45 Best American Restaurants in Cary

“We're from Graham, NC and visited today for the first time. Everything about this place is fantastic! Great service, great food, comfortable atmosphere. Reasonable prices. Highly recommended.“

“Great Food. Excellent Host.“

“Spent the day exploring downtown Cary and came across this little bistro! Outside dining was great! Amazing food and friendly service! Sophia, my waitress was fantastic! Very friendly and attentive! The cocktail “The Butterfly Effect “ is just as good as it is pretty! The baked Brie and arugula/beet salad was delicious! Great find in Cary for sure!“

“If you are planning a special occasion or just want a night out at a wonderful restaurant, I have a bit of advice for you. Go to Chef Palette! This establishment has got it together. The atmosphere is just lovely. We planned our son and future daughter-in-law's rehearsal dinner from afar, way far.....Michigan. As stressful as that could have been, Kathie did everything to ease our stress. She calmed this Momma's heart and executed everything to a "T". The appetizer table was not only displayed beautifully, it was YUMMY! The salad, main entrees and dessert did not disappoint. But most of all, the staff was most kind and extremely professional. We cannot thank Kathie and the staff at Chef Palette enough for the wonderful and memorable evening we shared together. GO TO CHEF's PALETTE!“

“We’ve chosen Umstead Hotel and Spa for a pampering celebration of our anniversary. It was a great experience! Beautiful clean rooms and hotel ambiance, relaxing SPA with all possible amenities, amazing couple massage session and delicious dinner. Hotel stuff made our celebration special with the complementary treats and a champagne in our room. We definitely will be looking forward to come back!“

“I was pleasantly surprised. I dined at the more "private" section, and the food was excellent. The service was just as good.“

“Your new server Jay was excellent!! Extra attentive, friendly, accommodating, and my drink was always refilled - I would come back for service like Jay's! However, the ribeye was very burnt for medium rare, but I didn't want to wait for a new one to be fired and just ate it. Texas Pete potatoes, garlic broccoli, and caesar salad were yum tho! Thanks Jay 😁“

“I went here for my birthday dinner yesterday. The food and service were fantastic. The only drawback is looking at one of the framed pictures of cows while eating a Smashburger. Oh, the guilt. 🤣“

“Loved the build your own salad...pleasant atmosphere, staff was friendly...“

“Chases provided exceptional service by making himself available for us.“

“Pros: Beautiful, newly updated rooms. Very clean. Comfortable beds, nice location, lots of parking, friendly staff, free fresh water station in the lobby. Courtyard area with pool was gorgeous. Cons: courtyard balcony but no chairs to sit outside, shower diverter didn’t work and sprayed both bath water and overhead sprayer.“

“Open blues jam on Monday night was perfect. I loved it.!! You need to come and check it out on Mondays.!“

“Man my Ravens lost and whats worst is I choose a Bill's bar to watch it in. Yet I had the best time and felt like it was my place. You guys go above and beyond to make me and my guest feel not just welcomed but appreciated. My favorite bar by far and I will always go back!!!“

“❤️Our experience was very welcoming! The server was very friendly and made sure our food was delivered all together!“

“Unusual experience today at first watch. Greeter appeared to be a disinterested customer, approached me and asked “how many” while paying more attention to his phone than to my answer. Wasn’t dressed in the normal uniform and while I answered him I still assumed he was joking around since none of the workers were present. I’m sure my breakfast will be great as usual but someone needs to train him that he is the first impression a customer is going to get and my interaction with him wasn’t great“

“Had a very nice two night weekend stay. Room was very nice. Dining atmosphere leaves a lot to be desired. The restaurant/bar area and in turn the library room are EXTREMELY noisy!!! Use some sound deadening materials for Christ sake!! We wanted to relax in the library area which is very comfortable but couldn’t last more than a few minutes because of the the noise from the dining room. It wasn’t that there were loud groups either. The room is very noisy. Simple conversations had to get continually louder to overcome the noise which made it even worse. During dinner with two people we were forced to raise out voices to we could hear each other. Just not acceptable in an otherwise very nice hotel.“

“First time dining here last night...great friendly staff, great atmosphere, and probably a Top 5 meal that I have ever had! THIS PLACE IS A GEM! You can absolutely tell it's local and fresh (and I normally think that's BS). Started with the Crispy Brussels Sprouts and then the Homage to the Pig and my wife got the Shrimp Pasta. Incredible (chef's kiss). Going back for sure!“

“Courtney is a great server. Always makes sure that everything is what we wanted or need. Highly recommend her.“

“I had a fantastic experience at this place last weekend! The live band was absolutely incredible—great energy and a solid playlist that kept the vibe upbeat all night. The food and drinks were both high quality and served promptly. I especially appreciated the friendly, attentive service and the warm, inviting ambiance. Whether you're out for a night of live music or just looking for a spot to relax with good food and company, this place is definitely worth checking out. Highly recommend!“

“Alix was great you need to meet her. She makes the place“

“Sophie's Restaurant is amazing! Their food is excellent and the owners and staff are very attentive. They make a great effort in making sure you have a wonderful experience whether it's dinner or an event.“

“Great service but more importantly, the food is really good. Not the "from frozen" bar food that every other place has. Good job Parkway Tavern!“

“As a black couple we are always at home at Mac's. Food, drinks, service, entertainment and atmosphere are always wonderful. Everyone is welcome and gets along. Thank You Mac's!!“

“I am Ethiopian and let me tell you....this is the best Authentic food spot that makes even my friends from DC appreciate. In my opinion the tire Siga is top notch organic. The team do a good job in everything they make. Fantastic staff! Fantastic food! Fantastic atmosphere! Just FYI it only has few seats and it is mostly a take out spot. My taste buds thank you for existing 😆 💖9.9999@mila😆“

“family went a few days ago for the very 1st time. Upon entering the hostess sat us at a table. There wasn't much of a crowd.and we did not have to wait. Once seated NOT.1 person came.to.our table to greet us, give water,etc. We waited over 10 mins and STILL no service. We got up and exited. We will never come back to this establishment and will NOT recommend either. Disappointed.“

“We recently visited for lunch while visiting Raleigh and received excellent service from Eric and Jade. Great food and very friendly staff. All around great experience!“

“Loved the brisket, barbeque and ribs! Okra and banana pudding were delicious, too. Riley and Abel were friendly and helpful. I liked the atmosphere and the barbeque smell of the restaurant, too.“

“My girlfriend and I try to come at least once a month because everything is always SO fresh and delicious. We always open with a serving of their piping hot fried dumplings and delectable dipping sauce. I always get my favorite, an extra spicy Chadol Jjampong that blows my mind every time I taste it. We always feel so welcome because the staff actually remembers us and treats us like family. Well worth the price and the 30 minute drive from home for us. We always talk about Okja even when we cant make it over that way and will keep coming back as long as we can! Thank you so so much for everything 😊“

“One of my favorite burger spots in the area. Corbett's is very affordable for the quality, and the variety of sauces and burger options are outstanding. The fries always taste fresh, and I have never had a disappointing experience here.“

“Great food and service. The atmosphere is cool too.“

“The chicken was extremely greasy. I spoke with the staff and asked them if the chicken is cooked fresh. The staff member stated that the chicken is cooked every so often and refilled into the grease prior to being served so that it is hot.“

“Very nice smaller bar/pub that sits in a strip mall. Seems like everybody knows each other. The staff was friendly. Food service was not exceptionally fast but was worth the wait. Only one bartender/waitstaff when I first arrived. Seemed like two more showed after 5pm.“

“Had a surprise 40th birthday for my fiancé here. The experience was amazing from start to finish. Their event coordinator, Jennifer, was extremely attentive and very quick to respond. Beautiful event space, the food was delicious, staff was amazing! Huge shout out to Jaxx, our event manager. I would highly recommend Sports & Social Cary for parties, gatherings, etc.“

“Delicious food and great service!“

“Honestly for a hotel restaurant my food was really good! I usually avoid eating in the hotel but tonight I was too tired to go out. So I grabbed a complimentary drink for the reception and ordered a fried chicken sandwich. Service was friendly and prompt. The sandwich arrived hot and honesty was one of the better chicken sandwiches I've had. It had really good flavor and was juicy with fresh lettuce. The fries were cooked perfect to fit my liking which is crispy but not destroyed. Sorry I should've taken a picture... Fyi the table next to me got salads which looked really good.If you want to stay close or order room service I think you'll be pleasantly surprised as I was. Ignore the 1 star reviews that don't really relate to the restaurant. They also had a manager waking around checking on customers which is always a good sign that they care.“

“I was here the other night and it was 3 guys behind the bar and Nicole was doing all the table service and the bar everyone else seemed to just be talking while this girl was busting her butt. They’re was a young girl who gave us our food and we asked her for extra ranch never got it , until Nicole came back and by that time we didn’t need it anymore and I felt bad because we come here alot and see this happening . Next time I am just going to tip her only because it didn’t seem like anyone else was working. When she got off I had to walk up to the bar to get drinks and my check . I love this place but it shouldn’t be one person working there tail off .“

“Good food and good service 👌“

“Our server Tyler, was incredible. He was always attentive and kind, and gave us a great dining experience. Unfortunately, the manager David was extremely rude to my party. He wouldn’t let us push together open tables so I could sit with my friends, despite the fact that there was no one at those tables.“

“Absolutely incredible service and unbeatable Tuesday night vibes!

Woody’s in Cary has quickly become my go-to spot — and it all comes down to two things: the outstanding service (special shoutout to Will, who always goes above and beyond!) and the larger-than-life Tuesday night Music Bingo! 🎶✨

Will makes every visit feel personal, welcoming, and fun. Whether you’re a regular or a first-timer, you’re treated like part of the Woody’s family. The staff is attentive, fast, and genuinely cares that you’re having a good time.

And let’s talk about Music Bingo Tuesdays — WOW. It’s high-energy, full of laughs, and hands-down one of the most fun mid-week events in the Triangle. Great prizes, great music, and a great crowd. You’ll find yourself counting down the days until next Tuesday!

If you’re looking for amazing food, top-tier service, and unforgettable weeknight entertainment, this is the place. Can’t recommend Woody’s enough!“

“Great hamburgers and fries“

“Awesome team, great food always and clean. Always enjoy me some Bo!“

“Beautiful setting as it gets dark and outside lights come on. Hadxwibe fkights, 3 -2 oz glasses and shared the hummus and pear Gorgonzola flatbread. Plenty for the 2 of us (both women). Wine pours could be a bit more generous but a pretty good value.“

“Awesome team, great food always and clean. Always enjoy me some Bo!“

“Great place for brunch in cary. It is usually very busy and there is a waiting line on weekends since they don't take reservations. They only serve breakfast and lunch and have a variety of healthy choices. I had a cali eggs Benedict which was tasty.

They have group service by the waitstaff and it is spotty. One minute after I told the waitress my wife was gluten free , she asked what kind of bread she wanted. The thing is they have gluten free bread, but she wasn't really listening to us. Nice place with room for improvement.“

“Amazing CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE!!! From online to location in Cary, utilizing app, setting up reservation, Hosts at front, ALL STAFF is available, friendly and the stage is set for 100% positive experience for all. Very grateful to have made the decision and taken the opportunity to attend Dave and Buster's in Cary for a night out. Will definitely be supporting their business again and having another family night out to remember! Great customer service and memorable moments are priceless!!! Too many names to mention because everyone was on point!!!“