Side Street Restaurant

Cute little place in residential area of Oakwood. I looked at the menu beforehand and because it was sandwiches assumed it might be counter service. It is not -- you are seated at white tablecloth tables and have a server. There was no mention of gluten free bread on the menu so I had settled on having a salad. When the waitress came to take our order I asked if they had gf bread and she said they did so I ended up switching to a turkey sandwich with a side of the corn, pea and bean salad. My sandwich was good. Having a sandwich is always a treat when you are GF. The bread was dense and a little nutty. However, some of the other sandwiches I saw come out looked amazing and I wish I'd had more time to peruse the menu and decide on a more exciting sandwich. In other words, they should list their GF bread on the menu with the other bread choices. Corn/pea/bean salad side was good -- tasted like a Texas caviar. Both my friends ordered the oriental chicken salad and it looked really good. Service was spotty but one waitress was taking care of the whole place. Atmosphere was cool in an old building with high ceilings and lots of light. Seems to be a popular place with the older crowd. Glad I gave it a try. Will try a more adventurous sandwich next time.

Conceived by the visionary restaurateur Caroline Ayres, this charming corner cafe came into existence in 1978, introducing a fresh approach to quality, farm-to-table ingredients for the local community.Specializing exclusively in lunch service, Side Street has maintained many of its original menu offerings over the years. Classics like The Camel Rider, David's Raving Reuben, California Gold, Hot Sicilian, and The Hawaiian have endured, serving as a testament to the cafe's initial mission of providing expertly crafted, made-to-order gourmet sandwiches in what was once a culinary desert within Historic Oakwood.One noticeable absence from the current menu is the legendary fudge pie, which used to be sourced from a neighboring family-run bakery. This delectable, creamy, and rich chocolate dessert used to attract long lines of patrons, reflecting the cafe's appeal to local business professionals seeking efficient yet exceptional dining experiences. Today, Mary Lu Wooten, the current owner, has preserved much of the cafe's original lunchtime legacy while expanding into dinner offerings.Side Street is not only renowned for its original cuisine but also for its unique ambiance. The cafe's interior is adorned with antique and vintage items, creating a cozy and eclectic atmosphere where neighbors gather to socialize and savor delicious meals. The historic decor originates from the antique shop Circa 1776, which was founded by the cafe's original owner on the same side street a few years prior. If you yearn for a nostalgic visit to a quaint, homely cafe that gained popularity long before the days of TikTok and Instagram, Side Street is the ideal destination. It continues to proudly feature a variety of original sandwich creations that carved a culinary niche in downtown Raleigh over 40 years ago.My personal favorite? The California Gold--a delightful, creamy concoction brimming with farmers market vegetables, offering a truly unique and satisfying flavor.May Side Street endure for many years to come, preserving its rich culinary heritage.

Stumbled upon this little cafe while looking for lunch traveling through Raleigh. The outside is cute, with a large mural painted across the side. The inside has character, both good and bad. The good: original paintings and artwork which I presume have been there since the day it opened some 40+ years ago. The bad: peeling paint, chipped woodwork and stains on the ceiling with tiles at risk of falling down which again, probably haven't been touched since the day they opened.The menu has some salads, but the main focus is the several different sandwich options. I tried the namesake, Side Street Sub which comes with turkey, ham, salami, and provolone cheese with Italian dressing, and a side of pasta salad.The sub was good and I liked how the meat was sliced thick, which made it seem more hearty. The pasta salad had good flavoring, but the pasta was a bit over cooked.

I had never been to this gem before. It is located in the Oakwood section of Downtown Raleigh. A group of us stopped for lunch after a walking house tour of the Oakwood architecture. This restaurant was in the perfect location for us.Parking is off street. The restaurant has two rooms and is cozy. The room we dined in had an upper section so there were some steps involved. It was full when we arrived so I couldn't get any photos as I will not take photos of those dining without their permission. The menu is very large so there is something on there for everyone. The menu has salads and sandwiches. The sandwiches can be ordered a la carte or with a side. There were many sides too so if you decided on the entree then you need to decide on the side. Lots of dessert choices too!!!!Service is not the fastest here but that is not a negative. The restaurant is welcoming and you are not rushed. There is one waiter and one lady making the food. The food is amazing too!!! I could tell that most of those dining were regulars as they were addressed by name. I can see why they come back again and again.I couldn't decide what to order and then I saw the Split Personality on the menu so I was able to try two sandwiches!!! I had tuna salad in a pita and chicken salad. I went with the pea and bean salad for the side. Although that had too much dressing for me. I would have liked just the peas and beans without the vinegar.The Seven Layer Bar was on the menu so I had to order that as I love those and hadn't had one in so long. It came as a sundae and the Seven Later Bar was warmed with vanilla ice cream on top, tons of chocolate drizzle and whip cream. It was huge but oh so very good.I will definitely be back to this gem in Raleigh!

Lovely place for breakfast, lunch, or brunch. We stopped here for lunch on a weekday afternoon. The parking lot behind the restaurant is not theirs so we parked on the street (free). We did not have a reservation, but were seated shortly after arrival. The restaurant is small and has two dining areas. The sandwich line is located by the entrance and I am guessing the rest of the kitchen is in the back. We were seated in the front room. Not as fancy as the back room, but closer to the bathrooms and sandwich line. Service was quick at first, but significantly slowed as our meal progressed. The sandwiches are phenomenal, especially the Betsy Buford. They are packed with ingredients and made quickly and accurately. Upon finishing our sandwiches, we perused the dessert menu hung on the wall behind us. We regret ordering dessert since it wasn't the best and it took forever to arrive. Our meal was about 2 hrs long and should have taken an hour. The waiter serving us was friendly and enthusiastic. Unfortunately he seemed to be handling too many tasks. The key lime pie would have been better if served cold. Room temperature melting key lime pie is not good. The bread pudding was...different. Gingerbread and peppermint bread pudding were available, gingerbread was requested. The bread pudding was dark and sat in a pool of something. At first we thought it was butter, but upon tasting it realized it was possibly a butterscotch syrup. Overall, we enjoyed our meal. If you go, I recommend picking a sandwich and skipping the dessert.

Side Street is a must visit if you are in DTR. The menu is simple, it's salads, sandwiches with various sides and desserts. My husband and I dined in for lunch, it was the Avocado Crush On You... Sweetie Pie! (I chose turkey but there are other options available) with pasta salad for me and the Let's Horse Around with pasta salad for my husband. Dessert is a must order. We chose the bread pudding with caramel bourbon sauce and it was amazing. I highly recommend this spot.

The food was meh...Service was to be desired for. With such glowing reviews, expectations were high.We ordered two bowls of soup, confirmed the order and one quiche.Something that was already pre-made from earlier in the day. But took nearly 30min for food to arrive. And when it did, were given soup cups instead. Overall taste was just ok.Overall service was very slow. The bill came within 10seconds of the food, which as mentioned earlier was already delayed. One can understand if the soup was being made during our wait. But no, it was barely lukewarm at arrival. $10 for a piece of just ok quiche seemed a rip off.Would not return for a second visit.

Convenient to the state archives (only 3 blocks away) this quiet restaurant serves lunches and dinners with a side of southern hospitality. Expect a lengthy sandwich menu at midday, with plain as well as many elaborate options. Whatever you do, save room for dessert: I will personally vouch for the lemon chess pie (worth returning for).

All of the above were excellent! We were so happy to find this place! It's a historic building and very inviting inside! The food was delicious!

This little gem is a must-try for anyone near the science museum, gov mansion, mordecai - it's awesome. Great menu with so many options, back-in-time atmosphere where you feel like you're in someone's home. Awesome desserts and pies, SO GOOD!