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."

Eden's Vegans

★★★★★ 4.6 (37)

"Omg everyone. Eden's Vegan restaurant is a hidden gem in the south! My husband and I happened to stumble upon it while down in Garner on a Sunday and I am SO GLAD we did. We aren't vegetarians or vegan but we do love food. At first I saw on the door you needed reservations but the owner ushered us in no problem. They are taking COVID precautions seriously (yes, still, in 2023). Do not be alarmed by this. You can still dine in no problemo! There were so many yummy options and it's done buffet style. I loved the fake Salisbury steak (better than the meat stuff I've had for sure). The Mac and "cheese" was also amazing. Included were drinks and desserts. I loved every single thing on both of our plates and I cannot wait to go back! Highly recommend if you are vegetarian or vegan or just like food. There's a Facebook where every week they let you know the menu for the following week."

Juicekeys

★★★★☆ 4.3 (79) • $$

"Lovely smoothie place. Great decor, delicious options, kind staff. It's right downtown, so I often have to park on the street or in a lot a few blocks away, but if you're strolling around and need a smoothie or smoothie bowl, this is a great spot."

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.]"

Kadhai The Indian Wok

★★★★☆ 3.9 (284) • $$

"Kadhai is a excellent Indian restaurant in my neighborhood. As someone who was raised by west indian grandparents, I enjoy my food spicy. I love that you can choose how spicy you want your dishes by intensity number. I went with a 4. That was the perfect amount of heat for me. The food here is flavorful and plated with perfection. I ordered lunch via Uber Eats. The food arrived fast and piping hot. The serving size was generous with plenty of leftovers to enjoy tomorrow. I ordered vegetables samosas, Chicken Madras and Aloo Gobi. The Chicken Madras was my favorite. It really packed the heat ! Lots of fresh spices and pepper throughout the stew. This was delicious. The naan was complimentary with my order. They left it in the oven too long unfortunately and it was not the best charred. The basmati rice was cooked to perfection and all the flavors were just excellent. I will return to dine in for the lunch buffet."

DICED

★★★★☆ 4.3 (107) • $$

"Very spacious, clean and inviting restaurant with friendly staff. Nice variety of food that was tasty and fresh."

Pure Vegan Café

★★★★★ 4.5 (95)

"Very grateful for this restaurant in Brennan Station on Creedmoor Road (on the Chow side) when the Vegan relatives came to town recently. There were items that made non-Vegans happy as well. Order at the counter. Menu is large and enticing. Much of it is Indian inspired. Plenty of American options as well. They also have breakfast items all day and do smoothies.I tried the PVC Tikki, which is a burger made from potato, peas, carrot and spices, and toppings. Also got an order of sweet potato fries for the table. Husband tried the South of the Border Burger, which is an Impossible burger with toppings. Littles did the Strawberry Cream Waffle, one of whom made the mistake of pouring too much syrup on his, then couldn't eat it because it was "too sweet" LOL. Both types of fries were delicious.Others tried some of the Indian style offerings and loved them. I tasted the Samosa with potato & peas which comes with two sauces. It packed some heat and had lots of flavor.Dislikes: the drinks! Two "lemonades" for the kids were $17. They were bottled juices, so that was why, but it would have been nice to have some less expensive drink options. Didn't help that they forgot to bring them. Had to ask for them when the food arrived. No alcohol here, by the way. And my biggest dislike about the drinks is if you want water, they have small thin plastic cups that you pour yourself and no ice. Atmosphere is that of what it is, a counter-service restaurant. When they are preparing smoothies the blending is super loud."

Coco Bistro & Bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (98) • $$

"I'd go back!My favorite thing about Coco was the service. The people working there were really nice and friendly and helpful. I also liked the prices! They were pretty good for a sit-down restaurant in Chapel Hill. Keep in mind that the pictures attached to my review are not the normal portions. Finally, the ambiance is pretty good! I like the lights and the windows. I was here at night, but I think it would be prettier during the day."

Banu Vegan

★★★★★ 4.9 (36) • $

Pure Soul

★★★★★ 4.9 (199) • $$

"Pure Soul is pure genius!!! The best vegan restaurant I have ever enjoyed! I am having fried fish today with their Bilbo's greens and kale Caesar salad. I am also enjoying a side of fries and a piece of fried chicken. I am starving!They season their food well. Their Arnold Palmer is the best proportions! Textures are on point!Congratulations on being voted #1 YELP Restaurant in the Carolinas!"

Goodness Cooks

★★★★★ 5 (4)

"Goodness Cooks' foods are delicious, nourishing, and satisfying. They are profoundly good - - and, considering what you're really getting in each jar or tub--they are truly good deal. Both vegans and enthusiastic omnivores will find many delicious options. Sometimes what you order will be a whole meal on its own, and other times you might get some delicious side dishes that transform a plain homemade meal into an easy weekday feast. I recommend giving this service a try!"

Juicekeys

★★★★☆ 4.3 (65) • $$

"This isn't my first time trying Juice Keys. I have visited the midtown location in the past. This location in Lafayette Village is small inside and without a dining area. There is only outside seating here which is perfect for enjoying frozen treats. I had the Green Goodness which has Almond Milk, Kale, Cucumber, Pineapple, Apple, and Ginger. I also purchased an Oopskey to-go which are leftovers from smoothies made throughout the day. Oopskeys are half off. Great buy! The service here is great. The staff I interacted with was helpful and polite."

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."

Vegan Community Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.6 (155) • $$

"I ordered online through their website. The order was ready in twenty minutes. When I arrived I was greeted with two smiling faces. It felt like home. Did I want to try a new menu item, their burrito bowl launching next week? Did I see that they had posted Ethiopian dishes on the menu, too? The decorations matched the owners' kind, bright and sunny moods. I ordered the three bean salad and a Kitchen burger and they gave me a sample of the new menu item, the burrito bowl, to-go. My husband ate all my three bean salad and he also loved the burrito bowl. We are excited for the new owners who are helping to strengthen the plant-based community. I can't wait to make this a habit."

Cinnaholic

★★★★☆ 4 (29)

"9/16/22: I LOVE CINNAHOLIC. I've been to several between VA & NC. This was our first visit to this new location. The staff were friendly. The store was clean. The aroma in the air was to die for. My only concern was that my bun was flatter than I'm used to seeing and kind of dry. I'm not sure what happened, but the flavor was not what I'm used to from Cinnaholic. My friend enjoyed the pecan bun. It was totally devoured. I didn't eat my entire bun. I will probably try them again in hopes of having the quality bun I'm used to Cinnaholic making. I recommend them."

Pure Vegan Café

★★★★☆ 4.4 (65) • $$

"I don't require vegan food, but I thought this would be an interesting place to try, and it turned out to be so! I have been to this space in a few of its prior owners' iterations. The new décor is quite welcoming and you get some nice sunshine in the late afternoon.The "Rainbow Burger" was delightfully spicy and included lots of fresh vegetables (well, onions, lettuce etc for a nice burger). The regular potato fries were dynamite! So crispy on the outside, and spiced a little bit.Any drink seems to take the final price up quite a bit. I'm glad to know of this place."

Blu Tee Spoon

★★★★☆ 4.2 (12)

"Amazing burgers! Amazing people! I found their January pop up on Facebook and have been hooked every since! I counted down to the February pop up and even left work early to make sure I got my burger, and you know I was not disappointed! I may have over done it both times and ended up stuffed but it was worth every delicious bite! She pours her love into these burgers and you can tell! I'll be back every chance I get. - a Florida vegan foodie PS. AMAZING price point, you get a quality burger and sweet / salty fries. You can't go wrong for about $15."

Plant Cakes Bake Shop

★★★★★ 4.7 (44)

"The place in Wake Forest for decadent, flavorful vegan desserts. While driving through downtown Wake Forest craving sweets, we came upon Plant Cakes Bake Shop. We excitedly realized it was a vegan bakery that also serves gluten-free items. The donuts in the display case first caught my eye, then the unique waffle cone flavors. I decided on a cookies and cream donut with an orange waffle cone filled with dairy-free vanilla ice cream and rainbow sprinkles. The items were delicious! I particularly like the flavorful orange cone paired with vanilla soft serve. I have seen coated waffle cones before, but not flavored ones. The orange was definitely more flavorful than the red velvet. Prices and portions are comparable to similar establishments. Overall great place for desserts especially if you are gluten-free or vegan!"

Little Native Coffee

★★★★☆ 4.3 (19)

"If I were a local, Little Native Coffee would probably be a favorite! This cozy coffee shop is just inviting with its calming green interiors and how chill the whole atmosphere is. My iced vanilla oat latte was around $6 but it was huge for the price! Also very well made and creamy. They have a huge outdoor patio as well. Enjoyed my time here and thank you for the amazing coffee!"

Vegan Flava Cafe

★★★★★ 4.5 (98)

"Had a less than ideal brunch experience at the old location right after they opened and it almost put me off Vegan Flava for good. Glad I decided to give it a second chance.Stopped by the new North Gate location for dinner with a buddy and decided to put together a 3 selection sampler with BBQ jackfruit, fish cakes, and chana masala served with quinoa, kale salad, and plantains. Though a bit expensive for my taste, super tasty and will definitely be back for more.Question for anyone ordering on Grubhub-is there any way to put together a special for delivery? I live just down the road but sometimes, man, I just don't want to leave the house..."

The Dirty V Plant-Based Noshery

★★★★☆ 4.1 (54)

"Setting: Situated across the street from a gas station, this hidden vegan gem has ample parking and indoor and outdoor seating. Food: This place has an ample menu that spans breakfast, lunch and dinner. We came on the weekend for brunch and enjoyed three absolutely enormous and fluffy pancakes. French toast sticks, and a taco salad. Everything tasted great, and my only complaint was that the syrup that is provided with the pancakes / French toast sticks was highly processed Ms. Butter-worths syrup. They should have an alternative that is healthier such as maple syrup.Service: Service was prompt, courteous, and helpful. We look forward to coming here again."

The Parlour

★★★★★ 4.5 (727) • $

"Great location for this awesome ice cream shop....nice big space inside with lots of seating . Outside there are lots of spots to sit and eat, or walk around. They have a ton of neat flavors, and milkshakes, Affogato, floats, sundaes , cookies, and toppings for your ice cream. You get teenagers serving you so don't expect super friendly service. We all tried different things in our group, I had the Vietnamese coffee in a cup with a sugar cone on top, this was creamy, great coffee flavor, and I had a nice big scoop even for a small. Also the toasted coconut oreo my gluten free friend loved with sone rainbow sprinkles. The strawberry cookie gravel, was an interesting fruity mix with bits of choc chips and cookies crumbs. The salted butter caramel, also nice strong caramel creaminess. Also the Affogato was a nice wake up call with some super good espresso poured over vanilla . Yum. We all loved every sweet drop of this ice cream. I love a local ice cream parlor. I appreciated that it wasn't all that modern, but truly more a parlor!"

Sukhadia's Indian Cuisine

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (60)

"Very nice authentic Gujarati vegetarian place. I wish there was one in vegas.Some of the foods that I loved growing up, that take a lot of time to cook, are all available here for a very reasonable price. We ordered their vaishnav thali that comes with assortment of different curries, rice, roti, Puran poli, khaman, sweet dish, salty lassi (a yoghurt based drink) and masala papad. Unfortunately they ran out of papad so we didn't get any.. they didn't inform us and didn't offer a substitute.Also tried pav Bhaji, frankie (which is literally the pav bhaji stuffing inside the roti with onions and cheese), sabudana vada, chole bhature and some sweets.The first round of khaman had a burnt smell to it, so had to return and they happily replaced with a fresh new batch. There was just one person doing everything, taking orders, delivering to table and clearing it, and he was so polite and efficient. If I lived here, I would be a regular!"

Royal India

★★★★☆ 3.6 (251) • $$

"Royal India Restaurant in Raleigh offers a culinary journey through the vibrant flavors of Indian cuisine, earning its place as a go-to destination for enthusiasts of authentic Indian food.The menu at Royal India is extensive, featuring a wide variety of dishes representing different regions of India. From fragrant biryanis to rich curries and flavorful tandoori specialties, each dish is prepared with care and expertise, using high-quality ingredients and traditional spices.One of the standout features of Royal India is the depth of flavor present in every dish. Whether you're savoring the creamy texture of butter chicken or enjoying the subtle heat of a spicy vindaloo, each bite is a testament to the chef's skill and commitment to authenticity.The restaurant's ambiance is elegant yet inviting, with warm lighting and tasteful decor that sets the stage for a memorable dining experience. The attentive staff adds to the overall ambiance, providing excellent service that ensures guests feel welcomed and well taken care of.While Royal India consistently delivers on taste and presentation, some diners may find the prices slightly higher compared to other Indian restaurants in the area. However, the generous portion sizes and impeccable quality make it worth the investment for those seeking an elevated dining experience.Overall, Royal India Restaurant in Raleigh is a treasure trove of Indian culinary delights, offering an unforgettable dining experience that satisfies both the palate and the soul. With its delicious food, inviting atmosphere, and attentive service, it's a destination worth revisiting time and time again."

Parts&Labor

★★★★☆ 4.1 (266) • $

"Stopped in at Parts & Labor during a day out in Durham for a quick drink. They had a nice little outdoor seating area with a funky, bright mural and it was a good place to sit and hang for a bit. I ordered one of their Micheladas and I wanted to love it, but I wasn't impressed sadly. I loved that the mix appeared to be house made, but it was really thick and I think they just added too much. The taste was great but the consistency was not thin enough for my liking. My friend said the Paloma was just okay. The staff were nice and the space is as well, but the drinks just missed the mark a bit for us. Overall this was a 3.5, but I'm rounding up."

Saffron Indian Cuisine

★★★★★ 4.7 (136)

"Saffron Indian Cuisine is in that Walmart/Harris Teeter Shopping Center on Tryon. You wouldn't expect this place to house so much great food, but it does.The biggest highlight of Saffron is the food. I ordered lamb vindaloo and a side of garlic naan. The curry was cooked perfectly. I can't tell you the amount of times I've had a curry that was starting to separate. The flavors were all there. Spice wasn't quite as high as I liked/ordered, but that's not a problem.Service was a real problem. During my meal, the staff had family/friends/maybe a VIP in an area. Even if this is a VIP, it was a small party. You need no more than one sever there. Unfortunately, the entire staff was hanging out at that table and neglecting the rest of the customers. I wanted more rice and I was prepared to pay for more rice. I didn't get the opportunity to order more rice.I came back again for lunch because the express lunch looked interesting. Choose a protein [or make it vegetarian] and a spiciness level. You get a nice, light tasting menu. It's honestly close to a perfect lunch. This was another thing that Saffron executed perfectly. Service was fine during my lunch.There are so many great Indian places in RTP. As much as I liked the food at Saffron, I'm taking this all the way down to 3 stars because I'm sick of getting terrible service at restaurants."

DICED - Cary

★★★★☆ 3.8 (192) • $$

"I loved all the salad options. A decent salad!"

Goorsha

★★★★☆ 4.2 (287) • $$

"This place is amazing! We went after after a strenuous hike and were famished when we got here. We reached reached at 12:30 pm on a Saturday, so the restaurant was a bit empty so we got very prompt and personalized service.We sat outside, it was a bit chilly but we enjoyed it nonetheless. The server who took our order did a very good job of explaining the menu items to us and explaining any queries we had.When the menu is short and sweet like Goorsha has, you can be rest assured that the food will be good. And that is exactly what we got. We ordered the vegetarian plate metin shiro, kek alecha and fosolia. By the end of it we were licking our fingers and wanted so much more! While we were heading out we saw there special tea service on a different table and will definitely be back for it and other menu items!"

DICED - Raleigh

★★★★☆ 4.1 (114) • $$

"Wow, this place is a gem! We only went here because we wanted to try Cinnaholic next door at lunch time. The salads were SO GOOD!! I got the Thai one and added the tofu. It was delicious! Spicy in the best way. I got the ginger carrot dressing. So great to have delicious vegan options with things actually labeled on the menu! Next time I will get the grains base just to try it. The restaurant was very clean. Fountain soda and canned sodas were available. The staff was kind and attentive. I will definitely return here. I wish I had taken a photo of my salad because everything was so fresh."

Roots Natural Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.5 (48) • $$

"I did the build your own bowl where you pick your base, 5 toppings, a protein option and a dressing. The chicken protein made my bowl $13.71 after tax. The bowl was big enough for 2 meals so I ate half and stored the rest in the fridge for lunch tomorrow. I made sure to get the dressing on the side. The ingredients were super fresh and very tasty. The sweet potatoes were my favorite part of the bowl. The chicken was fresh off the grill. Staying nearby at the Graduate hotel and I loved having a healthy and filling option just a short walk away."

The Fiction Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.5 (725) • $$

"Lovely spot. As of today, it's still located on Dawson. Eventually they are moving! Keep on eye on their social.The menu has variety, but the sweet and salty is what won me over with the chicken and waffles. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The saltiness was spot on. The arugula was eaten although kinda odd on top, but hey, anything with a natural green is okay with me. I pushed it aside so my maple syrup didn't touch it. I ended up ordering their seasonal pumpkin cheesecake with candied walnuts. Super delightful and truly pumpkin. A hefty serving too!Loved the decor at the bar and my time spent talking with the bartender and local gals sitting with me."