10 Great Restaurants in Raleigh

The award-winning Angus Barn Steakhouse is a top name in the Raleigh dining scene, serving mouthwatering steaks and fresh local seafood. You will find a farmhouse-chic interior that catches the eye with its checked tablecloths, antler chandeliers, warm wooden beams, and one of the most expansive wine cellars in the USA.

Angus Barn delivers plate after plate of epicurean excellence, from fat juicy steaks that are aged to perfection to succulent fish dishes and surf n’ turf classics. There’s also a sumptuous desserts menu that’ll satiate any sweet tooth—try the Southern pecan pie, apple crisp cobbler, or mint infused Creme De Menthe parfait.

A area joint serving curated plates of fresh and honest comfort food, Crawford and Son has established itself in Raleigh as the go-to place for familiar American dishes and innovative flavour combos. Situated in leafy, historic Oakwood, the restaurant’s industrial-style dining room offers an atmospheric space for families, friends, and candlelit date nights, bolstered by an impressive wine selection and a swanky list of handcrafted cocktails.

Here, exciting ingredients like pecorino, sesame, and maraschino cherry are used to build imaginative plates that tantalise the taste buds. Don’t forget to save room for dessert—try the creme fraiche panna cotta or pineapple upside-down cake.

Situated in the historic Dodd-Hinsdale House, circa 1879, Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern offers an upmarket and elegant gastronomic experience steeped in old-world Raleigh traditions. Inside a characterful dining room that’s distinguished by vintage lighting and crisp white tablecloths, you’ll enjoy exceptional hospitality and exquisite seasonal cuisine.

Perfect for special occasions (or when you simply want to spoil yourself), this DiRoNa-awarded venue uses only the freshest natural ingredients to bring each rich and complex dish to life. Pair with a prize-winning wine before finishing off with a decadent dessert like the sweet potato cherry bread pudding or the classic key lime pie.

Boasting a deep Southern heritage that’s rooted in family and city, Mandolin is a contemporary Raleigh restaurant that shines a spotlight on fresh ingredients and classic American tunes. North Carolina’s bounty is at the very heart of these globally inspired seasonal offerings, whether that’s farm-to-table vegetables, locally sourced meats, or succulent seafood.

Located in the Hayes Barton historic district, this DiRoNA award-winning venue serves vibrant brunches and dinners in a stylish interior marked by crisp white tablecloths, monochromatic chairs, and rustic brick floors. Reserve a table and enjoy skillet cornbread with sorghum butter, braised pork cheek, and a range of blissful desserts.

Don’t be fooled by its strip mall location. Saint Jacques is an upmarket Raleigh bistro serving classic French cuisine in a light, bright space dotted with white tablecloths, pretty flower posies, and Parisian café seating. For over 20 years, this Francophile favourite has been drawing in crowds with its curated wine list, buzzing atmosphere, and dishes infused with the memory of chef Falcoz-Vigne’s motherland.

Book a table for dinner and enjoy cheeses and charcuterie, pan-seared foie gras, and rich hearty mains, like rack of lamb. A simple dessert and cocktail list will lend a touch of sweetness to your evening. Pair a rotating house sorbet with a cheeky Midnight Run.

Boasting the most intriguing restaurant name in all of Raleigh, Death and Taxes is the brainchild of acclaimed chef Ashley Christensen (winner of the James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef, 2019). Set in an early 20th-century building in the city’s bustling City centre, the venue features an elegant Louis Cherry designed interior that’s all-leather banquettes, marble tables, and Flos chandeliers.

Celebrated for its inventive New American cuisine, D&T serves inspired dishes such as roasted North Carolina oysters with preserved lemon gremolata and dry-aged Long Island strip with pink peppercorn chimichurri. The deserts and cocktails are in a class of their own too—order the orange blossom panna cotta with a Davie Street Swizzle.

Part bookshop, beer hall, restaurant, and florist, Brewery Bhavana is a Raleigh food and retail concept that defies tradition. Here, handcrafted Belgian-style beers are married with glistening baubles of tasty dim sum, served in an interior peppered with potted fig trees and simple wooden tables.

Sanskrit for “cultivating,” Bhavana is a joyful celebration of pan-Asian flavours thanks to its steaming bamboo baskets filled with edamame ginger dumplings, pork and chive shumai, duck egg rolls, and scallion pancakes. Pair a beer or cocktail with one of its sensual desserts including fried sesame bites and tropical coconut cake.

Bida Manda Laotian Restaurant and Bar is a unique Raleigh gathering place where food and culture are viewed as a symbiotic celebration. With its warm wood interiors, sleek L-shaped bar, and evocative Southeast Asian menu, this Moore Square area meetup was designed to bring people together over tasty, aromatic cuisine.

Laos dishes are fresh and zingy; a melding of Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese flavours expertly refined by French techniques. Try the lemongrass sausage, green papaya salad, crispy pork belly soup, or golden fried chicken wings.

Tucked away in the Raleigh area of Mordecai in a former laundromat and convenience store, trendy Stanbury has made a name for itself with its rustic interior, eclectic cuisine, and craft cocktail selection.

Here, sharing plates are the main attraction, each stacked with tantalising morsels like roasted beetroot, grilled quail, and titbits to tempt those braver souls—crispy pig head anyone? This popular spot also serves sweet dishes, so make sure you leave plenty of room for dessert.

For fine American dining with a French Quarter twist, nothing beats Rey’s in the Raleigh area of Cary. While the cuisine might be upmarket, the interior aims for a classic-meets-casual vibe with its floral-patterned chairs, bright white tablecloths, and bold ochre and tomato colour palette.

Rey’s Restaurant is known for its continental menu resplendent with rich New Orleans dishes like fried oysters with Cajun aioli, Bourbon Street pork chops, grouper Lafayette, and the iconic treat made famous in the Vieux Carré: bananas foster. Afterwards, sink into a plush leather couch in the Voodoo Lounge where you can enjoy a fat cigar and an old-school cocktail.