This might be the best new restaurant we have ever tried. Cocktails, service (Tori rocks), atmosphere, everything is amazing. But the star here (rightfully so) is the FOOD. And nothing is expensive. This is a restaurant designed to please, to excite and to outperform. The menu itself even has a sense of humor. Just reading it is fun. Cocktails are original and enjoyable. Food spectacular. Chef Katsuji Tanabe even delivered our food to the table, flaming our provolone and sharing a few secret ingredients when we inquired. How the big ass meatball could possibly live up to expectations was beyond me, but it did. The clams oreganata, and the crab pasta...all amazing! Food was so fantastic and reasonably priced that I even ordered the chicken marsala leg to go and can't wait to have it for lunch soon. For dessert we shared an refreshingly original version of a tiramisu (purple chai) and a busser dessert drink. If I had to nitpick something it would be that they don't have coffee or espresso. (they do have an espresso martini but it's made from powdered espresso). read more

See all

Came here for a group date night. Had a reso and needed to wait about 10 minutes to be seated as they were waiting for the table to free up. Not a big issue, but still of note if you're on a time crunch. After getting drinks, we were seated. The ambiance is cute, don't get me wrong, but man was it dark in there. That doesn't usually bother me, but I legit could not see my menu without a flashlight. Definitely felt like my mom in the moment. ANYWHO. We ordered the meatball and the fusilli pasta with chicken. The meatball was pretty good. It's large so definitely enough for 2 people. The pasta? It was mid at best. The nuts in it really threw off the pasta as a whole. And the chicken placed on top was not good. At all. It was very much giving lunch meat chicken vibes. It didn't even look appetizing. The color was pale. Yea, just no. Our friends enjoyed their food though, so maybe we just picked the wrong pasta. But it would be enough for me not to order food anymore. I'd come back for the drinks, but the food I'll pass on. read more

confirmed a reso on line, arrived to hear they "gave our reservation to someone else" (ironically with the exact same name as mine). Ordered Asparagus with Burrata; only had 7 asparagus on the dish. "Stemmy" ends were still attached. Impossible to cut (only gave us forks). Flavorless dish. Bread for the table was meh. No marinated olives were given as per menu. Butter was good and soft. Ordered the pasta/cream sauce with parsley. Specifically asked our server if the pasta was hand made in-house. He confirmed a definite YES. Pasta was from a box, minimal sauce in general, flavorless and peas tasted bag-frozen. Uneventful. We declined dessert ( only 2 options available ). I expected more from a food network superstar establishment. Side note: Add eclectic salt and pepper shakers to your tables. I know you're trying to appear like your menu's perfectly seasoned. It's not. Set aside ego and empower your guests to add their personal touch to your food. You can trust us. It's no reflection on you to let go a little. read more

After being seated no one spoke to us or even made eye contact with us for 35 minutes. Finally, my friend tapped the manager on the shoulder as he walked past us. Every single server and the manager walked past our table countless times and nobody noticed or cared that we didn't even have water! Yes, they comped our meal. The food was also not great. Whipped ricotta was adequate. Pasta did indeed seem to be homemade but was bland. read more

Great food and service. Urban hip ambiance. I would not recommend for Valentine's weekend because of limited menu.

This place was absolutely horrible. Service was atrocious. Food was tacky and uninspired. It's like two guys wearing backwards hats asked Ai how to write a menu. I would never go back. read more

The pasta was amazing and so fresh! I really enjoyed the Radiatore! You can really tell that they put a lot of prep and love into their food! read more

Friendly and fast service. A little pricey but good portions and really good food! Ordered the butternut squash salad and Cresta Di Gallo, both were fantastic! read more

Came with a group. We were early and offered to wait to be seated, but they had our table ready for us. That was so nice of them. The service was fantastic, and we felt very looked-after. The ambiance felt special and unique to me. The cocktails flowed. We had a mixed experience with the food. Everyone liked the appetizers, and we tried several including giant meatballs. For entrees, we were split. I loved mine (the spicy pasta), but about half of our group were unimpressed with their entrees. I love fresh pasta, and this place hit the spot for me. Overall, definitely worth a visit. Will go again. read more

I was not a fan of the host when we entered but my friends and I grabbed seats at the bar and had a fun time. My friend and I split a bottle of rose then ordered the chicken parm, oven roasted potatoes and lumache pasta. We also tried a cocktail. The food, drinks and service were all good. read more

Food was great...except for dessert. When you offer two desserts on the menu and the dont have marshmallows to make the smore flambe but offer to bring you out graham crackers and chocolate. The no ice tea. You are in the South. read more

Everything we got was amazing! Pasta with vodka sauce, carbonate, whipped ricotta, fresh brea, and Kardashian salad! S'more family for dessert was lit on fire and shared! Service and ambiance were fantastic as well! Definitely recommend! read more

The focaccia bread was absolutely delicious. The decor and aesthetic of the restaurant and lovely and great for a date night or night out with friends. It's a small plates style restaurant, so great for sharing but also to enjoy food on your own. The bread blew me away. The chicken was not my favorite and I was really looking forward to it. My friend had a pasta dish and said it was just okay. The meatball was delicious though and full of flavor. I'm looking forward to going back and trying more on their menu. It is a bit on the pricey end for small plates but it's in line with the cost of dining in downtown Raleigh. read more

Flour & Barrel - Focaccia - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

See all

My friends made a reservation the other night to celebrate their engagement and they picked the right spot! The host was super nice and made sure that we had a big enough table to accommodate our large party size. The restaurant is rather dark inside which makes it very nice along with the velvet booths throughout the dining room. We started with the bread service and cocktails. I had a dirty martini and I loved that it was made with Castelvetrano olives as the garnish. My friend and I split the radiatore pasta and the adult Caesar salad which were both fabulous! Others in our group ordered different pasta dishes, the big ass meatball, and the roasted potatoes. Everyone was pleased with their choices and agreed that we would come back! read more

See all

The seasonal menu items at Flour & Barrel are fresh, creative, and full of flavor. The meatball is one of my favorites, and the radiatore is always delicious. read more

So I was so excited to try this place and had been on my list for a long time. We went for pasta Monday and it was empty like completely eerily empty. I wanted their special chicken parm and just an average chicken parm came out without the melted cheese. I asked the waitress and she was rude and said it's on the secret menu. I mean I knew about it so it wasn't so secret but she wouldn't make it for us. The pasta was not what was in the description like a carbonara without egg. It was fine but nothing as exciting as the social media claiming it's shaken table side. So just be aware they have false advertising and a poor attitude. I am so so disappointed because I would have been a frequent flyer. Please go elsewhere for Italian. Brodeto is much much better. read more

Great evening at Flour and Barrel. Do not miss the Big Ass Meatball from their menu. We also enjoyed the Tomato Appetizer, the Bone of the Beast and the Radiatore. I would skip the Octopus and I think the Butternut Squash was a bit lackluster. Service was good, drinks were good (and presented nicely) and it's a cool vibe. The real candles everywhere did have me on edge, but added to the ambiance. I would go again! read more

See all

Great place for a different kind of meal! The small plates were fun to share and the drinks were fantastic!

Cute new restaurant! Would be great for a date night. The bread for the table is not complimentary, but totally worth ordering. It comes with this miso butter which melts in your mouth. Their cocktail menu is extensive. We ordered some small plates to share: Octopus, baked provolone, and the big ass meatball. All 3 were delicious!! Skipped on entrees and ordered the date cake for dessert. Everything was super yummy. I would return! read more

See all

I was excited to try this place knowing it was a newer Italian joint in a trendy downtown neighborhood. My husband and I elected to get takeout. We were sadly severely disappointed by the quality of the food. The portions were small, the flavor was lacking and 2/4 dishes we ordered were missing ingredients as advertised. The best of the lot was the vodka pasta which had flavor but the pasta was overcooked and it lacked texture. The arrabiata was extremely bland which was disappointing. The meatballs were quite good. There was no Parmesan in the bag or on any of the dishes- surprising as an Italian joint. The food was ready on time. read more

I love this restaurant. I've been here several times and the food is always incredible as is the atmosphere. Would highly recommend. read more

See all

What a great new restaurant opened by Chef Katsuji! I love the concept here of Italian small plates to share. The vibes inside were so fun, from the beautiful, large painting over where the chefs were cooking, to the hip-hop music playing, to the hilarious naming of the menu items. The service was phenomenal - our server was very attentive, had great recommendations, and the food service was prompt. We started off with their focaccia bread for the table. It was light and fluffy on the inside, while crispy on the outside. The miso butter complimented the bread perfectly with its slight sweetness and whipped, light texture. Our first small plate was the adult caesar salad. I loved the crunch and bitterness the radicchio brought, which was balanced out nicely by the creamy richness of the caesar dressing and chunks of avocado. We then moved onto the big ass meatball, which we had to get because of the name, and who doesn't love big ass meatballs? It was nice and moist inside, with a crunchy exterior. I was definitely missing truffle flavor on it and the actual meatball could have used a tad more salt. We finished with the conchiglie pasta with pistachio pesto & crab. The pasta was perfectly al dente and the pistachio pesto added an amazing nutty flavor. The only thing I was missing on the pasta was the crab. Overall this was a phenomenal meal of small plates to share, and we will definitely be back to try the other options on the menu, which all looked equally delicious! read more

See all

Our server Sofia was literally incredibly. Everything tasted perfect and she made us feel so special and welcome. Me and my wife came and we were in such a good mood after dinner because of the service! read more

Nice menu with lots of options. Portions sized right. Could use a little moe light! Salads, pastas all good! read more

My first impression was this space has a very cool vibe - however the menu felt small. The vibe however was on point - the reality of the menu is that although it's limited EVERYTHING was incredible. The menu is meant for sharing plates - and even with a party of 6, every plate had enough for everyone to try. The pastas are all exceptional - do not pass up the flaming cheese appetizer, and don't leave without trying the bread appetizer - the butter was amazing and the bread was delicious. Although this place feels a little bit off the beaten path of downtown, the service, food, and vibe will make it a staple for a fun night out. read more

Flour & Barrel - Flaming cheese appetizer - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

See all

The food is not good enough to deal with some crazy staff. Our waitress was amazing but watch out for the General manager, he was extremely rude and made snarky remarks as he brought our food. He also held loud side conversations next to our table. read more

Extremely cold in there, food was barely warm and pasta was undercooked with very little flavor. Meatball was very salty. Bread was stale. Unfortunately, we won't be going back. read more

Delicious cocktails and food! The atmosphere is beautiful and perfect for a date night or did you catch up with friends. Intimate but spacey! read more

Flour & Barrel - Big add meatball - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

See all

Flower Barrel is an absolute must-visit in Raleigh! We went this past Monday night and had an unforgettable experience from start to finish. I started with the Kardashians Salad--fresh, crisp, and perfectly balanced. The warm focaccia served with butter and olives? Next-level. The margarita came out bubbling and smoking thanks to dry ice--such a cool, theatrical touch that set the tone for the night. For the main course, I had the Chicken Parmesan, and I'm telling you, there's nothing else like it in Raleigh. They pour the cheese and vodka sauce tableside over handmade crispy chicken--it's rich, comforting, and absolutely delicious. And just when I thought it couldn't get better... we had a brownie lit on fire at the table. It was the perfect sweet (and dramatic) ending to an incredible meal. read more

I stumbled upon this place when I was in the throes of self sabotage (no regrets), looking for comforting carbs / sweets. To that end, I tried the bread and date cake and both were absolutely phenomenal. The bread is made in-house and pulls apart so well. It's delectably spongy and the oil, butter, and olives were the perfect accompaniments. The date cake was warm and well balanced with the - I believe it was bourbon caramel? - sauce and whipped cream. It's the ultimate comfort dessert, and very unique for this area. The last time I enjoyed date cake was when I lived in China and this brought back all the nostalgia. The ambience of the place was amazing and the staff were super friendly. The drink menu looks tantalizing and I look forward to trying it out next time. Definitely a new favorite treat spot! read more

Flour & Barrel - House made bread and date cake - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The food was Amazing, beautiful atmosphere, and service was outstanding. Excited to go back again. My husband and I enjoyed a wonderful evening for our wedding anniversary. Thank you! read more

Our waiter, Green, was very nice. The restaurant looked nice but in this heat wave felt like the exact same temperature as outside. The service tried to accomodate by lowering temp to no avail. We were sweating and we were right under the vent. The food left a lot to be desired. The kardashian salad was great but I felt like I could make it at home. The pastas both tasted the exact same and shared 0 ingredients other than pasta. Both lacked salt. The big ass meatball tasted like cinnamon or cumin and wasnt noteworthy. The francese chicken came out fried. I repeat fried. On the menu it says "sauteed chicken lemon butter and white wine sauce". They musta had that baby under the food lamp... it was so dry it was inedible. But to be honest what could we except after the first pasta course. The bread and the drinks were great. Maybe just come here for happy hour so you dont pay $65 for a freezer meal. read more

Fantastic place for a date night out! Friendly staff, yummy drinks, and some amazing food (highly recommend the big ass meatball)

Food was exceptional. Very well done. However, the service was one of the most abrasive and disappointing I have ever had. We made a reservation for 4, explicitly to celebrate my father's birthday and told them this when we made it. They indicated they would bring out a candle lit dessert when the meal was over. This never happened and the waitress blamed whoever took the reservation for not informing her. The blonde waitress who served us was the most rude, condescending and passive aggressive server I have ever encountered. Twice she tried taking away the small plates before we were finished and didn't ask, she was insulting and mistreated my step mother. My wife asked for the chicken parm plate but with no cheese as she doesn't tolerate dairy well, and was told "we don't do modifications here" in a condescending tone. We were the only ones in the restaurant at 5pm. I literally would have left $0 tip and raked her over the coals but didn't want to ruin my Dad's evening. Worst experience ever. NEVER going back! read more

I have been here many times and every time is absolutely a phenomenal dining experience! From the moment we walked in, Michelle and Brittany provided impeccable service - friendly, attentive, and made us feel like family. They went above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect. The food was divine, with authentic Italian flavors in every bite. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the staff made the evening truly memorable. If you're looking for top-tier Italian cuisine and outstanding service, this is the place to be! read more

What is better than a delicious meal served in a beautiful space and enjoyed with a dear friend? Having the experience enhanced by a great conversation with the owner. Anthony is charming and clearly invested in creating unique dining experiences in Raleigh. My friend and I relished our late lunch of freshly baked Foccacia sandwiches and house-brewed beer. The dining space featured a post-industrial design with a lavish, magnificent mural adorning one wall. Flour and Barrel is new and exciting, especially for those of us used to larger cities with many culinary innovations to explore. I can't wait for my next meal there! read more

See all

Great Food and Service. Chicken Parm was Amazing, and also their IPA . Cozy and warm. Servers are Great. Loved it . Will be returning.

Whipped ricotta and the radiatore is insane!! Best I've ever had!! The sugar daddy and a glass of cab, bananas!! Google lists this as number 3 on top 10 best, but I'm here to tell you.... Numero uno!! Insanely good!! Service 10, food 10, weather 8 but f* Chantel!! If you don't come here, you're making decisions!!! read more

Flour & Barrel - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Really disappointed. All of the reviews said it was great but we found severely overpriced food with little attention to detail. Charging $23 for a small chicken parm, $28 for a small plate of pasta (both listed as entrees). Overall, don't waste your money, they are charging 4 star prices for 2 star food and service. read more

Google states and according to their website they're open on Saturdays till 230 for lunch. When we arrived, the music was every other word was B.TCH music was blaring outside it was so so inappropriate even for Raleigh in the afternoon. Only two people eating at 1230pm. Girl at door was nice and said she can turn music down we said no thank u and left. Maybe this place is empty for a reason. I tried calling earlier because there were no open reservations until 1:30 PM which is very weird because there's only two people in the whole restaurant eating. And they never answered the phone. I called like five times and when it goes to voicemail. It says this phone does not accept Voicemail. read more