Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill? 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!

Bodega Tapas and Wine

4.9

4.9 (879)

$30 and under

Tapas / Small Plates

Wake Forest

About the restaurant

Bodega Tapas, Wine, and Rum. Local and imported artisanal ingredients offered in an affordable small plate format. Enjoy the rum bar with craft, from scratch cocktails, or rum tastings in one and two ounce pours. Most of our extensive wine list is offered by the glass, bottle and tasting pour so you can indulge on high end wines with out breaking the bank. Order as many or little small plates as you like to snack on or piece a meal together and try an array of different wines. We’re perfect for a small bite after work, a night out with friends or an intimate date night. we look forward to having you at our table .
If you are a party of 5 and more, please contact us at Bodega and we will be happy to accommodate you.

Top review

Conor

Dined 5 days ago

Excellent as always. The food and service are top class.

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Popular dish

Lamb Meatballs

Popular dish

Beef Empanada NC Wagyu

Experience

Valentine's Weekend at Bodega 2025

Elements

4.8

4.8 (2457)

$31 to $50

Fusion / Eclectic

Chapel Hill

About the restaurant

Elements is OPEN for DINE IN & TAKEOUT!

From the moment you walk in to the last delicious morsel you will taste, we promise to deliver a unique and exquisite dining experience. Our cuisine combines classical as well as modern Asian and European cooking techniques to enhance the flavors of local and sustainable ingredients. Our menu changes often to capitalize on the freshest and most seasonal fare. We believe George Barnard Shaw said it best when he said. There is no love sincerer than the love of food." We couldn't agree more. From fork to mouth, we wish you good eats.

Elements Team

Top review

MarthaVIP

Dined 7 days ago

ALWAYS the BEST of the BEST! It is hard to even go anywhere else once I experienced Elements!!

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Popular dish

Crab Cakes

M Tempura

4.8

4.8 (608)

$50 and over

Japanese

Durham

About the restaurant

M Tempura is Durham's traditional Japanese tempura restaurant offering Tempura as well as Kaiseki Omakase offerings.

For the multi-course menu items, all members of your party must choose the same option please.

We currently cannot accommodate shellfish, vegetarian (egg in batter), gluten, and seafood allergies. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Top review

Angela

Dined on Jan 2, 2025

What an amazing experience at M tempura. Food is fantastic, good balance of course, perfect portion. Definitely want to come back again

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Experience

M Omakase Tasting Menu

Experience

Kaiseki Omakase Menu

M Pocha

4.8

4.8 (432)

$30 and under

Asian

Durham

About the restaurant

Pocha is short for Pojanmacha in Korea. The exact definition of Pojanmacha is "Tented Cart on Wheels" that serves street food with drinks. Over the years, pojanmacha has developed more into a brick and mortar style and has similar feel that of Japanese style Izakaya. It is an intimate but causal spot to share good food and drinks with friends. We focus on Asian fusion with a concentration on Korean food.

Top review

Anne

Dined 6 days ago

Our favorite in Durham. Never disappoints. Steamed buns are just so good.

Cary - M Sushi

4.8

4.8 (780)

$50 and over

Sushi

Cary

About the restaurant

M Sushi Cary is Michael Lee's second location dedicated to high-quality seafood. Our menu is small, purposeful, and uses only very special seasonal seafood received directly from Japan, Korea, and the US. The quality of our dishes is a direct result of our dedication to fresh ingredients, and our emphasis placed on maintaining traditional Japanese and Korean Cuisine. We specialize in traditional nigiri and sashimi courses in addition to a once in a lifetime Grand Omakase. M Sushi was ranked in 2022 in OpenTable's top 100 restaurants in American. Also, the only restaurant to make the list from North Carolina.

Please note that we do not offer highchairs or boosters.

Top review

Danny

Dined 6 days ago

Sitting at the sushi bar was a lovely experience. Our chef was charming and we enjoyed chatting with him about the various pieces of sushi we were served for our Omikase experience. Would absolutely recommend this as a birthday or anniversary dinner.

M Test Kitchen

4.8

4.8 (280)

$50 and over

Asian

Cary

About the restaurant

M Test Kitchen is the newest concept from Michael Lee and his "M" brand. Come in and enjoy classic Asian cuisine with a contemporary twist. We take the best dishes such as fried rice and dumplings and elevate them to a new flavor profile that is above the norm. Enjoy these dishes in an industrial style feel that is inviting for you to relax with friends, enjoy great cocktails, and share amazing food that you won't get anywhere else.

Top review

Brandon

Dined 3 days ago

Hands down one of the best culinary experiences in Durham and we have been to the most highly rated restaurants in town. Every dish was bursting with incredible flavor and textures. Exquisite.

Cortez Seafood + Cocktail

4.7

4.7 (862)

$30 and under

Seafood

Raleigh

About the restaurant

If you can't find the date you are looking for here, please call or text the restaurant directly at 919.342.8227 as it may still be available through our central booking.

Reservation Cancellation Policy: As we are a small restaurant with limited seating, No Shows and Reservations cancelled with less than 12 hour notice may be subject to a charge of $20 per person.

Our Patio counts on a heated and covered tent that will run through December, January and February for additional seating.

The Cortez is a fresh seafood and small plates experience with a freshly kept selection of tropical cocktails that draw on our food memories, travels through the years, and Mexican-American heritage.

Top review

Paul

Dined on Jan 7, 2025

We enjoyed the food immensely, two signature dishes. One was the Octopus and the other Shrimp. The Octopus was cooked perfectly, and that is not easy. It was tender and very appealing taste. The Shrimp was good, unique in the presentation, but could have been portioned differently.

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4.7

4.7 (43)

$30 and under

Latin American

Durham

About the restaurant

Our cozy cafe is a delightful haven where friends gather amidst the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, savoring delectable pastries and engaging in warm, leisurely conversations. Take a step into our dining room and allow us to whisk you away to a tropical paradise where contemporary tiki cocktails blend seamlessly with vibrant Latin American and Caribbean Flavors. Our culinary journey is guided by the talented Oscar Diaz, a two-time James Beard semi-finalist and our esteemed chef-owner.

Top review

SusanVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Snowy night, but warm and friendly inside. The Brussel sprouts were the best I have ever had. My husband and I also loved the short ribs. The shrimp was good but a little hot for our tastes. We will be back!

Bombolo

4.6

4.6 (289)

$31 to $50

Italian

Chapel Hill

About the restaurant

Named 2023 Restaurant of the Year by Eater. Dishes you’ve long loved served alongside dishes you’ve never heard of make our ever-changing menu an adventure you’ll want to embark on often. Our wine list is as varied as our food, and every one of our cocktails has been created just for Bombolo by our mixologist.

Top review

WhitneyVIP

Dined on Jan 3, 2025

My favorite restaurant in the triangle. Highly recommend bringing more people so you can try everything on the menu. Highly recommend the meatballs and bbq shrimp, both menu mainstays, or anything on the updates daily menu. You can’t go wrong!

CO - Raleigh

4.2

4.2 (724)

$30 and under

Southeast Asian

Raleigh

About the restaurant

At CO - Raleigh, you will find uniquely inspired dishes with fresh robust flavors and handcrafted cocktails. Our menu is full of bright, bold flavors from Southeast Asia that everyone can enjoy. Explore new dishes or taste familiar ones; from noodles to pho, sushi to banh mi. CO is designed to be a place for gathering. Taste fresh, robust flavors, and cheers with signature cocktails made from scratch, designed to pair perfectly with a variety of dishes on the menu. Gluten-free and vegan options guarantee there’s something for everyone, every time you visit.

Top review

HaileyVIP

Dined on Dec 22, 2024

Always our favorite spot in north hills. We come from fuquay it’s so good. Highlights include crispy tuna rice, crab Rangoon, pork banh mi, and the wings. Always good seating and great drinks.

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