Every single time I go to The Fiction Kitchen I'm just blown away! The food is always so creative…read moreand delicious and I always leave inspired to cook more vegan food. Their new location is very nice and spacious and there's plenty of parking too! We got the Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread, Grilled Romaine, Hearts of Palm & Lion's Mane "Crabcakes", and Southern Style Plate with BBQ "pork". The cornbread was so moist and the crabcakes were flavorful. The grilled romaine was a revelation - I loved whatever creamy sauce it came with, the candied nuts, and the smokiness of the romaine. The BBQ "pork" was probably my least favorite thing, but don't get me wrong, it was still tasty. We asked for a little more BBQ sauce to go with it and our waitress got it for us right away. The drinks were also fantastic! I got the Autumn Flare which was coconut water, housemade falernum syrup, pineapple juice, and lemon. So refreshing and yummy!

They are in a new location. There was plenty of parking…read more Went for Sunday brunch and the food did not disappoint. We were greeted and seated immediately. Our server was very friendly. We ordered the French toast with soysage (which was devoured immediately) and chicken, egg, and cheese biscuit. with home fries. The biscuit was dense and so delicious that we didn't use ketchup. The home fries were cooked perfectly. Definitely recommend!

One of my absolute favorite ramen spots in Raleigh! Their Tonkotsu Ramen is my go-to, along with…read moretheir chicken & pork gyoza. The Creamy Chicken and Lemongrass Ramen are really good too.

Ohhh yes to this Ramen spot! My first time here and I can't wait to return. It's located in a…read moreshopping plaza tucked in the back. When you enter, it's a cute, quiet setting with a relaxed, laid back atmosphere. The service here immediately made the experience start off strong. Everything was so fresh. The hot sake was delicious and certainly pure. My starters were great portions and filling as you can tell from the photos. I couldn't pick one, I started with three lol And my Tonkotsu Ramen was chef's kiss! This is my new absolute favorite Ramen spot in the area. I've traveled to Okinawa a couple of times and truly enjoy Ramen, and honestly, this location has the best tasting food that makes me feel like I'm right back.

It's been a minute since my partner and I went to Chido Taco. This evening we had been craving…read moretacos and the weather was perfect to sit on their outdoor patio. I got the birria tacos, which come with 3, sauce to dip in, and an order of rice and beans. It was absolutely divine. We also grabbed an order of their queso and chips. The perfect way to enjoy a balmy Friday evening.

This restaurant is located in a shopping plaza with several other businesses. Shared parking is…read moreavailable in the lot out front. There are several tables and a bar inside. There is a self serve area to get additional toppings such as onions, salsa, cilantro & limes for your food. The cashier was pleasant. After placing my order I got my food very quickly. I got a carnitas taco, an al pastor taco, and queso with tortilla chips. The chips were good and were seasoned. The queso and carnitas taco was also good. The tacos are filled with a nice portion of meat. Unfortunately the al pastor meat was a little burned.

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

I had the Buffalo Chik'n Sandwich, overall it was a really good sandwich. The sauce made the…read morebreading get soggy but I was also eating extra slow this day. Fries were fresh! And their ranch was delicious, it cooled down the Buffalo nicely. Super friendly service and their patio seating faces the heart of Fayetteville Street, great for people watching!

Lunch at Irregardless was excellent! The vegetarian black bean burger with fries was was plentiful…read moreand delicious. Service was prompt and they had a table ready for us since we had a reservation.

Sunday Morning is BUSY, so make sure you got reservations otherwise you'll wait a typical brunch…read more30-45 mins for a table! THE WAIT IS WORTH IT live music by the front door+friendly staff= perfection Come hungry to try everything and be patient for the food to come with a drink or app. you have to get the Chicken and Waffles for the full southern experience and make sure you try the pour/mix the sauces on a waffle and chicken bite because it will change your life... Gluten Free family members were beyond happy with this location! The shrimp and grits were another explosion of flavor that I recommend!!

Bida Manda mean "father and mother" in Sanskrit. This restaurant was started by siblings (a…read morebrother and a sister), and they named their restaurant to honor their parents. What a great idea! I like to come here for one dish: the squash curry or the pumpkin curry. It's either vegetarian or vegan, so yeah, it's pretty much the highlight of the menu as far as I'm concerned. It's called the Manda Curry or Mom's Curry: Slow-cooked house coconut curry with fresh root vegetables, jasmine rice, and pumpkin. It reminds me of Vientiane Palace's Squash Curry. Upscale ambience!

Wow is mainly what I can say. I am a huge fan of Asian cuisine generally, but Bida Manda has been…read moreone of the more unique experiences I've had with Asian food in quite some time. The two times I went recently, it was a packed house, so reservations are definitely recommended. There's plenty of street parking within a close walk of the restaurant. We ordered the chicken wings, lettuce wraps, and the pork belly soup. All of them were packed full of flavor and prepared to perfection. The chicken wings had an incredible, almost tempura-like batter to them. And the pork belly soup - omg - there's a reason it's the dish they most recommend. I will definitely be back!

One year ago, I took my now wife here for our first date. Today, we came back to celebrate our…read moreone-year anniversary, and the experience was just as special as we remembered. The staff could not have been more accommodating. Our waitress, Katie, was incredibly friendly and attentive, and the manager, Sammy, went out of her way to make us feel welcome. The chef even came over to introduce himself, which was a really nice touch. We also learned during our visit that the restaurant has recently been recognized by Michelin, very well deserved. Won't be surprised if they get their first star in the coming months. Definitely save room for the desserts, I've never tasted anything like it. A perfect place for a special night, and it'll always mean a lot to us since it's where our story started. We'll be back soon.

I made a reservation for four adults and my one-year-old through OpenTable, expecting a pleasant…read moredining experience. Instead, we were met at the host stand and immediately informed of a "no children under five" policy. This was presented not as an unfortunate misunderstanding, but as an oversight on our part, with staff insisting we should have known because it appears on their website. The issue, however, is that the reservation was made through OpenTable, where no such policy is disclosed. Even after the fact, I checked the restaurant's website and found the policy buried under a separate "policies" tab--not exactly front-and-center, and difficult to miss unless you were actively searching for it. Expecting guests to intuit or independently verify hidden policies, especially when booking through a third-party platform, feels unreasonable. More disappointing than the policy itself was the tone with which it was communicated. The interaction felt cold, dismissive, and entirely lacking in hospitality. We were told that the manager could be asked, but by that point, we already felt quite unwelcome. Restaurants are, of course, entitled to set their own policies--but how those policies are communicated matters just as much. Unfortunately, this experience left us feeling unwelcome and chastised rather than valued as guests. We will not be returning.

Asher was great. Attentive and knowledgeable about the unique menu. We will be going back just for…read moredessert!

Stopped by Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing for Saturday brunch and it was such a good decision. This…read morespot has the perfect laid-back vibe for a weekend meal, plus an unbeatable view of downtown Raleigh, seriously, if the weather's nice, try to sit on the patio! We had a 70 degree surprise January day while we were there, so we did just that. We started our brunch with a couple of drinks: a bloody mary and an iced coffee. The bloody mary had a nice kick. Just the right amount of spice without going overboard. The iced coffee was smooth, not bitter at all, and honestly a great pairing if you're not in the mood for booze. To start, we shared the Dill Pickle Pimento Cheese with ripple-cut fries. I'm a sucker for pimento cheese and this one was outstanding. The dill relish gave it a tangy, fresh twist that worked so well with the creamy cheese. Scoop it up with those crispy ripple fries and you're golden. It's a shareable appetizer, but honestly, I'd come back just for that. For my lunch, I had the Chicken Caesar Pita. This isn't your average Caesar wrap. It was tasty, I wasn't expecting the chicken to be pulled, but it was pull juicy, marinated chicken, tons of Tuscan kale for a hearty bite, and generous shavings of parmesan. The charred Caesar dressing brought it all together with that smoky, savory flavor. The pita bread held everything nicely without getting soggy, and the portion was just right: filling, but not overwhelming. Service was super friendly and paced perfectly, not rushed, but never left waiting. Menu options looked creative and inclusive, with plenty for vegetarians and craft beer lovers, too. We had a great experience and I'll definitely be recommending it to friends who are going to Raleigh!

I haven't tried a lot of vegan food in my life, but I was really impressed by Soul's Kitchen! They…read morehave a beautiful food truck (which is actually a bus) and they put out a cute table with menus and examples of some of their food. I tried their Oyster Shroom Po'Boy and it was really good! I don't particularly like mushrooms, but it didn't taste like mushrooms at all. The mushrooms were seasoned and fried to perfection. My box was packed full of food, I couldn't even see the bun they put so many fried mushrooms on top of it! The fries were okay.

This food truck was at an event I attended during Juneteenth! I normally don't try vegan food but…read moreeveryone was raving about this truck. I had too see what the hype was about. I had fries a poboy sandwich. Everything was fresh, cooked to order and delicious.

Our company held a team dinner at Brewery Bhavana, and it was truly an experience. Right in the…read moreheart of downtown Raleigh, this upscale brewery blends historic brick charm with a stunning custom library and unique touches of elegance at every turn. We enjoyed several small plates, and not a single dish disappointed. Every bite was memorable. The atmosphere makes it the perfect spot for date night, a girls' night out, or even a quick lunch while enjoying a good read. A beautiful space, incredible food, and an unforgettable evening.

This is a one stop shop, brewery, flower shop, library/book store and dim sum restaurant!…read more The food. Really really good dim sum. I stopped in just a they were opening on a Friday and thank goodness I showed up when I did, this place gets packed quick and you should book a reservation to be on the safe side. I was most excited about the duck egg rolls but ended up being my least favorite not because they were slightly on the dry side. Flavor was good, and the hoisin honey sauce really helped! The seafood dumplings were second best, stuffed full. The soup based was amazing and it also came with some bread for dipping in the leftover sauce. The pork and chive shumai were my favorite! A little bit bigger than bit sized but worth the mouth full! Absolutely would recommend. I'll 100% be back for more food. The bar side looked to be more casual, the dinning room was full of high tea attire so I did feel a little under dressed, thought it would be slightly more casual. They have the cutest library with free books to read but only while you dine in. The flower and book shop are in the middle of the space. Super cute, limited options but great for a last minute bouquet!