Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for the best overall restaurants 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 favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Blue Jay Bistro

4.9

4.9 (1005)

$31 to $50

American

Halifax

About the restaurant

At Blue Jay Bistro we invite you to "Escape the Ordinary." This isn't just our slogan – it's our promise.

We've crafted every aspect of your dining experience with you in mind. From our attentive service to our carefully curated menu, we aim to exceed your expectations at every turn.

Indulge in our finest Contemporary American cuisine, featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Savor premium meats, just-caught seafood, and farm vegetables that showcase North Carolina's seasonal bounty.

Your culinary journey with us is about more than just exquisite flavors – it's about creating moments of delight and discovery. Enhance your meal with our selection of wines, craft cocktails, and local beers.

At Blue Jay Bistro, we're not just serving food – we're dedicated to making your visit truly extraordinary. Your satisfaction is our highest priority.

Join us to Escape the Ordinary, where your culinary desires meet our passion for excellence, creating unforgettable moments just for you.

Top review

Barbara

Dined 6 days ago

As always, the food was delicious and cooked to perfection. Service was excellent. Always enjoy dinning at Blue Jay's.

Herons

4.9

4.9 (3090)

$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

CaoVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Herons is an upscaled restaurant, the ambience is very elegant, the deco is stylish and service is excellent. Food is also great. We had lunch there, it was beyond our expectations.

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Oxford Oaks Distillery

4.9

4.9 (244)

$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

Susan

Dined on Dec 26, 2024

Excellent meal. Our party tried the crab cakes, short rib special, salmon special, tenderloin and shrimp carbonara special. Everything was cooked to perfection. The spinach and caramelized onion dip was also terrific. Highly recommend the drive to Oxford for this place.

Anthony's La Piazza Prime - Downtown Raleigh

4.9

4.9 (31)

$30 and under

Italian

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Anthony's La Piazza is a family-owned and operated Italian restaurant in Raleigh, North Carolina. The restaurant brand has been serving the community for over 20 years. Anthony's La Piazza is known for its delicious food, friendly service, and warm atmosphere. The restaurant offers a wide variety of Italian dishes, including pasta, pizza, seafood, and steaks. Anthony's La Piazza also has a full bar and a wine list. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Anthony's also has an elegant lounge open late nights Thursday through Saturday. We are located on the first floor of the AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown in the Glenwood South district.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Dec 24, 2024

Alex provided wonderful service and the food was delicious. Sauces were perfect. Salad was great. Last minute plans changed on Christmas Eve and this saved the day

Bazil Indian Cuisine

4.8

4.8 (197)

$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

Beth

Dined on Dec 25, 2024

Great food. Very friendly staff. Highly recommend

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4.9

4.9 (3004)

$31 to $50

Sushi

Durham

About the restaurant

M Sushi is triangles first dedicated sushi and seafood restaurant. We concentrate on raw and cold applications of fresh exotic seafood as well as cooked and vegetarian courses utilizing the same high quality ingredients. We are creating simple and traditional sushi cuisine with Peruvian and Spanish influences. We are the only restaurant in NC to make the Opentable top 100 restaurants in 2021.

Top review

Darryl

Dined 1 day ago

Took my wife on a date and left happier than when we walked in!

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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

Latham

Dined 7 days ago

Excellent food and large selection of premium Tequilas. Excellent staff making this a family friendly destination.

On The Square

4.8

4.8 (1295)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Tarboro

About the restaurant

Due to limited seating, we are only accepting in-house reservations. Please call the restaurant directly for a reservation.

Located in Historic Downtown Tarboro, one of the oldest towns in North Carolina, On the Square Restaurant offers seasonal, sustainable ingredients that are celebrated throughout the ever-changing menu. Open for dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and for lunch on Monday through Friday, we are as proud of our food and comfortable atmosphere as we are of our eclectic and value-driven wine list.

Top review

SueVIP

Dined on Dec 20, 2024

Kate, our server, was awesome! She managed our table of 6 and another table of 6 and other orders with grace and efficiency. The bar was pretty "backed up" so took drinks along time to come out. But all orders were correct, food was delicious, and we enjoyed our time

Amalia's Authentic Italian Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (816)

$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

Patty

Dined on Dec 26, 2024

I am visiting family here in North Carolina from Las Vegas. I have been wanting to go to this restaurant for a while now, it did not disappoint. Excellent service and food ! Everything beyond my expectations. Logan was our server. He was incredibly knowledgeable, engaging and made suggestions on the menu. Great wine suggestions also. Highly recommend!

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Popular dish

Tagliatelle alla Bolognese

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