One of my all time favorite places! Love the bagels and all of the homemade goodies. Don't pass on…read morethe pickle!! It's incredible. {{{*.*}}

Great bagels. Being able to order ahead (but not weekends) is a huge plus…read more The counter folks are always courteous and very pleasant. 13 for 12 is always nice (a bakers dozen). They have good bakery goods and their coffee cake is amazing.

I've been a regular benchwarmer customer for a years now and they are one of my favorite breakfast…read moreplaces in Raleigh, but there are some things you should know before going. Their bagels are wood fired so they're not your traditional style of bagels and are a bit harder and chewier. Their variety of cream cheese flavors is what really sets them apart in my opinion - they very dense and creamy. They also have a very unique menu with many different seasonal offerings that rotate frequently. Over the years, I've fine tuned down my order to a couple things each of which I think are 10/10 and some of the best breakfast options in Raleigh! - Grits bagel with dulce pecan or fruit cream cheese (I prefer the grits bagel over plain) - Poppy bagel with spiced honey cream cheese (warning the poppy bagel can be a little messy but worth it) - Breakfast sandwich with sausage and American cheese (sausage is the best - a little sweet and spicy) Every time I go, the staff is always very nice and provides quick service. It can be busy during the mornings and weekends, however they do offer online ordering where you can easily pick up your food and avoid the lines. This location is in transfer food hall, which has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, however they also have a new standalone location that recently opened. If you go to that location, I definitely recommend trying the coconut caramel latte!

This is the cutest little coffee/bagel shop. I loved the sports themed and there was plenty of…read moreseating. I ordered the chicken salad bagel and it was AMAZING. I loved the spice I got from the hot honey but the savory taste of the chicken. The service was super quick and the staff was super helpful!

A Truly Artisanal Bakery…read more I rarely leave reviews on yelp anymore, but this bakery is so impressive, it inspired me to type this down. I'm from the Bay Area and loved going to all kinds of bakery when I travel. I did not have much expectations when I came to Raleigh. I tried Paul and Jack and couple other bakeries, they were all good, but not impressive. The first thing I noticed was their Mill Room, and second I noticed that they have 100 score on hygiene. Not that I care about the score that much but still impressive. Then We got a bunch of pastries, the shortbread was the first one we tried and wow, it was so simple yet so flavorful, truly malted tasting shortbread, it has so much depth in taste. Then I had a had a ham and cheese croissant, it was on the salty side but I kept eating it when I'm not even hungry. The true winner though, is the plain croissant I got which traveled with me for 72 hours back home. I got it out of my bag, slightly flattened by all my stuff, I expect it to taste flat and meh. I put it in the oven for 6 minutes and it turned out to be the best croissant I've had. It was flaky, soft and soo flavorful. Now I cannot stop thinking about it. Lastly, I want to say that with so many pop ups, new bakeries coming up in different cities, often times we were chasing that unique flavors, that special toppings on croissants, but Boulted Bread stayed true to bread, and perfected the craft without focusing on "exotic" or "special" flavors. I truly respect this.

The same ownership as Benchwarmer Bagels. They really know bread. I got here at almost closing…read moretime, and I wish that I had come earlier because almost everything was sold out. I got: 1. A bialy (bee-AH-lee) is a traditional Polish-Jewish bread roll, similar to a bagel but with key differences: it is baked, not boiled, has a dimpled center filled with onion bits and poppy seeds, and is generally softer and less dense. Originating in Białystok, Poland, these rolls are traditionally served plain or toasted with toppings like butter or schmear. 2. Rye shortbread. Not too sweet. Just perfection! 3. Bran biscotti. I like the idea of a high-fiber bran biscotti over a refined flour one. 4. Buchi Tepache. I got the mango-pineapple flavor. This is a local NC brand. It's a mildly fermented drink that originated in Mexico. I got the ingredients from their website (drinkbuchi.com): Organic Tibicos (Water, Organic Fair Trade Certified™* Cane Sugar, Organic Kefir Culture), Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Mango Puree, Organic Pineapple Juice Concentrate, Organic Whole Lemon Puree, Organic Mango Natural Flavor, Organic Pineapple Natural Flavor, Organic Monk Fruit Extract. 5. The baguette. Unlike a refined flour white bread baguette at La Farm Bakery, this one is made of a red wheat flour. Turkey Red flour is an heirloom, organic hard red winter wheat brought to Kansas in 1873 by Mennonite immigrants. Prized for its rich, nutty flavor and superior baking qualities, it is often used for artisan bread, sourdough, and pasta due to its unique, sometimes more digestible, gluten profile. It is commonly stone-ground and available from local Kansas millers. 6. The star of the show was the Everything Croissant. Like the Everything Bagel but soft and buttery. Topped with all the sesame seeds and seasonings with a cream cheese interior. So good! I do plan on returning!

I tried this place out for the first time today with my daughter before an appointment she had in…read morethe area and all I can say is WOW!!! We were both pleasantly surprised and happy. The staff/owners were so nice, friendly, and welcoming. The decor was cool! My daughter loved all of the NY pictures and decorations! I had the Asiago bagel with scallion bacon cream cheese and she had the cinnamon sugar bagel with cinnamon sugar cream cheese. Let me tell you, the bagels were toasted PERFECTLY and the helping of cream cheese was very generous and well worth the money! This was hands down the BEST bagel and cream cheese I have ever had - and that's saying a lot! It was so fresh and tasty! If she hadn't had an appointment afterwards I would have bought some more to take home! We can't wait go back!

Fantastic service, from the cashier to the owner. Service…read morewith a smile, great food as well. Thanks!! Will be back!

Love the variety, the staff working the cleaning were quick but the tables are extremely sticky. I…read moredon't know if this is from the clear coat on the table or it was just lack of cleaning solution. You have so many options, it's a great place for all pallets and food restrictions. Lots of room inside and outside the building. Each place we ordered from had amazing staff. All were very sweet and each place offered a military discount, except one but that's because we forgot to ask not because they don't. Great place for groups or get together with friends. Parking is hard to find but otherwise great experience. They also have an art vending machine. So cool.

Love the variety and the lunch vibe of this food court/hall. Lots of good options if you want to…read moremeet for lunch and have friends who like different cuisines. You can dine inside or out. There is also a bar at one of the establishments (not sure about hours). There is even a cookie shop! :-) Some people mentioned that they ordered food and then headed to the Burial Beer next door but I haven't checked that venue out yet.

This downtown Raleigh stop really came through when I was craving a breakfast sandwich!!! LOL…read more The staff was very friendly. Service was prompt. It's a small space but there's plenty of outdoor seating (and I believe there is additional indoor seating next door). Loved my bacon, egg, and cheese croissant! Added a nice fruit salad too. Just love the vibe of this part of downtown Raleigh!

The morning times was a weekly if not daily staple in my life for 10+ years, after moving away from…read morethe city 3 years ago, every time I would come into Raleigh it would be my first stop and it would always feel like home seeing the same familiar faces every time. This morning, I walked in and saw not one familiar face there, and I've come to learn all the staff walked out simultaneously weeks ago. After getting to know many of the staff over the years of frequenting there, anything to make every staff member walk out at the same time has to be big enough to leave a sour taste in your mouth. Am truly sad to see such a Raleigh staple not see the value in the community their staff created. Cheers to Joe, Brennan, Brett, amber, and all of the others past a present (shout out Tim and Casey and Jackie!) for their place in our lives over all of these years! If you are looking for a coffee nearby, jubala (pendo), black & white (videri), heirloom are all great options (and sir Walter coffee and 42 & Lawrence are decent and close)

I think its a cute little spot to stop by! Ive worked remotely here a few times and its been a…read moresmooth experience each time! The staff is very friendly and their coffees are good. I recently found a hair baked in in my blueberry banana bread and the cashier was quick to rectify this w the option of refund/replacement. Their bakery desserts are beautiful but they aesthetics are as far as my compliments go for them. I tried the strawberry raspberry cheesecake and majority of it was gelatin and chocolate. Didnt taste any cheesecake. Maybe their other items are better! The GOAT is yummy but felt very skimpy on the toppings. I wouldnt say their food is their strong suit here.

Dropped off and picked up dry cleaning at the dry cleaners on the corner of Fairview and Oberlin…read more(see my reviews for "Drive-Thru Cleaners and Shoe Repair"). Since I was so close, an Idle Hour had 30 minutes until closing, I thought I would go in for a Iced Chai Latte--one of my favorites--I love the way Isle Hour makes it, FLAVOR TOWN! Even though it was 30 degrees outside, I still ordered the Iced Chai Tea Latte. I knew that I would be very comfortable in their lounge area. After I ordered, I saw the Hot Chocolate Bomb at the countered. I asked the staff member about it and ordered that also. The Hot Chocolate Bomb is the BOMB --Delicious! I drank my Chai Latte after and was not disappointed. Staff is great--friendly and enthusiastic. Atmosphere very homey.

Always enjoy a new to us coffee shop when traveling. Iris is a great little place. Interior is…read moremostly white which provides great light even on a rainy day. They have outside seating on the sidewalk as well which makes it fun to people watch. You have to come down stairs to enter, which was not a problem for us, but made me wonder about those who might have trouble. Is there another entrance? The service was great. Super friendly and quick. Had the cortado as it is my go to drink when trying a new spot. The beans are more on the fruity side .... I prefer chocolate or vanilla note beans. But it was lovely and hit the spot. Served in a glass which I love!

Incredible coffee, and I loved the aesthetic! I got the strawberry creme latte (hot version), and…read moreit was fantastic! My partner got the iced version--which was somehow even better than the warm version. I don't like my coffee drinks too sweet, and they struck exactly the right balance. It tasted like there was real strawberry (and not just a super-sweet syrup). Unlike many coffee shops, they gave us a number to bring to our table, so we didn't need to stand around and wait for our coffee to be ready. Instead, they brought it to our table for us. This was such a nice touch! There's a good amount of seating inside, but we sat outside since it was such a nice day. Can't wait to go back & try an iced americano or drip coffee to try out some of their different roasts.