Restaurants in Albemarle

Dark woods punctuated by electric-blue accents decorate the inside of Icehouse, where diners pair casual American classics with one of more than 200 beers. Throughout the space, complimentary WiFi and 20 flat-screen televisions and complimentary WiFi keep diners informed on the latest game scores, while upstairs a billiards loft entertains them during commercials. On nice nights, the crowd heads outside to the 100-seat covered patio for Carolina pulled pork sandwiches, sampler platters of sliders, and wings in one of seven sauces.

Two decades removed from the opening of their first restaurant, the native Thai owners of Thai House continue to season meats, curries, and seafood with tropical Asian spices and embellish their three locations with hand-whittled teakwood silhouettes. Half-roasted duck and grilled shrimp swim in rice and noodles before catching cool, creamy waves of thai iced tea. Curries cascade over mounds of jasmine or brown rice imported from Thailand, and flotillas of Japanese sushi and sashimi cast their anchors alongside the spicy array of Thai fare. Mesmerizing notes of Thai music pervade the dining room, scoring dinner conversations and sword duels between chopsticks.

Large wooden doors—not unlike those used to secure Medieval-era tree houses—grant entry to a multilevel, pagoda-style building designed to resemble a Chinese temple. Within its walls, classic furnishings reflect Chinese traditions, including decor that celebrates the Chinese New Year and elegant curtains that drape among the small, softly lit dining areas. This is Wan Fu Quality Chinese Cuisine, where cooks curate more than 100 dishes—most of which are made in-house from scratch. A mixture of traditional, contemporary, and health-minded creations populate the menu, such as the restaurant's signature pineapple chicken.

Lee Cummings, the founder of Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken, learned the ropes from one of the country’s foremost poultry experts: his uncle, Colonel Harland Sanders. Together, he and the colonel opened more than 800 KFC stores selling fried chicken prepared in pressure cookers and battered with the duo’s famous blend of spices. It wasn’t until after his uncle sold KFC in 1962 that Lee began developing his own secret recipe, a development that would lead to the creation of the Lee’s Famous franchise in 1966.

Today, the franchise sells the fruits of his labor, Lee’s “Famous Recipe” chicken, plus buttermilk biscuits and house-made sides from locations in 14 states and four countries. Each piece of never-frozen chicken is hand-breaded and dipped into honey before being transferred to pressure cookers that crisp the exterior while maintaining a juicy interior. Though the original recipe remains untouched, Lee’s Famous has expanded its offerings over the years to include healthier oven-roasted and lava-charred options. :m]]

At Cloud 9 Martini & Tapas Bar, conversation passes between friends alongside tastes of 45 cold, sweet, or bitter martinis and 18 shareable tapas plates. A blue-lit, martini-shaped bar acts as a stage for mixologists’ concoctions to enthrall eyes and tongues with fruity, chocolaty, and gentlemanly flavors. The Baxterini’s classic recipe of Beefeater gin, vermouth, and olive juice gains approving nods from traditionalists, whereas the Smores replicates a summer treat—complete with flaming marshmallow—without the hassles of camping or starting a bonfire on your kitchen table. To expand a martini-centric evening, Cloud 9 also serves up handmade Chimay beer as well as SweetWater and Turbodog craft brews.

Around the rest of the lounge, sofas and chairs stacked with pillows serve as a convivial perch where guests share tapas. Cherry peppers pop with goat cheese and prosciutto, and quesadillas mix sweet and savory with a dollop of mango chutney atop a filling of apple and brie. On Saturday, DJs accompany bites with energy from their decks, infusing the space with up-tempo beats for dancing or karate montages.

Turkish-style beef kabobs sizzle atop hot grills as skilled cooks prepare fresh Mediterranean dishes. Authentic baklava and steamy cups of Turkish-style coffee accompany platters of sliced gyros that, like most works of classical sculpture, are enhanced by dollops of tzatziki resting on top of them.