Five Outside: February Picks

Venture outside of Raleigh (while practicing social distancing!) this month.

Kipos Greek Taverna

CHAPEL HILL
Giorgios Bakatsias’ Greek restaurant Kipos recently reopened in a renovated location in the Eastgate Crossing Shopping Center with Greek born-and-raised chef George Delidimos returning to the helm of the kitchen after assisting with the taverna’s original opening in 2013. The beautiful new open-air space lends a quintessential Greek atmosphere, complete with a large outdoor garden—kipos is Greek for garden—and a double-sided bar with seating both indoors and out. The open kitchen with a wood-fired grill and rotisserie sits center stage, serving some of Kipos’ beloved classic dishes, such as avgolemono, a Greek lemon chicken soup; pastitsio, Greek lasagna; and grilled whole fish—along with a large Greek wine selection. kiposchapelhill.com

GoJo

DURHAM
Get caffeinated at Ethiopian restaurant Goorsha’s new cafe and coffee shop, GoJo, located just behind Goorsha. The cafe specializes in Ethiopian tea and coffee made with coffee beans from Yirgacheffe Organic Fair Trade Coffee from Ethiopia, along with lattes, chai, cappuccinos, smoothies and more. Owner Fasil Tesfaye says that the town of Yirgacheffe is known to be where coffee originated—the beans produce an exotic taste and heavy body. Pair your beverage with a delicious bowl, salad or panini—the GoJo with chicken, roasted red pepper, provolone and Awaze pesto sauce is a popular option; in the evening, walk over to Goorsha for a divine Ethiopian dinner. Seating is aplenty via a cozy, light-filled interior and spacious outdoor patio with comfortable chairs. instagram.com/gojobygoorsha

Parts & Labor at Motorco

DURHAM
Motorco Music Hall’s restaurant and bar, Parts & Labor, is a bona fide Durham establishment. On any given night, you’ll find a plethora of Durhamites sipping and snacking on its outdoor patio under the eatery’s ambient string lights. The beverage menu features everything from draft beer (both local and national) to classic cocktails like margaritas, cucumber Collins and bloody marys—one of the best bloodys in the Triangle—to wine, seltzer and cider, making it a great spot to go when enjoying a round or two with a group of friends who all have differing beverage preferences. Elevated bar food—including a few unique Asian dishes—rectifies any hunger pangs. Try the bratwurst, bulgogi taco, cheeseburger sliders or scallion pancakes. partsnlabor.com

Luna

Cary
Take time to indulge in some much-needed self-care at Luna, a lash and skincare studio specializing in high-quality vegan lashes and organic skincare. The studio’s signature service is the chakra-balancing gemstone facial, which uses a combination of both ancient and modern massage techniques to drain your lymphatic system and get rid of puffy eyes. The service also includes calming and healing aromatherapy, deep exfoliation and two masks that help balance your skin’s PH levels. All products used at Luna are ethically sourced and biodynamic, as part of its commitment to care for both the body and the Earth. The studio also partners with One Tree Planted, which plants one tree for every service. lunalashesandskincare.com

Lumpy’s Ice Cream

Wake Forest
We’re not the types to stray away from ice cream, no matter how cold it is outside. If you’re in the same boat, check out Lumpy’s Ice Cream in Wake Forest. A staple of the town since 2001, Lumpy’s uses hormone-free milk and cream from family farms within 30 miles of its production lab, then mixes them with sugar or honey to create a perfect ice cream base that leaves out any artificial colors and flavors or corn syrup. And its flavor selections are anything but basic. There’s Bennie’s Bacon and Bourbon, Denise’s Chocolate Brownie Addiction and Wired Hippie (coffee ice cream with trail mix), among many more. Grab a fresh scoop for dessert or take home a whole pint. lumpysicecream.com