This restaurant goes to show you really don't have to make it frilly to make it good. Relatively simple, straightforward, fresh flavored food at its finest. I went for the Holey Hen, and while I'm probably not the chicken salad aficionado some patrons and reviewers are, I can say that it was probably the best chicken salad sandwich I've ever had. The main ingredient was perfectly seasoned and the perfect amount. The cucumbers were sliced nice and thin to add refreshing watery crunch (but not too much), and the Swiss cheese -- while somewhat surprising -- added a certain texture and flavor to tie it all together. Plus, it's the kind of lunch where you feel satisfied but not destroyed by a wad of grease and/or a super-sized portion. I'll certainly be back, anytime I'm passing through Raleigh. read more

If you want a good, fresh sandwich for lunch this is the place to go! It's an old house in the middle of Oakwood so be on the lookout for it. It's right on the corner. Streetside parking right out front has never presented a problem. They have all kinds of unique selections from the Let's Horse Around (roast beef), Moby Dick (tuna), to the Camel Rider (turkey). And luckily for veg-heads like myself they have over half a dozen choices (more if you get a sandwich "without the bacon"). They all have great fixins like sprouts, onions, tomatoes, and mushrooms that make them special. They are piled high so don't think you'll be hungry because you "only had a sandwich for lunch". They come with a side of potato salad, pasta salad, or chips. I usually substitute a side salad, but the salad is large and amazing so it's worth the extra $2.70. The desserts (all of them, because I think I've had ALL of them) will knock your socks off and probably your shoes if they aren't tied up tight! Bread pudding and pecan pie,oh my. Note - They usually have 1-2 servers and food preparers so service can be a little slower than a typical restaurant. It's not criminally slow but I would go on a day when you don't have a meeting right after lunch. read more

Side Street Restaurant - Cheese Delight - Sandwiches Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Found this cute, little neighborhood spot while I was in Raleigh for work. With so many options to choose from in the area, it can be easy to overlook this place. I'm so glad that I stopped by. The food is really yummy and fresh. The staff is very friendly! read more

There's nothing on Mary Lou's menu that isn't good. I love the traditional chicken salad, but she also has a California style that is delicious. Pair it with a side salad with sherry vinaigrette and you will have the perfect lunch or dinner! It's not on the menu, but Mary Lou does bake fresh cheese straws that are amazing. Be sure to ask if she has any on hand before you leave. Don't be in a rush, because you'll want to enjoy your time at Side Street. It is worth it! read more

See all

Super cute place off the beaten path. I had salad and it was very fresh and tasty. It was so fresh I was wondering if maybe they had just picked it out of the garden! About the desserts....yum! I wanted to try them all!! Service was fine, no complaints. read more

Getting four stars because my wife thinks it's a five and I think it's a solid three. Potato and pasta salads are really good deli sides. Sandwiches are pretty standard with a few exceptions. One of my big pet peeves is that they have a club that doesn't include bacon. THAT'S PART OF WHAT MAKES IT A CLUB...Bacon, lettuce, and tomato. Anyway, it's close to our house and my wife loves it so I'll continue to pick up takeout from there. read more

One of my and my husband's favorite places to eat in the downtown Raleigh area. It is quaint and has really good sandwiches and salads! Their desserts are really delicious!! The owner makes most of them herself. If you have a chance stop by I think you will want to return again. read more

I'm so glad I found this place and gave it a try. The building is about to fall apart it seems, but this place has a solid following and always totally packed. I've only been here twice but can tell you I will definitely be back. The first time I got their egg salad sandwich - it had black olives, onion, tomato, sprouts on it - an interesting but amazingly delicious combo. The second I got the Split Personality which is a pita filled with chicken salad on one side and tuna salad on the other. The chicken salad has apple and nuts in it, which I love - and I'm usually weird about tuna salad, but theirs IS AMAZING. It's different than anything I've ever had with carrot and maybe raisins in it? I don't even know how to describe it - but if you don't hate tuna, try it. Soups here are also very good and from what I can gather via my observations - desserts are ON POINT. They are fairly large portions of some older classics like chess pie, key lime, pecan, etc. I want to try one but the meals here are so gigantic. Potato salad is great. Pasta salad is ok. They also have a black bean and corn option, chips, and I believe fruit if you order a sandwich for lunch. I am coming back here and might even go for lunch today! One tip: They don't take credit cards unless your total is at least $10 - so be prepared. read more

Went with friends for lunch what a wonderful experience waiter was friendly and helpful and refilled waters and ice tea without having to ask went back in the evening the next week and enjoyed another wonderful meal Eating here is like going to a dear friends home Cloth napkins and covering lunch and dinner Definately make it your business to eat here. Brenda read more

This place has got to be one the best kept secrets. My DIL and I had to meet up in Raleigh for a sad event but decided to go to lunch afterwards. I let her pick the place figuring it would be somewhere outside the beltline. I was less than enthusiastic when we pulled up to the place. Oh wow! This place is AMAZING. The food was absolutely fantastic! Homemade everything! Homemade Italian dressing? Seriously? YES! Best. Stuff. Ever. Service was great, ambiance was great, food was beyond great. I don't typically give 5 stars for anything but this gem deserves each one. read more

Cozy little restaurant hidden away from the main roads. One of my go to places for lunch. They have excellent soups, the tomato basil is my favorite. Their soup portions are small and I pay more here for soup than anywhere else but it's so worth it! They have a variety of sandwiches to choose from. Also have quiches. Leave room for desserts! Homemade pies, brownies, and cookies. read more

My husband and I were at the Archives and this place was close. Quaint place. Great staff. Great sandwiches. They were large! And then we got a dessert... I got the apple pie which delicious and if I had known it had a crumb topping I would have ordered it for sure! I got ice cream on it which was very tasty. My husband got the key lime pie which he said was very good. I got a ham sandwich with swiss on pumpernickel-very, very good. My husband got a reuben and he devoured it. We highly recommend this place. read more

I tend to dine here with the same group of people each time and we joke that it is the slowest service in town but great food! That makes it worth the trip despite knowing you aren't being pampered. This is a tiny little diner/restaurant set in the middle of Oakwood in Raleigh. It looks like it's been here for at least 50 years, although I'm not certain on that. It fits the historic area though, like a glove. Side Street has all kinds of sandwiches, all are great! I've never had anything here I did not like, nor anyone I have dined with. They also have yummy desserts, my fave being the lemon bars. The place is always packed, but be aware that if you are planning on staying past closing time, these ladies will kick you out. The staff is not exactly the warm and fuzzy type. With that being said, they don't fake the chumminess with you either, which I can appreciate. Oh, and be sure to bring cash, they don't take cards. read more

Side Street is a pleasant little spot located in Oakwood. My wife and I stopped in for a mid-afternoon snack, and the cups of soup that we had were delightfully delicious and obviously prepared fresh and onsite. I'll keep this review short (just like our meal), but we'll definitely be heading back and will post a more complete review then. read more

Side Street is a cool restaurant tucked away in the middle of historic Oakwood. It blends in very well with the surrounding houses and seems to be a spot that is popular with people who live in the neighborhood. I have been here twice now, both times for lunch. All of the tables inside the restaurant are topped with white tablecloths. There are lots of paintings on the walls and it feels like a very cozy place. Their menu has a variety of sandwiches as well as soups and salads. They generally have a quiche of the day. The sandwiches are creative and reasonably priced. I like the variety of toppings on the sandwiches. They have sandwiches like egg salad, chicken salad, avocado, pimento cheese, etc. Each sandwich also comes with your choice of side - things like chips, potato salad or corn/pea/black bean salad. Overall a nice lunch spot and definitely a cool spot to check out if you are around the Oakwood area! read more

Went here with a coworker while in Raleigh for work. Cute little place hidden literally on a "side street" in the middle of a neighborhood. Service was spotty but we got everything we needed. It was a little hectic when we went as we were right in the middle of the lunch rush and you could tell they were scrambling to reset tables that had turned over. We sat in the restaurant, but they also had a counter you could order to-go from. It took a while to survey the menu as there were an extensive amount of really awesome sounding sandwiches. I opted for the Director's Salad which I was quite impressed with. This was not just a pile of greens with a few real veggies thrown on. This salad had a ton of great really fresh veggies - onion, cucumber, tomato, broccoli, and it was mounded with turkey and ham. The lettuce was also super fresh and crispy (I hate when I get a salad and it comes with brown wilted worn out lettuce). My coworker loved his sandwich which had real fresh avocado (no processed stuff here). HUGE selection of unique sandwiches that I will be back to try. Remember cash - it's cash only! read more

My first impression is that it's a very cute and quaint little restaurant, nestled in Historic Oakwood. A great neighborhood spot! It is in a very old building/house and could definitely use some updating as I saw some paint peeling off the walls, but the furniture is nice and each table is covered with a white table cloth, so it was very cozy and inviting. The menu is great and offers a large variety of sandwiches, salads, soups, and quiche. I decided to go for the "Holey Hen" which is a chicken salad sandwich decked with onions, sprouts, cucumbers, mayo, and Swiss cheese served on your choice of bread. The chicken salad was made lightly with mayo and had relish mixed in, to provide a sweet flavor. It was a huge sandwich and definitely satisfied my hunger! I also got a side of very tasty pasta salad with my sandwich and it was all for a great price (around $9). All in all, they offer food for every palette and at a good price. We were the only table in the restaurant so they could definitely use some marketing. The decor needs a little updating and they only accept CASH (crazy this day in age!). I would recommend this spot to anyone who wants a delicious, low key meal. read more

We had a delicious lunch at this small privately owned cafe! Both of us enjoyed our sandwhiches -- chicken salad and albacore tuna. The tea was fresh and the atmosphere pleasing. The service is slow paced, not snail slow, but worth the wait. We heard the desserts were amazing so we shared a lemon bar that was melt in your mouth...just yum! The cost is fairly reasonable for a small business and the staff friendly. Would definately recommend this place. read more

See all

hands down, literally the worst sandwiches we've ever had in our life. the staff couldn't be othered to greet us when we we walked in. 0/10 would not recommend. will not be back. read more

Delicious sandwiches! Great atmosphere and very reasonable prices. Try this local spot out if you are in town! Everything looks and taste homemade! read more

Always friendly, always delicious! Best lemonade in town. Favorite place for casual sandwich, hosted an event years ago and had more then sandwiches, great options for large gathering. read more

A highlight of Oakwood! Friendly service and delicious home style fare, this family run cafe won't disappoint. Lovely quiches, soups and two pages of delicious sandwiches and salads to suit any taste or diet. Save some room for dessert too, they're excellent... If you want a great meal without the pretense I doubt you'll find better in the State. It will be the eatery I miss most at the conclusion of my time in Raleigh :) read more

This has been on my to try list for quite some time and I'm so glad I finally went! I went on a Thursday during peak lunch hours and was seated right away. I loved the quaint vibe. There were some cool old timey coffee table books about Raleigh I've never seen in bookstores before. The menu is quite extensive. Almost every single sandwich sounded good to me but I went with the Let's Horse Around sandwich ( roast beef, bacon, cheese, lettuce and horseradish on an onion roll) It was huge! And so delicious, definitely needed a knife and fork. You can choose between pasta salad, corn and bean salad, or chips. Before the check came I noticed the dessert menu on the wall with all kinds of pies including black bottom pecan pie. I went with the lemon bars and was not disappointed. It was cool, smooth, and refreshing. I would definitely come here for lunch again! Keep in mind it is cash only. read more

My mom has been taking my brother and I to Side Street for years now. It's not somewhere that I can go for lunch unless I've got well over an hour to spare. Parking can be frustrating, and at times they are extremely busy. All of the menu items are made in-house and the desserts are great. If there's a cobbler on the menu that day, make sure you get it. read more

Restaurant was cute and the food was great. The linens weren't super white, but seemed clean. Our server was sweet, attentive and accommodating. Though the restaurant wasn't packed, the take out orders kept rolling through. I can't wait to go again and try something new. read more

Side Street Restaurant - Back wall in the dining room - Sandwiches Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Super cute little spot. We stopped here on our way to the museums with our daughter. Don't be throw off by the decor, bc their food is quite good as well as their service. My only complaint would be the $4 charge to split the plain half of my turkey sandwich with my 5 year old. If I would have been told that up front, I would have ordered my own for almost the same price. read more

A friend took us here for lunch last week. The sandwiches are large and delicious but the desserts are amazing!! The service was exceptional for our large group that called only a few minutes before we arrived. I look forward to eating here again when we are in town. read more

Ordered a turkey and cheddar sandwich on rye. Bread was stale, meat was mediocre. Tomatoe was mushy. Not horrible, not impressive. The potato salad is not something i would order ever again. Same with the frozen apple pie, which i only ordered to get over the 10$ credit card minimum. I might frequent here again simply because of its location but otherwise forgettable. read more

I used to live across the street from this charming place. Now I only visit a few times a year, but I can't miss a lunch at Side Street. The food is so delicious and the staff is wonderful. Although it is casual, there are white cloth tables and flower vases. Interesting paintings cover the walls. I enjoy it just as much if I am alone or meeting someone. Either way, it is so congenial and pleasant. The food is just as good if you go to the takeout counter, but I highly recommend the relaxing experience of eating a meal there. I also recommend the Let's Horse Around sandwich and ANY of the desserts. there is also REAL ice tea. They just had their 40th anniversary! read more

I had the "Av-o-ca-do Crush On You - Sweetie Pie" sandwich (without cheese or meat) along with the corn, pea and black bean salad. As a new vegan, I'm always looking for tasty places to eat in the Raleigh area, and this is one to beat! The takeout service was excellent, and I'll definitely be back again. read more

The numerous options of sandwiches made it hard for me to decide on one during my first visit! lol The food was fresh and mouth watering. I plan on going back for my second visit! I plan on trying one of their yummy desserts. read more

Amazing food. Amazing service. 5 stars and two thumbs way up. Would love to eat here every day and night. Truly found a gem in Raleigh, NC. Definitely recommend for food and the prices are very affordable. read more

Love Side Street! This quaint restaurant offers sandwiches, soups and daily specials that are yummy and filling. I have my favorites but also try new sandwiches occasionally and I've never been disappointed. Parking is on the street of historic Oakwood. If you want a "chain" menu and parking lot right in front of the restaurant, then don't come here. If you want to support a local business with personality and individuality that also offers good food, then this is the place for you. read more

I'd say the menu is standard (not in a bad way), and the prices are pretty cheap for lunch. No complaints about the food (although I get the same thing each time!). The 2 annoying things for me are: 1) They don't accept credit card, and 2) (I've only carried out and) the folks in the carry-out area are kind of grumpy. Each time I've gone, I've had to stand around for a while before they even acknowledge me. Just a bit awkward, but I suppose since it isn't fine dining, they don't have to be very customer service-oriented to do well. read more

I am in love w/ Side Street Restaurant. This place is a sweet little gem of a restaurant. I get the same thing every time, The Directors Salad, which a ginormous lovely bed of greens w/ fresh fresh veggies, and tasty deli meat... i get at least 2 meals from it, which could be 3, but once i get to eating this yummy salad i can't stop myself!!! You feel like you're in grandma's house when you step in, its warm cozy, and inviting. Outside are GORGEOUS flowers in a quaint neighborhood. I adore the staff, same people for years since I've been coming. its refreshing to find great food, great service, and what i would call a landmark in down town Raleigh. Love it!!! read more

This is a very cute lunch spot located in the mostly residential and historic Oakwood neighborhood. The building itself is old and very charming. I went for lunch recently, and there was a short wait but nothing major. It looks like a popular lunch spot for ladies and for people who work in the neighboring area. This menu has a large list of sandwiches to choose from. We got two and shared them. One was the California Gold with cream cheese and olive salad. The other was a fluffer nutter-like concoction, I can't remember the name. We got potato salad on the side. Both sandwiches were OK but nothing to write home about. The cream cheese/olive salad one appeared to be just olive cream cheese not necessarily an olive salad and cream cheese. Not sure what the deal is with sprouts here--they did not work on the pb sandwich. The sandwich is sweet with raisins and honey, and the sprouts were too earthy and just not right. The potato salad was a good Southern-style potato salad with mustard. I would say if you're in the area, it's a fun place to grab lunch. read more

This is a lovely little place, nestled in the midst of the Historic Oakwood District. I enjoyed the clubhouse sandwich, and my husband enjoyed one of the specials, Pulled Pork Quiche. The clubhouse was piled high with turkey, bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, and just the right amount of mayo. Cup of warm, rich chicken vegetable soup rounded out my choice. The pulled pork quiche was amazing: 3 inches high, filled with morsels of smokey pork, flaky crust. Desserts are scrumptious and varied. One couple we talked with noted, "Your first time here? We eat dinner here every Friday night; been customers for 30 years." Guess that says it all. read more

Wonderful little spot to grab a sand which! I can't express how pleased I was with side street! You must try the black bottom pecan pie and the key lime pie! The owner is charming and very good at what she does. read more

Side Street is a great and fun place for lunch or supper. The food is creative and delicious and the waitstaff always helpful. It's an added treat that there are daily specials, everything from quiche to pasta casseroles. Please note that Side Street now takes credit cards, with a $10 minimum purchase. read more

Been here several times for lunch over the past year. Food is great, with a large variety of healthy to semi-healthy options, prices comparable to other places in the area. It's in a great, quiet, historic neighborhood in Raleigh. Don't go if your in a hurry as they can get busy and the service isn't the quickest (although they're perfectly friendly). Also, they only take cash or in-town checks as payment. read more