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.

Food and drinks were great. The bone marrow was my favorite thing we ordered. The service was quick…read moreand polite. No complaints

This was our first time going to village tavern…read more It was packed on a weekday afternoon! We got seated very quickly which was a surprise. The food was excellent. Service was great. I heard some people next to us complain about the wait time for their food but given how busy it was, I don't think it was insanely long. We sat on the porch and it was really nice dinner! Will definitely be returning to try other menu options!

My husband and I went to the Village Tavern for dinner and ordered the NY Strip (med rare) and…read moremeatloaf. The NY Strip arrived more than well done, so we told the waitress and she apologized and sent it back to the kitchen. As I was eating the meatloaf, I noticed an off taste and texture. I looked closer and realized it was still pink/slimy/raw! How can meatloaf be raw? It's supposed to be fully cooked first and then grilled. Whoever sliced it from the "loaf" should have noticed it was not cooked before throwing it on the grill! We notified the manager when he came to apologize for the NY strip, so he took the meatloaf back to the kitchen. When the NY Strip came back out, my husband cut into it and it was shiny and purple inside, from top to bottom...absolutely rare. The waitress agreed it was rare and took it back to the kitchen again. When it came out for the third time, it was perfect (third time's a charm, I guess?). The only saving grace was the kind waitress who felt awful about the sub par food. The kitchen put her in an uncomfortable position, but she handled it with grace. We ordered the chocolate torte for dessert and it was very good, but that's the only thing I'd return for.

SmokeStack Cafe (Historic Oakwood - Raleigh) My wife and I…read morechose SmokeStack Cafe for our anniversary lunch, and it turned out to be an excellent choice. After 40 years of marriage, we've learned that a memorable lunch is often better than an expensive dinner. We enjoyed it so much that we decided to write our reviews the same day. Lunch for two came to about $45 plus tax and tip, and included: * Bánh Mì * Shrimp Tacos * House Lemonade * Key Lime Pie Location & Atmosphere SmokeStack Cafe is located in Raleigh's historic Oakwood neighborhood in a beautifully restored former grocery store. The setting is full of charm, both inside and out. There is outdoor seating available, but we chose to sit indoors where the space is open, comfortable, and inviting. Parking is street parking only. On our Juneteenth lunch visit, finding a space was easy, though I suspect many neighborhood residents simply walk over. The Food The Bánh Mì was outstanding. The bread was a true French baguette, fresh, crisp, and clearly high quality. The sandwich was generously filled with flavorful pork, more than we have received at most places serving bánh mì. It came with a large portion of well-seasoned French fries. The Shrimp Tacos featured three tacos on corn tortillas. The shrimp portion was generous, and the accompanying sauce added plenty of flavor without overwhelming the seafood. The House Lemonade was tart, refreshing, and exactly what I wanted on a warm afternoon. For dessert, we shared a slice of house-made Key Lime Pie. It was a generous serving with a bright, tangy lime flavor and a graham cracker crust that had a subtle hint of cinnamon. A wonderful finish to the meal. Service Service was warm, knowledgeable, and attentive throughout our visit. In a fun personal touch, our server told us he had made the key lime pie himself Overall What impressed me most was how diverse and eclectic the menu is. The food felt thoughtful and well executed, the setting was charming, and the service was first-rate. SmokeStack Cafe delivered exactly the kind of memorable lunch we hoped for on our anniversary, and we're already looking forward to coming back and exploring more of the menu.

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!

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.

It's not every day you get to dine in a former mortuary. Eating solo, I opted for a seat at the…read morebar, which turned out to be the right decision. While the food left me somewhat underwhelmed, the cocktails were exceptional, among the best I've had in recent memory. The standout was the Over/Under, a beet-infused gin take on a Negroni. Absolutely phenomenal. The earthy beet notes were subtle but present, complementing the bitterness of the Campari, the floral qualities of the gin, and just enough sweetness to tie everything together. Every cocktail I tried was excellent, but this was the clear winner. As for the food, it never quite reached the same heights. The beef tartare was the best dish I had all evening. In fact, I found myself enjoying it more on the accompanying sourdough bread than on the rice crisps it was served with, which ultimately justified ordering the bread. The "pickled egg yolk" was an inventive twist, essentially replacing both the raw egg and cornichons found in a traditional French tartare. Clever in concept, but the pickling process seemed to sacrifice some of the creamy richness that the dish could have benefited from. The rice crisp accompaniment is also part of a trend I've noticed at several restaurants and one I'm not particularly sold on. They're usually too brittle to hold much tartare and often end up scattered across the plate. I find they work better crushed into the tartare itself than as a delivery vehicle. The oysters were the biggest disappointment of the meal. Heavily drenched in butter, they felt one-dimensional, with the lemon zest providing the only real counterbalance. To be fair, this is likely intended as a shared dish, and as a solo diner consuming the entire portion myself, the richness may have become more pronounced than intended. The gnocchi delivered deep, satisfying flavor and were impressively light, though perhaps a touch too soft for my personal preference. As I glanced over at the roast chicken being served to the couple next to me, a sense of ordering regret began to creep in. What ultimately elevates Death & Taxes is its hospitality. The service was genuinely five-star. Every dish was explained thoughtfully as it was delivered, and the bar team struck that perfect balance of attentiveness and conversation, making a solo diner feel completely welcome. Their warmth and professionalism raised this experience from a three-star meal to a four-star evening. And they are all 5 star.

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 : )

Had dinner here last night for the 1st time. It was a great experience. We had reservations so…read morewe got seated quickly. Food was delicious, waitress was very nice and attentive. My husband got the special pan seared sea bass and said it was amazing. (Only negatives are Music was a bit loud and it was hard to hear the conversation and they say us near the front door so it was a bit cold when the door opened).

Great lunch spot with a terrific menu. Came here for a work…read morelunch and enjoyed a seasonal salad with blackened salmon and it hit the spot! My friend got the Caesar salad with blackened shrimp and we split an order of fries. Everything looked and tasted delicious. Staff was super friendly and I will definitely be back!

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.

3.5 rounded up to 4. Southern cuisine. Service was good. Chicken salad was good. Next time I will…read moretry the Southern Caesar salad instead though. Love the idea of the fried grit croutons. Nice business lunch spot if you work nearby and you'd like to sit and chat in a business casual setting away from the parking chaos of downtown Raleigh. But I will say getting to and out of this shopping center was a bit confusing due to the service road. Parking was limited.