Tapas Restaurants in Raleigh, NC

“The atmosphere was romantic and the food was absolutely amazing! My husband had one of the best filets that he has ever had and the homemade pasta was as close as I’ve found to true Italian pasta. Highly recommend for a romantic date night ❤️“

“Tamasha is nothing short of incredible. A beautifully appointed restaurant that provides first class service and amazing food. This is truly one of Raleigh's finest.“

“This was our first time at Madras. Great food…loved the roasted cauliflower with green goddess dipping sauce. My husband loved the octopus. The outside Wednesday night band was an excellent bonus!!“

“The food and wine were excellent but the prices were a bit high. I loved the fact that they had wines from all over and they could pair them with the food however our waitress barely said anything and didn’t seem that knowledgeable. We waited a long time to be seated.“

“From beginning to end— exceptional service! The food was flavorful and very good! I was so impressed! Met up with a old friend and our food was delicious and hot! Next time I will try the jerk chicken— looked over my shoulder at other plates! Loved it! I“

“The best place in Raleigh! I can’t recommend Barcelona enough! Mark Figueroa is awesome! He makes a difference, always making us feel welcome. The food is delicious! I’m hi Spanish and it’s like diving back to Spain. Today is Valentine’s Day and I have 3 friends coming for the first time! Im excited for them to experience the best of Raleigh!!!“

“Great little neighborhood deli in N. Raleigh area. Ordered the Grand Gobbler on focaccia (bread was perfect & so fresh) & the potato salad (literally some of the best I’ve ever had). It was all so plentiful & so very good! Place has a very simple, but tasteful menu. Super nice staff working Sabrina & (Dalton brought our food out & spoke) he always does a perfect job on preparing our sandwiches! 🥪 Overall service was great! Definitely a must for a quick lunch stop! Will definitely be back asap!“

“This BBQ is Really Good thank you Sam Jones BBQ all respect to the cooks i can tell they put there heart and soul into cookingthis BBQ“

“Farm to Table Italian cuisine with Southern Twist, with the perfect combination of ingredients and Flavors I had the opportunity to dine at Figulina in Raleigh, NC, which offers freshly made pasta with strong Italian influences, bringing in new flavors, ingredients, and spices. The overall restaurant created an atmosphere that catered to a variety of patrons, including couples/dates, families, business colleagues, and small to large groups, with an equally spacious outside patio. The service was also a step above the rest, with curated descriptions of all the cuisines and attention to detail. They surely made the night one to remember and a reason to come back. Having traveled the globe to over 69 countries, including spending an extensive period in Italy, what really impressed me was how they took very Italian-inspired dishes but made them more elaborate and exciting for a one-of-a-kind tasting experience. We started with some appetizers and small plates, which included #1 Stuffed dates with Gorgonzola Dolce, Medjool dates, hazelnuts, hot honey, #2 Whipped ricotta with roasted muscadine, prosciutto, pickled celery, farro piccolo, and verjus, and #3 House Focaccia. The Stuff Dates was a combination of the deep sweetness of the dates, soft creaminess, and flavor from the gorgonzola, complemented by the crunchy hazelnut, and the sweetness of the honey, which produced an amazing one-bite, flavorful experience. The Whipped Ricotta goes beyond sophisticated with its rich ricotta at the bottom, farro for texture and traction, roasted muscadines that burst like little pockets of jam, and prosciutto bits for a slight salty-sweet flavor, leaving you with the desire for more. Finally, the focaccia wasn't really groundbreaking. In fact, I have had much better focaccia in other places – it wasn't exactly worth eating as it just fills up your stomach unnecessarily. We followed up with 3 entrees: #1 Rigatoni with red wine–braised eggplant, capers, oyster mushroom, and bottarga crumb, #2 Triangoli with braised guinea hen, sweet pepper tagine, charred okra, goat lady chèvre, preserved lemon, toasted pistachio, and #3 Mafaldine alla carbonara with guanciale and pecorino romano. The Rigatoni was an intricate pasta dish with a red wine braise that softened the eggplant to a silky, confit consistency, featuring subtle tannic complexity, capers that brought flashes of saltiness, and oyster mushrooms that introduced a satiny, woody texture that played off the eggplant. The bottarga crumb is the coup de grâce: sea salt salinity and sandy crunch that sticks to rigatoni ridges, salting each bite. The Triangoli was an excellent blend of Mediterranean and North African flavors, with the triangoli laminated and cooked just past al dente to accommodate the tangy chèvre's tanginess and creaminess inside. The guinea hen provides a juicy, savory, and spiced flavor profile, while the sweet pepper tagine adds warmth and sweetness. The charred okra brings smokiness and a faint grassy note, and the accompaniment of preserved lemon provides the perfect combination of sweet, savory, and citrus. There was a minor execution issue with the dish. It was too spicy. Unfortunately, when using fresh ingredients from local farms, there are always challenges in what you will receive. They believe that the peppers may have added too much spice to the dish, which made it a little overpowering. While the Mafaldine alla carbonara was a perfected classic, with the silkiness of the fresh pasta, the emulsion of the egg, and the pecorino romano, it also brought a feeling of refreshment with each rich bite. I found the dish to be a little lackluster in terms of complexity. I feel that this dish could have added dimension to make it more interesting with some different garnishes or added flavor elements, such as caramelized onions, wild mushrooms, peas, or even more impactful pancetta, which could elevate this dish to the next level. Overall, I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to anyone without reservations. The way this restaurant ad“

“Great atmosphere, great food, great staff, and even great prices!! Check them out for your next date night!“

“Awesome place! Great staff! Great food! Amazing beer!“

“I always have a fun time at Killjoy - whether it's packed with little room to walk around or it's a small crowd with space at the bar and on the dance floor! The music is great, and the people are there to chill, sing and dance a little - just a nice vibe. Attractive people, nicely dressed, friendly energy!“

“Great hand crafted cocktails with small bite food options“

“We have eaten at The Mill in Old Raleigh a couple of times and have never been disappointed. The daily fish specials are amazing - well balanced flavors and unique ingredients w a lovely presentation. My wife had the steak frites most recently and loved it!! The wait staff is very attentive, Madison was terrific! The entire evening was a pleasure from the starters through dessert. Do not hesitate to give The Mill a try. You will not be disappointed.“

“Level7 Rooftop Bar has become one of my favorite places in Raleigh for networking events, sunsets, and pretending I’m far more sophisticated than I actually am while holding a cocktail and staring dramatically at the skyline. 😄

The views are fantastic, especially around sunset. Apparently, I’ve now become “that person” who takes entirely too many sky pictures, but honestly, Raleigh keeps cooperating with these ridiculous sunsets, so I refuse to apologize. 🌅😂

What I really like about this place is the layout. There are so many little seating areas, couches, tables, and tucked-away spaces that it actually makes networking events enjoyable instead of feeling like you’re trapped in a loud convention center fighting for survival and eye contact.

It’s open and social without being obnoxiously loud every time I’ve been there, which means you can actually hear conversations without smiling and nodding while secretly having no idea what someone just said.

The bartenders have always been great and friendly to me.

Now… some of the wait staff? Let’s just say maybe I’ve accidentally caught them on their “I need a vacation immediately” days. 😄 But honestly, we all have those moments, and it’s never been enough to keep me from coming back.

I haven’t eaten there yet, so I can’t speak on the food, but for drinks, views, sunsets, and networking, it’s a really great rooftop spot.

Basically, if you’re looking for a place to meet people, catch a sunset, have a drink, and casually act like your life is very glamorous for a couple hours, this is a solid choice. 😂“

“great drinks and great foods 😋“