Best Restaurants in Raleigh

Raleigh, the “City of Oakes” located in North Carolina’s vibrant Triangle, is one of the more diverse and urban corners of the region, and this diversity is reflected in the wide range of available restaurants. Some of the region’s newest and best restaurants can be found spread across town, from Glenwood to Northridge. With trendy bistros, elegant steakhouses, and lively jazz bars, Raleigh’s foodie scene has it all.

The OpenTable Team

16 Restaurants

Updated January 19, 2022

Restaurants:	Element Gastropub, PLUS Dueling Piano Bar, Brewery Bhavana…
Price Range:	$$ - $$
Cuisines:	Unspecified, American, Brewery…
Neighborhoods:	Raleigh…

Element Gastropub

$$$$

Unspecified

Raleigh

4.4

345 reviews

Raleigh Magazine heralded the much-anticipated opening in early 2021 of this Downtown vegan eatery by co-owners Carey Kidd and chef Lelia Kidd. Immediately nominated the best vegan restaurant in Raleigh by readers of the News & Observer, Element offers abundant space in its outdoor patio as well as accommodating tables and bar seating inside. The minimalist, urban style creates a hip atmosphere where dishes like the loaded totchos (featuring cashew queso and homemade ranch), grilled buffalo soldier salad (with house bleu “cheez”), and bahn chi (kimchi and crispy tofu) are served daily. Insider tip: try the Lyrix Komnucha for a “virgin” beverage.

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PLUS Dueling Piano Bar

$$$$

American

Raleigh

4.9

327 reviews

Opening in 2018, this urban hotspot in Glenwood is hailed as the largest dueling piano bar in the country by owner Tony Basford, featuring dazzling lights, rotating stages, and what Downtown Raleigh calls “incredible” entertainers. Attendees enjoy live shows in the nightclub atmosphere while munching on favorites like loaded steak fries, chicken tenders, or even a double-layered peperoni pizza at one of the many tables in the main seating area. Pro tip: expect a cover charge on the weekends at this 21+ establishment.

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Experiences available

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Brewery Bhavana

$$$$

Brewery

Raleigh

4.8

3383 reviews

Listed among the best restaurants in Raleigh, TimeOut calls this location a “modern-day urban bazaar” with a bookstore, flower shop, restaurant, and brewery under one roof in East Central since 2017. The seating area is bathed in natural light with potted trees, round tables, and a marble bar top, earning a place among Condé Nast Traveler’s list of the most beautiful breweries in the world. Co-owners Vanvisa Nolintha and Patrick Woodson present one of the “10 coolest places to eat in the world” (Forbes) with a menu featuring beef with longhorn peppers, steamed whole fish, and roasted banana cake for dessert. Insider tip: try the celebrated dim sum.

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Takeout available

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cafe tiramisu

$$$$

Italian

Raleigh

4.8

1251 reviews

Located in Northridge since 1995, this northern Italian restaurant is owned and operated by the family of chef Paolo DeMartino. The dining room exudes an atmosphere of elegance and old-world charm with glittering chandeliers, reflective walls, and tables set with wine glasses and white linens. Featured in an episode of HGTV’s “Love It or Lose It”, the café has become something of a local legend with its menu offering classics like stuffed clams (with seasoned breadcrumbs), Tuscan chicken (with garlic white wine sauce), and parmigiana (veal, eggplant, or chicken). Pro tip: pair your meal with a glass of the house red or white wine from the bar.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Cortez Seafood + Cocktail

$$$$

Seafood

Raleigh

4.8

555 reviews

The Cortez was established in Glenwood in 2017 by co-owners Charlie Ibarra and executive chef Oscar Diaz, offering traditional Mexican fare with a Southern United States flavor featuring local seafood and produce from nearby farmers markets. Featured in Time and named one of the Triangle’s 2018 Restaurants of the Year by the News & Observer, diners may sit in the shaded patio or at a table or padded booth inside. Stools are also available at the bar with its silhouette backdrop. Menu favorites include grilled whole NC fish, hanger steak, or coctel mixto (poached octopus). Insider tip: free parking is available behind the restaurant.

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Bida Manda Restaurant and Bar

$$$$

Asian

Raleigh

4.8

3422 reviews

Named for the Sanskrit words for father and mother, this location is listed among The Culture Trip’s 10 best restaurants in Raleigh and features relics and artwork from Laos as well as local artists, reclaimed wood furniture, and an overall peaceful atmosphere in the warmly lit dining room and at each elegant table. Owner Vanvisa Nolintha presents a menu drawn directly from her native Laos with crispy pork belly soup, sea bass mok (with house made curry), and pho lao (five-spice beef and rice noodle soup). Insider tip: the ingredients for the cocktails at the bar are made in-house from scratch.

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Saint Jacques French Cuisine

$$$$

French

Raleigh

4.4

2684 reviews

Offering locally sourced ingredients in fine French cuisine, this restaurant in Northridge opened in 2004 under co-owners Lori and Lil Lacassagne. Featuring a classy dining area with large windows and white tablecloths, Livability named this location among the four best restaurants in Raleigh in 2015. This “hidden gem” (Tripsavvy) offers classic dishes from chef Serge Falcon-Vigne including duck magret (with orange glaze), bœuf bourguignon (with certified Angus short rib), and crème brûlée for dessert. Pro tip: ask about the three-course prix fixe menu for a truly French dining experience.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

MOFU Shoppe

$$$$

Asian

Raleigh

4.7

498 reviews

Opened in the City Market in 2017 by co-owners Sofia Woo and Sunny Lin (winners of Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race”), this location offers an industrial, yet casual atmosphere in a space featuring rough-hewn wood tables, large street-facing windows, and a welcoming bar. The menu includes kimchi tots (with sweet soy sauce), the MOFU wings (sweet chili sauce or nuocmam lime glaze), and the Tom Yum “mac & cheese“ (with shiitake and cremini mushrooms). Insider tip: try the pork and chive dumplings, named among the best in Raleigh by Indy Week.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Northside Bistro & Cocktails

$$$$

Bistro

Raleigh

4.7

690 reviews

Established in 2021 by co-owners Carol Scarangella and executive chef John Scarangella in Northside, this location calls itself a “neighborhood bistro with a New American style”. Already popular, diners can enjoy a muted yet fashionable interior with lavish seating featuring modern designs and subtle patterns. The menu offers new takes on typical Southern American dishes like the summer tuna stack (with fresh dried watermelon), warm goat cheese salad, and beef Wellington (with roasted rainbow carrots). Pro tip: try the house made It’s About Thyme cocktail chef John dedicated to his wife.

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Rey's

$$$$

Steakhouse

Raleigh

4.6

4284 reviews

When owner Rey Arias opened this location in 2004, he named it after himself out of a sense of “pride and confidence” in what it could bring to west Raleigh. The interior reflects a “French Quarter” flair with elegant tables featuring white linens and wine racks lining the walls. Enjoy steakhouse or seafood dishes like prime NY strip, grilled brie (with fresh fruit), or broiled cold-water lobster tails. Insider tip: retreat to the Voodoo Lounge to enjoy a martini in one of the plush seats beside the fireplace.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Vinnie's Steakhouse and Tavern

$$$$

Steakhouse

Raleigh

4.6

1442 reviews

Offering Southern style seafood and steaks in north Raleigh, Mashed.com called Vinnie’s the best restaurant in North Carolina in 2021. Open since 1987, this location offers a year-round covered patio with HDTVs and an interior that features wood paneled walls and vintage leather seats at tables surrounding a display wine cellar that serves as the centerpiece to an intimate, unpretentious dining room. Chef Tom Armstrong presents a dinner menu that includes fried jumbo shrimp and Vinnie’s unique bone-in filet mignon along with a tavern menu offering pub fare like meatball subs. Pro tip: host your event in one of Vinnie’s three private dining rooms.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

The Rockford

$$$$

Contemporary Southern

Raleigh

4.8

293 reviews

First opened in 1994, this southern style restaurant offers patio views overlooking Glenwood and interior seating in a classy yet relaxed atmosphere, whether at one of the round, wooden tables or at the inviting bar. Co-owner and manager Tony Coulter, along with chef Dylan Wicher, offer up a menu of Southern delights like coconut fried chicken, jambon Iberico (with smoked tomato aioli), or local craft beers. Insider tip: try the ABC sandwich (with apple, bacon, and cheddar), listed as one of the best sandwiches in North Carolina by OnlyInYourState.com

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Tonbo Ramen

$$$$

Ramen

Raleigh

4.5

272 reviews

Owner/operator Tom Mukoyama opened this restaurant in 2018, bringing traditional Japanese ramen dishes to Downtown. Here diners can sit at one of the many small tables and watch their meal made from scratch in the open kitchen while enjoying the urban atmosphere and casual vibes. The menu includes the signature Tonkotsu (with house-made pork and shrimp dumplings) and miso (spicy ground pork and sautéed kale), along with a large assortment of Japanese whiskies, sake, and local beers. Pro tip: head upstairs to the Izakaya bar for “adult slushies”.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Plates Kitchen

$$$$

International

Raleigh

4.8

1745 reviews

Bringing international dishes to Downtown, chef David Mitchell and owner Justin Gallus present this neighborhood eatery celebrated for its Southern flavors and charm. The Culture Trip lists Plates among the best restaurants in Raleigh—no surprise considering menu items like house cured salmon, herb fettuccini, and the lamb patty melt, all presented in a dining area dotted with small tables and shelves on the walls bearing souvenirs from the proprietors’ many travels. Pro tip: the menu provides excellent wine pairing suggestions like New Zealand pinot noir or Spanish Monastrell.

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Vidrio

$$$$

Tapas / Small Plates

Raleigh

4.6

1317 reviews

Boasting two stories offering diners panoramic views of Glenwood as they relax under rope chandeliers in sumptuous European style seats, the bright and colorful atmosphere speaks of the Italian, Greek, and Moroccan cuisine served up by chef Saif Rahman (NCRLA’s 2021 Chef of the Year). Since opening in 2017, praise for this refined yet inviting restaurant has poured in, with Wine Spectator awarding the wine list its 2017 Excellence Award and 2018 Best of Excellence Award. Menu selections include shrimp arancini (with pickled onion), the 32oz Tomahawk steak (with horseradish tallow butter), and seawater potatoes (with garlic aioli). Insider tip: space is available for private events.

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soca Raleigh

$$$$

Latin American

Raleigh

4.8

1738 reviews

Local news announced the much-anticipated opening of this “cocina Latina” in 2017 by owner Sean Degnan in the Cameron Village. Featuring high ceilings and large windows that bathe the formal yet casual dining area (including padded booths and finely set tables) in natural light, diners at Soca enjoy an atmosphere of hospitality. Executive chef Eli Rodriguez draws on his Salvadoran heritage to craft menu selections like chicken empanadas (featuring farmer’s cheese and salsa roja), quinoa stuffed avocado, and churrasco (ribeye filet with chimichurri) along with an extensive list of imported wines. Pro tip: Soca offers vegetarian/vegan and gluten-free menus on request.

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