Came to Mandolin for a night out with family. We made reservations a few days previously, and had plenty of flexibility in terms of times. Once at the restaurant, we seated very quickly. The feel of Mandolin is a great, and the food is just as good. We got the tuna tartar, and the friend pickles starters--both were very good. For the entrees, we got the lamb, the chicken leg, the hanger steak, and the chicken and waffles. All the food was delicious and the presentation of dishes was great. Doug took care of us for the night was great, he was very attentive. Overall, I would definitely recommend checking Mandolin out, there's not a bad item on the menu. read more

Always an amazing place to get...never disappointed..absolutely love this place. Check it out you definitely will not regret it

Had a great experience dining here. Our meals were amazing, the ambiance was really nice--spacious, yet somehow also cozy in these distanced times, and our server, Brandon, was excellent, graciously accommodating all of our requests. Will definitely be back. read more

Excellent ambiance. Dessert wine was excellently paired with chocolate soufflé. Phenomenal chicken and waffles. Mediocre steak. Above average service. Pro tip: tell the waiter it's your anniversary or birthday for a free treat ;) read more

Came here for the first time and had brunch. We were seated promptly by a window which was nice. Our waiter was slow and rarely came back to the table. He could of sold another drink and a beer or two. Food was mediocre. Their concept is farm to table which we love but think just potatoes thrown in a deep fryer is sufficient. No flavor and boring. Should be more like pan fried with sea salt and rosemary. Can do better at home. My chicken and biscuit was plain and boring. No honey nothing but two sad pickle slices. My hubby's roast was yummy but potatoes sad and mine made both a bust. Thirty mins later and $55 check and I had to wait twenty mins then chase down the waiter to get our bill. So so so not impressed. Had high hopes for this place, leave and go to Nofo. Everything there half the price and so much better. read more

I found this place randomly while looking for someplace to eat while in the Raleigh area. A lovely restaurant serving contemporary American cuisine with a new fall line up that I was fortunate to try during my visit. My waiter, his name was Doug, and he was excellent and very personable. He made sure we understood everything new the menu had to offer in informative details and I was happy with my entire meal. I recommend the chicken and waffles if you are looking for a contemporary southern dish. The atmosphere is more business casual with table cloth and real candles setting the tables. They offer valet parking due to how they positioned in their location. If given the opportunity, please speak with the chef, he is a passionate culinary professional who established this wholesome farm to table experience and well worth the visit. read more

Mandolin - Chicken & Waffles - Southern Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Best meal out in Raleigh in a long time! Pork loin was so savory and the vegetables had so many different flavours. So unique and great experience. read more

From the appetizers, to the entree, to the drinks, everything we had was excellent! We will definitely be returning

Wow. Best overall restaurant in Raleigh. Service is super friendly and professional. Food is gourmet and the chef/owner is top level read more

Mandolin - Southern Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The food was amazing but in my opinion very overpriced which is why I opted for four instead of five stars. Maybe I am just a cheapskate. I had the pork chop which was amazing! My husband and I shared it. He got the burger which also looked good, but we were so full of bread, pork, and booze that we decided to take the burger home for a late-night snack. We ate at the bar since we didn't have a reservation which was great because the bar staff was super friendly. Would I return? Maybe. read more

Came for brunch and the food was pretty good just nothing special for the price. there's so many places that serve locally grown items I expected more but it was not as impressive as I thought it would be. I ordered the shrimp and grits after reading the reviews and it being suggested by a friend but I have definitely had better. The shrimp and grits didn't have the Cajun/seasoned taste I expect. I Wouldn't mind trying the restaurant again but will probably get an omelet because those all looked really good. read more

We returned to Mandolin tonight for our anniversary and the food did not disappoint. In fact it was just as amazing as the first time. My husband had the trigger fish. He said the sauce defiantly made the dish! I had the chicken and waffles. The chicken was excellent and very crispy, however the greens on the plate stole the show! They were sweet and cooked to perfection! I even ordered and extra side to take home for lunch tomorrow! We finished with the chocolate souffle. It was even better than I remember! The great food continues! Can't wait to return again. read more

Mandolin - Chocolate heaven...I mean souffle - Southern Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Went for brunch, definitely will be returning. The bloody is perfect. I ended up with the trout and it was cooked perfectly. Flavor was on point. Perfect amount of food. Complimentary biscuits yummmm read more

Mandolin's atmosphere is so chic yet comfortable. If only I could decorate my house in a way that would make it look half as good. Great service and food. I'm not a vegetarian but the cauliflower steak was excellent. The chicken and waffles were perfectly executed. We live 45 minutes away and have plenty of wonderful options closer to home, but we will return often! read more

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We opted to spend our 45th anniversary at Mandolin. What a mistake! We arrived early for our reservation. Only at most 12 people there and we were seated immediately. Had a drink, ordered 1st and 2nd courses. The first course was good, a bit slow to arrive at our table. The entrees? Never came. Many other guests came in after us. Some had eaten 1st, 2nd courses and dessert, had drink, had paid and were gone. We never got our food. The single most unprofessional dining establishment we have ever had the misfortune to experience. NEVER AGAIN! Our waiter told us the kitchen had so many guests' orders. Maybe so. But we were before them, in most cases long before them. No excuses. No explanation offered. Utterly pathetic and absurd! read more

For Easter, we chose the Mandolin for Brunch. Having read the positive reviews, we were very excited and looking forward to going to an almost 5 star Yelp rated restaurant. We donned our ties and pearls and drove there. Positive (More or less) The "Steak and Eggs" was very good. My son loved it! Negative: My filet of smoked trout, however, a very thin sliver, was put atop a slice of dried, stale! white bread, topped with a poached egg. Perhaps we "expected" something different.. but the atmosphere left much to be desired. It was more like a diner!, not an elegant restaurant. It was noisy, the waiter lacked sophistication, and with children running around and being disruptive, resembled a noisy Waffle House. The "Fine Dining" experience was TOTALLY absent. We could have worn jeans, ponytails, and flip flops and fit right in. This was Sunday! and Easter! SMH I asked a nice young waitress "What happened to this place?". She replied "We USED to have nice linen tablecloths, nice tables, but it was "off putting" to the locals." I said "Huh"? Apparently, they had to remove everything aesthetically pleasing, and provide a more diner-ish experience for those individuals intimidated by the nicer things, that I personally seek, such as Second Empire. We got fed!... that's it. read more

We had the bass & pork. They're overly saturated with butter and not just the meats, the sides were drenched with butter as well (not in a good way). I understand that chefs use butter in everything but it seemed like the chef was relying on butter to do all the seasoning. We also had the charcuterie sampler, the duck was good but the rest were meh. For dessert, we had a dried-out caramel cake which the waitress raved about (hear me, get the Patti LaBelle caramel cake, it's cheaper & superior thsn theirs). This restaurant is seriously over-rated. It's good, don't get me wrong, but not 4.5-the-best-meal-I-ever-had stars. read more

Was excited to try this place. Was VERY disappointed. Service was slow and inattentive. My eggs were stone cold. My brunch mate said her omelets was just not good she didn't even eat half. The bacon was soggy and very greasy, like we got the very bottom scraps of the pan. I ordered OJ and it was like a 1/4 cup for 4.00$. Won't recommend or go back! Not good!!! read more

My husband and I like to try different restaurants on our Anniversary. In the past we have experienced stellar meals. Unfortunately this was not one of them. One of his favorite fish is tilefish. The fillet was unevenly cooked. The thicker part was raw. Tilefish is not meant to be sushi. My lamb ragout was very ordinary, uninspiring, if not bland. The highlight of the meal was the chocolate soufflé. The staff was pleasant and attentive but considering the quality and quantity of the meal it is definitely not worth the price point. read more

I had brunch here this weekend. The dining room was nearly empty, yet we were seated in the absolute corner of the room. I ordered the country ham benedict. The eggs, ham, and hollandaise were very good, but were served on their "house-made sourdough toast", which was not called out on the menu. The toast was just awful. It was not deeply toasted, but was hard as a rock and nearly flavorless. A standard english muffin would have been better, or one of their biscuits, which are excellent. Another in our party ordered à la carte and got eggs, grits, and the same toast, which was served dry. The (enormous portion of) grits were cheesy, which was not called out in the menu, and she was not impressed with the flavor, likening it to american cheese. Our other party member ordered the country breakfast and didn't have any complaints beyond the toast and the fact that she had to request salt and pepper for the table. I've been here before and enjoyed it okay, better than this weekend, but, even then, it was only like 3.5 stars. I don't really understand why it's so highly rated. read more

Mandolin is right up there with some of our upscale Southern faves, like Magnolia Grill. We made reservations and dined on a Sunday night, enjoying a less-crowded, more intimate atmosphere. The place feels San Francisco to me; it's an open area with a fusion of rustic-modern decor. You can see the cooks bustling about in the kitchen. Appreciated the broad by-the-glass wine selection, and ordered some bubbles while hubby got a Hoppyum. We decided to forgo the first course selection (in favor of dessert!). While we waited on our entrees, we were served a roll and a mini cornbread muffin. Both were wonderful; but the cornbread kicked ass. I wanted to try their gourmet take on chicken & waffles. This dish is one of the lower priced on the menu, at $19. The buttermilk waffle... I wish it had a crustier outer edge; it was very doughy. But the greens that came with it were dynamite. I recently put collards on the "Dislike" list with our CSA; after having Mandolin's collards, I need to remove the ban. They were spicy, tangy, tender. Yum! The fried chicken was a plump juicy breast with a light batter. No bells or whistles in terms of herbs or honey, but this bird stood well enough on its own. The whole dish is topped off with a foaming mountain of butter -- kind of gimmicky, but still fun! (Yes, I totally couldn't keep from playing with my food before eating it.) Husband ordered the duck and claims it's some of the absolute best he's ever been served... he did grouse a little about the serving. But my dish was so big, I packed half of it for home. We finished up with coffee (a small individual pot was brought to the table for me. Nice!) and the chocolate souffle, which I'd seen recommended on here. I'm a chocolate dessert lover, and was over the moon with this choice. After bringing it to the table, the server pours a hot chocolate sauce over it and spoons out some freshly whipped cream to top it off. We dipped our spoons in and watched the pastry give way to a warm, molten center. Think half-cooked brownie, but SO much better. When the bill came out, we noticed the duck entree was rung in $1 higher than the menu priced it. Brought the discrepancy up with the server, who made the fix & explained the price change was due to them sourcing their duck from a new farm. If I had any complaints, it's that we were rather cold with a table by the window (poor insulation, I guess). We hadn't had a nice night out in a while, and this place really met every expectation. read more

Mandolin - Chicken & Waffles gourmet-style - Southern Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Classy/trendy vibes, decent prices for brunch. I had the Mandolin Skillet: delicious creamy cheese grits, black eyed peas, fried eggs, and bacon. The taste was good, but it was very difficult to cut the fried eggs and bacon as they were on top of the grits. Everything became a bit runny when the yolks combined with the liquid from the peas. I think the dish could be great with scrambled eggs and bacon that came cut into smaller pieces. Staff was very kind and attentive, waters/teas/coffees were promptly refilled without asking. Would eat here again - I want to try the shrimp and grits! read more

Brit and I were heading to the Florence and the Machine concert and needed a place to grab some good food prior. I've been following Mandolin on twitter snice before it opened, and finally the opportunity presented itself to stop by and grab a meal. I made reservations on Opentable, and arrived promptly at my scheduled time. They have complimentary valet, but the parking lot next door was empty so I self-parked. Upon entering the restaurant we weregreeted by a very bubbly and vivacious hostess. The restaurant is open with a lot of rustic wood slats paneling key walls. Next to the hostess stand is what I refer to as "The Wall of Pickling". You name the veg it was in a jar in what I can only assume was a pickling brine. We were seated and informed that we should situate ourselves for their "dinner and a show". On display in front of us from waist height above were the 6 chefs in the kitchen. There was a caller, an expo, two working the stove, two working the cold and a couple floating around helping on apps or desserts. A well run, meticulous kitchen. I was quite pleased to see everyone of the cooks and chefs tasting what they were making. We started with a couple of cocktails. I saw a Pimm's cup on the menu and immediately opted for that. As it is still in the throes of summer/fall I wanted a nice refreshign glass of spring. Heh. Brit had their pink stinger, and it was a tequila drink with blood orange and jalapeno juice. She liked it so much I believe she had three throughout the night. I enjoyed one more Pimm's before asking for the wine steward. Brit ordered the kale salad and I ordered their panzanella. It's tough to present well when it comes to salads, but both of ours looked like each leaf, each vegetable was laid on the plate precisely. Brit thoroughly enjoyed her kale salad, and I was pleasantly surprised to find the panzanella was crispy. Most panzanellas, mine included get 'wet bread' syndrome. Some people like that, howveer the textural contrast of this one made me rethink my own offering. The bits of bread were hand torn, and toasted to give a hard crunch to the greens offered. The thick pickles of which I wish there were more of went great with the beets. The dressing was present but not overpowering. Having started relatively healthy, I wanted to try something different and most definitley not calorically concsious. I opted for the special of the night which was the veal cheeks on a potato and some luxurious cheese gratin and some sprigs of "asper-grass" . Succulent and unctuous cheeks, fork tender and so deep in flavor were complimented well with the thick but yielding gratin. The wine steward paired an excellent, deep tannic red with bold flavors with my meal, and they went together quite well. Brit had the arctic char with fried quinoa and a few other things. I can't quite recall as I was engrossed in savoring my meal. We ended the night with a pot of coffee for me, and splitting their fig pudding. Sliced fig over a light pudding. The only miss for the night was the cake that was at the bottom of the bowl. It was a bit dry for my liking, but I understand the need to have soemthing like that holding up against a near liquid in the bowl. our server Megan was attentive and knowledgeable. The entire staff was professional and courteous. Mandolin is a great place and I can't wait for another excuse to stop on by. read more

Classy -- Beautiful -- Extraordinary Style This restaurant went above and beyond my expectations. My girlfriend had made reservations at Mandolin weeks ago for my birthday celebration and I was blown away how everything was beginning with just walking in the front door. The decor is fabulous. A little modern, a little chic but very warm and inviting all at the same time. We were quickly seated and the set up of all the tables is cute and inviting. Our server wasn't ready immediately but two other servers came and introduced themselves, gave us water and bread, not long before our server came to our table and offered us drinks and told us the specials. I ordered the trigger fish with vegetable quinoa and pan seared avocado and my girlfriend ordered the chicken and dumplings. Both were fantastic meals. Since I have to be aware of gluten in my meals, it was definitely a question we asked the server. They didn't have a separate menu but he quickly could point out specifically how they prepare every dish which ones included gluten and which did not. I'd have to say about 50/50 on the options that I was able to order from on the menu that did not include gluten. We both ordered a glass of wine as well. Our server had great knowledge of various wines that would pair up nicely with our meals. Before we knew it, we had been there 3 hours and had just been talking away! We ordered a decaf and regular coffee which they brew specifically for you in a French Press (they use Larry's Beans coffee, FYI). Also, we ordered the lavender cheesecake that was phenomenal. We had some trepidation about ordering food that actually had pieces of lavender in it, but after one bite (and it looks like a scoop of vanilla ice cream) we were hooked! It was the most delicious and refreshing dessert we've had in a very long time. All in all, we were more than pleased with our service, the food options, presentation, decor, and ambiance. Our visit to Mandolin will definitely go down in the memory books for us and we've each spoken about our visit to various people and most definitely want to go back again soon! If you want a nice, calm visit to a nice restaurant where it's nice to actually dress up a little bit without going all out (financially), then Mandolin is the place for you! read more

Steer clear of the meat and cheese plates. They are really expensive and truthfully very mediocre, at best. Cute spot, but expensive sub-par charcuterie and cheese :/ read more

My boyfriend and I ate at Mandolin last night for the first time. We were both very impressed with their wine list, quality of food, and service. We walked in without a reservation, which was a risky move on a Thursday night, and found a table in the bar area. The hostess was very kind and helped us get seated quickly. Our server arrived at our table moments after we sat down and offered us water and delivered the menus (wine list, cocktail list, and dinner menu). We decided to try the Syrah, which was incredible. The Syrah that is offered by the glass is velvety smooth and quite complex. It was exactly what we were looking for. We started with the scallop appetizer. It featured three large bay scallops that were cooked to perfection (even Gordon Ramsey would approve) with truffle flavored accompaniments. The scallops were up there with some of the best that I have had in my lift. I savored each bite. For dinner we split the 10oz sirloin steak. It was cooked perfectly (medium rare is our preference) and was presented with cheese infused mashed potatoes and winter root vegetables. For dessert we tried the trio of sorbets. My boyfriend was curious about the lime jalapeno sorbet, which prompted the order. The sorbet was quite interesting. First you taste the tartness of the lime and then the hotness of the jalapeno follows. I enjoyed it quite a bit, but I warn you...you have to have a high tolerance for spicy foods to enjoy this one. I was really intrigued by the fact that a cold food could be so spicy. Overall, the entire experience was amazing. This restaurant puts Raleigh on the map for fine dining. We will definitely go back to Mandolin. Dining in the bar was fun. The environment was lively and the service was second to none. read more

Amazing the menu is so unique and the dishes we ordered were superb! Such a cute little restaurant off the beaten track a bit on Oberlin dr. We were greeted by the friendly hostess who told us about some of her favorite dishes, she recommended the pork chop but they ran out when we were ordering. Our server was so sweet and went over the specials and menu for us. Knowing it was our first time dining here she suggested some apps to try. We ordered the fried oysters with the pork belly and collards. OMG the oysters and pork belly were to die for I think the pork belly was the best I've ever had here in the Triangle. They have a nice wine list hand picked of small family owned wineries. I ordered a glass of Syrah it was so good. The menu is really interesting the chef has some interesting combinations that I would never think of. I ordered the flounder which came over lentils and butternut squash puree. It was tough not to lick the plate it was that good and I loved my big portion of flounder. From fresh fish dishes, pork chops, chicken pot pie, and a 40 ounce Rib Eye (special of the night) there really is something for everyone. They also served up some yummy yeast rolls and mini cornbreads served with honey butter - very tasty. We didn't save room for dessert but the souffles coming out of the kitchen looked and smelled amazing. I'm adding Mandolin to the top of my list of favorite restaurants here in Raleigh. I can't wait to get back here soon and I must check out the brunch. read more

Overall - Mandolin is off to a good start. They are going to be a great addition to the growing Buy Local themed restaurants. Atmosphere - Completely renovated and nicely decorated. The noise level is on the loud side. Drink menu - A good mix of classics and extensive wine menu. There are only a few beers on the menu but they cover the bases. Food menu - Great appetizers, entrees, and deserts. Food quality - Excellent - great taste and presentation. Service - Good service - wait staff was very attentive and wait time for food was acceptable given they were slammed. Value - Pricey - Our tab was $120 with tip but we both had a drink, appetizers, desert, and coffee with our meals. Bottom line - We will go back and have already recommended it to our friends. read more

We were first time diners who were pleasantly surprised at this special dining experience. Ambience is relaxing in decor, with beautiful plates, glasses and serveware. (ThIs adds so much to the whole experience IMO) We went to celebrate an anniversary. It was fantastic and worth checking out if you like farm to table food. This is a great place for a special occasion as well as a casual meal if you want to keep the cost down with solely ordering entrees and no apps/dessert, etc. We saw families (probably people who live in the surrounding residential Raleigh neighborhood), couples, and even bar patrons. Our server Doug was exceptionally enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the food and drinks. We enjoyed apps, entrees and dessert with butternut squash soup, chicken dumplings, pork chop and short ribs with a chocolate soufflé and the apple crisp for dessert . Also had a delicious Pinot noir and cocktail. My husband thought the pork chop was the best he had ever had with a smoky, tender cut that showed off the quality of the pork. I loved the fresh bread and cornbread with the crock of gently salted creamy butter. In summary, I love a restaurant with a small but curated menu offering protein and vegetarian options done up with seasonal ingredients and a creative touch. For an unassuming, quality meal at a place that often goes under the radar but should be in the top 10 of Raleigh "s dinner and brunch spots, try Mandolin! read more

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I have a new favorite restaurant in Raleigh. I often find that local restaurants don't live up to the hype, but Mandolin certainly did! First, I loved the atmosphere. The interior is modern, yet welcoming. High ceilings, lots of light, light-colored wood, simple furnishings, but flowers on the tables. The kitchen is somewhat open--there's at least a large open window in--but it's separated by an area for the waiters to group dishes, so the kitchen doesn't pour heat and sound into the restaurant. We ordered cocktails. My boyfriend got a sazerac--which wasn't on the menu but they made for him without a problem (although the waitress had to check with the bartender); I had one of the cocktails from the specialty menu--the horn and suckle. Made with laphroaig (a single malt whiskey) and mole bitters, it was sweetened with honeysuckle and came out to the perfect balance of alcohol and sweetness. My boyfriend started out with soup, which he liked, and I opted for the caesar salad. I rarely order caesar salads, as I'm usually tempted by fancier menu items full of exotic fruits or colorful vegetables. But, I'm really glad I ordered it this time because it was the best caesar salad I've ever had. It was the right amount of dressing, but the house-made garlic croutons are really what stood out. They were amazing--light and buttery and crispy. I would go back just for the salad. Then our entrees came. My boyfriend had the fish entree, which came with quinoa and had somewhat of a southwest twist (grilled avocado, some sort of tomatillo sauce, etc.). It was quite good. I had the chicken and dumplings, which I LOVED. The drop biscuits on the dumplings were to die for, and the mixture itself was full of perfectly cooked chicken and vegetables. It tasted like my grandmother's cooking, but with a slightly more sophisticated set of flavors. The skillet was huge--and I had plenty for leftovers. Dessert was the only part of the meal that wasn't amazing. And it was still good. Once you look at the dessert menu, you'll see what I mean. I think because the menu features upscale southern food, the chef wants to get really creative with the dessert menu. I appreciate that--we ordered a lavender ricotta cheesecake with candied hibiscus (and that was one of the more traditional dessert options, other than the obligatory chocolate souffle). The dessert was really creative and it tasted good--but there were too many different parts for my taste. I appreciated it, but I can't say I would order it again. Finally, the restaurant featured great service. The waitress was friendly and knowledgable without being overbearing. And the price was right. Our bill came to $95 before tax and tip--which wasn't bad at all for such a great meal--two cocktails, two appetizers, two entrees, and a dessert. The whole meal was very good, and I am looking forward to returning, maybe for brunch next time? read more

My Wife and I walked in without a reservation on a Friday night, but were still able to get a seat at the bar. We really appreciated the extensive wine list! The hostess and wait staff were extremely attentive and were johnny-on-the-spot with fresh bread and wine refills. We had appetizers and main courses, and all our dishes were great. We especially enjoyed the beef tartar and scallops appetizer dishes. With the great atmosphere inside this is a great date night spot. I'm looking forward to trying out the lunch menu, as it looks just as good! read more

Brunch, sort of Southern. I wanted to give this place at least a 3. We went here last Sunday for brunch with a party of 10 and I really like the forward thinking decor, modern, not trendy. The our waiter was pretentious initially and borderline rude until she was not so subtly advised that she needed to improve her level of service. Finally, the food... First we had Beignets as a starter. They were denser, smaller and generally not as appetizing as those that I have had in other restaurants all around the southeast. Our group ordered several different breakfast entrees. I ordered the shrimp and grits but I also sampled the Omelet Du Jour, and the biscuits and gravy. The omelet du Jour which consisted of a pheasant confit which was pretty tasty but other than the limited amount of pheasant confit was fairly tame and not particularly well seasoned. The home fries were over cooked and crunchy all the way through. The shrimp and grits were perfection. The fresh NC shrimp were excellent. The grits were cooked well but a little too much cream for my tastes, especially as compared to those I have had in Charleston, SC, some think the mecca of shrimp and grits. Finally, the rue over the grits formed a full layer over the grits, way too much gravy. The biscuits and gravy were not good for only one reason. The sausage used in the gravy was ITALIAN SAUSAGE! Once you substitute fennel seed rich Italian sausage from sage heavy southern style sausage it ceases to be Southern, unless this is a dish popular in Southern Italy rather than the southern part of the United States. Like I said I wanted to really like this place. If I open a restaurant one day I would want many of the same elements. Clean, modern, straight forward, farm to table menu. But in Raleigh with a diverse clientele your wait staff has to bring their A-Game at all times and a rocky start such as nearly being offended when asked if the chef will substitute an ingredient, being short, resisting serving coffee before the entire party arrives also leaves a bad taste. Many may be willing to tolerate this type of silly treatment but my group was and I were a little disappointing. read more

A fancy restaurant with fancy food. I enjoyed my evening out at Mandolin. The service is spectacular; they really make you feel like a special guest. The food was great, however I did not like every dish I ate. For our first course we ordered Seared Scallops and Oysters Mandolin. The turnip soup with the seared scallop dish was divine and the scallops were plump and perfectly cooked. The Oyster Mandolin had delicious pork belly accompanied by fried oysters which unfortunately I could not taste due to being heavily coated, but all the components of the dish went well. For the second course, I ordered the Butternut Squash Latkes but I could not eat the dish so I traded with my boyfriend who seemed to have no complaints about it. I did not appreciate the red mole sauce. I thought it was too pasty and would have preferred my veggies only lightly seasoned. With the thick mole sauce I could not tell what the vegetables were. The Grilled NC Cobia then turned out to be my second course and it was delicious. The Cobia fish was cooked and seasoned well and the portion was large. The dish included forbidden rice which was fried in balls; they were amazing. This has been the best southern farm to table restaurant I have been to so far in Raleigh. Although I did not enjoy all the dishes, they have a nice selection and what they make for the most part, they make very well. Service is also superb. For a table for two, we were stuffed to the brim after two first courses and two second courses. I think this could be a place where you can skip the appetizer to lighten the bill since the second course portion is decent. However, some of the best flavors of the night came from the first course dishes. read more

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Wooohooo, ITB making a food statement! I like it. Let's start with the decor. Clean. Light. Minimal. Neutral. Intimiate - right up my alley. The outside and inside of the building got a much needed face lift since the days of the Evo space. A few of my favorite features are the globe lights, color scheme, openness of the space and white chairs (I know, really, white chairs, but yes, I loved them). Plus they had hydrangeas last night as the flower for each table, which always reminds me of Raleigh. You just don't get that same southern charm in Chicago. Other pluses included the fun cocktail menu (I tried the Pimms #41 cup) and lovely wine choices (which included a very fancy sommelier to help explain what we SHOULD get based on our likes). I loved the creative use of local produce and meats/fishes. Our table started with Panzanella and Classic Caesar salads. Both looked amazing. I waited it out till my main course arrived (which did NOT disappoint). So what did we get....well being a lover of fish and brussel sprouts I opt'd for the NC Striped Bass with Wild Mushrooms, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, and Caper-Raisin Puree. Which was perfectly cooked and had such a beautiful and simple presentation. The caper/rasin puree was sweet but paired so nicely with the other members on the plate. My father HAD to try the becoming famous chicken & waffles which is a HUGE piece of fried Ashley Farms Chicken Breast, Buckwheat-Buttermilk Waffles, Braised Mustard Greens, and Bacon-Mushroom Emulsion. This was a perfect dish for my dad, who is a lover of this type of food. The chicken was very moist and paired perfectly with the greens & waffles. My Mom went for the Red Wine Braised Beef Short ribs - Gratin Potatoes, Roasted Winter Vegetables, Red Wine-Thyme Sauce. She said it was really good but was a bit too fatty for her liking. She recognized the fact that this is a more fatty piece of meat, but it almost looked like a layer of mashed potato's on the meat (her words, not mine) but it was actually fat. It was good, just a bit much. My hubby went for the Potato Gnocchi (he is Italian) with Dates, Goat Lady Chevre, Red Peppers, Scallions, and Madeira for his main course. This was probably the smallest of all four dishes but had a lovely flavor. He of course was a member of the clean plate club (like the rest of us) that evening. OOOOOhhhhh, forgot the bread. Homemade yeast roles and cornbread muffins with whipped butter. YUM. Ask for seconds. We were too full for dessert but opt'd for dessert wine. Which ended up being one of the disappointing points of the evening. I guess others were also interested in getting some tasty sweet alcoholic treats after their meals because they were out of our first & second choices but thankfully the sommelier came through with an option for us which was on the house (another added bonus). All-in-all, great experience. The only thing other thing that was a bit disappointing was our server. He came off a bit arrogant and unhelpful. We didn't feel as loved as we had hoped especially since the other members of the staff were extremely kind, helpful and super friendly. For example, after our dishes were served, my mom was looking for salt (regardless of how perfect a dish is seasoned, she needs some salt). She tried to get his attention (now, she put her finger up to try to get his attention so maybe that was it but isn't that part of waiting tables? I mean, I used to get a bit of that when I was a waitress, and just recognized people are like that) and he looked right at her, ignored and walked to another table (ouch). We were able to get his attention, and after our request it was acknowledged by a little gruffness. Outside of that, great evening with great food and drinks! Really happy to see such a creative restaurant coming to ITB, especially so close to Cameron Village. I can totally see this becoming a local favorite, especially for a nice glass of wine relaxing at the bar. Thanks Mr. Fowler for leaving the Fearrington House and coming back to your Raleigh stomping grounds. read more

There's a lot of to love about this restaurant. It's a fresh take on southern cuisine and has solidified its place in the Triangle's fine dining scene. I loved the decor and service was phenomenal. The food was delicious, but fell short of a five star ranking at this level. I'll break it down in pros vs cons: + Great selection of wines by the glass and knowledgable staff + DELICIOUS cornbread muffin and yeast roll. I'm not sure which I loved more. + The menu was small but I thought there was a good variety to it. I'm pretty picky and there were still 2 or 3 dishes I had my eye on. + Andrew ordered the special, a 16oz Ribeye, and cleaned his plate. + My hangar steak was perfectly cooked + Walking distance from our Five Points bungelow - The Panzanella salad was delicious, but the croutons were too crunchy to chew. I thought panzanella croutons usually were marinated beforehand? I'm thinking they forgot that step... - My veggies had a smoky quality to them, presumably from the wood fire oven, but it didn't fit well with the rest of the plate. The tomatoes were also not quite ripe. - Everything was a bit oversalted - We were a little surprised by the pricetag at the end of the meal...we knew it would be a nice night out, but expected it to be around $100. Instead with 2 drinks + 2 starters + 2 entrees, we ended up at around $140 with tip. Come prepared ;) Overall, we really enjoyed the night and will definitely be back. They have fun nights during the week including wine tastings, Beer & Chicken Nights and Burgers & Bourbon Nights. Looking forward to trying those out soon! read more

It was such a relief to have a good dining experience after a few abysmal experiences trying out new to us restaurants lately! I have had this place bookmarked for awhile but when I saw Open Table was giving 1000 points for eating here it definitely moved it to the top. This is a charming restaurant with charming staff. We were greeted very warmly and given excellent service without going overboard. Our waitress was very proficient at reading cues as to when to check on us and when to not interrupt. That's a definite skill in the dining industry. Our waters were filled almost immediately by a runner after just a few sips. Although appreciated, I slowed down my water consumption so this poor girl wasn't running over every five minutes. It was a little funny. The atmosphere is nice without feeling pretentious. It does seem like the nicer the restaurant the smaller the tables are so I felt cramped with the bread, wine, water, place settings and plant on the table. It was a bit difficult to open the menu without hitting something. They have a private dining area across from the main room in which a party of about 20 were enjoying. It seems like a great place to host a smallish gathering. I tried the vegetarian option of bourbon Marinated, Grilled Royal Trumpet Mushrooms with Collard Green - Peanut Chimmichuri, Cheese Grits, and Cauliflower. It's so nice to have a well thought out vegetarian item that isn't pasta based! It definitely had a kick to it and I enjoyed it except for the mushrooms which were a main feature of the dish, unfortunately They were wood smoked so mch that the mushrooms tasted like bark without any hint of the bourbon marinade. So that keeps me from five stars right there. My husband has the mussels and thought they were small but spectacular. The broth was tasty and not just an afterthought. He also had the chicken pot pie which was rich and filling. I ordered the caramel cake for dessert which was very good. I loved the caramel glaze and it was a good deal at $6. I really enjoyed eating here and would recommend it for a nice, intimate dinner out. read more

Mandolin is one of those restaurants I want to love, but I just don't. I have been now four times and I find the service to be lacking, the menu to be limited and the pricing to be inflated. It is also INCREDIBLY loud in the restaurant, to the point where conversation is very difficult if you are not at a two top. The most recent trip, we waited 20-30 minutes after asking to order a new drink before we could get any service. At the price point, one would expect good service, but it has just not been provided on my visits. Couple that with never having had a dish that leaves me wanting more, I think it is time for Mandolin and I to part ways. Some things are just not meant to be. read more

We were quite excited to try this new place - especially after reading some of the reviews. Valet parking on a Friday night is certainly welcome - especially in a neighborhood without many places to park. Our table was ready as we arrived - unfortunately it was the first table in and since it was a very cold evening we got a good gust of cold air every time someone opened the door. Our ladies were less than impressed. So if you can ask for a table further back if it's cold (or hot I guess). We must have had the same server that other people complained about, too. He came to took our drink orders and then disappeared for about 15 minutes tending to other tables. Quite irritating. To be fair after that we were tended to promptly by multiple different folks - but that first impression is hard to forget. As for the food: skip the appetizers - unless you are into homeopathic dosages! My wife had Scallop(s) - which turned out to be ONE scallop cut into three slices. For $13!! My Beef Tartare was very tasty - if somewhat small as well. Our friends soup of the day was good. Main courses were good - I had short ribs which were really good, my wife and her friend had some fish (can't really remember) and our friend had the Fried Chicken with Waffles (somewhat of an odd combination - but it worked). Portion sizes here were hearty - no complaints. I can't remember if we had dessert - I think we did but it must not have been memorable. There is also a sommelier - quite a nice touch - even if we didn't talk to him since we drank by the glass. All in all for the money we spent we felt a bit underwhelmed. If we go again we'd definitely skip the appetizers. read more

This was my first visit to Mandolin, and I recommend it as a "special occasion" place because it's in a pricey category of restaurants. Now, I didn't really have a special occasion to be celebrating, but sometimes I need to live a little. I had the Tilefish which was fresh, meaty, and perfectly seared and served with grilled okra, peaches, and succotash. This dish made me realize I need to appreciate the last few weeks of summer before Fall arrives. The French 75 cocktail was a good fit for my dish (fizzy, sour, lemony), and I would order it again. My husband had the hangar steak, and every ingredient was better than the next. Buttery mushrooms, oh yes. His drink, the Royal Dub, was smoky with szechuan peppercorns, and that crushed ice I love so much from fancy cocktail bars. I had a lot of sips from his drink, because it was so different (if you ask him, too many sips). We liked the roll and cornbread that came with our meal, and the fresh flowers and/or herbs on each table, the entrance, and the restrooms were a nice touch. A lot of restaurants use the words "local" and "seasonal," but it really felt true at Mandolin. read more

We are from Chicago and decided to visit Raleigh from a recommendation from the concierge of our hotel, the Umstead. Excellent pork chop with red beans and okra. My husband had the Fried Chicken with waffle. Wowza!!! Great food and nice atmosphere. read more

Mandolin - Cool kitchen setup! - Southern Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina