The asparagus quiche and tomato soup was so so good, not to mention the half and half iced tea. SO GOOD. BJ was awesome and we even got a recitation of the best poem (by the author)! BJ is a woman of many talents. My husband enjoyed his roast sandwich beef and potato salad and the key lime pie was AWESOME! read more

Deeee-licious food! I had a bowl of soup and half a sandwich. The food here is always fresh and flavorful. I did not know they had so much seating inside! The building has a lot of history. Definitely will be back! read more

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What a hidden gem! Such a cute little restaurant hidden in the heart of Raleigh. You walk in and have no idea that there's a huge dining area on the other side of the wall. Is this place fancy? No, not at all. Is it a little run down? Yes, but in a way that gives it character. How's the service? Beyond excellent! So friendly and informative. What about the food? Yummy, Yummy, Yummy! Everything comes out hot and fresh and their pies are to die for! Fun place to take some out of town guests for a lovely brunch/lunch. read more

Side Street Restaurant - Sweet potato cheesecake - Sandwiches Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Side Street is housed in an old building that is full of character and charm. The menu is imaginative with beautiful salads, sandwiches and sides. My meal was delicious and topped off with a slice of the best Key Lime pie I've eaten in years. I highly recommend Side Street! read more

Side Street Restaurant - Classy dining room - Sandwiches Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Wonderful sandwich shop near the Governor's mansion in Raleigh in Oakwood residential neighborhood, close to downtown. They have a free gravel parking lot in the rear and street parking is also free. Sandwiches are delicious and prices are comparatively low. I got the Holey Hen chicken salad sandwich with Sun Chips. Topped with sprouts and comes with a pickle spear. Waitstaff is professional and friendly. Homemade desserts served daily. read more

What a treat! Today I learned that Side Street is open on a few evenings. I couldn't decide between their chicken salad and their tuna salad pita, but their Split Personality combo lets you have both. The restaurant was nice and quiet and the service was great! read more

Side Street Restaurant - Split Personality (chicken salad with pecans pita and tuna salad pita) plus their Pasta Salad and a pickle - Sandwiches Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Stumbled upon this little cafe while looking for lunch traveling through Raleigh. The outside is cute, with a large mural painted across the side. The inside has character, both good and bad. The good: original paintings and artwork which I presume have been there since the day it opened some 40+ years ago. The bad: peeling paint, chipped woodwork and stains on the ceiling with tiles at risk of falling down which again, probably haven't been touched since the day they opened. The menu has some salads, but the main focus is the several different sandwich options. I tried the namesake, Side Street Sub which comes with turkey, ham, salami, and provolone cheese with Italian dressing, and a side of pasta salad. The sub was good and I liked how the meat was sliced thick, which made it seem more hearty. The pasta salad had good flavoring, but the pasta was a bit over cooked. read more

Side Street Restaurant - Side Street Sub - Sandwiches Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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My friend, who was an out-of-town guest, and I had picked up an order to go. She paid separately and noticed the difference in price than what was on the website by several dollars. When she said something to the person who was at the register (and also the order filler), the woman said that we had looked at the wrong menu that google has posted and that she PROMISED that the prices were correct if we went to the actual website which she said to us and also said she would write down. I told her that it wasn't necessary to write down but that the prices were indeed incorrect. She continued to tell us that we were wrong. Then when I showed her the website and the .pdf link she double downed and said "I have brought it up with the owners several times and they haven't changed it", "I can't do anything about it because I don't own this place", and "I have to answer this question hundreds of times" to name a few responses she gave us in the absolute most condescending tone. No apology. Just being terribly rude, loud, and condescending, and in front of other staff and customers. Is this how you want your staff to be front-of-house? Please update your menu so that other customers don't have to endure such an unpleasant person. We were not wrong. We were not rude. We didn't even ask for a price adjustment. We were pointing out an issue that needed to be addressed and for this woman to be so ugly was not ok. Beware that if the menu says a sandwich is $8, it's actually $12. It's too bad that this was our experience because my family and I have been coming here for years. We won't be back. read more

Amazing local sandwich shop in a lovely historic neighborhood. Went here during the Historic Oakwood Garden Tour. The staff were so friendly. read more

Side Street Restaurant - Sandwiches Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Cute little place in residential area of Oakwood. I looked at the menu beforehand and because it was sandwiches assumed it might be counter service. It is not -- you are seated at white tablecloth tables and have a server. There was no mention of gluten free bread on the menu so I had settled on having a salad. When the waitress came to take our order I asked if they had gf bread and she said they did so I ended up switching to a turkey sandwich with a side of the corn, pea and bean salad. My sandwich was good. Having a sandwich is always a treat when you are GF. The bread was dense and a little nutty. However, some of the other sandwiches I saw come out looked amazing and I wish I'd had more time to peruse the menu and decide on a more exciting sandwich. In other words, they should list their GF bread on the menu with the other bread choices. Corn/pea/bean salad side was good -- tasted like a Texas caviar. Both my friends ordered the oriental chicken salad and it looked really good. Service was spotty but one waitress was taking care of the whole place. Atmosphere was cool in an old building with high ceilings and lots of light. Seems to be a popular place with the older crowd. Glad I gave it a try. Will try a more adventurous sandwich next time. read more

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Eclectic and a Raleigh institution! Many, many, many unique sandwich choices! In addition to sandwiches they also had homemade quiches and tasty soups! Dessert menu sounded amazing and those that our group ordered looked amazing but I did not indulge so can't talk about taste but they seemed to enjoy them. Definitely a must eat when in Raleigh. read more

I had never been to this gem before. It is located in the Oakwood section of Downtown Raleigh. A group of us stopped for lunch after a walking house tour of the Oakwood architecture. This restaurant was in the perfect location for us. Parking is off street. The restaurant has two rooms and is cozy. The room we dined in had an upper section so there were some steps involved. It was full when we arrived so I couldn't get any photos as I will not take photos of those dining without their permission. The menu is very large so there is something on there for everyone. The menu has salads and sandwiches. The sandwiches can be ordered a la carte or with a side. There were many sides too so if you decided on the entree then you need to decide on the side. Lots of dessert choices too!!!! Service is not the fastest here but that is not a negative. The restaurant is welcoming and you are not rushed. There is one waiter and one lady making the food. The food is amazing too!!! I could tell that most of those dining were regulars as they were addressed by name. I can see why they come back again and again. I couldn't decide what to order and then I saw the Split Personality on the menu so I was able to try two sandwiches!!! I had tuna salad in a pita and chicken salad. I went with the pea and bean salad for the side. Although that had too much dressing for me. I would have liked just the peas and beans without the vinegar. The Seven Layer Bar was on the menu so I had to order that as I love those and hadn't had one in so long. It came as a sundae and the Seven Later Bar was warmed with vanilla ice cream on top, tons of chocolate drizzle and whip cream. It was huge but oh so very good. I will definitely be back to this gem in Raleigh! read more

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My boyfriend and I are visiting from Oregon and came across this place as we walked through Oakwood. It was delicious! The service was excellent and very friendly. The food tasted excellent for a descent price and the waitress helped us pick out a southern desert that was to die for. Everything went so well! The food is so good. read more

Side Street is a must visit if you are in DTR. The menu is simple, it's salads, sandwiches with various sides and desserts. My husband and I dined in for lunch, it was the Avocado Crush On You... Sweetie Pie! (I chose turkey but there are other options available) with pasta salad for me and the Let's Horse Around with pasta salad for my husband. Dessert is a must order. We chose the bread pudding with caramel bourbon sauce and it was amazing. I highly recommend this spot. read more

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I could not finish my lunch today because the place smelled like a garbage dump, which is definitely unappetizing. The place needs to be cleaned from stem to stern and the garbage taken out. I am surprised there has not been a sanitation inspection. read more

Convenient to the state archives (only 3 blocks away) this quiet restaurant serves lunches and dinners with a side of southern hospitality. Expect a lengthy sandwich menu at midday, with plain as well as many elaborate options. Whatever you do, save room for dessert: I will personally vouch for the lemon chess pie (worth returning for). read more

Side Street Restaurant - Lemon chess pie (what's left of it!!) - Sandwiches Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Lovely place for breakfast, lunch, or brunch. We stopped here for lunch on a weekday afternoon. The parking lot behind the restaurant is not theirs so we parked on the street (free). We did not have a reservation, but were seated shortly after arrival. The restaurant is small and has two dining areas. The sandwich line is located by the entrance and I am guessing the rest of the kitchen is in the back. We were seated in the front room. Not as fancy as the back room, but closer to the bathrooms and sandwich line. Service was quick at first, but significantly slowed as our meal progressed. The sandwiches are phenomenal, especially the Betsy Buford. They are packed with ingredients and made quickly and accurately. Upon finishing our sandwiches, we perused the dessert menu hung on the wall behind us. We regret ordering dessert since it wasn't the best and it took forever to arrive. Our meal was about 2 hrs long and should have taken an hour. The waiter serving us was friendly and enthusiastic. Unfortunately he seemed to be handling too many tasks. The key lime pie would have been better if served cold. Room temperature melting key lime pie is not good. The bread pudding was...different. Gingerbread and peppermint bread pudding were available, gingerbread was requested. The bread pudding was dark and sat in a pool of something. At first we thought it was butter, but upon tasting it realized it was possibly a butterscotch syrup. Overall, we enjoyed our meal. If you go, I recommend picking a sandwich and skipping the dessert. read more

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Love this little place! Food is simple, ambiance is quaint, clean, and cozy. People are hard-working and straight forward. Beautiful neighborhood setting. read more

Side street is a fantastic restaurant! Great atmosphere with a cool old building and friendly staff! This place is a Raleigh lunch staple having been serving the capital city in the old historic Oakwood neighborhood for over 40 years. The food is great and well priced and you get good sized portions. My wife and I have become regulars here because we love it so much! read more

Side Street Restaurant - The Av - o - ca - do Crush On You - Sweetie Pie with Potato salad - Sandwiches Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Love the food, love the atmosphere. #1 place in Raleigh for girls lunch. Don't leave without trying the bread pudding.

I placed an order and was not satisfied with quality of my sandwich. I spoke with our waitress and she never even offered to make it right. I also was required to pay for the meal. This was so disappointing. I will not go back. read more

The food was meh... Service was to be desired for. With such glowing reviews, expectations were high. We ordered two bowls of soup, confirmed the order and one quiche. Something that was already pre-made from earlier in the day. But took nearly 30min for food to arrive. And when it did, were given soup cups instead. Overall taste was just ok. Overall service was very slow. The bill came within 10seconds of the food, which as mentioned earlier was already delayed. One can understand if the soup was being made during our wait. But no, it was barely lukewarm at arrival. $10 for a piece of just ok quiche seemed a rip off. Would not return for a second visit. read more

Old, old oldie but the food is still really good. They make a huge selection of delicious sandwiches, post a chalkboard filled with special desserts and have nice fresh sides. The service has been very attentive when there's not a crowd (which there often is.) On a crowded day they try hard but do not come for a 'quick' bite. I like that the cafe is in a hole in the wall space in a residential neighborhood-it defines the character. However, the physical structure is now pushing it as far as need for upkeep; there is only so much peeling paint that still feels quaint. I would not recommend for Moms toting small children nor the metro-chic crowd. I would delightedly take my visiting college roommate, my bookclub friends or my mom here. Don't be surprised if your guest admiringly says, "There used to be a cafe like this in my Aunt's hometown when I was in high school!" and finished every crumb of her pie. read more

i got the reuben from our servers recommendation. the cook literally heated up the meat in the microwave and threw it on a plate. the pasta salad was at least a week old. the server was nice but the hostess/cook/cashier was rude and raised her voice at another guest for asking about a table. cute spot but not quite restaurant material. read more

Wish now I took those photos of this delish food. I had the Eggwood with corn and peas. Going back to try other wonderful dishes they have. read more

This was the cutest restaurant I've visited in a long time. We came in for lunch, and felt like we were in my Mama's house back home immediately. Absolutely loved the charm and warmth we felt just being at this restaurant. Highly recommend! read more

All of the above were excellent! We were so happy to find this place! It's a historic building and very inviting inside! The food was delicious! read more

This little gem is a must-try for anyone near the science museum, gov mansion, mordecai - it's awesome. Great menu with so many options, back-in-time atmosphere where you feel like you're in someone's home. Awesome desserts and pies, SO GOOD! read more

From the outside, this looks like a real dive. We were exploring Raleigh and wandered down Person looking at the fabulous historic homes and getting hungry. Noticed "Side St" and wondered if we should walk in. So glad we did! White table cloths, orchids on each table, mostly male waiters--a true throw back to an earlier era, fitting in with the surroundings. Our lunch menu (and perhaps it was also dinner--not sure) was mostly light fare: salads, soups and sandwiches. Intriguing. The sandwich menu was extensive. We ordered an IPA and white wine while perusing the menu. I got the "split personality" (a half each of a tuna salad and chicken salad in pitas). Delish. Just what we were looking for. When back in Raleigh will make sure to stop in. read more

Side Street Restaurant - Unassuming exterior. - Sandwiches Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Nice cafe with historical charm. A locals favorite and a great meeting spot that all of the neighbors frequent. I recommend the chicken salad sandwich toasted on wheat. Great BLTs and club sandwiches. Soups are great as well and added as a side. Highly recommend this place. Great friendly staff. Southern hospitality at it's best! read more

Great place to get lunch or dinner. one my favorite places in Raleigh. I highly recommend this wonderful cafe. The staff is amazing and they are very friendly! read more

Excellent hoagies, wraps & sandwiches made by wonderful local friendly owners! Support small local businesses!

Lunch menu is awesome. Great ambiance and service. A little off the main road but we'll worth finding.

My party was rushed from our table by a waiter not serving us as we were having coffee and dessert. He offered (reached) to remove our yet uneaten dessert saying, "We're trying to hurry people up to make make room for others who are waiting." At the time, we were at the restaurant for less than an hour (mostly waiting for our food to be served) and therewere others at nearby tables who had been seated longer than us. read more

Support local businesses!! Great Sandwich spot serving the classics, located in the heart of Raleigh so stop by here on your way to a picnic and grab some munchies :) read more

Located on an obscure Side Street in Historic Oakwood, this place is as Southern as sweet tea! It's cute and quaint and adorable! The cafe is dated and shabby but despite the peeling paint and old fashioned decor, it still manages to convey warmth and a comfy feeling. This place isn't big on presentation but the food is fresh and delicious. Hosting an eclectic mix of diners ranging from city employees to 'ladies who lunch', it's a great place for a relaxed and quiet meal. Our server KEYARA was absolutely perfect. Chicken salad sandwich - OMG IT'S SO GOOD!, taste like Zoe's Kitchen chicken salad, not too creamy, I am definitely coming back for this! Pasta salad- this was my favorite side dish, really good homestyle pasta salad Corn, pea, and bean salad- dressed with a balsamic vinagrette, zesty, I loved the crunch of the veggies but found it a bit too vinegary and sharp which is just a matter of personal taste Key Lime Pie- cool and creamy with just the right balance of tart and sweet, graham crust was crumbly and perfect, sooooo good! read more

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Great neighborhood restaurant. We did take out and also ate at the restaurant while in town visiting family. Great lunch options with delicious sides! read more

This place does it right! I went with 3 of my colleagues at work and we all loved our lunches. I had the chicken salad on pumpernickel. My other colleagues had: pimento cheese, egg salad, and the sandwich with the three cheeses. Our sandwiches were all heaping with fillings, flavorful, and delicious. I had the corn, pea, and bean salad as my side and I wanted to lick the little dish it was served in- that's how good it was. I also got a slice of coconut cream pie to go. I haven't tried it yet though. The ambiance is very cute and the building seems to have many decades of history tucked inside those walls. I don't know what the building was before, but I'll bet it has a story. I never even knew this little spot existed, as it blends in with the rest of historic Oakwood. But now that I do know, I will most certainly be returning. read more

About 28 years ago, WRAL's Bill Leslie did a weekly lunch with a citizen (or perhaps monthly). Side Street was a place he ate with a former Raleigh mayor. I was intrigued by many of the places, but this is the only one I tried. A year or so later, I found myself working in downtown Raleigh a few blocks from Side Street. A friend and I ate there. For those who say the service is slow, you should have gone then! My first visit, 20+ years ago I have to admit.......I was NOT impressed. I got a sandwich from their "lighter" side menu, the chicken salad. I am known myself to make good chicken salad, and I felt theirs fell short. Service that day was horrible; in fact, the coworker and I had to wait so long we took the food with us. Fast forward a year or so when I make another friend and we eat there. I was more adventuresome and got the Camel Rider. This sandwich has diced turkey, salami, cheese, lettuce and tomato tossed with a creamy Italian dressing stuffed into warm pita. (It comes with those sprout things, I do NOT eat those, so get it without.) I ALWAYS get the corn and bean salad; love it! Let me tell you, I was HOOKED! Over the years it has looked the same. When people go in now I can honestly say, that's the way it looked it the late 80's. Other good choices are the Hawaiian (ham, cheese, bacon, and pineapple), the Cheese Delight (and I am a meat eater, but that thing is good), the Reuben is good there. The ONLY thing I never like there again is the chicken salad BUT that's me; others love it. If you give this place a chance, don't think they will rush around Your food will be so good though you won't care. My daughters both love the Double S Ranch (name may be wrong). The salads are HUGE and very, very good. They also used to have Blackberry Jam bars but they couldn't get the jam they liked so will no longer make them. (The owner may not be all smiley and friendly, but at least we know she won't sell an inferior product!) Others are right, the lemon bars taste as good as my own, but I usually (if I get a dessert) try one of the specials. A few weeks back I got the Sweet Potato Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce...............ummm, ummmm, good. Go on Mondays, Tuesday, or Thursdays if you go in the near future; when Amelia works the floor; it moves faster! Other good choices are the Let's Horse Around, Avocado crush on you, the 225.....oh, it's all good! read more

This is the perfect little sandwich shop and their chicken salad is southern perfection!!! I work close by and love hitting this spot at minimum once a week. read more