I love the vibe of this place along with their amazing wine and staff. One of my favorite tapas…read morehere is the potatoes with cheese and any goat or sheep's whipped cheese

It's been well over 9 months since I last raved about Barcelona Wine Bar, located in the heart of…read moredowntown Raleigh. I am compelled to remind every resident and every visitor to make this a "must go to and enjoy" place for either brunch on Saturday or Sunday, or for dinner any night of the week. Go for the amazing cuisine, vast wine list, and stay for the outstanding service! Recently, we have found ourselves trying not to enjoy just our go-to favorites that are mainstays on the ever-evolving menu. We have been blown away by the flavors of the large plate option called Chicken Pimientos. Don't let the name throw you, because it's not super spicy, it just has a nice kick to it with delicious potatoes accompanying the very moist and flavorful chicken. The way the kitchen team at Barcelona handles the preparation of the eggplant caponata is impressive and very unique. Other favorites on the tapas section of the menu recently are stuffed piquillos, corn zucchini bunuelos (think fair food turned healthy!), Wagyu carpaccio, lamb kofta, and pulpo gallego. Remember that their tapas offerings rotate in and out, oftentimes based on the season and availability of fresh products. The wine offerings are unparalleled in the city of Raleigh, and when you visit for dinner on a Monday evening, every bottle is half-priced. Can't beat that for a way to jump-start your work week! We tend to sit at the bar on most visits as bartenders Kira and Cameron truly handle their bar with a welcoming vibe and impressive ease. General manager Jed is a visible leader of this great team and makes every guest feel appreciated. Awesome job all the way around!

A really nice wine bar in downtown Durham to grab a drink before or after a show. The seating can…read morebe a little tight if the bar is packed, which it was when we went a couple of Saturdays ago. The bartender gave some really good recommendations regarding wine selections. You can order either by the glass or bottle. Nice spot, check it out.

Brunello Wine Bar is a cool spot. The staff members are knowledgeable and the selection is unique…read more My husband and I tried a few different pours and enjoyed them all. It is a smaller spot but luckily it was not busy when we visited. If you are in Downtown Durham then check it out.

I was excited to try Killer Queen for a downtown girls' night. We don't make it downtown very…read moreoften, so I've been enjoying exploring some of Durham's newer spots -- and this one was absolutely worth the visit. The wine list is broad and thoughtfully curated, with options that feel approachable whether you're a casual wine drinker or someone looking to try something new. The sommeliers were welcoming, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about helping us find something we loved. The space itself is adorable, with eclectic décor and cozy lighting that makes it easy to settle in and stay awhile. It's a great spot for conversation and a relaxed evening with friends. The only downside is that the space is fairly small, and I would have loved to see one or two more lower seating options for small groups rather than mostly high tops. That said, I could absolutely see us coming back for a pre- or post-theater glass of wine or an easy catch-up night.

Love this place! It's definitely a bit on the pricey side when it comes to the wine, but the…read moreoverall experience makes up for it. The service is awesome--our server was super friendly and gave me a great drink recommendation when I wasn't sure what I wanted. It ended up being perfect. My friend and I shared a glass of the 2023 Cederberg Bukettraube (sweet white wine) and got the charcuterie board for one with the truffle salami. That board was so good--I can't stop thinking about it. The toasted baguette slices with truffle salami and mustard? Unreal. It was the perfect little snack to share. We also had the citrus lavender crème brûlée, which was surprisingly delicious. I don't usually go for crème brûlée, but this one was light, not overly sweet, and just had a really nice flavor. I've also tried their shepherd's pie before and loved it--wish it was still on the menu! The vibe inside is moody and cozy, and they've got a cute outdoor patio too. Overall, such a great spot. A little pricey, but I'll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend checking out Killer Queen.

So...what's the actual name of this place? Bottles & Cans Beer and Wine Shop or Taps and Social?…read moreJudging by the signage and the receipt, it seems to answer to both. Either way, it delivers exactly what you'd hope for--a great selection of drinks in a relaxed, social setting. After finishing dinner at Shijiri, we had a little over an hour to kill before heading home, so we wandered over here. We decided to grab seats inside rather than on the front patio. The interior is surprisingly spacious, with plenty of seating whether you prefer pulling up to the bar or sinking into one of the comfortable sofas. Our tasting lineup included the refreshing Sangria Slushy, Anderson Valley's Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout, and Komana's Hefe the Hefeweizen. While enjoying our drinks, we spent some time hanging out with Aria, the Bouvier des Flandres, who was incredibly friendly and happily accepted all the attention. She definitely added to the welcoming atmosphere. Before leaving, we couldn't resist browsing the shelves and ended up taking home a build-your-own six-pack featuring beers from 3 Floyds, Edit, Middle James, Two Tides, Grimm, and Anytime Beer Co. The selection is excellent for anyone who enjoys discovering craft beers beyond the usual grocery store offerings. Whether you're looking to enjoy a drink on-site, build a mixed six-pack to take home, or simply relax with friends (or make a new four-legged one), this place checks all the boxes. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in the area.

Dropped by Bottles & Cans recently and had a good experience…read more Parking was very convenient because Bottles & Cans is part of a strip mall, so no problems there. They had a pretty decent selection of beers available, and I was impressed that you could get pretty much any type of beer as a singleton (versus having to buy a 4 pack or whatever). I did feel like the refrigerated section could have been a bit larger, but they did have a few good choices in there. They had a big selection of beers available on tap, and while I didn't partake this time, I was kind of tempted by the quadrupel :) The bartender was nice and helpful throughout my visit. Overall, if you're in the area, this seems like a nice place to stop and grab a beer. I've seen slightly better selection of beers elsewhere, but I do think you could find something you like here :)

Stopped by RBF recently for an afternoon drink and really enjoyed my experience!…read more First, we ended up finding street parking right next to RBF, but I think there may also be a dedicated parking lot outside the back patio? Not entirely sure since we still have no idea how to access it, but maybe look for that lot if street parking is challenging :) Anyway, RBF is located in the basement of a building, so we had to take an elevator down from the entrance we took. Inside, it's got chill vibes - it definitely feels like a wine bar :) We ended up sitting inside on a high top, but there were various couches and a good amount of outdoor seating available as well. It took a while for our server to come check in with us, but she was super friendly and helpful with the wine selections once she came over. I got a random glass of red wine (they do not serve beer, in case you were wondering!) while my wife tried out a couple of tasters and then picked out a white wine for herself. The wine was pretty tasty and it was definitely a generous portion. After sitting there for a while, we also decided to grab some bread with pesto on the side. It took a sec for it to come out, but it wasn't bad! Nothing extraordinary but I wasn't expecting anything super gourmet, so it was totally fine. Overall, we had a great experience here and I would definitely stop by again on a date night.

Love RBF! A great establishment that's all inclusive...great drinks, good vibe, and a really cool…read mores'mores dessert. And live entertainment!

My husband and I were walking around Downtown Cary and decided to check this spot out. We both…read moregrabbed a glass of wine and sat inside then a few bottles to take home. There is a small amount of seating inside and outside (in the front and back). Chatham Street Wine Market is a really cute spot with friendly service and reasonably priced bottles of wine.

Ok, I so I decided to give Chatham street wine market a second chance because hay everyone has a…read morebad day! Even me! We are all human! I stopped in and picked up four bottles of wine and I absolutely love the red blend the young man recommended. See the pictures I added. It's a small sales floor but plenty of places to sit in the back once they things go to normal. They also have an outdoor patio in the back. Definitely will come back again! Thanks for the great service!

Grabbed a drink here recently and had a good experience…read more First, there are some parking spots directly next to Vita Vite and the neighboring businesses, but they were completely full when we came. I assume it's really hard to grab one of those, but luckily there's also a free parking garage nearby, so that's where we ended up parking. Inside, there is a combination of standard table seating and a few couches here and there. My wife grabbed a glass of wine while I ordered a beer, and everything was pretty reasonably priced. As expected, the wine selection was much more extensive than the beer selection :) The staff were polite and attentive throughout. We also shared a plate of hummus and crackers and everything was pretty tasty. Overall, I'd definitely come back here if I was in the area and wanted to chill out for a bit.

This place is perfectly located in the center of Midtown with a nice view of the park. They have…read moreboth indoor and outdoor seating upstairs and downstairs. There's tables, couches and the cutest seating throughout the entire building. The build your own charcuterie is what I went in for. For $15 you can pick three meats or cheeses and they have add-ons like pickles, jams and olives for an extra $1-$2. You absolutely should try the prosciutto and goat Brie, as well as the sweet pickles and fig jam, delicious! I paired this with two classic of their Pinot Gris. Although, I went alone this is a perfect group setting and/or date night spot! Service was quick and the bartender was extremely knowledgeable. Pick your seating and they will bring everything to you.

The Angus Barn is a MUST if you are around the Raleigh area. We can't get enough of it!…read more From prime rib that melts in your mouth to kabobs, this place has it all. Christmas time is beautiful, as they decorate the ceiling with garments and ornaments and other decorations around the massive restaurant, but reservations are needed no later than 6 months in advance. If you're fine waiting 3 hours for a table max, then you will be fine. Every single time we come to Angus Barn, something is different. Now they give you a soup or salad with your meal, along with bread! The cheese and crackers are famous among the people and are a great way to start your meal. The bread is so fresh also! All components in their house salad is great. Everything is awesome! The prime rib is tender and has such good flavor. Their mac n' cheese is the way to go. Their recipe is constantly changing. Like what I previously said, something is different every time you come to Angus Barn. The chocolate chess pie is the best I've had. This is a MUST when dining at Angus Barn. You HAVE to get the chocolate chess pie. The service is some of the best in the restaurant business and all do a great job at explaining things. So kind and professional! Once again, if you're around Raleigh and don't come to Angus Barn, you are missing out. I highly recommend you come. So good!

Stopped by Angus Barn for a quick dinner and it did not disappoint. This restaurant is near the…read moreairport if you are looking for a good place to eat before a flight out. When you arrive you'll enter the parking lot and have the option to either self park or valet. I went ahead and self parked as the parking lot wasn't too full. When you walk in you'll be transported back in time to a rustic feeling, fine dining, and country feeling (since the restaurant is in a barn) type atmosphere. We started at the bar on the second floor to have a drink and then grabbed a table. At the upstairs bar I ordered the Angus Barn Smoked Old Fashioned (Crafted with Angus Barn 65 Maker's Mark Private Selection and a special proprietary syrup, served tableside in a custom smoke box) which was very strong and a fun drink to order as it is served in a large smoke box. To grab our table we checked in with the host downstairs and were seated. Once seated the table had a complimentary dish of cheese and crackers which were surprisingly very good. For an appetizer we ordered the Wagyu Philly Cheesesteak Eggroll (Wagyu beef egg roll filled with mushrooms, onions & smoked cheddar served with a truffle garlic aioli) which were high quality and pretty heavy. The order comes with two egg rolls cut in half just as an fyi. For my entree I ordered the 22 oz bone in Royal Ribeye and upgraded the side to Mac & Cheese. Each steak is served with either soup or salad and a side. I went with the French onion soup instead of the salad. The French onion soup was very tasty and had a good amount on Gruyère cheese and bread. Additionally the ribeye was excellent and the garlic butter on the side was a nice touch. For dessert I ordered a crème brûlée which was a perfect way to end the meal. I'm looking forward to checking out the Angus Barn during the Christmas holiday season as I hear it is beautiful. Looking forward to stop in later this year for another great meal.