First Watch

This was a campus coffee shop, but NC State is an urban campus, so non-collegians can easily walk…read morein (if you can find parking). I came in search of the best chai in town and I may have found it, with a robust spice mix that seemed to include nutmeg and a sweet and smooth flavor that lasted a while. They had some food options, and the ample seating was quite crowded.

Jubala Coffee is a casual coffee spot serving drinks and light food! There is parking in a lot next…read moredoor or on the street. The space inside can get cramped at certain times of the day, but they try to make most of it with tables and booths. Service was friendly and quick. I got the Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit. The biscuit was a bit sweet which paired interestingly with the savory bacon, egg, and cheese. I think I prefer a savory or salty biscuit, but it was still good. i'll I really enjoyed the fried egg because of the runny yolk, especially since most of these biscuits use a scrambled egg so this was unique to me. The bacon and cheese on their own were also good. My friends and I shared a Fruit Cup/Bowl which was actually refreshing. The fruit was actually sweet and not tart! I did not try their drinks, although I probably should have considering how well-liked they are. I would come back if I was in the area to try the other items on their menu. Plus, this is a nice work or study spot.

Espresso bar

Jammin' plum waffle (seasonal)

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Matcha Latte

Lucky Tree

4.3(166 reviews)

1.6 mi

We had some time to kill and were looking for a non-chain coffee spot. This one was close by and…read morehad great reviews. So we decided to give them a try. We had a little difficulty finding it. GPS brought us to the parking lot behind the building. There isn't clear signage to direct you where to go. We managed to find our way up the stairs and into the building. There are a number of businesses located inside. Lucky Tree is super cute. It's set up to encourage working, with plenty of charging spots all around. There is a variety of seating, from long wooden tables to smaller individual areas. We ordered a chai latte and golden milk latte, both with oat milk. Both drinks were good. Fyi there is a separate entrance from the side that takes you directly to another smaller parking lot.

I decided to try this out for a quick coffee stop while in town for a conference. The service was…read morefriendly and quick! I tried the breakfast bagel bites, which were soft and warm. I loved the cheese on top! I was not a huge fan of the flavor the almond flour gave them but it was not overpowering. I would probably get them again! They had a lot of options as far as specialty lattes but I am glad I went with the Vanilla Maple. I was worried that the maple flavor would be too much but it complimented the vanilla well. The inside was VERY well decorated, and I would've loved to stay and do a little computer work! I could see myself coming by and sitting down for a quick brunch, meeting up with friends, or staying for a work session.

Cool light fixture made of bottles

Front of building

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Ordering counter

Paul And Jack Bakery

4.7(90 reviews)

3.4 mi

First time here today. We took home pistachio Boston cream,…read moreNapoleon and 2 baklava $24. All were equally delicious. We'll definitely go back and try some others.

Yum! Think more dessert shop, less bakery. I had a…read moreraspberry vanilla danish, and I absolutely loved it. Flaky pastry, mild but sweet filling. My mom had the pain au chocolat cookie... it was a little overwhelming and very sweet... not my taste, but she enjoyed it. Everything looked delicious and prices felt reasonable. The hardest part was choosing! I will say I was rather underwhelmed by the coffee, but they did have an interesting variety of syrups.

Wall menu

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Seating, bakery items

Heirloom Brewshop

4.4(239 reviews)

3.9 mi

I searched up this cafe and wondered why I hadn't tried it before, until realizing that I'd…read morereviewed it five years ago. I like to try new places, but I think a checkin after five years is due. And credit to this place for surviving the COVID era. I got good service on a holiday with a walkthrough of my tea options. I got a nice tofu plate for breakfast with a bit of vegetables, and a strong white tea for a rounded, vegan-friendly, and tasty breakfast. This was a win, and while I no longer live in North Carolina, who knows maybe I'll find myself back in the area again.

Oh my god I've been twice and 10/10 both times…read more I've gotten the orange Bundt cake and omelette on mango sticky rice AND the dirty earl grey - which changed my life. Amazing staff Sooo many outlets! Great spot to work

Interior of entryway

Cruller with ice cream and chili oil

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@_thencfoodie_

Iris Coffee Lab

4.4(160 reviews)

3.3 mi

For this week's edition of coffee shop Saturday, I chose Iris Coffee Lab. It's a block away from…read morethe Glenwood South area, located in a little neighborhood of condos, apartments and small businesses. There's plenty of seating inside and outside. There is street parking with a couple of garages nearby. I ordered as soon as I arrived and sat inside to enjoy my vanilla latte on a very hot afternoon. The service is good, everyone is friendly. The latte was perfect, strong and hot!!! It's busy and somewhat loud inside, but great for catching up with friends or working.

Note to future self: please don't come back! I've been here once before and I think we tried the…read morecherry marzipan, and this time I got an iced vanilla latte with just regular milk. Pretty blah. Lexi you can make better coffee at home. Just stay home. Staff were very nice and space was open

Atmosphere

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Interior

Benelux Café

3.8(221 reviews)

2.6 mi

Me and my friends came here and got the avocado toast and coffees. They bring the food to you and…read morethe service was great and very quick. The coffee is a bit on the expensive end along with some of the pastries, but the avocado toast was only around $6 from what I remember. The food was amazing, I definitely recommend the avocado toast. The coffee was good. They had many good breakfast options and I want to come back and try the quiche. The ambiance is decent, it feels kind of empty though. I think it would be a good place to come study.

I try a new coffee shop every Saturday and today it was Benelux…read more There isn't a lot of street parking, but there is an underground garage behind it, which is so convenient. It's located next to Village District. I was greeted immediately by a nice young man. I asked for his hot food suggestion, and of course he suggested the waffles! I ordered a waffle with fresh bananas and Nutella...every bite was absolutely delicious. I also ordered a lavender latte and loved it. They sell scones from a local vendor and I had a gluten free orange cranberry scone which was also delicious. Benelux is spacious and has plenty of seating. Tables, high tops and even a couple of comfortable love seats.

Menu.

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Wake N Bakery

4.7(6 reviews)

3.2 mi

I've been to this cafe a few times and it's always a great time. Everyone working there is friendly…read moreand always happy. The drinks are TOO good to sip. I've only had their teas and lemonades. I plan to try their lattes one day. They even have boba drinks now! I would say my favorite is the peach palmer or their watermelon lemonade. The drinks are refreshing and not too sweet. Their pastries are really good as well. I've had their strawberries and crème rice Krispy treat and their brownie. Taste very fresh. They also have gluten free pastries. When you're in Raleigh stop by and indulge in a different adult beverage or not! (You have the option to get non-infused drinks)

There on a Saturday first time being there. I think the only bad thing about my experience was the…read moreparking or maybe it was because I think they had an open mic that day, but it was a good experience. The cashier was very attentive the Red Velvet Cupcake was delicious, my drink was yummy anddd left us feeling niccccce

Super cool logo design lends an artfully trendy aesthetic to the branding.

The cutest cafe I've been to in months, plus they just decorated for fall!!

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Close-up of seasonal (fall) decorations and wal mural, adorable.

Morning Times

4.2(695 reviews)

4.2 mi

The morning times was a weekly if not daily staple in my life for 10+ years, after moving away from…read morethe city 3 years ago, every time I would come into Raleigh it would be my first stop and it would always feel like home seeing the same familiar faces every time. This morning, I walked in and saw not one familiar face there, and I've come to learn all the staff walked out simultaneously weeks ago. After getting to know many of the staff over the years of frequenting there, anything to make every staff member walk out at the same time has to be big enough to leave a sour taste in your mouth. Am truly sad to see such a Raleigh staple not see the value in the community their staff created. Cheers to Joe, Brennan, Brett, amber, and all of the others past a present (shout out Tim and Casey and Jackie!) for their place in our lives over all of these years! If you are looking for a coffee nearby, jubala (pendo), black & white (videri), heirloom are all great options (and sir Walter coffee and 42 & Lawrence are decent and close)

This downtown Raleigh stop really came through when I was craving a breakfast sandwich!!! LOL…read more The staff was very friendly. Service was prompt. It's a small space but there's plenty of outdoor seating (and I believe there is additional indoor seating next door). Loved my bacon, egg, and cheese croissant! Added a nice fruit salad too. Just love the vibe of this part of downtown Raleigh!

Front counter

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Upstairs seating

Bittersweet

4.4(484 reviews)

4.2 mi

What a fabulous dessert shop! Perfect place to grab an after dinner cocktail and dessert and…read moreconveniently located near St Roch Oyster Bar which is where we had dinner. Service was top notch with friendly folks greeting you the moment you enter the doors. Our bartender was so sweet and so welcoming. Had me a $10 Paloma cocktail that was just right and went to town on dessert. Everything was just delicious. Fresh made whip cream, perfectly balanced sweetness with the desserts and cute atmosphere. Loved my first time here and it won't be my last!

Bittersweet has amazing desserts and drinks. I've been several times and each time I enjoy what…read moreI've had. A solid go-to is their s'mores sundae which is sooo good! The chocolate brownie is thick and rich, but not too sweet, and the marshmallow cream is divine, especially with the ice cream. A lot of their drinks and gin based, which I'm not the biggest fan of, but I always find something I can enjoy. The service is great and relatively quick, and everyone I've met there is kind and willing to help. The inside is a bit small, so smaller crowds are better and it does tend to get crowded later in the evening and on weekends. The outside street sitting area is nice too and hopefully will be fully fixed soon. Overall a great places to stop for drinks and desserts after a nice meal! And the menu rotates seasonally so you'll always have the chance to try something new!

Chai espresso martini

Derby Pie and Gin n Tonic

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Pecan pie

Pullen Cafe

4.5(8 reviews)

3.2 mi

I ordered a brisket sandwich, an ice water, and a cotton candy popsicle. Somehow, I ended up with a…read morepulled pork sandwich instead. It was just okay, but the fries were really good. The employees were super friendly, and the popsicle was delicious -- perfect for a hot day.

AMAZING FOOD AND SERVICE! best place in nc the owner is the sweetest and most attentive person…read morethere!

3 3pc Chicken Tenders

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Dorothea D.

4 years ago

Lake Boone First Watch always has great food and excellent service. Staff is always friendly and attentive. Katie waited on us this morning and made our day start out right. We appreciate the warm family friendly atmosphere. read more

Mary P.

4 years ago

We love this place for Sunday breakfast. Today our waitperson was Katie, and she was perfect--attentive but not intrusive, took our order and brought our check in a timely fashion. read more

Meredith S.

4 years ago

Great food and and lovely service! Been to this location a few times and it never disappoints. There may be more of a wait at times but it's worth it! Enjoy :) read more

Steven M.

3 years ago

Great place. Great food. Our waitress Andria was amazing and very friendly and helpful. Next time I'm in the area I'll definitely be coming back read more

Robert H.

3 years ago

Food and Service was really good today. They where really busy and everything was still on point !!! Thanks to our server Andria !!

Gwendolyn M.

5 years ago

BLT BenedictWe just left the Glenwood first watch gg service is great thank you I had pancakes and bac loved it

Isaac V.

4 years ago

Food good. Service by Haley good. Overall good. I apparently need 38 more characters. Should now be good.

WonderlandHan R.

4 years ago

A great place to grab brunch! Food was on point, coffee was fresh, and Lily was a great server.

Baylee B.

3 years ago

Food was great and service was quick. Our server katie was very kind!

Michelle G.

3 years ago

good and service amazing. fruit is always amazing! thanks Andria!

First Watch - breakfast_brunch - Updated September 2026

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First Watch

4.3

(59 reviews)

This location is right across from Char Grill and has great access to street parking! Now let's get…read moreinto the food! The food and customer service here NEVERRRRRR DISAPPOINT! All of the staff members are always happy to assist and they are always smiling. Even the ones in the kitchen! The hosts are incredible and welcome you with a smile! I loveee that! The sandwich was soooo fresh and flavorful! The egg was a little runny and the avocado and bacon gave the sandwich a nice balance! They also give you a thermos or hot coffee to enjoy at your leisure. I never feel rushed here and enjoy time with my friends and family

I recently placed a takeout order at First Watch, but I visit this location quite frequently. I…read morelove their teas, the customer service is always great, and the food never disappoints! Their egg breakfast sandwich and French toast are two of my favorites, and my husband loves their omelets--ask for "The Works!" Definitely a great experience. 9/10!

Angie's Restaurant

4.7

(459 reviews)

From the greeting at hostess desk to get our beeper to the to-go cups that say Thank You,…read moreeverything was great! Jessica Zollo is amazing! She recommended great food. She was hilarious! We wanted to try everything but instead got the following: Pork chops w/cabbage, baked sweet potatoes, and hush puppies came with it Pork chops w/baked apples, scrambled eggs, French toast Hash browns Pimento cheese And then it came with dessert! Where was their room for dessert?! Now we understand why everyone had to go boxes! Yes! You want to eat here!

Angie's is as busy as always. I rolled in at 10:30 and there was still a line. Sadly, I can't say I…read moreenjoyed the food as much and, for me, the at home feeling is gone. Angie's is the only place around if you're craving chitterlings, which I was today. Today's were a little different, chopped but tasty. The 2 eggs and sausage gravy biscuit rounded things out. The eggs were fluffy and light. The gravy, tho. Overly peppery and no actual sausage as far as I could tell. The chitterlings were ok. I will say I had a case of bubble tummy by 4 and I hadn't eaten anything else. If you like a lively dining experience you're gonna love it. Just don't let them seat you at the door. It's really distracting to have people hanging around your table while you're eating.

Eggs Up Grill

4.0

(91 reviews)

First time trying this place and I had such a great experience! The staff was super friendly and…read moreattentive, and our servers did an awesome job. The restaurant has a cute diner feel with colorful decor and a fun, casual atmosphere. I got the lunch salad & sandwich special with the Southwest salad and turkey melt. The salad was fresh and I loved how generous they were with the avocado. The turkey melt was delicious and the bread was perfect! My mom got the Create Your Own Omelette, you pick 3 items (she chose mushrooms, onions and peppers) and a side and a bread of your choice (ex white, wheat, English muffin) . She picked grits and an English muffin, and the grits were so good! They have a huge menu with lots of variety. I'll definitely be back!

Nothing I like better than eggs Benedict on a Sunday. So I headed over to the Eggs Up Grill in…read moreGarner. My Holly Springs experience wasn't the best but I wanted to give them another chance. Sadly I was disappointed. The servers were amazing. Those men and women were friendly even while working hard to feed a packed house at 9:30 am. I was immediately seated at the bar ( solo dining has its perks). Coffee right away. A little light for my taste but oh well. The eggs came out on a biscuit with a very thin slice of Canadian bacon. Looked great. But the eggs weren't fully poached. Runny whites I ate what I could and let my server know. Her response was I should have sent them back. Not what I was hoping to hear. Especially when food safety is at an all time low. No need to return.

Eggs Up Grill

3.7

(34 reviews)

TLDR: Great food, not enough feta and if you are craving a flavored coffee, don't get it from here…read more This is a solid four star experience. I ordered delivery: Greek Scrambler with cheesy homefries and a Mocha Cold Brew. The eggs themselves were perfectly made. Fluffy with the perfect amount of cheese. The veggies were perfectly cooked. The Lost star was for the amount of feta (just a small sprinkle when thats my favorite part of the meal) and the Mocha. I was craving a sweet treat and needing coffee. The Iced Mocha was the reason I picked this restaurant. The picture, with the wip and the drizzle... looked perfect. What I got had no whip, and tasted like straight coffee. I think they forgot the Mocha part of the drink. I usually make my own coffee at home with sugar free syrups for days I am not getting a sweet caffinated treat. I added my own syrups and was sad as I drank my very expensive self flavored iced coffee.

So bummed with our visit here! I've been waiting to try Eggs Up for a while now (I understand how…read moreevery new restaurant has their kinks to work out). Upon arriving, there's 3 doors. It'd be nice to have a welcome sign on the door to the actual entrance. At the entrance you see the back of a desk/hostess stand. I thought that was so strange to walk in to that. Place itself was light and bright. Just the layout was a little odd. The food itself was nothing special. The coffee drink I got was so pretty but tasted so watered down. Kiddo got the waffle that was so bland. And I got the chicken omelette that was missing the salsa on top as stated in item description. Prices are high for the value of the food itself. Waitress never came over to check in after food was served. And I ended up having to seek her out for my bill after waiting too long to pay so we could leave.

Another Broken Egg Cafe

3.6

(469 reviews)

We love trying new places. We were visiting our daughter in Raleigh and we spotted this little…read moreplace in a plaza. Loved the name so in we went. It was bright and spacious, friendly hostess. Server was friendly a d efficient. Talked to use about any questions about menu items. They offer seasonal specials so check them out. Great breakfast/brunch menu. So much to choose from. Wife opted for the Bacon and Grilled Tomato Benedict and I got the Southern Breakfast Bowl. My wife also opted to upgrade her grits to bacon Gouda grits and also had The Hurricane adult cocktail. The food was very good. Fresh ingredient prepared perfectly and hot. Service was 10/10, food was 10/10. It is a little pricey. Not the kind of place you visit each week but the quality of the food is excellent. What a fun place to treat yourself. Oh did I mention. You get free, hot and fresh beignets as a first time guest with a marmalade dipping sauces? Great experience all around 4/5 star because of price. But worth the occasional indulgence.

Came in on a Monday morning, no wait but there was a handful of people still. The waitress we had…read morewas the absolute sweetest lady ever! I just wanted to put her in my pocket. It was kinda quiet but still a good amount of music playing For food- I couldn't decide between two plates and just got both to share with my friends. Best decision ever! I was able to enjoy both so much I loved that for the mimosa you can taste that it was fresh OJ with it ! Definitely recommend this place

Metro Diner

4.3

(964 reviews)

My wife and I had lunch here today and everything about it was excellent: service, food…read morerecommendations, ordering, speedy food service, food quality and quantity, price (by 2026 standards) etc. I had the bbq bacon cheeseburger with fries and my wife had the shrimp and grits. Both were excellent. We will dine here again.

The Metro Diner is always busy, so I did expect a little bit of a wait. I was told 20-25 minutes…read moreand waited that long outside. Then, I moved inside to see what the delay was, and the host tried to seat me at the counter. Really? I'd been waiting 30 minutes, and you won't seat me at the empty table. So I declined and said I'd wait for my table. I never got a notice on my phone either, so what was the point of that system if you need to be inside the small waiting area to be called? I could see the open table, but I was not seated for another ten minutes. They didn't want me at the big table. Then it was interesting to watch all the staff walk by and ask who had my table. How do they not know which tables each person has? Someone eventually came by, asked if I'd been helped, and took my drink and food orders, since I'd been waiting quite a while. I ordered a half-and-half tea. I'm not sure she knew what that was, as she kept saying "unsweet". The first tea was half-and-half, but the refill was unsweetened. I went with the chicken pot pie, as that is what caught my eye. I expected a delicious dish, but what I received was disappointing. The ratio of the chicken, gravy and veggies was way off. I'd say there was enough low-quality processed chicken for three to four people, a little gravy and even less veggies. I had a bowl of processed chicken cubes with a splash of sauce, not what I had in mind. I usually skip the pastry part, but I ate that as I needed something other than chicken. I left some of the chicken in the dish. The waitress didn't even offer me a to-go box. It was that bad that I wouldn't eat it anyway. My check was brought out soon after I got my food. I don't understand the rush, but bringing the check early won't get me out any faster and lowers your tip. This was just a really bad experience, and I don't see myself returning. I have liked the food in the past.

Brunches

4.0

(121 reviews)

This place really surprised me. We were just looking for a good spot to get a brunchy/lunchy type…read moremeal on our way to the coast, and new there would be a lot of options in this area. So we pulled off, took out the trusty Yelp app, and this place popped up. Pulling it, it was clear that they were popular and busy. We went in and there was a wait, about 15 minutes. We decided to hang around instead of worrying about "making good time" and are glad we did. Once we got a seat, we received great service. Our server always kept our drink full, and checked on us just enough. We never felt like we were searching for her. Looking at the menu, I was surprised to see that the prices were not unreasonable, even though it's a very trendy place. in fact, they had a $10ish lunch menu available with a few selections that even included a drink. I was more in a lunch mood so I went that direction, and got a buffalo chicken sandwich with fries. Food came out hot and in a reasonable time even with a full restaurant, so this is a well oiled machine. For the price, I was pretty impressed. I would say the sandwich was about the size of your average CFA chicken sandwich, but had a bold buffalo flavor that I liked a lot. They didn't skimp on the fries, and the ranch complemented it perfectly. We finished up and our server was on top of things getting us the check, so really we still made "good time" on our drive to the coast. I would recommend Brunches to travelers and locals alike!

Food was not great and definitely overpriced for what we got. Our waiter stopped by pretty…read moreinfrequently, and after we finished eating, we waited another 10-15 minutes before we finally had to wave him down to get the check. We were expecting a cute brunch spot, but this really wasn't that at all. The whole experience just felt pretty underwhelming. They also have a 2% service charge buried in the fine print on the menu. That's the only place it's mentioned unless you specifically ask about it when paying. When you go to pay, they don't give you an itemized bill either. You're just shown the total after taxes and the service fee, along with a recommended 30% tip. The waiter said the 2% fee was for credit card payments, but I hadn't even taken my wallet out yet when he mentioned it, so I'm not convinced that's true. Overall, just not a great experience and definitely not worth the price.

The Flying Biscuit Cafe

4.1

(235 reviews)

We stopped by and had a delicous breakfast, hang out with the kid is always the best! He got the…read morechicken tenders woth fries, we got good old classic eggs and protien with a pancake. Donut bites are on the dry side, just a heads up. It can get busy but service is always great! Coffee is fresh and everyone had a smile. Food is amazing and no wait for a table. Will be back again!

Besides the biscuits and cranberry apple butter (which are fluffy and amazing), our food was pretty…read moremediocre. I've been to another Flying Biscuit location and the food there was great, so maybe this location was just having an off day. Also, we were sat at a table that had trash from the previous diners tucked behind the sugar bowl (gross). My husband had the Pancake Tacos and said they were okay. I had the Wake Up Burger and was disappointed. The flavor of the burger patty was weird, and my Moon-Dusted potatoes were stale or undercooked. The service was good, and the restaurant is cutely decorated. I'd give this place another try if a friend wanted to go, but I'm not rushing back, and I definitely won't be ordering a burger here again.

Famous Toastery

3.7

(32 reviews)

Good food, reasonably timed service given peak hours on a Saturday and helpful server. The place…read morewas clean and had lots of food + drink options. Looking forward to going back again.

Famous Toastery has a lot of potential, but the overall experience can be frustrating. The food is…read moreokay--nothing particularly memorable, but decent enough if you're just looking for a casual breakfast or brunch. Where things fall short is the service. It tends to be slow, and getting your server's attention can be a challenge. Paying the bill ends up feeling like a project, with long waits just to close out. If service improved, it would make a big difference, but as it stands, the experience doesn't quite match the expectations.

A Place At The Table

4.8

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