fresh out of the oven for just $13. The warm slice was stuffed with Applewood smoked bacon, melty Gouda cheese and spinach. It was complemented with a side kale salad—a refreshing addition topped with almond slivers, cranberries, shaved carrots, buttery croutons and a light, tangy vinaigrette. Simply put, the mac & cheese was out of this world. Al dente macaroni shells allied with a creamy blend of Parmesan and Gouda cheese, topped with herbs and Italian breadcrumbs and browned to perfection. That’s a bite you won’t forget for a while.
After our plates had been cleared and our leftovers had been boxed, we somehow found ourselves reaching for the dessert menu. The fudge cake and crème brulee sounded amazing, but we settled on the chocolate chip blondie. A few minutes later, we were awestruck at what arrived in front of us. A massively-sized skillet blondie topped with velvety vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate chips and a drizzle of chocolate sauce. After one warm ooey gooey spoonful, we fell in love.
All in all, the service was exceptional, the food was remarkable and the atmosphere was the perfect cozy environment for a meal out with friends. Stoney River definitely made a lasting impression--I know where I’ll be next weekend for Sunday brunch.