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Raleigh doesn't quite have that Michelin star yet, but that doesn't mean we're short on exceptional dining. Here's all of the restaurants that are putting Raleigh on the culinary map with a Michelin Bib Gourmand or Recommendation.
🍺 Craft Beer Variety: Visitors highlight the inventive beers like yuzu-lemongrass hazy IPAs and sesame-star anise stouts as perfect complements to the food.
🥟 Dim Sum Highlights: The pork & chive shumai, mooncakes, and crab rangoon are repeatedly recommended must-tries for first-timers.
📚 Multi-Concept Venue: The flower shop and curated library create a unique atmosphere that elevates the entire experience beyond dining.
⏰ Reservations Advised: Guests suggest booking ahead, especially for brunch, lunch, and dinner to avoid long waits and secure seating.
🍖 Signature Carolina Ribs: Regulars rave about the ribs’ tender, fall-off-the-bone quality as a must-try dish.
🍻 Beverage Variety: The bar’s extensive beer and cocktail options complement the rich BBQ flavors perfectly.
🕰️ Reservation Savvy: Booking ahead especially for lunch and dinner helps avoid wait times during peak hours.
🧁 Don’t Skip Dessert: The carrot cake and banana pudding are frequently recommended to round out the meal.
🧀 Mac and Cheese is a Must-Try: Regulars rave it as one of the richest, cheesiest renditions that often demands a take-home box.
🍸 Knowledgeable Bar Service: Bartenders like Amy and Mariah receive frequent praise for cocktail expertise and friendly service.
🌿 Accommodating Dietary Needs: The staff is well-versed in gluten-free and vegetarian options, offering clear menu modifications.
🚗 Parking Tips: There is free street and lot parking; however, downtown parking can be tricky during peak times, so plan accordingly.
🍗 Must-Try Smoky Meats: The smoked chicken, turkey, and pork embody traditional Eastern NC flavors and receive frequent praise for quality and taste.
🧁 Polarizing Cornbread: The unique, dense cornbread is an Eastern NC tradition, often described as "controversial"—try sweet potato muffins if you're unsure.
🍺 Drinks Complement the BBQ: Sam Jones BBQ offers a great beer and cocktail selection that pairs perfectly with the rich barbecue flavors.
🚶♂️ Efficient Counter Service: Order at the counter and enjoy fast service; the dining area includes indoor and outdoor seating with a lively but manageable noise level.
🥂 Unique Craft Cocktails: The bar offers inventive drinks including drinking vinegars, enhancing the culinary experience.
🍽 Highly Recommended Dishes: Try the duck breast, bone marrow beef tartare, and manchego herb biscuits for signature flavors.
📅 Dinner Reservations Needed: Booking ahead via Tock is advised as the restaurant often experiences a wait during peak dinner hours.
🎁 Hidden Speakeasy Experience: Ask staff about a secret speakeasy that requires a key for entry, offering a unique after-dinner adventure.
🥩 Signature Small Plates & Large Dishes: Roasted bone marrow, ribeye, and tagliatelle are often recommended must-tries by repeat guests.
⏰ Best to Arrive Early: Guests report arriving 20-30 minutes before opening secures quicker seating despite walk-in only policy.
🍸 Cocktails & Wine: The cocktail menu, alongside a great wine list, complements the seasonal dishes perfectly for a full flavor experience.
🚗 Parking Realities: Free street parking is available but can be challenging; plan extra time when driving on busy evenings.
🍽️ Reservations Are Smart: Booking ahead is advised, especially on weekends, to ensure a table and avoid wait times.
🍸 Bar Seating Is a Hit: Many love sitting at the bar for a personalized cocktail experience and engaging service from bartenders like Ivan and Cat.
🍄 Don’t Miss the Mushroom Risotto: It's highly recommended and a must-try dish praised for its flavor and texture.
🚗 Parking Tips: Free parking is available but it can get busy; use the free parking lot or garage and consider street parking if needed.
🍸 Cocktail Excellence: The craft cocktails are a standout, often described as artfully crafted with unique presentations including dry ice effects.
👨🍳 Chef & Owner Interaction: The executive chef and owner frequently visit tables, creating a personalized and memorable dining experience.
🚗 Parking Ease: Ample free parking options and valet service make arrival hassle-free, valued highly by patrons.
🎉 Ideal for Special Occasions: Celebrations including anniversaries receive added touches like complimentary desserts and drinks enhancing the experience.
Bib Gourmand is a Michelin Guide distinction introduced in 1997 to recognize restaurants that offer excellent food at great value. Named after Bibendum (the Michelin Man), the award highlights places where you can eat exceptionally well without a high price tag. There's no set formula for a Bib Gourmand restaurant but their awards range from street food stalls to neighborhood bistros. They share a simpler, more approachable style of cooking than starred restaurants. The price threshold varies by country based on cost of living, but the principle is consistent worldwide: quality cooking at accessible prices.
Bib Gourmand is Michelin's designation for restaurants that offer excellent value, high-quality food, and moderate prices.
No. While Michelin recently expanded into the Southern States, only one Charlotte Restaurant has been awarded a star in North Carolina.
Not yet. Michelin doesn't currently have any stars for Raleigh, North Carolina, and only a select few have achieved Bib Gourmand status. However, Raleigh's dining scene has grown significantly, and many locals and food writers consider it overdue for recognition. The closest Michelin star restaurant is "Counter-" in Charlotte North Carolina.
The 2025 Michelin Guide American South recognized 14 Raleigh-area restaurants. Three earned Bib Gourmand for exceptional value: Mala Pata (Latin American), Prime Barbecue in Knightdale (Texas-style BBQ), and Sam Jones BBQ (Eastern NC whole-hog). Eleven received Michelin Recommended status: Brewery Bhavana, Brodeto, Crawford and Son, Dampf Good BBQ (Cary), Herons at The Umstead (Cary), Jolie, The Pit, Poole's Diner, Stanbury, St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar, and Tamasha Modern Indian.
Fourteen restaurants: Mala Pata, Prime Barbecue, and Sam Jones BBQ as Bib Gourmand. Plus, Brewery Bhavana, Brodeto, Crawford and Son, Dampf Good BBQ, Herons, Jolie, The Pit, Poole's Diner, Stanbury, St. Roch, and Tamasha as Recommended Spots.
The Michelin Guide American South is the first regional selection in North America since the Guide's debut in 2005. Launched on November 3, 2025, at a ceremony in Greenville, South Carolina, it covers Alabama, Atlanta, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The inaugural edition includes 1 Two Star, 18 One Stars, 50 Bib Gourmands, and 159 selected restaurants Guide spanning 44 cuisine types. North Carolina earned the second-most recognition's behind Atlanta, with 14 Raleigh-area restaurants making the cut.
Michelin's newest regional guide covering six Southern states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, and the city of Atlanta, Georgia. It launched November 3, 2025.
Michelin stars are awarded by anonymous, experts of the culinary and hospitality industries who dine at restaurants without revealing their identity. Restaurants cannot apply for consideration and inspectors select which establishments to evaluate based on reputation, recommendations, and their own research. The evaluation criteria include five key factors: quality of ingredients, mastery of cooking techniques, the personality of the chef in the cuisine, value for money, and consistency across visits and the entire menu. Inspectors visit multiple times before making a recommendation, and final decisions are made by a panel. One star indicates a very good restaurant, two stars signal excellent cooking worth a detour, and three stars represent exceptional cuisine worth a special journey. Restaurants are re-evaluated regularly and can gain or lose stars over time.
Anonymous Michelin inspectors evaluate restaurants on food quality, technique, consistency, and the chef's personal expression. There's no application process.
