Otis Zark at Terra
by June 28, 1999 12:00 am 91 views
Don’t go out to Otis Zark for a quick lunch – but that doesn’t mean don’t go. It’s just that the 20-minute drive from Fayetteville to Durham tests the limits of most anyone’s lunch hour.
Our party of three recently visited the hidden land at Terra Studios, home of those famous little glass bluebirds. Even under drizzling skies, the studio grounds held great charm.
All of the restaurant’s decorative and artistic touches- even the floor tiles and tables – were made on the premises. The hand-painted, hand-sculpted green light poles that spot the walkway to the restaurant prepare the visitor for a new experience.
Opening the large, carved wooden door, we wondered whether we had found the Keebler Elf house. It’s at least as wondrous and definitely has a fairy-tale atmosphere.
A running stream, complete with blown-glass fish and shiny pennies on the bottom, greeted us at the hostess station.
After a few moments, our hostess blew in with her green scarf trailing, and we were seated in the center of the dining room. There was no waiting for a regular table – and ours was quite comfortable.
As we perused the menu options, we discovered flair even in the names of the salads and sandwiches. No mere hamburgers offered here. Try Ralph Yoda’s Brother-in-Law’s Burger ($6) instead.
A three-dollar-cup of the “Soup of the Moment, a creamy potato blend that day, and three entrees cost our party less than $25.
One diner tried Calipo’s Cajun Chicken Po’ Boy ($6), a dish he termed “good” with just the right amount of mayonnaise, lettuce and Swiss cheese. His choice of a side dish, potato salad, got an “average” rating.
Another member of our party ordered Bottle Tail Greep’s BLT ($5). The generous portions of apple-smoked bacon pleased the diner. A pile of thick French fries accompanied the sandwich.
Bagel Lump’s Roast Beef Bounty ($5.75), a bagel generously stacked with roast beef, red onion, tomatoes, and cream cheese fed the third diner.
After finishing, we watched a waiter deliver a scrumptious-looking plate of chocolate-covered cheesecake to a nearby table.
Unfortunately, our waitress must have thought we looked well-fed because she didn’t even offer us a chance to order dessert – a fine point but one we always take notice of.
Overall, we agreed with the Terra brochure when it described the restaurant as “Bringing back the magic to dining.”