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."

Glasshalfull

★★★★☆ 4 (231) • $$

"Decided to check out Glasshalfull after hearing about it on social media. It is a cool and chill spot sporting tons of tables, a wrap around bar, and a massive wine selection. I checked out their menu ahead of time and decided to go for their mini burgers that had bacon and truffle aoili. It was just the right amount of food! I ate just one, but I will be devouring the other in like an hour as I am a grazer! To drink I got a bottle of their cremant rose. Nice hint of strawberries, peaches, and rose. It was very yummy and actually paired really well the burgers. Normally I do not get a bottle of wine just for me at a restaurant, but they were half off today and I decided to go for it! Such a great recommendation by the waitress. I love that they are able to recork the bottle, so you can take it home. Therefore there is no pressure to finish it! Around it are several other local businesses to check out. Carrboro's downtown very much reminds me of Pittsboro as it is very quaint and cute.Definitely would come back as it is very chill and has such great vibes!"

Burnt Barrel

★★★★☆ 4.2 (15)

"This was a fun spot to grab a beer at. There is a small amount of seating available both inside and outside. They had a good selection of beer on draft so we stayed for 2 rounds. If you want beer for home, they have a small selection to chose from."

First Street Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.3 (43) • $$

"Not only does this tavern have some of most comfortable outdoor seating arrangements and vast selection of drinks around, they have some extremely impressive people working behind the bar. I have learned the difficulty of finding a bar that can consistently make a great old fashioned or even have all of the ingredients to make a mediocre one. After ordering one here and watching the bartender make it, I was literally blown away by the attention to detail he took to make this drink, this man has skills!Its an interactive environment that has an energy of its own and although its a busy place, there is always plenty of comfortable seating and not deafening to the ears when you want to hold a conversation. Cheers!"

Brodeto

★★★★★ 4.5 (46)

"Wow! What an amazing addition to Iron Works. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful and you can tell they thought of everything. Our server was super friendly and made some great wine recommendations. Starting out with the straciatello and it did not disappoint. Loved the salted strawberries and the bread cooked in pork fat that accompanied it. The other highlight for me was the spaghetti Al Nero. The pasta and sauce was just so delicious and flavorful. The whole branzino and the salt cod potatoes were also spot on. I'd order everything again!For dessert we had the olive oil cake and the vanilla and hazelnut gelato twist. The cake was moist and delicious. The star for me was the gelato though, I would eat that everyday. Looking forward to heading back in soon!"

Caffe Driade

★★★★☆ 4.2 (426)

"Super cute little shop with extensive grounds. Best in good weather as the indoor seating is quite limited. The brown sugar oat milk latte is a house favorite - they make the brown sugar syrup in house. The pour overs change day to day and are quite good. The grounds are adorable but can be buggy if it's humid out. Baristas are helpful if you need guidance. Baked goods are top notch and there's vegan options. Watch out for snakes outside though! Parking is tight but there is more around the corner if you go to the roastery so keep driving through the parking lot!"

Gatsby’s Bar Raleigh

★★★★☆ 4 (22)

"Tried the Gatsby's food truck that was located outside of their restaurant. 3/5 stars based on portion size and flavor. Both for $15 each. I think the price could be better for what is being served."

Osteria G

★★★★☆ 4.2 (194)

"We decided to give it a whirl and pop in for the hub's birthday. This place caught us completely off guard. Osteria G's is friggin' delicious! Everything we tasted was top tier. Mac's service at the bar, and his cocktails were tasty. From the bread service to the strawberry trifle -- we were enthralled. I kid you not, the ribeye had a range of flavor that I personally have never experienced in a steak. (That's quite embarrassing as I've had the best of them, or so I thought.) The chowder, meatball Wellington, oysters-- all divine and I can't wait to return. Mac shared that there's a wine dinner coming up, and if we're in town, we're there! Cheers + thanks for a great night!"

HighCraft - Downtown Apex

★★★★☆ 4.1 (11)

"HighCraft has their second location in the space previously occupied by The Beer Dispensary. The draft beer selection was a great mix, I got an IPA and my husband got a milk stout. If you don't see anything on draft, they have bottles and cans. I also really liked the decor. Welcome to downtown Apex!"

Vin Rouge

★★★★☆ 4.1 (617) • $$

"Very nice date night spot in Durham off Ninth St near Duke's campus. If you're in the mood for French cuisine this will satisfy your craving. The wine menu is INSANE how extensive it is. The service we had was great and the server was kind, friendly and attentive to our table ensuring he answered all our questions. The food was delicious and we were able to try some items we normally wouldn't be able to try. Everything was just delicious. If you're looking for a top notch place featuring French food, Vin Rouge is your place."

Ramblers

★★★★★ 4.6 (25) • $$

"Durham's newest bottle shop, Ramblers, competes with long standing Sam's Quick Shop as well as a newer establishment Beer Durham, but Ramblers has a long way to go to become more than a neighborhood go to shop. Located on the corner of the the parking garage of Village West, Ramblers is a small, but open space, with lots of natural lighting. A couple bar seats surround a small bar with six tap handles. Along the walls of the bottle shop you'll find eight metal shelving units filled with a good selection of bottles. The shop also includes a small cooler with bottles and cases to go (everything from Coors Light to local bevies and a few in between. The bottle shop lacks prices on all bottles currently and beers are served in insurance labeled wine glasses. You might have the lights turned off on you during the afternoon, not a problem with all the natural lighting, but I definitely got the feel that they are looking to save money whenever possible. Overall, Ramblers feels like a neighborhood bottle shop, geared at residents living directly downtown, but not fancy enough or with a competitive enough selection to draw in tourists or regulars of other competing shops in the area."

The Glass Jug Beer Lab - Downtown Durham

★★★★☆ 4.3 (17)

"The Glass Jug Beer Lab has opened a taproom in Downtown Durham. The spot was really cute, you can sit inside or outside. My husband had a pint of equinox & solstice (a saison) and I did a flight. You get 4 beers in a flight, I chose the opacity (hazy IPA), transparency (American IPA), my friend wilson (NEIPA) and apricot pomegranate pi (sour). My favorite was the opacity. Cheers!"

Mi cancun - Pittsboro

★★★★☆ 4.2 (122) • $$

"Nice ambiance. Simple and smallish interior but with a covered patio that has great heaters to keep you warm. Friendly staff and quick service. The food is always good and tasty. A very good Arroz con Pollo."

Bella Monica

★★★★☆ 3.9 (645) • $$

"Bottom line: Great lunch meal at Bella Monica, the Whole Wheat Penne selection was delicious as well as light as it does not have a heavy sauce component. Service and atmosphere were good. If I could give half stars, I'd say 4.5 stars here. The Deets:Now that I think about it, I cannot believe I have not reviewed Bella Monica until now as these guys have been here in Raleigh for quite a few years. I was working near the area and got the chance to catch lunch there recently. We were greeted at the door promptly and given our choice of table or booth, so we went with a booth midway into the long narrow restaurant area. The server was pleasant and helpful, and started us off with some bread for the table. The bread looked like a square slice of sponge cake to me drizzled in olive oil, but tasting reveals that it is a light airy type of bread that I enjoyed (I am not a fan of hard crusty type breads so I loved this version, see pics). For my lunch meal, I went with the Whole Wheat Penne menu selection that includes chicken, arugula, mushrooms, roasted tomatoes, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, Parmesan-Reggiano, and pine nuts. Reading the ingredients, it sounded delicious and light and when it arrived, the impression from the description proved correct (see pics). I really enjoyed this dish, wonderful flavors blending together without being heavy. I would definitely get this one again, it was great as it ticked most all the boxes of a nice Italian flavor profile without a heavy sauce. I would say 4.5 stars for this lunch visit to Bella Monica, and would love to visit again in the future."

Taste

★★★★☆ 4.3 (149) • $$

"Taste small plates wine bar is where I went this past Sunday for brunch with my husband. Looking for a place that has good food, chill ambience and great service- you'll really have a memorable time. This is your spot. I had shrimp and grits (made with Gouda cheese,yum) which I found wonderfully delicious and tasty. My husband opted for an omelette and he loved the potatoe cakes that come with it. They're just very addictive! Add a miMosa, or a cocktail of your choice and viola, you have a great Sunday brunch date. They also have artwork for sale by local artists and a full bar. come to Taste..... you won't regret it."

Il Palio Ristorante

★★★★☆ 3.9 (193) • $$$

"We were in town for Football Season Tickets and Had been to this location once before but sat in the bar as we did not have reservations, and Yes Reservations are necessary if you want to full experience, although our first visit a few years before was so good we decided to make reservations for this meal, and we were not disappointed. We were sat outside and what a night to sit outside, beautiful and yes the road is right there but we did not notice it at all. We were Served by Ryan who was assisted by Kevin and man these guys were on it, we wanted for nothing including attention, and to top it off Ryan had just moved to the area from Charlotte and had been a server at places we ate there and some we had not and are on our list to visit now, because of him.We started with the amazing White bean crustini's(?), WTH where have I been to have never had this before "ANYWHERE", So good.We had our main course, she ordered the Butter nut squash ravioli and I had the Duck confit as noted in the picture if you like olives it is just amazing and if you do not, still try it...We also had the Bread service, if you find it better anywhere, please DM me and let me know where it is, but this is at the top of my list right now.To finish things off we had the Almond Cake which was just decadent.To experience dining at its best you have to pay for what you are getting and we had the entire package here, Service, Delicious food and a wonderful ambiance."

Imbibe

★★★★☆ 4.4 (91) • $$

"The live jazz on Mondays is amazing, my friends and I love coming after class for the music and mulled wine. The gumbo was pretty good, too. They put goat cheese in it which is pretty unique, but still tasted hearty and savory. Excited to come back again for the jazz and wine!"

Vinos Finos Tapas and Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (196) • $$

"We stopped in a couple of weeks ago for a relaxing dinner. Vinos Finos is one of our semi-regular dining haunts in Lafayette Village. The atmosphere, service, and food quality is always top notch here. It's a nice place to go for a relaxing dinner and a glass or two of wine from the great selection they offer. On this date we came in for a late Saturday dinner. The place offers a menu primarily of tapas and a few large entrees. We started with the Burrata Salad and Spring Garden Salad. Both were delicious! The ingredients were fresh and both were tasty. Next up were the tuna tortilla chips and the octopus and potato dish. Both were tasty and satisfying. We skipped desert due to it being late but, the offerings looked really good. We will save that for the next visit. VF is always reliable dining option in Lafayette Village. Definitely check them out."

SmokeStacks Cafe

★★★★★ 4.8 (94) • $$

"If you don't live in this Oakwood area near downtown, I recommend using a gps to find it as it's an old building in the middle of a charming neighborhood. Or just look for Oakwood Cemetery. Very close. Plenty of street parking.Small building, but they do have indoor and outdoor seating, and service is always terrific. Thankfully they live up to their name, as smoke flavor can be found in many ways. Four of us went for Sunday brunch. Started off by sharing the most delicious little deviled eggs that were pickled, with a dusting of curry. Brilliant!Three of the four of us had the pork hash that comes with poached eggs and hollandaise. Husband chose scrambled eggs on his instead. No one could come close to finishing this rich dish. It's very meaty...lots of pork and sausage over potatoes. Meanwhile I was enjoying the heck out of the most amazing smoked chicken and dumplings. These are not the usual southern ones that are like a thick stew. This version was actually a creamy soup, with chunks of smoked chicken and a few delicate dumplings. Chicken pieces were a bit dry, but the outstanding flavor made up for it.Drinks were good. Great bloody mary, decent moscow mules and really good coffee. Only disappointment for me was the killer looking apple cinnamon donut had an unusual texture and very little flavor."

Uncorked

★★★★☆ 4.2 (85) • $$

"I finally had a chance to check out Uncorked while out on a first date. The location is within a strip mall and right next to a Mexican restaurant. A nice idea for plans for dinner prior or after. The Service and R&B music were excellent here but my date and I find the wine unimpressive. We decided to order 2 flights, so that we could really give everything a fair chance. Riesling is a favorite of mine so I went with that. I also had Chardonnay (not a favorite), red and something similar to Malbec. I only enjoyed the Riesling. This is a very quaint wine shop, there is not a lot of space or seating but it's perfect for just two."

Vita Vite Downtown

★★★★★ 4.6 (98) • $$

"love the vibe here. super relaxing place to chill drink and just be. ahhhh the hummus and cheese straws were good. they have games to play and wonderful comfortable gathering places. what a gorgeous day i had to just rest my bones for a bit while getting some fresh air and sip some wine."

Barcelona Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 4.4 (459) • $$$

"Ordered a Paloma with Tapas; Patatas Bravas (Aka potatoes with sauce) & Gambas Al Ajillo. (Shrimp in butter garlic spicy oil). Good start!Everything came out steaming hot with an awesome presentation. Service at the bar is great. 3 bar tenders that are attentive and focused on the customers. The rest of staff seem to be on their game also. This place does not disappoint. Still one of my favorite places to hit when visiting Raleigh. Cheers!"

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 Kitchen Table at Relish

★★★★☆ 4.4 (106)

"Relish is one of my favorite area restaurants in the Crabtree-Glenwood Station neighborhood. I have never had a poor experience ever. I finally checked off the brunch experience at their sister cafe/bar, The Kitchen Table. Located conveniently next door to Relish, is KT. I read about the vintage board game experience and wanted to check out brunch for myself. A friend and I visited around noon and we were seated immediately by a nice young gentleman and comfortably inside at a booth towards the bar. I enjoy the vintage-country charm of this cafe. Our waitress arrived to greet us immediately and we decided on the Special Caramel Expresso Martini. These were made perfectly. We then decided on shrimp & grits and the montecristo for entrees. Our entrees came out very quickly. I asked that my waffle be cooked to a crisp and the cook delivered. I do not enjoy soggy waffles. I paired my dish with cheese grits. I felt the dishes were good but nothing blew me away. What I did enjoy the most here were the cocktails !!!!! We had to relocate to the bar due to the air conditioner leaking water over my seat and onto the booth from condensation. This was the best thing to happen to us. Zack is the bartender and he was such a wonderful host. He makes inspiring cocktails and is a mad scientist with his creations as well as a great conversationalist. I wanted to try Elijah Craig bourbon for the first time and he made an Apple Butter Bourbon fizz with delicious ginger, this was excellent!!!! We chatted about the Tepuy donuts that they serve on weekends from the famous Tepuy shop. I look forward to visiting for dinner and more of Zack's creative cocktails. We did not play any games this visit, but I intend to next visit and love that it's an option. The southern hospitality was much appreciated."

The Hippo

★★★★☆ 4.4 (5)

"The Hippo is such a cute spot! We stopped in to grab a few glasses of wine and had a fun time. It is small and when we visited they were remodeling the outdoor space since they recently opened in the space previously occupied by SWW. If you are looking for wine to take home they have a small selection. This spot is worth checking out if you are in the area."

Peak Of The Vine

★★★★★ 4.7 (18)

"This is one of my new favorite spots in Apex. This wine bar had a great selection of wine and a good amount of seating available both inside and outside. In addition to wine you can order beer. I liked that the wine options were visible on the board along with the prices. All of the staff members were friendly but we mainly were helped by Kevin and he was awesome. Check out their website and/or social media pages to see what events are going on each day. I (and my husband) can't wait to return."

Coquette Brasserie

★★★★☆ 4 (668) • $$

"Dined here for brunch yesterday and the food and service was nothing short of amazing. The temperature of the place was the only issue we faced as maybe their air wasn't working? Many customers were fanning themselves so it wasn't just my party feeling it. We had the seafood crepe and the quiche du jour and both were delicious! The seafood crepe had fresh shrimp and scallops in a lobster bisque like sauce. The texture and freshness were spectacular and I'll definitely be back to order this dish again. The quiche of the day was a spinach, mushroom, and Gruyère quiche. It was executed beautifully with the silkiest softest egg portion and an expertly cooked crust. Our waiter was attentive and very personable. He mentioned their drinks of the day and I indulged in the iced coffee cocktail. He mentioned he makes suggestions for the new drinks so I assured him the iced coffee one should be on the menu! The amaretto cream on top was so good! I'll definitely be back for more food from this gem, and hopefully the AC issue will be fixed."

Broadsides & Brews

★★★★☆ 4.3 (7)

"Cute Bar meets coffee house feel. They had live music when we went on Friday night and was very busy around 8/9 pm. The bar is very festive with Halloween decor and had one of the best espresso martinis I've ever had. I will say it's not the cheapest drink spot but they do have a nice variety of different craft cocktails."

Caffe Luna

★★★★☆ 3.9 (371)

"DELICIOUS Italian cuisine in the cutest restaurant!I've seen this place so many times, but haven't gotten a chance to visit. My mom was in town for her birthday so I decided it would be a great opportunity to check it out. I made a reservation for a Friday evening through OpenTable. This restaurant is located in downtown Raleigh. Although there is street parking, it is scarce and there's other businesses, bars, and restaurants in the area that also use that parking. There are, however, pay lots and parking decks right across the street and a short walk there. The inside of the restaurant is small, but it really fits the feel and makes it feel more authentic. The menu has great options. They only have beer and wine for the drink menu. We both ordered a glass of wine and were given break and olive oil for dipping. The bread was really good. It was the right temperature and taste. I ordered the Tortelli Crostacci and it was so good. I love good Italian cuisine and this was fresh and flavorful. My mother ordered the Parmigiana di Vitello (Veal Parmigiana) and her meal was great too. The food was fresh and flavorful and cooked well. The prices were reasonable, especially for the quality and quantity of food. I have fallen in love with this place and can't wait to return!"

Vita Vite Midtown

★★★★☆ 4.2 (58) • $$

"Such a cute, trendy wine bar! This spot is fantastic for charcuterie and drinks. I highly recommend for a date night or catching up with friends."

Carpenter Wine Cellar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (13)

"Carpenter Wine Cellar is located in the space previously occupied by Triangle Wine Company Morrisville. I liked that there was more seating available both inside and out. They also had a nice selection of wine and beer to take home. We stopped in to grab two rounds of beer before heading to dinner and had an okay time. The service wasn't the friendliest and it was more of a spot to grab a beer at with the occasional wine tasting. If you plan to purchase beer or wine to take home you have to do it at the front of the store. In the end, we did enjoy our time here."

The Wine Feed

★★★★★ 4.7 (99) • $$

"I'm not usually a wine drinker but I was meeting a colleague after work and I wanted something classy. This is classy.The Wine Feed does have a few folks who come in for post-work wine and they have an excellent selection with a printed menu as well as a bunch of snacks that go well with wine. I chose the not-too-expensive Portuguese red which was from the same winery that I did a tasting of when I was in Porto last year. That was nice to see.Lots of options in by-the-glass or bottles here, not just for enjoying here but also to take for enjoyment later. There are some seats along the windows to watch the Glenwood traffic go by. Street parking.[Review 11679 overall, 1461 of 2019.]"

Eli's Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.1 (28)

"Hubby and I went today to try Eli's Tavern for lunch. The atmosphere is really nice and very inviting. We chose the brisket Philly and the sausage sandwich. Both sandwiches were excellent. The side of fries were abundant and cooked and salted perfectly. We will definitely come back to try other options. Service was good too."

LouElla Wine, Beer & Beverage

★★★★★ 4.8 (25)

"This wine bar was fun. We stopped in to grab a drink, it was a moscato for me and a pinot grigio for my husband. The seating available inside is slim so we stood around since it was too hot to sit outside in the front of the store. If you want to do a wine tasting, there is a small bar area in the back. Now that you've enjoyed your experience it's time to browse the selection to take home. They have a great selection of wine along with a small selection of beer. LouElla is worth checking out if you are in downtown Durham."

Kipos Greek Taverna

★★★★☆ 4 (528) • $$

"Delicious, filling and amazing service!Hidden away in the corner of a strip mall, its easy to miss. However once you get closer you can truly appreciate the quality of this place.They have a ton of outdoor seating, indoor bar seating and many many tables. We had a reservation for a friday night, the table was tight for 6 people close to the entrance. However the food more than made up for it .Our server was super energetic, had amazing suggestions and made us try different things.I got the fruit mocktail, pita platter lamb shank and the baklava. Others got a bunch of different things at the table, safe to say the spanakopita-pie was my absolute favorite.The ambience was just like a greek beach. They had a live singer, and music playing and it was a great night!"