We celebrated my husband's birthday here this evening (Thursday) and were very pleasantly…read moresurprised! We were a group of 7 and had a big, round table in the open-air area. Beautiful setting! A perfect evening, weather-wise. We all loved our food selections (steamed mussels were perfect). No complaints on the very imaginative and yummy entrée selections. The drinks menu was fun and tasty! Dessert was delicious as well (creme Brule). Service was super friendly and efficient. We will definitely be back! Thank you for the lovely evening!

I visited Nightingale on a Thursday evening. The parking here is free and effortless, the staff…read moreprovided a warm and welcoming demeanor when I arrived. The ambiance here is lovely. Nice chic decor and a nice rooftop for cooler evenings. The patio has doors that remain open so the temperature inside was unbearable for me. Someone who does not have a good relationship with heat should not dine here in the heavy hot months. It was difficult to get cool. They don't serve anything in copper cups and there are not any frozen drink offerings. I ordered the crab dip. It was okay. Probably not the best option to go for here. I tried the focaccia which was very good. The Peruvian salmon was really good on the flavor. The rice was extremely overcooked (mushy) as if it had also been sitting. The carrots were pretty good. All of the food was lukewarm. I enjoyed the Queen's Park Swizzle as a refreshing and somewhat cold with plenty of ice. I recommend Nightingale if it's convenient for you. Nightingale is decent place for craft cocktails. I would not recommend on the food alone based on my experience.

The cocktails here are fantastic and I love the dimmer lights than the dinning room offers. We…read morewill often eat here just for that (well and the cocktails). Parking is easy - they have their own lot. It's a small space, but never overcrowded (at least when I have been there) and their drinks rotate seasonally. Service is always prompt and they are nice! Great place!

Ambiance is a little lackluster as it's attached to V pizza. I think turning a few of the high top…read moretables to more relaxed seating would improve the vibe. Their cocktail list has some unique and whimsical drinks - ALL are delicious. They'll also once in a while have a couple of special cocktails on a board that the bartenders have concocted - also delicious! We always choose this place over the ones in downtown Cary as the drinks never fail.

Great service on a packed Friday night and the cocktails were on point! I had the old fashioned (no…read moresmoke) and it was perfect. My husband had the Sombra Rioja and it was the perfect combination of smoke and spice, great for mezcal lovers.

A friend of mine visited here last summer and recommended it whenever I was in Apex. I never go to…read moreApex. Until a friend's meetup group scheduled an afternoon "let's have cocktails all afternoon" Friday. Yup, count me in! I got there right at the appointed time, and the early birds were already halfway into their wine. There is a large patio area outside with chairs and tables in small groups. A sunshade and some nicely placed trees help a little There are a few 2- and 4-tops scattered around as you enter. To the left is a large square bar that projects into the room. Behind it is a veritable library of liquors, towering to the ceiling, which is about 9-10 feet high. Seeing the bartender climb up the sliding ladder and fetch a spirit was part of the show. Further to the left are two seating areas with round tables. We had one of these. The Cabernet proved to be the darling of the group (I think we had three bottles and a few extra glasses, but no one was counting! There were eight of us, so don't think we're a bunch of drunks!) I had looked over the menu online and started with the "Up in Flames". It's a Tiki drink, served with a squeezed lime shell garnish that has a sugar cube and some kind of liquor in it. The waiter lights it while still on the tray, and then sprinkles in cinnamon, which sparkles into the drink. He then extinguishes the flame and serves it. It was quite a show and very delicious! If I ever go and sit outside, I'm going to film it! After a bit, we were getting hungry, so food started appearing. The fig & prosciutto flatbread arrived first, (with a single plate and napkin). It was a 12" x 6" flatbread spread with honey, figs, prosciutto, chèvre, and arugula. Another of these came out later. Quite delicious. Someone else had the nachos, which they said were amazing. After asking, the server brought out more plates and napkins. Other cocktails that we tried and enjoyed were the Perro Perdito (Lost Dog) and the Drastic Measures. The Mango-chili shrub in this one packed a bit more heat than the Jalapeño dip! But it was tasty, with the salt/tajin half-rim. After a few hours of fun food and drink and a lot of laughter, we decided to release our hold on the table. The dinner crowd was champing at the bit to take over, and we were pretty sated. Everyone was safe to drive, so we hugged all around and parted ways, well fed and better friends. Thanks, N&S. You may drag me back to Apex again any time!!

We had my dad's surprise 50th birthday party here, and I honestly couldn't have asked for a better…read moreexperience. The staff went above and beyond to help us pull off the surprise, and you could tell they truly cared about getting every detail right. The private room was set up perfectly, and the curtain entrance they created was such a thoughtful touch. Watching my dad walk through and see all of his friends waiting for him is a moment we'll never forget. The food was incredible, and the service throughout the night was seamless. This place played a huge role in making a really special night even more meaningful for our family. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking to host a celebration or private event.

Now been about 5 or 6 times since opening and unfortunately the past 2 times were significantly…read morelacking. Had a reservation for a birthday dinner and was so embarrassed about how everything went. We were seated right away but that was the end of the good service. For a weekend night it wasn't packed but not sure what was happening in the kitchen. Everything from drinks and appetizers to our meals took forever. One of the owners came over and apologized and offered us some free desserts but those took an additional half hour. Not sure what's going on with staffing. For a party of 8, all of our food came out at completely different times and some wrong, with a salad being the very last to show up. It was nothing short of a disaster. Now the food. I appreciate the change up on the menu but it just wasn't as good. A few ordered the Mac n Cheese and didn't like it. The short ribs and mash was hardly eaten. It did not look edible. Hard choice of appetizers now for a mix of older kids and adults. Quesadilla was just ok. The burgers were good but everything else just mediocre. We wanted to love it and have given it a great shot but will probably be a long time until we go back.

It's my first time here... Thursday night, Jazz night! This place is fabulous! It's very warm and…read morewelcoming. This is what you call a No judgement, hang out at home kind of vibe. The people were all very down to earth. It's Pet-friendly here so you never know who you're going to meet. We were fortunate to meet Bud! He loves the ladies. They have a bucket of dog treats at the bar for the fur babies. The entertainment was great. We enjoyed 2 different females on the mic with beautiful voices. Drinks: you name it! Note -- there is no drink menu. They have a very large selection of wine, beer, and liquor... take your pick. There isn't any food served here either. But the owner lets you bring your own meals and snacks with you. And let's Shout out to the tapster-- Liisa! She had me try pickled okra for the first time. She is the best!!

I came to Niche on a whim. I was having a bad day; a bad week really. Personal and…read moreprofessional-wise. I was just tired of shitty people and I wanted to go to a place that felt good. I just don't think I expected what I got. Upon entering, I was received by a small very warm and beautifully lit bar that simply felt special. I looked over the available wine and asked the gentleman at the corner seat if the seat next to him was taken. Little did I know that the gracious gentleman who kindly offered me the seat was none other than the proprietor of Niche, Mr. Ted Powell and that's when my night really started as Ted graciously regaled me with amazing stories between the pause on the songs played by the band. What a vibrant spirit this man has. If you go here, you have to meet Ted. From telling me about how he acquired the place, his daughter, Budstock, Maverick Rose Music Hour, and sharing details of each nights events at Niche, he made my first visit (just me myself and I) a beautiful one. He couldn't stop talking about how wonderful a mixologist Andy is. Don't get it twisted. This man is more than a bartender. He's a diplomatic mixologist who knows how to let patrons know, in the most respectful but boundary maintaining way, how to behave. I saw him in action and it was a beautiful thing to see him basically offer up a dose of kindness with a dash of "you better check yourself before you wreck yourself." If a place could be described by one word, Niche's word would be KINDNESS. I felt like I was taken care of. Thank you Ted and Andy for being so kind on my first visit and turning my night around. I look forward to future visits. This place is most definitely a must visit when in North Carolina!

We loved our meal here! Ambiance was nice, service was great, and the food was fantastic!read more

We tried Arita for dinner with friends on 11/22. The food was fantastic, the atmosphere was fun…read moreand our server, Alivia was awesome! We had a mix of Sushi rolls, Ramen and Katsu. All were yummy. Pricing was about normal for Asian Fusion. This is our new favorite Sushi place. We will be back! Note: We went early but by the time we left all the tables were full and there was a wait time so don't go hungry if you go at a normal dinner time.

I visited Smash Burger many months ago and found the burgers truly "smashing". Loved my mushroom…read moreSwiss burger. Now! The onion rings: home new level of perfection! Huge, extra crisp in a thick batter, it was love at first bite! The atmosphere, the backdrop, the scenes and setting were beyond fetching. I had to admire the "bar of many colors." The brilliant bottles and prestigious brands, were an epic sculptural vision to behold, front and center stage. Planted right on the corner of historic 242 S.Main, it can't help but be charming, fit for the cool historic block. The sidewalk the passes by the storefronts in the street is fit for a photo! I hear it gets very busy on weekend nights, so get there early for a window seat or a choice bar stool! They are cool andcergk

Service was good, atmosphere was good, and we love the food here…read more..... ....but very disappointed to see the edamame disappeared from the menu. Was one of our favorites to order and a large reason we came to the restaurant.

One of our favorite casual date night spots! There is a wide variety of different dishes on the…read moremenu, but we loved the bruschetta boards. We tried 8 different ones, and all were excellent! The pesto and salami one was my favorite. The inside of the restaurant is pretty dimly lit, but we didn't mind and it helped create a cozy atmosphere. The outdoor patio looked nice and could be a good option for daytime. Our waitress was very attentive and let us know about the seasonal specials. They have a board and wine deal on weekday nights that we're looking to try next. Would definitely recommend for a fun night out in the Village District with friends or a date!

Another Arizona staple that made its way to North Carolina! My husband and I stopped in here for a…read morequick bite on a Friday night before a concert. I have been to Postino many times before, but this was my first time at the Raleigh location. While it's been 4 years since I've had Postino and the menu has changed a little, the bruschetta board is still a permanent fixture. We ordered a bruschetta board for an appetizer and I ordered the half panini & half salad for my entree. The bruschetta board is a must order because you can get 4 different kinds. The top tier choice is the salami pesto one. It's my absolute favorite. For my panini, I got the caprese one on ciabatta bread and the half of the mixed greens salad. The salad was delicious. This was a ton of food and felt very satisfying. I always love the vibe of Postino's, but this location was way too dark with only a small candle at the table. Service started off good and we were able to order our food without a problem. However, our server was done with his shift right after we ordered so we got a new server. Our new server had no idea we already ordered and was a little behind coming to our table for water refills. Despite that, we were in and out of the restaurant within 45 minutes. Postino is surrounded by other shops and restaurants, so they had a ton of parking available outside the restaurant. Highly recommend this place if you want good food!

We've come to this place many times and have loved it for several years. Recently we have gotten…read moreto know one of the bartenders, Stephanie - she is magnificent. Great attitude and extremely nice. She takes great care of us! My wife's favorite is the spaghetti carbonara and I have come to love the sausage and peppers with oil and garlic. Abel is masterful with this stuff. Just the right amount of garlic and seasoning. You have to go see them and TIP STEPHANIE WELL!

This spot has quickly become one of my favorite neighborhood go-tos. Unlike my first visit, the…read moreservice has been consistently phenomenal every time I've come back. The drinks are fantastic, the food is always delicious, and the atmosphere strikes that perfect balance--comfortable whether you're dining solo or celebrating with a big group. My go-to order is the rice balls... absolutely so good! Definitely a place I'll keep coming back to again and again.

Food, service, and ambience are all 10/10!…read more I did a shared plate afternoon adventure with my friend. We got the scones (I would recommend the honey and chive butter, she preferred the sweet cinnamon sugar). We also split the French onion Mac and cheese. I love that they use cavatappi (sp? - corkscrews) so the sauce is in and around every noodle. The crisp onions on top provided a perfect crunch! We also split the crab and avocado sandwich with house salad. The house salad dressing was amazing as was the crab and avocado. It was so good I asked for a catering menu for my next event. Thankfully, our amazing service was Gabi, who manages all the catering. Such a great experience on a lovely afternoon.

Thankfully, I had been to the Pimiento Tea Room for lunch before, because if my first experience…read morehad been this dinner visit, I likely wouldn't have returned. The décor is absolutely stunning, and the service was excellent. We visited during Christmastime and truly loved the festive decorations. Our drinks were perfect and well-crafted. For dinner, we shared the chowder, which unfortunately was underwhelming--the croutons were the best part. We then ordered the chicken, salmon, and mashed potatoes. The salmon was dry, the chicken was on the bone with very little meat, and the mashed potatoes were surprisingly disappointing. I even took them home hoping I could improve them myself. I will likely return to the Tea Room because I enjoy supporting local businesses and genuinely like their drinks and small bites, but I would not come back for dinner.