Had a delicious meal at Chef's Palette. I opted for the chicken dancers which was delicious. Good portions of everything and the crust on the chicken was perfect, not overbearing. Our service was great and there were not many other people dining that night so the waitress was able to be very attentive. Neat interior as well and they had a very interesting wine mural which I enjoyed looking at. Not too bad on the wallet either for what you get! read more

Chef's Palette Restaurant & Bar - Chicken Francese - New American Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

I have been enjoying weekend meals with friends at this restaurant for years and years. Friday night - - August 27, 2026 - - we had dinner there and I could not believe the changes. I ordered my favorite-- Fish & Chips-- almost no french fries, and french fries cost nothing to serve. The fish was in tiny little pieces, and I was used to large chunks of delicious batter-fried white fish. And what most people would not care about - - the coleslaw - - I look forward to it at chefs pallet. The serving was not even 2 tablespoons. yes - - I should have brought it to the attention of the server. But who does that? It was just a side/condiment-- coleslaw. AND-- it was literally just shaved cabbage - - it really didn't even have any dressing or other ingredients. One friend ordered the special which was $55. It was a fillet, mashed potatoes, and roasted brussels sprouts. OK that's fine - - but in my opinion, any meal that cost $55 should have a salad as part of it as well. She did not complain - - but I just could not believe at how it really seems like CP is skimping from the level of generous portions that are signature at that restaurant. The friend who ordered this - - she lives in Morrisville and particularly looks forward to chef's pallet because it has always been superior to restaurants she is used to in Cary/Morrisville. Very sad to see CP dropping the standards that I have been used to for years. read more

I think we hit them on a bad night We ordered filet Medium. The first one was rare second one was too cooked and the third one was perfect. It was a busy night with a party in the back. I will try them again. It was good and the salad was amazing. I do recommend trying local places. So let me know what you think." read more

Excellent service! We had the best waitress last night. She was friendly, patient and the perfect level of attentive. We started off with a round of drinks, I had wine and my husband had the Mexican Herbalist (delicious). For dinner, we had the special of the day (steak frites) and the short rib. Both were good. The steak was cooked as ordered medium), but didn't hold heat well, as it was a little cool when it arrived. We ended the night with the Apple Gallete, and it was good. The crust was a tad chewy, but it was still pretty delicious and paired nicely with the ice cream. read more

Chef's Palette Restaurant & Bar - Steak Frites - New American Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

I'm done with this place. Ordered burger mid-rare, came out mid well. I didn't have time for a recook but pointed it out to server. She came back and said the "chef" apologizes. And here's your $21 bill. Not the first problem I've had here, no more chances. 09/02/2026 12:24pm read more

Chef's Palette Restaurant & Bar - $21.11 please for a burger I ate half of - New American Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Good food, good vibes, service needs some improvement. The restaurant is cute and the decor is nice and spacious. Plenty of tables and making a reservation was easy and they were accommodating. I had called in advance to make the reservation for a birthday dinner and we had a little happy birthday sign on the table as soon as got there which was a cute gesture. The menu has a bunch of different things which I really liked. And a few cocktails and mocktail options. We got a few drinks; the Apple Jack, the Mexican herbalist, cinder & citrus, and a few basic drinks. They were pretty good. For apps, we got the fried mozzarella and the ahi tuna wontons and they were both SO good. For mains, we got the lamb shank, the chicken francese (which was the best one) and the beef medallions, which was a little sweet but was fine. For dessert, we got a few. The best was the apple galette, but the Oreo cheesecake was pretty good too. Ashley was our server and she was alright. We asked for bread and she hesitated to get us some. She told us that there might not be any left but she'll check. She ended up getting us some and informed us that that was the last of all the bread at the restaurant. It was only 8 pm but it was alright, it was enough bread, I guess. Once we got drinks, we asked for some extra lime. She got us some, and once again, informed us that that was the last of the lime in the entire restaurant. Odd commentaries that were unnecessary and seemed like a fib. Every drink came with a lime, and some dishes needed lime. Didn't seem like it was even possible to be out of limes. The commentary was unnecessary and seemed like she didn't want to serve us. Even if some of the comments were true, it was unnecessary and made it Seem like the restaurant did not have enough ingredients which isn't a good look. Towards the end she was polite and more accommodating. Food was good and the vibes were nice, the service could've been better. read more

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I used to come to this place a lot when it first opened years ago and I loved it. My son asked to go since it had been a while and I thought it would be a good place to treat him for his bday that had recently passed. I knew exactly what I wanted but they now have new ownership so of course that means a possible new menu!!! Though I was saddened the calamari and a couple of other items were no longer on the menu, no biggie!! Our waiter Justin was fabulous!!! When asked what he recommended he was honest and informed us that he had actually just started and was on his second week and hadn't tried a lot on the menu. Even though he hadn't tried much it all worked out. OUR ORDER: Appetizers: Deviled Eggs, Brie Bites & Ahi Tuna Wontons. We weren't really feeling the Brie bites, they weren't bad per se just our least favorite. The Wontons were #1 then the eggs. Entrees: The Pan Seared Duck Breast with a blueberry black pepper balsamic jam, served with almond & herb rice pilaf & garlic green beans and the Chicken Francese served over pesto mashed potatoes with sautéed mushrooms & roasted tomatoes finished with a lemon beurre blanc & a crispy arugula garnish!! Both choices were amazing!!! Dessert: Cheesecake Du Jour, Lavendar Honey Crème Brûlé & Blackberry Bread Pudding. Let me tell you something, that bread pudding is LEGIT, I will definitely be back for that!!! Our least favorite was the cheesecake but my son still ate it all lol. We will be returning to the Chef's Palette, if you get there before we do(lol) make sure you ask for Justin he was awesome!!! read more

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Went here for Christmas Eve at the recommendation of a friend (who has never eaten there himself, he only drove by and admired the place) Our party was a bit skeptical on if this place were any good but we ended up very satisfied. Service was excellent. They played Christmas music which really was special due to it being Christmas Eve. I really appreciated that, and I feel like everyone else did too. When you looked around the restaurant, everyone was having intimate family meals for the holiday. It was really sweet, hard to explain. We ordered the: - Chicken Frances - very good 10/10 - Lamb lollipops - excellenttttt 12/10 - Beef Carpaccio - I didn't love this, the sauce overpowered it but just wasn't my taste. Overall, we had a wonderful time. Looking forward to returning and trying more items on their menu. read more

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Definitely not a weekly dining experience but it's great for a date night. Excellent Chicken Francese and flounder dish. Also enjoyed the raspberry mocktail. A bit pricey but we had excellent service. Highly recommended. read more

Chef's Palette is under new management. They have made some changes to the atmosphere- and it looks great!! The waiting area has changed so that there is a place to sit if you have to wait for your table. The managers and servers are phenomenal. The food continues to be amazing! We ordered the flounder and trout. The portion size was great and everything was delicious! Can't wait to visit again and try more items from the menu. read more

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We went here last night to celebrate our anniversary with our daughter and it did not disappoint. Our waitress was awesome and welcoming. I'm terrible with names but I believe her name was Kaylee. Shout out on the Jameson cocktail she recommended as well as it was really good. We started with the tuna wontons and deviled eggs. Both were very good but the deviled eggs were a standout with the pimento cheese. I had the shrimp and grits and they were very good. It had a little heat to the sauce but not too much. My wife had the filet and was excited they let her sub the fingerling potatoes out with a pesto mashed potatoes. She loved it and her steak was cooked perfect. My daughter had the ribeye steak frittes and was a huge fan of the Parmesan cheese fries and gravy. My wife ordered the blackberry Brad pudding and loved it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream as did my daughter with her chocolate tort sundae. Our waitress brought us out a piece of cheesecake with an incredible berry sauce on top. Shout out to Kaylee and her recommendations and kindness in making it an incredible meal. Will definitely be back soon to try some more of the different dishes. read more

A Must-Visit in Cary: Chef's Palate Delivers an Incredible Experience If you haven't been to Chef's Palate in Cary--or if it's been a while--don't sleep on this hidden gem! Located just off 540, not far from Holly Springs, this spot serves up an unforgettable dining experience. We started with the Parmesan custard with mushrooms and pita bread, and let me tell you--it was pure heaven. Smooth, creamy, and absolutely delicious. My son and I cleaned the plate so thoroughly I was tempted to lick it! Next, we shared the chicken lemon orzo soup, which was light, refreshing, and perfectly balanced. It was the kind of soup that feels both comforting and sophisticated at the same time. For our entrées, my son went all in with the bacon-wrapped filet, while I opted for the special: grilled shrimp with bucatini pasta. It was amazing--loaded with artichoke hearts, mushrooms, and tossed in a rich, house-made marinara that was absolutely divine. Then came dessert: the cheesecake of the night--Butterfinger. I barely got a glimpse before my son inhaled it! A true sign of a great dessert. To top it all off, Chef Carrie herself came out to thank us, which added such a personal touch to the experience. And our waitress, Nicole, was phenomenal--attentive, friendly, and on point the entire night. If you're looking for an outstanding meal with top-notch service, Chef's Palate is the place to be. Don't wait--go treat yourself! read more

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Edit: The business response is basically so sad, too bad. That says a lot. No please come back. No here's a small discount next time. Nothing other than "we're sorry you feel that way". Wow! This place has gone from great to terrible! We went for Valentine's Day and both tried the set menu of $95. Big mistake. His food was room temperature seafood and grilled vegetables thrown on a plate. Mine was undercooked beef, and I like it on the rare side (medium rare). Waiter stopped by only briefly and was hard to find. When he finally asked *at the end* how everything was (bad), he went away and came back to say "manager says no discounts". We didn't ask for a refund, but we thought someone would at least apologize. Nope, not really. We paid $264 with tip, one glass of wine each, appetizer, entree and desert. Their regular entrees were about $40. What a huge disappointment. Horrible food and service for that price point. I feel like an idiot, or a sucker for paying so much. We won't be back and we used to come here a few times a year from NW Raleigh. According to another review, they have a new chef and new staff. I can believe it after our awful experience there. The new chef and management have completely ruined what used to be a great restaurant. read more

A regular customer for many years, our dinner this week was quite disappointing. I understand that they have a new chef, and we found our three meals to be inferior to what we had enjoyed in the past. In addition, the service was slow and inattentive, ever though they weren't too busy. We also noticed that none of the former familiar (and outstanding ) waitstaff we enjoyed apparently are no long there. Consequently, we won't be returning anytime soon. read more

Went for lunch at CP yesterday. After having the "Chef's Cosmo" (quite delicious and expertly made by the bartender), me and my companion both had the "Chef's Quiche" To call this a "quiche" is quite a stretch. First of all, it was the size of a large tortilla chip. Second, it was flat as a pancake. No cheese either!!! . It was termed as "prosciutto and arugula." I think I tasted prosciutto faintly in two bites. And given its size, there were only five or six bites anyway. And really no flavor (salt please?) The side salad was fine. But for $17, it felt like we got $4 worth of food. Not a great value. read more

This was our first visit. Our server was David and he was friendly and attentive just the right amount. The duck taquitos were great (the white sauce was a bit spicier than what I enjoy, but the cheese sauce was great and not spicy.) I tried the shrimp and grits for my meal. The meal was tasty but a little spicier than I anticipated and the grits were ever so slightly undercooked (still very edible and tasted good). I really enjoyed the Honeycrisp Bees' Knees (gin) cocktail. I think their hostess table may need a little work, and that the eclectic art for sale on the walls was interesting. I appreciated that the sound levels were pretty good in the restaurant. read more

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I'd heard good things about Chef's Palette and was really eager to try it. We stopped in on a Friday for lunch with a party of three. Unfortunately, the experience never really got started. When we arrived, there was a bartender chatting with someone and only one table of guests in the restaurant. We were not greeted or acknowledged at all. After waiting about 15 minutes with no one checking on us, seating us, or even making eye contact, we decided to leave. We ended up eating across the street at Meche Cocina, where the food and service were fabulous, which made the contrast especially noticeable. read more

Went out to celebrate a birthday and the atmosphere and decor of the place was a perfect vibe. Service was top notch and they really went all out for the birthday and included a free cheesecake. The food while priced high was well worth it and tasted amazing. I will be back. read more

Everyone enjoyed their dinner even my picky husband. The service was thoughtful and the ambiance was romantic. It was nice and quiet even though it was full. read more

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my friend and I could not believe this "new" restaurant we found. from the moment we walked in we were impressed. Our server, Sammie, was attentive. When describing the entrees he was so enthusiastic, like he had just found this restaurant himself, then saying he has been there for 5 years. The fish and chips were perfect. we don't usually have dessert, but we did, and it was the best! Thank you, Sammie! We're going back... read more

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The staff was pleasant and attentive, the food was just ok, I was hoping for more of an upscale dining experience. sadly everything seemed very generic. The dining room was over crowded and loud. A bit overpriced for a mediocre restaurant. read more

We came here with a party of 6 on a weekday evening. Overall, the food wasn't bad but there were a lot of little things that brought down my review. Service was inconsistent, and the meal easily extended by half an hour due to all the waiting. We waited for complimentary table bread on multiple occasions, and the server pointed out that the kitchen was overloaded so the bread was coming slowly. I ordered a beer as well which took about 20 minutes to come out. Looking at a half empty restaurant, we figured if the service was slow and the kitchen was slow, then the restaurant was definitely understaffed. Onto our entrees, I ordered a steak frites medium rare, but it came out medium well. Two other people also ordered the steak frites, but medium well - and they came out overcooked. The best part of my entree was actually the fries which were delicious, and the price point was pretty good as well. Onto dessert, the creme brulee came out reasonably well and I'd recommend it. Overall, I'd probably temper expectations if I come here again. read more

Things changed a lot recently compared to last couple of years. Presentation, food quality, etc... We are going to give it a break and check it again after couple years! read more

I've eaten at Chef's Pallette the past two weeks. Ashley was our server for Bookclub. She was attentive, knowledgeable, and made great recommendations. Her personality was inviting. She made all 9 of us feel special. We waited for nothing. The orders were all correct, hot, and delicious. Tonight we had 3 people for dinner Kaley was our server. She also gave great service throughout the dinner. She had a great personality and made great recommendations. read more

The food was awesome!! Sammy our waiter was the best the food 10/10. we had the flounder and branzini. omg awesome!!! definitely will return!!0 read more

The service here was amazing. I came in on January 14th for dinner. Our server David was the sweetest and most attentive server I could ask for. And the manager Dillion was amazing as well and very helpful. They seemed to really enjoy being there. The food was amazing and I highly recommend the steak frites. I would definitely come here again. read more

Chef's Palette Restaurant & Bar - Steak frites. - New American Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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Great food and service. I would highly recommend this place to anyone visiting Cary. The short rib was excellent and the beef tenderloin with squash ravioli was amazing. Chicken fingers do the kids was best we have had in some time. Good quality. Drinks very tasty too! read more

I got the bacon wrapped rainbow trout. The cranberry pecan rice was great! The brussel sprouts were delicious. The trout was a little boring... but all in all the meal was good. The champagne was great! read more

Chef's Palette Restaurant & Bar - Champagne - New American Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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I came here with coworkers after work one evening for a casual, no muss, no fuss dinner and this place hit the spot. We were sat on the bar side, and the ambiance was cozy and quaint. The service was quick - we were immediately approached by our server who took our drink orders. My lemon drop martini was perfect, however my coworker wasn't too fond of their old fashioned, as it was way too sweet. For my entree I ordered the blackened scallops - the scallops were cooked perfectly and compliment the grilled vegetables well. I wasn't too wowed by the rice, it tasted a little too bland, but I am glad I also go a side of the chipotle sweet potato wedges. Honestly the sweet potato wedges complimented the scallops better then the rice did. (Food for thought!!) Also, the portion sizes seemed small, so just a heads up when you order an entree. The cost of the entree vs the size of the entree didn't quite add up to me, personally. My coworkers got the flounder as well as the steak and they had nothing but great things to say about their dishes. read more

Chef's Palette Restaurant & Bar - Blackened Scallops and chipotle sweet potato wedges - New American Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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I am a previous employee so here's the inside scoop.... Very clean restaurant. The kitchen staff takes pride in the food and you can tell. Especially with the daily feature. Get the daily feature! Service is very important to these guys so if you have high expectations, you won't be let down. They can get busy, so make a reservation. Especially on the weekend. While you're waiting for your table, go to the bar and ask Sydney for a spiced pumpkin old fashioned. Get it smoked. You can thank me later. read more

We celebrated our 41st anniversary there! Sammy our waiter in the bar did a great job! Very attentive to our needs and took some pictures for us. Food was great, from our Brie app through main course and our dessert. We had a couple drinks as well and they were great too! They even gave us an anniversary dessert cheesecake. Thanks for a great evening. read more

Chef's Palette Restaurant & Bar - Great dessert at Chefs Palette restaurant! - New American Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Kayla was our server. She was fantastic. We came in for drinks and appetizers and as it was my birthday they brought me out a piece of cheesecake too. Enjoyed everything. read more

We used to frequent this restaurant often. Has slowly gone downhill since new owners took over. The old chef was awesome. Prices have gone up considerably and the food is not as good. The duck used to be exceptional and is now off the menu. Can no longer substitute sides without an upcharge. We recently had a burger and wings. The burger was flavorless. Added caramelized onions and got about 4 small pieces of onion. The wings were not flavorful and the skin was flabby not crisp. Supposed to be grilled. Many of the old servers are gone. Service is still very good. Both the bar side and fine dining side of the restaurant are good options. After many years will probably go elsewhere. read more

Reserved a table for a party of 6, explained three of our party members were legally deaf or extremely hard of hearing. Was suggested a table outside, that's great. That usually works. Evidently the outside tables aren't considered full service, though. As according to the waitress "management doesn't allow the bar tables to request bread." and it was a special exception to be ~allowed~ to order from the regular menu rather than the bar menu. Frustratingly flippant discrimination. Your hostess suggested outside services and didn't caveat that it meant we would be second class diners that evening. Do better. read more

The food is awesome! However, the bartender last night didn't know how to make a drink. For the price of a drink, it should at least have some flavor and alcohol. The lemon drop martini was like sugar water, the margarita was very weak, and the smoked old fashioned had no smoke. Will order water next time if we see the same bartender. read more

Ate here for the first time tonight and was very impressed with the fine dining side of the restaurant. We were greeted by the sweetest young lady, Taylor. She had a bright smile and was very warm. She recommended the spinach dip and it was hands down the best spinach dip I've ever had. We had the surf and turf dish and were not disappointed. Skipped dessert this time but would come back to enjoy the ambiance, friendly service of Taylor and the delicious food! read more

This is our Go to local restaurant. The Ahi Tuna appetizer is soooo good that we get it nearly everytime we are there. The Sunny Daze cocktail was unique and tasty, nice to get something different. The food was delicious as always. Service was welcoming and Kaylee was quite attentive. Dining room was full so service was a little slower than normal but then lended itself to nice leisurely meal. read more

In the 6 years I've been stationed here and the 7 years I've lived here, I've always said both state side and overseas North Carolina customer service has always been the worst I've ever experienced. Today has definitely changed just that, with the experience of DAVID CLARK as my waiter, this place is amazing. The taste of the food, his expertise in recommendation and acknowledging what customers are ordering is outstanding, not only was he my server but I watched him as he served others. One of the best things I watched was this young man's approach to everything in every aspect, very informative, very polite and very honest. There is no doubt that this man should've be overseeing, managing or owning his own restaurant here in the near future. Very impressed by both his service and the restaurant! read more

Chef's Palette Restaurant & Bar - New American Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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We visited Chef's Palette for the first time on a Saturday night to see a local musician we like. When we arrived the bar was totally packed. We ordered a drink at the bar (nice draft list) and stood around hoping to grab a seat. One of the employees asked if we were waiting for a seat and said he would try to find us one. I also went to the hostess stand to ask if I could put my name on the list for a bar table. They said I could and not too long after they called to say a table was ready for us. Next I ordered the Blood Orange Coconut Margarita which was absolutely delicious and pretty, too. We hadn't intended to order food but we got hungry and food on other tables looked great! Husband and our friend split the Brie bites which they said were delicious, especially the sauces that accompanied them. I spied the Brussels and Ahi Tuna on another table which looked fabulous so ordered both. Unfortunately the waitress returned and said they were out of tuna. I ordered the Canadian Salmon instead. Brussels were fabulous -- perfectly cooked and large portion size. Salmon was better than I anticipated. Husband grills a mean salmon so I am usually disappointed at restaurant s but this one was cooked well with great flavor. Really enjoyed the curry sauce. I'm not a pork chop fan but friend ordered the apple cider pork chop and it did look really lean. He said it was fabulous. I would definitely go here again, especially on a live music night. read more

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Oh, what a spread they put on for Thanksgiving!! We'd never been here before and I don't even remember how I found out they would be open for turkey day, but so glad they were! I tried to get a reservation about two and a half weeks before Thanksgiving and they were already booked so we were on the wait list. Lucky for us about a week later there was a cancelation so we got a spot! Kathy, the manager, couldn't be more wonderful and all of the staff was too! Our waiter Brad was great and super nice too. I really can't speak highly enough of the service. They had all our favorites on their special buffet and we definitely indulged. We had turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, ham, salmon, sweet potatoes, mac & cheese, roasted brussel sprouts, cold salad items, and so much more too. It was epic. And the desserts, omg! There were so many to choose from. The stand out for me was the creme brulee. It was superb! I wish I'd gotten another little ramekin, it was so incredible. Normally they're a menu only restaurant, but I learned for Thanksgiving and Mother's Day they do a buffet. It's no wonder why they book up so quickly. read more