This place is still a hidden gem, but shouldn't be. This little café should be a destination choice when in Raleigh. The food is always outstanding, fabulous service, and never a disappointment. I recommend this place to everyone while in Raleigh. It's casual dining but with a highly creative and ever-changing menu. Everyone needs to check this place out at least once. If they do, they will definitely return. read more

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This little café is easily in my top 5 favorite restaurants in Raleigh, and probably my #1 for brunch. Foodies in the know apparently also agree with this assessment! It's a small neighborhood establishment with a homey feel. The menu changes daily as they source seasonal fresh ingredients, and when they run out they run out. There are some staples on the menu like their wings (best in Raleigh imo) and ribs. They are smoked then fried and their in-house seasoning and BBQ sauce rank among the best I've ever tried. I love coming here since I can always try something new and inventive, and there has never been an item I've ordered that hasn't been exceptional. Although I personally benefit from it still being relatively under the radar, this seems like a crime. Bring your friends, bring your mom, bring your friends' moms, come check this little spot out. Favorite menu items: I could literally close my eyes and point, lol, but most memorable have been their smoked duck (any way they prepare it), shrimp & grits, anything in their house-made Buffalo sauce, the broccoli caesar salad, smoked wings... Oh! And they have a very nicely curated beer and wine list, and daily specials. Check out their Instagram for daily menus. read more

SmokeStacks Cafe - Char sui "Benedict?" special with kimchi, wonton crackers and sriracha hollandaise. - Wine Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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This place is incredible! Don't let the old building fool you. Food is absolutely 5 stars!! We had deviled eggs, wings (garlic Buffalo - the favorite, and dry rib rub), fries and the steak and cheese. The steak on the sandwich melted in your mouth, and the dip that came with the fries was addicting. The AC was not really working, which is the only reason I gave it 4 stars. Would absolutely go back, the food is that good! read more

Great food! We enjoyed the Vietnamese-bahn-mi-twist on the crab BLT! The ribs and chicken wings were delicious. The fries were nicely done and the portions quite sizable (maybe enough for 2/3 ppl). This is a nice unpretentious neighborhood spot. The servers were really pleasant! We sat outside the slanted table top and unwanted visiting flies took away from our experience. Maybe we'll bring bug spray with us next time. read more

Smokestacks is a precious little hole in the wall gem tucked in one of my favorite Raleigh neighborhoods. There's pretty limited indoor and outdoor seating, and we were lucky enough to snag one of the last tables inside. You can tell it's an old home that's been converted into a restaurant, so it has a very cozy feel. They change the menu every day, so if you like to look ahead of time just check their Instagram page. Their seasonal apple cider mimosa was really good, and our server was nice enough to make an iced coffee for me. The waitstaff was so friendly and added to the homey feel. I went with the pork hash, a little different than what I'd normally choose. The pork was so juicy and tender, and the sausage was also tasty. I loved the runny eggs with the crispy potatoes, and the onions worked well with all the flavors. My boyfriend ordered the Reuben or maybe a brisket sandwich - whatever it was he devoured every bite including the delicious fries topped with a bit of parmesan. I hate that it took this long to finally try Smokestacks, but we'll definitely be back for another brunch and to try their dinner menu! read more

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This is a diamond in the rough, in a residential area. Adorable outdoor patio. Daily changing homemade menu=fresh! Albiet, too salty. Friendly and knowledable service. A delighful first visit! read more

Cute little place in Raleigh! My friend and I visited New Year's day and weren't disappointed. We ordered so many different things off the menu, including salmon crostinis and sangria (not pictured). Make sure to check out their Instagram because the menu changes daily! read more

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Really awesome spot to check out in Oakwood! We recently ordered takeout and pickup was super easy. I do wish they had online ordering, but calling was easy enough. The portions were huge! Definitely enough for sharing and some leftovers. They change their menu up all the time, to view their most updated menu just head on over to their social channels. We had the pulled pork mac and cheese, smoked wings, and chicken and dumplings. All were things I'd order again. The mac and cheese was a southwest style mac and cheese which while isn't my favorite was still tasty. The pulled pork on top was flavorful and melted in your mouth. The wings were also spot on! The only thing that feel flat for me was the dessert. We tried the red velvet rice krispy treat and all I could really taste was the food dye. The interior is small, but they do have a patio with heaters if you'd prefer not to takeout. There is only street parking, but parking is easy in this neighborhood. Definitely worth a try and I look forward to grabbing takeout again soon! read more

Y'all I have been DIYing my house all day. I am covered in saw dust and look a hot mess. Also, most importantly no cooking is happening today. Hubby wanted BBQ and agreed to go get the food if I drove. The restaurant is in a residential neighborhood , but was easy to find. Not far from Oakwood Cemetery. It was actually the first time we have been in this area and I was surprised by all of the changes. My hubby called me to go over the menu (menu changes daily). They were super friendly and helped us select a great meal. I had to put the bags in the back seat to prevent myself from eating and driving. read more

We're visiting NC and wanted to seek out some really good BBQ. This place does NOT disappoint. Maybe not exactly traditional BBQ but don't argue, just go. First off, my son told me "this isn't the place, this is someone's house." Not much of an argument there; we had a lovely evening on the patio. He's a big rib guy and was skeptical of them being advertised as "NOT fall-off the bone." But he stuffed himself nonetheless! They're smoked and then fried, which is a really cool combination. Same with the wings I had. The bourbon BBQ sauce is great, but my favorite was the Chef's Rib Rub dry wings. So smoky and delicious! We had the garlic fries, which were nice. And to top it off, ask about the apple Cider slushie! It wasn't on the menu but it's well worth a try. Super glad we found this place, thanks to the other reviewers for pointing us here! read more

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Have you tried this hidden gem?!? @smokestackscafe is nestled into The Historic Oakwood neighborhood in Downtown Raleigh, they create very flavorful house-smoked meats. I mean...WOW! ⁣ ⁣ ⁣They offer take-out and have a cute renovated patio if you want dine outdoors. Head to their page for their daily takeout menu! read more

SmokeStacks Cafe - Smokestacks Signature of wings and Half a rack of smoked spareribs with bourbon barbecue sauce⁣ - Wine Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We had tried Saturday lunch while visiting out of town. We tried the shrimp and grits which were horrible!!! It looked like slop! No presentation, horrible taste, and shrimp tails still on. Grits were runny. The tails were lost in the soup when trying to cut, lol! We also tried the stuffed crab avocado. Nothing to rave about. Lacks presentation. Cheese should never be on seafood. Pass! read more

We were in town for a conference and stayed just down the street from the restaurant. We wished we had more time in Raleigh because we would have dined here a few more times. Food was great, we enjoyed the patio, and our waitress was very friendly and helpful. read more

SmokeStacks Cafe - Duck fart shot - Wine Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I loved the cafe that was here before Smoke Stacks, so I wasn't too sure about it whether I'd be disappointed. Well, I was not! They have pretty limited hours right now, so I got take out. The Katsu sandwich was AMAZING! It had so much flavor between the meat and the tangy slaw. I expected it to be greasy, but fortunately it wasn't. The house-made chips were tasty (I dipped them in Ranch). I got some jalapeño corn bread. I would've liked it more if half of the bread hasn't gotten stuck to the wrapper. I'll be back to try out their brunch at some point! read more

SmokeStacks Cafe - Katsu sandwich & house made chips - Wine Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

WONDERFUL! Offline Raleigh brought us here and honestly, if it weren't for the, SmokeStacks would never have come up on my radar. This eatery is TINY and hidden away in the middle of residential Oakwood. Even if I did drive by it, I don't know if I would have ever stopped in, because it looks so unassuming. I certainly learned my lesson that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover because this was an incredible meal from beginning to end. The service was great, the 3 dollar mimosas were on point (pineapple mimosas?! YES.), and the food was soooooo good. We came during weekend brunch so I ordered the cathead biscuit with the server-recommended sausage gravy, and my husband ordered the brisket sandwich. We both LOVED the food. The brisket was so tender and the sauce it comes with was awesome. This is the best brisket we've had in the Triangle--and my husband is from Texas so he's the brisket authority. Likewise, my biscuit was gigantic (ergo, "cathead") and smothered in a savory spicy sausage gravy. It was carb heaven. Washing that yummy biscuit down with that mimosa was icing on the cake. Thank you so much SmokeStacks for a memorable brunch! I highly recommend y'all come here! Support local! read more

SmokeStacks Cafe - Brisket sandwich - Wine Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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We visited here just recently, and fell in love with it. Their service is friendly and the food is awesome totally loved it and will be coming back for brunch read more

I was a little skeptical because of the location but the food was actually really good. The woman at the front was very nice and helped us decide on what to eat. The only thing I didn't like were the flies swarming around outside. read more

Listen, and listen clearly...this place is everything you would ever hope for... and nothing you would not. So just to start we ate: ribs, wings, 2 spokestaks hash, smokestash hotbrown, char siu Benedict. NOTHING DISAPPOINTS. Being from Louisiana, eating out is a drab because we're EXTREMELY biased to our foods BUT I would Eat here EVERYDAY If I could. When I asked my travel friends for an adjective that would describe this place, and the words they said were" Welcoming: "the way they welcomed us in, gave us information on the restaurant and menu, and the friendly esponse to our questions was second to none!!" Classic: "Home. antique aesthetic! next time I visit I have to go there! Character, Scenic... DELICIOUS!!! Just for review purposes, the bathrooms were very clean! We had an amazing time! This place is locally owned and operated so we were served by the actual owner and SHE IS OUTSTANDING!! Do yourself a favor. Go. Plus they're pet friendly w/ indoor and outdoor space!!!! If I'm ever in Raleigh again, catch me here! read more

Stopped into SmokeStacks Cafe on a late Sunday afternoon for brunch. I love having a restaurant right around the corner from my house and was sad when the prior tenants left. I have been a little hesitant about heading over to SmokeStacks because the name itself isn't very appealing to me, but after seeing all the great reviews, I knew I couldn't miss out. Walking into SmokeStacks, nothing visibly has changed from the previous shop. You'll seat yourself and a waiter will take your order. If you've been to the small house located in Oakwood, you'll know that it's tiny, and on this Sunday afternoon, almost every table inside was taken. I ordered quick, the brisket sandwich ($12) on their bunch menu with the side of chickpeas ($5). I wasn't expecting a twenty minute wait for my food, but after the long wait, it arrived. Although the brisket sandwich had a good vinegar bite to the meat, I was disappointed that said meat was cold on arrival. The chickpeas on the other hand were piping hot, very seasoned and served in a brown paper bag, creative concept. Overall, I'd skip the brisket and try another option next time, surprising because I'd except them to shine in the barbecue arena. Additionally, you're ultimately paying minimum of $17+tax/tip for a meal as the sandwich is served by itself, no sides. For a neighborhood cafe, I thought it was overpriced. I'd order the chickpeas if you go with a group, it a large serving and would be great for sharing. I'm curious to check out their dinner options, maybe that's where they shine. Until the future visit. read more

SmokeStacks Cafe - Brisket sandwich, served as is, no sides. - Wine Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Got to try this place on our food tour and I am very glad we got to try it. We would definitely come back to this place for a full breakfast as the little sample we had was excellent. Wish it wasn't the last stop on the tour so that we could have grabbed one of their Desserts too, but we were just too full at this point. read more

SmokeStacks Cafe - Wine Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This was a great Saturday night dinner! I was dining solo and treated like VIP by my server, Ashlee, on this rainy evening. Greeted kindly right away and allowed to pick my own table. She brought my menus, along with a fresh bottle of water and mason jar. My mouth watered as I listened to the specials. I'd already made up my mind before I walked in that I wanted the Brussels sprouts ($8.00). I'm read the list of beer and wine and didn't see a cider. I'm glad I asked because it turns out that the cafe had just gotten one. The Hard Apple Cider ($6.00) was light and perfect with the Brussels sprouts, with their balsamic vinaigrette, mustard, and bacon bits. I had been wrestling between the signature wings and the mussels special ($14.00), but am really glad I went for the beer cheese mussels. 20 fresh mussels cooked to perfection with thick bread on the side. Delicious. I was amazed. Much to my delight, I looked to my left and saw the Chef. Turns out Ben is also the owner. He was pouring over menu options to plan the Christmas catering options. I praised the mussels and made conversation. Really nice guy. I'm going to be back and I hope more of Raleigh discovers this gem for themselves. It's a small menu, but carefully crafted with precision for smoky unique and local flavors. Go get a taste for yourself! It made my night. read more

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I love this gem! It's hidden in Oakwood, just outside of Downtown Raleigh. They're only open Thursday - Sunday and their menu changes every day. You can see each days menu on their Instagram - they post it their daily. The chef creates so many cool and unique dishes. Most recently I had a pig ear salad and it was SO good and then I also got the fried soft shell crab hash. They also have sangria and mimosa pitchers!! read more

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Many of the menu items are unique and of the six items we ordered all were exceptionally tasty. While the indoor seating is on the smaller side, it has a great cozy atmosphere and some outdoor seating as well. Service was stellar. The staff is very attentive and hospitable. Really sets the tone to eat, drink and be merry! read more

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The most underrated place in Raleigh. I love this gem of a place. If you haven't tried it, you are missing out. We found them on a bike ride a few years ago, and were pleased to find a place with good food and few pretensions. read more

Incredible food, vibes, and service. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Raleigh now!

The menu caught my eye . There is something for everyone. Great , friendly service and amazing food . I loved the deviled eggs and the fresh tomato and pimento cheese pie . I will def return as there are many things that I want to try on the menu . Great local place . read more

SmokeStacks Cafe - Pure deliciousness - Wine Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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I completely underestimated this place due to the curb appeal. We then went inside and to my surprise, the food was good. The dirty butter fries were a hit! The wings had the perfect smoked flavor. The ugly breakfast would've been better if the food was hot instead of warm. The pork skins complimented the deviled eggs. The french toast were so delicious. The dessert was sort of bland. I couldn't get into it. The drinks were a hit too. I underestimated the margarita. The frozen lemonade with the candy and vodka was too good. read more

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Outstanding food and service! Will definitely go back. Highly recommend for brunch

Came here for the first time with my husband. The place is in compliance with Covid and socially distancing. Hubby and I ordered the picnic plate that came with pickled vegetables, homemade pimento cheese, deviled eggs and fried pork rinds. Absolutely amazing and tostada brunch which was to die for. highly recommend this place. This is our first time and will not be our last :-) highly recommend read more

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AMAZING food i'm obsessed. the customer service is amazing it's food is definitely true to its southern roots even down to the hospitality as it's served. sweet staff, delicious food, and the drinks are good(: me and my gf will definitely be back read more

SmokeStacks Cafe - pulled pork parfait - Wine Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Came here to celebrate my husbands birthday to have brunch. This place is on the corner of a residential street but it felt like it just belonged there. The workers were so friendly, so sweet. We were helped by everyone and it was so seamless the way they handled our order. Nice modest portions. I came on a sunday and had the weekend mimosa special, you get a bottle of champagne and free juice. Amazing add to my breakfast. Sorry I have no pictures of the food. If ur looking for a cute spot for brunch w/ friends or family u found ur place. read more

SmokeStacks Cafe - Mimosas! - Wine Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

So impressed with SmokeStacks Cafe! We loved the picnic board. It was nice that it was a keto option too and you can't go wrong with deviled eggs! My finance ordered the burger (on special with a beer every Thursday for $16) and I ordered the tuna stack. Both were great! We will definitely be back! Brunch next time! read more

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Delicious, best food I've had In awhile! I loved the environment and their dog friendly atmosphere! Great place to go on a sunny day :) read more

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So good and hospitable staff, don't change a thing! Deviled eggs and the wings are the way to go

I've only been to this unpretentious little restaurant once, but I'll go back for sure. I had a steak-and-potato eggs Benedict, which was rich and luscious and, for me, enough for two meals. The steak was perfect and tender as could be. So much flavor. In addition, the service was prompt and friendly and casual, never overbearing. Somebody in the kitchen knows what they are doing. I'm still thinking about that meal two weeks later. read more

Great food and service. Love the vibe of it. Try the ribs ! The patio is where it's at .

Just returned from an afternoon meal here. I didn't think of taking a picture until I was already well into it . . . but it was a creative brunch option, a steak-and-potato eggs benedict. The baked potato was on the bottom, the (really, really good) steak sliced next, and then the two poached eggs and the sauce (not a traditional Hollandaise) on top. A very minor quibble is that one of the eggs wasn't quite done (runny whites), but as I brought half of it home and will nuke it at some point, that's actually not a problem at all. It was tasty and what I particularly liked was the service--helpful when needed, casual and friendly, but not intrusive. Exactly what one wants! Based on that one dish, there's a reason for the high ratings this little restaurant has garnered. read more

This is the best hidden gem ever!! From the service to the menu is excellent . One of my fave spots in town

This little hidden gem in the Historic District was the perfect Friday night meal. We got an assortment of wings, cauliflower Mac, and brussel sprouts. We had ordered the wings extra crispy and they did not disappoint. Would definitely recommend! read more

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Great atmosphere and quick and easy service, the only downside would be that the patio fills up quickly but I was there peak brunch hours on Sunday. read more