5/5 - Bodega Understood the Assignment…read more We tried Bodega for dinner tonight, and this recommendation was an absolute WIN. From the cocktails to the small plates to dessert, this was one of those dinners where we just kept ordering things...and somehow they kept hitting. We started with drinks, and my dinner date ordered the Rum Old Fashioned--absolutely amazing. Smooth, well-balanced, and exactly the kind of cocktail you sip slowly because you actually want to enjoy it. I had the Orchard Sangria, and it was delicious! Light, fruity, refreshing, and not overly sweet. The fresh fruit made it even better, and it was one of those drinks that goes down very easily. I would absolutely order it again. Then we started working our way through the food, and this is where Bodega really shines. The concept is perfect for sharing, ordering a few different things, and letting the table slowly fill up with dishes. Everything was beautifully presented, and there were so many different flavors and textures happening that dinner felt like an experience rather than just a meal. The potatoes were perfectly crispy and seasoned, and the Peruvian chicken with pita was another standout. But that creamy crab dip with the toasted bread! Dangerous. The kind of dish where everyone keeps saying they're done and then somehow another piece of bread ends up in the dip. The lamb meatballs were beautifully presented and packed with flavor, with the sauces bringing everything together. Overall, there wasn't a dish on the table that felt like an afterthought. But apparently we decided we needed to finish STRONG. I ordered the Crème Brûlée Espressotini, and whoever decided crème brûlée and espresso martini belonged together deserves recognition. Rich, creamy, coffee-forward and indulgent without being too much--it was basically dessert in a cocktail glass. And then came the **brown butter pecan & pear pie! ** Rich, buttery, nutty, slightly gooey, and served with cream and that drizzle of sweetness around the plate--the pear kept it from becoming overly heavy, and the brown butter and pecan flavors were everything. I would absolutely order it again. Bodega gave us great cocktails, flavorful shareable dishes, beautiful presentation, and an ending that might have been the best part of the entire meal. This is definitely a place I'd come back to because there are still things on the menu I need to try. 5 stars. Get the Orchard Sangria, share a few plates, and whatever you do, save room for that pie and a Crème Brûlée Espressotini. 10/10 would recommend.

It's taken us 21 months to finally try this place - and it's well worth the wait!…read more Envision the ambiance of an intimate Cheers bar: cozy, wood and brick decor with soft lighting. Super nice location in the heart of downtown Wake Forest, Bodega is located partially below street level on White Street, sorta catty-corner from the CVS by the viaduct. Wonderful selection of tasty appetizers, something for practically any preference. A to-die-for eclectic wine list and yummy bar drinks - my margarita el pastor was YUM. Other Yelpers have posted good menu pics & pricing, check em out. We were luckily able to snag the last open table when we arrived, so the rapidity of friendly service and serving of our 6 or 8 selections was amazing. It was truly enjoyable, a definite go-to for pre- or post-Renaissance shows or bowling, a short walk away. As is my custom, I've attached a few pics of the food and atmosphere. Go see for yourself, and let us know your thoughts - enjoy‼

We took a drive from Youngsville to try it! Totally worth it!! Great food, service and the nearest…read morelittle place tucked into a neighborhood.

Okay y'all. Wrapping up my summer sojourne. Took family out to brunch. This was a perfect choice…read more The decor evinces a real farmhouse environment, ie: rustically charming. Very welcoming atmosphere. When you come in you're instructed to peruse the menu and order/pay at the register. Or you can seat yourself first, gather your utensils, and order from the menu more leisurely. I chose the latter option. Totally worth careful consideration of the menu IMO. I chose the Eye Opener Breakfast with extra side of grits, sausage and home fries. My family ordered the Salmon Smorrebord and the BLT&E on Crossant. Absolutely delectable. I'm definitely a fan and look forward to my next occasion to visit.

One of our most exciting and flavorful dining experience in months. Our downtown Raleigh dining…read morescene has amazing options, and Madre has stayed under our radar for no particular reason. We dined at their lovely bar back in the first months of their opening, and it was good. We had met the general manager, Red, and were impressed with the flavors of our one appetizer, Calabrian Chicken, yet we never rushed back. Now, we feel compelled to return ASAP to enjoy these exceptional flavors, fabulous teamwork system of service, and a comfortable chic atmosphere. The place was happening at 5:45 pm on our recent dining night out with friends. Grateful to have a reservation we were seated at a very comfortable banquette type of seating. It felt like dining in a friend's home. Our server, William, is excellent at his job. Very efficient, great input on food choices, and quite personable. The meal started off with a burst of flavor as we enjoyed their fairly new offering of a ceviche called Eye of the Tiger that featured a sauce you can never get enough of. Wish their bread service was a bit more inspired, but the Le Farm bread did soak up some of the various sauces sent out from a very inspired kitchen team. Food runners help make certain the tapas come out fresh and hot when needed. They are a friendly group of hospitality workers who seem to genuinely enjoy their work and treat their guests with sincere appreciation. It all starts at the top, and GM Red is a personable and sound leader. We loved the Chef's pasta, our octopus dish was stellar, the Calabrian Chicken almost stole the show, but the unctuous flavors on the plate of the Seared Halloumi was hands down my favorite. I love how this culinary team can crank out such outstanding flavors table to table and patron to patron without missing a beat. The energy in the room must feed their souls & for that we are grateful. Lastly I wish to mention the thoughtfully curated wine list where my husband discovered a treasure of a wine from the Familia Torres brand. It was exquisite and paired perfectly with Madre's flavors. Our friend who frequent their bar often rave about their Mezcal margarita! Another visit. See you soon Madre familia!

Good for a group dinner. We had 7 women and ordered about 8-9 small plates and that was enough for…read moreus. Left feeling satisfied but not overly full. Nice service. I wish they brought the small plates out in groups because they started with just one and there were so many of us. Waitress was nice. Drinks were good and strong! Free fudge for the birthday girl!

I am a tapas hater... I reluctantly came to this restaurant because it seemed like the only true…read morenon-chain restaurant on Franklin, and we wanted to be within walking distance of our hotel. Omg, am I a reformed tapas lover? Or perhaps just a Proximo lover? I think... yes. We weren't super hungry, so we only ordered 5 plates total for the two of us, and we still left delicious food on the table. We sat at the bar, which overlooked the immaculately clean kitchen, and got to chat with the expo chef, Ben, who was conversational and personal but also left plenty of room for my date and me to feel private. Ryan, our waiter, recommended a fabulous albariño, which more than made up for not having cocktails on the menu. The biggest takeaway: the chef in charge was kind and communicative with all staff. It was truly a pleasure to watch this kitchen operate. If you leave the restaurant without trying the tuna ceviche, consider yourself unlucky. Holy smokes -- I would order 5 helpings of that every single time. We're out-of-towners but will be back, and we'll be telling our friends all about this lovely establishment. Congrats to all on an amazing new restaurant, and best of luck. Anyone looking for something better than bar food on Franklin -- GO HERE!

We are from California, so we are trying the top rated restaurants on Franklin while in town. This…read moreplace is solid for tapas--not amazing, but very good. The service was excellent, with energetic young students from UNC who know the menu well and team up to cover each other. Our server was engaging and knowledgeable about the food and the wine choices. The atmosphere is warm and cozy. I will say that the booths are close together, so we could hear the conversations at tables behind and in front of us. It kept us entertained. We had: - the dates stuffed with pistachios and wrapped in bacon - the flounder - the steak with chimichuri - the olives - pan con tomate - potatoes bravas - tuna ceviche - crumble - cinnamon cake It was all very good. The best dishes were the potatoes bravas and the steak. Th rest was pretty mediocre. We had a broke of white Rioja--it went well with the food and was a good deal at $56.

First time coming here and it did not leave a good impression. Came in with my husband and the…read morerestaurant was not crowded. We were seated promptly but sat for over 10 minutes with no greeting or acknowledgement that we were there. The waitresses brought drinks to and checked on several tables around us and did not even say that she would be by in a few minutes to get us started. On top of that, the water glass at the table had a lipstick stain on it. We decided to leave and when walking to the door, the greeter asked us if everything was ok. We told him that no one ever came to the table and all he said was ok and went back to what he was doing. Very disappointed in this as some of the dishes around us looked good. Oh well.

Absolutely exceeded my expectations and wants... we were headed to a garden party when it was…read moretexted that the party would be delayed by an hour, and with the extra drive time... it just wasn't worth it. Last second punt to find something local and unique led us to The Nomad at Osburn and I am smitten... I absolutely did not expect that level of menu diversity and expanse. Thai, Indian, British fish-n-chips, steak... the menu was almost too much. I was craving Thai, and chose the drunken noodles. Was absolutely pleased with the flavors, portions, and service. The space was open, not too loud, and quaint but not intimate. It's a converted theater, so don't expect absolute privacy. Will absolutely return again to sample more of their menu!

Great cocktails, amazing apps and food, beauitufl view of the city, staff we're SO friendly!! We…read morewent here for my cousins 21st on a rainy Thursday and it was still a great experience. Not pictured-- The sorbet was so good! And the chicken app, amazing! I'd come back just for the chicken!

I went here with my boyfriend and his family as they were visiting town and thought to try it out…read moredue to the reviews and have to say I am slightly disappointed. Small portions for ridiculous pricing, we ordered the charcuterie board which was said to come with cornichons and grilled peaches, both of which were missing (the peaches we had were not grilled) on our board. We mentioned it to our waitress and she said they might have been out and she was going to go check, nope not out just forgotten. She came back with a small bowl of the cornichons and grilled peaches, if you're selling something make sure everything you talk about is going to be served the way it's described. Okay that aside, the smash burger my boyfriend had was great but the salmon... genuinely terrible. I love salmon and all fish honestly but it was just not cooked well, it tasted like it had been boiled or something it was soggy and had such a spoiled smell I was having trouble eating it because of how it smelled. I didn't feel like saying yet another thing about the meal to the waitress so I just left it at that but it was not a pleasant experience to say the least. The kitchen needs to do better!!!!!

Everything at Bar Virgile was amazing! I ordered a cosmopolitan, while my date ordered the…read moreelderflower cocktail. I liked my drink a little more since it was sweeter. We also ordered three small plates to share: the Mac and cheese, brussel sprouts with bacon, and the fried oysters. The Mac and cheese was absolute perfection and I probably ate the most of that dish. It was hot out of the oven and I enjoyed the crunch from the breadcrumbs. It was perfectly creamy but not too indulgent. The Brussels and fried oysters were also really great. Both were perfectly seasoned and tasted fresh. My date said the oysters were one of the best he's ever had! I'll be back for their drinks and food ;)

Bar Virgile is a must-visit in Durham. The drinks were top notch--crafted really well and…read moredefinitely stand out. The burger is easily one of the best in town, cooked perfectly and full of flavor. We also tried a couple appetizers and they were amazing, especially the deviled eggs--honestly some of the best I've ever had. The overall vibe is great too, just a really solid atmosphere to hang out and enjoy a good meal and drinks. Definitely recommend checking this place out if you are in durham

As always, an incredible experience at Little Bull. Not only is the food exceptional every time…read morewe're able to get a seat at their table but the service speaks for itself. Everyone we've had the pleasure to serve us has been knowledgable, efficient, nothing less of great company! Thanks to an extremely disrespectful entitled customer, we saw them outdo themselves even more. The test to a great restaurant is how they deal with tough guests. Not only were they professional, but they can stand up for their team in the process. We've worked in service before. For that management I'd give 100 stars! Little Bull knows food and service. Highly, highly recommend

Had a fantastic experience here for my daughter's birthday. Absolutely Stevie K Certified Legit!…read more The chef here, Oscar Diaz, had been getting a lot of love and deservedly so. Especially since being recommended in the Michelin Guide for the American South. We all opted for the tasting menu and it did not disappoint. We tried the ceviche, birria dumplings, ham as à la plancha, spring asada, churros and capirotada. Every course was excellent and the asada was some of the best steak I have ever had. Also did the wine pairings and they were excellent. I opted for the Cava Rose, Albariño, rioja, Cabernet and Amaro Nonino. Foods paired very well with these options. This was my second time here and second time having the gambas, which are always fantastic. Service was excellent and made for a very special evening. I highly recommend! Bonus tip: they are right next door to The Durham Beer Garden where you can enjoy a beer if you have to wait for a table, as we did.

GNO at Barcelona was exactly what we needed!…read more The food was incredible with so many different flavors to try, the ambiance was perfect for catching up with my girls, and our server was absolutely amazing from start to finish. Great service really makes the experience, and they did not disappoint. Already looking forward to our next girls' night!

I came here with a date and it was a great way to try out a bunch of different things and chat over…read moresome drinks. The wait time was really long, but the place was nice and although it was busy, we were able to get our food and drinks. We did put our name down for a table, but they never called our name, thankfully, we already had a space at the bar so not sure why our names weren't eventually pinged for a seat Either way it was good, the parking deck right next to the building makes it very convenient as well. Unfortunately, every bit of parking is paid parking, which is really frustrating but that's kind of just how most downtown places are gonna be I guess It is pretty darn pricey, most of the drinks were above $10 easily.

Service is great and friendly. The fried catfish on Tuesdays is very good and love the cheese…read moresteak! We also like having breakfast there. Good portions also.

I absolutely adore the farmers kitchen! It is so cool. The concept is just great perfect for…read moretoday's generation and others as well! Now let's talk about service! I love it can't say enough about it. You go in you order your food and it's up to you, where you sit whether it's inside or outside I love it! As for ambience, they allow dogs on the outside! Yes, it makes a difference to those of us that have dogs... There is nothing I can say besides it's a cool concept. I love the way you place your order and go about your business and they holler at you when it's ready to eat!