Greetings from Carrboro,

The Red Bull girls drop by. Once a year. Maybe twice. But only when they’ve woefully strayed too far into Carrboro. It’s remarkable how energetic they are. And earnest. Even driving around in that car. It’s like being attacked by a rabid soda cheerleader. “You’ll sell a ton! Great in cocktails!” And, the big, back-flip finale, “Your staff will love them!” Oy.

Not that I haven’t fallen prey to such things – I wish. Once, in a fit of fiscal distress after 9/11, I nearly agreed to sell cigarettes. They were going to pay me some serious cash to put a discreet lighted Camel sign on the bar. I was sooo tempted. And in a different form of temptation, a very clever winery in Oregon enlisted – no lie – sultry Swedish twins to hawk their pinot blanc. Now, I’m not going to say I didn’t order some. I’m just going to say that I don’t remember.

But by and large there’s a spectacular group of people that knock on our door to help us be the restaurant that we want to be. Farmers send texts and emails of what is coming out of the fields. Breweries and distilleries bring us samples of their latest and greatest. The wine makers, distributors, and importers show us the wines that work with our bold, Southern palate. Basically, these guys get us.

The relationships that we’ve forged over these 20 years are sturdy pillars that we rely on seven days a week – someone you’ll never meet who spends three hours driving to Zebulon to get us a case of salmon that we forgot to order the day before (I’m looking at you, Sam). You see, after all is said and done, this is a people business. And we’re so very grateful for the hardworking people that make this restaurant hum. Even if they’re not all Swedish twins.

It’s Thursday, and you know what that means – Acme Halfy hour. Half-priced oysters on the half shell for half the night (5:30-7:30). Can you really ever have enough of these righteous Shooting Point oysters? Come on in. The weekend starts here.

This weekend @ Acme: #patiolife. The Acme tomato plate. Oh-my oysters. Grilled bone-in ribeye with smoked jalapeño and mezcal butter. Pan-seared haddock. Acme gumbo. Blueberry shortcake. Watermelon sangria. Pecan crusted fried chicken. Southern tomato pie. Field melon and pickled blueberry salad. Risotto. Cheeseburgers. Pink wine. Steamed Virginia Clams. That cornbread. Avocado empanada. Fried okra and Shishito peppers. Crab cakes. Forever roasted pig. Friday night martinis. But sorry, no Red Bull.

Well, that’s all the news from Carrboro. The staff at Acme look forward to serving you soon.

Cheers,
The Staff at Acme

Reservations: 919 929 2263 or online