Restaurants in Reidsville

On Val Panizzut's first visit to his wife’s Mexican hometown, the co-owner of The Prickly Pear vowed he would name his first restaurant after the delicious fruit borne from cacti. Today, the fruition of that fruit-inspired idea offers expansive views of Lake Norman from its generous windows or patio seats, as well a menu of Mexican cuisine. Not content with just offering traditional tacos and burritos, the kitchen crafts modern Mexican dishes that have earned it numerous local press mentions. They pair the usual flavors of cotija cheese, chipotles and cilantro with, for example, fruits such as pear, mango, and pineapple, all in an effort to add savory, piquant, or sweet depth to shrimp dishes and adobo-rubbed chicken. To augment the adventurous atmosphere, live musical acts entertain guests on Thursday and Sunday nights—but they never say in advance exactly where in the restaurant they’ll hide as they play.

Tony, the owner of Bandido’s Mexican Cafe, learned the tricks of the trade while working at his family’s Mexican restaurant as a teenager. Today, he and his wife own and operate three Bandido’s locations, which serve sizzling fajitas, crisp tacos, and burritos stuffed with beef, chicken, pork, or sautéed spinach. The Herald-Sun's readers praised Bandido's as the Best Mexican Restaurant in 2009, and the restaurant returns the favor by awarding individuals who finish the El Gigante burrito—a massive compilation of steak and chicken fajitas, rice, black beans, and shredded cheese—with a T-shirt and gentle pats on the back. The restaurant often hosts live entertainment, and the Durham location supplements its selection of lunch and dinner fare with a Sunday brunch menu served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• For $10, you get $20 worth of dinner fare. • For $7, you get $15 worth of lunch fare. Groupons for lunch may also be used at breakfast or Sunday brunch.

Bavarian Brathaus was reviewed in the News & Observer and Demandy. Yelpers give it a four star average. Seventy-seven percent of Urbanspooners recommend the restaurant.

Bakers at zpizza toss up fresh dough and organic ingredients daily to create a menu of toothsome trattoria favorites and a plethora of pizzas, many with options that keep vegans and the gluten-shy in the crusty, bubbly loop. Layer a dough foundation with organic tomato sauce, vegan or skim mozzarella from grass-fed cows, additive-free sausage and meatballs, and other select toppings to create your own appetizing architecture ($7.25+). Chicken, cilantro, and sweet corn baste in tangy sauce on a large ZBQ pizza ($19.95), and rustica pizzas ($8.95 each) proffer atypical combinations such as the Moroccan's pesto-smothered mix of roasted eggplant, caramelized onion, and pine nuts. A range of sandwiches and calzones ($6.95), pastas ($7.50), and large salads ($8.50–$8.95) round out zpizza's offerings, filling midsections with semicircular, tubular, and geometrically undefined edibles. Patrons can enjoy their food on zpizza's outdoor patio, located next to a serene water fountain, and catch live music on select days.

After perusing the lengthy menu, choose from Randy's long list of fresh toppings, or entrust your taste buds to the prearranged combinations, such as the Rio Ranchero pizza dressed in diced tomatoes, crisp bacon, and ranch on a gooey bed of mozzarella ($14.95 for 14 inches, $16.95 for 16 inches, $18.95 for 18 inches) or the lasagna pizza, layered with meatballs, mozzarella, and ricotta ($16.95 for 16 inches). For those who don't associate sharing with caring, Randy's has classic single-serving items including beef gyros ($4.95), overstuffed strombolis ($6.95), and finger-friendly buffalo wings ($6.99 for 10). Grab a slice of either cheese or a one-topping-topped pizza ($2.50) or opt for a crisp salad (starting at $3.50 for a one-serving side and going up to $18.95 for a seven- to 10-serving large) available in chef, Greek, garden, and Caesar varieties.