The Angus Barn is a MUST if you are around the Raleigh area. We can't get enough of it!…read more From prime rib that melts in your mouth to kabobs, this place has it all. Christmas time is beautiful, as they decorate the ceiling with garments and ornaments and other decorations around the massive restaurant, but reservations are needed no later than 6 months in advance. If you're fine waiting 3 hours for a table max, then you will be fine. Every single time we come to Angus Barn, something is different. Now they give you a soup or salad with your meal, along with bread! The cheese and crackers are famous among the people and are a great way to start your meal. The bread is so fresh also! All components in their house salad is great. Everything is awesome! The prime rib is tender and has such good flavor. Their mac n' cheese is the way to go. Their recipe is constantly changing. Like what I previously said, something is different every time you come to Angus Barn. The chocolate chess pie is the best I've had. This is a MUST when dining at Angus Barn. You HAVE to get the chocolate chess pie. The service is some of the best in the restaurant business and all do a great job at explaining things. So kind and professional! Once again, if you're around Raleigh and don't come to Angus Barn, you are missing out. I highly recommend you come. So good!

Food: 3 Service: 5…read moreAmbience: 4 Date/Time: 8/16/2026 5:40pm Order: Bacon wrapped filets, baked potato, stuffed potato and fries Crowd: Dining area 75% full, parking lot filled to the back of the lot I know, I know, Angus Barn is known all over, and at one time many MANY years ago when I went, it was pretty awesome all around. This time, maybe my expectations were too high, but it didn't strike me the same was as it did over 30 years ago. First off, I want to say that service from Andy was excellent! He was very attentive and actually interacted with us. We were celebrating my dad's birthday and Andy was really making it a big thing for him. He kept our glasses full and came around to check on us often. When he brought us the filets, he actually had us cut it down the middle and had a flashlight to allow us to see if it was cooked right. The ambience was still the same as before but more decoration with a lot more space and a lot more tables. It was a little on the noisy side but it was also almost full which I thought surprising on a Sunday. I think the wood walls helped absorb the sound better. We were seated immediately toward the back even being 20 minutes early of the reservation. The tables have a blue checkered tablecloth (used to be red checkers back in the day) and most everything was wood (walls, floor, etc). As you approach the front door, the covered area out front has seating and a bar with valet parking at the entrance to the covered porch. As you enter the main entrance, a country store counter is on the left, selling Angus Barn items, along with the restrooms further down. Straight ahead is the host station and then it opens up to the huge dining area. Wherever there are steps, there's also a ramp for handicap access. The food was a little disappointing to me. When I order a filet, I do expect it to melt in my mouth without much cutting required, and to have a natural taste to it as I don't usually put any sauce on it. This one comes with a red wine sauce which I was trying to use to get some taste in the meat but didn't like it. The bacon was sitting on top burnt to a crisp. The baked potato was good but the Caesar salad with homemade dressing didn't hit the spot for me. However, the chocolate cheesecake was very good! Also, the cheese/crackers/olives/etc starters waiting for us at the table was nice (used to have this at a big table at the front door where you wait for your seat but I'm sure COVID stopped that). Overall, the food was just OK, but not what I'd easily come back and pay the price for the filet. I'm not sure if maybe they hired a new cook and we got him/her or if this is just how they prepare their filets. I was going to give it a 4, but then asked myself if I were to look at a 4, wouldn't I expect the author to return... I probably won't return....... unless someone took me and let me order the chocolate cheesecake :-)

We had dinner here for my birthday and, overall, the dining experience was good. We had a brief…read moremisunderstanding when we were first seated, but the manager handled it quickly and professionally, and I really appreciated that. Once we were taken care of, Cole did a great job as our server. He was polite, attentive, and provided good service, and the food we ordered for dinner was delicious. Unfortunately, the experience ended on a disappointing note. We ordered the Honey Garlic Chicken to take home. Once we got home, we realized that we had been given a completely different dish that we did not order. It appeared to be some type of beef with pasta and tomatoes. We live about 35 minutes away, so by the time we discovered the mistake, returning to the restaurant wasn't really an option. The food is still sitting in our refrigerator because it wasn't something we ordered or wanted, so unfortunately, we feel like we essentially threw away $25. I do want to give credit where it's due: management handled the initial issue very well, and Cole provided good service. I just wish the takeout order had been checked before it left the kitchen.

I hadn't been to Firebirds in years and had never been for lunch. What a wonderful meal and…read moreexperience. I had the you pick two for $14,95. A great deal. The chicken tortilla soup was delicious. It was creamy and flavorful and had nice pieces of chicken in it. I really enjoyed it. The smash-burger was also delicious. It had great taste, was cooked nicely through, the ratio of meat to cheese to lettuce to sauce was just right. I really enjoyed this. We had a nice booth and our waitress was helpful and around for tea refills. Great lunch in a welcoming and delicious restaurant.

Elegant, Ambient and too sweet (3.5 star)…read more I came here for work meeting and had prefix menus so my experience may be different from others. Venue: it is good sized venue, ambient and has upscale elegant - classic theater type of look. Went to the small room area in the back to the left past the kitchen. Food: I have tried crab shrimp bisque, cheese steak roll, calamari, NY steak and cheese cake. The shrimp bisque was good but I've had better- for example near by Capital grill and definitely not closed to any of the bisque at fisherman's wharf. But you know what, when I got chunk of crab and shrimp I started to change my mind that it was getting pretty good. Cheese steak roll was pretty good but real rich. Calamari had good flavor but extremely sweet. The whole table agreed that there was unnecessary amount of sugar in there. Steak was nice and thick- however it would've been better if it had more salt and seasoning. The steak was cooked perfect medium rare. Texture was soft but I was slightly suspicious of meat tenderizer in there. Just a thought. Cheese cake was good but again, I've had better. Service: service was good. Although since it was table size to acclimate a party - everyone was attentive. Price: in my opinion it is overpriced. I.usually put price insight in the beginning but I am giving my insight on this last because- overall the experience and food was good. However, for the price to the whole experience ratio is not worth it for me to come back.

Mediocre experience overall, though the ambience is definitely nice…read more We visited as a party of four with a 4:00 PM Sunday reservation. Surprisingly, despite the restaurant being empty, we had to wait about 30-40 minutes. The staff kept telling us our table was "getting ready," which was confusing given how quiet it was. Service throughout the meal was quite slow. We started with the shrimp appetizer, which was good. We initially ordered oysters, but were informed 10-15 minutes later that they were unavailable, so we switched to calamari, which was just okay. For entrées, we ordered steak, crab cake and crab stuffed shrimp . Steak was served on a large plate with a very small portion and no sides included. At that price point, you would expect a more substantial serving or at least accompaniments. Dessert was the highlight -- we tried the crème brûlée, chocolate cake, and carrot cake, and all were enjoyable. One odd detail: the check was split into two without the server asking how we wanted it handled. Overall, for a higher-end steakhouse, we expected better service, smoother communication, and more attention to detail. The ambience is nice, but the experience didn't quite match the price or expectations.

One of my favorite things to do is introduce friends to some of my favorite local spots, and this…read moretime we took them to Neuse River Brewing & Brasserie near downtown Raleigh. The service is always fun and i enjoy the open atmosphere. This Belgian-inspired brasserie continues to be one of my go-to destinations for great food, craft beer, and one of the best Painkillers in town. My must-order dish is always the crispy beer-battered pollock paired with their perfectly seasoned truffle fries. The fish is light, flaky, and fried to golden perfection, but the real star might be their housemade tartar sauce--it's absolutely addictive. A few other standouts from our table included: Savory risotto topped with seared shrimp and blistered tomatoes The NRBC Juicy Burger loaded with onion straws and beer cheese Every dish was packed with flavor, and it's easy to see why this spot remains a local favorite. Whether you're stopping in for a craft beer, cocktails, or a hearty meal, this is a place that's always worth the visit.

We wanted to try out a different spot than our usual go-to. We ended up at Neuse River Brewing…read more It's located an "industrial" looking area off of Whitaker Mill road in Raleigh. The first thing we noticed as walked in was how warm the place was. They have an open kitchen which is generating heat. They didn't seem to have central AC. They did have one wall mounted AC which was nowhere enough to cool down the place during peak summer days. We almost decided to leave and go elsewhere but we sat down. We got the following: Grilled Caesar salad was pretty decent for what it was. Duck Poutine was quite underwhelming. It was pretty cheese fries with duck on it. Not quite the typical poutine that also has gravy on it. Blood Orange Crème Brulee was my favorite item of the three we had. You could taste the blood orange in the crème brulee which was amazing. The portion could have been a big larger. I was expecting it to be in a small coffee cup. I could have had another one easily. All in over an average experience. Not sure if I will go back!

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.

Still loving this spot! I haven't been back in a while but Doug was a wonderful server and the food…read morewas fantastic. I highly recommend the filet/ fried oyster combo and the street corn dip appetizer.

We were on our own so decided to do date night at a new steakhouse, Perry's - esp after seeing…read moretheir July anniversary special. And we were very happy, from beginning to end. Upon arrival, the friendly parking security attendant asked if we needed help. It only got better. At Perry's, we were greeted and seated by smiling and friendly faces. Though Megan was our designated server; others graciously tended to us if they saw a need. For easy viewing, food was prepared through a clear glass wall. And our tasteful courses were meticulously presented. Definitely appealing to the eyes and all the way to your tastebuds! Apps were pork chop bites and salmon crostini. Followed by field green salad, leek soup and filet mignon. For a wrap it was orange cheesecake and a lemon bar which was torched tableside! Perry's Reserve Cabernet complimented our medium rare steak. ;) Such an enchanting experience is to be shared so we're heading back next week to celebrate 2 birthdays with another couple. Yum yum!!

Soooooooooooo goooooooddddd! Everything about this place lived up to my expectations. The valet,…read morethe atmosphere, the lighting, the open glass window walls, the food, the service....yesssss, yesss, yeasssssss! I got the martini flight which had a sample taste of bourbon cocktail, a margarita, and a mule. I started with the steak tots which was filet mignon on a potato hash with garlic aoili. MMmmm Mmm Mmm! Then came the wedge...Aaauuhhh-maa- ziinggg! It was a nice potion with a strip of bacon, cherry tomatoes and home made dressing. My main was chicken Oscar and it didn't let me down. It was 2 chicken filets topped with lump crab and a cream sauce. This entree was placed Ontop of asparagus spears. Perfect pairing. After all that, I was full, so I got the lemon bar to go. It looked so good so when I got home you know I to try it!! The merengue and lemon zesty flavor made it hard not to have just one bite. The gentlemen next to me were very nice and Christie the bartender gave impeccable conversation and service!! One of my new faves for sure!!

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.

Fantastic spot to grab a nice meal. It's on the more intimate side, so definitely make a…read morereservation during peak times. Was really impressed by the hospitality of the bartender Toulson (spelling?). He was super friendly, knowledgeable, and gave me detailed recommendations. -- The Hamachi Crudo was so bright and light. I really enjoyed the puffed rice on top and the basil ice complemented the dish well. The grapefruit added some nice acidity and the little crunchy bites were the perfect texture contrast. The pieces of fish were large and thick. -- The Manchego-herb Biscuits were awesome. One order comes with four small biscuits. Crust was flaky, the inside was soft and moist, and the flaky salt was the cherry on top. -- The Seared Duck Breast was phenomenal. The duck was juicy and tender and salted well. The skin was thick, sooo flavorful, and melted in your mouth but I would've liked a little more crispiness on the outside. I enjoyed the mix of fresh vegetables and warm cooked vegetables served with the dish. -- The Lemon Yuzu Tart was a nice bright and rich dessert. The tartness comes from the jam on top of the tart but it doesn't overwhelm the dish. The creme brulee style top was a nice touch. The buttermilk ice cream was more on the icier side than creamy. I really enjoyed all the dishes I tried here and am looking forward to my next visit.

J. Alexander's bar dream team: Chris, Gabby & Shaq!…read more We always enjoy dining at J. Alexander's, and this visit was no exception. The Cajun trout was absolutely delicious. I substituted the coleslaw for broccoli, and it was the perfect choice. The trout was flavorful, perfectly cooked, and one of my favorite dishes on the menu. We also had the dream team behind the bar: Chris, Shaq, and Gabby! They made the entire experience even better with their friendly personalities, outstanding service, and attention to detail. They were engaging, fun, and made us feel like valued guests from the moment we sat down. They truly elevated our evening. The only disappointment was the change in the Malbec selection. We were longtime fans of The Seeker, and the new Alta Vista simply doesn't compare. In our opinion, it lacks the smooth, rich flavor that made The Seeker such a great pairing with the meal. We definitely don't think it's an improvement and would love to see J. Alexander's bring The Seeker back. Great food, outstanding bartenders, and another wonderful dining experience. We're just hoping our favorite Seeker Malbec makes a return!

Walked in, asked to sit at the bar…read more Was outright ignored for quite some time. Didn't feel welcome at all. Didn't order. Left.