First time here. Been wanting to come for a while and so glad I did. I arrived and it was already…read morepacked at 530 on Saturday. Outdoor seating looked really nice. Wish it wasn't 100 out. Good reason to come back. Started with prickly pear margarita with mescal. Yum! Had a white wine after. It was ok. My friend and I shared 4 bruschetta's- smoked salmon and pesto, artichoke, caprese, and apple, Brie and fig. Favs were smoked salmon and apple and Brie. The fries were amazing. Salmon board was good too. The bread on the board was much better than the bruschetta. Ambiance is great. Service as well. Will be back!

Absolutely love Postino! This is my go to lunch spot with coworkers. We've been numerous times…read moreand are never disappointed. My go to meal is the half panini and tomato soup. Their roast beef panini is on par with Portillo's a long standing Chicago beef restaurant (IYKYK). I've NEVER had a beef sandwich that was better than Portillo's but Postino you managed to take a hometown classic and elevate it to a point beyond my expectations - if you get this sandwich I recommend getting it on the ciabatta bread versus focaccia. Let's not overlook the tomato soup - it's so rich and flavorful. For a lighter lunch my go to is the tuna panini with broccoli salad. They are known for their boards, I've not had the bruschetta yet but it looks delicious. My favorite board is the hummus. One thing I hate is when a restaurant gives you a big bowl of hummus and not enough pita. That is not the case here, you'll get pita, toasted bread, and a variety of vegetables to scoop up the velvety humus covered in cherry tomatoes, red onion and feta. For date night enjoy a Violet Femme a gin cocktail that tastes as lovely as it looks. The service here is top notch! Everyone is fantastic. I'll have to come back to this review to note the serves names we've had because they have all been exceptional. Now let's talk about the vibe! Postino's nailed the indoor/outdoor feel. Plenty of windows that are open on nice days, plants galore and the decor gives you a cool like rockstar but classy feel. 5 stars doesn't feel like enough.

Cute little wine bar downtown that closes on the early side (10pm Tues/Wed/Thurs, 11pm Fri/Sat, 7pm…read moreSun) but nice for an early evening sip. It's got modern, slightly rustic vibes, lit brightly for the art gallery in the back room. There's a good amount of seating and it's not completely filled with the undergrad crowd like other bars in the area. I see they host a book club and if I lived in Raleigh, I'd be all over that-- this is the perfect atmosphere! They have a nice bubbles by the glass selection (4 options, including a Lambrusco), which is really impressive since so many wine bars give you one, two at most. Vegan options on the menu include hummus, olives and pickles. I was planning to eat there, but time got away from me and they do a strict closing time, so maybe next time.

One of my favorite after-work haunts. Very little beats sitting on a swing with a good friend, a…read morebowl of cheese crackers, and a generous pour of wine. I particularly love the work of independent artists hung around the interior! We're having our holiday party here this year and I'm super excited for it - didn't even know this was also an event space.

Been there twice over a few months for a mid day nosh. Have been VERY pleased with the service,…read moremenu and atmosphere. We've sat outside for an impromptu lunch of a the pear and serrano flatbread, small meat/cheese plate ( LOVE the honeycomb and caperberries!) and sipped a pretty damned phenomenal Espresso Martini while the Bride enjoyed a Bloody Mary. Don't hesitate to explore the menu...it's all solid. We, of course, ventured inside and perused the wine...walking out with a Nebbiolo that was amazing. All in all, FOXCROFT is a bit of a gem. Great service, fun menu and delicious. Eat with gusto.

Interesting. Was looking for a new spot to celebrate with some friends. Yelped around and found…read morethis place. But still had to look for it. LOL. It's where Sur La Table is...near The Captain and Cookie joint. Went in for early dinner. Empty. But if you do the same. Don't be alarmed. The folks were dining on European time...bumpin at 7pm. So cool! We got a flight of light wines and all were different and pretty decent. I got a pasta dish and really liked the blackened chicken. I'd just be happy to have it on its own. I think the decor could have some softer furnishings to break up the hard angles and lean into the cozy vibe a bit more. Lots of angles and metal. I'd pop in some soft ivory stools at the bar end for a really lux vibe. Hostess and server were nice. Efficient. Definitely a place to keep on rotation.

GNO at Barcelona was exactly what we needed!…read more The food was incredible with so many different flavors to try, the ambiance was perfect for catching up with my girls, and our server was absolutely amazing from start to finish. Great service really makes the experience, and they did not disappoint. Already looking forward to our next girls' night!

I came here with a date and it was a great way to try out a bunch of different things and chat over…read moresome drinks. The wait time was really long, but the place was nice and although it was busy, we were able to get our food and drinks. We did put our name down for a table, but they never called our name, thankfully, we already had a space at the bar so not sure why our names weren't eventually pinged for a seat Either way it was good, the parking deck right next to the building makes it very convenient as well. Unfortunately, every bit of parking is paid parking, which is really frustrating but that's kind of just how most downtown places are gonna be I guess It is pretty darn pricey, most of the drinks were above $10 easily.

Came here for Friday night bingo, good drink options and the service was attentive. This 100% had…read morethe feel of a home town bar that my friends and I were totally welcome into. It's a packers bar, they do a potluck and it's a great vibe to be in. The dogs know where to go for their biscuit.

Nice bar! We went there for October fest. The flyer said 12…read morepm - 11 pm. Games, prizes and food. We got there at 4 pm - place was decorated great -festivities posted on the door stating at 6 pm- oh well! We had a beer- looking around the bar there were people and families playing board games- plenty of games on the wall for you to use. Plenty of seating inside and out. Our bartender was very nice, friendly and helpful. Drink Specials were priced out well.

Cute little wine shop with a small outdoor patio. I've been here for an event and came back just…read moreweeks later to enjoy it for myself! They have a large selection of wine both glass and bottle and also cocktails. You can create your own charcuterie, which was so fun! It did however take a very long time for the charcuterie to come out but they had told us up front that there were a couple boards before ours.

This is a cute wine shop. My friend and I stopped in to enjoy a few glasses of wine and had a fun…read moretime. We browsed the selection of wine to take home and thought that it was good. If you are in DTR check out The Raleigh Wine Shop.

I met with a few ladies to review our recent book read at The Hippo on a beautiful Wednesday…read moreevening around 6pm. There's street parking if you're lucky, along with nearby parking lots & garages. The Hippo is kinda hidden if you don't know where it is. As soon as I sat down Andre greeted me. He was delightful in a quirky way and extremely knowledgeable about everything!! I tried 3 of the wines before I decided on the red. I forgot what it was, but there was a cat on the label. The Hippo is a super cool wine bar. They don't have food, but they do have snacks for purchase.

Cool and relaxed vibe! Really excited to experience this place over time and hopefully see it…read morebecome a staple downtown!

I came here to enjoy a glass of wine and read a book after visiting a nearby shop! I loved the…read moreservice and atmosphere! Couldn't ask for a chiller Friday evening!

Such a nice space located in Iron Works. You can get wine by the glass or grab a bottle from the…read morefridge or shelves and enjoy there. Service is good and their wine glasses are beautifully delicate.

This was our first visit, and it definitely won't be our last! My husband and I were searching for…read morebreakfast on our way home from Wilmington after our honeymoon. The food photos and reviews brought us here, but when we first arrived in the neighborhood, I honestly thought we had gone the wrong way. Then we spotted the patio and realized that a house had been transformed into this cozy little restaurant--which made the experience even cooler. Inside feels warm and welcoming, almost like visiting Grandma's house if she turned her living room into a charming neighborhood café. We learned that the menu changes frequently, so several dishes we originally planned to order weren't available. That initially made us nervous, but we had absolutely no regrets about what we chose! We shared the Smokehouse Hash, loaded with potatoes, pulled pork, and sausage, along with cheesy scrambled eggs and some of the most delicious grits. We also ordered chicken wings on the side, although we honestly didn't need them--the hash was more than enough for the two of us and everything was full of flavor. Our server was sweet, attentive, and efficient. We even ordered some Korean sweet buns to take home because we wanted to try a little more before leaving. Everything about our visit was great: delicious food, generous portions, welcoming service, and a unique, cozy atmosphere. We're already looking forward to returning and seeing what's on the menu next time. This is definitely a hidden gem worth finding!

SmokeStack Cafe (Historic Oakwood - Raleigh) My wife and I…read morechose SmokeStack Cafe for our anniversary lunch, and it turned out to be an excellent choice. After 40 years of marriage, we've learned that a memorable lunch is often better than an expensive dinner. We enjoyed it so much that we decided to write our reviews the same day. Lunch for two came to about $45 plus tax and tip, and included: * Bánh Mì * Shrimp Tacos * House Lemonade * Key Lime Pie Location & Atmosphere SmokeStack Cafe is located in Raleigh's historic Oakwood neighborhood in a beautifully restored former grocery store. The setting is full of charm, both inside and out. There is outdoor seating available, but we chose to sit indoors where the space is open, comfortable, and inviting. Parking is street parking only. On our Juneteenth lunch visit, finding a space was easy, though I suspect many neighborhood residents simply walk over. The Food The Bánh Mì was outstanding. The bread was a true French baguette, fresh, crisp, and clearly high quality. The sandwich was generously filled with flavorful pork, more than we have received at most places serving bánh mì. It came with a large portion of well-seasoned French fries. The Shrimp Tacos featured three tacos on corn tortillas. The shrimp portion was generous, and the accompanying sauce added plenty of flavor without overwhelming the seafood. The House Lemonade was tart, refreshing, and exactly what I wanted on a warm afternoon. For dessert, we shared a slice of house-made Key Lime Pie. It was a generous serving with a bright, tangy lime flavor and a graham cracker crust that had a subtle hint of cinnamon. A wonderful finish to the meal. Service Service was warm, knowledgeable, and attentive throughout our visit. In a fun personal touch, our server told us he had made the key lime pie himself Overall What impressed me most was how diverse and eclectic the menu is. The food felt thoughtful and well executed, the setting was charming, and the service was first-rate. SmokeStack Cafe delivered exactly the kind of memorable lunch we hoped for on our anniversary, and we're already looking forward to coming back and exploring more of the menu.

Timber is AMAZING! Easily the best pizza I've had in Raleigh and it's not even close. Granted, I am…read morea sucker for anything that is (or is close to) Neapolitan style pizza. It was just so, so good. The menu offers a wide variety of pizzas depending on your mood for the day. It was a difficult choice, but we wound up going for The Bambino. Absolutely no regrets, and it was an amazing combination of flavors. They also have a great variety of drink options at an incredible price (cocktails for $10.50 or less, and wine/beer for $8 or less - hello??). Such a great experience and we will be back!

Wow, I've been looking for a Neapolitan-ish style pizza (as it was almost like a Neapolitan style…read morewith the smoky crust and thin/crunchy similar to a ny style pizza). When you arrive there is parking available out front or on the street. Walking into Timber Pizza it feels like a 90s summer camp vibe with a beautiful pizza oven in the middle of the restaurant and the overall pizza shop felt small/welcoming. We ended up sitting up at the bar and ordered a couple drinks to start. I ordered a pint of the Utica Club Lager which was excellent and very easy to drink. My partner ordered a glass of the Spellbound Pinot Noir which also was great and had a nice finish. For food we ordered the Bambino pizza (spicy honey marinara, mozzarella and provolone blend, fresh mozzarella, all beef meatballs, pesto, garlic oil) which was excellent. The crust was perfectly cooked, along with all of the flavors from the meatballs, garlic oil, pesto, etc. which made this pizza a hit and something we couldn't stop eating. Highly recommend checking out Timber Pizza over in the Five Points area!