Acme Food & Beverage Co

Love the fact they have different menu options then you normally would find and they have some nice local ingredients that make it that much better. Only slight knock is I wish it was a litlte cheaper so I could go more often! more

I am surprised to see the reviews below. My wife and I have gone on several occasions and found the food and atmosphere terrific. I also appreciate their using local farmers for many of their ingredients. I would highly recommend it! more

I wish I could give this lousy excuse for a restaurant zero stars instead of a complimentary one star. Unwelcome is an understatement by previous reviewers. On Mother's day and the day of my sister's graduation from UNC Chapel Hill, we planned to go out for a nice dinner to celebrate. We called Acme six hours ahead and asked for a reservation for five. The hostess remarked that they don't take reservations and we would just have to come in to try our luck. Ok. So we show up at 7pm and put our name on the list. There were multiple large tables empty inside and no one else waiting ahead of us. They said the best they could do was seat us on the patio. OK. So we all went to the bar, ordered from their decent draft beer and wine selection, paid cash, and waited for the table. That's when things went sour. After 15 minutes, the manager came over and told us our table was ready and if we didn't get up ASAP and follow him immediately, we would lose our table. Rather rude we thought. On the way to the table, he remarked that we better have paid our bar tab because our table server would be too busy to serve us! I don't take to kindly to restaurant staff that treat my retired military officer dad, mom, sister, and my wife like scum. I also don't appreciate being treated that way by a business that we chose to visit to spend $$$$ on dinner. Further, as he led us down the back hall to the patio, a server with two food plates appeared out of the kitchen. The manager yelled at us, ""Get out of the way, can't you see we have to serve food!"" Shocked we wedge our bodies against the wall, so that the staff, who could have waited all of 5 seconds, could walk by. So we get outside to the table...shocked... He had a table for two that he was going to seat us at! For the next five minutes, while we stood there waiting, this incompetent manager pulled up random stools and garden planters for us to sit on! Looking around the patio, there were at least 6 empty tables and 20 empty chairs. He said we (all five of us) had to sit at this makeshift table for two. Very insulting. Next door, a table of eight was happily eating dinner. After a few minutes of sitting, I went inside to ask if the staff could pull up a second table so that at least our plates might fit. The rude hostess didn't waste any time treating me rudely. Said it was ""tough s$%t and you'll have to talk to the manager"". ... Nasty nasty people. Even more shocked, I went to find the manager. I asked him if there was any way to pull up the nearby table so that we could reasonable sit and eat. He said no, that they don't move tables! Yet right there on the patio was the eight top with three combined tables! I said, ""well how can you better the seating situation, is there a table inside?"" (there were at least half a dozen). He told me, ""You can sit where I f*%$ing put you or leave. If you have a problem with that, go f*$# yourself!"" Seriously, I couldn't make this up. Flabbergasted, I went out to the table, where my family, not wanting to cause a scene, was trying to make the best of the situation. Meanwhile, the waiter was cleaning up a spilled water glass, a glass that had fallen off the cramped table. The manager came out and started yelling at us, saying ""I don't understand what the problem is, you sat here and you can eat or leave!"" I don't think a review of the mediocre food is worth my while. The cockroaches scurrying across the patio provided the entertainment for the evening. I do have to note that the waiter was respectful and did a decent job and that the patio space, minus the roaches, was nicely decorated. We really should have left though. This town has many other, much much better restaurants. Please don't go here with anyone you care about or if it bothers you to give business to nasty a$#holes. Pathetic... more

Acme is not a place for vegetarians. Only one vegetarian entree option. It was okay - nothing to scream home about. \r \r I thought dessert would be better but the apple pie I get was one of the worst ever. It was mealy on the bottom and not warmed as the menu suggested. Such a disappointment. \r \r Service was good though. Don't kill yourself to get to this place. more

I would have given zero stars if I could have b/c I think the incredible lack of customer concern is quite exceptional. I went once and thought the food was decent so I suggested it for a Ladies Night Out. But, we canceled our reservation b/c the manager, Steven, wouldn't budge on numerous policies, e.g. wouldn't let us split the check, wouldn't let us veer from the fixed menu & price per head for a party our size (12), wouldn't let us use the coupons we had (technically, it was one per table but OTHER restaurants were OK with using one per ticket). When I told him I was disappointed b/c it seemed like other restaurants were more accommodating, he said that we should forget about the other restaurants and that perhaps they accommodated us because, essentially, they were less experienced. I don't think it's less experience--I think it's ""being oriented towards the customer."" Buns gave our kids free fries, Saffron's gave us a deal that's usually only given on weekends, Archira split the check despite our large size... Who else do we compare to if not other restaurants? Food quality is definitely a part of the experience, but so too is customer service (have you read the other reviews?). I think the restaurant is good, but not good enough to take on such a rigid attitude. Such a shame...we love to go out, eat & drink a lot...we would have been good business. But after letting them know about the rigid policies, no one was happy to go. Now, there are 12 ladies (with spouses, friends, colleagues) who will actively be avoiding this restaurant. more

One of my favorite restaurants in the Triangle area! The atmosphere is contemporary and quiet, as well as warm and polite. The crab cakes area heavenly - any seafood there is, really - and the appetizers and desserts are always worth the money. It's expensive, so we save it for special occasions, but we've also gone once or twice and just split the Kobe burger at the bar. And you can't beat ACME for Sunday brunch. Their homemade biscuits, strawberry butter, delicious coffee and diner-style potatoes make this the place we always take a weekend guest. more

First time to Acme, will not return. Service was not at all personable, like he was doing us a favor by waiting on us. The food was mediocre at best. I had the pecan encrusted fried chicken, topped with mushroom gravy, with mashed potatoes and butter beans. However, the fried chicken was like a very thin small chicken tender from a greasy bar menu. I could taste or see no pecans. There were no mushrooms in the gravy, which tasted like greasy flour. The mashed potatoes were watered down or something? And the chef doesn't know the difference between lima beans and butter beans, I like both but serve me what I ordered please! And everything was so bland, I had to add a lot of salt to bring some the flavor of the food. My money would have been better spent on chicken tenders and fries from a greasy bar. Pros: nice atmosphere, aside from the snooty servers Cons: bland unworthy food more

Three of us went to Acme for the first time last week. It was a Wednesday evening and about half full; the service was adequate. Two appetizers, three entrees, one dessert, one cappucino, no beverages, with tip, came to over $105. The fried oyster salad (6 oysters) and fried green tomato with fresh mozzarella napoleon were small but flavorful. My crab cake entree was the biggest disappointment of the evening. The two large, well-seasoned crab cakes contained only claw meat! - no lump crab meat! I do not recall ever being served such low quality crabmeat in a decent restaurant. Another entree, the grilled hanger steak was good but the sauce was way too salty. The savory bread pudding that accompanied the steak was very dense and unappealing. The third entree, a red grouper with rice and vegetables in a seafood broth was subtle and delicious, although the others did not enjoy it as much as I did. The dark chocolate terrine was very rich and dense; however, the cinnamon whipped cream was unsweetened and had a sour note, as though it was about to go bad. The cappucino was good. Overall, the food was ok but we are in no rush to go back. Pros: Fried Oyster Salad, Pan-seared Red Grouper Cons: Crabcakes more

Acme offers really good food in a pleasant environment at reasonable prices. It's nice to sit out in the back in warm weather. Enjoy. more

Although I have had good brunches there before, this trip to Acme was a dissappointment. My food was barely warm, so I asked for a heat up. Microwaved bisquits, YUCK! My friends Bloody Mary was too hot, no one asked in a timely manner. Seventeen dollars for a pretty mediocre brunch with slow service and not enough coffee!! Won't get my $$$$ next time. more

I'm blown away by the all bad reviews for this restaurant, as it was the finest dining experience I've had in quite a long time. The service, the food and the drink selection was outstanding. I'll be going back to try every dish on the menu. more

I only wish I'd know about this outlet a month or 2 ago! Table for 12, with a reservation, and why oh why did we get the new guy? Service: horrendous; Dishes: several were messed up; Wine; very slow in getting our order to begin; And the Bill? A nightmare; I even tried to communicate these problems via the postcard that asks for feedback, with no attempt on their part to reach me and make good on this nightmare. I won't be going back, sorry. Train your servers on smaller tables or better yet, send them elsewhere for training! Pros: nice atmosphere, decent menu variety, ok value Cons: service, not a good place for a large group; don't ask to split the bill even if they say they can do it! more

I love to go out to brunch on Sundays. I particularly love to Acme because it is just short walk away and very reasonably priced. However, last weekend I had a pretty terrible experience that is going to keep from going back there for a while. \r \r First of all, my friend and I were sat at a table that should not have existed. It was too close to other tables and almost impossible for our server to get there. The service was pretty much terrible. Although our waitress was apologetic, she was very slow and forgot basic items, such as the mixed greens with the Acme breakfast. Our food was cold and fairly lousy. That was the real disappointment. Regardless of how slow and terrible the service is, I always feel that the food is good. Yet, the food has become inconsistent.\r \r I always feel that waitstaff is not prepared on Sunday for how busy and hectic it gets. Yet, they have had a busy brunch for over 2 years and the service keeps getting worse. My advice, if you go to Acme prepare to wait forever for simple food such as eggs and for inattentive service. Very inconsistent. Pros: Food can be delicious, good value Cons: Inconsistent food, service. more

This used to be my favorite place to have brunch. However, the last two times that I have eaten at ACME I have had terrible service. Today, after an hour of watching other customers come in after us and finish their meals, we decided we should talk to the manager. The manager, without checking to see if there had been a problem with our order, told us that it was brunch and that we were going to have to wait. Her demeanor was not rude, but was entirely unsympathetic and showed a surprising unwillingness to help. I guess when you?re that busy you can afford to lose some customers. Well you've lost this one. Pros: Good Food Cons: Slow, Rude waiters, Terrible Service more

ACME looks and is priced rather fancy, but nothing actually tastes that good. \r My girlfriend and I stopped in there for an evening snack. \r The service was pretty good, it was a very crowded Friday night, unfortunately the food was not.. It looked like they spent a lot of time arranging things on the plate to look interesting but the flavors were awful. We ordered fried green tomatoes which tasted like nothing but grease. We decided to order dessert anyway and ordered the chocolate terrine. There was so much sugar I literally could not taste the chocolate at all. No subtlety at all in the food. \r We noticed that the waiters seemed to be scooping up the plates almost before they were done, and no one asked us how it was. Probably because they knew...\r Pros: nice decor Cons: food more

I'm absolutely shocked at some of the reviews below, and personally, I think the negative posts were deliberate attempts to sabotage ACME. The reason I believe this is because I've been around this area forever, and ACME is THE best restaurant for the price. Magnolia's in Durham is truly exceptional and deserves its just due, but this is the only real competition ACME has in Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Durham. Trust me... If you're looking for something special ACME is the place. A bit of a secret (maybe I know why now because of these reviews)... It's never too crowded or loud. It has the best atmosphere, and my service has always been great. They know food and some of their dishes are so good it's surprising to find them in a small restaurant in Carrboro, NC. If you buy what you read below, you will truly miss out on the best secret in the triangle. Pros: Great, great food in a great atmosphere Cons: The misinformation campaign below more

We went for Sunday brunch and were astonished by the poor service. We waited 10 minutes for anyone to come to the table, another 10 minutes for our drinks, and then an hour for our food! The table sitting next us, also a party of three, put their order in a half hour after us and recived their food before us. Our server was completely unapologetic and never offered an explanation for the delay. We asked to speak to the manager and he was also completely rude and pretty much said ""sorry but too bad."" I've worked in several restaurants and was completely shocked by his lack of customer service. We told him we will not be returning. Pros: good food Cons: poor service, tables close together more

I've been to Acme three times in my life, which by my count is three times too many. The experience managed to underwhelm me every time -- quite a feat, considering my expectations kept falling over time. The service was adequate... scratch that; my wife once asked for her pasta to be served without olives and was told ""We can't do that."" Does that mean these $20 entrees aren't even made from scratch? In addition, the food arrived lukewarm to cold each time, suggesting the waitstaff isn't all that light on their feet. The food itself is hella bland; you're getting Fazoli quality at Lidia pricing. Did I mention that one diner ordered a meat dish that had to be sent back for re-heating twice, and still had to eat it cold? Maybe they're behind on their gas bill. Go anywhere else. Pros: Sneak out the back Cons: Food, Service, Price more

We have dined here on numerous occasions and have never been disappointed in the quality of food and the service rendered. The specialty nights have also been excellent. The weekends can be busy but what resturant isnt? Highly recommended. more

We have dined at Acme several times and both the food and service have been excellent. It is a great place for casual, upscale dining and can also be a nice ""special occasion"" dining option. The Thai style calamari appetizer is amazing! I highly recommend this wonderful little restaurant! more