Such a great spot in downtown Raleigh. Best cocktails and bartenders. The fish dip and onion…read morefritters are so good!

Cocktail drinks and fries were the best things. We didn't enjoy our entrees: vodka pasta and mrkt…read morefish (salmon). They both were flavorless and bland. As mentioned earlier, we did enjoy the fries. They came with a garlic aioli sauce. It tasted like mayo to me, I didn't like it. We ordered a passion fruit mojito and henny sidecar. Both were good! Our views were okay but not like other pictures we saw prior to going. We sat closer to the jail next door so we saw inmates in there cell starting out onto the city.

It's been well over 9 months since I last raved about Barcelona Wine Bar, located in the heart of…read moredowntown Raleigh. I am compelled to remind every resident and every visitor to make this a "must go to and enjoy" place for either brunch on Saturday or Sunday, or for dinner any night of the week. Go for the amazing cuisine, vast wine list, and stay for the outstanding service! Recently, we have found ourselves trying not to enjoy just our go-to favorites that are mainstays on the ever-evolving menu. We have been blown away by the flavors of the large plate option called Chicken Pimientos. Don't let the name throw you, because it's not super spicy, it just has a nice kick to it with delicious potatoes accompanying the very moist and flavorful chicken. The way the kitchen team at Barcelona handles the preparation of the eggplant caponata is impressive and very unique. Other favorites on the tapas section of the menu recently are stuffed piquillos, corn zucchini bunuelos (think fair food turned healthy!), Wagyu carpaccio, lamb kofta, and pulpo gallego. Remember that their tapas offerings rotate in and out, oftentimes based on the season and availability of fresh products. The wine offerings are unparalleled in the city of Raleigh, and when you visit for dinner on a Monday evening, every bottle is half-priced. Can't beat that for a way to jump-start your work week! We tend to sit at the bar on most visits as bartenders Kira and Cameron truly handle their bar with a welcoming vibe and impressive ease. General manager Jed is a visible leader of this great team and makes every guest feel appreciated. Awesome job all the way around!

We dined at Barcelona Wine Bar for Mother's Day. The restaurant decor is modern and beautiful. I…read moremust also not that our service was truly exceptional. We shared a glass of cava, which was crisp and delicious. I chose the aperitivo board and my husband ordered the paella mariscos. My husband lived in Spain for a while so he had high hopes for the paella; alas, it was very salty and the calamari was missing. It was so salty that we only had one or two bites. I keep telling my husband that he just shouldn't order paella in the US anymore. The manager was extremely accommodating and offered many options to help! The aperitivo board was divine. The items were bursting with flavors. My favorites were the marcona almonds, the aged manchego, and the potatas bravas. The table bread and oil were also fresh and delicious. There was another dish that I'm not sure if we ordered or if it was included, but the fish flavor was too strong for me so I passed on that. My husband enjoyed it though. I'd love to try some different menu options for our next visit.

My dining experience at Tamasha is one of the best I've ever had. Chef Chhatwani's creations are…read morenothing short of heavenly... Everything about this locale is intentional: the lighting, the decor, the colors... it's truly the perfect date spot. I'd like to recognize Sam Sanchez at the bar, who guided me from cocktail to entree and beyond for my eventual second visit while in Raleigh. He listened closely to my taste preferences, and his recommendations were flawless (although I can't imagine ANYTHING on the menu isn't delightful). On my first visit I started with the Byadgi Chili Shrimp and then feasted on the Lamb Sheekh Kebab. The shrimp texture was just right and the coconut sauce is a perfect compliment. The lamb kebab comes in two separate pieces; one is wrapped in naan and the other is naked. The chili beurre blanc sauce has a kick that I really enjoyed! And my favorite: Dal-e Tamasha, 24 hours slow cooked black lentil. My mouth is watering even as I think about it. You might think something as humble as lentils could not make one's heart race... but you would be wrong. My second visit saw me reunited with my dear Dal-e Tamasha plate and what became the pinnacle of my visit to Raleigh: MUSHROOM "MADE IN HEAVEN" dish. It is difficult to describe how AMAZING every bite is. There is a complexity of flavors that somehow blend AND standout. Each nibble of the dumpling and a bit of risotto along a sip of the "umami bomb" is an experience. I am actually very glad I was sitting on the patio dining solo because I was able to give my full attention to this experience. To wrap it all up, I was fortunate enough to try the pink guave lemon lime and tahin sorbet... don't snooze on it, it's a must try! A big shout out to the Tamasha team, owner Mike (thank you for checking on me and chatting up spices and culture!), and Chef Chhatwani for sharing your passion with the world. I can't WAIT to return to Raleigh and visit again.

Given their formal dress policy and being out and about in sweats and t-shirts, we decided to order…read moretakeout. Tamasha definitely has a unique spin on their Indian cuisines, which correlates with the prices of their dishes. I'd say if you're trying to impress a date or wanting to splurge a bit, Tamasha is definitely your go-to restaurant for dinner**! I don't believe they're open for lunch. While it is pricey here, the ambiance of the restaurant is top notch, so you're definitely paying for an experience! The person at the front desk was super kind and helped me look into which dishes were fine for takeout (there are some items that wouldn't fair well eaten later or packed in a to-go container). The only dish I found myself liking the most would be their tamasha fried chicken. It was breaded nicely and had a refreshing yogurt based dip. The rest of the dishes, such as the tandoori mushroom and butter chicken, and crab moilee (not pictured), were okay. I didn't hate it or like it, but it just didn't pop out in flavor as Indian cuisine for me. The four cheese truffle kulcha (not pictured) was a nice carb appetizer! I was quite surprised at how small the tandoori mushroom dish was. It was just one ravioli cut in half! Still, I guess quality over quantity! I also never figured out which dish the white noodles were supposed to be paired with... Also, if you do takeout, they have a lovely seating area with AC (thank goodness) for folks to sit in. It was nice waiting there for my order to be complete! Overall, it was a 3-3.5 star takeout experience for me.

The best pasta I have had in NC. I do not usually order pasta at any restaurant but the ones i have…read morehad compared to this is nothing, this was an amazing experience as well. We were thankful to be able to get a last minute reservation on a saturday night ! The pasta was served out of a mason jar and poured right into our plate I regret not ordering two plates myself after demolishing one plate fairly quick! The wine paired with the pasta was delicious. Sadly did not have room for dessert.

Bottom line: Lunch at Flour & Barrel was great! Small but nice selection of items on their lunch…read moremenu. The Radiatore small pasta was delicious and satisfying while just the right size for lunch, adding chicken for a protein boost. My friend enjoyed the Chicken Parm Sando and Kardashian Chopped Salad. Good service in a surprisingly well decorated atmosphere, I would come back to Flour & Barrel for more Italian goodness! The Deets: I wanted to catch up with a friend over a weekday lunch and we scoped out Flour & Barrel in DTR to do just that. When entering in from the pretty nondescript exterior/entrance on the corner of North and Harrington Streets, it becomes a colorful well decorated bistro/bar type feeling inside which is welcoming. We were shown to our table next to one of the wide windows facing North St, I liked this table with lots of natural light and yes, I am a people watcher as well. The server took our drink orders and asked if we had any questions about the menu. The lunch menu is pretty succinct but well represented, offering focaccia sandwiches (sandos), small pastas (pasta handmade in-house), and salads. It also has a wine and craft beer selection also if needed. My friend went with the Chicken Parmesan Focaccia Sando (has pomodoro, mozzarella, and basil) with Kardashian Chopped Salad (made with romaine, salami, provolone, piquillo peppers, artichoke, and garbanzo) for a side while I chose the Radiatore small pasta selection. The Radiatore is described on the menu as "our version of carbonara but creamier / guanciale / egg" so naturally it caught my eye. I am usually pretty cut and dry about wanting carbonara to be the traditional type but since they stated upfront that this is their version, I was willing to give it a go. I am glad I did, as this pasta dish was great. The serving was the perfect size for lunch, plus I was able to add chicken to it as well. The sauce was creamy and delicious, going well with the al dente pasta. This meal was most satisfying and I would love to get this one again in the future. My friend really enjoyed the sando so much, he had originally planned to eat half and take the other half home...that didn't work out the way he planned as he devoured the whole sandwich there, it was that good. He also enjoyed the salad as well. Our server did well checking on us and making sure we had what we needed. I am so glad we decided to try out Flour & Barrel for lunch, it worked out perfectly and was a very enjoyable meal.

Do you want to have a great time out with friends? Bring them to Oro. There's a parking deck across…read morethe street nezt to Beasley's thats free on the weekend. Take $75.00 with you and get the cheese choice. I've never had such a delicious assortment of food to touch my palette. I was taken to another plane of existence. Juicy, fresh, and the service was quality. You have to try it. Check the menu and $ first because it won't be for everyone, but it is well worth it. Make a reservation as they were full when we went.

The restaurant is gorgeous and boasts an extremely classy atmosphere. Not as larget as I thought it…read morewould be. Our service was great for the size party we had but I was underwhelmed by the food. I was expecting true Jamaican flavors in my lamb chops, as described by our waiter and that wasn't the case. Tacos had basic flavor. The Brussels were amazing and my Duck Me Up, the star of the show, was the cutest drink at the table. I am happy I had the chance to try the restaurant, would I go again?...probably not.

Cute little coffee house! Parking is tight but worth looking…read morefor parking to go enjoy! Friendly staff. Delicious food choices. I got a "salted southern latte" and a lice of coffee cake. Friend for a s'mores cookie. Everything was fantastic!

As always the staff is very nice, helpful and patient (so many delicious options)…read moreI got a fantastic salted latte, it was made perfectly and tasted so good. I parked just up the road at Dorothia Dix Park, it was a short beautiful walk. I sat inside and sipped on my coffee and enjoyed the music. You can sit in or out, you can order food. They have recycling when you are finished.

Brunch at Raleigh Botanical Cafe with my girlfriends was exactly the kind of Sunday reset we…read moreneeded. From the seamless online ticketing to the elevated atmosphere, everything felt intentional. The DJ brought the energy, the food delivered, and the complimentary mimosa (with a virgin option available) was a nice touch. We sat both inside and outside, and even with the cold, gloomy weather, the outdoor heaters kept things warm and comfortable, which made the experience that much better. The weather may not have cooperated, but inside and out? Nothing but good vibes and great company. Effortless, fun, and definitely worth it.

Brunch Buffet included: Assorted fruit, spinach salad, eggs, pork sausage & bacon, mini chicken &…read morewaffles, French toast dippers, cheese, jams, fruit parfait, donuts & other pastries. Not bad for 30.00 all you can eat however it wasn't great at all. The food was room temp. I guess this would work if you're super toasted & need to fill your stomach up but for someone who truly wanted to enjoy the experience- I couldn't. Here's what I enjoyed... the fresh juice, the patio & the atmosphere. I do not recommend the food at all.

The environment is amazing. The ambience is amazing. The food absolutely delicious the quality of…read moreservice expeditious. I truly appreciate the time I spent.

Rooftop bar of the hotel we stayed at while in town for a wedding. Overall it was OK. Your standard…read morebar with standard drinks. Nothing over the top. Couple of options for food were pretty good. I had one of the flatbread pizzas which was actually wonderful. The fries looked good but I did not try. They did have a beet salad that I was very fond of. The lower scores I would have to say is just being around other travelers at the bar who are drinking and trying to act out. It definitely felt like a nightclub and all I wanted to do is grab a drink and some food. Maybe it's because I'm old I don't know! Prices were a little high but then again it's a rooftop restaurant in a downtown area. It's decorated very pretty though. So if you're into that kind of thing check it out.