Flour and Barrel

I recently visited Flour & Barrel while in Raleigh and had a great dining experience. Located close to the lively Glenwood Ave area, this spot offers a welcoming and intimate atmosphere. The dim lighting sets the perfect tone for a date night, and the aroma of the kitchen as you walk in is immediately inviting. On the bartender’s recommendation, I tried the Doctor Orders cocktail (Thai tea, Licor 43, bourbon, Averna, vanilla float). I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it ended up being delicious and well-balanced. To start, I ordered the Oven-Roasted Potatoes with Yukon gold potatoes, piquillo peppers, cipollini onions, and horseradish cream. Although I prefer crispier potatoes, the flavors paired well and made for an enjoyable starter. I had planned to order the filet mignon, but they were out for the day. I went with the Chicken Parmesan instead, and it was excellent. The chicken was perfectly cooked, and the marinara sauce was rich and flavorful—a great take on a classic. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and offered great recommendations. Overall, Flour & Barrel is a wonderful spot for a relaxed evening out. I’d definitely visit again—hopefully when the filet is available!

I can't say enough amazing things about this place. On our last night in Raleigh, my husband and I decided to skip out on the quick bites and take the evening to enjoy a nice dinner. We were wildly impressed with the amazing and welcoming staff, the unique atmosphere, and the stellar food! We had the baked provolone which was the perfect starter. We also enjoyed the bone marrow appetizer, which was definitely my favorite part of the meal. It was literally melt in your mouth and super flavorful. We also enjoyed the squid one pasta and crab pesto dish. Lastly, we highly recommend their unique cocktail, Dr's Orders...pretty sure that's what it was called....either way it is a MUST if you enjoy bourbon. Thank you Flour and Barrel team for such an enjoyable and memorable meal!

Came with my friend for a dinner to celebrate my grandfathers passing in a Monday night . Pretty somber mood. Took 25 min + plus to be water and greeted. Restaurant was understaffed (2-3 servers)so ofc, we were understanding. Food came out promptly, delicious. Server was so busy could not check on us or refile waters at all. Spoke with manager, helped us out although it was not needed. You expect excellent service for a beautiful place such as this. Personally will not be returning in person, I’ll have my boyfriend order Togo. So disappointed as the reviews raved about the serving. As a server myself, I’m frustrated for our server. Update manager put in ricotta for us computed and it didn’t arrive until almost 9. We put it in at 8:05.

I went here for my anniversary last night. The atmosphere is very welcoming. Our server was extremely attentive to us making sure we had everything we needed. The food was phenomenally delicious. The whipped ricotta with the toast points , I could eat that everyday. Lol. Can’t wait to go back. I definitely recommend you try this out…

I stopped by Flour & Barrel during a recent trip to Raleigh and absolutely loved it. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, making it a perfect spot to unwind. We ordered a few appetizers along with drinks, and everything was splendid: fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The espresso martinis stood out as a definite highlight, perfectly balanced and expertly crafted. Overall, Flour & Barrel is a fantastic spot I’ll gladly return to on my next visit.

Our meal at Flour and Barrel was good, but not amazing or memorable enough for me to give more stars. We were seated right away and the food came out very quickly, almost too quickly — to the point where I wondered how everything was prepared so fast. Service was mixed. While the food arrived fast, it was difficult to flag down our server when we were ready to leave and ask for the bill. The atmosphere wasn’t my favorite. The abundance of rugs felt messy, a little dirty, and like potential trip hazards, and the candles with melting wax added to that impression rather than creating a cozy vibe. As for the food itself, it was fine overall, but many of the dishes we tried seemed to lack flavor — like they needed more spice or even just a touch of salt. The standouts for us were the Radiatore (our favorite of the three pastas we ordered), the Asparagus Caprese, the Chicken Parmesan, and the Kardashian Chopped Salad. On the flip side, the Baked Provolone was a big miss. I expected to love it since I enjoy melted cheese and fig preserves, but all we could taste was Mezcal, which none of us liked. In our opinion the radicchio was too bitter in the caesar salad. And we felt we make better meatballs at home but that could be personal preference. Overall, not a bad experience, but nothing that would make me rush back.

First time dining at Flour and Barrel in Downtown Raleigh, and what an amazing experience! I came here with my family to celebrate my birthday, and everything from start to finish exceeded expectations. The vibe is trendy and hip, with a lively atmosphere that feels perfect for both celebrations and just a fun night out. The service was outstanding—our server was attentive without being overbearing, and you can tell the staff really cares about creating a great dining experience. We started with a couple of cocktails—the “Perfect Serve” and the cheekily named “Thirst Trap”—both were unique, well-balanced, and really fun to sip. Flour and Barrel also has its own brewery, which adds another cool element to the drinks menu. The food is served tapas-style with Italian small plates, which gave us the chance to try a wide variety. Standouts included the Baked Provolone, the Filet Mignon Surf and Turf, and a cozy Chicken Parm. The handmade pastas were the real stars, though—perfectly al dente and so full of flavor. The Cresta di Gallo was divine, while the Conchiglie was such a hit with my daughter that we ended up ordering a second round of it! Portions were just right for sharing, and every dish had that balance of creativity and comfort that makes you want to come back to explore more of the menu. Overall, Flour and Barrel is an absolute gem in Raleigh. Between the inventive cocktails, thoughtfully crafted plates, and warm service, it made my birthday dinner unforgettable. Can’t wait to return and try even more pastas!

Looking for dinner plans?? Look no further. Flour and Barrel is where to go. Small Italian plates that leave you satisfied, both with taste and not being overly full. Decent variety in wines, beers and specialty cocktails as well. My party and I tried a variety of dishes (some not pictured). Everything tasted fresh and tasty you can’t go wrong with any dish. My personal favorite was the Radiatore and Chicken parm. Owner Anthony stopped by greeting all guests while also helping out serving drinks, dishes and was even found helping out in the kitchen. Overall great restaurant would absolutely recommend.

Cool ambiance, good food. Specialty cocktails were a bit off, but full bar so overall it was good.

Perfect date night location. Food was fantastic, drinks were fun and unique. The style and ambience of the restaurant were exactly what we were looking for. The service was thoughtful and responsive and even gave us solid recommendations. Will definitely be back! We joked in the car on the way home that we wished we'd taken pictures there.

Came in for lunch with a friend and was really excited to try this place seeing the fun menu and buzz around it being new. The restaurant is spacious and decorated nicely, and we were greeted promptly and kindly. The lunch menu is smaller than the dinner menu, but we were able to order the Kardashian chopped salad, side of potatoes, vodka pasta, and chicken parmesan sandwich which seemed like popular items. Unfortunately, nothing we ordered was amazing. The potatoes came covered in a horseradish sauce that was so overwhelming it tasted like paint. The menu doesn't mention this sauce. The vodka pasta looked great, but tasted flavorless and watered down. The chicken in the chicken parm sandwich was cooked nicely but the sandwich itself could've used more sauce and was dry. The salad was probably the best thing we had but it was pretty small. Not sure if there are other dishes during dinner that could be better but other than a nice vibe and (possibly) good drinks, I wouldn't return for the food.

Came here for a group date night. Had a reso and needed to wait about 10 minutes to be seated as they were waiting for the table to free up. Not a big issue, but still of note if you're on a time crunch. After getting drinks, we were seated. The ambiance is cute, don't get me wrong, but man was it dark in there. That doesn't usually bother me, but I legit could not see my menu without a flashlight. Definitely felt like my mom in the moment. ANYWHO. We ordered the meatball and the fusilli pasta with chicken. The meatball was pretty good. It's large so definitely enough for 2 people. The pasta? It was mid at best. The nuts in it really threw off the pasta as a whole. And the chicken placed on top was not good. At all. It was very much giving lunch meat chicken vibes. It didn't even look appetizing. The color was pale. Yea, just no. Our friends enjoyed their food though, so maybe we just picked the wrong pasta. But it would be enough for me not to order food anymore. I'd come back for the drinks, but the food I'll pass on.

It's a top chef and date night masterpiece! The food and cocktails are quite tasty. I also love the vibe and music here. This is absolutely where you want to bring a group for dinner and drinks as the aesthetic is phenomenal and the menu more than delivers. The chicken leg, baked provolone, and the conchiglie were all WINNERS, and prices were great. I was pleasantly surprised! Be back real soon as the chitarra is calling my name. Cheers!

Flour & Barrel is a newly opened Italian restaurant in downtown Raleigh. We walked in without a reservation on Saturday and got seated at the bar since all the tables were reserved. We ordered a bunch of stuff from the menu and shared it. This is what we got: 1) Big Ass Meatball: It was lita big ass meatball. It was juicy and tender. Would recommend it. 2) Bone of the Beast: I love Bone Marrow so this was really good for me. They give you two bones that are topped with caper, parsley, anchovy and crostini. Really flavorful. I liked it. 3) Radiatore : I found it to be a bit bland. I won't get it again. 4) Conchiglie : This pasta was a lot more flavorful as compared to the other. Would definitely recommend it. We also got a couple of cocktails that were pretty decent. Their Sugar Daddy cocktail is supposed to be smoked but they don't have the cocktail smoker yet so that was a disappointment. I wish the bartender would have told me when I ordered it. I like a smoked cocktail and it was the reason I ordered it. Overall, it's a nice spot and it is priced pretty well.

This might be the best new restaurant we have ever tried. Cocktails, service (Tori rocks), atmosphere, everything is amazing. But the star here (rightfully so) is the FOOD. And nothing is expensive. This is a restaurant designed to please, to excite and to outperform. The menu itself even has a sense of humor. Just reading it is fun. Cocktails are original and enjoyable. Food spectacular. Chef Katsuji Tanabe even delivered our food to the table, flaming our provolone and sharing a few secret ingredients when we inquired. How the big ass meatball could possibly live up to expectations was beyond me, but it did. The clams oreganata, and the crab pasta...all amazing! Food was so fantastic and reasonably priced that I even ordered the chicken marsala leg to go and can't wait to have it for lunch soon. For dessert we shared an refreshingly original version of a tiramisu (purple chai) and a busser dessert drink. If I had to nitpick something it would be that they don't have coffee or espresso. (they do have an espresso martini but it's made from powdered espresso).

I was not a fan of the host when we entered but my friends and I grabbed seats at the bar and had a fun time. My friend and I split a bottle of rose then ordered the chicken parm, oven roasted potatoes and lumache pasta. We also tried a cocktail. The food, drinks and service were all good.

The focaccia bread was absolutely delicious. The decor and aesthetic of the restaurant and lovely and great for a date night or night out with friends. It's a small plates style restaurant, so great for sharing but also to enjoy food on your own. The bread blew me away. The chicken was not my favorite and I was really looking forward to it. My friend had a pasta dish and said it was just okay. The meatball was delicious though and full of flavor. I'm looking forward to going back and trying more on their menu. It is a bit on the pricey end for small plates but it's in line with the cost of dining in downtown Raleigh.

My friends made a reservation the other night to celebrate their engagement and they picked the right spot! The host was super nice and made sure that we had a big enough table to accommodate our large party size. The restaurant is rather dark inside which makes it very nice along with the velvet booths throughout the dining room. We started with the bread service and cocktails. I had a dirty martini and I loved that it was made with Castelvetrano olives as the garnish. My friend and I split the radiatore pasta and the adult Caesar salad which were both fabulous! Others in our group ordered different pasta dishes, the big ass meatball, and the roasted potatoes. Everyone was pleased with their choices and agreed that we would come back!

Great evening at Flour and Barrel. Do not miss the Big Ass Meatball from their menu. We also enjoyed the Tomato Appetizer, the Bone of the Beast and the Radiatore. I would skip the Octopus and I think the Butternut Squash was a bit lackluster. Service was good, drinks were good (and presented nicely) and it's a cool vibe. The real candles everywhere did have me on edge, but added to the ambiance. I would go again!

Cute new restaurant! Would be great for a date night. The bread for the table is not complimentary, but totally worth ordering. It comes with this miso butter which melts in your mouth. Their cocktail menu is extensive. We ordered some small plates to share: Octopus, baked provolone, and the big ass meatball. All 3 were delicious!! Skipped on entrees and ordered the date cake for dessert. Everything was super yummy. I would return!

My first impression was this space has a very cool vibe - however the menu felt small. The vibe however was on point - the reality of the menu is that although it's limited EVERYTHING was incredible. The menu is meant for sharing plates - and even with a party of 6, every plate had enough for everyone to try. The pastas are all exceptional - do not pass up the flaming cheese appetizer, and don't leave without trying the bread appetizer - the butter was amazing and the bread was delicious. Although this place feels a little bit off the beaten path of downtown, the service, food, and vibe will make it a staple for a fun night out.

What a great new restaurant opened by Chef Katsuji! I love the concept here of Italian small plates to share. The vibes inside were so fun, from the beautiful, large painting over where the chefs were cooking, to the hip-hop music playing, to the hilarious naming of the menu items. The service was phenomenal - our server was very attentive, had great recommendations, and the food service was prompt. We started off with their focaccia bread for the table. It was light and fluffy on the inside, while crispy on the outside. The miso butter complimented the bread perfectly with its slight sweetness and whipped, light texture. Our first small plate was the adult caesar salad. I loved the crunch and bitterness the radicchio brought, which was balanced out nicely by the creamy richness of the caesar dressing and chunks of avocado. We then moved onto the big ass meatball, which we had to get because of the name, and who doesn't love big ass meatballs? It was nice and moist inside, with a crunchy exterior. I was definitely missing truffle flavor on it and the actual meatball could have used a tad more salt. We finished with the conchiglie pasta with pistachio pesto & crab. The pasta was perfectly al dente and the pistachio pesto added an amazing nutty flavor. The only thing I was missing on the pasta was the crab. Overall this was a phenomenal meal of small plates to share, and we will definitely be back to try the other options on the menu, which all looked equally delicious!

What is better than a delicious meal served in a beautiful space and enjoyed with a dear friend? Having the experience enhanced by a great conversation with the owner. Anthony is charming and clearly invested in creating unique dining experiences in Raleigh. My friend and I relished our late lunch of freshly baked Foccacia sandwiches and house-brewed beer. The dining space featured a post-industrial design with a lavish, magnificent mural adorning one wall. Flour and Barrel is new and exciting, especially for those of us used to larger cities with many culinary innovations to explore. I can't wait for my next meal there!

I came here for an event hosted by IG: magnoliamegan that had a pre-fixed menu. I came by myself while others seemed to have came with a group and I can't emphasize enough how much the servers and manager made sure I was taken care of. Even the girl sitting next to me noticed that they made sure I felt comfortable so have to give a lot of credit there for attentiveness. The salads and pastas they served was so good and different. The meatball and chicken was not for me but it seemed like the men at the event gobbled it down so it could just be preference

I stumbled upon this place when I was in the throes of self sabotage (no regrets), looking for comforting carbs / sweets. To that end, I tried the bread and date cake and both were absolutely phenomenal. The bread is made in-house and pulls apart so well. It's delectably spongy and the oil, butter, and olives were the perfect accompaniments. The date cake was warm and well balanced with the - I believe it was bourbon caramel? - sauce and whipped cream. It's the ultimate comfort dessert, and very unique for this area. The last time I enjoyed date cake was when I lived in China and this brought back all the nostalgia. The ambience of the place was amazing and the staff were super friendly. The drink menu looks tantalizing and I look forward to trying it out next time. Definitely a new favorite treat spot!

I am not a big fan of the decor. There was candle wax everywhere and on the table. We went for lunch and the lunch menu was very limited. I did get the Kardashian salad, which was good. The bartender was not on the premises when we ordered drinks. Service was not the best. Generally the space looks like it needs a deep clean (including the windows) and tables that are a bit nicer than what looked like 6' tables.

Service was excellent. Slow on a Sunday night. Bone mart and Big Ass Meatball was good Conchigili pasta and bread were excellent. We'll be back. Pana cotta was Top 5 ever for dessert.

Checked out F&B on a Wednesday and loved our experience there! It was "ladies night" so got to have a free drink. All of the dishes from the pastas and the apps plus the bread plate was amazing! Our server was sweet and answered all our questions and gave recommendations! The vibe is cute, romantic and fun and music selection was great with their throwbacks!

We went for an early NYE dinner and everything was great! Loved the drinks, small plates and pasta. What a great addition to Raleigh!

Celebrity chef Katsuji Tanabe's newest venture did not disappoint. This Mexican x Italian fusion tapas bar boasts bold flavors and pairings. We started with the Baked Provalone & the F*ing Good Marsala and yes, they were both F*ing delicious. One of the best Marsala dishes I've had. Next we chose the Radiatore & the Conchiglie. The presentation on the Radiatore was ! The flavor of the Conchiglie was such a surprise and my favorite dish of the evening. Save room for the Ube Tiramisu because it's one of a kind. We will definitely be coming back.

Food was fantastic. Each dish had a surprise element to it. The tomato carpaccio was truly unctuous though you wouldn't think it would taste that amazing. It's all in the flavoring. The meatball lived up to the hype. One slight (and very slight) ding is to offer up new plates more frequently as real estate can get crowded with olive pits, strawberry tops etc. all good though! Highly recommend!

Atmosphere, vibe, food and drinks were all on point. We sat at the bar and service was great. Ordered the provolone cheese, tomato, meatball and the radiatore. Can't wait to go back a try a few other things that caught my eye. Even saw Katsuji running around.

Atmosphere was a great, trendy vibe and food came out fast and hot. Flavors were amazing on everything that we tried (big ass meatball, hot provolone, Caesar salad and bread). Already ready to go back. Our waitress was polite and responsive. Service was good. Good Italian food but with a twist and not as heavy! Loved it!

A little underwhelming after the Eater rec. That said, clearly everyone's heart is in the right place at this establishment. PROS: Welcoming service. Bread and pasta really quite good. Chicken parm very very good. Focaccia excellent. Nice vibe, if a bit formulaic. CONS: No specials, sauces and salad dressings were too parmesan-y and salty, wine list meh, "share plates" WAY too small. Lastly, easy add to the line-up would be a birthday candle to the dessert, with a cup of decaf or tissanes. Do a press pot if you don't want the machines...? Worth a try, great location and heartfelt effort. I predict they'll hit their stride.

Food was worth a visit but not great. Too much sauce, sauce too ambitious missing the mark, and pasta just a touch too al dente. Service really friendly. Ambiance pretty good but cheap dollar store touches on plastic faux wood tables worthy of a break room in government office detract from other efforts.

Funky atmosphere, great food. Particularly loved the mortadellla sandwich on their great homemade focaccia

I have no idea what the other reviews are talking about, this is one of the worst restaurants I've ever been to. The only good thing here was the meatball. I paid $12 for half a tomato, the pasta was undercooked and had the same texture as a box of Spongebob themed Kraft macaroni and cheese; I ordered a $15 cocktail and it was half full when I got it. The waiter offered to top it off with club soda when I asked about it. The music was too loud to have a conversation and the lighting was dim so you can't see the subpar food. Also, I had to stop at McDonald's after because 4 plates wasn't enough between 2 average sized people.

I love the vibe at this place!! Very open and social, very friendly bartenders and waitresses. I also love the way the light is set up; it really fits the vibe and is great for a date night or just a night out with friends. The food is also great; I would recommend the meatball and or the radiatore pasta.

Good service and great food. Vibes were great. Would return! Chicken parm was sooo good.

Rude male server. He took a chair from our table and put my partner's purse on the table. There were six empty chairs at the empty table next to us. My starter was served quite a while before her starter. Then, suddenly, both main dishes arrived. The place was too dark to read the menu. The server brought over a completely useless candle in a tall candle holder which shone no night on the table. The music was so loud that my voice was strained and we couldn't hear each other. We had asked for a quiet table when we made the reservation.

The food here is off the hook good, and different enough from the other Italian joints in the area to warrant checking it out. Probably the best meatballs and also squid ink pasta I've ever had. I'm dinging them by one star because their wine and cocktails seemed mediocre and expensive. Once they fix that, this will be on my short list of local favorites.

The pasta was delicious. We had reservations for my birthday dinner (2 of us) and we were sat at a 6-top table. About 30 minutes in the staff sat another person at our table with us. This was off-putting since this is a nicer restaurant and I would think that a reservation for 2 would imply that we would like to sit alone. The person who was at our table had 2 people join him later on who also almost sat at our table, but they were then given another table.

Tried this place on a Sunday afternoon. loved the decor and the interior vibe. Went in by myself waiting for the rest of my party and felt totally comfortable at the bar with a super friendly bartender. We tried 6 different items and each was delicious. Madison we a great server and we loved her suggestions. Their take on Tiramisu was on point. Give it a try! It will not disappoint.

We loved the small plates with Italian fusion concept. We started with the bread plate and loved the focaccia; the butter was sweet though and I didn't really detect the miso. The fusilli was awesome and had a nice toothsome bite without being tough and the nduja sauce was really good. Cesar salad was liked by the others, I don't usually care for radicchio. The pasta with crab was okay, the sour cream and herb overwhelmed the crab flavor imo. The big ass meatball was phenomenal. We had a few cocktails and they were all amazing. Ube tiramisu was fantastic. Only problem I had was that it was so dark, which gave it a good vibe but was impractical cause I couldn't see the food or the menu. Also the music was super loud and we couldn't really talk without yelling or repeating ourselves.

Service was great, the ambiance was good, but the food was disappointing. I took two guests with me and they also gave a thumbs down!!

I was on a business trip in Raleigh and stopped into Flour and Barrel. So great. The drinks and appetizers are amazing. The meatball and chopped salad were so so good. The entire experience was so great and would highly recommend this place

christian was amazing!! he was so nice and had excellent service and was so attentive to our crazy group.

fantastic food. prompt service. beautiful restaurant, shocked we were served such great food so quickly.