The Best American in Raleigh

The Pit

★★★★☆ 3.8 (3548) • $$

"Great NC BBQ place in downtown Raleigh.Casual comfort and bit classy interior. The food was Soo good.Had appetizer sampler and big boy plate, three of us could not finish it. Had to do take out for a good portion.Chopped pork was amazing, we could tell a lot of love went into the smoking and prep.From so many to pick from, the Pit got our vote."

Top Of The Hill Restaurant & Brewery

★★★★☆ 3.7 (828) • $$

"Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery, also known as "TOPO," is a UNC and Chapel Hill institution. TOPO is located atop the intersection of Franklin and Columbia Streets, the epicenter of big Carolina basketball postgame celebrations, in the heart of downtown Chapel Hill. This place is busy and popular year-round and especially during Carolina basketball and football seasons. My wife and her co-residents tried to come here to watch the 2022 Final Four game between Carolina and Duke (Coach K's last game), but it was full so they went to Linda's up the street instead.TOPO has been a regular dinner spot for my wife and her co-residents during her four years in Chapel Hill. When she brought me here for dinner, there was another group of residents and attendings on the patio. We arrived just before 6pm on a Thursday (non-game night) and were able to snag one of the high-top tables that overlooked Franklin Street. It was nice. I can't think of any other restaurants or bars in Chapel Hill that have as good of a city view, so this place definitely has that going for it.TOPO is also a versatile spot, functioning more as a sit-down restaurant during the daytime and more as a bar Thursday-Saturday nights (open until 2am those nights). This is a brewpub; they brew their own beer on-site. TOPO has multiple award-winning brews, a few of which are noted below. Along with beer, they have a full bar serving several different types of cocktails ($8-16 each) including a variety of mules ($8 each). The cuisine is American. During our dinner visit, most apps, salads, sandwiches, and bowls were priced in the $10-15 range and most entrees were about $15-30 each.Here's what we got:Beer* Beer Sampler ($13) - five-ounce pours of all of TOPO's six draft beers' Kenan Lager - Best in Show, Carolina Championship of Beer' Bell Tower Blueberry Wheat - Platinum Medal, World Championship of Beer' Old Well White - Platinum Medal, World Championship of Beer' Quite Right IPA' Alma Mater Amber Ale' Blackwood Mountain StoutStarters* Jalapeno-Cheddar Hushpuppies (6 for $6.99) - cornmeal hushpuppies with jalapeno, cheddar cheese and buttermilk, served with white cocktail sauceEntrees* Buttermilk Fried Chicken ($18.50) - locally-sourced crispy fried breast with mushroom cream gravy topped with diced tomatoes and scallions, mashed potatoes, garlic-sauteed French beans, and a buttermilk biscuit* TOPO Whiskey & Coke Braised Beef ($23.99) - boneless beef short rib slow-braised in a Whiskey & Coke sauce with roasted vegetables and mashed potatoesIf you've never been to TOPO before, the Beer Sampler is a great way to go. You can sample all of TOPO's draft list without committing to a full glass. When we visited, there were six beers on tap, regularly $6-8 per serving. The sampler came with a neat and informative placemat menu. It had a description of each beer along with tasting notes. My wife's favorites were the Quite Right IPA followed by the Bell Tower Blueberry Wheat. I thought all six beers tasted good and I didn't have a favorite. It was a three-way tie between the Kenan Lager, Old Well White, and Alma Mater Amber Ale, all of which were very different. I guess what I'm saying is you really can't go wrong with any of the in-house beers here.My wife recommended the Jalapeno-Cheddar Hushpuppies. She likes them because both their texture and flavor stand out. I agree - they were tasty and addictive. The Jalapeno-Cheddar Hushpuppies are one of the apps that she and her co-residents like to order and share. Others they like to get include the Lizard Chips ($9.50), which are sliced dill pickles and jalapenos deep-fried in TOPO beer batter and served with a "Baja" dipping sauce, and the Sweet Potatoes & Peppadew Pepper Jelly ($11.99), which are sweet potato fries with a cream cheese and pepper jelly.The entrees that we got, the Buttermilk Fried Chicken and the TOPO Whiskey & Coke Braised Beef, are TOPO classics. The fried chicken is an entree that one of my wife's attendings, who has been in Chapel Hill for decades, usually orders. It was yummy. Crispy, tender, and not too greasy. I liked the mushroom cream gravy and I thought both it and the green beans went well with the chicken. The braised beef was hearty and satisfying. I thought the meat was a little dry, but it was flavorful. I do recommend both of these dishes if you want to try what TOPO "is known for."Service was good, from the hostesses up front to our server, Coale. All the staff we interacted with were polite and efficient, and everything we ordered came out in a reasonable amount of time.We parked for free in a paved lot behind the restaurant. You can enter the lot via a small driveway on S Columbia St between TOPO and the Ackland Art Museum. TOPO is located on the third floor (highest floor).TL;DR version - I give TOPO four stars not for any one reason, but for the whole experience as a brewpub with a good view, good service, good drinks, and decent food."

LouReda's an American Table

★★★★☆ 4.4 (573) • $$

"Talk about amazing food.....wow! I am so glad we decided to go here for dinner last night while we were in Rocky Mount. I was surprised that my party of two were greeted and seated so quickly on a Saturday evening. Our server started out on point but slipped up a bit when the time came to bring us our bills. We ordered pork skins with cheese dip and they were pure perfection-they were still crackling when dropped at our table!!!! Who would have thought to dip pork rinds into some velveta cheese concoction?!? I ordered a short rib pasta dish that was also really good! I opted to get the bread pudding to go bc I was so full after those pork rinds and pasta and after 2 bites I opted to save the rest of it for breakfast. The bread pudding with the dipping sauce was equally as delicious the next day! Thank you for such an amazing meal in a comfortable atmosphere!"

42nd Street Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill

★★★★☆ 3.9 (696) • $$$

"Always, Always my favorite place in Raleigh. I'm a creature of habit and this habit has never disappointed. Bull City to drink, and 3 appetizers made my meal this trip; seafood bisque, blackened bacon wrapped scallops, and fried green tomatoes ( pimento cheese and Cajun shrimp)Needed a quick meal before the MC vs. Celtic FC soccer game and everything came out back to back to back. No issues. Great meal, great service and quiet relaxing atmosphere. Cheers!"

Heavenly Buffaloes

★★★★☆ 4 (587) • $$

"Heavenly Buffaloes has multiple locations in Durham and we landed at this one because it was the closest. That said, this location is take out only. And while I definitely wanted some wings, I did not want to eat them in my car.The young lady at the counter was very polite and directed me to their other location. As for this one, I'll be back when I'm looking for takeout in this area.[Review 15527 overall, 1031 of 2021, number 3066 in North Carolina.]"

Town Hall Burger & Beer - Durham

★★★★☆ 4 (551) • $$

"Great space with sports bar like vibe and really quality burgers. I had a turkey burger that was excellent along with a local ipa from the solid beer selections. Service was fast and kind"

Grub Durham

★★★★☆ 4.2 (494) • $$

"Very unique restaurant in the heart of Durham! Restaurant is order at the counter and an employee will bring you your food. I ordered the I've Been Chopped salad with honey balsamic vinaigrette dressing. The croutons were the best part because they're made from GRUB biscuits. Prices were very affordable too. The parking lot is SMALL so be prepared to possibly park on the street. The food was good, so I'd go again...but this place needs a good scrub because there were way too many flies inside."

Tribeca Tavern

★★★★☆ 3.6 (561) • $$

"Was visiting Cary area and stopped by for a quick snack and met my friends . Really awesome place .... Fantastic ambience and so many seats inside to sit and eat .. they had a full fledged bar and they served draft and IPAs there . Liked their IPA . Ordered light food . Got chips and spinach dip. It was good . Njce and fresh . Service was good . Quick service and billing . Lots of parking outside . Liked it overall .."

Winston's Grille

★★★★☆ 4 (444) • $$

"The location is weird to me so we avoided it for a few years but on a whim went and pleasantly surprised. Nice porch and wide variety on menu. We opted for the specials of the evening. My gnocchi was some of the best I've ever had. Our old fashioned were well balanced and made well. I'm not the pricey side but enjoyed it"

Lynnwood Grill & Brewing Concern

★★★★☆ 3.6 (517) • $$

"I've always been a big fan of their Mosaic Pale Ale, but now that I'm a resident of Raleigh, I got to go to LBC for the first time. The staff was super friendly and engaging and Jennifer was a great server, good attitude and a nice smile. I asked for a certain game to be turned on the TV, and they quickly obliged.I was given two samples of beer for free, though I would have been happy to try more. The wings are on market price, which I've never seen before. I've seen it for seafood and steaks, but never wings! Anyway, I got 2 orders of 6 wings. Because if you get an order of 12, you cannot get different flavors. I don't agree with that rule, but ok. I got an order of Chipotle BBQ and an order of Cajun dry rub. Big juicy wings, well cooked, great flavors. Very well done.For the road, I did get a Thespian pizza, with spinach, portabellas, tomatoes, garlic, mozz, and feta, and I added grilled chicken. Very good crust, not too thin or thick, but still very crispy, even left over. Definitely a place to return to, I had a fun time."

The Station

★★★★☆ 3.8 (448) • $$

"We came here for Mother's Day, got there a little before our reservation time (made on open table) and they were able to go ahead and seat us which was nice. The patio area has a really cute vibe with various types of tables and a bar. I'm one of those that looks up menus before I go to restaurants and I will say the menu had some slight differences in brunch offerings. I do wish that they offered more of a brunch selection but everything we had was good but simple, no frills but reasonably priced. I would love to go back for their burgers because those look amazing! Street Parking"

Spotted Dog

★★★★☆ 4 (387)

"First time stopping in here. This is a cute place with comfy, seating and easy to locate in Carrboro. Parking was a little tricky but if you look around behind the building, you can find parking. Our server was super friendly and helpful and was quick with our order.I ordered a patty melt with sweet potato fries, and everything was delicious. Everyone in my party enjoyed their lunch today. I would recommend coming here for lunch."

Herons

★★★★☆ 4.3 (286) • $$$$

"Herons was amazing. It lived up to the hype. This is one of my top two restaurants in the Triangle. The other is Fearrington House in Pittsboro. When it comes to fine dining, these are among the best in North Carolina. That said, they're expensive and not everyday restaurants. (For "everyday" restaurants in the Triangle, a couple of my top picks are M Sushi in Durham and Tesoro in Carrboro).My wife preferred Herons to Fearrington House. For me, it's a push. She thought Herons had both better food and service. Food-wise, she thought the dishes at Herons were better composed and balanced. Service-wise, she felt the staff at Herons, from our bartender to the hostess to our server and the food runners, were warmer and provided more seamless service. Regardless, both places deliver exceptional dining experiences.I've dined at six Michelin-star restaurants to date (I'm not saying that to humble-brag, I'm saying it to give context) and I think Herons is Michelin-star quality. It's on that level. When the Michelin Guide hit Atlanta in 2023, I correctly predicted several of the restaurants that got stars. While the Michelin Guide hasn't covered North Carolina yet, Herons still has impressive accolades. I saw 2024 Forbes Travel Guide Five Stars and 2020 AAA Five Diamond awards during our visit.Herons is located inside the Umstead Hotel and Spa, a luxury hotel and spa situated just off I-40 exit 287 (Harrison Ave). For parking, you can use the hotel valet or self-park for free in the dedicated lot off Woodland Pond Dr.Use OpenTable to book your reservation. Unlike Fearrington House, which I also booked via OpenTable, Herons awarded dining points. I used OpenTable's messaging system to communicate with Herons staff and make a change to our reservation. It worked well.Herons serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. My wife and I had a 7pm reservation on a Saturday. We showed up early and had drinks at the Umstead's Bar & Lounge. It was really nice (the entire property was) and set the tone for what turned into a magnificent evening. The Bar & Lounge was busy before and after our dinner. The Umstead is a happening place.For dinner, we went with Herons' standard four-course prix fixe dinner at $170 per person. For comparison, four courses at Fearrington House was $150 per person. Both offer $100 drink/wine pairings and supplements for certain courses. Both also offer more elaborate tasting menus. At Herons, it's the "Art Tour," consisting of 8-15 courses at $250 per person.We got to choose from 4-5 selections for each course. My wife and I chose different things for each course so we could try many dishes. Here's what we got:Cocktails* Lilac ($16) - Cathead vodka, creme de violette, blueberry, lychee, yuzu* Ruby cocktail ($16) - Lunazul Reposado, rhubarb, One Oak Farm beets, citrusNon-Alcoholic Infusions* Drinking Vinegars - Strawberry-Basil ($8)Before First* English pea macarons with creme fraiche and Siberian caviar* Buckwheat baguettes and butter from Marietta, GeorgiaFirst * Oyster - poached, Charleston Gold Rice, Champagne Sabayon* Wagyu - asparagus, egg sauce, finger lime, kosho, sauce JaponaiseBefore Second* Chef's play on bacon, eggs and toast; quail eggs, bacon mousse, edible nest* Chive croissants with garlic butterSecond* Egg - 62-degree egg, One Oak grits, mushroom, Iberico ham, shrimp.* Foie Gras ($20 supplement) - strawberries, sudachi, salted Marcona almond creme; Carolina pineberriesBefore Entrees* Duck confit corn dogs, made to look like cattails* Milk bread with honey butterEntrees* Tuna - ossetra, miso, chive, Meyer lemon, brown butter dashi* Beef - two styles (strip steak and short rib), farm carrots, sea buckthorn puree, Shaoxing sauceBefore Dessert* Elderflower pickled rhubarb, lime (and other ingredients I forgot)* French press decaf coffee (large, $9)Dessert* Honey - milk ganache, kataifi, orange blossom, nitro labneh, bee pollen* Cheese - Fromager d'Affinois espuma, air baguette, mostarda, English peasAfter Dessert Gifts* Dark chocolate, yuzu gummies with blueberry centers, housemade Red Hots, and caramelsThe four-course was an "art tour" itself. It was truly a culinary adventure with neat surprises along the way. And for those wondering, we left the restaurant completely stuffed. The timing and attention to detail was almost impeccable. For example, the butters that accompanied the bread courses were consistently themed. The garlic butter that came with the croissants looked like leaves and the honey butter that came with the milk bread looked like honeycomb. The quail eggs in the edible nest and the duck confit corn dog cattails were creative and fun. The 62-degree egg was served in/with wooden bowls and a wooden spoon rest made from fallen trees on the property. The dishes were unique and the flavors and textures were superb.The entire Herons and Umstead staff were terrific, including our fantastic server Mike."

The Mason Jar Tavern

★★★★☆ 4 (322) • $$

"I like it, I love it... (can you finish the line? lol)After 2 visits, I can safely say that I really like the food at Mason Jar. The tacos and wings are great and the blackened mahi w/ risotto was top notch. The service is fast and friendly, and I enjoy the streaming music selection also. It's an overall neighborhood jewel. Cheers!"

My Way Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.1 (306) • $$

"I had lunch at My Way Tavern while in Holly Springs. Service was friendly although there was a problem in the kitchen so food couldn't be ordered right away. The restaurant wasn't too busy when I arrived but quickly filled.I ordered the fish and chips when the kitchen was operating again. I enjoyed my meal. I'd dine here again if in Holly Springs."

Nantucket Grill - Durham

★★★★☆ 3.5 (398) • $$

"Sorry, not sorry, but I have to bring my review back up to 5 stars. Ever since I started doing pick up and adding extra cranberry, my experience went back to 5 stars lol. I wish they would add more to the actual cranberry bog sandwich, but it is easily remedied by adding cranberry to the order. Service remains top notch! I have no idea how the staff always remain so nice when the place is always packed!! But service definitely rocks."

Two Guys Grille

★★★★☆ 4 (288) • $$

"I visited Two Guys Grille at an odd time, call it really late lunch or really late dinner. Either way, I was there at a time when staffs are normally catching their breath after and before the next service. The interior has booths around the outside, tables in the middle, a bar, and a small patio. I was able to sit wherever and decided on a high table near the door. The service quickly came by, got my beverage, and came right back for my food order. I got the hot dog platter with the garlic parmesan broccoli for my side. One hot dog was sauerkraut and brown mustard. The toasted bun had a really healthy amount of sauerkraut and just the right amount of mustard. It was really good. The second hot dog was cheese and bacon and let me tell you it was LOADED with cheese. The melted cheese was oozing and sliding off the bun and was topped with whole strips of crispy bacon. The garlic parmesan broccoli side was just ok. I wanted more garlic and more salt. Most of the melted parm had slid off of the broccoli itself.My server was fantastic and took great care of me. Plenty of other items on this menu were intriguing and I look forward to returning and trying different things. Hi"

JD's Tavern

★★★★☆ 4 (283) • $$

"Good food and service. The location was clean and well maintained. For a tavern to drinks were delicious and the appetizers were excellent. The entrees were okay - it's a tavern not fine dining. Our waitress was great with service and recommendations! Will be back to try other menu items."

Dain's Place

★★★★☆ 4.1 (269)

"We enjoyed burgers from Dain's Place this week while visiting Duke Medical Center. We saw Dain's had highly rated burgers and decided to give it a try for a to-go order.All three of us had the cheeseburger, two with fries and another with tater tots. Burgers were very good, although a little heavy with the mayo and mustard. I went in to pick up the food and loved the atmosphere of Dain's Place. Would've loved to actually eat at the restaurant and enjoy a beer at the bar. All in all a good experience, and maybe I'll have a chance to come back and eat inside!"

Abbey Road Tavern & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.6 (347) • $$

"Good food, good prices, good service, and good atmosphere! The burgers and tater tots are out of this world! Have a lot of good specials!"

Crosstown Pub & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.9 (279)

"After attending a local event at the Cary Theater my friend suggested we grab a late bite at Crosstown. They have a nice spacious patio area for dining so we decided to try eating outdoors. Service was prompt upon arrival. Our waiter suggested the birria tacos. He shared that the pub prides itself on " authentic flavorful tacos". My friend had grilled wings, pimento cheese balls and a salad. I had the fried green tomatoes, birria tacos by recommendation and a whiskey sour. Service was very slow outside. Our waiter had our food served to us but never came back to check on us until it was time to check out. I understand it's late night and staffing is limited. The food was very good with the exception of the fried green tomatoes. The tomatoes were under ripe and too hard to serve for this recipe. The pimento cheese balls were excellent. Two of my favorite North Carolina southern classics. The convenience of late night hours until 2am, and location is unmatched for this area and the food was good. I would definitely return."

The Shiny Diner

★★★★☆ 3.5 (341) • $$

"We enjoy coming here and would be regulars if we didn't live all the way in south Durham! We do visit enough that we're learning the waitresses names though.If you come on the weekend, be prepared to wait if you don't arrive early. The food and service is definitely worth the wait, so don't let that scare you off. Good comfort food is the name of the game here.Their homemade chips are so good I've seen some people get them with breakfast instead of hash browns! If you have room left after any meal don't pass on their desserts. I had the German chocolate cake recently and it was so good!!I hear they have a place opening in Apex sometime in the next month or so. Keep your eyes peeled!"

Wakefield Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.1 (246)

"Went on a late Saturday afternoon and had the patio to ourselves. Loved the quietness & the nice breeze from the outdoor fans. Enjoyed my blood orange cider and the burger was incredibly juicy & tasty!"

Monk's Cheesesteaks & Cheeseburgers

★★★★★ 4.5 (204) • $$

"My boyfriend picked us up cheesesteaks from Monks the other night. As always the food was great! I ordered the New York style cheesesteak and it was delicious. The meat is seasoned well and cooked perfectly. Even after the drive home (it's about 15 minutes away from us), the food was still so warm that it fogged up my camera when I tried to snap photos. We shared sides of onion rings and fries. I really liked the onion rings, they were crispy and golden on the outside. I think the fries are just okay but the real star of the show here is the cheesesteaks. I didn't get one this time but their hotdogs are pretty good as well. I've gotten their chili cheese dog a few times and really liked it."

Carolina Brewery

★★★★☆ 3.5 (332) • $$

"Fantastic visit on a Sunday afternoon. Bar is huge and lots of great beers on tap. They had Bloody Mary's and mimosas on special for under $5! Service was very friendly and made recommendations. We ordered the potato chip nachos which were AMAZING and huge! Ordered the omelet and home fries, easily enough for two portions! The burgers were also huge and delicious flavor! Will be back for sure :)"

Wilson's Eatery

★★★★☆ 4.2 (223)

"Love this spot! It's conveniently located near Iron Works and other local businesses. There's plenty of easy and free parking. The menu includes vegan and vegetarian options as well. My favorite option is the falafel burger which includes pickles, pickled onions, lettuce, and tzatziki. It's always fresh and flavorful!! It doesn't come with a side but there are some available a la carte. They also have amazing baked goods and homemade sodas/seltzers. The vibe in very relaxed as you seat yourself and there are tables indoors and outdoors. The service is always quick. Definitely a spot I plan to frequent again soon!"

Pam's Farm House

★★★★☆ 4.2 (221)

"CASH ONLY. Letting non-local diners know since I don't carry an ATM card myself and luckily the Hubs had the cash or I would have ended up washing dishes! Lol. This is a good old-fashioned diner with many local patrons serving up Southern hospitality at its finest. I ordered the 2 egg breakfast with sausage patty, grits (of course) and biscuits. This was my first time I ever tried red eye gravy. Think of it as a savory salty unami flavor similar to coconut amino acids. A light sprinkling of it on grits was perfect. We had not just one fluffy biscuit but two per order! Enough to take home and it still tastes great the next morning. Plus, we tried the fatbacks which are similar to pork rinds. Yum! Our sweet server Tanya poured out the Southern hospitality like molasses over hot cakes! We never had an empty cup of coffee during our breakfast here. We felt so welcome here in Raleigh and here at Pam's. Definitely ask for Tanya if you're visiting here.Parking in the lot."

The Blue Note Grill

★★★★☆ 4 (239) • $$

"We enjoyed our time at The Blue Note Grill in downtown Durham. I think the food is three stars (okay), but the live music, laid-back atmosphere, and friendliness of both the staff and the patrons bumps this business up to four stars (good) for me. Barbecue, ribs, and music succinctly sums this place up.We ended up here because we were looking for a barbecue restaurant in Durham that was open for dinner on a Wednesday night after 8:00pm. There weren't many options. We didn't know about the live music aspect of The Blue Note Grill until we arrived. This place is popular.We showed up and checked in around 6:45pm. They don't take reservations. We were told the wait would be about 30 minutes and I was given a pager. The estimated wait time was pretty much spot-on as we were seated around 7:15pm.On a Wednesday night, we were told the main indoor dining room and bar - the one with the stage and live music - was full. If we wanted to sit in there, there would be a $5 cover charge per person. Our other options were the fully-enclosed patio and the open-air patio. I asked if I could see all three options before making a decision and one of the staff obliged.I ended up choosing the open-air patio for our small group of three because: (1) We wanted to catch up and the music was too loud inside. Sitting inside is for those who primarily want to enjoy the music. (2) The enclosed patio was actually warmer and stuffier than the open-air patio. We ended up liking the open-air patio, even though we had to deal with flies and mosquito bites, because we could hear each other easily and still enjoy the live music coming from the inside. The patio was decorated with plants and string lights. It had picnic tables, most of which were covered by umbrellas. We got the only table that was under a canopy.By the way, I also noticed another indoor dining room called the "Rib Room." It's to your right upon entering. There was no one in there and it appeared to be closed. Maybe they didn't have enough staff to open that room.The night of our visit, it was "Brett's Open Mic," 7-10pm. "Brett" being Brett Chambers, who's been doing Open Mics since September 1996. Go to https://www.thebluenotegrill.com/events to see all upcoming events. According to The Blue Note Grill's website, they've been around since 2010 and moved to their current location at 709 Washington St in June 2015. They have live music nightly, Tuesday-Saturday. They're closed Sunday and Monday.The business is located on the northern edges of Durham's Central Park and Warehouse District neighborhoods. The building is old. Free parking is located next to and behind the building by an old wooden train trestle bridge and some defunct oil tanks. I'm not sure what was here before. Be careful pulling into and out of the parking lot because the ramp from the street was very steep. Sitting on the patio, we heard many cars hit and scrape the curb/driveway. The ramp needs to be redone/regraded.Along with barbecue, The Blue Note Grill serves burgers, sandwiches, chili, Brunswick stew, wings, barbecue/Southern sides, appetizers like crispy pickle fries and deviled eggs, and desserts like banana pudding and chocolate lava cake.Here's what we got:* Redneck Cheese Fries ($9.99) with Pickled Jalapenos (+$1.00) - French fries smothered with melted housemade pimento cheese, served with ranch dressing* Alaska Wild Wings ($9.99) - eight fried pollock bites with sweet red chili sauce and tartar sauce* Baby Back Ribs Full Rack ($31.99) with hush puppies, fried okra, and housemade coleslaw* Baby Back Ribs Half Rack ($19.99) with hush puppies, substitute salad (+$2.00), and fried okra* Pulled Pork BBQ Plate ($13.99) with hush puppies, collards, and green beans sauteed in bacon and onionsOverall, I thought the food was fine. Nothing stood out as either great or bad. My wife enjoyed the Redneck Cheese Fries more than I did. The ranch dressing was a nice touch. I liked the Alaska Wild Wings. They were crispy and boneless. They also came with celery and carrot sticks. The Baby Back Ribs were a bit too tough and chewy. However, the portion size was generous. The Pulled Pork was OK. In general, I think it and the sides lacked a bit of seasoning and flavor. The salad was fresh and came with onion, cheese, tomatoes, and carrots. The fried okra was yummy.The condiment basket included two kinds of barbecue sauces, Eastern NC (thinner, more vinegary) and Western NC (thicker, sweeter).Our server Kai S was great. He was funny and did a nice job. The other staff was great as well, including the hostess/manager. Despite a busy night, all of our food came out fast.There was a scan-QR-code-to-pay option on the receipt. I usually prefer this over using my physical card, but The Blue Note Grill uses Heartland Payment Systems who makes you download/install their app, sign up, and then pay. I didn't have time for that and paid with card instead. From a guest experience, Toast is better."

Aggie's Grill Station

★★★★☆ 4.4 (197) • $

"10/10 recommendation! Came today for lunch and service l, as well as good was impeccable. We had pineapple shrimp and pineapple chicken with veggie fried rice, as well as a lobster egg roll. Their Arnold Palmer is unmatched. Everything was so fresh and just really good food."

Mitch's Tavern

★★★★☆ 4 (235)

"A Quick flashback to 1988 with Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, and Tim Robbins. Opening bar scene in the flick, Bull Durham, with the aforementioned put Mitch's on the map. It has been a favorite watering hole for NC State students, employess, Alumni for decades prior and since.It is located in the middle of all the college fun on Hillsborough st. It is adorned with an iconic front with an even more iconic and lethal 2 story narrow wooden staircase. After scaling this staircase you are in MT.A fellow Alum joined me for a State Wrestling watch party on a Friday night. The Manager greeted us and escorted us to our party. The tavern is modest in size housing tables and booths with several tv's strategically placed throughout. It has a separate room with a billiard table, and a one holer serving as a Mens room. Our server was equal amounts friendly, patient, and efficient. The menu is also modest with typical bar fare. Our party had 3 nacho platters for 14 and they were appetizing. The owner joined our party and former Coach Guzzo regaled us all for 2 hours.MT is definitely worth the experience. Great location with a storied history, and good food/service. We will return. #crashdavisPS-Next time I will take pictures of the frontage and stores."

The Local

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (338) • $$

"Very nice, spacious and sports atmosphere, very friendly and attentive staff, we ordered Nachos, wow amazing delicious pulled pork and brisket nachos. Stephanie was super nice and helpful with the menu. Great hidden gem for sure!"

The Mac House

★★★★☆ 4.1 (218) • $$

"The Mac House is a hidden gem tucked away in a shopping center in North Raleigh. It is family owned with great customer service and they remember me and what I typically order. I tend to order the same things but do change it up once in a while. As every month, there are special mac n cheese; grilled cheese; salad; soup and cheesecake.The restaurant is casual so you can relax. They have indoor and outdoor seating or you can do carry out. You order at the counter and your meal will be brought to your table.The Mac House isn't your typical grilled cheese or mac n cheese as many variations are offered from pizza to cheeseburger to bacon & truffle to jerk chicken to spinach and artichoke mac n cheese. For grilled cheeses you can get buffalo chicken to pimento with bacon and fried green tomatoes to bbq to caprese pesto. I tend to get the Mac House grilled cheese with garlic seasoned bread or the mac n cheese grilled cheese and it is just like it sounds with mac n cheese inside the grilled cheese. Both are so good. With the mac n cheese I like the seafood one with shrimp.As much as I love the grilled cheese sandwiches and mac n cheese. The salads are my favorite as they are so fresh. So I like that the grilled cheese sandwiches come with a side so I can get the salad with it. Then the mac n cheese grilled cheese gives me the mac n cheese too so I can have it all in one meal.Don't forget to try the cookies when you stop by for some yummy food."

Da Vinci's Table

★★★★☆ 4.1 (207) • $$

"A nice local Italian place in Burlington. We went Friday evening a little before 8pm and they quoted us a 20 minute wait, but we were seated in less than 5 minutes.They have their normal menu and daily specials. My husband ordered the daily special of Tuscan steak tortellini and I ordered lasagna from the menu. Both meals came with salad and garlic bread. The bread definitely needs to be improved and my lasagna was decent. However, the Tuscan steak tortellini dish needs to be on the menu full-time. It was absolutely amazing and my only regret was not ordering it too.Service was top notch and our server checked on us and made sure we always had drinks and our water refilled."

The Pickled Onion Restaurant & Bar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (228) • $$

"I've been to The Pickled Onion twice now and I'm a fan. I'm pretty picky about pub fare but there are a few things why I rated them at 5 stars instead of 4 (it was a toss up but I'll explain). The Pickled Onion can get very busy so it's best to come when the crowd has left, because that's when you get top notch service. You seat yourself and at one of the booths or tall tables. It's very open and feels more like a sports bar than a pub. Tables are always clean and the menus are wiped between customers. The menu is small but mighty. My go-to are the Blue Chips to start. I've ordered the Pork Belly Smack which was phenomenal and this past visit, I ordered the Shrimp Platter and exchanged the fries for mashed potatoes and gravy. And let me say, those mashed potatoes were real! Some places use the powdered stuff but this was the real deal. Besides the Blue Chips being a favorite of mine, I have to say that The Pickled Onion has THE BEST coleslaw I have ever had!! This last visit, our waitress did something that immediately made this original 4 star review into a 5 (and if you read my reviews, you know what she did...). She gave me another soda cup before I finished my first! Right there, that earns 5 stars! Having excellent customer service, delicious Blue Chips, AND the best coleslaw? It's a no brainer that I'll be back!"

Nantucket Grill - Raleigh

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (291) • $$

"Very solid spot near UNC. We were here as a team and they always have great food for us to eat. We had a smaller set menu to choose from but all of the options were well liked. Servers were all dressed nice and pleasant to us.The vibe is a bit odd because they have nice table settings but then make you walk up to the soda machine by the kitchen for refills. There is also an amazing cake display when you walk in, so it gives a bit of a diner vibe. However, their menu is a mix of diner food and high class food. I assume this makes it good for whole families with kids. I got the stuffed tilapia which was delicious. I highly recommend trying this place out for nicer food in a relaxed setting. Great for groups as well."