Academy Street Bistro

Academy Street Bistro is a casual fine dining room on South Academy Street in downtown Cary. Owner Joe Dumont puts out bistro plates with an American and Italian base, and other influences turn up across the menu. The restaurant sits in the growing center of town.

Lunch and dinner both lean fresh and hearty, and the room suits a table of friends, family or colleagues. The bar keeps a rotation of specials running through the week, so the drink list changes depending on the night you walk in.

What to know

• Bourbon Mondays open the week of drink specials.
• Martinis are half price on Martini Tuesdays.
• Mule Wednesdays bring vodka, Kentucky and Irish mules at seven dollars.
• Wine Down Thursdays take half off every bottle of wine.
• The kitchen describes its cooking as eclectic worldwide cuisine.