I flew into Raleigh with a drive ahead of me to Greenville and wanted to grab a bite before getting on the road. Carol's Kitchen kept coming up as one of the better options in the area, so I made the detour. What I didn't expect was that "tucked away" would mean tucked into a commercial business building, the kind of place you'd expect to find an insurance adjuster's waiting room, not lunch. Walking in, the only other person there was someone waiting on a to-go order. My first thought was that I'd made a mistake. The space felt sterile, stale, more office park than kitchen. I was wrong. Minutes from closing and not planning to come back through town, I asked the counter what people order. Buffalo chicken wrap, they said. I added a kolache -- they had an everything bacon version that caught my eye -- and a side of bacon potato salad. The order came out in brown to-go containers, and I walked back to the car bracing for disappointment. The kolache was a revelation. I'm not a connoisseur, I couldn't grade one against the platonic ideal, but if this is what they can be, then kolaches deserve a much wider audience. That pastry alone is reason enough to come back. The buffalo chicken wrap was right behind it: hearty, full flavored, well-balanced, in a tortilla with just enough toast to give it some structure. The potato salad looked, at first, like it was skimping on quantity, barely more than a dallop, but by the time I'd worked through the kolache and half of the wrap, I was full and grateful that half the wrap was still in the bag for later. My only real regret is that the leftovers won't taste the same when they're not at temperature. 4.6 stars, what not a solid five you ask? Here's where Carol's Kitchen breaks my brain a little. The food is warm, charming, careful -- the kind of meal that wants to be eaten slowly, at a table, with a conversation going. It's a country welcome. But the room is the opposite of that. It's a 30 Rock situation: Kenneth Parcell got dropped into a corporate office building and started cooking lunch for the suits. The food keeps trying to invite you to stay; the building keeps trying to push you back out to your car. The two are wildly out of sync. Service was on par with what you'd expect from a grab-and-go counter, helpful, not warm, doing the job. Nothing to complain about, but nothing matching what the food is reaching for, either. What I keep coming back to is that Carol's Kitchen deserves a different room. A table-service space with a slower pace, somewhere a community could build around what this kitchen is putting out. As it stands, the concept of the spot and the concept of the food are at odds, and the food is the one losing the argument. Still, if someone suggested going back later the same day, I wouldn't hesitate. I'd just be sad about the room again. read more

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We ordered our food from Carol's kitchen today on toast. I've been wanting to try it for a while after seeing the incredible yelp reviews.. I'm so glad it lived up to the hype! Upon arrival, our order was ready to go by its estimated time. Think simple, homemade food, but made with love. Today, my partner and I shared the tuna and chicken salad sandwiches, the sandwiches come with a side. He had a kale salad and I had the bag of chips. The sandwiches are definitely gourmet level, the bread and garnishes are all fresh and thoughtfully put together. For dessert, we got a brown butter rice crispy treat, which was absolutely massive and larger than my hand and two chocolate chip cookies. Everything was delicious and lived up to my high hopes. I'm excited to return and to try the other items from the menu. read more

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It's a nice grab-and-go spot for quick meals. It's unfortunate that they don't have seating in the restaurant. I was traveling when I went here but luckily found a patio that I could eat it comfortably. The food was good! Everything is prepped beforehand so once you order all that's really left to do is heat it up. It was surprising good for how fast it's prepared. The sandwich had a good amount of toppings and was filling. The soup tasted very rich and cozy. read more

Carroll's Kitchen - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I only came in here for a sweet treat and got a cream cheese crumble kolache Good lord that thing was soooo good I'll definitely be back read more

I was in downtown Raleigh running errands and I stumbled upon this awesome little shop! They sell Czech Kolaches!!! I was so excited when I saw their sign out front. I'm Czech and I miss all of the delicious Czech foods my Grandma used to make. These kolaches took me back to my youth. There are so many varieties! I ordered the cream cheese crumble (the traditional choice), an everything bacon and apple butter brie. They were all excellent. What a great discovery! Their soups, salads and sandwiches look amazing too. I can't wait to return and try more of their menu. All of the women working were super friendly and cool. I just read that Carroll's Kitchen is a nonprofit restaurant and they hire women overcoming crisis, like domestic abuse. That is wonderful. read more

Stumbled upon this spot looking for a bite in downtown Raleigh. Cute small spot. Great for a quick bite to eat. You can't go wrong with any sandwich. I really loved the buffalo chicken wrap. Def have to recommend the potato salad as a side! read more

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I ordered online and walked over to pick it up. It was ready and waiting on the shelf with my name on it. A large caesar salad with chicken, hold the croutons. The romaine lettuce was perfect. No wilted leaves, no cores mixed in. The chicken was cooked properly and an appropriate amount was added for the upcharge I paid. There was enough dressing and there was enough shredded parrmesan. It's easy to screw up a salad. Carroll's got it completely right and I'll be getting lunch from them again. [Review 12955 overall, 271 of 2020.] read more

Carroll's Kitchen - Carroll’s Kitchen, Raleigh NC - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Just got the turkey and Brie and tuna melt. Probably the best sandwich I've ever had, and I'm not exaggerating. Very friendly staff too

CK's has the best grab and go lunch in downtown Raleigh! I got the tuna salad snack pack with three homemade salads plus cheese slices, but there were also salads, sandwiches, and kolaches! I'll be back soon. read more

Carroll's Kitchen - Tuna Salad Snack Pack - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Ordered ahead for lunch and picked up easily. Everything was delicious. Highly recommend. It looks like a small place so I think takeout is best. read more

Carroll's Kitchen - Half Turkey Brie and cup of Tomato Basil Soup - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

It's always great when you get a business that's able to intertwine a great social cause along with great food and Carroll's Kitchen does just that. Serving as both a take-out sandwich shop and also an organization to help women gain business and professional skills. Ever since their launch several years back, the food has been consistently delicious and fresh! From their signature kolaches to pressed sandwiches and pastries, they haven't missed a beat as they moved from Chef Liz to their current chef, Ryan. I had a chance to preview their Winter menu and thumbs up to the meatloaf sandwich which is thick and hearty paired with BBQ sauce and provolone. The Squash Nosh quiche is fantastic, amped up with bacon bits embedded in a soft egg base. Service is solid at Carroll's Kitchen and it's great opportunity for the employees here to work on their customer service skills given the downtown Raleigh crowd. So hooray for Carroll's Kitchen and their staff that make it a delicious and wonderful lunch spot! read more

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Gosh. I'm so happy to say that this is a great cause with great taste, besides. This afternoon I ordered a slice of quiche, the turkey panini, and a slice of salted caramel brownie. The brownie was thick and fudgey with a kind of toffee taste on top that was really delicious. The panini was complex, filling, and just a little sweet. The quiche was jam-packed with meats and veggies! I'm so happy to have eaten at Carroll's, can't recommend it enough. Great value, excellent food. read more

Such a great spot downtown for lunch! Great location, great food, great cause. I love their quiches, sandwiches, salads, kolaches and dessert. They always have vegetarian and pescatarian options but don't usually offer vegan options. They offer comfort food with lots of flavor. I ordered a few dishes for Christmas too and it was so convenient and delicious. I love that they support women coming from difficult circumstances to help with employment and education opportunities! You can order online or walk up for quick service. There's no area to dine in but they are some parks nearby to enjoy a bite. read more

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Carroll's Kitchen is an excellent quick spot to pickup a sandwich or salad! They're a tad overpriced, but that's because you're getting quality ingredients every time, and contributing to a good cause, as all the employees are being helped by the nonprofit. There's usually a line inside at lunchtime but it tends to go pretty fast. Their sides standout from the pack with homemade kale salad (AMAZING!), Texas caviar, homemade applesauce, or pesto cavatappi. I also love that you can get half and half of their sandwiches, because their sandwich specials are worth going for. If you are going to get a sandwich anywhere on this side of Fayetteville St, I recommend Carroll's over anywhere else. My only complaint is if they could have one or two more veggie-forward low-carb sides, like a green salad or veggie salad, on the days where I don't need too many carbs. read more

KOLACHES. Being from the Midwest, I miss having kolaches. It's not really a thing over here which has made me really sad. Love that they have delicious kolaches. read more

Stopped in and got the turkey bacon on brie the most delicious sandwich for breakfast would definitely recommend this place and will definitely be coming back! read more

Carroll's Kitchen - Stopped & got the Turkey Brie! Most delicious sandwich for breakfast! - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Just updating to say I'm SO excited they added a vegan sandwich option - Nina's vegan supreme. (They don't serve it everyday so call and ask). But it's a delicious BLT with avocado and the "B" is smokey and BBQ-y. Got 1/2 vegan supreme and 1/2 tomato basil soup (also vegan) This is one of my favorite places in DTR. I take all my friends here and show it off. The food is delicious and the service is always extremely fast and friendly. I usually get the 2 kolaches and a cup of soup special. I also love that Carroll's Kitchen is giving back to the community, providing employment to those in need, and teaching useful skills. I will continue to go back frequently. read more

Carroll's Kitchen - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

You have a very rude worker Selena Curtis that's not only a no good person but she would steal from you watch her I am filling a police report not only she stole my money she allows her 15 year to steal as well and supply drugs to children she the worst person I've ever met read more

This visit, our first, we ordered several items to try as much as we could, as we had a restaurant.com gift certificate. The kolache's both sweet and savory, one of each. Sandwiches, and other items filled with yummy goodness, A great little place, that gives back to the community. It's a take out place, with no seating to speak of, so plan to have a place to go with your food (a nearby park) or back to your office. The staff are very friendly, and helpful when it comes to explaining what's in the kolaches and sandwiches. Will definitely eat here next time I find myself in the area. read more

Carroll's Kitchen - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Just ordered UE from Carroll's kitchen and am blown away by their food! We're in town from Charlotte and will make sure to stop by Carrolls Kitchen on every Raleigh trip read more

I decided to finally go in and try this out. I love what the business stands for and the opportunities given to their staff- I love to see this concept in Raleigh. Check their hours, they are open for a short time. This is a grab and go concept, menu is small and there are items on display. I ordered the buffalo chicken wrap w/ ranch and a house salad. The wrap was drenched in the sauce, it was so spicy that I really didn't taste anything other than the buffalo sauce. My mouth is still on fire. The ranch I believed is made there but didn't taste like ranch, had a tzatiki look to it, it was ok but definitely not ranch. The house salad came with a vinaigrette, again wasn't a fan of the flavors. It's a little over priced for the quality of food, again I'm all about the cause but if it wasn't for that I'm certain I wouldn't try it again. read more

Great Experience!! Thank you. Sandwiches were savory and flavorful. Quiche was also delicious. read more

Friendly with great food. Avocado bacon sandwich and the Buffalo chicken wrap are fantastic! (Also recommend the side of corn, if you can get it!) read more

I've lived in downtown Raleigh for half a year and never knew about this little gem. I briefly stopped by and ordered a breakfast kolache just to try them out, but once I got home, I thoroughly regretted not buying another one!!! It was so delicious!! Makes for the perfect light/ delicious breakfast . I'm definitely coming back to try their other kolache flavors. read more

Carroll's Kitchen - Egg, bacon, and cheese Kolache - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Great lunch place in downtown Raleigh. The sandwiches are fairly priced and very good. Restaurant has a bigger social mission that is worthy of support. read more

I discovered the deliciousness of Carroll's kitchen during the grand opening of Morgan Street Food Hall! I had arrived before everyone started serving lunch at 11, and they had cookies out to sample, oh what a cookie! So I went back the following Friday to try more. I had the chicken pesto wrap...mouth watering goodness!! The wrap comes with your choice of side, I like the Texas Caviar. Oh and you have to get a side of ranch to dip your wrap in...party in your mouth!! I've literally had dreams about their food. Oh and I went back last week and had their Nutella S'Mores Kolache for dessert, delicious combination of goodness. read more

Carroll's Kitchen - Chicken Pesto Wrap, Texas Caviar and Nutella S'Mores Kolache. - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The ladies were so nice and my food was ready super fast! I loved the tuna melt. The Mexican street corn wasn't what I was expecting, typically it's a warm dish and theirs is cold and very oniony, very much like a potato salad. Overall a great experience! Plus, there's a parking lot right across the street so parking was easy. read more

Carroll's Kitchen - Tuna Melt and Mexican Street Corn - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Loved Carroll's Kitchen! I visited the location at Morgan street food hall and I know there's another location a couple streets away in downtown Raleigh. I came here during lunch and ordered a Caesar salad. Oh man was it good. The dressing was nice and creamy and the chicken was perfectly cooked. I'm picky with my salads so I was very happy with my meal. Next time I come here I'm trying some of their desserts. There were some brownies in the display case that were calling my name. Brownies that were literally huge, thick thick thick looking . Coming here is awesome because part of their profits gets donated to help the homeless. Additionally women who are experiencing homelessness can come and work here as a way to earn income. There's a couple of companies that are partnered with Carroll's kitchen that assist employees with housing and other needs. You can also donate on their website. I had a great experience and can't wait to come again. I love eating local and helping a great cause. Way to go Carroll's!! read more

Carroll's Kitchen - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Exceptional food, great cause! We had the buffalo chicken wrap and the cheeseburger kolache. Both were exceptional! A warning though: the buffalo sauce is pretty spicy, and they use a lot of it! I love that though... so this was perfect for me. The kolache was also very good! It was extremely flavorful. I will definitely be going back, for breakfast too! The prices are either extremely reasonable or slightly pricy, depending on what you order. I don't eat huge portions, so I'll probably pay $6 for the half wrap instead $12 for the whole next time. I think y'all really cool that they offer that option for those of us who just need a little something. The kolaches are pretty filling too, and for $3, you could get two and make a whole meal out of them! Anyway, the prices and options are great for me, but I can see how others might not be quite as satisfied. read more

The Buffalo chicken panini was salty! I couldn't eat it and spent close to 30 bucks because of delivery fees. The bacon potato salad was good, although I didn't taste any bacon. read more

This has been on my list for a while to try for lunch and I'm so glad we did! It was a cold day so I had a soup in mind. I tried their Chicken Velvet Soup and I wish I ordered a tub of it! It was sooo warm, savory and simply good! I also tried the Kolache and it reminds me of a yeasts bread shaped into a small bowl with different fillings! These were also delicious! I will definitely be back!! read more

Carroll's Kitchen - Inside - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

How have I never reviewed Carroll's? Seriously I am here at least three times a week enjoying a quick yet AMAZING lunch. Carroll's menu is comprised of sandwiches, salads, soups, koclaches (imagine a garlic knot, minus the garlic and full of delicious fillings, or a tiny delicious hot pocket) and baked goods! Food ranges from about $1.50 to about $9 and it's all SO good. Definitely try their Ham & Gruyere sandwich with a side of Kale salad....It may not look like much but you will be craving more all day long! Another star is their meaty chili, a occasional feature but a great value that comes with a gigantic loaf of cornbread! (My only tiny qualm is their drink options are lacking, right now you have a choice of lemonade, unsweetened tea or water. Right now I just run down the street to CVS for a drink but here's hoping they get some bottled drinks in the future.) Finally this review would not be complete without a mention of the AMAZING service here and their mission. Carroll's Kitchen employs transitioning homeless women and trains them to be in the workforce. Everyone working is so nice and extremely helpful, and they're always happy to explain how they're more than just a meal. I wish them all the best! But the biggest star behind the counter is the manager. Oh. My. Goodness, Nina is my favorite person ever. She instantly puts everyone in a good mood and is insanely good at convincing myself I deserve a cookie or an extra cup of soup (seriously this happens ALL the time). If nothing else just come in to say hello to her, as I often see people just doing that! If you haven't gone to Carroll's yet do it now! Well not now per se, they're only open for breakfast and lunch, but go tommorow! You will be hooked, trust me. read more

Carroll's Kitchen - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I finally got to try Carroll's Kitchen!! Fiance and I ordered the turkey trot sandwich with applesauce, cindy lou who sandwich with texas caviar and a side of pesto pasta salad. This is a grab-and-go spot so we ate our lunch at the tables located behind the restaurant. All of the food was delicious. I love that they help women leaving crisis, this the biggest reason as to why you should support this establishment. read more

Overall: So this restaurant has a 5-star rating on Yelp and so I was expecting to be blown away, and I wasn't. I didn't understand why until I read the reviews afterwards, there is a good cause that is the center-piece of this restaurant. Well, I'm not on Yelp to talk about their mission, I'm on here to talk about food. That is why I gave it 3 stars, because the food was just average. Vegetarian: I had what amounted to a grilled cheese, I don't think it is on the menu anymore so the fact that it had no flavor is a moot point. My side was a salad and it tasted too much like onions. They have other vegetarian options and I plan on returning to try them sometime soon, probably at the new Food Hall. Until then, I can't give it a recommendation for other vegetarians. Vegan: I'm not aware of a non-salad vegan option, I don't really like salad so I can't recommend this place to vegans either Service: You order at the counter, they heat it up and give it you at the counter. There is no indoor seating. The cashier was friendly and patient while I figured out what I wanted and gave me some recommendations. I appreciated that. read more

Another delivery for me today 10/19/22. My Uber driver took my food on a road trip,making stops on the way, so my soup, quiche and turkey brie sandwich were all cold BUT still tasted delicious. The food always tastes delicious since it is made with FRESH ingredients using TLC. The owners,managers and staff TRULY care about EVERY guest and going above and beyond to ensure guests are 100% satisfied!! By the way the Chicken Velvet soup is to die for and if you haven't tried this restaurant you are really missing out on a hidden treasure!!! read more

I wish I could give this caterer 100 stars. Their mission is amazing and their catering superb. I have used many caterers for various events and this experience ranks as the best. Our event was a rehearsal dinner attended by all ages, with some attendees desiring gluten free and/or vegan. The staff helped me pick the perfect menu and was flexible on changes as we changed the numbers of attendees. We settled on Pork Loin with 3-Mustard Sauce, Spaghetti Squash with Marinara, Roasted Autumn Vegetables, Caesar Salad, Kale Salad, Green Goddess Quiche and Southern Yeast Rolls. The guests helped themselves to second and third helpings and there were plenty of leftovers for the next day. Non-gluten free and non-vegan guests had multiple helpings of those menu items, they were so delicious. The cost was very reasonable. I am in awe of the owner's compassion, entrepreneurship skills, chef talents, and professionalism. To think that she has developed such a successful service business in line with fulfilling a critical social need is humbling. We don't live in the area; we were in Raleigh for our son's wedding. So it is a disappointment that we won't have many opportunities to support Carroll's Kitchen more often. We will give a donation instead. Thank you, Carroll's Kitchen!!! read more

If you haven't tried Carroll's kitchen then you must add it to your to do list. The food is delicious! It's a great place to grab and go when you're out and about working, and it also has top notch catering services when you're planning your next event. The purpose and mission behind this place is the icing on top! read more

We used Carroll's Kitchen to cater a meeting and it was EXCELLENT! Not only do we love them for their delicious food but even more so for how they're supporting people in our communities. Great non-profit work going on with super food. read more

Such a good place to eat. Counter-service only, which is a plus in my book. DTR has plenty of sit-down places that just add to the cost of what should be a quick, easy lunch. There's seating in the nearby open, nice alleys around back or parks if you don't have a place to take your food back to. The sandwich selection is always changing. There are some staples on the menu, like the roasty toasty (good!), but most days they have something pretty unique. My favorite is when they have the sloppy joe. They always have plenty of vegetable options too, not just salads. They also have other items like soups (try the tomato basil if you're a sandwich dipper), salads, quiche, protein packs (meat + veggies), and a good selection of items to satisfy any sweet craving you may have. If you're there for breakfast, do yourself a service and get a sausage "biscuit". That name is a misnomer as the biscuit is as big as a sandwich, but it is so good and you can put whatever extras you want on it. There's also kolaches (ko-laach-ee/ko-laach-ease) stuffed with all sorts of things that are served breakfast and lunch. You can also build your own breakfast sandwich or bowl. So many options! And you know you're supporting a good cause without feeling like you're paying for it. Enjoy! read more

I keep giving Carroll's Kitchen a shot but every time I regret it. I know they are doing great things for the community but their offerings are slim. If you are someone who has to avoid dairy I suggest going elsewhere. Everything on their sandwich/wrap menu has cheese except for one option. Getting the sandwiches or wraps without cheese is just awful. They revised their menu at the beginning of 2019 and removed so many of their good sandwiches, wraps and kolaches that I'm still devastated. Bring back Square Rabbit! read more