Top 12 Best Restaurants in Raleigh
Known as the culinary capital of the South, Raleigh offers an incredible dining scene filled with James Beard recognized chefs, cutting-edge eateries, and Southern hospitality.
| Restaurant Name | Specialty |
|---|---|
| Brewery Bhavana | Dim sum, beer, and desserts |
| Death & Taxes | Seasonal fine dining |
| Crawford & Son | Elevated regional fare |
| Copa | Latin American cuisine |
| Bida Manda | Laotian dishes |
| Stanbury | Regional cuisine in an urban farmhouse |
| Belltree Tavern | Progressive pub grub |
| The Cantina 18 | Traditional Mexican cuisine |
| Cortez Seafood & Cocktail | Fresh seafood |
| Garland | Seasonal cuisine in a historic setting |
| Poole’s Diner | Creative provincial cooking |
From down-home cookin’ to upscale establishments, the city delivers delectable dishes, talented chefs, and one-of-a-kind dining experiences. Here are 12 of the best restaurants to taste Raleigh’s acclaimed food scene.
Brewery Bhavana
Name and Location: Brewery Bhavana is located in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.
History and Significance: Opened 2017, Brewery Bhavana is a unique destination featuring a flower shop, brewery, library, and dim sum restaurant all in one. It celebrates community, inclusion and the arts as much as quality craft beer and eats.
What to Expect: Innovative farmhouse ales, lagers and ciders brewed on-site to pair with Chinese-inspired small plates. Beautiful modern atmosphere with flowers, bookshelves and towering beer vats surrounding diners.
Visitor Information: Located downtown at 218 S Blount St. Open Tuesday-Sunday for lunch and dinner. Extensive beverage and dim sum menu. Street parking, garage nearby.
This combination flower shop, dim sum eatery, bookstore, and microbrewery cultivates community through its quartet of spaces. Order an imaginative beer like lychee blossom ale in the taproom before being seated in the stunning dining room. Featuring exposed beams, reclaimed wood, and hanging paper lanterns, enjoy seasonal delicate dumplings, shumai, bao buns, and noodle dishes that balance texture and flavor. Save room for warm matcha bread pudding or black sesame ice cream from their open pastry kitchen. The flower shop creates rotating installations like cascading orchids in the foyer while the bookshop curates titles delving into social change.
Death & Taxes
Name and Location: Death & Taxes is located in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.
History and Significance: Opened 2010 in Raleigh’s Warehouse District, Death & Taxes has earned many accolades for its seasonal New American cuisine and finely curated wine and cocktail offerings, helmed by expert chef Ashley Christensen.
What to Expect: Market-driven plates that could include grilled NC trout, pork confit poutine, buttermilk pie, constantly evolving. White tablecloth ambiance, locally sourced ingredients, exceptional bar program. Worth booking reservations.
Visitor Information: Located downtown at 105 W Hargett St. Open Monday-Saturday for dinner. Reservations recommended, smart casual dress code. Validated parking available in deck next door.
Encompassing only 12 coveted seats in a historic cottage, Death & Taxes delivers a uniquely personal fine dining experience focused on seasonality and craft. James Beard nominated husband-and-wife owners use foraged ingredients and hyper-regional cooking techniques for flavor-forward dishes like the signature “pig head” app irreverently presented on a spike. With plates as edible art, the ever-changing tasting menu also utilizes obscure cuts like beef heart, sashimi-style venison, and Carolina shrimp crudo for conceptual compositions. Extensive wine pairings, refined service, and the intimate nature of this hidden gem provide a singular dining adventure.
Crawford & Son
Name and Location: Crawford & Son is located in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.
History and Significance: Opened 2016 by respected chef Scott Crawford, the cozy Crawford & Son sources from local farmers to create stellar wood-fired fare paired with craft beer and whiskey flights. The menu celebrates heirloom southern cooking techniques.
What to Expect: Seasonally inspired plates drawing from NC ingredients, often cooked over open fire. Could include brisket, planked fish, chicken cooked under bricks, vegetables roasted in embers for intense flavors. Counter seating.
Visitor Information: Located downtown at 603 N Person St. Open Sunday-Thursday for dinner. Extensive reserve whiskey list. Street parking available, reservations recommended.
Blending European technique with North Carolina ingredients, Crawford & Son reimagines regional fare for elevated yet unfussy dishes served in a historic downtown mansion. Dine on heritage recipes like pimento cheese fondue topped with bourbon-pickled hot peppers alongside entrees showcasing local bounty through trout pound cake and cider brined pork chops. For a sweet and salty finish, the beloved peanut butter silk pie marries dark chocolate ganache, caramel, and Valrhona peanuts. With Chef Scott Crawford manning the open kitchen, the bright fine dining rooms balance fresh peonies and upscale artisan tilework for a warm, polished atmosphere.
Copa
Name and Location: Copa is located in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.
History and Significance: Serving vibrant Latin American street food since 2011, chef Elizabeth Colón and consultant Cheetie Kumar elevate staples like tacos, arepas and empanadas into flavor masterpieces celebrated citywide at Copa’s downtown bar and patio.
What to Expect: Creative shareable plates and entrees taking you on a tour from Mexico down to Argentina. Salsas, ceviches, tortas, chorizo-stuffed dates, tres leches cake and more. Funky, quirky atmosphere. Extensive agave spirits.
Visitor Information: Located downtown at 307 W Martin St. Open daily lunch through late night. Sangria and signature margaritas a specialty. Street parking nearby, light fare served late.
This spirited downtown eatery overlooking Moore Square transports diners straight to the heart of Latin America through cuisine, cocktails, music, and décor. Vibrant regional small plates like yucca frita croquettes, Veracruz-style bass ceviche in leche de tigre, and Cuban sandwiches fuel a festive vibe. Or opt for hearty main plates of vaca frita flank steak or mofongo stuffed with shrimp and fried pork. Potent tropical drinks like a Cuban Missile Crisis with rum, passionfruit and bitters complement dishes popping with citrus, chilies, and spice. The bi-level restaurant even features dance performances set to live music on some evenings.
Bida Manda
Name and Location: Bida Manda is located in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.
History and Significance: Opened 2012 by siblings Vanvisa and Vansana Nolintha, Bida Manda (“father mother” in Laotian) spotlights the bright, dynamic flavors of Southeast Asian street food through a multi-course menu crafted with care.
What to Expect: Sit at communal tables for a unique family-style eating experience with multiple flavor-packed shared plates served in waves. Think stewed pork belly, crispy catfish, papaya salad, roasted duck laab, curry udon and more. BYOB.
Visitor Information: Located downtown at 222 S Blount St. Open Monday-Saturday dinner. Reservations essential, casual dress. Limited private lot parking; street parking.
Serving Laotian fare in downtown Raleigh, Bida Manda specializes in noodles along with other authentic specialties at this cozy temple of flavor. Slurp savory broths overflowing with meat, herbs and handmade noodles like Khao Poon, hangover noodle soup that’s fortified with pork blood. Vegetable focused options like papaya salad, sticky rice, and crispy eggplant perfectly balance the bold, complex flavors. Housed in a former thrift shop, the modern rustic interior pairs reclaimed barn siding with potted orchids while a hand-painted mural depicts Laotian textiles. The bar also shakes up creative Craft tropical cocktails.
Stanbury
Name and Location: Stanbury is located in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina adjoining historic Union Station.
History and Significance: Housed in a converted 1940s loading facility, Stanbury blends urban farmhouse ambiance with global flavors curated by chef Jeff Seizer since 2016. The restaurant emphasizes playful creativity with local ingredients.
What to Expect: Artfully composed plates fusing cultural influences from Seizer’s experiences abroad—squid ink rigatoni, duck fat pretzel rolls, Szechuan pepper tofu. Nice cocktail and mocktail beverage menu as well.
Visitor Information: Located downtown at 501 W Martin St. Open daily for dinner. Upscale casual dress code, reservations encouraged as seating is limited. Valet parking available.
This cozy neighborhood restaurant in the bustling Person Street district delivers nature-driven regional cuisine in an urban farmhouse environment. Rustic communal tables, brick walls, and chalkboard menus surround an open kitchen where Chef Jeff Seizer forages ingredients from North Carolina forests and streams for dishes like spring ramp flatbread, chocolate chili steelhead trout, and pickled fiddleheads. Save room for the transcendent s’mores dessert with goat cheese ice cream, salted pretzel crust and chocolate mousse torch-toasted tableside. Remarkably consistent dishes, stellar hospitality, and charming environs explain this tough reservation.
Belltree Tavern
Name and Location: Belltree Tavern is located in Raleigh’s Longview neighborhood.
History and Significance: Chef Matt Ledbetter focuses on classic Southern fare and hospitality in this homey neighborhood spot. Since 2021, Belltree Tavern has offered quality American eats paired nicely with local beers in a comfortable, unpretentious setting.
What to Expect: Shareable plates of fried catfish, chicken and dumplings, veggie plates, burgers. Salsa dancing on the patio on weekends. Full bar of classic and North Carolina craft beers, some specialty cocktails like Pimm’s Cup.
Visitor Information: Located at 903 Semart Drive. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Casual dress code. Small private lot, additional street parking nearby. Walk-ins welcome though waits possible.
Housed in a converted 1940s loading dock space, this downtown gastropub puts a progressive spin on familiar pub grub favorites. Cozy up in leather booths or at the gently curving dark wood bar beneath steel trusses to try elevated plates like foie gras poutine fries, trout dip Ritz crackers, or the Cuban sandwich with smoked pork belly. Dozens of taps pour regional microbrews, cider, and wine while co-owner Brian Woodson creates specialty cocktails like the barrel aged Smoke in the Belltree made with mezcal, bitters and maple. Late night happy hours also help this hidden gem maintain an avid local following.
The Cantina 18
Name and Location: The Cantina 18 is located in north Raleigh, North Carolina.
History and Significance: Bringing authentic Mexico City-style tacos and antojitos to the area since 2017, chef Alex Castaño blends tradition with unique fusion twists on Cantina 18’s vibrant Latin plates served street food-style in a casual setting.
What to Expect: Tacos, quesadillas, tortas and fresh Mexican seafood options like ceviche and Campechana cocktails. Extensive tequila selections. Buzzing atmosphere with funky Day of the Dead visual aesthetics.
Visitor Information: Located north at 7909 Falls of Neuse Rd. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Free lot parking. Cashless payments accepted. Family and dog patio seating available.
Colorful traditional decor imported straight from Puebla, Mexico sets the festive, family-run scene at this Brooklyn neighborhood Cantina. While tacos star through fillings like succulent al pastor, chicharrón en salsa roja, mar y tierra (surf and turf), and spicy chorizo, Chef Aquiles has also perfected ancestral moles from scratch like pepita and chilhuacle negro that permeate meat and enchiladas with hypnotizing depth. Rounding out the scratch-made authentic fare are refreshing margaritas made for sipping in the lively garden patio bound to give a taste of genuine Mexican hospitality and soul-nourishing flavors.
Cortez Seafood & Cocktail
Name and Location: Cortez Seafood & Cocktail is located in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.
History and Significance: Blending rich Southeast Asian flavors with North Carolina coastal cuisine, Cortez opened in 2015 as the passion project of chef Oscar Diaz. The dynamo menu has earned many accolades for its skillful fusion.
What to Expect: Dishes like Singapore chilli blue crab, scallion seafood pancakes, whole fried fish and bacon-wrapped dates alongside specialty tropical cocktails. Chic but casual atmosphere with some patio seating available.
Visitor Information: Located downtown at 307 W Martin St Floor C. Open for lunch and dinner daily. No reservations, seating first come. Metered parking available on street.
Soak up north Carolina’s fishing heritage at this no-frills Wesley Heights haunt celebrated for the freshest catches since 1984. Besides boiling shrimp drizzled in mustardy Carolina BBQ sauce, their head-on royal red shrimp demands getting hands dirty peeling, sucking heads for briny juice, and dunking sweet meat into hot sauce or butter. Move onto mountainous platters of fried crab cakes, coconut shrimp, cast iron rainbow trout, and golden fried oysters shucked-to-order, best balanced by salty shoestring fries or hushpuppies. Finish up with the rightfully famous Pearl’s Peanut Butter pie for this ultimate, rowdy seafood indulgence.
Garland
Name and Location: Garland is located in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.
History and Significance: Open since 2018, Garland celebrates global cuisine and culture by transforming a former vintage department store into a stylish dining and entertainment destination on multiple floors. Ever-evolving food and atmosphere.
What to Expect: Japanese eats at Yakitori Boy, Caribbean at Jubala Village, Neapolitan pizza at Pazzo. Cocktail bars, DJ dance parties, drag shows and more hosted at venue. Architecture blends historic and modern design.
Visitor Information: Located downtown at 14 W Martin St. Hours vary by vendor. Street parking and parking deck beside/behind building. Accessible entry and elevator onsite.
For five-star seasonal cuisine served inside the former downtown Raleigh Times building, Garland transports diners with an ever-changing menu, lavish decor, and masterful service. James Beard semifinalist Chefs Lam and Vu marry global training with obsession over sourcing ultra-regional ingredients at peak freshness for ingenious plates like foie gras bibimbap or whole roasted cobia collar with mole verde. Each of the stately black and white marble appointed dining rooms overflows with orchids, spilling greenery and opulent chandeliers. Extensive boutique wine pairings from the gorgeous cellar room complement chef’s meticulously crafted morsels.
Crawford & Son
Name and Location: Crawford & Son is located in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.
History and Significance: Opened 2016 by respected chef Scott Crawford, the cozy Crawford & Son sources from local farmers to create stellar wood-fired fare paired with craft beer and whiskey flights. The menu celebrates heirloom southern cooking techniques.
What to Expect: Seasonally inspired plates like brisket, planked fish, vegetables roasted in embers for intense flavors. Counter seating, intimate atmosphere. Outstanding reserve whiskey options curated by the owners.
Visitor Information: Located downtown at 603 N Person St. Open Sunday-Thursday for dinner. No reservations so waits possible at peak times. Nearby street parking.
Blending European technique with North Carolina ingredients, Crawford & Son reimagines regional fare for elevated yet unfussy dishes served in a historic downtown mansion. Dine on heritage recipes like pimento cheese fondue topped with bourbon-pickled hot peppers alongside entrees showcasing local bounty through trout pound cake and cider brined pork chops. For a sweet and salty finish, the beloved peanut butter silk pie marries dark chocolate ganache, caramel, and Valrhona peanuts. With Chef Scott Crawford manning the open kitchen, the bright fine dining rooms balance fresh peonies and upscale artisan tilework for a warm, polished atmosphere.
Poole’s Diner
Name and Location: Poole’s Diner is located in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.
History and Significance: Helmed by lauded local chef Ashley Christensen since 2007, Poole’s Downtown Diner blends nostalgic midcentury diner ambiance with modern southern cuisine prepared skillfully with seasonal ingredients and culinary daring.
What to Expect: Ever-changing locally focused New American plates range from pimento cheeseburgers to duck leg confit in rich curry sauce to desserts like homemade pop tarts. Well-curated bar program. Cozy, retro interior. Worth booking ahead.
Visitor Information: Located downtown at 426 S McDowell St. Open Monday-Saturday 5:30pm-midnight. Reservations strongly recommended. Nearby parking garages available, validated valet parking offered.
Chef Ashley Christensen simultaneously elevated Raleigh’s food scene and renewed downtown revitalization with this crown jewel occupying a former mid-century pie shop. Now an airy, welcoming haven filled with large-scale floral art, the scratch kitchen infuses an exuberant passion into nose-to-tail provincial cooking across constantly changing dishes. Lunch may bring a sunny pimento mac n’ cheese burger and nighttime more elegance through seared scallops in scallion ginger broth. Whatever the latest menu holds, an excellent craft cocktail and hospitality program focused on transportive experiences refuses to compromise creativity for one woman’s bold culinary vision.