Every single time I go to The Fiction Kitchen I'm just blown away! The food is always so creative…read moreand delicious and I always leave inspired to cook more vegan food. Their new location is very nice and spacious and there's plenty of parking too! We got the Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread, Grilled Romaine, Hearts of Palm & Lion's Mane "Crabcakes", and Southern Style Plate with BBQ "pork". The cornbread was so moist and the crabcakes were flavorful. The grilled romaine was a revelation - I loved whatever creamy sauce it came with, the candied nuts, and the smokiness of the romaine. The BBQ "pork" was probably my least favorite thing, but don't get me wrong, it was still tasty. We asked for a little more BBQ sauce to go with it and our waitress got it for us right away. The drinks were also fantastic! I got the Autumn Flare which was coconut water, housemade falernum syrup, pineapple juice, and lemon. So refreshing and yummy!

They are in a new location. There was plenty of parking…read more Went for Sunday brunch and the food did not disappoint. We were greeted and seated immediately. Our server was very friendly. We ordered the French toast with soysage (which was devoured immediately) and chicken, egg, and cheese biscuit. with home fries. The biscuit was dense and so delicious that we didn't use ketchup. The home fries were cooked perfectly. Definitely recommend!

Ohhh yes to this Ramen spot! My first time here and I can't wait to return. It's located in a…read moreshopping plaza tucked in the back. When you enter, it's a cute, quiet setting with a relaxed, laid back atmosphere. The service here immediately made the experience start off strong. Everything was so fresh. The hot sake was delicious and certainly pure. My starters were great portions and filling as you can tell from the photos. I couldn't pick one, I started with three lol And my Tonkotsu Ramen was chef's kiss! This is my new absolute favorite Ramen spot in the area. I've traveled to Okinawa a couple of times and truly enjoy Ramen, and honestly, this location has the best tasting food that makes me feel like I'm right back.

To be fair, it's closer to 3.5 or a little higher. There's nothing really wrong with the food here…read morebut there's nothing notable or exceptional. The restaurant is "cute," with neon, sushi cats, and TVs. Quiet when it's empty, loud when there are large tables. Both the tonkatsu and shoyu ramens tasted fine if a little too salty. Salt was, in fact, the primary flavor. The broths had nowhere near the richness and depth of flavor that should have been present. The noodles were appropriately bouncy and were well cooked. The appetizers were also just okay. It's hard to screw up edamame and they didn't. They were served hotter than usual which was actually very nice. The furikake fries are overrated. The fries themselves are good and beautifully crispy but that's due to the light coating of cornstarch or rice flour on the fries. That helps give them that extra boost. The furikake itself doesn't stick to the fries and just falls to the bottom of the dish, adding absolutely nothing to the fries. The restaurant seemed understaffed. The server did his level best but was spread too thin. All in all, decent food but Miso Ramen by the bus station is much better.

I had the loaded fries with Birria and it was amazing. The staff were really nice and service was…read morefast. It's a cute spot for a chill meal. Very colorful. Not fast food vibes but not a fancy sit down vibe either.

This restaurant is located in a shopping plaza with several other businesses. Shared parking is…read moreavailable in the lot out front. There are several tables and a bar inside. There is a self serve area to get additional toppings such as onions, salsa, cilantro & limes for your food. The cashier was pleasant. After placing my order I got my food very quickly. I got a carnitas taco, an al pastor taco, and queso with tortilla chips. The chips were good and were seasoned. The queso and carnitas taco was also good. The tacos are filled with a nice portion of meat. Unfortunately the al pastor meat was a little burned.

Lunch with Mom at @elementgastropub Downtown Raleigh, NC…read more My mom supporting me, means everything to me!!! We ordered the Sweet Chili Sauce wings with house ranch for our appetizer! Mom loved those! I ordered the Carolina BBQ Sandwich which was smoked vegan BBQ tossed in hybrid eastern- Western style sauce (whatever that means lol), creamy coleslaw on a Brioche bun with a side Kale Caesar Salad. Mom ordered the Philly Cheese steak which was chopped seitan "steak", marinated mushrooms, house made cheese, peppers, onions served on a soft hoagie roll. It also came with my favorite chips by Caroline Kettle chips @carolinakettle! So, glad they support local! Mom didn't really care for the cheese steak. I tried it as well & it wasn't my favorite. But, we had an amazing time for lunch on this beautiful day! oh, & I also had a Carolina Mule! Which was I want to try their brunch the next time I go back home to visit! #VeganLunch #LunchWithMom #Element #Gastropub #RaleighNC

I had the Buffalo Chik'n Sandwich, overall it was a really good sandwich. The sauce made the…read morebreading get soggy but I was also eating extra slow this day. Fries were fresh! And their ranch was delicious, it cooled down the Buffalo nicely. Super friendly service and their patio seating faces the heart of Fayetteville Street, great for people watching!

Lunch at Irregardless was excellent! The vegetarian black bean burger with fries was was plentiful…read moreand delicious. Service was prompt and they had a table ready for us since we had a reservation.

Great spot for anyone with Allergies! They have a new…read moreselection of small plates that are incredibly delicious and inexpensive! Service was attentive and quick! Quirky atmosphere with live music!! We will definitely be back!

Bida Manda mean "father and mother" in Sanskrit. This restaurant was started by siblings (a…read morebrother and a sister), and they named their restaurant to honor their parents. What a great idea! I like to come here for one dish: the squash curry or the pumpkin curry. It's either vegetarian or vegan, so yeah, it's pretty much the highlight of the menu as far as I'm concerned. It's called the Manda Curry or Mom's Curry: Slow-cooked house coconut curry with fresh root vegetables, jasmine rice, and pumpkin. It reminds me of Vientiane Palace's Squash Curry. Upscale ambience!

Wow is mainly what I can say. I am a huge fan of Asian cuisine generally, but Bida Manda has been…read moreone of the more unique experiences I've had with Asian food in quite some time. The two times I went recently, it was a packed house, so reservations are definitely recommended. There's plenty of street parking within a close walk of the restaurant. We ordered the chicken wings, lettuce wraps, and the pork belly soup. All of them were packed full of flavor and prepared to perfection. The chicken wings had an incredible, almost tempura-like batter to them. And the pork belly soup - omg - there's a reason it's the dish they most recommend. I will definitely be back!

My dining experience at Tamasha is one of the best I've ever had. Chef Chhatwani's creations are…read morenothing short of heavenly... Everything about this locale is intentional: the lighting, the decor, the colors... it's truly the perfect date spot. I'd like to recognize Sam Sanchez at the bar, who guided me from cocktail to entree and beyond for my eventual second visit while in Raleigh. He listened closely to my taste preferences, and his recommendations were flawless (although I can't imagine ANYTHING on the menu isn't delightful). On my first visit I started with the Byadgi Chili Shrimp and then feasted on the Lamb Sheekh Kebab. The shrimp texture was just right and the coconut sauce is a perfect compliment. The lamb kebab comes in two separate pieces; one is wrapped in naan and the other is naked. The chili beurre blanc sauce has a kick that I really enjoyed! And my favorite: Dal-e Tamasha, 24 hours slow cooked black lentil. My mouth is watering even as I think about it. You might think something as humble as lentils could not make one's heart race... but you would be wrong. My second visit saw me reunited with my dear Dal-e Tamasha plate and what became the pinnacle of my visit to Raleigh: MUSHROOM "MADE IN HEAVEN" dish. It is difficult to describe how AMAZING every bite is. There is a complexity of flavors that somehow blend AND standout. Each nibble of the dumpling and a bit of risotto along a sip of the "umami bomb" is an experience. I am actually very glad I was sitting on the patio dining solo because I was able to give my full attention to this experience. To wrap it all up, I was fortunate enough to try the pink guave lemon lime and tahin sorbet... don't snooze on it, it's a must try! A big shout out to the Tamasha team, owner Mike (thank you for checking on me and chatting up spices and culture!), and Chef Chhatwani for sharing your passion with the world. I can't WAIT to return to Raleigh and visit again.

Imagine a spot that's equal parts Mumbai majesty and Southern comfort. You walk in, and the vibe is…read moreinstantly lively--like a Sunday supper where everyone actually likes each other, just with way better spices and a whole lot less drama. They've got these plush, deep green velvet booths that hug you sweeter than a Southern grandma, paired with large, dramatic blue dining chairs that practically scream, "Sit and Stay a While". Everywhere you look, there is gleaming copper decor catching the light, reflecting off soft, warm wood tones that keep the whole place from feeling stuffy. It's upscale, sure, but it breathes. It is bustling, animated, and humming with gossip and laughter. It's high-end, but not overly formal. Now for the bar - The Old Fashioned is absolutely gorgeous, the star of the show being the unique craft ice. That giant block of ice is taking up about 90% of real estate so they are giving you a very short pour on the liquid. It's about three sips of actual cocktail swimming around a diamond-grade ice cube. It is high-end and it tastes wonderful--just don't expect a heavy pour. A must try - The Ultimate Four-Cheese Truffle Kulcha, they threw out the rulebook for this blend. Pillowy, tandoor-baked dough with sharp, bitey white cheddar, a wonderfully funky and oozing brie, a sharp and nutty asiago, and just enough mozzarella to give you a cheese pull that stretches all the way to next week. It's laced with finely minced fresh chili and topped with blistered, smoky shishito peppers, complete with a truffle flex. Now hold onto your pearls, darlin', because their butter chicken is not that neon-orange, overly sweet butter chicken you get from the mall food court. This is the sophisticated, high-society glow-up that your tastebuds have been praying for. They start with chicken thighs that are so perfectly moist it ought to be a crime. Then the Gravy (The Showstopper): This is a velvety, luxurious makhani sauce made from deeply smoked tomatoes and red peppers. It has a sultry, back-of-the-throat woodsmoke depth that plays beautifully with the sweet acidity of the peppers. It's finished with a generous dusting of fragrant, herbaceous fenugreek leaves. Just when you think it can't get any richer, it's crowned with dehydrated butter that melts right back into the sauce as it hits your table, creating an impossibly glossy, silk-sheet texture. The food is pure luxury, but the rice portion is giving 'recession.' Don't let them starve your sauce--order extra rice right out of the gate and eat like the king or queen you are. Before you get completely drunk on truffle butter and smoky makhani sauce, you need to look at the bottom of that menu, they are slipping in a warning and I am here to make sure you don't get caught off guard when the check drops. They are feeding you like royalty, but they are also making sure their staff gets paid like royalty--automatically. Check your math before you add an extra tip, because that 20% is already locked, loaded, and heading straight for your credit card.

Stopped by Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing for Saturday brunch and it was such a good decision. This…read morespot has the perfect laid-back vibe for a weekend meal, plus an unbeatable view of downtown Raleigh, seriously, if the weather's nice, try to sit on the patio! We had a 70 degree surprise January day while we were there, so we did just that. We started our brunch with a couple of drinks: a bloody mary and an iced coffee. The bloody mary had a nice kick. Just the right amount of spice without going overboard. The iced coffee was smooth, not bitter at all, and honestly a great pairing if you're not in the mood for booze. To start, we shared the Dill Pickle Pimento Cheese with ripple-cut fries. I'm a sucker for pimento cheese and this one was outstanding. The dill relish gave it a tangy, fresh twist that worked so well with the creamy cheese. Scoop it up with those crispy ripple fries and you're golden. It's a shareable appetizer, but honestly, I'd come back just for that. For my lunch, I had the Chicken Caesar Pita. This isn't your average Caesar wrap. It was tasty, I wasn't expecting the chicken to be pulled, but it was pull juicy, marinated chicken, tons of Tuscan kale for a hearty bite, and generous shavings of parmesan. The charred Caesar dressing brought it all together with that smoky, savory flavor. The pita bread held everything nicely without getting soggy, and the portion was just right: filling, but not overwhelming. Service was super friendly and paced perfectly, not rushed, but never left waiting. Menu options looked creative and inclusive, with plenty for vegetarians and craft beer lovers, too. We had a great experience and I'll definitely be recommending it to friends who are going to Raleigh!

Poised and ready for the turkey burger...it's gone! However the energy and amazing views remain!…read more Really appreciate how hard the servers work and collaborate! Somehow my server was really slow delivering the bill but no sweat as I engaged with another team member. Always good food and a positive experience overall.

I haven't tried a lot of vegan food in my life, but I was really impressed by Soul's Kitchen! They…read morehave a beautiful food truck (which is actually a bus) and they put out a cute table with menus and examples of some of their food. I tried their Oyster Shroom Po'Boy and it was really good! I don't particularly like mushrooms, but it didn't taste like mushrooms at all. The mushrooms were seasoned and fried to perfection. My box was packed full of food, I couldn't even see the bun they put so many fried mushrooms on top of it! The fries were okay.

This food truck was at an event I attended during Juneteenth! I normally don't try vegan food but…read moreeveryone was raving about this truck. I had too see what the hype was about. I had fries a poboy sandwich. Everything was fresh, cooked to order and delicious.

This restaurant pleasantly surprised me. I'm honestly not a huge Chinese food person, and when…read morepicking restaurants, it's usually not something I naturally gravitate toward. I was actually a little nervous going in because certain Chinese dishes tend to upset my stomach, so I tried to avoid some of the heavier noodle and chicken dishes that normally do that to me. Honestly, I think that was the best decision because I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and felt completely fine afterwards. I started with the crab rangoons, which were perfectly creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside -- absolutely delicious. Then I tried the pork-filled bao buns, which was my first time ever having them, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed them too. Everyone else at our table seemed to really enjoy their food as well. I genuinely didn't hear a single complaint. We also ordered some drinks that were delicious, and both our server and the rest of the staff were absolutely fantastic and very welcoming throughout the night. The atmosphere and vibes inside are honestly one of the coolest parts of the experience. It somehow feels like a mix between a brewery, a florist, a bookstore, and a Chinese restaurant all at once. It's such an interesting and unique space that doesn't really feel like anywhere else. Overall, this was a great experience, and I would absolutely come back to try more items on the menu.

This is a one stop shop, brewery, flower shop, library/book store and dim sum restaurant!…read more The food. Really really good dim sum. I stopped in just a they were opening on a Friday and thank goodness I showed up when I did, this place gets packed quick and you should book a reservation to be on the safe side. I was most excited about the duck egg rolls but ended up being my least favorite not because they were slightly on the dry side. Flavor was good, and the hoisin honey sauce really helped! The seafood dumplings were second best, stuffed full. The soup based was amazing and it also came with some bread for dipping in the leftover sauce. The pork and chive shumai were my favorite! A little bit bigger than bit sized but worth the mouth full! Absolutely would recommend. I'll 100% be back for more food. The bar side looked to be more casual, the dinning room was full of high tea attire so I did feel a little under dressed, thought it would be slightly more casual. They have the cutest library with free books to read but only while you dine in. The flower and book shop are in the middle of the space. Super cute, limited options but great for a last minute bouquet!