Incredible coffee, and I loved the aesthetic! I got the strawberry creme latte (hot version), and…read moreit was fantastic! My partner got the iced version--which was somehow even better than the warm version. I don't like my coffee drinks too sweet, and they struck exactly the right balance. It tasted like there was real strawberry (and not just a super-sweet syrup). Unlike many coffee shops, they gave us a number to bring to our table, so we didn't need to stand around and wait for our coffee to be ready. Instead, they brought it to our table for us. This was such a nice touch! There's a good amount of seating inside, but we sat outside since it was such a nice day. Can't wait to go back & try an iced americano or drip coffee to try out some of their different roasts.

Where to begin with iris coffee lab? The ordering experience was streamlined, and there was ample…read moreindoor and outdoor seating. Unfortunately, this is probably because the chairs were the equivalent of sitting on a guitar pick. The rest of the decor similarly resembled a mid-century modern insane asylum. All this is child's play compared to the drinks. I was hoping they would redeem the experience. I was rooting for you, iris coffee lab. The matcha left me wanting more. I couldn't taste even a whisper of matcha flavoring, and the price was laughable for a glass of green milk. When my flat white arrived, I felt that twinkle return to my eye. Sadly, about 3 sips later, as I neared the end of my beverage I was shocked to discover a texture component I was not expecting. After a lot of contemplation, I have decided I am not a fan of coffee grounds swirling around my mouth. The customers are hip and trendy, the employees exceedingly friendly and speedy, the drinks bespoke and innovative, but I think we need to cut out the frills and go back to the basics. Why play 3D chess when you've yet to master tic tac toe? I think the experience was net neutral, but for how steep the pricing is, I feel it's my duty to let the world know what they're getting into.

Amazing place to get your morning joe!!! Matcha!!! Is a very busy place so carry a little patience…read morein your bag, LOL.... Super nice people

It's okay here! I don't feel typical warm and fuzzies from the staff here, just kinda straight to…read morethe point, taking my order, etc, and I feel like every time I've visited so far (and I'm new to the area) that there's always something "wrong". I couldn't get a hot matcha latte the other day because the espresso machine wasn't working (which I'm sure is out of their control) and so I opted for a hot lavender earl grey tea (pictured here). I was able to get the hot matcha another day and that decent (also pictured). Just a pro-tea tip-- there was no reason to have THIS LARGE AMOUNT of tea leaves here. This was enough to brew an entire pot! So the cup of tea I had was EXTREMELY bitter for that small mug. Wayyyyyyyyyyy too many leaves. You only need a teaspoon (maybe two depending on the tea) and that goes for any loose leaf tea. This is often an issue at places that primarily serve coffee, so perhaps some education on proper tea brewing would help.

This place has been a staple in our house for years. The pecan sticky buns are OUT OF THIS WORLD!…read moreAnd we always enjoy the bread and pastries we pick up here. What sets yellow dog apart though is their customer service! It's always a welcoming atmosphere. They are kind and accommodating. We trust them with special orders like our Thanksgiving day desserts and the decorated cookies for our kids school parties and yes, pecan sticky buns are a must for Christmas morning. We can count on them to always have our order ready and get it right whether we've placed it in person or at the last minute over the phone. They have accommodated some special requests and always seem so happy to do it. That is not something we've experienced at other bakeries in town. This is a must frequent spot in Raleigh. We love Yellow Dog and will be customers for life.

Very standard coffee. Was not blown away but did like the decor of the cafe and the color scheme…read more Did not try the bakery items so my review is strictly about the coffee itself

I just moved here from the pacific northwest and have been looking for a good bakery, similar to…read morethe ones I am used to. When I walked into the Paul and Jack Cary location, I smiled because it finally felt like home. I miss the cinnamon rolls from the west coast and couldn't wait to try theirs without the icing! It didn't disappoint! Moist, not too sweet and tasty!!! There is a good variety of pastries beyond the typical cookies and cakes found in this area :-) The only drawback is that their prices are much much higher than what I am used to, but I will be back in the future for a treat!

Delicious pastry shop specializing in rich, filling croissaints like chocolate ganache, pistachio…read moreraspberry, and other seasonal flavors. A huge variety, including savory too. The croissant itself is flaky and very buttery! They also do a bunch of other baked goods, like honey cake (seems like there is a dash of Eastern European flair in some of the desserts they make) and cheesecake! Lots of varieties of cheesecake actually. I had the baklava cheesecake and it was delicious. The baklava base tasted like a very high quality baklava, and the cheesecake for that one was on the softer side and very rich and creamy, with a yummy sour cream tang.

This was place was AMAZING. The parking was so convenient with parallel spots and a parking deck…read moreright next to it. And the interior was just so cute, I couldn't get enough of it. The server was super friendly and was well informed on what is on the menu. And the wait wasn't too long, especially with ordering a meal. I got the salmon bowl with rice, and trust I will be back to get it. The flavors were amazing and the rice was cooked just right.

I went to bloom for an early dinner. I was not alone in finding this place a true coffee shop where…read morenearly everyone had a laptop out, so I felt at home to work as well. The decor is nice. Minimalist but chic. Clean. Not too loud or noisy. You can get service at your table. Everyone was nice. It's not totally like a traditional waitstaff, as they don't come by as often, but still helpful and around when I needed something. The cocktails were good - I had the honey bourbon smash. It was well made. So much so I had two! For food, these are shareable small plates. Morning truly felt like a meal. The food came out fast and was hot/fresh. I had the crab claws, crispy shrimp and dumplings. The crab claws were delicious. Lots of them too. Served with bread I didn't use. The crispy shrimp were nice large shrimp and a spicy sauce with rice. I ended up using the rice with the crab claw sauce. And the dumplings were ok but I didn't eat many of them. They were my least favorite. I would come back to enjoy coffee and breakfast, but doubt I come back for dinner.

The same ownership as Benchwarmer Bagels. They really know bread. I got here at almost closing…read moretime, and I wish that I had come earlier because almost everything was sold out. I got: 1. A bialy (bee-AH-lee) is a traditional Polish-Jewish bread roll, similar to a bagel but with key differences: it is baked, not boiled, has a dimpled center filled with onion bits and poppy seeds, and is generally softer and less dense. Originating in Białystok, Poland, these rolls are traditionally served plain or toasted with toppings like butter or schmear. 2. Rye shortbread. Not too sweet. Just perfection! 3. Bran biscotti. I like the idea of a high-fiber bran biscotti over a refined flour one. 4. Buchi Tepache. I got the mango-pineapple flavor. This is a local NC brand. It's a mildly fermented drink that originated in Mexico. I got the ingredients from their website (drinkbuchi.com): Organic Tibicos (Water, Organic Fair Trade Certified™* Cane Sugar, Organic Kefir Culture), Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Mango Puree, Organic Pineapple Juice Concentrate, Organic Whole Lemon Puree, Organic Mango Natural Flavor, Organic Pineapple Natural Flavor, Organic Monk Fruit Extract. 5. The baguette. Unlike a refined flour white bread baguette at La Farm Bakery, this one is made of a red wheat flour. Turkey Red flour is an heirloom, organic hard red winter wheat brought to Kansas in 1873 by Mennonite immigrants. Prized for its rich, nutty flavor and superior baking qualities, it is often used for artisan bread, sourdough, and pasta due to its unique, sometimes more digestible, gluten profile. It is commonly stone-ground and available from local Kansas millers. 6. The star of the show was the Everything Croissant. Like the Everything Bagel but soft and buttery. Topped with all the sesame seeds and seasonings with a cream cheese interior. So good! I do plan on returning!

We went this morning excitement so glad to say that this all of my expectations. I had the pear jam…read morepastry, my partner had a ham and cheese croissant and our little one had the cinnamon roll. They have fresh milk for sale from dairy farm in Juliet, nc, the coffees are incredible! It was super busy so you have to wait a little for a table, but the pastries are so incredible that it's worth the wait! The ambience feels like an industrial bakery, but it's inviting and cozy. You can tell. It's a wonderful neighborhood spot where people meet up every day. It's definitely recommend it if you're not yet visited. And if you're looking for a place to get your fresh bread weekly then I highly suggest this space.

Truck broke down in Durham Nc. Decided to get outta my room and try something different. I've never…read morebeen to a tea bar but what the hell ,let try it! I wasn't disappointed. The bartenderRick was very knowledgeable abt The tea. To be honest I didn't care for the tea but the coffee was pretty amazing! The place was a bit small but not to small. Thet have an area with a sofa n chair and seating in the front of the building. In all I was happy I found this place.

A Great gathering place for non alcoholic drinks…read more I really like this place and hope it stays around for a long time. It has a good "at home" feel and great non alcoholic drinks. The Kava is what I go for. The "Low Tide" is a mil based Kava drink and is super cheap. There is a lively bar, but also comfortable chairs and sofas. It's a great place to chill.

A fun concept bar of cocktails + desserts! We sat at the bar and received great service. Make sure…read moreto take the time to read the whole menu because there are some very unique offerings! We also learned the menu is updated seasonally, so it was a perfect pairing to the beautiful spring weather

Bittersweet was pretty bittersweet... we came for desserts for a friend's birthday and there was…read moreabout a twenty minute line outside. We were super excited to try these drinks and desserts and were surprised by the lack of flavor in everything. The presentation looked really appetizing but the cupcake was dry, the pecan pie was more like a chocolate with pecans on top and the ice cream sandwich looked cool but tasted like stale popcorn. The drink was okay also. I will say that the vibe was chill and has a really nice date atmosphere.

An unassuming cafe at the corner of Martin and Salisbury. I had the Nun'Ya Biscuit and it's like a…read morecombo between the cheddar bay biscuits from Red Lobster and your granny's sausage gravy. Absolutely delicious, I could have eating ten! Pro-tip pull the top "muffin" part off and dip it into the gravy filling inside. I also got two macaroons, the lemon Poppyseed and the Violet Greek Yogurt. The lemon one was sweet and tart and the violet one had almost like a floral taste both were great! And to drink I got a chai latte with oat milk, super strong chai taste and not too sweet. Super quick and friendly service. There's plenty of seating, WiFi and outlets available. Perfect for knocking out some work.

Great location, abundant seating AND outlets at every seat practically. The Toulouse ham sando can…read morebe warmed up, 10/10. They offer all the classic cafe drinks and have a good assortment of fine teas. Will definitely come back, great place to work, albeit music is loud.

This downtown Raleigh stop really came through when I was craving a breakfast sandwich!!! LOL…read more The staff was very friendly. Service was prompt. It's a small space but there's plenty of outdoor seating (and I believe there is additional indoor seating next door). Loved my bacon, egg, and cheese croissant! Added a nice fruit salad too. Just love the vibe of this part of downtown Raleigh!

Morning Times is one of my favorite stops near the bus station--perfect whether you're heading out…read moreof town or just starting your day. Their grab-and-go breakfast burritos are consistently fresh, filling, and flavorful, and the coffee is exactly what you want in the morning: smooth, rich, and dependable. And the scones? Truly some of the best I've had this side of the pond--tender, just the right amount of sweetness, and always a treat with a hot cup of coffee. I also love the seating options. The indoor counter stools are great for a quick, cozy moment to yourself, and the outdoor streetside seating is perfect for people-watching with a cup of coffee in hand or to grab one and share with a neighbor in need at the nearby station. It's an easy, welcoming spot with great food and a relaxed atmosphere--highly recommend if you're anywhere nearby and need a good start to your day. It's also affordable so that buying another for a stranger is always the right thing to do.