What does North Raleigh need? A hidden speakeasy! And why is it called North Raleigh? Well, I…read morecan't help you there. But back to the bar - the Dry Cleaners is called that because back in the day this space was, wait for it. A. Dry. Cleaners. Makes sense right? Craft cocktails artfully made with fresh ingredients, cool vibe and friendly staff. Open only certain days and times so plan ahead. (Weekends are usually when thy are open).

My fiancé and I left the Dry Cleaners disappointed, especially given how much potential a speakeasy…read morelike this has to thrive. First, the good. The location is cleverly tucked around the corner from the Hibernian Irish Pub, with subtle arrow signs guiding you there -- discreet enough that you'd never stumble upon it without doing your homework first. Inside, the ambiance delivers: cozy, warmly lit, with seating for various group sizes and a handsome L-shaped bar anchoring the space. It was a Saturday evening and relatively quiet when we arrived, so we expected attentive service. Unfortunately, it never came. We sat at a two-person table just off the bar with a direct sightline to the staff -- plenty of whom were engaged in extended personal conversation with one another. Our first round was a highlight: a well-made Old Fashioned and a solid Dirty Martini. Pricey for the area, but not unreasonable given the setting. It was downhill from there. After finishing our drinks, we had to flag down our server for a second round -- despite the fact they were standing six feet in front of us. After that second round, we'd seen enough. Getting the check proved equally frustrating; multiple attempts at eye contact with the staff went nowhere, and we ultimately had to walk up to the bar to close out our tab ourselves. The bones are all here for something special. The Dry Cleaners just needs to match its atmosphere with the service to back it up.

This is absolutely a hidden gem amongst bars. It's in an inconspicuous abandoned looking shopping…read morecenter off the beaten path, but they make some of the best cocktails in the city. They have a very extensive inventory of bourbons including all the high-end ones you would want. The bartenders making amazing recipes including my partners favorite, Tom Yum, taste just like the soup. I can often enjoy a whiskey sour with no issue and use the menu to try something different. They don't serve food, so it's a good place to come after dinner. The ambiance is simple, a wooden bar and now that they have expanded, they have some tables as well. This past trip was the most crowded I've ever seen it in there, but the service was still quick and attentive. This bar is a staple for me.

Style, perfection, grace, uniqueness - and well, I'll just say it - what fine establishment this is…read moreand what a treat to visit. For those that follow me on Yelp for brewery reviews, cocktail bar reviews are few and far between. So if I make a point of making a visit, it really is special. Great selection of product (I guess) but what I appreciate is the care and attention each glass is prepared by the bar keep. They are very friendly and knowledgeable - which is good for me, b/c I ask a lot of questions! Service is careful, but does crawl if the house is full, it really is tiny inside - did you know there was a back door, patio area? I particularly like the absence of having to yell at my table mates - it makes this barbour more sophisticated in this respect.Everything, right down to the outside marquee is subtle - and we like leaving the madding crowd far away...

I loved the drinks and vibes at Gatsby's! I had the seasonal Pumpkin Martini and Apple Cider Mule…read more The Pumpkin Martini was my favorite, it was sweet and tasted like cinnamon and pumpkin. The drinks were strong and well worth the price. Our bar tender was nice and easy to talk to. They have a popcorn machine that you can help yourself to for a snack. I hope to come back and try out the dart boards I saw!

This was a cool pit stop for some friends and I. We stopped in for a drink before going to a show…read more The place had a welcoming atmosphere and the bar tender was super friendly and personable. The bar had various brews on tap but the real charm of Gatsby's is their unique signature cocktails.

What a cool spot! I found this off a Reddit thread and I honestly would have never known otherwise…read more It's located in a tucked away strip mall off Litchford, it has a big patio but inside it has walls of whisky (the largest collection in the southeast apparently). We grabbed a few spots at the bar and live music was playing outside on this beautiful evening, lots of families buzzing around. The bartenders were really good, knowledgeable, and on it. I had the cocktail of the week which was a gin and Prosecco concoction and hubby had draft pumpkinhead, it's the season. Both good choices! They have TVs if you want to watch the game and big tables to just chill. I'm assuming you can bring in food too from the nearby spots. Overall loved this hidden gem! We will be back!

a friend and I stopped in while on a business trip after a coworker recommended this place, and it…read morecompletely exceeded my expectations. I'll admit, seeing it next to a Food Lion didn't exactly set the bar high, but the moment I walked in and saw the massive wall of bottles stretching to the ceiling, I knew I'd misjudged it. The bartender with the blue hair was outstanding. (Did her job so well I cannot remember her name for the life of me). She explained how everything worked, pointed us toward great beer options in the back cooler, and then really impressed us by taking time to understand both my taste and my friend's despite us having totally different bourbon preferences. She gave thoughtful recommendations at multiple price points and tailored each suggestion specifically to what we liked. Knowledgeable, personable, and genuinely fun to talk to. The regulars were friendly, the atmosphere felt welcoming, and the whole place has that hidden-gem neighborhood vibe you hope to find when traveling. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town and I'll be on the lookout for a few bottles thanks to her recommendations.

We were back at Foxcroft Food & Wine this weekend. A second, third, or fourth trip is usually a…read moregood sign. The North Hills spot ( 4421 Six Forks Road in Raleigh, beside Total Wine) feels settled in the best way. Comfortable, Welcoming, Cozy. We started slowly. A wine flight. Truffle fries with truffle aioli, parmesan, oregano. Marinated olives layered with citrus and herbs. Nothing too over the top, but generous and satisfying. The kinds of plates you keep reaching for without realizing it. For dinner, we had the the NY Strip (North Carolina pasture-raised Angus with Diane sauce and a French onion potato gratin). And the roasted whole fish (with hazelnut gremolata, citrus beurre blanc, and confit sunchoke). Both cooked to perfection, nothing missing, and absolutely delicious. What stuck with us the most htough, the service. Ben and Oscar were sharp, attentive, and present without being overbearing. They made the evening feel even more incredible. Some places try hard to impress - Foxcroft Food & Wine just delivers (time and time again).

Foxcroft is located in the North Hills area. Once we arrived we were seated right away. I loved the…read moredecor in the restaurant with multiple wine bottles on display. The business was clean and there is also a bar inside. The restaurant has a large selection of wines and offers flights for purchase. The restaurant had some people dining in but they were not overly packed. Initially our server was pleasant and attentive. I got a blood orange sparkling water. It was ok. I ordered the whipped ricotta for an appetizer to share and a burger with fries for my entree. The whipped ricotta was ok. It would taste better with some sort of seasoning in it. My fries were served hot but needed some salt. I asked for my burger to be cooked well done but I was brought a burnt burger. I took one bite but it was too overcooked. I then requested that my server have my burger be cooked medium well so I didn't get another burnt burger. When my burger was brought back out, our server had me cut into my burger to make sure it was to my liking. The preparation was better but it was bland and tasted like there wasn't any seasoning on it. After this our server wasn't as attentive anymore. For dessert we got the donuts. They were served warm and I enjoyed them with the cherry sauce. I did not like the chocolate sauce that was served with the donuts.

Cool dive bar! Mostly go in the afternoon and bartenders have been great. Chill place to meet…read morefriends and have a beer. Great outdoor space as well.

First time here with my partner, But we thought we'd see…read morewhat was here. Felt very unwelcome when walking into the bar and I guess sandwich shop. The bartender just stared at us. I had to ask if we just sat ourselves. No menu or attention until asked for it. The food was lacking at best. Just a "smash burger" and cheese sandwich for my partner. Water to drink. If you're lonely, single or bored and want to waste money, then go here. We tried, but never again. I'm sure it's much busier later for the pool playing., cheap beer crowd. They aren't inviting to anyone over 50. Oh well.

I have been to Northside Bistro a few times, with girlfriends, family etc…read more Last night was date night and we just wanted something a little more top tier from the kitchen. I say this because Northside Bistro never disappoints on service and also with food. Thank you Chef John Scarangella! I will say, every single time I go, they seat us in that enclosed porch area at the exact same table. it a little funny. I even went with 7 ladies last year and we were in the same area, bigger table. It would be nice to sit inside of the main dining room one of these days. last night we had great service as usual and the food was amazing. We had the fried artichokes and the Octopus Bravas which we did not take pictures of because we gobbled that down it was so good. My husband had short ribs and grits, we shared a salad which was the Warm Goat Cheese Salad, and I had a special which I think was called Flounder Ettoufee. Everything single thing was amazing and of coursed I will go back, thanks for asking lol. You should go too!

We went to Northside Bistro and Cocktails to celebrate a birthday and had a wonderful experience…read morefrom start to finish. I was able to park right in front of the restaurant, which was a great bonus. The hostess seated us immediately, and our server was absolutely wonderful--so friendly and especially sweet to our birthday girl. All of the food was delicious! I ordered the tuna tartare and enjoyed it as my entrée--it was perfectly fresh and packed with amazing flavor. The décor had a great evening vibe, and I loved the variety of seating options, from tables and booths to bar seating. They even had cozy tables that were perfect for intimate date nights. The dinner and drink menus were both plentiful with lots of great choices. We will definitely be back!

What an amazing experience! Peri Brothers Pizza has been fully renovated and turned into a…read morebeautiful sleek and modern restaurant in addition to the take out counter in the other room for pizza, etc. We came for Mother's Day brunch and they did not disappoint. The tables are spacious and comfy. We had one along the New York themed wall. We started with $5 cocktails, I had the Bellini. It was peach and prosecco. Very delicious. Then I had the lemon ricotta pancakes with hash. This dish was so good. The pancakes were light and fluffy and had a beautiful lemon and blueberry taste and had a dollop of mascarpone on top. The hash was well seasoned and cooked crispy how I like it. Hubby had sausage omelette. He liked it. Daughter had French toast and she loved it. Our waiters name was Nick and he was sweet and efficient. Everyone in the restaurant made us feel welcome and valued. All in all a wonderful brunch in a great new restaurant. We will certainly return.

Calamari fries are incredible!!…read more Pasta is a HOT MESS, their tomato sauce tastes like Spaghetti O's. I got the bolognese & it was awful. Barely any meat, no cream, raw garlic mixed with ketchup sauce. So definitely NOT authentically Italian. Peri brothers must have gotten their recipes from Chef Boyardee! Not going back, we will head across the street to VIVO!

Highly recommend. Definitely some of the best burgers and fries in Raleigh. Despite being smash…read moreburgers they are thick, juicy, and very filling. Great toppings, freshly cut fries, and overall a great meal for about the same price you'd pay for food that's not nearly as good elsewhere. Great service every time. Taylor and Melissa are wonderful, friendly, and very attentive. Looking forward to our next visit.

In the area and starving for a late dinner. Decided to blindly give The Iron Oaks a try…read more The Gouda burger was recommended by the staff who took my order. The best recommendation. I started to go for a side salad but he also suggested the truffle fries. This entire meal was delicious. I had a Vodka side car to finish off my late dinner before heading home. I do recommend The Iron Oaks for a great burger option. Very good!

An eclectic assortment of stouts awaits you year round! A masterful selection on any given day -…read moretake advantage of the flight size to try them all. You'll be glad you did. Did that keg just kick???? The gong will ring and you'll be on the big board!

This spot was fun to grab a few pints at. You can also get cans to go. If you love soccer…read more(specifically Arsenal) and/or Shaun of the Dead then get to the Winchester and grab a pint and await for the rest of life to blow over. Cheers!