My wife and I ate there recently. Salads were very good, Tuscan soup - amazing. Margehrita pizza - authentic. They made my wife an eggplant rolitini entree that was not on the menu. No hassle.

Pizza and sandwiches always available, so it doesn't have to be an expensive meal.

It had a few new restaurant growing pains, but overall very good food. We'll go back.

"Last time I ate at Denny's I marveled at their ability to suck the flavor out of everything including bacon."

Funny line. Comedy Gold!!

"As I said, Charlotte isn't home to any of the top shelf, old line bbq joints in NC."

I'd agree with that statement. There's probably not a big demand of that old style NC Q in the big cities of NC.

I've lived in NC for 20 years and grew up in Virginia and I've never liked the traditional NC BBQ.

Maybe the OP's friends can bring us some Texas Barbecue from Rudy's - the greatest Q on the Planet!

Poole's is good, but overrated in my opinion. The wait and the noise is not worth it. Good bar drinks while you wait, but...the...wait...could lead to DUI.

RELISH is a very good. Veg friendly and hearty comfort food. Nice atmosphere.

Just back from OBX this weekend. We own a house there, so we're regulars.

Two new finds, both will be featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.

Coastal Cravings in Duck. Located in a BP service station - well really just attached to it.
& Outer Banks Brewing Company in Kill Devil Hills. Both were excellent with scratch made food!

80s Miami Vice look with small plates that are just OK. Young waitresses in little black dresses (I'm ok with that) take your order using an iPad.

The whole concept seems out of place for Raleigh

Six of us tried about ten items. All were just OK. Not a glowing descriptive review, I know, but that's what it was.

The #1 Combo is 12.95 and had less meat than "The Rachel" which is a pastrami reuben.
This place is expensive and only a notch better than Jason's Deli.
Hopefully they'll work out some kinks and get better.

Thanks for the reviews. A friend and I went this week. It was good - not great. A $12 sandwich should be a $12 sandwich. The meat portions were small. Pastrami was very good. So were the pickles.

Service was inexperienced. I would rather order at the counter and have it delivered to the table. It's a bit slow.

I'll definitely give them another try. But, $30 for lunch for two with small portions will not be a
"go to" restaurant for me.

I like Camos Bros. I'd give them an edge over Chisto's for their sauce. Christo's the edge for their crust.

Jet's is probably notreal Chicago pizza, but the sausage one I tried was very good, and different from most area pies.

It's probably not a popular suggestion, but it's tough to beat Ruth's Chris for a subdued, quiet dinner with excellent service and food. My idea of romantic is an atmosphere that doesn't distract you from the company you're with. Ruth's Chis does that well.

Andy's Pizza in Quail Corners at Falls of Neuse and Millbrook is now Christo's. I live across the street and never much cared for Andy's. Christo's took over a couple of months ago, I've had two pizzas there - and it's very good.

New York style with a thin slightly charred crust, good sauce and cheese. It probably won't be the best pizza you've ever eaten, but it's solid. I'd give it an 8 on the Raleigh 10-point pizza scale.

It may not be worthy a long drive, but if you live in the area, it's definitely worth trying. Not much on atmosphere, but it's clean and fresh.

On another pizza note, if you like deep dish Chicago style, try Jet's pizza in N. Raleigh at Strickland and Creedmoor. Take out only, but very good.

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Andy's Pizza
1302 E Millbrook Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609

Brasserie Soleil is excellent

Vinnie's Steakhouse on Six Forks. Excellent. Eggplant Parm is great, according to my vegetarian wife. Many vegetable sides that are very good. Scalloped potatoes, etc...

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Vinnie's Steakhouse
7440 Six Forks Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615

Do you watch the show? Many of the places he goes is more like Poole's than an actual diner. Some of "diners" he visits are run by former big city chef's who wanted out.

I haven't been to some of those places on the list, but the one's I've been to are not special. Good but not special.

I've eaten at all the Richmond VA and Charlotte NC stops, two in Sonoma and one in Long Beach featured on DD&D and I can't think of anything around here comparable. Hopefully there's a jewel or two not mentioned yet.

Have you sat at the counter at Poole's? Those stools are pretty downscale to me.
Woolworth's had better seating. But, the food is good. And it does meet the funky vibe as the OP desired.

Most of those suggestions in the N&O article were laughable.

The only place I can think of that's worthy is Poole's Diner. Truly good and innovative food in a downscale atmosphere.

Possibly Main Street Grill in Wake Forest. Home made pastries and donuts, roast beef made in house, excellent breakfast. Attached to a gas station. Guy seems to like this style. I do too.

Most of the places on DD&D have large menus with some originality.

Fun , funky, and fine - Poole's Diner

Old School steakhouse - Vinnie's. Great non steak selections and sides too.

Vin Rouge is the real deal French Bistro.

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Vin Rouge
2010 Hillsborough Rd., Durham, NC 27705

Dos Taquitos makes an excellent one. Also, Bahama Breeze with crushed ice!

I'm not THAT big of a fan of tonic water. A heavier pour and 4 slices of lime and I'd be set for the night.

I've tried Piola. It was OK. One pie was undercooked, the other pie - half was undercooked (failed to rotate?).

Menu descriptions are better than the actual food. Salads were your basic bagged lettuce varieties.

As a former pizza cook in several restaurants, I think pizza is only as good as the person putting it together and cooking it. I find most pizza joints inconsistent,
Piloi included.

The Pioli bar made me a vodka tonic...in a 16 oz glass!! WTF? Bartender said "that's how we make them here." Apparently the rest of the free world gets it wrong?

Pizza Italia - YES. Italian Kitchen on Wake Forest Road is pretty good, and cheap.
Real ribeye and fried onions and peppers.

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Pizza Italia
6405 Westgate Rd, Raleigh, NC 27617

Pizza Italia and is very good, as are their Steak subs. Brixx and Stromboli's are not bad. Pioli was thin but not cooked well on my only visit. Fuhgeddaboudit is my favorite.

All these places are a little inconsistent, depending on who made the dough and who cooked it. I made dough and thousands of pizzas as a teeneager working for a mom and pop joint in D.C. Making really good pies is an art.

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Pizza Italia
6405 Westgate Rd, Raleigh, NC 27617

Fuhgeddaboudit
7321 Six Forks Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615

Lowe's Home Improvement at Millbrook and Capital.
Guy has an excellent cart with kraut and spicy mustard.

My two favorites are Poole's Diner and Vin Rouge. Thanks for asking.

But, I live in North Raleigh and there aren't many real good independents that I've found to my liking. So, I go with what's available. Feel free to "school" me.

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Vin Rouge
2010 Hillsborough Rd., Durham, NC 27705

Now open in the new side of North Hills. Anybody been, yet?
Looks good and many positive reviews in other cities.

Cloo's is excellent in West Raleigh.

Snoopy's is awful. Cheap, limp, pale hot dog. I know people who grew up on them like them, but they're nothing special. Served with a yellow mustard packet on the side? Get a better dog (Sabrett's) in Lowe's parking lot.

I always liked Fuddruckers. Great quality beef, fresh rolls, good condiments. Nice work for a chain.

The company filed bankruptcy according to the N&O.

Yeah, it's pretty slim for good hot dogs in the area. The right place in North Raleigh
could be a goldmine.

FIVE GUYS makes a good dog.

A Bojangles breast on top of a homemade waffle would be tough to beat at any restaurant, anywhere.

I'll go against the usual suspects. I'm southern but also like Qs from other areas.
I suggest The Q Shack because their sides are great.

And, if you regular posters haven't tried it, give Shane's Rib Shack a shot.
Try the sampler with outstanding ribs and chicken with the chopped pork.
Next to triangle Town Center.

Bojangles is very good.

Savannah's (RIP) used to make a great boneless fried chicken.

But, brace yourselves...The Golden Corral has the best fried chicken IMHO.
It would be a great way for our Japanese friends to experience true American cuisine.