The perfect meal – have you had it yet? We’re talking the kind of meal where you savor every delectable morsel, where the ambiance complements the cuisine and when the last bite is taken, you sit back in satisfaction – a true experience. If only every meal could be just so, right?
The Raleigh restaurant scene makes that a distinct possibility - in fact, the City of Oaks has become quite the delicious destination. From down-home cooking to international cuisine and everything in between, Raleigh offers up a mouthwatering menu of options. With so many choices, you may be just a tad overwhelmed with deciding what to sample first. Let us help! NC Pro Realty brokered by eXp Realty would love to help you eXperience the best that Raleigh has to offer! So, we've selected some amazing Raleigh dining destinations to get you well on your way to foodie bliss!
BIG ED'S CITY MARKET
220 Wolfe St., Raleigh, NC 27601
Founded in the 1950s, this downhome eatery has become a Raleigh landmark and offers up country cooking with a heaping side of hospitality. Homemade buttermilk biscuits, pancakes bigger than your head, spicy Nahunta sausage and fresh local eggs dot the breakfast menu, while a daily handwritten menu features a variety of southern classics sure to satisfy any appetite.
TAVERNA AGORA
326 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, NC 27603
This authentic Greek kitchen presents traditional Mediterranean cuisine with a modern flair. Flavorful dishes elevate simple ingredients to culinary perfection while the ambiance guarantees a thoroughly lovely and memorable dining eXperience. Their open air rooftop patio is one of the best in the Triangle and the interior dining space provides an intimate setting to savor a thoughtfully prepared meal.
FICTION KITCHEN
428 S. Dawson St. Raleigh, NC 27601
This imaginative restaurant pairs creativity with a commitment to plant-based cuisine, resulting in an unforgettable dining eXperience. Offering a completely vegetarian menu in a vibrant setting, Fiction Kitchen has made an art form out of crafting truly original dishes from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. And if you think that you gotta have your meat, take note: many a card-carrying carnivore has swooned over their palate-pleasing creations.
GONZA TACOS Y TEQUILA
7713-39 Lead Mine Road, Raleigh, NC 27615
Mouthwatering Mexican-Colombian fare is the focus of Gonza Tacos Y Tequila and ohhhh is it good. So good that it swept multiple categories in IndyWeek’s 2019 Best of the Triangle, including Best Mexican Restaurant, Best Guacamole and Best Burrito. With that kind of notoriety (and an extensive offering of tequilas), how can you go wrong??
*Also check out Gonza’s other Raleigh location at 2100 Hillsborough Street.
SECOND EMPIRE
330 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27603
Contemporary American cuisine, bursting with the flavors of the season. Wine pairings thoughtfully selected to complement each meal. Now add an exquisitely restored Victorian mansion that is over two hundred years old and you arrive at the truly fine dining experience that is Second Empire. Fourteen-foot-ceilings, heart pine floors and deep bay windows provide a rich backdrop for savoring an expertly prepared meal and a glass of wine from the restaurant’s award-winning wine list. Recognized as a Distinguished Restaurant of North America since 2006, Second Empire has also garnered AAA Four Diamond rating as well as the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. For a firsthand eXperience of the magic that goes into creating such celebrated fare, dine at the Chef’s table and interact with the chef and culinary staff.
THE PIT AUTHENTIC BARBECUE
328 W. Davie St., Raleigh, NC 27601
First, and this is important, barbecue is not that thing you cook hot dogs on. Now that we’ve got the first step of your barbecue education out of the way, head to The Pit to continue your studies - we promise not to tell anyone if you order a whole rack of ribs in the name of science. Serving up authentic pit-cooked whole-hog barbecue, The Pit sources all of its pork from free-range hogs raised on North Carolina farms. The menu offers something for everyone with chopped barbecue, pulled pork, beef brisket, baby back ribs, fried chicken, blackened salmon and even BBQ soy nuggets. Take your barbecue education one step further and attend one of their heritage dinners. These special dinners honor living leaders in NC’s barbecue history and offer a one-of-a-kind eXperience to learn and celebrate the craft.
POOLE'S DINER
426 S. McDowell St., Raleigh, NC 27601
If you know even a little bit about the Raleigh restaurant scene, then you probably have heard about chef Ashley Christianson: recipient of two James Beard awards, proprietor of a host of culinary ventures in downtown Raleigh, including five restaurants and a cocktail bar. Her unwavering commitment to building community delivers a dining experience that reminds us of our roots and connection to each other. At Poole’s, creative takes on classic comfort food fill the giant chalkboard menus and an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients ensure offerings that change with the season – and sometimes daily!
BREWERY BHAVANA
218 S. Blount St., Raleigh, NC 27601
Restaurant. Brewery. Flower Shop. Bookstore. You might think those don’t go together but oh do they ever in the unique eXperience that is Bhavana. With a claim to fame of being listed by Forbes as one of 2018’s top ten coolest places to eat in the world – yes, the WORLD – Bhavana perfectly marries dim sum with handcrafted beers against a lovely backdrop of floor-to-ceiling books and gleaming marble bar. Come for the saison and stay for the mushroom sauce!
STATE FARMERS MARKET RESTAURANT
1240 Farmers Market Drive, Raleigh, NC 27603
Get back to the goodness that is North Carolina agriculture with a visit to this Raleigh institution. Pull up a colorful stool to the center counter and prepare for some hearty home-cooking. Their fluffy biscuits are the stuff of legend and their delicious hushpuppies have a curious way of disappearing the instant they hit the table. Soak in the atmosphere of a classic country café with waitstaff clad in overalls and an eclectic mix of Americana decorating the walls. Walk off some of that full belly at the Farmer’s Market right next door where you can pick up your own fresh produce, direct from North Carolina farmers.
RALEIGH BEER GARDEN
614 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27603
Where you can find the world’s largest selection of draft beers in one place? Right here in Raleigh! A beer enthusiast’s paradise, the Raleigh Beer Garden offers an astounding number of options: 144 North Carolina taps on the first floor, 222 U.S. and international taps on the second floor, and a dozen rotating taps in the rooftop bar! A varied menu offers plenty of choices for pairing perfectly with your beverage, from burgers and wings to shrimp ceviche and charcuterie trays.
One of the very best attributes of this list is that it is just a small taste of Raleigh's remarkable restaurant scene ... which means you better get started!
Bon appétit!
