First off, beautiful place. Low lighting for romance or just comfort and intimacy in the experience. The books everywhere felt uniquely placed. The lighting fixtures were beautiful and artsy. Just a heads up, we were able to sign a book at the end of the whole experience, which was so unique and fun! I went here with my husband, kids, and mom to celebrate my 19 year old son's birthday, as well as serving as a send off for him to the USMC! Our waitress was wonderful and definitely made our first time in a great experience. She was thorough and helpful. She checked in regularly and gave us time to finish our apps before submitting our entree orders. We ordered 3 apps, the steak teaser, arancini di rising, and flash fried oysters. The steak teaser was like butter in your mouth with the toast. Truly amazing. The oysters hit the spot with the Cajun seasoning and the perfect bite over the bed of slaw to give it some freshness. The rice balls were so crisp on the outside, yet so creamy on the inside. That paired so well with the freshly prepared marinara and herbs. Entrees were cavatappi primavera with shrimp add on. The shrimp was incredible and pasta was so flavorful and fresh. It paired so well with my drink order which was the pear and loathing in las varina. It was so good I got a second. My husband got the 12 oz wagyu mid rare. It was done as the Oscar style and he had the Brussels sprouts. I tried his food. Yes, we share! It was melt in your mouth delicate. The sauces complimented every part of the dish and the tomatoes added the best acidic contrast to lift it all up. His drink choice was wuthering berries and yes I tried that too. Wow! Such a great drink. Very in depth with the flavor profile and he had to order a second himself. The rest of my party ordered burgers and one other steak, the filet mignon. Burgers were cooked to order and still juicy. I would've chosen medium rare but they chose medium and medium well, so it was to their liking and cooked perfectly. The sweet potato mash was delicious as well. The filet was ordered medium well but still held so much flavor and juices. Such a great talent for cooking these cooks have. That paired with the waitstaff being so kind, helpful, and super attentive made the evening perfect and one to remember! Id truly give them 10 stars or more if I could!! read more

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We were really hoping this would be our new go to for special occasions. Went there last Sat night for our 20th anniversary. First red flag was table next to us kept looking all around for the waitress for quite a while, ended up getting up themselves to go pay bill bc they waited so long. Initial service was fine but she got slower through the meal for us too. I ordered the fried oyster app. Could tell immediately they were left in the frier too long. The breading was very dark....and so crunchy upon trying. Grew up in VB and I know how good fried oysters should be. Someone knew they left it in too long and was too lazy to toss 4 more in. Then I splurged for the $80 wagyu strip....and as others have said in these reviews....was no where near tender like wagyu should be. My wife's standard filet was way more tender. Sorry, but I guess it's time to move on to a steakhouse elsewhere. read more

To be candid, I arrived with modest expectations. After reading several reviews, I wasn't particularly optimistic, but my wife wanted to celebrate an early Father's Day dinner with our family, and we decided to give it a try. Having recently relocated from Los Angeles, we've been fortunate to dine at many exceptional restaurants throughout the United States and abroad. While we have thoroughly enjoyed our move to Fuquay-Varina, finding a memorable dining experience has proven somewhat challenging. In fact, we have yet to find many informal restaurants that stand out, let alone a true fine dining destination. That is why this evening was such a pleasant surprise. We were warmly greeted and our server was very friendly and attentive. The restaurant was decorated very well- not over the top but inviting. Our table enjoyed the New York strip, pork chop, filet, salmon, steak appetizer, and two orders of the shrimp cocktail--which was easily my personal favorite. Every dish was expertly prepared, beautifully presented, and thoroughly enjoyable. Naturally, there are always a few individual preferences that can be adjusted on future visits, but those are minor details. Most importantly, we left genuinely impressed. It appears we may have found our new "special occasion" restaurant--and perhaps even a regular dining destination. The intimate booths in the bar area add a warm and inviting touch that makes the experience even more enjoyable. We are already looking forward to our next visit. read more

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I don't go to a lot of steakhouses but today was my dad's birthday and this is where they wanted to go so we had reservations. We got there and our server Gabe greeted us at the door and took us to our seat. This was a higher end steakhouse but the prices were reasonable. Gabe was very attentive to us and really took care of us. The food was amazing, my steak was cooked perfect and it's just a really nice place. I like the library theme and I like that the check comes in a book that you are encouraged to sign and write about your experience. You definitely should check this out if you're looking for a nice steak the triangle read more

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A solid 4.5 stars (if Yelp allowed). Great date night spot with a creative Library themed menu and space. We had the ribeye and filet - both were cooked to perfection and melted in your mouth. Love that the steak comes with a potato. I started off with a cocktail, Tulips at Twilight, and it was ok. Next time, I'll go with wine. Service was great! read more

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Had a family night here and will definitely be bake when we are in town. The restaurant is a former library and has vedy cool books/library themed decor. We went for an early dinner and the place was already starting to fill up, but it was a well organized machine. Our server was very attentive in keeping our drinks full and frequently checking on us. For my drink, I got a Flowers in the Attic. This drink is dangerous. Very refreshing lemon taste to go with the rich meal. For a stater, we got the glazed pork belly and crispy Brussels sprouts. The pork belly was super tender and came apart with a fork. The crispy Brussels were cooked to perfection and nicely roasted. For my meal, I got the lamb shank with a loaded baked potato and the cucumber salad. The lamb shank was so juicy and tender, I would definitely get it again. The baked potato was a classic potato, nothing special. The cucumber salad was very tart/vinegary to me, which didn't go with the rest of the dish, but not a huge detractor from the meal. Overall though, great meals and drinks! read more

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We eat here for a birthday a few months ago and it was delicious. Good steaks and very friendly people. 10/10 would come back:

The library steakhouse is an old converted public library. Saw them online. Decided to come for a birthday dinner. Let me tell you. This place is incredible. The service was outstanding. Super friendly. They had our party of 8 table ready right on time. The atmosphere is great! Library books on the shelves. Huge bar section. Drinks naked after books. I had the Godfather old fashioned. It was the best old fashioned I've had in a while. For dinner , our waitress right away asked if anyone was having the prime rib because she wanted to make sure they still had some for us. They serve it until it's sold out fri-sat 5pm to close. I wanted the prime rib so this was much appreciated. One at our table ordered the crab dip. So tasty. Definitely get it if you go. Our table ordered the prime rib, NY strip, steak and fries. Every steak and prime rib was cooked to perfection. Make the trip here. You won't be disappointed. We will definitely be back. (Lunch for one of their huge burgers is next!) read more

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Great atmosphere, great cocktails, decent food. A bit expensive but worth it for the atmosphere! I have no complaints on the service.

We had a great experience and this restaurant. Steaks came out great, wine selection was good, enjoyed the atmosphere and service as well.

The food was ok, service on Sunday did not seem busy but the staff was a bit slow, went with empty water glasses for a while before I could flag a server down for refills. The vibe was a new experience, I loved being surrounded by books and old phones. We started with appetizers, and I tasted a few reds I was curious about and their wine selection did not disappoint. On another note, perhaps they should cut their tomatoes thinner, they were a bit too thick for a normal bite‍. And while the colossal shrimp were colossal, yet the sauce was not it, although the steak teaser was a hit!!! The lobster Mac and cheese is something I will be coming back for next visit and I simply loved the special touch at the end with the complementary ice cream scoop for my B-day. read more

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My husband took me to The Library for my birthday. What a terrific experience. The ambiance, my filet mignon medallions with fingerlings and broccolini was excellent. The wine Cabernet was delish and for the finale our terrific waitress, Brittany brought out an ice cream sundae I. Honor of my birthday. Fuquay, if you have not visited The Library, I highly recommend you go!! read more

The Library Steakhouse - The Library. - Steakhouses Near Me - Fuquay Varina, North Carolina

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We had a lovely anniversary meal here. The atmosphere is warm and romantic. Love the decor and color palette. I recommend a reservation and coming earlier in the evening. They get very busy later in the evening. The food was amazing and the service was top notch. read more

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Service was a 10/10, food came out quick. My steak had so much potential, but it was loaded with salt. Potato's were great. read more

The Library Steakhouse - Ribeye with garlic mash, with onions and mushrooms. Cowboy steak. - Steakhouses Near Me - Fuquay Varina, North Carolina

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Coming here the night before Thanksgiving has become our annual tradition. We are from out of town and our friends always make reservations to come here. This place is definitely up scale compared to majority of the restaurants in the area. Which makes this my favorite restaurant to eat at when visiting. So apparently this building used to be a library, which I couldn't even imagine what this building would share if you could speak. You won't be disappointed when coming in because you still have some sort of library design that fits the theme. So my go to meal is always the filet mignon, medium rare. I do like my side sauce but tonight I opted for the butter. This meal never disappoints and is always perfectly cooked and just melts in your mouth. The service has always been fantastic and of course the company we bring makes this place the idea restaurant to go to. You won't be disappointed. read more

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I celebrated my birthday here.It was a great dinner. Everything from the drinks to the food was amazing. Our server was great! Myself and my family will be back !!!! We all recommend!! read more

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Place is cute and good for taking book lovers but you leave there feeling like for the price the food wasn't quite that great and the service was just ok. I had the beef Wellington which was overcooked. (I asked for it medium rare and they told me that they didn't cook it to temp but that it was always served medium rare. I would suggest it was cooked at least medium well). I had a gone with the whiskey which is one of the weakest drinks I have had in a long time. I really want to like this place but have trouble recommending it. read more

I do love how calming this place feels. The green is so beautiful here! Our server felt like she was one of my girls when we all went. I loveee the food here. Unfortunately I went I guess when there was a different chef. I notice a few mention food issues & early on I never experienced that. I went a few times and enjoyed each meal. read more

The Library Steakhouse - A Perfectionly cooked steak (2024) - Steakhouses Near Me - Fuquay Varina, North Carolina

Good food, good service. However, this may be the only restaurant that I can recall being charged a 3% credit card fee. Totally a low-rent move that one would see at a food truck. Disappointing to be nickel and dimed like that as it left our experience as negative. read more

From the moment we walked into the Lobby and throughout our time at The Library we were met with friendly, courteous associates. The vibe inside is friendly and following the library motif. Our server, Brittany, is a rock star! She was knowledgeable and professional. Her attentiveness throughout our dining experience was perfection; present and checking in on our needs without being pesky. I consider that the hallmark of professional waitstaff. We ordered a flank steak, a filet mignon, and a New York Strip. Each steak was very well seasoned and cooked to perfection. Each steak was accompanied by an expertly baked potato. After dinner we decided to try a couple dessert selection ordering a chocolate lava cake and carrot cake, both with a scoop of premium vanilla ice cream. The lava cake was appropriately hot. The carrot cake had a spiced flavor and a crispy top edge; delicious! Everything about dining at The Library made it a memorable experience. I give The Library my highest remarks and it has been added to our regular rotation of the best place to dine in Fuquay! read more

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In Fuquay Varina NC this is the best first-class restaurant that is available. Their staff is very professional and attentive. We met the owner Charles who personally greeted us. We had prime rib which was outstanding and served as requested. The drinks and meals were reasonably priced. We have found this restaurant to be one of the best we've ever experienced. read more

We have been a number of times and tried various items- all have been delicious! Steaks, short ribs and Brussel sprouts are definitely a favorite! Service has always been friendly and efficient! Owner almost always comes by to ask how everything is and say hello. Will definitely go back soon! read more

Visited The Library on a Wednesday night and was seated immediately. Took a few minutes to be offered water and take drink order. Complimentary bread with honey butter was offered. There are choices of steak, fish, chicken and couple other items on menu but was surprised to not have a couple more options for beef and a steakhouse. The side choices seem to be adequate. There is quit a menu for specialty drinks. Once our order was taken the ceasar salads arrived in good time. The dressing was not very creamy and heavy of anchovy flavor. It seemed to take a bite of time for our mains to arrive. My wife ordered the rack of lamb with a sea salt potato and I ordered the rib eye and sea salt potato. The lamb was a good size and cooked ok. My steak was cooked as ordered and tasted good. Both our backed potatoes were good and served with butter and sour cream on side. My wife would not order the lamb again. read more

There's a lot of things wrong with this place. First off, they have this "wagyu" on the menu that came out chewier than gum, and cut with the grain. I politely asked the server (who was really nice by the way, his name was Gabe), if they could help out. The lead server and the general manager were very passive aggressive, implying that I didn't know what I was talking about, despite the fact that I've had Japanese Wagyu before, and believe me, I doubt whatever they served me qualified anywhere close to Wagyu. They did replace my Wagyu with a regular burger, which was okay tasting. So if you want real Wagyu, don't go here. read more

We received a gift card for Christmas and used it for a Valentine's date night. I love the theme being a book lover. They were already out of the prime rib when we got there at 7:00, so if that is what you have your heart set on, get there early. We shared the ribeye. It was good and certainly big enough to share. The brussel sprout side was delicious - worth the extra charge. The mashed potatoes were good. Another table got the mac and cheese side which looked yummy. The sticky toffee pudding dessert was worth every penny and calorie. read more

In addition to the super aggressive treatment I received one of their employees sent me a nasty message on Facebook after I left a negative review. This wasn't even the person I complained about but apparently you don't know how to act either. 1. I am in fact almost 50 and not trying to hide it. 2. I am entitled to good service and quality product when I'm paying $50 for a piece of meat that cost your boss $5. More bullying by this establishment. If this concept doesn't work for you maybe check out the "Dicks" franchise. You seem to have a talent for treating customers like crap already. read more

I took my father here to celebrate his 77th birthday and couldn't have been more impressed by the food, service, and atmosphere. The Beatles were playing when we walked in and given that's my dad's favorite band, it was off to a great start. I'd made reservations and the hostess seated us promptly. There were several large parties seated as well, but Kristina, our server didn't miss a beat. I ordered the Murder on the Orient Espresso, and dad ordered a Woodford on the rocks. Both drinks came out quickly along with some fresh bread and what had to be house made creamy butter. The drinks were perfect and the bread and butter also tasty. The colossal shrimp cocktail included plump juicy shrimp with the best cocktail sauce I've ever had. I asked the waitress if it was made in house as the horseradish was pungent, and she confirmed it was. My ribeye was cooked to a perfect medium rare and was seasoned with the dry rub. I also ordered a side of creamy green peppercorn sauce and it added a nice spicy flavor to the meat. The garlic mashed potatoes were hot and delicious! My dad ordered the mushroom Swiss burger and decided to eat it with a fork to avoid making a mess. He loved his burger and the steak fries that accompanied it. For dessert they brought out a smores ice cream dessert with a candle in it. We had an amazing dinner and are already planning our next trip back. Kristina is amazing and took very good care of us the entire time. read more

Came here for the first time recently. The overall design and idea behind this place is fabulous. It has a modern/clean design to it yet has elements of class. This would a be great date night spot or place you want to take someone important to dinner. This place just opened up a few days ago so it seemed much of the staff was still ironing out kinks and learning their menu and bar items. The portion size for price is smaller than expected. Our waitress needed some hosting etiquette as she kept coming to our table asking to take orders when we were trying to enjoy conversation so we felt rather rushed which was a turnoff. Overall good place, just needs fine tuning. read more

Went to the Library Steakhouse last evening. Overall was a nice experience. The atmosphere is neat and good for dining as the tables are spread out. I got the queen filet Oscar style and it was cook to a good med-rare and was very tasty. The side of garlic mash was also very good. Would not recommend the lobster Mac as it tasted like a can of Old Bay which is overpowering and I am from Maryland and grew up putting old bay on everything. Also the bar service was pretty slow. Will be back. read more

The Library Steakhouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Fuquay Varina, North Carolina

Excellent Ribeye and New York Strip steaks- cooked a perfect medium rare, so flavorful and tender! Sides were great and Caesar Salad was delicious. Service was awesome! Server was prompt, polite, and our drinks were consistently refilled without us asking! We will be back! read more

Visited with friends for a Sunday night dinner. Food, service, and atmosphere were all great. We had a mixture of steaks, linguine and sides. All were delicious. The ambience 5star. read more

The Library Steakhouse - The Library steakhouse. - Steakhouses Near Me - Fuquay Varina, North Carolina

In my original review I was going to give them 3 stars, but I believe I got food poisoning here last night (it was the only thing I had to eat since 11am). I did contact the restaurant and couldn't get ahold of a manger but was assured "they would let them know and no one else reported getting sick." So I did also report it to the health department this evening online. I believe it was the butter I was served for the steak or possibly the steak itself. I've been trying to eat here for months but I could never get in. They have strange hours that aren't always correct online (Google, Yelp, Apple, Etc) and don't close the kitchen at any specific time such as 30 minutes before closing--the bartender says it's up to the kitchen when the kitchen closes but often they close after the last reservation is seated. The first time I tried to come I walked in at 8pm and was told they stopped seating at 8pm even though they were open until 10pm. The second time I got there on a Sunday at 6pm and it was completely empty. I was told they were closing early and not seating. I finally got in on a Saturday at 745p and was able to sit at the bar. Reservations are recommended. Service was just okay, not what I'd expect for this cost level. I was pretty much ignored at the bar for about 20 minutes until one of the ladies asked me if anyone was working on my drink and I told her nobody was working on anything because no one had said a word to me. They were very very busy at this time, full house. She quickly got me a water and put in an order for a smoked old fashioned called the "Godfather Old Fashioned" which was $17 (the menu online on their website right now says $15). It was really really good but was a bit skimpy and light for $17. I ordered the ribeye $39 medium rare with the cabernet blue butter $2 as recommended by the bartender. One of these two items got me sick. The butter was room temp, I believe it was blue cheese mixed with butter. I definitely prefer non-cold butter but I'm guessing this may have set out for a couple cold to warm cycles before it got to me. It melted nicely on the steak. The steak was cooked perfectly, a nice warm red center. However, there was absolutely no flavor, no crust, no smokiness, not even salt. I had to ask for salt and pepper (as well as silverware...oh and while I'm complaining, I had to ask the bartender to wipe the bar off in front of me it was completely soaked). I'm not sure how steaks are cooked here I'm guessing on electric? It tasted absolutely no different than the $28 16-oz Ft Worth Ribeye you can get at Texas Roadhouse in Holly Springs. The lack of flavor made it extremely disappointing. Even with the blue butter it didn't have much flavor. Angus Barn prices but Texas Roadhouse flavor. As my side I got the honey chipotle Brussels and they were absolutely amazing. However, it's a $3 upcharge. I'm not used to seeing upcharges for vegetables and the portion was quite small and disappointing. Either way, they are amazing and I'd recommend getting them. They were crispy, not overly steamy, and had just enough sweetness but not too much. I actually dipped the steak in the left over sauce from the bottom of the bowl. For dessert the bartender sold me on the cheesecake of the day which was Oreo. Someone brought it to me and I asked if it was Oreo because it didn't look like Oreo and I was assured it was Oreo. One bite of it and there was absolutely no Oreo flavor. I asked a random bartender and she told me no, that was chocolate chip. I let her know I ordered Oreo and I didn't really like this. She took it back and talked me into the chocolate lava cake and ice cream which was another $2 upcharge. I probably should have just kept the wrong cheesecake because the lava cake was not up to par. I cruise a lot and Carnival is king of the chocolate lava cakes...this cake was absolutely dry. I tried making it better by putting the ice cream on top to add some moisture..it didn't help. So that's how I had arrived at 3 stars. Boring steak. Bad dessert. Amazing drink but a little small. Amazing Brussels. If I ever went back I would absolutely not get a steak here ever again. The guy beside me got a burger and he said he enjoyed it so that would be what I might try. The menu is labeled really nicely for Gluten Free GF and Vegetarian V (not Vegan). The wifi password is: steakhouse All lower case. I love the location, I used to take my kids to the library here when it was a library. My meal was $72 before tax, $77.94 with tax. Their tip calculator on the receipt is based on the taxed amount (which is a bit dishonest). So my 20% tip $15.59 was really closer to 23% based on the $72 bringing the total to $93.53. read more

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We went to The Library for the first time last night to celebrate our anniversary. The restaurant decor and ambiance was beautiful. Our server was so friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. We started with the candied pork belly, which was to die for. For our meals we had the prime rib and wagyu steak. Everything was so flavorful. We highly recommend The Library! read more

The Library Steakhouse - Wagyu steak with lobster tail - Steakhouses Near Me - Fuquay Varina, North Carolina

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At at the Steakhouse for a weekend dinner and it was a mixed experience. There are a lot of things they're doing well but a few glaring mistakes keep it down. Spoiler, we won't order the prime rib again soon. The decor was great, they've reused elements from the old library and it gives a unique atmosphere. For the bill, they bring it tucked inside an old book instead of a typical plastic folder. The noise level is a little loud and if they turned the music down or off, it would improve. People talk louder when the background noise is loud and that just makes it worse. We were able to carry on a conversation. The service was acceptable, maybe a little longer than we wanted but it gave everyone a chance to relax. Overall, the food was good. I had the boneless short rib and it reminded me a lot of a beef bourguignon but with a tomato sauce instead of the rich wine gravy, but still super tender and excellent. I liked the brussel sprouts, they were crispy without being burned with a sweet honey sauce. The baked potatoes were perfect and one day I'm going to have to back for just dessert because there just isn't room. I'll note that they have upgraded their wine list recently, but the prices seem excessively high even for a restaurant. More wine by the glass would be good with better parings for dishes. Oh man, I'm starting to sound like a wine snob, enough of that! The prime rib, which is a signature weekend dinner dish, is well cooked, but they have to do better with the beef choice. There was an unforgivable amount of fat on it, a section half the size of my hand. Upgrade your meat vendor or butcher and trim this better. There's no excuse for serving that, you should say that you're out already. This is either a choice for low quality or not caring. We understand the kitchen gets busy, but your expediter needs to keep the standard up. A warning on the green beans. For them, "southern style" means well cooked, with vinegar and a bit of spice; think your grandmother's green beans seasoned with an eastern NC BBQ sauce. I liked them, but others did not care for them. read more

Having spent a fair amount of time in this location when it was a library, I was delighted to hear it was going to become a library themed steakhouse and the end result is fantastic! From the decor, the details and of course the food, our experience was great! Our server was attentive and made great recommendations. Our wine was perfect - a bottle for the table and everyone enjoyed their generously sized entrees. Loved the steak Diana, loved the roast Brussels sprouts, loved the mashed potatoes. Definitely coming back! read more

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Fun experience! Super cute theme and great cocktails! Perfect spot for a work dinner as well. Great service!

Service was extremely slow. We sat over 15 min before we even had water or a server take a drink order. I was not impressed with the steak - cooked properly but not much flavor. Likely won't make the drive there again. read more

The trouble with some of these review threads is that you're always gonna get a 'Karen', or somebody that didn't think the service or food was to their standard. Some people are never satisfied and delight in tearing someone down. That being said, this place is fantastic. Don't listen to the naysayers. The food was spectacular, the service was on point and the ambience was quiet and romantic. I highly recommend this place. And Gordon Ramsay has nothing on this chef and their staff. The unsung heroes are the line cooks and their support. I loved every moment of this experience. read more

I enjoyed the environment when I went. My steak was overcooked but they happily remade my meal and it was great.

The staff and food has never let us down. This is one of my kids favorite places to eat. We do family date night's here and it never disappoints! read more