Ordered their Thanksgiving meal again this year, and it was flavorful! The turkey, an offering of both white and dark meat, was juicy and tender. The roasted brussels sprouts would make a believer out of anyone who claims they do not like brussels sprouts. Bits of ham in a balsamic reduction. Garlic mashed potatoes were a golden treat, creamy, with the right amount of garlic. Mac and cheese, wow, a pinkish color, but so creamy, cheesy and buttery. Wish I knew how to make them. Easy to follow directions for reheating. Ordered enough for two. It was perfect. read more

You will NOT find better tasting food from any caterer around here. I am so impressed with the amazing quality of the food. I have had great caterers before, but UTO goes above and beyond to serve a 5 star meal. I worked with Lara for over a month for a meal for around 50 people. She helped me make the perfect decision. We went with the filet, chicken piccata, roasted vegetable's, garlic mashed potatoes and 3 passed appetizers of chicken and waffles, crab cakes and shrimp ceviche. The southern salad was one of the most delicious salads I ever had. The shrimp ceviche was my fav thing of all. But every single item was perfect. I have never heard so many people say how good the food was. The servers and bartenders were great, too. I would definitely use them again! Loved it! read more

See all

Our highest recommendation for an extra special culinary experience offered by Under the Oak Cafe!! Offering a terrific value and quality range of menu options, the owners are a talented young couple (chef Blake and wife, Megan of @idocakesnc) who provide farm-to-table five-star goodness for every palette, including vegetarian (V) and gluten free (GF) items. Convenient to locals in Smithfield and Clayton and a worthy destination from the Raleigh area as well as to travelers off of I-95, your made-to-order lunch will be served by their friendly staff within six minutes and your multi-course dinner selections at a relaxed but appropriate pace. What really sets this gem of a restaurant apart is the attention to detail with each of their plates, visually delighting the eye with a colorful presentation, followed by complex flavors pleasing to the palette and nose. While Blake is highly regarded for his pickling and fermentation expertise and Megan's incredible talents offer custom wedding cakes and other dessert delicacies, their talents truly abound in all other culinary arts as well. My husband and I enjoyed a Friday evening date, sampling many delectable items elegantly presented from the dinner menu while saving room for Megan's divine desserts. Every single plate we tasted was delicious but if forced to choose, our favorites were the raw oysters with mignonette (with a glass of cava brut), mushroom toast with butter bean hummus and pickled radish, cucumber salad with yogurt and mint and all three of Megan's desserts: honeysuckle panna cotta with peach ice and cashew ginger granola; chocolate cake with salted caramel ice cream and toffee; and buttermilk pie with blueberry sorbet. Wine and beer selection is small but comprehensive - our bottle of velvety High Note Malbec paired well with our menu choices, offering rich blackberry and black cherry aromas. Reservations are appreciated. Super clean, modern interior with tables set with fresh flowers and candles, this cafe offers a dinner atmosphere that is just right for families, couples, and friends with safe well-lit street parking at night. Fantastic option for business lunches and travelers who crave fresh, real food and very convenient to Smithfield Courthouse as well as a quick drive from Novo Nordisk, Grifols, Caterpillar, etc. read more

See all

Under the Oaks catered our wedding. One of the biggest priorities for our wedding was to have amazing and memorable food. Blake and his team exceeded expectations and had a huge variety of what we could choose from for our menu. We were very impressed with Blake's strong and unrelenting passion to keep his food restaurant quality to avoid the normal bland wedding food vibe and intense attention to detail. He did not disappoint. He was very honest to tell us if certain food options were not ideal for our venue to ensure the quality of what he was delivering. He has a strong pride in what he does and it shows in the results. Guests came up to us during the wedding to rave about how spectacular the food was. He was extremely responsive and also happy to work through several versions of the menu so that he could take into consideration our budget. He was extremely flexible and accommodating even during a last minute venue change. He always found a way to make what we wanted out of our wedding day work whether that be not having enough space as he would like or having to prepare our food in a venue that did not normally allow outside vendors. He never complained or made us feel less than extremely taken care of. He took all the worry away. His staff even prepared us some of the cocktail hour apps to take after the event to ensure we could taste everything. Coming out of the reception, we had several friends interested in hiring him for their wedding and other events coming up soon. We would highly recommend him to anyone looking to break out of the boring wedding food box and really enjoy a high quality meal that everyone will remember. read more

best meal I've had all year. The oysters were delicious and the charcuterie board was delicious. I had the pork chop and it was awesome. highly recomend. try the redneck nachos too!!! read more

If I could give 6 stars I would. This place is amazing. I've been here for lunch and have enjoyed the house cured meats. Last night my wife and I went for a date night. We shared the redneck nachos, the 14 oz ribeye with smashed potatoes and a side of roasted broccoli and turnips. We then had the chocolate mousse dessert which was one of two gluten free dessert options (also many entree options that are GF). They use local food and have created a great, relaxed atmosphere. It is worth the drive from Raleigh or beyond. Only open on Friday and Saturday nights though so take that into account. read more

See all

Going above and beyond for customer and staff safety throughout the pandemic. Wish I lived closer

Y'all...this is REAL FOOD at its BEST. Local people making NC ingredients sing: house-cured meats, bread, and pickles work together to make amazing flavors. The food is beautiful as it is special: these folks work with providers from all over the state to put food on each other's tables too. Had the BLT at the peak of summer tomato season, the best ever! The dinner menu is also incredible, truly gorgeous presentation and delightful flavor combinations you only see in much more formal settings. All the stars! read more

We came here with our neighbors and we were blown away by the restaurant. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with a small intimate dining area. We started out with the charcuterie board which was absolutely amazing! We all got something different, and every single item was creative, fresh, and cooked to perfection. Being a farm to table restaurant is definitely not easy, and the owners have done a phenomenal job keeping the menu new and up to date. One of the owners actually was our server, and her husband is the chef. We never would have known had we not asked. I hope that everyone in or around the Smithfield area tries this place! read more

Fantastic food and great service. Our first-time, but everyone else seemed to know someone else dinning. They all raved to each other about their favorite dishes. Must try, will be back. read more

My aunt and I had lunch there today. We really enjoyed each of our dishes. I highly recommend everyone try this place. The Mac n cheese was amazing! The key lime snobs that we are tried their key lime parfait,was most excellent! I also had the pleasure meeting the owner Blake Gottiliffe. One suggestion is please make the desserts a little bigger please. read more

Really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food at this lovely new place in Smithfield! Their bolognese is not to be missed! I'll be back soon. So many homemade items. Definitely worth the trip back. read more

We stopped here for lunch and absolutely loved it. The setting, staff, and the food were exceptional. For a fantastic culinary experience in the heart of JoCo, Under the Oak Cafe is a true gem. read more

Took friends of ours for dinner there last night. Service and food was exceptional... real farm to table quality dining! My husband and I had the tile fish and it was perfection also we tried many small plates... All delicious! They are not open for dinner every night just Friday Saturday and Sunday... Please give them a try you won't be disappointed! read more

Finally made it to this hidden gem for dinner last night and all I can say is "WOW"!!!!! The small plate Hot Fish Dip was amazing! Actually, everything was amazing! It helps that all the food is locally sourced, but the expert preparation and outstanding service is what makes this restaurant stand out over and above anyplace in this area! My husband was skeptical about a restaurant so far outside of Raleigh, but one pork chop later and he's their biggest fan! We will be back and hope to send many friends as well! read more

This place is amazing- great lunch sandwiches and salads. (Beet salad was outrageous!) Can't wait for the upcoming dinner nights. So good that we're planning to use them for wedding catering as well. Definitely a must-try food joint! read more

I am so excited for a restaurant of this quality in Smithfield!!! Everything is prepared beautifully and the flavors are original and delicious. No photos because I was more inclined to eat than post , but I highly recommend! Better than many Raleigh farm to table restaurants! read more

Excellent food! Great menu: Hamburger, chicken salad, pasta and more. I look forward to the daily special. Great local food with a warm and friendly service. Worth the drive! read more