Cypress on the Hill in Chapel Hill

Jessica and I had the chance to take advantage of a Groupon offer and try Cypress on the Hill while staying in downtown Chapel Hill at the amazing Franklin Hotel for a fantastic date night!  Before I get to the restaurant, though, I'd just like to try to explain the impeccable service, ambiance, and amenities at the Franklin Hotel. 

Franklin Hotel Atrium

Upon our arrival, we were met by a bellhop who took our bags and gave us a quick tour of the hotel.  He brought us to the front desk, where we were given, in addition to our room and gift certificate to Cypress on the Hill, a coupon for two drinks and a cheese tray at their hotel bar as well as being told that we got a free bottle of champagne delivered to our room!  With these added treats (as well as homemade chocolate chip cookies), we found our room where the bellhop showed us the various features, most notably the sound system piped through the room that was controlled by a remote.  The room itself was great too; a king-sized bed with a nice couch and flat panel television along with a glass showed and spacious bathroom.  In all my life, I've stayed in few hotel rooms as nice.

We made our way to the bar for our complimentary cheese tray and were greeted by a personable bartender and a bar with leather furniture and a very upscale feel.  The tray, which included several cheeses as well as fresh fruit and crackers, was a perfect start to our night.  We enjoyed an extra drink at the bar before heading to the restaurant across the street.

Cypress on the Hill is a small restaurant with an open kitchen for the guests.  The atmosphere is elegant without being stuffy, and perfect for a date night.  The ages of the diners ranged from college-aged to middle aged adults, but no one was out of place.  Our server, Warren I believe, was excellent throughout the night, offering opinions and recommendations without overstepping his place.  We were pleased all night with the service from the whole staff.


Crispy Calamari

For appetizer, I had the crispy calamari; it was served with a napa slaw and lemongrass vinaigrette.  While I'm not normally big on vegetables, I really liked the assortment with this dish.  Each bite containing calamari as well as various aspects of the slaw was crunchy and spicy, with a bit of sweetness as well.  In particular, I thought they did a good job with spice; too frequently, restaurants seem conservative or afraid to make a spicy dish and that was not the case here.  I wasn't totally blown away by the dish (the crab cake and fried green tomato sandwich may be better to order if I went back), but the flavor combination was original and successful, so I was happy.

I went with the house specialty for my entree; the spicy fried whole snapper.  Our waiter gave a strong recommendation and I was not disappointed.  The dish was perfectly cooked and extremely flavorful without any fishy taste (surprising when the skin is kept on).  In preparation, the cook scores the fish diagonally which allows for easy eating.  The spice of the dish was pronounced in a similar way to my appetizer; my only tweak would be a sweet component to the sauce to pair well with the heat.  The side dish, soba noodles with tomatoes, was good but I barely ate any with my focus on the monstrous fish!  This was my first real experience attacking a whole fish and I was really impressed with the flavor, the method of preparation, and the overall experience in eating it (Jessica had the grouper, which looked fantastic and was nowhere to be found on her plate at the end of the meal!).



Spicy Whole Fish



After our dinner, we walked down Franklin Street before returning to the hotel.  Upon our return, we found the bed covered in red rose petals in the shape of a heart, an amazing touch from the hotel staff that continued to amaze and impress us throughout our stay!  It was the perfect end to the perfect date night for Jessica and me.

I was impressed by Cypress on the Hill; they seem to be doing food slightly different than other fine dining places in the Triangle and I give them credit.  The whole fish was certainly the main attraction, and for good reason, but everything I tried really was good.  I wouldn't go so far as to put Cypress on the Hill in the class with Nana's, Magnolia Grill, and Second Empire, but if you want a fun date night with the chance to try new and exciting food, it's a great place.  Couple it with the Franklin Hotel and you have the chance for a wonderful "one-night vacation" with someone special, experiencing all Chapel Hill has to offer!