First Weekend Favorites: Chef Angelica Barajas Serves Authentic Mexican Specials at Players Retreat
The first weekend of the month has arrived, bringing one of Raleigh’s favorite traditions back to Players Retreat. From Thursday, Sept. 3, through Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, Chef Angelica Barajas is serving up an incredible lineup of authentic Mexican dishes, hand-cut USDA Prime steaks, featured craft cocktails, and premium wine pairings.
Start your meal with classic appetizers like warm chips with housemade pico de gallo, loaded Mexican nachos, or a comforting bowl of pozole garnished with fresh onions, radish, and lettuce.
For the main course, dive into Chef Angelica’s signature Carne Asada—served alongside rice, refried beans, fresh salsa verde, and housemade tortillas—and pair it with a glass of 2018 Dominio De Eguren Protocolo. Prefer a customized plate? Mix and match your choice of one, two, or three staples: a cheese-stuffed Chile Relleno, savory Green Chicken Tamales, or a crisp Chicken Tinga Tostada piled high with lettuce, queso fresco, tomato, onions, and sour cream.
If you are craving a steakhouse classic, our butcher is cutting USDA Prime Filet Mignon, NY Strip, and Ribeye to order. Top yours with a red wine reduction, Steak au Poivre sauce, or Foie Gras Truffle Compound Butter, and sip on a glass of Juggernaut Cabernet or Valkenburg Riesling.
Save room for dessert with a slice of house-made Strawberry Tres Leches, classic Key Lime Pie, or a shared PR Cheese Plate featuring Taleggio, Manchego, Tomme de Savoie, and Roquefort. Pair your dessert with fresh Sumatra coffee from Cup A Joe Roasters, a glass of 10-year Sandeman Tawny Porto, or one of our $12 feature cocktails—including the Pineapple Margarita, Tequila Honeysuckle, and Tequila Old Fashioned. Scotch enthusiasts can also enjoy half-pour features of Laphroaig 10 Year, Quarter Cask, and Lore.
Join us Thursday, Sept. 3, Friday, Sept. 4, and Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, for an unforgettable weekend of food, drinks, and community at PR.
The Full Menu
Chef Angelica Barajas’s Weekend Specials
Thursday, Sept. 3-Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026
Appetizers
Mexican Nachos $12.95
Pico de Gallo & Chips $8.95
Pozole garnished with onions, radish, lettuce $6.95/cup $8.95/bowl
Entrées
Carne Asada served with rice, beans, salsa verde & housemade tortillas $24.95
Pairings:
Dominio De Eguren Protocolo, Spain ’18 $10/$38
All of the following items are served with rice & refried beans
Pick 1 $16.95 Pick 2 $18.95 Pick 3 $20.95
Chile Relleno with tomato sauce
Green Chicken Tamales with sour cream & pico de gallo
Chicken Tinga Tostada with lettuce, queso fresco, tomato, onions & sour cream
USDA Prime Steaks
Butcher’s Cut to Order
*Filet Mignon 6 oz, NY Strip or Ribeye 12 oz. $49.95 Extra ozs. $4 each
All Steaks come with red wine reduction, compound butter, choice of side and Garden Salad or Sub Small Chopped Salad Add $2.50
Steak au Poivre Sauce and/or Foie Gras Truffle Compound Butter +$4 each
Pairing:
Juggernaut Cabernet, CA ’22 $12/48
Valkenburg Riesling, Germany ‘21 $10/40
Desserts
Strawberry Tres Leches $13.00
Sticky Toffee Pudding $7.95
Flourless Chocolate Cake $7.95
Key Lime Pie $7.95
Cheesecake of the day $7.95
Vanilla Ice Cream $5.95
PR Cheese Plate for 2 $21.95
Taleggio – Cow’s Milk – Italy
Manchego – Sheep’s Milk – Spain
Tomme de Savoie – Cow’s Milk – France
Roquefort – Cow’s Milk – France (Blue Limestone Aged)
Crackers, Pickles, House-made Jams
Coffee Service
All of our Coffee is fresh roasted by Cup A Joe Roasters
Fresh Brewed Sumatra (Indonesia) $3.25
Double Espresso $4
Latte $4.95
Cappuccino $4.95
Extra Shots $.75
Dessert Wines
Émotions de la Tour Sauternes, France ’17 $11/$42
Presidential White Porto, Portugal NV $9/54
Sandeman Fine Ruby Porto NV $9/54
Quinta Noval Tawny Porto, Portugal NV $10/60
Sandeman Old Tawny Porto 10yr, Portugal $19/116
Craft Cocktails $12
Pineapple Margarita
Tequila Honeysuckle
Tequila Old Fashioned
Single Malt Scotch Half-Pour Features
Macallan
Double Cask Gold $9
Harmony Intense Arabica $24
Harmony Phoenix Orchid Tea $26
CHECK OUT OUR SINGLE MALT SCOTCH CLUB!
*These menu items are cooked to order. Notice: Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs may increase your risk of food-borne illness, especially if you have certain medical issues.