Diners' Choice: Best Service restaurants in Raleigh

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best service in Raleigh? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Herons

4.9

4.9 (3081)

$50 and over

American

Cary

About the restaurant

Herons, the signature restaurant at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, North Carolina, offers an exceptional fine dining experience for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Located close to Raleigh, North Carolina, Herons is known for its locally inspired, seasonal menus and stunning garden views, Herons showcases a full-view kitchen and an elegant, art-filled dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows. Every detail—from the fresh, regionally sourced ingredients to the curated wine list—reflects a commitment to artistry and culinary excellence.

Top review

Joan

Dined 5 days ago

Servers work as a team really well. Excellent food, customer service and ambiance.

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Amalia's Authentic Italian Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (809)

$50 and over

Italian

Wake Forest

About the restaurant

Amalia Fumelli is the inspiration behind Amalia’s Authentic Italian Restaurant. She was born in Italy in 1932, and grew up on a farm. As she grew up, she took an interest in cooking and learned everything about the Italian kitchen from her mother and grandmother. For countless hours each day, Amalia began making hand-made pasta with her rolling pin on an old, wooden table. After many years, she had mastered her pasta creations through her skilled handiwork, precise cutting skills, and the amount of love she put into her work.

Over time, Amalia has passed all of her secrets and knowledge about food along to her children and grandchildren. One grandchild in particular, Filippo Fanfani, gained a passion for the art of cooking through her guidance. As a child, he spent all his days at his grandmother’s house preparing meals for his family. The two have a strong bond, that began with their conjoining love of creating meals that are enjoyable for everyone.

Top review

sonja

Dined 2 days ago

Exceptional food, service and atmosphere. Wonderful experience!

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Popular dish

Tagliatelle alla Bolognese

Bazil Indian Cuisine

4.8

4.8 (191)

$30 and under

Indian

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Welcome to Bazil Indian Cuisine, a truly unique dining experience in Raleigh, NC. Our restaurant is not just a place to enjoy delicious food; it’s an enchanting story waiting to be savored. At Bazil Indian Cuisine, we pride ourselves on pushing culinary boundaries and introducing new flavors to the vibrant Indian food community in Raleigh. Led by a passionate mother, our restaurant offers an extensive wine list that perfectly complements our fusion menu. Prepare to be captivated by our assortment of dishes, including delicacies like sea bass, lobster, and octopus offerings that you won’t find in other Indian restaurants. We believe in creating an unforgettable experience for our guests, where every bite is an adventure of flavors and textures.As a mother-owned establishment, we strive to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere where families and friends can come together to celebrate life’s moments.

Top review

Debbie

Dined on Dec 11, 2024

The food continues to be excellent! There was an issue with the wine service. We each ordered wine flights as it was Wine Flight Wednesday. The server brought out the wines, set them on the table in a cluster and we had to figure out on our own which wines belonged to whom, and what the wines were. Wine Flight Wednesday is a good idea, however poorly executed.

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Gonza Tacos y Tequila - North Raleigh

4.9

4.9 (1431)

$30 and under

Mexican

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Come experience Raleigh's Colombo-Mexican Tacos y Tequila Joint!

Hand Crafted Latin Cocktails
Extensive List of Tequilas & Regional Spirits
Carefully Selected List of Latin Wines & Latin Beers

Voted Best Latin Restaurant in the Triangle by Wake County Living Magazine!

Won the Indy Award for Best Mexican / Latin American in the Triangle!

Top review

KimberlyVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Amazing food and the service was fantastic! Love love love this place! The music was very loud though

Northside Bistro & Cocktails

4.9

4.9 (1173)

$31 to $50

Bistro

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Welcome to Northside
An upscale neighborhood bistro, with a refined New American style. Whether you're a first-timer or one of our regulars, you'll love the unmatched ambiance and our innovative cocktails that fuels a bustling dining and bar scene.

Top review

LanceVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Booth of 4 for Christmas season dinner. Been here quite a few times before; we had 3 appetizers and 4 different entrees, all quite good. Gnocchi and Beef Wellington are particularly good hear. Waiter and hostesses were great.

Oak Steakhouse - Raleigh

4.8

4.8 (2309)

$30 and under

Steakhouse

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Oak Steakhouse Raleigh continues the legacy of the original Oak Steakhouse in Charleston, SC, with a modern take on the classic steakhouse. Located in the Warehouse District of downtown Raleigh, Oak Steakhouse offers an innovative approach to steakhouse dining, serving farm-fresh dishes alongside steakhouse classics. Under the direction of executive chef Todd Woods, Oak's menu highlights the restaurant's relationship with local farmers and purveyors. To complement the menu, Oak's expansive wine list features California Cabernet and Old World reds, including a selection of Italian and Spanish wines, as well as an array of artisan domestic wines. In celebration of Raleigh's local brewery scene, Oak Steakhouse showcases local brews alongside domestic and international beers. Classic and creative, seasonal cocktails are also on the menu.

Top review

Whitney

Dined 2 days ago

Outstanding choices and flare make this our favorite steakhouse in the Raleigh area by far. The steak tartare appetizer and bone marrow appetizer are to die for! We sampled the salads are they were also terrific. Steaks made to perfection and a variety of dipping sauces sure to delight anyone's palate. The collard greens, bone marrow frites, and mac and cheese were our sides and none disappointed. We ended with Baked Alaska, which was torched at your table! Also, had the decadent chocolate cake and cheesecake. Can't say enough positive things regarding Oak and its staff as well. Cameron was an excellent server and provided us with many food choices and guided us through this celebratory night.

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Oak Steakhouse Burger

Oxford Oaks Distillery

4.8

4.8 (239)

$31 to $50

American

Oxford

About the restaurant

A Unique Dining and Libations Destination in the heart of downtown Oxford, N.C.

Oxford Oaks features a micro distillery, specialty cocktail bar and upscale restaurant where the community can gather and enjoy fine spirits, elevated cocktails and delicious cuisine.

Top review

Sherry

Dined 2 days ago

The food was amazing! It was expensive so save your money up to go. lol. It is well worth it. The service was top notch. Our waitress could have came a little more often, but she was great.

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Experience

Chef's Four Course Dinner and Wine Pairing

Vinnie's Steakhouse and Tavern

4.8

4.8 (1644)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Welcome to Vinnie’s Steak House and Tavern, the premiere destination for fine dining in the Triangle since 1987. Independently owned and operated, Vinnie’s proudly serves Certified Angus Beef in a variety of cuts and sizes. Vinnie’s also offers the freshest local seafood available, classic Italian fare, Farmer’s Market vegetables and homemade desserts.

Our display wine cellar houses an extensive selection of wines from around the world and serves as a centerpiece to our intimate and elegant dining room. White linen, vintage leather chairs and sparkling crystal will set the mood for a more than memorable dining experience, no matter what the occasion. For those truly exceptional occasions, Vinnie’s has three private rooms to host special events for groups of 12-30 and banquet packages are available for groups of 16 or more.

Top review

Jennifer

Dined 4 days ago

Wonderful dinner. Steak was delicious and cooked perfectly.

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Popular dish

Bacon- Wrapped Filet Mignon

Popular dish

Delmonico Ribeye

Winston's Grille

4.8

4.8 (1922)

$31 to $50

American

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Established in 1986, Winston's Grille is dedicated to making "everyday dining experiences lasting memories" for over 36 years. Traditional, American fare dishes, made "from scratch", located in North Raleigh in the Sutton Square Shopping Center. We pride ourselves on consistently serving excellent food and service.

Start your dining experience with one of our famous appetizers like the Carolina Crab Dip, Bruschetta, or Jam Jam Shrimp. Enjoy a glass of Chardonnay or locally crafted beer on our award winning, expansive heated patio. Our menu offers crowd favorites such as our Hand Rolled Sushi, Cashew Salmon, Black and Bleu Salad, Winston's Old Fashioned Burger, Winston's Prime Rib and many more. We offer daily features, gluten-free options, and vegan & vegetarian choices. No visit to Winston's Grille is complete without trying our homemade ice cream. After dining at Winston's Grille, we want you to be asking yourself "when are you coming back, rather than where you'll go next".

Top review

BettyVIP

Dined 5 days ago

It was "MEATLOAF TUESDAY" and it did not disappoint. Mine arrived with mashed potatoes and collards (I asked for them instead of the mixed veggies). Everything was delicious. Some rolls were brought out, but they were hard and tough. For dessert I got the lemon cheesecake that was delicious! Winston's is usually on top of their game, but every once in a while (for example: the rolls) something is below par for them.

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Popular dish

Chicken Pasta

Encore Ristorante

4.8

4.8 (92)

$31 to $50

Italian

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Now Accepting Reservations For July 9th and beyond,
The crew from Northside Bistro are now going to provide some amazing Italian cuisine, Top notch Steaks, and delightful seafood. Expect to see some of the great cooks and friendly staff you expect at Northside along with some great new team members we are excited to introduce to the area.
Chef John and his team are excited to bring you some takes on classic Italian cuisine along with some expected twists and turns to keep things current and we will always hunt for the highest quality ingredients we can find. Service promises to be warm and inviting never taking our focus off the details that matter while still keeping it fun and light hearted.
The decor here at Encore is a polished but comfy, the environment will create great energy and a sense of community but still provide some romantic corners for a Romantic evening with loved ones.
Carol and John are so excited to bring their second offering to the North Raleigh area!

Top review

Karen

Dined 4 days ago

The food and service were amazing! I would highly Recommend!

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