Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Raleigh

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in Raleigh? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Gonza Tacos y Tequila - North Raleigh

4.9

4.9 (1420)

$30 and under

Mexican

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Come experience Raleigh's Colombo-Mexican Tacos y Tequila Joint!

Hand Crafted Latin Cocktails
Extensive List of Tequilas & Regional Spirits
Carefully Selected List of Latin Wines & Latin Beers

Voted Best Latin Restaurant in the Triangle by Wake County Living Magazine!

Won the Indy Award for Best Mexican / Latin American in the Triangle!

Top review

Samuelvip

Dined on Sep 5, 2024

Tremendous. One minor issue, drinks were slow in coming, otherwise tremendous

Bella Monica

4.8

4.8 (3573)

$30 and under

Italian

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Benvenuto! Opened August 2000, chef/ owner Corbett Monica and his wife, Julie, created this trattoria as an extension of his Nanas dinner table. A place where the neighborhood gathers to dine and enjoy life. Guests become family at our tables, enjoying recipes handed down from our grandparents. Following tradition, we make our sauce with San Marzano tomatoes and use only the freshest ingredients available, just like Nana. Our gravy is so good that we eat it like soup! Neapolitan menu, thin-crust Flatbread pizzas, Pasta, NC Seafood, Chicken, Local Pork. Without a doubt, the best cannoli you will ever taste! Our wine list features all Italian, hard-to-find selections that are a perfect match for our Pasta and Flatbreads. Wine Spectator 2007-2019. Local art is on our walls and we play a great upbeat music mix. We welcome you to our business, our culture, our family. It is an honor and pleasure to cook for you. Please enjoy our food and the company you share at our table. Mangia bene!

Top review

Barry

Dined 3 days ago

Good experience and enjoyable but somewhat modest large Cesar Salad.

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Popular dish

Tiramisu

cafe tiramisu

4.8

4.8 (1555)

$30 and under

Italian

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, Cafe Tiramisu offers a menu full of authentic Northern Italian cuisine. The family-owned and operated restaurant is decorated sparingly and the dining room is a cozy, relaxing environment. Cafe Tiramisu has a full bar but specializes in wine with an extensive wine selection both by the glass and by the bottle.

Try the ravioli or the shrimp dip to start out your meal at Cafe Tiramisu. Choose from Italian classics like the lasagna or the marsala. The menu includes plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options as well. Choose one of the restaurant's sides for your entree like the fried eggplant or the sauteed spinach.

Top review

Lynnvip

Dined 5 days ago

Wonderful food, servers, and ambience! We dine here often and it is always amazing!

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Popular dish

Beef Carpaccio

Yakamoz Steakhouse

4.8

4.8 (36)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Creedmoor

About the restaurant

We are a restaurant serving the best steak and seafood in the area.

Top review

Anthony

Dined on Aug 24, 2024

Food and service was outstanding! Highly recommend

Sushi O

4.7

4.7 (24)

$30 and under

Sushi

Raleigh

About the restaurant

With a culinary career since 1993, John Tang is an expert in diverse Asian cuisines. In 2005, he innovatively fused his experiences into an Asian Bistro. In 2010, he launched Sushi O in Raleigh, blending modern comfort with traditional Asian ambiance. Join us for a memorable dining experience in Downtown Raleigh at the heart of Glenwood Avenue. Your presence is eagerly awaited, and we are dedicated to ensuring an enjoyable experience for all patrons, both new and returning.

Top review

Traceyvip

Dined 6 days ago

What a pleasant surprise. My friend and I had a weekend lunch here and it was really good! I'll be back!

MC Modern Asian Cuisine

4.7

4.7 (1009)

$31 to $50

Asian

Cary

About the restaurant

MC named after Award Winning Chef Michael Chuong is bringing his Upscale Asian Flair to the Historic Jones House in Downtown Cary. MC's menu will offer Signature and Creative Dishes featuring High End Sushi and Local and Sustainable Ingredients paired perfectly with Old World Wines.

Top review

Jeff

Dined 6 days ago

$22 sushimi app was 6 tiny pieces of fish..good but not worth it. Rest of meal was excellent.

Farm Table

4.7

4.7 (489)

$30 and under

Farm-to-table

Wake Forest

About the restaurant

Farm Table is a locally owned and operated restaurant that has been a part of the Wake Forest community since 2014. We have watched this community grow. We have grown along with it, and as a result, we have been successful. It has been through this growth that we have become a staple in our community. Our statement of farm to table is our truth. We support as many local growers as we can because it is the local community who support us day in and day out. We truly love being a part of this amazing community.

Top review

Cody

Dined 3 days ago

Wow, this was one of the best meals I had in a while! Everything from the kids’ homemade chicken tenders (which are so crispy, light, well-seasoned and juicy and probably the best chicken tenders I ever had), to the pommes frites appetizer (which was homemade sweet potato fries with fresh cheese shavings, fresh minced parsley and this really good dipping sauce), and the crab and corn risotto was delicious! The salmon was perfectly cooked and paired so well with the risotto, and the jumbo grilled shrimp was perfectly cooked and has really nice flavor. Our waitress was so sweet, helpful and friendly! She really made our dining experience extra relaxed and I recommend here completely! We can’t wait to be back 😄

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4.5

4.5 (605)

$30 and under

American

Apex

About the restaurant

Drinking great wine with great food in good company is one of life’s most civilized pleasures.

Top review

Molly

Dined on Jul 6, 2024

Amazing service and delicious food! We enjoyed our night out at Peak on Salem!

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Popular dish

Seared Scallops

J. Betski's

4.5

4.5 (59)

$31 to $50

Contemporary European

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Relaxed, casual, lively location serving Contemporary East & Central influenced European Cuisine; featuring a hybrid service system (with additional server assistance available) and located on the edge of the Five Points neighborhood in Raleigh, NC. We use the highest quality seafood, meats, poultry and local produce for our menu of small and mid size plates, providing you a unique and memorable flavor experience. Enjoy one of our expertly created craft cocktails, or order from our list of wines or extensive selection of high quality European and local Beers.

Top review

Mark

Dined on Aug 30, 2024

Great German and polish food. Easy to order and service was exceptional.

Parkside Restaurant

4.2

4.2 (117)

$30 and under

American

Wendell

About the restaurant

Welcome to Parkside Restaurant in Wendell! We are so glad you can join us at our new location in beautiful Treelight Square, Wendell Falls. We have worked hard on this new iteration of Parkside and have tried to encapsulate everything that is well loved from our Downtown Raleigh restaurant to bring here to you. Locally owned and operated, Parkside is the cornerstone of comfort and fresh food. You will find a relaxing place to enjoy an evening in one of our cozy booths or a gathering place for your friends and family to celebrate special occasions in our spacious dining room or semi private dining. At the center of our gorgeous restaurant, you will find our marble bar boasting a large selection of draft beers, wines, and top shelf whiskeys.

We strive to provide top notch service day and night, whether you're in for a quick lunch or night out. You can also find us on Doordash and Toast TakeOut via our website.

We are so excited to be part of the Wendell Falls community!

919-374-7162

Top review

Charlene

Dined on Aug 24, 2024

As first time patrons, we were very impressed with the restaurant’s vibe. Casual, clean, comfortable. Food was great as was the beer selection. Definitely will dine there again.

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