The Best New American in Raleigh

Tasty Stop

★★★★☆ 4.3 (62)

"Wow. This is definitely a "don't judge a book by it's cover" type place. The number of times I passed by but never was tempted to try it. The food was amazing though. This spot is located in a shopping center and the store itself seems to be an empty grocery store (aisles of nothing in it) with the order counter to the left. Don't expect any type of ambience or a place to sit. People were coming in and out too so I'm glad we placed a phone order before we came because I assume it's popular. The wings are SO good, better than any wings chain here and listen to the reviews when they say they are worth the drive. You have the option to choose whole wings or ATL wings, we chose ATL wings. They have a long list of great flavors to choose from too. They also have multiple combinations to come with the wings which is great and makes the meal really filling. We got the cheesesteak with 6 ATL wings (honey mustard flavor) and fries. It was devoured. I got the 6 ATL wings and shrimp fried rice for myself and got the wings honey garlic pepper flavored. I also got 6 more honey bbq wings just to try. I am not even a lemon pepper or garlic parm fan but this honey garlic pepper was SO good I wish I could've switched out my other 6 barbecue wings for them. The fried rice was so delicious too and I'm not even into the fried rice and wings combo, just wanted to try it. The cheesesteak is soooooo good wow. I want to say it's a top 5 cheesesteak because they did everything right but it's just really small so you would need to order 2 if you only wanted a cheesesteak. However they are only $6.95 so it's not bad. The prices are good, the portions are great, and the food is seasoned. This is definitely my new spot."

Bombolo

★★★★★ 4.6 (35)

"We had an enjoyable Sunday brunch at Bombolo, a relatively new restaurant just north of UNC's campus. It's hard to describe this restaurant because it doesn't serve any one type of cuisine. For example, our meal consisted of New Orleans, Southern, Jewish, American, African/Portuguese, and Japanese cuisine (or influenced cuisine). Sounds like too much, but it works.Bombolo opened on February 23, 2023 in the Midtown Market shopping center on MLK. Same shopping center as The Root Cellar, Flyleaf Books, and Lucha Tigre. The brother-sister owners, Garret Fleming and Eleanor Lacy, used to own and operate Big Belly Que on Franklin Street: https://bit.ly/3rjIIEj Eleanor greeted and seated us and I saw Garret running the show in the back. He came out a few times. Eleanor sat at the bar and oversaw the front of the house.Inside, above the storefront, is text that said, "Ceci n'est pas un restaurant Italien." One of our friends who dined with us here said it was French for, "This is not an Italian restaurant." I Googled the word "bombolo" and it's Italian for cylinder.This is a cozy, intimate restaurant and bar with a hipster vibe, consistent with this part of Chapel Hill. Unlike, say, Durham, the folks dressed preppier. My wife got White Lotus vibes from one table. We enjoyed the atmosphere.At the time of writing this review, Bombolo is only open for dinner, Thursday-Monday. It appears they stopped serving Sunday brunch, at least for now.Reservations are recommended. Book via OpenTable and earn dining points which can be used to redeem restaurant discounts, Amazon gift cards, hotel stays, and magazine subscriptions: https://bit.ly/3OcMk4aDuring our visit, the brunch menu was tight with 12 entrees (priced at $14-30 each), six sides ($5-15 each), a dessert ($7), five alcoholic beverages from the bar ($9-13 each), and coffee, juice, and tea.We sampled a good bit of the menu. Here's what four of us shared:Bread & Biscuits* Muffuletta ($20) - Serrano ham, duck salami, mortadella, comte, giardiniera, lettuce, focaccia* Dirty Bird Biscuit ($14) - fried chicken, smoked bone marrow, kimchi mayo* Lox Benedict ($23) - gin-cured Icelandic salmon, capers, red onions, eggs, hollandaiseSides & Sweet* Piri Piri Chicken Fingers ($12)* Wakame, Lox & Mascarpone ($15)* Berry Cobbler ($7)Bevvies* Persephone ($11) - Empress 1908 Gin, pomegranate liqueur, cava* Bloody Mary - Spicy ($13 each) x4 - house mix, Luksusowa VodkaIn general, I thought all of the food and drink were delicious. The only item I had a minor gripe about was the Muffuletta. It was a bit too salty. I realize muffuletta is going to be salty to begin with because of all the cured meats, etc. However, I don't recall the other muffuletta I've had up to this point being as salty as this one was. Other than that, the sandwich was tasty and used good-quality ingredients. That was the case with everything here. I could tell they cared about the ingredients they used. The focaccia was great.The best thing about the Dirty Bird Biscuit was the biscuit itself. We all loved it. It was very buttery and pretty much perfect in terms of texture and flavor. The kimchi mayo had bits of kimchi in it and the bone marrow was mixed in (subtle) -- yummy. The biscuit sandwich was served with a side of potato chips which I think were housemade. The chips were terrific. They were small, crispy, and not too greasy. They were so good that we asked for a side of them. We ended up getting a small plate of chips on the house with extra sides of kimchi mayo and hot sauce (the same kind used on the Piri Piri Chicken Fingers).The Lox Benedict was solid. I viewed it as Bombolo's take on Eggs Atlantic, which is a variation of Eggs Benedict where the Canadian bacon is replaced with salmon. If you're a fan of Eggs Benedict, I think Bombolo makes a good variation. The Hollandaise was nice and tangy.The sides, the Piri Piri Chicken Fingers and Wakame, Lox & Mascarpone, were really good. The Piri Piri Chicken Fingers was a more straightforward dish. They were breaded and fried chicken tenders covered in piri-piri sauce. The chicken tenders themselves had wonderful consistency, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. And overall, the dish was quite flavorful and spicy because of the piri-piri sauce.The Wakame, Lox & Mascarpone was creative. I love wakame (seaweed) which I'm used to having in Japanese cuisine. Here, they paired it with lox, which made sense because of sushi and Japanese cuisine. There was also cucumber, green onion, sesame seeds, and a sauce. I honestly don't remember the mascarpone. Regardless, I liked this dish.The Cobbler was excellent.The Spicy Bloody Marys were fantastic. They were refreshing and had a strong kick to them.Everything was presented beautifully. The food was served on different style plates with various charming designs.Quin was our server and he did a good job. He was friendly and attentive. Everything was served quickly."

Chef's Palette Restaurant & Bar

★★★★☆ 4.2 (349) • $$

"This was our first visit. Our server was David and he was friendly and attentive just the right amount. The duck taquitos were great (the white sauce was a bit spicier than what I enjoy, but the cheese sauce was great and not spicy.) I tried the shrimp and grits for my meal. The meal was tasty but a little spicier than I anticipated and the grits were ever so slightly undercooked (still very edible and tasted good). I really enjoyed the Honeycrisp Bees' Knees (gin) cocktail. I think their hostess table may need a little work, and that the eclectic art for sale on the walls was interesting. I appreciated that the sound levels were pretty good in the restaurant."

Bull and the Bear

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (36)

"This place is kind of a dive, but does have consistently good food. It seems that all their food is home made, I've never had anything that looked to be previously frozen. The prices are really good too."

Dalton's Sports Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.5 (15)

"Best Hamburger in Uptown Roxboro. The atmosphere is spot on. Service is great, and even if you're not a drinker the food is worth the visit. HIghly recommend."

Crazy Mexico Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.5 (40)

"We were visiting family in Burlington and it was decided that we were going to a "Crazy Mexican" restaurant. As a foodie, naturally my ears perked up and without even researching it I was all in! So we head over to experience what I had imagined to be a uniquely festive meal. And, it didn't disappoint!They had ample parking outside, and upon entering you see a vast array of seating and a full bar in front of you. The chairs in this place are unique and festive, check out the art on them when you go. Being a Friday it was rather empty at around 8pm. Our large party was promptly seated, drinks ordered, and queso was flowing. Most of our table shared a margarita pitcher, and they got the fresh kind without the margarita mix. FRESH squeezed margaritas are the best so be sure to ask for it!For our meal we shared a few entrees including the chicken fajitas and pollo chipotle. The pollo chipotle was the favorite with just the right amount of spice. The only area of improvement I could suggest is the service, which was slow and it took forever for them to put the game we were trying to watch on the TVs. Given the place was fairly empty, we figured it shouldn't have been such a challenge. Certainly that is far from a deal breaker so go here and get loco y'all"

Irregardless Cafe

★★★★☆ 4 (748) • $$

"I can't believe I've lived in Raleigh so long and have never been to Irregardless. I recently went and was able to enjoy their outdoor seating. Service was friendly, but since we were on the end of the patio it was slow. We didn't mind though! I shared the grilled peach salad and blackened salmon. Both were spot on! I'd certainly order them again. I loved the grilled asparagus and risotto sides that came with the salmon. For dessert we shared the chocolate hazelnut silk pie and the early grey tea ice cream sandwich. The silk pie was the clear winner for me. It was pretty amazing!! Even the crust was tasty, I wouldn't have known it was gluten free. Highly recommend saving room for dessert. The love keyboardist was also a nice touch, especially on a Tuesday night!"

Brian's Cheesesteaks

★★★★☆ 4 (46)

"We were driving from NC back to Maryland, and it was almost lunchtime. We got off the highway after seeing a sign for a chicken fast food restaurant, but it said 4 miles away. We drove and drove but never found it. So we pulled into a little strip mall shopping center where there was a pizza place, an oyster bar, and Brian's Cheesesteaks. We decided to check out Brian's. The place is clearly a favorite with the locals. All the tables were full. There was no hostess, so you seat yourself. We headed for the counter and claimed two stools. They have quite a menu and it is a retro diner-style place. The server was really pleasant. We asked for two unsweet teas (clearly revealing ourselves as non-locals). The tea came out sweet anyway, but that was the only hiccup. I ordered a fried chicken sandwich with onion rings, and my friend did order a full cheesesteak (you can also order a half). Everything was delicious. The serving of onion rings was huge. The price for my huge chicken sandwich was only $6.50. They offered us free ice cream at the end, but we were too stuffed. So, the moral of the story is that it is WELL worth a short side trip to get off the interstate to eat at a local place that is NOT a fast food franchise."

Sodosopa

★★★★☆ 4.3 (208) • $$

"Great food here! I enjoyed my pulled pork entree. All was delicious and they were great with accommodating a large group."

The Twisted Grape

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (378)

"Very disappointing! The prices are too high for this same town restaurant. Have eaten here a few times and am never overly impressed. Decided to grab as a call in take out. Won't do that again. Ordered the chicken Alfredo...$16.90 for a very small tray! My wife ordered a salad that had almost zero toppings. Please see our pictures. Also was told our take out order would be ready in twenty minutes but waited forty! The salad-Southern fried chicken salad. Supposed to have cucumbers, bacon, Monterey Jack cheese, (tomatoes-none for me), and croutons. Please note there were 4 croutons, 3 tiny pieces of cucumber, 2 pieces of red onion, zero bacon, and zero cheese! The chicken (not picture) was hood."

The Provincial

★★★★☆ 4.1 (262)

"Made a reservation and came on a Friday night. It was very busy, enough to where it is difficult to have a conversation with someone across from you. It is very intimate, so be aware.The food is pretty delicious - bone marrow on toast, the croquettes, and the fish big plate. Grits in a block form? Different, but still good! 7/10 - it's a bit TOO intimate"

Tazza Kitchen Village District

★★★★☆ 4.3 (613) • $$

"Tazza Kitchen is a small chain of American Diners mostly located in Virginia & the Carolinas. My friend who lives in South Carolina took us here, she likes the place and the food...I can see why. Good size venue, causal ambiance, friendly staff and fairly easy on the finances. #Adulting:~ ONE FINE DAY - 4/5READ THE MENU... CAREFULLY!! lol. They got me at; Watermelon & Hibiscus with lime. I completely missed the non- alcoholic part...lol. I was looking forward to a refreshing cocktail. #Grub:~ CHIPS & GUACAMOLE - 4/5Just a solid standard Chips & Guac, good stuff, just shy of amazing. ~ SPICY SAUSAGE & BLACK PEPPER HONEY PIZZA - 4/5This was a nice surprise. The pizza already sounded very interesting to me, the addition of Honey just put it over the top. Very tasty.#TACOS:The plate of Tacos includes two, and for an upcharge, a Third. I wanted to try a couple of different Tacos, luckily you are able to choose two different Tacos for one dish. ~ CHILI MARINATED SHRIMP TACO - 4.5/5An excellent combo. I didn't foresee this working out that well. I'm happy to say I was very wrong; Tasty and well balanced without being too spicy. The chimichurri slaw was delish, and I'm not usually a fan of mayo, but it worked in this case. ~ BEEF SHORT RIB TACO - 4.5/5 An other combo I wasn't too sure off ; wood oven braised beef, tomatillo chipotle salsa, queso fresco, cilantro lime onion slaw. Deliciousness! Good amount of meat in the Taco as well. I'm a fan. I like this place!"

Acme Food & Beverage Co

★★★★☆ 3.8 (609) • $$

"Came here to celebrate a special occasion. Love the warm & inviting vibes of the restaurant. Our server was super attentive and made sure we were well taken care of. The food however, was the main attraction. We ordered from their daily special menu. Everything was at the peak of freshness (e.g. heirloom tomatoes) and well prepared. I really appreciated the chef's innovative pairings in the surf & turf (lamb chops & diver scallops). The chef did a phenomenal job with the grilled mahi as well. It was done to perfection and served on a bed of curried puréed parsnips. Outstanding! If you're in Carrboro, I highly recommend checking Acme out for some excellent food!"

Northside Bistro & Cocktails

★★★★★ 4.5 (101)

"We went here recently for a date night dinner. We were seated immediately and Thomas our server took our drink order quickly. The drinks were delicious! Thomas was friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. I opted for the blackened sirloin with shrimp special. It arrived quickly and was visually stunning. The steak and shrimp were cooked perfectly and were delicious! Overall it was a perfect experience. I highly recommend dining here! You won't be disappointed."

Foster's Market

★★★★☆ 4 (668)

"Nice cozy place that serves breakfast and lunch. We were in Durham area and looking for a nice local place to support. Foster's Market definitely matched what we were looking to find. We both ordered sandwiches that were fantastic. Nice size and well made. I ordered the Jammin Turkey Breast Sandwich (very yummy) with just the right amount of spice from the pepper jelly. My wife ordered the Roasted Turkey Breast sandwich, which she really enjoyed. Very nice place to visit with friendly people and plenty of seating both indoor and outdoor. If in the area you need to visit."

Counting House

★★★★☆ 3.7 (253) • $$$

"We continue to have nothing but terrific experiences at this restaurant when we stay at the 21C. This time we did breakfast and the service we received from Ann Marie was worthy of 5 stars alone for her caring, her kindness, her professionalism and for making me feel truly special for my birthday.Husband had their Breakfast Biscuit Sandwich with Tots while I had the Smoked Salmon BLT with Tots. She even brought me a birthday breakfast brulee for dessert complete with candle! And get this...she told us the pink penguin would be happy to visit us and she took my pic with him! Plus made sure I got a pic with the breakfast brulee.On top of it, she gave us our tea and coffee to go, as well as the rest of my sandwich, which we took back up to the room.All tasted terrific as always and we were made to feel so welcome and special from the moment we arrived and were greeted by a beautiful friendly Hostess. Much appreciation!"

La Residence

★★★★☆ 3.8 (72) • $$

"My spouse and our friends came here for brunch following an event in chapel hill. There were several parking lots around and there was not a wait, around 11:00 on a Sunday. I got the GOAT Bloody Mary and it was good. The little grilled cheese wedges are a nice touch. I ordered the chicken and waffles and my spouse got huevos rancheros. Both of our food was a little on the cooler side of warm, which was a little bit of a disappointment. However, we did overhear our server saying they were incredibly short staffed. The chicken, minus the temperature, was 10/10 - some of the best chicken I've had. The waffle was also good, nothing special about it but it was well done. My spouses huevos rancheros were good and the pico tasted very fresh. However, it was VERY heavy on the potato's, which pretty much covered the bottom of the bowl. My spouse said it was a 3.5-4. Overall, I'd give this place a 3.5-4 for brunch."

Kahlovera Mexican Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 4.3 (167) • $$

"Tired this place with my wife for Sunday lunch. Holy crap! My wife had the Huaraches with chicken and I had the fish tacos. The huaraches were INCREDIBLE. Will be back just because of that dish. Service was very good - waitress was attentive and manager came over to ask how we were and seemed genuinely interested.The ambiance is basic strip mall ish restaurant. It's very comfortable with tables appropriately spaced apart. I think this is a good casual date place or good for the family even with small kids. Absolutely will be back."

The Mecca Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (228) • $$

"What a gem in Raleigh! Love the history of this place and that the interior totally reflects the history and wasn't just totally cleared out. When in for an early-ish breakfast on a Sunday and there were not many people there. The waitress was super friendly and the service was great. I got their french toast, but it wasn't my favorite. I think they shine with the typical diner style breakfast dishes. The eggs and corned beef hash was spot on and definitely something I'd get again. The food came out hot and fresh!"

Farm Table

★★★★☆ 3.9 (277) • $$

"This was one of those wow meals, from start to finish. They change their menu often to match what is in season and to utilize as much local as possible. We were drawn in by their current menu. Made reservations and had a delightful Saturday night experience.They have a nice variety of seating options. Tables, Booths, a good size bar. There's a patio room that's enclosed. All very nice. We were quite comfortable in our booth in the main dining room.Service was top-notch from the moment we were greeted with a smile, to our excellent Server and the friendly food runners. Drinks excellent. I enjoyed a nice pinot grigio with my meal, followed later by the world's most perfect dessert drink...a lemon pie martini. Yep. You heard that right. The stuff dreams are made of. Husband had a couple dirty martinis he was quite fond of.Food. YUM. We shared a steamed clam appetizer with an excellent spring onion cream-white wine sauce after they started us with a nice light foccacia with a very good olive oil. The only thing missing with the clams was grilled bread. It was crying out for it. Would have totally taken it over the top. Yes the foccacia was dippable but it didn't work as well as grilled sourdough would have matched with that dish.Entrees: Scallops with a beurre blanc sauce, veggie noodles and a tomato vinaigrette. The scallops could not have been seared and cooked better. They were scallop perfection. But I will say that the plating in a bowl rather than a plate watered down the beurre blanc to the point it might as well have not been there. The tomato on top with a tangy vinaigrette offered a nice acidity to the dish. Husband got the Pork Schnitzel with a pesto pasta and arugula. Very rich and he loved it. Both portions were generous enough that we both have leftovers. Especially love how well everything is seasoned and the usage of fresh herbs.Highly recommend!"

American Hero Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (27)

"Best subs in town! Not only is the bread and meat is always fresh, the staff great! Each time I've come here, owners were pleasant, areas were clean and food is consistent. The desserts are delicious as well."

Sup Dogs

★★★★☆ 3.8 (230) • $$

"The hot dogs are amazing Hey make your order when you place it. Staff is super friendly. I like the atmosphere of this place it's epic eclectic and pretty rad. Been here before and I'll come back and eat here again next time Im in chapel hill for work at UNC."

Las Ramblas

★★★★☆ 4.3 (64) • $$

"We stumbled upon this restaurant (thought we were staying at the hotel across the street - turns out there's lots of Hyatts in town - long story) and I'm so glad we did! We sat on a nice outdoor patio and enjoyed the sounds of the outdoor concert down the street. It was Sangria night (red or white options), so we had some nice red Sangria to sip while trying a sampling of the menu. We decided not to get any entrees and instead do things tapas style. We tried to recreate our Northern Spain roadtrip and ordered the croquette, tortilla espanola, calamari, and the albondigas along with a few other dishes. The albondigas were so good that we ordered a second plate of them.,Wish we lived in the area - this would be a great date night spot or a place to meet up with friends for drinks and appetizers."

Crazy Dragon & Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.1 (7)

"We made plans to go see an earlier movie and then decided to go later. After that decision we were hungry and wanted dinner. I remembered the revamp of Palace Point, and now there was an actual restaurant. The croissants were a pleasant surprise and totally amazing! Everything we got was delicious! We got the Blazin' Chicken sandwich, Strawberry salad, and Nachos at our table. Noting the nachos had bacon, which sets them apart from most nachos. The Mac and Cheese is more of a white Cheddar and is creamy deliciousness. Salad was a good-sized portion. Our server was fairly new, but she was very attentive and took good care of us. Love the castle like dark with dim sparking light ambiance. Highly recommend for a quick bite before a movie, skating or bowling."

Cafe Meridian & Catering

★★★★★ 4.5 (158) • $$

"So glad Cafe Meridian is back!! They're in a new location just up the street from their old one. They're sandwiched in between Big Lots and Autozone in the shopping strip on Hwy 55 just off Hwy 54. Some tables outside and lots of seating inside.We called in our order and since we live just about around the corner is was ready in no time. Grilled salmon with two sides and bourbon chicken with two sides. It was absolutely delicious!!They still have their huge sandwich and salad menu & daily specials. I encourage you to show them some love with your business!! Note, they're only open M-F from 11A-2P."

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."

The Fearrington House Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.4 (183) • $$$$

"Dinner at The Fearrington House Restaurant was one of the best dining experiences we've had anywhere. It was certainly among the very best we've had in North Carolina. The food and service were simply phenomenal. Fine dining at its finest.This place was recommended to us by some friends. I probably would have no idea of its existence otherwise. It's kind of located out in the middle of nowhere. I say "kind of" because it was only about a 20-minute drive from our home in Chapel Hill. This place is certainly worth the drive from anywhere in the Triangle, and points beyond. It's that good.The Fearrington House Restaurant is part of Fearrington Village, a sort of farm-like resort that, along with the restaurant, offers boutique shopping, a spa, and an inn. There are also houses, squares, and a park with ponds and trails tucked away from the retail area. The residential neighborhood is sizable.My wife loved this place because the village was a mini getaway from the Triangle. As we drove past the Belted Galloway cows and the silo on the way in, we knew we were entering someplace special. Overall, the property was really charming, peaceful, and idyllic. It was magical as well -- after dinner, we took a stroll around the house and gardens. Along with the beautiful foliage and landscaping, there were rabbits and fireflies. When I booked our reservations, my wife and I were pleasantly surprised to learn that The Fearrington House is a Relais & Chateaux property. Just a couple months prior to our visit here, we had stayed at our first Relais & Chateaux property, Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts, in Bora Bora. That was a stellar experience as well. These experiences make us want to go to more Relais & Chateaux properties in the future.The Fearrington House Restaurant is prix fixe dinner only. The menu is seasonal. For us, the price was $150 per four-course dinner with optional $100 wine pairing. Also, one of the main course options, the steak, had an $80 "supplement" if you wanted to upgrade to Japanese wagyu over the regular ribeye. In addition to the four courses, there were three hors d'oeuvres (two canapes and one amuse-bouche), a "pre-dessert," and even post-dessert treats; the latter was not listed on the menu.There were three options per course. Here's what we had:First Canape* Lemon Poppy Macarons with Foie Gras Ganache (x2)Amuse-Bouche* Local Beet Gummy with Brulee Lemon Creme Fraiche and Herb Oil (x2)First Course* Panna Cotta with Roasted Turnips and Black Garlic; pickled daikon, kale, cracker, grapefruit* Kanpachi Crudo with Mango and Fresno Chili Sorbet; jalapeno, cucumber, limeSecond Course* Stuffed Quail with Jerusalem Artichoke; basil, blackberry, crumble* Seared Bass with Artichoke and Bok Choy; chive, maitake, tapiocaSecond Canape* Melon Gazpacho (x2)Main Course* Beef Ribeye with Bordelaise; cippolini, broccoli, king trumpet* Seared Scallops with Fava Beans and Farro; sweet pepper, herb oil, lace tuile, fennelPre-Dessert* Mango Mousse with Blackberry (x2)Dessert* Valrhona Coeur de Guanaja Souffle; dark chocolate, vanilla, whipped cream* Strawberry Rhubarb Pavlova with Basil; lemon curd, sorbet, angel foodCocktails* Virtuous Imbiber ($15) - bourbon, Pasubio, Montenegro, Regan's Orange Bitters; boozy, botanical, spirit-forward* Five Mile Hike ($16) - rum, lemon, cappelletti, chartreuse, orgeat; bright, refreshing, botanicalWine* Glass of Violin, Pinot Noir ($18) - Willamette Valley, Oregon, MVPost-Dessert Treats* Strawberry Marshmallow, Strawberry Jelly, Strawberry Fudge, some sort of Caramel, and another treat we can't remember + Shortbread Cookies to take homeIn general, everything was magnificent and super creative. How do they even think up some of this stuff? For example, we were hit with Macarons with Foie Gras Ganache and Local Beet Gummies right out the gate. And everything worked well together and was delicious (e.g., the macarons were both sweet and savory, and tasted fantastic). My wife, who loves to cook, commented that she would never think to make beets into gummies.Every dish was complex. We could tell a lot of thought and work was put into each course and the bites in between. The chefs weren't afraid to play with texture as well as flavor. Also, there was an amazing attention to detail. For example, the way they stacked and piped various ingredients on dishes such as the Panna Cotta and Stuffed Quail, and the way they placed curled-up cucumber inside a slice of jalapeno on the Crudo. The presentation was unique, meticulous, and visually appealing.Generally, the drinks were very balanced and refreshing. I really enjoyed the Virtuous Imbiber. It was strong and robust.Service was exceptional. My wife commented that the staff made her feel really special and I agree. We were their focus and priority. The staff was extremely attentive. Our server was Brianna, who has worked at Fearrington Village for many years. She was terrific."

Academy Street Bistro

★★★★☆ 3.9 (291) • $$

"Bottom line: Academy Street Bistro in Ashworth Village served up a good late lunch with a couple of their starter appetizers and dessert. An enjoyable nice meal experience with prices to match that expectation (not the most inexpensive menu selections). Can be for casual or a little bit nicer if needed. The Deets:Around the old downtown Cary area near the train station, I stopped into Academy Street Bistro for a late lunch. I remembered I had gone to a Yelp event here years ago but had not made it back since then. I was seated immediately in the high top table area near the bar. I wanted just a couple of things but not a huge lunch, and their appetizer/starters menu did the trick for this need. I started off with their Grilled Brie selection. This choice was a good one, the Brie was warm and soft with a cooked apple type topping that was the perfect complement to the cheese and served with crackers. My next selection was their starter size of their Jumbo-Lump Crab Cakes (with Romesco, shaved almonds, and fennel). I guess I was thinking about the word "Jumbo" but then realized that this was a starter portion of the crab cakes when it arrived. The crab cakes themselves are not huge in size but definitely good in taste and I enjoyed them very much with the tomato based Romesco sauce being a nice burst of flavor to complement the crab cakes. I had thought I would do a lighter meal but when my server Kalli (who was great, by the way) mentioned dessert, I decided to give it a go. I went with the featured cheesecake which was chocolate bourbon pecan cheesecake made at Blue Moon Bakery within the same shopping area (Ashworth Village) that Academy Street Bistro is in. The cheesecake was delicious and I could taste each of the three distinct flavors in a nice balance. In all, it was a delicious late lunch and I enjoyed my visit. Are they the most inexpensive meal around? No. Is it a nice but casual, good meal experience? Yes, at least my late lunch was good and I would like to experience their dinner selections at some point in the future."

Under the Oak Catering

★★★★★ 5 (18)

"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!"

Flair Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (161) • $$

"I wanted to take my parents to a nice Sunday brunch in Chapel Hill. Flair Restaurant popped up as one of the top search results on Yelp with a lofty 4.5-star rating and well over 100 reviews (usually, a good sign). Unfortunately, we didn't have a great experience. While the food was OK/good, service could've been better. Our server was friendly and I think she tried, but we were forgotten for long stretches of time. Tables were seated after and served before us. I don't know if it was a training issue (the server seemed kind of green) and/or staffing issue or what, but the lackluster service left a poor impression of this place on us. That said, I could see our experience being different on a different day. Maybe we were just unlucky.Flair opened in April 2017 in the space previously occupied by Bean & Barrel, a coffee shop, bar, and grill. I believe elements of Bean & Barrel remain. Flair has a coffee and wine bar, complete with barrels above (suspended from the ceiling) and even a drive-thru window (though I'm not sure Flair uses it). Outside, the storefront sign says "Flair Fusion Restaurant" (Google shows that too). Our menus and receipt said "Flair Restaurant & Wine Bar." I consider this a New American restaurant. More on the menu below.Inside and out, the restaurant is nice. It's got a classy, casual vibe with a modern, eclectic, and perhaps busy interior design. Light colors and wine-themed. The covered storefront patio is small. This is a cozy place. We were seated in the side dining room, next to the semi-open kitchen. I booked our reservations via Yelp (party of four). On a Sunday at noon, this place was busy. A lot of the customers were older and/or elderly. The Carolina Meadows retirement community is nearby and Governors Club is just across the street. This is an interesting part of Chapel Hill, sort of a unique enclave away from the "city."At the time of writing this review, brunch is served every Saturday and Sunday, 11:00am-2:00pm. The brunch menu contained starters like Hummus & Tzatziki with Pita Bread ($12.95) and Guacamole Bruschetta ($12.95), soups and salads, brunch items such as a Quiche of the Day ($15.95) and French Quarter Frittata ($16.95), and sandwiches and burgers.Here's what we ordered:Starters* Fried Green Tomatoes ($10.95) - fresh green tomatoes, pimento cheese with buttermilk ranch* Smoked Salmon Tartare ($13.95) - horseradish sauce, capers, red onions, pistou, Russian black bread crostini Brunch* Seafood Crepe ($19.95) - scallops, shrimp, salmon, capers, cherry tomatoes, arugula, asparagus, caramelized onions, dill beurre blanc sauce* Country Eggs Benedict ($16.95) - Hollandaise sauce, poached egg, and Canadian bacon on fried green tomatoes, with fresh greens* Blueberry Pancakes ($16.95) - mixed berry butter, berry compote, whipped cream, maple syrupSandwich & Burgers* Country Cuban ($16.95) - country ham, pulled pork, Gruyere, whole grain mustard, pickle relish, briocheDessert* Blueberry White Chocolate Bread Pudding ($10.95) - warm bread pudding, lemon white chocolate ganache, caramel, vanilla ice creamDrinks* Coffee ($3.45)* Cappuccino (large, $5.45)* Orange Juice ($3.45)As mentioned above, the food was OK/good. There wasn't a memorable must-have dish to me, but nothing was bad either. My mom is a fan of fried green tomatoes and I think she enjoyed Flair's version, topped with melted, hardened pimento cheese. The cool ranch went well with the tomatoes. The Smoked Salmon Tartare was A-OK. It tasted fresh. The Russian black bread crostini was made out of rye bread, I think. Pistou, which is a French green sauce made with garlic, basil, and olive oil, was drizzled on top of the crostini. A nice touch.I think my dad was satisfied with the Seafood Crepe. I'm allergic to shrimp so I couldn't try it. It looked decent with a nice variety of ingredients. The Country Eggs Benedict was alright, but there was a discrepancy on the menu. Instead of being served on fried green tomatoes, the eggs and ham were served on what I believe was a toasted English muffin, so that was disappointing. Also, the ham (Canadian bacon) tasted a little dry and plain.I liked the Blueberry Pancakes and Country Cuban. The portion size on the pancakes was generous. The pancakes were delectable and comforting. The berry compote on top consisted of blueberries, raspberries, and I think strawberries. The Country Cuban was solid. It was warm and tasty, with yummy bread and a gratifying, savory filling. The dessert menu had seven options priced at $9.95 to $12.95 each. The Blueberry White Chocolate Bread Pudding was good. It was sweet and decadent. Appetizing texture. My mom, who is Thai, recognized that on top of the ice cream and bread pudding was a Thai crispy coconut roll. You can get them at Costco.The drinks were fine. The Cappuccino hit the spot. It just took a really long time for everything, including our drink order, to come out. I wish the service was better."

Venable Rotisserie Bistro

★★★★☆ 3.9 (281) • $$

"Had an excellent lunch, especially as what I ordered did not sound that exciting. I got there early and decided to get the calamari. I had just assumed it was fried calamari, realized it wasn't after I ordered it and was resigned to getting a dish I would just work through, as I am not a huge calamari fan normally outside of fried. Turns out it was fantastic. The calamari was not at all chewy, usually my big complaint, and the tomato/red pepper sauce was incredible. I easily ate all the pieces and was dying to lick the plate it was so good. I decided to go healthy with the main and went with the Cobb salad, also excellent. All of the ingredients were fresh and the Green Goddess dressing excellent, did not overpower the salad but also made it flavorful and interesting. The menu is not huge but what I had was done perfectly."

Bull City Burger and Brewery

★★★★☆ 3.9 (1256) • $$

"Taste of Carolina - Durham Food Tour - 23 Dec 2023Wow, Taste of Carolina really delivered some excellent bites in Durham today. Our agenda today included stops at: Toasted, Boricua Soul, Queeny's, Bull City Burger, sweets by Shayda. All restaurants did an excellent job. There were six in our party. Here are my individual notes. Toasted - Toasted has been thriving in Durham for over a decade. They offer unique soups and toasted bites/panini's. We were served a cauliflower soup and an avocado crustini. I loved the cauliflower soup. It was surprisingly creamy and tasty. Two In our party loved the avacado crustini, Boricua Soul - This place is special. The husband and wife owners have a captivating story to share about the historical and Philosophical origins of their culinary adventure. They served us a "lunch box" with perfectly prepared Puerto Rican roast pork, greens (soul food) , Mac & Cheese (soul food) and tostones (Puerto Rican). It was a huge bite and was the favorite stop for 5 people in our party. Next time we attend a Durham Bulls game we plan to eat here.Queeny's - is a friendly, creative bar / pub. They served us upscale nachos and a glass of dry cider. The nachos were very popular. The dry cider was interesting and unique. They owner made us feel welcome and encouraged us to try the many well designed drinks and bar foods.Bill City Burgers - The owner do an outstanding job describing his unique commitment to serving only Greason fed beef raised locally and making every item served here in house by his team of chefs. The burgers were excellent. They were bursting with beefy flavor and cooked perfectly. Be sure to try the deep fried pickles. So unique and loved by all. Two in our party picked this stop as their "Best Bite" selection. Sweets by Sayda - our last stop offered devine French Pastries. Macrons, croissants and other delicacies were shared. Share these pastries with those you love. They will treasure these treats.Lastly, I would like to share our deep appreciation to the folks at "Taste of Carolina" food tours. Our hosts had to manage finding a fifth stop today since their schedule included a venue who had to close due to kitchen staff all falling ill. In addition, I was recently released from the hospital due to foot surgery. These made waking very difficult. Our hosts did everything possible to make sure I was included in all of the stops. We plan on doing these Taste of Carolina Tours in the future: Hillsborough, Carrboro and Winston-Salem."

Death & Taxes

★★★★☆ 4.1 (425) • $$$

"Tucked away on West Hargett Street in the heart of Raleigh, Death and Taxes not only serves a name that catches your attention but dishes that will capture your heart. Celebrating a special birthday over the weekend, my wife and I were treated to an exquisite culinary experience. I savored the confit of pork shoulder, perfectly paired with grilled delicata squash and a tangy pomegranate-juniper jus, while the side of grilled NC asparagus with whipped hollandaise and crispy prosciutto danced on the palate. My wife was equally enamored with her dish of scallops, beautifully complemented by smoked cannellini beans, charred tomatoes, and leeks.What truly elevates the dining experience at Death and Taxes is their mastery of wood-fired cooking. Each dish benefits from the smoky kiss of the grill, adding a layer of flavor that's both rustic and refined.However, no review of Death and Taxes would be complete without a standing ovation for Paige, our server. Her vibrant energy, deep knowledge, and genuine interest in our experience made our evening not just a meal, but a memorable celebration.For anyone seeking a top-tier dining experience in Raleigh, make your way to Death and Taxes. It's more than a meal; it's an event worth every penny."

Second Empire Restaurant And Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.4 (685) • $$$

"What an incredible experience at this restaurant tonight. Even though the hostess almost couldn't find our reservation that had been confirmed two times, the service was exceptional. Our r server Matt was welcoming and informed. We began our meal with the charcuterie board, the French onion soup, the octopus and shrimp salad and the arancini balls. All was very good except we couldn't find any octopus anywhere! For dinner the men ordered the filet, my DIL ordered the duck, and I ordered the scallops. Delicious. For dessert we had the chocolate soufflé, the sweet potato and cherry bread pudding, and the expresso semifredo. It was a lovely experience in a beautiful setting."

Hawthorne & Wood

★★★★★ 4.6 (204) • $$$

"We loved our dinner experience at Hawthorne & Wood. To date, I think this is the best restaurant we've eaten at in Chapel Hill and it's certainly one of the best we've been to in the Triangle. The food quality here was comparable to that of other fine-dining establishments we've been to in bigger cities. Chapel Hill is lucky to have this place.This place is popular and deservedly so. I think if you want a preferable reservation time, you'll have to book at least several days in advance. I booked less than a day out and was able to get my wife and me a 5pm Saturday reservation. We checked in with a wave of 5pm customers. The restaurant and bar stayed busy for the duration of our stay.Inside, the restaurant is very classy and beautiful with a low-key, sophisticated, modern design. I liked it a lot. The restaurant is located in the East 54 mixed-use development on highway 54 near 15-501, just east of UNC Chapel Hill's campus. Plenty of free surface lot and deck parking is available outside the restaurant.Hawthorne & Wood serves New American cuisine. During our visit, the food menu was divided into three sections: Bar Snacks, First Courses, and Main Courses. Examples from each section, respectively, included Seared North Carolina Shrimp ($16), Seared Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder ($14), and Pan-Roasted Beef Tenderloin ($42). On the drink menu, there were 16 cocktails ($11-15 each), from classic to "custom," plus over a dozen each of wine by the glass ($10-18 per) and North Carolina craft beer ($5-9 each).Here's what we got:Bar Snacks* Black Truffle Arancini ($10) - cured egg yolk, Parmigiano-ReggianoFirst Courses* Smoked Duck Breast Prosciutto ($16) - Huckleberry, roasted hen-of-the-woods, preserved root vegetables, pistachio genoise* Yellowfin Tuna Crudo ($16) - avocado, Fresno peppers, purple daikon, blood orange granitaMain Courses* Roasted Oyster Mushroom En Presse ($28) - Hon-shimeji mushrooms, melted leeks, horseradish, sherry gastrique, chives* Seared New Bedford Scallops ($38) - smoked Thai pumpkin, farro, bacon, Ruby Streaks mustard greens, sour cherry jusDessert* Apple Butter Cake ($8) - maple whipped cream and candied pecans* Chocolate Cream/Mousse with Amaretto cherries (complimentary)Custom Cocktails* Desolation ($14) - gin, Pernod, apple, tarragon, lemon* Bird of Paradise ($14) - Mezcal, aperol, honey, passionfruit, lime* Open Kimono ($13) - Japanese whiskey, ginger, burnt thymeIn general, we thought the food and drink were incredible. From ingredient quality to execution, everything was superb. Also, each dish and cocktail was absolutely beautiful. It reminded us of some of our favorite finer-dining type restaurants back home in Atlanta, and within NC, some of the best places we've been to in Asheville. Next-level stuff for Chapel Hill, in my opinion.Every dish impressed. The Black Truffle Arancini was served in a small iron skillet. The rice balls were smothered in shaved Parm. They had warm, savory centers. The Smoked Duck Breast Prosciutto looked like a work of art, like a flower crown from the woods (all of the dishes and drinks looked like works of art). As a fan of cured meat, mushrooms, and vegetables, I really enjoyed this dish. It was light yet packed with flavor and gratifying. The Yellowfin Tuna Crudo was outstanding. The presentation was bold and colorful. The ingredients were fresh and tasty all around.My wife and I love mushrooms and we thought the Roasted Oyster Mushroom En Presse was wonderful. They were pressed mushrooms, cut into rectangles, with flaky crusts. Unique. The mushrooms were garnished with additional mushrooms, along with greens. The sherry gastrique was flavorful and went well with the mushrooms. The Seared New Bedford Scallops were terrific. They were delectably charred, plump, and delectable. We loved how Thai pumpkin was incorporated into this dish. Again, unique.The Apple Butter Cake was phenomenal. If it's available during your visit, I recommend it. The dessert was sweet, smooth, and addictive. The maple whipped cream and the syrup, altogether with the cake, were simply sublime. The Chocolate Cream/Mousse with Amaretto cherries was complimentary for my wife's birthday. It was simple and delicious.The three cocktails were equally fantastic. I didn't prefer one over another. Each was well-made and very satisfying.Service was great. I forgot our server's name, but she was knowledgeable about the menu. Her name didn't print on the receipt. The food runners were nice, including one guy whose name I do remember: Eric, who also goes by the nickname "Jolly." We were seated in a nook in the back of the restaurant, close to the kitchen. We were near a corner where the staff had to say "corner" every time they approached so they didn't run into each other.Hawthorne & Wood opened in April 2019. Chef-owner Brandon Sharp opened up sister restaurant Bluebird, in nearby Meadowmont Village, in July 2022: https://bit.ly/3HnveNj."