My husband and I came here for brunch when we were first visiting Raleigh house-hunting. We decided…read moreto revisit for Mother's Day brunch this year. We showed up early with our 1.5 year old daughter and they were able to seat us immediately. The area felt spacious, although that could be due to the fact that it wasn't super packed inside. I ordered the short rib benedict, my husband got the chicken & waffle sandwich, and we ordered my daughter a side of the mac & cheese. What a delicious meal! The short rib was tender and flavorful, and sat on top of a biscuit (what's not to love here?!) - horseradish hollandaise was the perfect touch as the horseradish pairs nicely with the beef. The chicken & waffle sandwich was the best guilty pleasure! Waffle crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside, chicken breaded and fried with a nice crunch, and a nice hot honey syrup to go alongside -- wish this had a little more heat. To our surprise, the mac & cheese side was a highlight too! It's hard to get a good mac n cheese, but this had such a rich, white cheese, slight funk flavor - delicious. Brunch at Parkside is delicious. Looking forward to trying dinner here soon.

Finally stopped by Parkside Restaurant in downtown Raleigh after passing by this place several…read moretimes. When you arrive there is parking available on the street or in a nearby lot. Walking in the restaurant feels inviting, cozy, and distinctly neighborhood oriented. This is actually the longest running neon restaurant sign in North Carolina. To be seated you'll check in with the host and then be shown to your table. For drinks I ordered the Pineapple Press (citrus vodka infused with fresh pineapple, shaken hard and served up) and the Cuba Cola (black cherry rum, vanilla simple syrup, branded cherry & cola) cocktails. I really enjoyed the Cuba Cola which was very good and a tasted just like a coke. My partner ordered a mango cart on tap and the Blackberry Gin Fizz (Bombay Sapphire, lime juice, blackberries, aquafaba). She enjoyed both drinks which the gin fizz being more on the sour side. For entrees I ordered the Prime Rib Burger (prime rib patty, arugula, caramelized onion, brie cheese, bacon jam, brioche bun) with tater tots on the side and my partner ordered the Short Rib Melt (braised short rib, cheddar cheese, provolone cheese, caramelized onion, sourdough). Overall both dishes were a bit disappointing. The tater tots were cold and the burger was well done even though I requested medium for the temp. My partners short rib melt was okay but on the dry side and really needed some type of au jus to dit it in. The Mac & cheese she had on the side was also gritty and wasn't very tasty. Overall the drinks were great but the food was a miss. Not sure I'll return but overall the experience was okay.

Visited this spot for the first time in a year and it was just as it's always been, good…read more We sat at the hightop tables and had the pleasure of being served by the bartender! (She makes a good L.I.T) She had backup come in as we were gearing up to leave. It started to rain and she walked my mom to the car with an umbrella that is above and beyond service! It's one thing to do your job but that kind gesture made my entire experience that much more special. So to my servers, thank you once again!! Now, let get to the food and ambience, what were all her for. Appetizers: BBQ Cheese fries and Smoked wings ! They brought hush puppies and biscuits with their house made honey butter to the table. We ordered a couple of the Combination Plates, the BBQ Chicken Plate and the Pick two protein plates. Everything was good, and everyone left stuffed and had plenty of leftovers! The dining areas were decorated in wood and cast iron with a BBQ and Pork references throughout.

The Pit Authentic Barbecue was a great experience for our group of 4 adults and 3 kids. They were…read morevery accommodating and had something for everyone on the menu. We started with the pimento cheese balls, which were super cheesy and delicious. They also brought out biscuits and hush puppies, and those were perfect to start the meal. For the kids, we ordered a hot dog with fries, mac and cheese with fries, and a cheeseburger with fries. All of the kids loved their meals. The fries were really good (even I enjoyed them!), and the mac and cheese was definitely the favorite. The adults ordered a double combo with pulled pork and brisket, and it was big enough to easily split between two people. My husband and I both got the Pit bacon cheeseburger, and it was so good and huge. I ended up taking half home for later. My husband also got mac and cheese and shared it with the kids, while I ordered the Brussels sprouts, which were amazing. The staff was really friendly, and everything came out nicely. Overall, it was a great meal and a great experience, especially for our family !

It was an excellent experience we enjoyed the food the service from the staff was great and all In…read moreall it was excellent

Why is this model not in my city of Greensboro, NC? In Greensboro, the city council makes homeless…read morehostel architecture so the homeless can not lay down, etc. A place at the Table is doing God's work. I've never seen anything like this and feel like this model needs to spread everywhere. Breakfast was GREAT: eggs, bacon, toast and coffee. Great volunteers and a wonderful idea to boost humanity among us all. Had no idea it was a mission based restaurant until I arrived and put 2 and 2 together. Just a beautiful thing they are doing there in DT Raleigh.

My oh my, this may be one of my new favorite restaurants in Raleigh! All of the food was excellent!…read more When you arrive there is parking available on the street or in the paid lot next to the restaurant. Walking in you'll feel like you've walked into a retro-chic, high energy, and upscale diner. Even the waiting area was nice to sit in as we waited for our table. For drinks I ordered the Hurricane (Rum, Pasionfruit, Grenadine, Orange, Lime), Scorpion (Amaro Nonino, Montenegro, Sweet Vermouth, Hot Honey, Mint), the 1806 (Orange Infused Bourbon, Brulee'd Orange Syrup, Bitters), and an espresso martini. I'd say it was a tie for favorite drink between the Hurricane and the 1806. Both were well balanced and tasted great. The scorpion was a bit spicy for my liking and the espresso martini was good just wasn't as good as the hurricane/the 1806. For appetizers we ordered the Maine Lobster Doughnuts, Heirloom Tomato Pie (with Tennessee Buttermilk Cheddar & Sherry-Sherry Vinaigrette), and the Watermelon Vinaigrette (with Avocado, Goat Lady Dairy Chevre, & White Balsamic Vinaigrette). The Maine Lobster Doughnuts and Watermelon Vinaigrette were excellent. The watermelon was sliced, goat cheese wasn't too strong and had the perfect blend of flavors. The Maine Lobster Doughnuts were also perfectly cooked and were so good. The Heirloom Tomato Pie was okay, just had a really strong mustard after taste which wasn't my favorite. For my entree I ordered the 10 oz Hanger Steak (Creamed Greens, Oil-Cured Olive Butter, & Red Wine Shallot Jus) which was cooked perfectly was so good. Even the baguette and butter were excellent!! Lastly for dessert we split the Peach Shortcake (Vanilla Bean Mascarpone and Cinnamon Crunch Biscuit). It tasted like a croissant and peach biscuit and was excellent. If you are in downtown Raleigh definitely check out Poole's.

As a vegetarian, I was happy to find enough options at Poole's Diner to put together a full meal…read more The pimento cheese had good flavor, and the fried saltines were everything you'd want fried saltines to be. Just a heads-up: the pimento cheese is served cold. I was expecting it to be warm, but I probably should have asked. The heirloom tomato pie was good, not great. Think chicken pot pie, but filled with tomatoes and cheese. The flavors were pretty straightforward, but the crust was really good. The ricotta gnocchi was a hit. The gnocchi was very soft and pillowy, and it came in an almost pesto-like broth. I'm a huge pesto fan, so I really enjoyed the combination. The sweet corn with oyster mushrooms was also good, but there was a lot of sherry cream. The corn was practically swimming in it, and the mushrooms became so soft that they mostly tasted like the cream. Surprisingly, the sautéed broccolini may have been my favorite dish. It had a smoky grilled char while still keeping the firmness you want from broccolini. Simple, but really well done. We finished with the soft-serve sundae with braised blueberries, coconut graham crumble, and coconut cream. The blueberries were a little sweeter than I normally prefer, but the soft serve was delicious, the crumble added a nice texture, and the coconut cream was a subtle touch. Overall, it was a very good meal. Not every dish was a standout, but the gnocchi, broccolini, and sundae were the clear highlights.

I went back to Beasley's Chicken & Honey one last time as they close January 25th. Even on a cold,…read morerainy morning, there was a line outside before opening. I understand as if you aren't seated when they open, you can expect a 90-minute to two-hour wait. I was hoping to get the Chicken Pot Pie this time and thought my prior visit was just off. I was thrilled that most of the menu was available. They were just out of the banana pudding. So I got to try the pecan wings I read about with the white sauce. It was so good. Then I got the chicken pot pie and biscuits. The pot pie had old biscuits for the topping, but the creamy mixture with large chunks of chicken was delicious. My biscuits came with honey and were served warm. I left with a slice of the chocolate-caramel-coconut cake, a side salad without onions, and a fried boneless thigh. The salad was made correctly, and the dressing was included. The salad was full of veggies, and the cake was rich and moist. Service was friendly and as soon as I finished my iced tea, another appeared. My wings were brought out first and it was a while for the rest of the meal as the restaurant was full. But they didn't rush me at all. I actually liked the space between the dishes, as I might not have been able to eat it all otherwise. I couldn't finish both biscuits and was even provided a container for the honey. I am going to miss Beasley's, but I'm glad I got a positive experience to remember the restaurant.

I can't believe this place had to close and the only reason was pure greed from the landlord. I've…read morebeen going here since 2017 but recently when they switched to gluten-free fried chicken we started going more because my girlfriend has celiac. On Wednesday's they were doing all gluten-free menu and it was amazing...no crazy unreasonable upcharges, just honest menu pricing and great food. As of this review they are the #2 most reviewed place in Raleigh only behind the Pit. When we went last week for a farewell dinner it took us 3 weeks to get in. We got turned away 2 other times. The place was always packed and busy yet cozy and calm with great service. Hopefully they relocate or put some of the items from the menu at Pooles. Fuquay could use a nice place like this and it would be way cheaper than Raleigh! Best of luck to the staff in the future as they all look for work.

Ambiance is beautiful low lights with natural wood and brick and a beautiful lounge area …read more Bar has a beautiful bamboo surrounded setting that takes you to the natural setting of Laos. For the food, the crispy pork belly soup was unbelievably delicious . We had the whole baked Red Snapper and that was in a league of its own. The perfect compliment was the dad's fried rice. The drinks were phenomenal as well we had a multiple of them. Come experience it for yourself you won't be disappointed What's the downside? If I had give a critique, the food may have been a bit salty, but that's not unexpected with some of the sauces used. The service was amazing! I highly recommend it and would come back again

I have not been to Bida Manda in years. It is a classic in downtown Raleigh and highly regarded as…read morethe predecessor to Brewery Bhavana. We came in with some friends on a Monday to celebrate a birthday. My friend has a gluten and dairy allergy, which was actually no problem here. So if that is a dietary concern for you or a loved one - this is a great spot to bring them! We were all able to enjoy a majority of the food. My partner and I both enjoyed a mocktail version of the roselle freezy - it was amazing! Either as a mocktail or a cocktail, you should try this drink. For starters, we had the crispy chicken wings, spring rolls with veggies, and the lettuce wraps. We all enjoyed the chicken wings so much that we got a second order of them. I enjoyed the spring rolls much more than the lettuce wraps as they had more flavor to them. For dinner, we shared an order of the Manda Amphone's Curry and the chicken pad thai. I originally did not expect to be blown away by the pad thai - boy, was I wrong. This is hands down the best pad thai I have ever had. If you love pad thai, you need to try theirs. I also thoroughly enjoyed the curry. Both dishes were rich and flavorful and came with enough to share between 4 adults. Overall, not having been to Bida Manda in 10+ years, I was impressed and will definitely return.

"Delightful vegan restaurant on Crabtree Blvd in Raleigh"…read more I'd heard of this for years and was happy to finally give it a try on a Saturday for lunch ~1:30pm. The restaurant is a bit set off from a strip mall, and has a small outdoor seating area. The inside has high ceilings and is airy, and is nicely decorated (I also enjoyed the "sci-fi themed" wallpaper in one restroom stall). We were greeted quickly and given a table right away. The specials on the wall sounded amazing-- it was hard to believe they were all vegan with burgers, bbq, "chicken", and more on there. We opted for simple-- the special cantaloupe soup for an appetizer and burgers (impossible) for lunch. Mine came with chips, and my girlfriend's came with mac and cheese. Food came out in maybe 15 minutes. The cantaloupe soup was AMAZING... perfect for a summer day... super refreshing and tasty. The cheeseburgers were good too-- well dressed with an aioli, if I remember right, as well as fresh lettuce, tomatoes, etc. I appreciated that I didn't have to pop a lactase, too, since all vegan! The chips I think were store-made and were absolutely tasty-- we got a lot too and snacked off them for the next few days. And my girlfriend liked the mac and cheese. Service was friendly throughout, and cups were refilled. And I felt the prices were reasonable for what we got. Overall, I'd DEFINITELY come back and am eager to try some of their fake meat dishes like the BBQ.

Great ambience, friendly staff, variety of options and some unique cocktails. Apps and drinks came…read moreout fast but a long gap before our main dishes came out and we had to ask for them. Cornmeal battered mushrooms- good portion size, delicious and a hit. Mess of collards- large portion, didnt see any bacon at all and the apple cider vinegar element was strong. Onions could have been chopped smaller. Meatloaf plate- very flavorful, the smoked local potatoes were a star too. It came with more collards Southern plate- this plate was a disappointing flop. Popcorn chkn (fried seitan) lacked salt and any flavor in the batter but the vessel had potential. Mashed potatoes were a little cold and also no flavor or salt. Coleslaw needed any flavor. Sauteed vegetables were plenty but again, zero salt or seasoning coming through. The hushpuppies had potential just needed to be a little smaller or a different shape to be balanced. Drinks: Flower and Flame- just a tad heavy handed on the smoke spritz G and Tea- this was delicious and I switched to this after tasting my wife's. Cardamom, mint and lemon make this refreshing!

Great spot for anyone with Allergies! They have a new…read moreselection of small plates that are incredibly delicious and inexpensive! Service was attentive and quick! Quirky atmosphere with live music!! We will definitely be back!

I'm always pleased with the quality of food at Irregardless Cafe. I met some friends for brunch and…read moreluckily we had a reservation since it was quite busy. I was hoping for a variety of drink options like a matcha latte, alas, only coffee. Brunch did not disappoint. I got the frittata with potatoes. It was very fresh and delicious. Only one hiccup was that it was so busy, my friends didn't get coffee until after they were almost done with their meal! Yikes! I think they had to make more coffee and our server was slammed.

We found this place online while looking for a lunch spot in the area and are so glad we did!…read more Cool old building, quick, helpful service and really great sandwiches. My friend and I decided to split two sandwiches so we could each try the Italian and the grilled ham and cheese. I can't tell you which I liked better but I can say, we both really liked the broccoli salad side - great option that you can't get everywhere. Perfect casual lunch spot across from Raleigh Iron Works

Good spot if you're looking for a quick meal, but not a place I'll be running back to. The service…read morewas friendly and the food came out quick, but the burger and chicken sandwich were both just okay. The house made cherry cola, on the other hand, I loved! You can validate your parking once you get inside the restaurant so you don't have to pay, but would obviously prefer not to have to do this extra step of registering my car.

Lunch with Mom at @elementgastropub Downtown Raleigh, NC…read more My mom supporting me, means everything to me!!! We ordered the Sweet Chili Sauce wings with house ranch for our appetizer! Mom loved those! I ordered the Carolina BBQ Sandwich which was smoked vegan BBQ tossed in hybrid eastern- Western style sauce (whatever that means lol), creamy coleslaw on a Brioche bun with a side Kale Caesar Salad. Mom ordered the Philly Cheese steak which was chopped seitan "steak", marinated mushrooms, house made cheese, peppers, onions served on a soft hoagie roll. It also came with my favorite chips by Caroline Kettle chips @carolinakettle! So, glad they support local! Mom didn't really care for the cheese steak. I tried it as well & it wasn't my favorite. But, we had an amazing time for lunch on this beautiful day! oh, & I also had a Carolina Mule! Which was I want to try their brunch the next time I go back home to visit! #VeganLunch #LunchWithMom #Element #Gastropub #RaleighNC

Really cute place with a wide menu of delicious plant-based food. Went during the week for lunch…read moreand it wasn't too busy. The onion rings and pretzel were especially bomb and my smash burger was great. The fries ... mehhhhh . Our server Braen was lovely and attentive! My first time trying plant based... interesting and tasty surprisingly!