Here are the 14 best restaurants in Raleigh, says Southern Living
Southern Living published a list of their 14 best restaurants in Raleigh, naming new joints and familiar favorites among their picks.
“Its rapidly evolving restaurant scene mirrors that same fervor with an impressive variety of flavors, entrees, and experiences,” Southern Living wrote of Raleigh’s dining options.
“From farm-to-table meals and whole-hog barbecue to fine dining and international cuisine, Raleigh’s restaurant lineup has something for everyone.”
Triangle restaurateurs Ricky Moore (James Beard Award-winning owner of Saltbox Seafood Joint), David Meeker (a partner in Trophy Brewing, Elm Partners and Carpenter Development) and Marjorie Hodges (co-founder of ARTSUITE) shared their menu choices with Southern Living, highlighting some of their favorite eats in the Triangle.
Here are their 14 picks for the best restaurants in the City of Oaks. To read the Southern Living article, visit southernliving.com.
Best restaurants in Raleigh, according to Southern Living
Hummingbird
Why it’s great: Hodges calls Hummingbird the best brunch spot in Raleigh. It has a “sunny and joyful” atmosphere with New Orleans-inspired eats.
Meal recommendation: Peacemaker Po’boy. Hodges told SL it’s a sandwich “loaded with fried shrimp and oysters, and just the right balance of condiments.” For dessert, she recommends the Ricotta Fritters that “melt in your mouth.”
Reservations: Accepted
Website: hummingbirdraleigh.com
Address: 1053 E Whitaker Mill Rd. #11
Death & Taxes
Why it’s great: This Ashley Christensen eatery has been a staple in the area since opening in 2015, SL says.
Meal recommendation: “Every single appetizer,” Meeker recommends, encouraging a drink from the restaurant’s wine menu. Find your drink first, then an appetizer that complements the beverage, Meeker told SL.
Reservations: Accepted
Website: ac-restaurants.com/death-taxes
Address: 105 W. Hargett St.
St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar
Why it’s great: The New Orleans-inspired seafood restaurant is known for its oysters every which way — roasted, raw or prepared to your liking.
Meal recommendation: Meeker likes to get half a dozen oysters, the winter Caesar salad, the ‘gator bolognese and a Hurricane, making it feel “like NOLA.” Some say their Caesar salad is the best in town, she told SL.
Reservations: Accepted
Website: strochraleigh.com
Address: 223 S Wilmington St.
Stanbury
Why it’s great: Moore told SL it’s a “good neighborhood eatery with super cool folks cooking and serving creative sure-handed seasonal food with no pretense.”
Meal recommendation: The beef tongue yakitori and crispy pig head, Moore said. He recommends one of their “deliciously fun” cocktails and eats from the small plate section shared among friends.
Reservations: Not accepted
Website: stanburyraleigh.com
Address: 938 N. Blount St.
Centro
Why it’s great: This Mexican joint by Angela Salamanca, who Meeker says is “a serial giver of her time and energy to the nonprofits of Raleigh.” You can get pre-dinner drinks upstairs at Gallo Pelón Mezcaleria, Salamanca’s other spot.
Meal recommendation: Queso, guac, grass-fed steak tacos and an organic margarita, Meeker suggested to SL.
Reservations: Accepted
Website: centroraleigh.com
Address: 106 S Wilmington St.
Cucciolo Raleigh
Why it’s great: The sibling restaurant to Cucciolo Osteria in Durham is an Italian eatery run by cousins Jimmy and Julian Kim. It has a “casual but still elevated atmosphere,” SL says.
Meal recommendation: They have a unique taste on Italian dishes, featuring braised octopus, elk bolognese and sausage campanelle, SL says.
Reservations: Accepted
Website: cuccioloraleigh.com
Address: 4200 Six Forks Rd. #100
Hady’s Restaurant International Cuisine
Why it’s great: Moore calls this eatery “a beautifully honest restaurant that celebrates the dishes of the African diaspora” that “displays the care and concern for their food and guests.”
Meal recommendation: Any stew-style dishes with Senegalese couscous preparation, Moore recommended to SL. He also loves their yassa chicken, Atieke and jollof rice.
Reservations: Accepted
Website: hadyinternational.com
Address: 717 E Martin St. #199
Ajja
Why it’s great: Hodges says everything at Ajja is “delicious and a feast for the eyes.” The Cheetie Kumar and Paul Siler partner restaurant calls itself a “celebration of diverse foodways and cultures,” using bright spices and cooking techniques of the Mediterranean, the Middle East and beyond.
Meal recommendation: The Toor Whip dip or king trumpet mushrooms, Hodges told SL.
Reservations: Accepted
Website: ajjaeats.com
Address: 209 Bickett Blvd
Crawford and Son
Why it’s great: Vegetables and biscuits. “Scott Crawford is the ‘vegetable whisperer.’ All vegetables on the menu are better than they should be,” Hodges says.
Meal recommendation: Crispy skin sea trout with a side of brussel sprouts and Manchego-herb biscuits, Meeker told SL.
Reservations: Accepted
Website: msha.ke/crawfordandsonrestaurant
Address: 618 N. Person St.
Mandolin
Why it’s great: Chef Sean Fowler and his team “value seasonality, sustainability and buying local,” SL says, so everything arrives to the table fresh and delicious.
Meal recommendation: The star of the menu is the skillet cornbread served with sorghum butter, SL says, also highlighting the housemade cavatelli, bone-in grilled pork chop and apple crumble with ice cream.
Reservations: Accepted
Website: mandolinraleigh.com
Address: 2519 Fairview Rd.
Poole’s Diner
Why it’s great: Another of Christensen’s restaurants, this comfort food eatery is known for its ridiculously good meals, SL says.
Meal recommendation: The pimento cheese served on fried saltine crackers and her macaroni au gratin are “better than you can imagine,” Hodges says. The Royale, a Sunday-only treat, is a burger with cheese on an open-faced grilled brioche and red wine shallot jus.
Reservations: Accepted
Website: ac-restaurants.com/pooles
Address: 426 S. McDowell St.
Jolie
Why it’s great: Located next to its sister restaurant Crawford and Son, Jolie has a totally different feel, look and menu, SL says. The small food selection is tasteful and features French bistro fare.
Meal recommendation: SL highlights the steak tartare, duck cassoulet and rabbit rillettes. There’s also a selection of non-alcoholic drinks.
Reservations: Accepted
Website: restaurantjolie.com
Address: 620 N. Person St.
Flame Kabob
Why it’s great: This restaurant has “authentic and delicious” Persian-Iranian home cooking, Moore told SL. The namesake comes from their kebabs cooked over an open flame. All meats are Zabiha Halal, the restaurant advertises.
Meal recommendation: Any of the kebab dishes, and the stew and rice selections on the menu, Moore recommends. The Flame Sampler Combo is another favorite, with lentil rice and Khoresht-e-Ghormeh Sabzi, a spinach, kidney bean and beef stew.
Reservations: Contact the restaurant to inquire
Website: flamekabob.com
Address: 7961 Skyland Ridge Pkwy #110
Beasley’s Chicken and Honey
Why it’s great: The third Christensen joint on this list boasts fried chicken. Prepare for a wait.
Meal recommendation: You can’t go wrong with their classic fried chicken and waffles, SL says. Their weekend brunch menu offers biscuits and gravy, a loaded breakfast bowl and hot chicken egg benedict.
Reservations: Not accepted
Website: ac-restaurants.com/beasleys
Address: 237 S. Wilmington St.
This story was originally published January 22, 2024 at 12:10 PM with the headline "Here are the 14 best restaurants in Raleigh, says Southern Living."
