One of our favorite casual date night spots! There is a wide variety of different dishes on the…read moremenu, but we loved the bruschetta boards. We tried 8 different ones, and all were excellent! The pesto and salami one was my favorite. The inside of the restaurant is pretty dimly lit, but we didn't mind and it helped create a cozy atmosphere. The outdoor patio looked nice and could be a good option for daytime. Our waitress was very attentive and let us know about the seasonal specials. They have a board and wine deal on weekday nights that we're looking to try next. Would definitely recommend for a fun night out in the Village District with friends or a date!

Another Arizona staple that made its way to North Carolina! My husband and I stopped in here for a…read morequick bite on a Friday night before a concert. I have been to Postino many times before, but this was my first time at the Raleigh location. While it's been 4 years since I've had Postino and the menu has changed a little, the bruschetta board is still a permanent fixture. We ordered a bruschetta board for an appetizer and I ordered the half panini & half salad for my entree. The bruschetta board is a must order because you can get 4 different kinds. The top tier choice is the salami pesto one. It's my absolute favorite. For my panini, I got the caprese one on ciabatta bread and the half of the mixed greens salad. The salad was delicious. This was a ton of food and felt very satisfying. I always love the vibe of Postino's, but this location was way too dark with only a small candle at the table. Service started off good and we were able to order our food without a problem. However, our server was done with his shift right after we ordered so we got a new server. Our new server had no idea we already ordered and was a little behind coming to our table for water refills. Despite that, we were in and out of the restaurant within 45 minutes. Postino is surrounded by other shops and restaurants, so they had a ton of parking available outside the restaurant. Highly recommend this place if you want good food!

Fantastic spot to grab a nice meal. It's on the more intimate side, so definitely make a…read morereservation during peak times. Was really impressed by the hospitality of the bartender Toulson (spelling?). He was super friendly, knowledgeable, and gave me detailed recommendations. -- The Hamachi Crudo was so bright and light. I really enjoyed the puffed rice on top and the basil ice complemented the dish well. The grapefruit added some nice acidity and the little crunchy bites were the perfect texture contrast. The pieces of fish were large and thick. -- The Manchego-herb Biscuits were awesome. One order comes with four small biscuits. Crust was flaky, the inside was soft and moist, and the flaky salt was the cherry on top. -- The Seared Duck Breast was phenomenal. The duck was juicy and tender and salted well. The skin was thick, sooo flavorful, and melted in your mouth but I would've liked a little more crispiness on the outside. I enjoyed the mix of fresh vegetables and warm cooked vegetables served with the dish. -- The Lemon Yuzu Tart was a nice bright and rich dessert. The tartness comes from the jam on top of the tart but it doesn't overwhelm the dish. The creme brulee style top was a nice touch. The buttermilk ice cream was more on the icier side than creamy. I really enjoyed all the dishes I tried here and am looking forward to my next visit.

Crawford and Son serves very tasty food in a modern diner atmosphere and attentive service…read more Although not a breakfast place, their famous biscuits are a great opener - so flaky and buttery with manchego cheese that adds deep, sharp flavor and a moist yumminess. I enjoyed the duck breast, with a crunch tasty dried beet topping. The duck was moist and tender and the strips were nicely roasted. For dessert, I savored the Dark Chocolate Ganache Cake. This is a rich cake with a full chocolate flavor. When I'm next in Raleigh, I plan to dine at Crawford and Son for a superb meal.

Took my parents to a celebratory dinner last night and had the BEST night. Our server, Sierra, was…read moreso sweet and accommodating. After telling her our preferences, she recommended the short ribs and shrimp Hemingway (DELICIOUS), and my dad is still talking about how good the short ribs were today. Great food, better service, can't wait to go back!

Amazing service. We were seated right away. Server "Alex" was very attentive…read more Plenty of drink options available. Very casual ambiance. A great spot for groups and couples. My wagyu steak was perfectly cooked. A perfect dinner spot if ever in Raleigh.

Smokestacks was such a pleasant find! Tucked away in a neighborhood. The exterior completely threw…read moreus off from the magic we were about to experience inside. We called ahead to see if they were busy and get an idea of their wait times as we needed to have a quick lunch. Upon arrival, the very friendly server status quickly and made sure to get our order and as quick as possible. The menu looked interesting and fun, but we were both blown away when our food came. Everything made to order, freshly cooked. Deep built-up flavors, the kind of cooking that takes hours to prepare. You could feel the love that went into this food. We will absolutely be back We shared a braised beef sandwich and an oxtail soup. I'm salivating writing this review, I can't give it enough praises. You must try it. So excited to go back and try the rest of the menu.. This place is a foodie dream!

Smokestacks is a locally owned restaurant tucked away in the Oakwwood Neighborhood. The menu…read morechanges almost everyday and you will always fond something good to eat. The staff is very friendly and the service is great. This time we tried the seared scallops along with their chicken wings and fries. The scallops were seared perfectly and had a great flavor. You can pick from a variety of flavors of chicken wings. We got the buffalo garlic and the hot honey mustard. Both flavors were really good. My favorite was the garlic buffalo. Definitely worth checking it out and support a local business. It does get busy on the weekends.

Wow, this might be one of the best restaurants in Raleigh! I stopped in for a business dinner and…read morewas really excited to finally try one of Ashley Christensen's restaurants. Parking can be a bit challenging as you'll either need to find street parking or in a open lot near by. The restaurant itself is located in a historic building that once was a funeral home and also was also a tax practice in a different chapter. The restaurant feels very upscale but there isn't a strict dress code. The kitchen is open as well if yo prefer to sit along the kitchen and watch the chefs cook. When you order you'll have to place everything at the same time but they'll pace it out to your table. For drinks, I ordered the In Gold Blood (Bourbon, amaro, Fino sherry, banana, golden raisin) and the head in the clouds (Vodka, Falernum, strawberry, pistachio). Both drinks were excellent and extremely easy to drink. You'll definitely want to start with the sourdough bread, NC Oysters (Roasted NC oysters, chili butter, preserved lemon gremolata), and fried NC shrimp (Fried NC shrimp, buried garlic aioli, pickled green tomatoes). All of the appetizers were excellent in their own way. The bread and butter just complemented each other so well, the oysters were well balanced and almost seared where they weren't chargrilled but partially still raw, and the fried nc shrimp has a nice contrast of flavor with the pickled green tomatoes and fried shrimp. For the entree we split the Prime-aged Delmonico (ribeye; and was served in a red wine jus, and topped with sea salt and peppercorn). The steak fell apart as you bit into it. For sides, we ordered the crispy potatoes (Crispy potatoes, Italian chili crisp, piquillo peppers) and Brussel sprouts (Embered Brussels sprouts, apples, lardon vinaigrette, almonds). The steak and potatoes were definitely my favorite. The Brussel sprouts were good but a bit on the salad side where they were still a little hard. For dessert, we ordered the cheesecake (Basque cheesecake, strawberry compote, olive oil shortbread) and the Sticky Toffee Pudding (Sticky toffee pudding, embered vanilla ice cream, benne seed brittle). The sticky toffee pudding was so warm and was excellent. The cheesecake also had a nice balance of flavor and the strawberry compote combination worked perfectly. This is by far one of my favorite meals I've had in Raleigh and you definitely need to go here if you are in the area.

I recently moved to Raleigh, so I decided to come here after work…read more This place is fantastic! From the moment I entered, the hostesses, servers, and bartenders made me feel like it was all about me. The roasted oysters were succulent. The steak tartare was sublime. The bartender made me the best cocktail I have ever had. This will be my go-to place.

This restaurant has been at the top of my list of places to try for quite awhile. It is…read moreconsistently listed as one of the best restaurants in the area but they don't take reservations! Our group of 4 showed up on a Wednesday evening at 5:30 and got seated immediately. We ordered their bread and butter, roasted bone marrow, scallops, ribeye steak, pork belly, fried oysters, and desserts. Everything was amazing!! Service was outstanding!

Wonderful meal on the outside patio which was a treat before summer heat sets in…read more Starters were very good: bread and butter (WOW!), tuna, gem salad (WOW!) Tagliatelle with mint and bread crumbs....the crunch was welcome but the mint was not for me. Service was perfect. Drinks were fine. We will be back : )

I have been to Northside Bistro a few times, with girlfriends, family etc…read more Last night was date night and we just wanted something a little more top tier from the kitchen. I say this because Northside Bistro never disappoints on service and also with food. Thank you Chef John Scarangella! I will say, every single time I go, they seat us in that enclosed porch area at the exact same table. it a little funny. I even went with 7 ladies last year and we were in the same area, bigger table. It would be nice to sit inside of the main dining room one of these days. last night we had great service as usual and the food was amazing. We had the fried artichokes and the Octopus Bravas which we did not take pictures of because we gobbled that down it was so good. My husband had short ribs and grits, we shared a salad which was the Warm Goat Cheese Salad, and I had a special which I think was called Flounder Ettoufee. Everything single thing was amazing and of coursed I will go back, thanks for asking lol. You should go too!

The biggest win for me was the happy hour oysters. We made it in before 6 pm and took advantage of…read morethe $1 oyster special, ordering a dozen. They were fresh, enjoyable, and an excellent value. If you're visiting during happy hour, they're a must order. The rest of the meal was generally solid. I ordered the sautéed shrimp and pasta, but it came out with pesto instead of the tomato sauce listed on the menu, which was a bit surprising. It wasn't bad, just different than expected. We also tried the pork chop, which was slightly dry, while the ahi tuna was very well prepared and one of the better dishes we ordered. Service was decent throughout the meal, and the atmosphere was relaxed. Overall, a good restaurant with some standout items, but not quite enough consistency across the board for a five-star rating. I'd return, especially for those oysters.

This is one of those spaces that does half the work before the food even hits the table. It used to…read morebe an old-school diner, and a lot of that DNA is still there. The bones feel nostalgic, but the overall vibe is current and lively. It's the kind of place that feels familiar but still cool. Service Service is where things really clicked. Our server knew the menu inside out and guided us through it with confidence. Every recommendation landed. It also felt like one of those menus where it would be hard to order poorly. The Food The menu leans comfort food with a modern edge, and it's done really well across the board. We started with a Caesar salad with dill pickle dressing, which sounds like it shouldn't work but absolutely does. Bright, fresh, and just different enough to be interesting without trying too hard. The beet salad was also excellent, clean flavors and well balanced. Then came the pimento cheese with fried crackers. This might have been the sleeper hit. The crackers are dangerously good. Simple idea, executed perfectly, and hard to stop eating. For mains, the fried chicken was solid but didn't stand out the same way the starters did. The short rib pot pie, on the other hand, was exactly what you want from a dish like that. Rich, flaky, and deeply comforting. Overall Poole's is the kind of place where everything feels considered, from the space to the service to the food. It's approachable, well executed, and very easy to enjoy.

Our second visit for dinner at Poole's since relocating to downtown Raleigh last year. We were just…read moreas impressed on this recent visit as we were a few months ago. We opted for a reservation at the bar, and we enjoyed excellent service from Brittany and Kylie. They were attentive and very detailed with the excellent service that we have found out is the norm in every one of Ashley Christensen's restaurants. Our starter of roasted beets had an incredible blend of buttermilk blue cheese with white balsamic thyme, pickled pumpkin, and Marcona almonds. So yummy. Then my husband and I shared the Ricotta Gnocchi that we agree is the BEST gnocchi we have ever had the privilege of eating. So light in spite of a duck bolognese being the sauce. Fried rosemary sparked my home chef mind for future meals! We also shared the Brussels sprout upon Brittany's recommendation. One of the most unique preparations on Brussels sprouts ever with oyster mushrooms and a sherry cream sauce. We typically pass on dessert, but the description of their Pear Tart Tatin coupled with Kylie's verbal description hooked us and we were thrilled to enjoy every bite of the hazelnut praline ice cream that is part of this beautiful dessert.

Still loving this spot! I haven't been back in a while but Doug was a wonderful server and the food…read morewas fantastic. I highly recommend the filet/ fried oyster combo and the street corn dip appetizer.

First time here. Pretty good overall. Had tuna appetizer - cucumber pickles were the best/awesome…read moretouch; you can leave out the puffy rice tho. I had filet w/creamed spinach & gruyere - that side alone was great! Filet was pretty good too. Husband had short ribs- bit too dry unfortunately. Good meal overall for a first time visit. Would visit again if in Raleigh

We were back at Foxcroft Food & Wine this weekend. A second, third, or fourth trip is usually a…read moregood sign. The North Hills spot ( 4421 Six Forks Road in Raleigh, beside Total Wine) feels settled in the best way. Comfortable, Welcoming, Cozy. We started slowly. A wine flight. Truffle fries with truffle aioli, parmesan, oregano. Marinated olives layered with citrus and herbs. Nothing too over the top, but generous and satisfying. The kinds of plates you keep reaching for without realizing it. For dinner, we had the the NY Strip (North Carolina pasture-raised Angus with Diane sauce and a French onion potato gratin). And the roasted whole fish (with hazelnut gremolata, citrus beurre blanc, and confit sunchoke). Both cooked to perfection, nothing missing, and absolutely delicious. What stuck with us the most htough, the service. Ben and Oscar were sharp, attentive, and present without being overbearing. They made the evening feel even more incredible. Some places try hard to impress - Foxcroft Food & Wine just delivers (time and time again).

Foxcroft is located in the North Hills area. Once we arrived we were seated right away. I loved the…read moredecor in the restaurant with multiple wine bottles on display. The business was clean and there is also a bar inside. The restaurant has a large selection of wines and offers flights for purchase. The restaurant had some people dining in but they were not overly packed. Initially our server was pleasant and attentive. I got a blood orange sparkling water. It was ok. I ordered the whipped ricotta for an appetizer to share and a burger with fries for my entree. The whipped ricotta was ok. It would taste better with some sort of seasoning in it. My fries were served hot but needed some salt. I asked for my burger to be cooked well done but I was brought a burnt burger. I took one bite but it was too overcooked. I then requested that my server have my burger be cooked medium well so I didn't get another burnt burger. When my burger was brought back out, our server had me cut into my burger to make sure it was to my liking. The preparation was better but it was bland and tasted like there wasn't any seasoning on it. After this our server wasn't as attentive anymore. For dessert we got the donuts. They were served warm and I enjoyed them with the cherry sauce. I did not like the chocolate sauce that was served with the donuts.