My oh my, this may be one of my new favorite restaurants in Raleigh! All of the food was excellent!…read more When you arrive there is parking available on the street or in the paid lot next to the restaurant. Walking in you'll feel like you've walked into a retro-chic, high energy, and upscale diner. Even the waiting area was nice to sit in as we waited for our table. For drinks I ordered the Hurricane (Rum, Pasionfruit, Grenadine, Orange, Lime), Scorpion (Amaro Nonino, Montenegro, Sweet Vermouth, Hot Honey, Mint), the 1806 (Orange Infused Bourbon, Brulee'd Orange Syrup, Bitters), and an espresso martini. I'd say it was a tie for favorite drink between the Hurricane and the 1806. Both were well balanced and tasted great. The scorpion was a bit spicy for my liking and the espresso martini was good just wasn't as good as the hurricane/the 1806. For appetizers we ordered the Maine Lobster Doughnuts, Heirloom Tomato Pie (with Tennessee Buttermilk Cheddar & Sherry-Sherry Vinaigrette), and the Watermelon Vinaigrette (with Avocado, Goat Lady Dairy Chevre, & White Balsamic Vinaigrette). The Maine Lobster Doughnuts and Watermelon Vinaigrette were excellent. The watermelon was sliced, goat cheese wasn't too strong and had the perfect blend of flavors. The Maine Lobster Doughnuts were also perfectly cooked and were so good. The Heirloom Tomato Pie was okay, just had a really strong mustard after taste which wasn't my favorite. For my entree I ordered the 10 oz Hanger Steak (Creamed Greens, Oil-Cured Olive Butter, & Red Wine Shallot Jus) which was cooked perfectly was so good. Even the baguette and butter were excellent!! Lastly for dessert we split the Peach Shortcake (Vanilla Bean Mascarpone and Cinnamon Crunch Biscuit). It tasted like a croissant and peach biscuit and was excellent. If you are in downtown Raleigh definitely check out Poole's.

As a vegetarian, I was happy to find enough options at Poole's Diner to put together a full meal…read more The pimento cheese had good flavor, and the fried saltines were everything you'd want fried saltines to be. Just a heads-up: the pimento cheese is served cold. I was expecting it to be warm, but I probably should have asked. The heirloom tomato pie was good, not great. Think chicken pot pie, but filled with tomatoes and cheese. The flavors were pretty straightforward, but the crust was really good. The ricotta gnocchi was a hit. The gnocchi was very soft and pillowy, and it came in an almost pesto-like broth. I'm a huge pesto fan, so I really enjoyed the combination. The sweet corn with oyster mushrooms was also good, but there was a lot of sherry cream. The corn was practically swimming in it, and the mushrooms became so soft that they mostly tasted like the cream. Surprisingly, the sautéed broccolini may have been my favorite dish. It had a smoky grilled char while still keeping the firmness you want from broccolini. Simple, but really well done. We finished with the soft-serve sundae with braised blueberries, coconut graham crumble, and coconut cream. The blueberries were a little sweeter than I normally prefer, but the soft serve was delicious, the crumble added a nice texture, and the coconut cream was a subtle touch. Overall, it was a very good meal. Not every dish was a standout, but the gnocchi, broccolini, and sundae were the clear highlights.

Food is fantastic. Fresh salads (so healthy) and fresh fish. You gotta try the daily "fresh catch"…read more Service is personable and quick. It's in a great location and the patio is right on the main strip so everyone sees you and gets jelly as they drive by because you're the one chillin! Check this place out!

We used to love Academy History. Tonight it was terrible…read more They used to have the best grouper in town. This time I ordered the beet and arugula salad with crab cakes. The avocado was black, and the crab cake was the worst I've ever had. The worst part: I told the waitress and asked her to take it away. All she said was that she would let the kitchen know. That was it. Bad customer service.

An absolute gem in Raleigh! Boatman Distillery completely blew us away with their unmatched…read morecustomer service, local spirits, incredible Mediterranean menu and unique atmosphere. The highlight of our night was definitely the service! Our server, Sophia, was fantastic! From the moment we walked in she was greeting us with genuine warmth. She had an in-depth knowledge of their spirits and menu. As our first time visiting she made us feel right at home. She knows the cocktails and food and will recommend exactly what you are in the mood for (go on a limb and order what is recommended...you won't be disappointed :)) The manager, Darwin was one of a kind; showcasing a level of customer-oriented detail that you rarely see these days...with the top notch service and team it is clear that it all starts at the top. The manager here is the absolute gold standard of hospitality; stepping in to help the staff during a busy rush, and checking in on tables to ensure every single detail was perfect. Darwin provided impeccable recommendations. I highly recommend trying the made-in-house, specialty Navy Gin and homemade tonic (a total game-changer). He clearly has a deep knowledge of their crafted spirits, his attention to detail and customer care did not go unnoticed. The team at Boatman truly make you feel like a VIP as a customer. Beyond food and drinks, the live jazz music created the perfect touch to the overall vibe. The architectural masterpiece and curved entryways provides an aesthetic that makes you forget you're in Raleigh and not in the Mediterranean . Lastly, had the pleasure of meeting one of the owners tonight, who confirmed the team is just as amazing as the person in charge. You can tell they care deeply about the guest experience, it's obvious they have created a fantastic culture for their team. The staff radiates positive energy, which only happens under great leadership. All around great vibes. We will absolutely be back.

There are parking decks and street parking located near the business. The restaurant has several…read moretables inside of the business. Our server was very attentive and helpful. The restaurant will validate your parking if needed. I got the fatoosh salad, wings, hummus, and an order of fries. The hummus was good. The fatoosh was very different than any other fatoosh salad that I've ever had. It had a lot of large pieces of vegetables. I wasn't really a fan of it. The chicken wings were tender and the fries were served hot. The spices that were on the wings and fries was very distinct & a little overpowering as I continued to eat them.

Nice wine bar in the North Hills area. Parking was a bit tricky until we realized a parking deck…read morewas nearby. This place certainly is trying to be fancy, especially with their prices. However, the atmosphere is fairly low key, although there were a lot of people here dressed up (business parties?). The tapas were not my thing. I actually hate tapas and sharing small plates. It's never enough food. We had calamari/goat cheese/margherita flat bread. The calamari was sub par and the goat cheese was too small a portion. The flatbread was good. My meal, pan seared scallops, was a really good. The scallops were huge! Loved the garlic mashed potatoes! Would highly recommend! Service was quick. The only downside I had was the massive gout in my toe the following day from eating all those large scallops. If you are prone to gout, be weary of the scallops!

Super cute spot with solid food and TONS of wine options. We got the whipped goat cheese as an app…read morewhich was much bigger than we expected for an app, and I got the flatbread of the day for my meal which was hot pepper jam, grilled peaches, goat cheese, & arugula and it was delicious. Service was great, and they do a deal on Mondays where you get half off any bottle of wine under $100 which was a steal. Will definitely be back!

If you haven't eaten at Provincial in Downtown Apex-you are really missing out on GREAT Amazing…read morefood and the atmosphere is so welcoming and the service is perfect also !! You will not be disappointed with anything that you order!

This was our first time visiting and first time visiting Apex, NC. We were greeted and seated right…read moreaway. Everybody was very nice and attentive. They made suggestions based off questions we had about the menu and told us their favorite dishes. We started off with the burrata and oysters. For entrees we had the pork chop and the blackened salmon. Food was delicious. For dessert we finished with a dark chocolate peanut butter brownie , would definitely recommend that , husband loves the pork chop and I thought my salmon was good. The restaurant looks small however they have a second floor, which we did not see as we were seated on the main floor. Noise level is pretty moderate. I would definitely come back.

This was a lovely dining experience from beginning to end. At Brodeto everything is served family…read morestyle so they recommend ordering a few appetizers, pastas, and entrees for the table to share. My party was 3 people and we ordered 1 appetizer, 2 pastas, 1 entree, and 1 side and that was enough for us. The standout dishes were the foccasia bread and agnolotti pasta (you must get this) we honestly should have ordered two of these. The other food was tasty that pasta was just that good. It overall I recommend this place and will be back to try some more dishes on the menu.

Beautiful spot, and the best branzino I've had in a long time - cooked perfectly with char on the…read morecrispy skin and a delightful collection of herbs and crumbles. But... too many misses in too many areas. They belong in the Guide, but I don't think they're near a star. Some specifics: 1) The red snapper crudo is a mess. It's a delicate fish that needs a lot of room and light treatment to shine. Here it's doused in so much acid - tomatoes, peppers, vinegar - that if you closed your eyes, you wouldn't guess snapper in a million years. 2) The gem lettuces are... a Caesar salad. A pretty good Caesar, but there's just nothing notable. Little or no anchovy bite or citrus to balance the heavy hand of the dressing. 3) The service is hurried. I ordered 3 courses and was less than 50 min from sitting down to check. I appreciate a snappy kitchen, but this felt rushed. (On a side note... I sent back a cider that I hadn't realized was going to be so cloyingly sweet. Not a big deal - my risk when I ordered it - but it would've been a nice touch to take it off the bill given that I didn't touch it and ordered a much more expensive glass of wine in its place. It's little moves that shape a diner's overall experience.) It's a beautiful spot and a nice Mediterranean meal, but I wouldn't rate it among (for example) the dozen or so 1-stars in the DC area. Fiola (Italian) is a useful comparison. Several flourishes in the cooking and a higher level of service that make it star-worthy in its class.

Wyatt, our waiter was fantastic. Laid back, friendly, and very knowledgeable…read more We started out by sharing the Georgia Quail and the salad, both of which were prepared perfectly. For the entree I had the Australian lamb rack which was positively perfect. She had the Trout special which was also wonderful. For desert we shared the Goat cheese cake, which was very unique: had the texture of a Ricotta cheese cake, with a more distinct flavor that was wonderful. Experience was flawless so thanks to all

I know I've written a review for this restaurant at least one other time but they've somehow…read moredisappeared. Probably because it has been a long time since we have been. Armed with a gift certificate I'd been gifted, and with the current menu looking good, we made a reservation for an early Friday night dinner the 4th of July weekend, which was also a First Friday, so we were a little concerned about parking, but we got there a little early and got one of the two remaining spots in their small lot out back. We chose to eat downstairs, which also meant we could get in a little earlier. Upstairs doesn't open until 5:30. We had 5:15 reservations in the Tavern. Dinner was very pleasant. Our Server (Justin I believe) was fantastic. Incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and specials, down to the smallest detail and even shared special prices without having to be asked. Love that! We started with an Italian Chardonnay for me and a dirty martini for Him. They brought us a very plain looking bread that was full of subtle flavors that blended beautifully. For apps I had to try the Quail which was so wonderful and way heartier than I expected. I ate every bit of it and could have left happy but we had already ordered mains. He started with the Calamari which was not top of Justin's list, but it was decent. And so much that he couldn't finish it all. For entrees, I had the Swordfish, which honestly I wouldn't do again. The veggies on it were pretty much raw, and while I don't care for mushy veggies, I don't want them raw either. And overall, the flavors in this dish weren't a big hit with me, even leftover when I was hungrier, just not my thing despite the great sounding description. He enjoyed the heck out of his paella, with only one critique, and that was that he would have preferred a crispy bottom to the rice. We were too full for dessert. Of course this is fine dining, so prices are up there, but not outrageously so. I did think it was silly that they charged an extra dollar for the blue cheese stuffed olives for His martini though.

Stellar is Stellar. If you are looking for a Farm to Table that doesn't buy anything from Sysco…read morethis is the place. Great food, great drinks, and impeccable service Some advice go now because in the fall reservations will be at a premium

Stellar was a great discovery, and I hope that more people make the same visit soon. It is a…read moreclassy, yet still cozy wine bar/restaurant. The staff were all so incredibly kind and gracious during our entire meal. I am usually not one to order chicken when I dine out, but omg, I'm so glad I went against my instincts and ordered the smoked chicken dish. It was INCREDIBLE. The barbecue sauce on there was liquid gold, and the chicken was so tender. I am still thinking about that chicken days later. The basque cheesecake also was a nice cap to the meal though I wish it would have had some kind of sauce or drizzle option to it to add a bit more moisture. Overall highly recommend checking out Stellar for a nice, welcoming, and chill dining experience.