First time here. Been wanting to come for a while and so glad I did. I arrived and it was already…read morepacked at 530 on Saturday. Outdoor seating looked really nice. Wish it wasn't 100 out. Good reason to come back. Started with prickly pear margarita with mescal. Yum! Had a white wine after. It was ok. My friend and I shared 4 bruschetta's- smoked salmon and pesto, artichoke, caprese, and apple, Brie and fig. Favs were smoked salmon and apple and Brie. The fries were amazing. Salmon board was good too. The bread on the board was much better than the bruschetta. Ambiance is great. Service as well. Will be back!

Absolutely love Postino! This is my go to lunch spot with coworkers. We've been numerous times…read moreand are never disappointed. My go to meal is the half panini and tomato soup. Their roast beef panini is on par with Portillo's a long standing Chicago beef restaurant (IYKYK). I've NEVER had a beef sandwich that was better than Portillo's but Postino you managed to take a hometown classic and elevate it to a point beyond my expectations - if you get this sandwich I recommend getting it on the ciabatta bread versus focaccia. Let's not overlook the tomato soup - it's so rich and flavorful. For a lighter lunch my go to is the tuna panini with broccoli salad. They are known for their boards, I've not had the bruschetta yet but it looks delicious. My favorite board is the hummus. One thing I hate is when a restaurant gives you a big bowl of hummus and not enough pita. That is not the case here, you'll get pita, toasted bread, and a variety of vegetables to scoop up the velvety humus covered in cherry tomatoes, red onion and feta. For date night enjoy a Violet Femme a gin cocktail that tastes as lovely as it looks. The service here is top notch! Everyone is fantastic. I'll have to come back to this review to note the serves names we've had because they have all been exceptional. Now let's talk about the vibe! Postino's nailed the indoor/outdoor feel. Plenty of windows that are open on nice days, plants galore and the decor gives you a cool like rockstar but classy feel. 5 stars doesn't feel like enough.

Wow, if you are in Raleigh you definitely have to check out Crawford & Son. When you arrive parking…read moreis pretty difficult as the restaurant is located on person street. You'll want to park on a side street and walk up to the restaurant. When you walk into the restaurant you'll be transported to a dark, warm, intimate, and buzzy neighborhood vibe. I'd definitely recommend booking a reservation to ensure you are able to get a table. Once we were seated I started by ordering the Long Time Listener Cocktail (Bourbon, Blackberry, Mint, Fernet-Branca) which was excellent and probably my favorite drink of the evening. For my other drink I tried the Structured Settlement (coconut washed tequila, peach, popcorn orgeat, and lime). This drink was also good, but not as good as the long time listener. For food, we started with the Manchego-Herb Biscuits which were flaky, soft, and didn't need any butter. After that we tried the Heirloom Tomato Salad (provencal granola, mozzarella ice cream, and peaches) which was perfect. The large tomato with the crunchy granola, olive oil, and mozzarella and peaches were the perfect blend of flavors. I couldn't stop eating this dish. Next, we tried the Half Smoke Sausage (roasted peppers, garlic aioli, balsamic onion jus) which surprised me. The sausage had a bit of a spicy flavor, the roasted peppers were prepared perfectly, and overall the flavors paired perfectly together. We also ordered the Bucatini (sea urchin, gulf prawn, spicy tomato sauce) which was good with the pasta and all of the flavors mixed together. The last appetizer we ordered was the yellowfin tuna crudo (honeydew, Fresno chili, shiso, tom yum ice) which was perfect. The sliced honeydew with the raw yellowfin was so good!! For the entree we split the Grilled Bavette Steak (potato rosti, shishito pepper, and sauce choron). The steak cut like butter and was cooked perfectly. For dessert we ordered the blueberry upside down cake (popcorn streusel, sweet corn ice cream) which had fresh blueberries and I couldn't stop eating this dish. I'll have to add Crawford & Son to my regular Raleigh restaurant rotation as this meal was excellent. Looking forward to my next visit.

Elevated dining that reflects the local Raleigh culinary scene in the best light. Beautiful…read morerestaurant with attentive service. We shared several apps, crudos, and sides but had our own entrees. Note: not a lot of dairy free options if that's important for someone in your dining party.

I love the food at Village Tavern. My go-to is always the Pork Chop. I recently tried their Spring…read moreRolls and Bbq Chicken Pizza which were both great. Reservations are always recommended if you want a table otherwise the bar is first come first serve. They have a section for Old Fashioneds which I really like. You can choose from a variety of variations of Old Fashioneds. Definitely recommend this place

The seabass is so good. It works well with the sauce and spinach. The sticky rice is just regular…read morerice, not Thai sticky rice. We ordered medium rare and expext the outside to be crunchy. Well it is not. But the meat is tender and fresh. Really enjoy fried oysters and tuna sashimi. Pretty good.

This was our first visit, and it definitely won't be our last! My husband and I were searching for…read morebreakfast on our way home from Wilmington after our honeymoon. The food photos and reviews brought us here, but when we first arrived in the neighborhood, I honestly thought we had gone the wrong way. Then we spotted the patio and realized that a house had been transformed into this cozy little restaurant--which made the experience even cooler. Inside feels warm and welcoming, almost like visiting Grandma's house if she turned her living room into a charming neighborhood café. We learned that the menu changes frequently, so several dishes we originally planned to order weren't available. That initially made us nervous, but we had absolutely no regrets about what we chose! We shared the Smokehouse Hash, loaded with potatoes, pulled pork, and sausage, along with cheesy scrambled eggs and some of the most delicious grits. We also ordered chicken wings on the side, although we honestly didn't need them--the hash was more than enough for the two of us and everything was full of flavor. Our server was sweet, attentive, and efficient. We even ordered some Korean sweet buns to take home because we wanted to try a little more before leaving. Everything about our visit was great: delicious food, generous portions, welcoming service, and a unique, cozy atmosphere. We're already looking forward to returning and seeing what's on the menu next time. This is definitely a hidden gem worth finding!

SmokeStack Cafe (Historic Oakwood - Raleigh) My wife and I…read morechose SmokeStack Cafe for our anniversary lunch, and it turned out to be an excellent choice. After 40 years of marriage, we've learned that a memorable lunch is often better than an expensive dinner. We enjoyed it so much that we decided to write our reviews the same day. Lunch for two came to about $45 plus tax and tip, and included: * Bánh Mì * Shrimp Tacos * House Lemonade * Key Lime Pie Location & Atmosphere SmokeStack Cafe is located in Raleigh's historic Oakwood neighborhood in a beautifully restored former grocery store. The setting is full of charm, both inside and out. There is outdoor seating available, but we chose to sit indoors where the space is open, comfortable, and inviting. Parking is street parking only. On our Juneteenth lunch visit, finding a space was easy, though I suspect many neighborhood residents simply walk over. The Food The Bánh Mì was outstanding. The bread was a true French baguette, fresh, crisp, and clearly high quality. The sandwich was generously filled with flavorful pork, more than we have received at most places serving bánh mì. It came with a large portion of well-seasoned French fries. The Shrimp Tacos featured three tacos on corn tortillas. The shrimp portion was generous, and the accompanying sauce added plenty of flavor without overwhelming the seafood. The House Lemonade was tart, refreshing, and exactly what I wanted on a warm afternoon. For dessert, we shared a slice of house-made Key Lime Pie. It was a generous serving with a bright, tangy lime flavor and a graham cracker crust that had a subtle hint of cinnamon. A wonderful finish to the meal. Service Service was warm, knowledgeable, and attentive throughout our visit. In a fun personal touch, our server told us he had made the key lime pie himself Overall What impressed me most was how diverse and eclectic the menu is. The food felt thoughtful and well executed, the setting was charming, and the service was first-rate. SmokeStack Cafe delivered exactly the kind of memorable lunch we hoped for on our anniversary, and we're already looking forward to coming back and exploring more of the menu.

We stopped at Death and Taxes for a drink prior to going to Poole's restaurant. We were challenged…read moreto find a spot at the bar, but the restaurant manager Ryan did an excellent job accommodating us. We enjoyed a wonderful oyster appetizer along with a drink. Service was excellent! She even came by to greet us at the bar and make us feel very welcome. We left and walked to Poole's for our dinner reservation. Much to our surprise, Ryan had called ahead to provide a complementary appetizer when we arrived! So thoughtful! So appreciative of her extra effort and thoughtfulness! We will be a forever customer! Thank you so much!

The food was great! It was really cool to sit at the kitchen bar and be able to see the chefs…read moreworking! My only critique is the price for the portion sizes. My filet was around $60, and it didn't come with a side. This was a bit bizarre to me, because I have never been to an upscale restaurant where the entree/steak did not come paired with a side or designed as a full dish and was instead priced so highly for just the steak! However, the food was really good, so we didn't mind paying more than usual. Overall would recommend

Stanbury is tucked into a converted grocery store and laundromat in Raleigh's historic Mordecai…read moreneighborhood, it feels deliberately removed from the polished restaurant mainstream. There is no reservation system to navigate--just an in-person waitlist and, once inside, a dining room that is intimate, dark, crowded, and unapologetically loud. The room has the eccentric charm of a well-worn hunting lodge, with taxidermy on the walls and an open kitchen at its center. Watching the cooks work adds to the sense that the restaurant is less interested in ceremony than in what ultimately arrives on the plate. The cooking is considerably more ambitious than the surroundings suggest. The menu changes with the seasons and leans toward combinations that are inventive without becoming precious. I chose the crispy pig head with Beluga lentils, bacon, poached egg, mustard crema, and arugula, a dish that exemplifies Stanbury's approach. The pig head is intensely savory and crisp at the edges, while the earthy lentils provide substance. The poached egg adds richness, the bacon amplifies the pork, and the mustard crema cuts through it all with acidity and heat. Arugula brings a welcome peppery freshness. It is a dish built around richness, but carefully enough balanced that it never becomes ponderous. This dish is essentially an elevated Scotch egg; I highly recommend it. The North Carolina pork chop is another matter entirely: this is not a dainty entrée. A massive, thick-cut, bone-in chop arrives with souvlaki, grape-leaf rice, watermelon, feta, pepperoncini, cucumber, and mint. The combination of grilled meat, briny feta and pepperoncini, cool cucumber and watermelon, and fragrant herbs gives the dish a surprisingly Mediterranean character. It is easily substantial enough to share. The bar deserves attention, too. I had an excellent Old Fashioned and a very good wine alongside dinner, both of which fit comfortably into the restaurant's relaxed but serious approach. Stanbury is not a restaurant for diners seeking quiet conversation or polished formality. It is loud, very loud - energetic, slightly eccentric, and intensely focused on food. But that is precisely the appeal. The cooking has ambition without pretension, the room has personality without polish, and the experience feels distinctly Raleigh. This is a restaurant that has earned its reputation the old-fashioned way: by putting interesting, generous, very good food on the table.

Seriously the best restaurant in Raleigh and it's not even close. Every dish is a flavor bomb. The…read moremenu is always different and unique. Staff and service is top notch. Friendly and also very knowledgeable about the menu and can make suggestions. Would highly reccomend checking this place out. My Wife and I have been 3 times and it's always been one of the best meals I've had every time.

The service was great. The bread they give you with the honey butter is fantastic. All of our meals…read morewere hot and delicious. My espresso martini was so good. The vibes were great I would come back!

Great lunch spot with a terrific menu. Came here for a work…read morelunch and enjoyed a seasonal salad with blackened salmon and it hit the spot! My friend got the Caesar salad with blackened shrimp and we split an order of fries. Everything looked and tasted delicious. Staff was super friendly and I will definitely be back!

We walked into Poole's Diner for a drink and ended up staying for dinner--and I'm glad we did…read more I started with the chicken pâté, which was outstanding, while my friend chose the swordfish entrée. My Negroni was sublime, and I also enjoyed a couple of glasses of Gatto Arancione orange wine, which paired beautifully with the meal. To finish, I ordered the dark chocolate mousse torte--a rich and decadent ending. We sat at the iconic horseshoe counter, a piece of Raleigh history in its own right. The green Formica countertop dates back to 1945, when the space served as a midday lunch counter. You can see decades of history etched into its surface--the wear from generations of elbows leaning on the counter. It's the kind of patina that simply cannot be recreated. That's what makes Poole's so special: it preserves the character of an old Raleigh diner while elevating the food, cocktails, wine and service to a very sophisticated level. The service was outstanding--warm, knowledgeable and attentive without being intrusive. Poole's is Michelin Guide Recommended, and it's easy to understand why. Historic, sophisticated and completely unpretentious, it manages to preserve the soul of a classic Raleigh diner while delivering food and service at a very high level. What started as a drink turned into one of the most memorable meals of my Raleigh visit.

We came here on a Tuesday night right before heading over to the red hat amphitheater for the…read moreShaboozey concert. We sat at the bar and our service was great! She knew the menu well and answered all questions we had. We started with the lobster doughnuts, which was an interesting name for them. I would describe them as lobster hushpuppies. The roasted chicken was chefs kiss. The knife glided through it like butter! It was very well prepared and tasty. The mashed potatoes had the consistency of grits, which was surprising but very tasty. The strip was tougher than I thought it would be but the waiter let me know it was because of how it's prepared. (Shaboozey was amazing by the way.)

Yummy! This is a Raleigh staple and you can't go wrong with the Crab bisque. The waiters ensure the…read moreservice is wonderful. The ambience is delightful with indoor & outdoor seating options. Also a big fan of their specials, salads, filet, or better yet the Carpetbagger (filet with fried oysters!

3.5 rounded up to 4. Southern cuisine. Service was good. Chicken salad was good. Next time I will…read moretry the Southern Caesar salad instead though. Love the idea of the fried grit croutons. Nice business lunch spot if you work nearby and you'd like to sit and chat in a business casual setting away from the parking chaos of downtown Raleigh. But I will say getting to and out of this shopping center was a bit confusing due to the service road. Parking was limited.

Interesting. Was looking for a new spot to celebrate with some friends. Yelped around and found…read morethis place. But still had to look for it. LOL. It's where Sur La Table is...near The Captain and Cookie joint. Went in for early dinner. Empty. But if you do the same. Don't be alarmed. The folks were dining on European time...bumpin at 7pm. So cool! We got a flight of light wines and all were different and pretty decent. I got a pasta dish and really liked the blackened chicken. I'd just be happy to have it on its own. I think the decor could have some softer furnishings to break up the hard angles and lean into the cozy vibe a bit more. Lots of angles and metal. I'd pop in some soft ivory stools at the bar end for a really lux vibe. Hostess and server were nice. Efficient. Definitely a place to keep on rotation.

Foxcroft is located in the North Hills area. Once we arrived we were seated right away. I loved the…read moredecor in the restaurant with multiple wine bottles on display. The business was clean and there is also a bar inside. The restaurant has a large selection of wines and offers flights for purchase. The restaurant had some people dining in but they were not overly packed. Initially our server was pleasant and attentive. I got a blood orange sparkling water. It was ok. I ordered the whipped ricotta for an appetizer to share and a burger with fries for my entree. The whipped ricotta was ok. It would taste better with some sort of seasoning in it. My fries were served hot but needed some salt. I asked for my burger to be cooked well done but I was brought a burnt burger. I took one bite but it was too overcooked. I then requested that my server have my burger be cooked medium well so I didn't get another burnt burger. When my burger was brought back out, our server had me cut into my burger to make sure it was to my liking. The preparation was better but it was bland and tasted like there wasn't any seasoning on it. After this our server wasn't as attentive anymore. For dessert we got the donuts. They were served warm and I enjoyed them with the cherry sauce. I did not like the chocolate sauce that was served with the donuts.