One of my favorite speak easys. Loved the espresso martini and lime. The atmosphere is relaxing…read more Highly recommend.

Such a gorgeous space! Perfect spot if you're feeling a moody cocktail or mocktail. This…read morebar/speakeasy is located in downtown Raleigh close to street parking and parking decks. They're typically having some sort of fun event or pop up that you can enjoy. When I went recently I decided to try a mocktail, they do a good job on their mocktails - equally as skilled as their cocktails. Definitely worth a stop in for a drink.

The basement cocktail bar with pages of great cocktails. I was amazed at how many cocktails they…read morehad to choose from. They have some seasonal cocktails and a rotating menu of choices. Our party decided to come here after dinner for an additional cocktail. This is a cozy bar that dimly lit as you would expect from one of your favorite speakeasy bars.

Foundation Bar offers a uniquely cool vibe, tucked away in a basement location that makes it easy…read moreto miss if you aren't looking for it. The interior features rotating art hung on the walls--which adds a great aesthetic and is even available for purchase if you fall in love with a piece. The drink menu is impressively extensive, and the bartenders certainly don't skimp on the pours; if you aren't a frequent drinker, one strong cocktail will definitely be plenty. The staff is consistently polite and welcoming, and the overall atmosphere makes for a solid night out. The only notable drawbacks are the lack of a food menu, not even offering small bites, and a noticeable smoke odor inside that might bother non-smokers. Still, it's a great spot for drinks and atmosphere.

Order the Dealers Choice and don't hold back telling them what you like/don't like. Fantastically…read morecrafted cocktail every single time. Very cozy date night spot, or a great start or end to the evening.

It's conveniently located, it's close to both downtown and Glenwood. The vibe is so cute and the…read morecocktails are good! I'm not the biggest gin person, but they have other options too.

Guava sunset was amazing. Ain't no sunshine was delicious. Killjoy 75 was refreshing and floral Ava…read moreeverything I had hoped. Cool vibes. Great for a date. Service was ok but not over the top. The bar was quiet, we went early.

Fun spot for a mocktail or cocktail. Comfy seating…read more Super friendly bar tenders. We were there early on a Friday so it was super chill with great tunes playing. Fun decor : ) Kissing booth : )

What a fabulous dessert shop! Perfect place to grab an after dinner cocktail and dessert and…read moreconveniently located near St Roch Oyster Bar which is where we had dinner. Service was top notch with friendly folks greeting you the moment you enter the doors. Our bartender was so sweet and so welcoming. Had me a $10 Paloma cocktail that was just right and went to town on dessert. Everything was just delicious. Fresh made whip cream, perfectly balanced sweetness with the desserts and cute atmosphere. Loved my first time here and it won't be my last!

I ordered the pumpkin crème brûlée and the chai espresso martini…read more The pumpkin crème brûlée was good flavor-wise, but unfortunately, the sugar on top wasn't properly caramelized into that signature crunchy layer. Without that contrast in texture, it ate more like a pumpkin custard or pudding than a traditional crème brûlée. As for the chai espresso martini, it was okay, but the flavors were a bit muted. My friends ordered some of the other espresso martini flavors, and after trying theirs, I found those to be much more flavorful. The chai version just didn't stand out in comparison. Overall, neither was bad, but both left a little to be desired. I'd definitely choose a different espresso martini flavor next time.

Conveniently located across the street from the Marriot in downtown Raleigh. I had two cocktails…read more(Mama Said Knock You Out and Dreams of Oaxaca), both of which were recommended both the owner and both were DELICIOUS. Cool atmosphere. highly recommend for a delicious cocktail - their menu has a lot of really great options.

I came here to experience a night out on the town all the way from Brooklyn, NY. I didn't realize…read moreuntil after when I looked on the business page that it had Brooklyn decor. Since I visited the day after Christmas there was still holiday decor up. The did play a small selection of NY based music which I did appreciate which music from other regions which I also enjoyed. What I didn't enjoy too much was my drink. I was trying to order a drink fro the festive list but one of the ingredients weren't available so I decided to just get a vodka and cranberry which tasted a little watered down. I'll probably try a second visit when come back in town.

Big Flavors, Warm Hospitality, and Two Unforgettable Standouts…read more Ratings: Overall: 4.5 of 5 Stars (Ambiance: 4/5; Service: 5/5; Food: 4/5) What we ate: Ceviche Trio - $38 Korean Street Tacos (2) - $12 Crispy Potato Flautas - $14 Grilled Pulpo (Octopus) - $19 Elote Corn Ribs - $15 Mofongo (new, and not on the online menu) Birthday bonus (on the house): Tres leches cake and Mango sorbet What we drank: Pisco Inferno First Impressions: My daughter picked out "Cuya" for her birthday dinner. Traffic was light as it was midweek. Cuya has a lot to work with - a large patio out front and a smaller dining room inside. They are open all day, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The food: Ceviche Trio - $38 - a good, not great representation of the Peruvian standard. Two of 3 sauces made a positive impression while the third was fine. All three had decent portions of resh seafood. We just thought the 3rd sauce was okay. Korean Street Tacos (2) - $12 - the low-point of our order. They were fine - moist pork with okay seasoning. A reminder you may not want to order Korean food at a Latin American restaurant! Crispy Potato Flautas - $14 - a fantastic contrast of savory potatoes with the crunch of the fried shell. Grilled Pulpo (Octopus) - $19 - perfectly cooked, good sized portion of an octopus tentacle. A slight, slight crunch and tender meat inside. Elote Corn Ribs - $15 - One of our stars of the evening. Tender, sweet corn covered in a savory, buttery sauce, quartered into ribs." Eaten with two hands! You will be licking your fingers! Mofongo (new, and not on the online menu) - Our second star! A fantastic representation of the Puerto Rican classic of plantains and cracklings mashed up into an amazing plate of goodness. Served with a side of chopped pork, it was amazing. The service: Excellent, including details about the owners' origin stories, a consistent, but not overbearing, presence and excellent pacing of our plates. Would I come back: Again and again. Cuya Cocina was a delight for its excellent, diverse flavors, enthusiastic service and warm atmosphere.

I came here for my birthday on a Sunday evening. We easily found street parking a block or two…read moreaway. We had a reservation and it wasn't busy, with two other groups and one couple dining there as well. We left around 6:30 and it was still very slow with no new customers coming in since we arrived. I think this place is probably more lively on Friday and Saturday nights. The food was delicious and the employees were friendly. When we walked in, the executive chef (Kevin?) asked if we had dined there before and welcomed us with a handshake and introduced himself. When you first enter Cuya there is a casual dining area with a lot of natural light coming in through the windows. That is the cafe portion of their restaurant and where they serve pastries, lattes, sandwiches, salads, and other more casual dining options. It's a cute and spacious spot that would be great for a casual breakfast or lunch. When you walk through the cafe there is a second door that opens into a second dining area that is a lot darker and has a completely different vibe and look. The music is fairly loud so it isn't a good place to go for a quiet meal or date unless you're into nightlife. The music is fun though with reggaeton, some r&b, and other Latin music like Juanes or bad bunny. The decor is super cool and sexy and colorful with fun decorations like a bust/mannequin head wearing a tropical fruit hat, lots of plants and neon lights, as well as framed art featuring different Latin countries. We started off with some drinks: a mezcalita picante and a pineapple jarritos. They even poured the jarritos into a glass and garnished it like a cocktail which was a nice touch and fun for our 5 year old. Our appetizers came after our drinks. We ordered the fritto mixto, pork belly tostones, pulpo, and empanadas. For our main meal we ordered the banana leaf steamed snapper. We ended our meal with mango sorbet. The only desserts available were a banana bread style bread pudding and mango sorbet. I was really hoping for some flan or tres leches and very disappointed by the offerings available. However, the mango sorbet was actually so incredible and delicious with a generous amount of scoops (I believe there were four). You could really taste the mango. The fritto mixto was good and came with a nice marinara style sauce which tasted more like a blended pico de gallo. The calamari was tasty and there were some nice juicy shrimp in the mix as well. The pork belly empanada was nice but not our favorite. We liked the sauce it came with but we weren't expecting deep fried empanadas. It comes with 2 however and makes for a great sharing appetizer for a small group. My favorite appetizer was definitely the pulpo which was so crispy on the outside and oh so tender on the inside and cooked to perfection. It didn't seem grilled as the menu states but was still incredibly delicious. It is plated atop a yummy salsa and served with some fingerling potatoes (some purple on the inside!). The potatoes were no frills and not that flavorful but still nice. Highly recommend. The banana leaf snapper was a very interesting dish with a fun presentation. The snapper sits beneath a layer green olive and capers with arugula and baby tomatoes. The snapper was cooked well and extremely tender. I recommend you mix it all together otherwise the caper and olive mix is pretty overpowering. We had an overall lovely experience and would return again and recommend this place to anyone looking for a delicious place to try! I want to come back to try the noodle dishes, Jamaican curry wings, and the ceviche/crudo items! The tacos sounded delicious as well.

Was visiting for a concert and am so happy I checked out William & Company. I was with 6 other…read morepeople and we were able to snag the soft seating at the front (space to the left when you walk in). I enjoyed my slushie but then moved on to tequila soda - my classic. All staff was super nice and drinks, bar service was quick and empty glasses were picked up quickly while we were just yapping. Added touch is the Krispy Kreme that's across the street (make sure you share with the staff!)

Ok i loved this place! Honestly it was exactly what i needed! Great vibes. Fantastic drinks! And…read morejust a vibe you don't want to miss. Easy seating. You don't want to miss out on this spot for sure!

Whiskey Kitchen is a great spot to catch up with friends or for a date. The ambiance is chill with…read moreindoor and outdoor seating options. We chose to sit at the bar. The seating was comfortable and gave us a clear view of all of the different whiskey options. The bartenders were nice and offered menu suggestions as well as allowed me to have a tasting before ordering. I ordered the drink called Dusk til Dawn. It's is a homemade sangria. Absolutely delicious! Honestly, it is one of the best cocktails I've ever had.

Whiskey kitchen !!!!! Wowzers !!…read more Let me tell you this place is 10/10! The food , the drinks and the service.. I wish I could come daily as it definitely is a great spot. One part whiskey bar and one part southern kitchen this is a win in downtown Raleigh! Known for their small plates and shareable, they do have entree and main dishes along with a great selection of whiskey. The shrimp and grits were alittle to saucy for me but my nephew had no problem finishing it for me lol. We will definitely be back!

I reserved a table at the Crunkleton after seeing that it was featured in a list of best new…read morerestaurants because I wanted to treat my wife to a surprise night out. I wanted it to feel casual, but also very nice and elegant. The Crunkleton was exactly what I wanted. The interior has a nice date night feeling with an impressive bar and elegant furniture. But it's also small enough to give it a casual and welcoming feeling. On to the important part though, the food! It was SO delicious. Sorry Italian restaurants of Raleigh, but the seafood pasta here might be my favorite pasta dish in all of Raleigh. It was so deliciously creamy and I love the spices that gave it an additional zesty, herbaceous flavor. The shrimp in the pasta was also perfectly cooked, not at all tough. Our crab cakes appetizer was also a great, easy-to-share start to the night, and I really liked the Mojito-inspired gin-based Mule cocktail that I ordered. My wife had Steak Frites and she also loved her food. All of the food and drinks that we had was of a "best in the city" caliber, and I'd be thrilled to have a reason to back. The service we had was nothing exemplary, but it didn't get in the way of us enjoying our time here either. If you are looking for a place to have a date night that feels special, but also relaxed and comfortable, look no further. Book here!

My brother and I visited The Crunkleton on Tuesday, October 20th, and overall, we had a really…read moreenjoyable experience! First, the restaurant itself is beautiful! From the moment you walk in, you get this sophisticated, upscale atmosphere with warm, dim lighting that creates an intimate dining experience without feeling too dark. They also have a lovely outdoor seating area, although no one was sitting outside during our visit. The bar is absolutely gorgeous and has an impressive selection of wines and spirits. We originally planned to sit at a table but decided to move to the bar instead, which is how I was able to admire the beautiful bar. The staff was wonderful! From the hostess to our server, everyone was friendly, welcoming, and attentive. My brother and I shared the Tomahawk Steak, which came with fries, and charred bread. The portion was definitely generous enough for two people, possibly three, depending on your appetite. We actually had a little left over! We ordered our ribeye medium, but some portions were noticeably less cooked than we expected, closer to medium-rare. Personally, I would probably order medium-well next time to get a result closer to my preference. As far as flavor, the steak was alright. I felt the actual meat could have used more seasoning, particularly salt. Interestingly, the fat on the ribeye was absolutely delicious! It had so much flavor, and I found that pairing a small piece of the flavorful fat with a bite of the leaner meat made the steak much more enjoyable. That combination really brought out the flavor! I just wish more of that delicious seasoning had carried through to the meat itself. The sides, however, were really good! The vegetables were enjoyable, and even the simple charred bread was delicious. Sometimes the simplest things are done exceptionally well! Another bonus was that we visited on a Tuesday, when the ribeye was half off! That definitely made the meal feel like a great value, especially considering the generous portion size. Now, here's where things got interesting: THE BURGER! The person sitting next to us ordered a burger, and it looked absolutely amazing. We ended up ordering a regular cheeseburger to go for one of my kids, and let me tell you, that burger was delicious! I managed to sneak a small bite before it disappeared, and it was juicy, flavorful, and honestly more enjoyable than the ribeye. Would I return? Absolutely! Although the ribeye wasn't my favorite steak, it certainly wasn't bad. Everyone has different preferences when it comes to steak, and someone else may absolutely love it. For me, I would have preferred a little more seasoning throughout the meat and a slightly higher cooking temperature. Between the beautiful atmosphere, welcoming staff, generous portions, and that delicious cheeseburger, this place is definitely worth visiting. Next time, I'm ordering the burger!