Sophie's Grill And Bar

My dad and I tried a new place today! We went to Sophie's grill and bars in Cary. They specialize in Eastern European food. The appetizer were fried cheese, caramelized onion, and potato pierogies. My entree was Pork Schnitzel over potatoes with a mushroom marsala sauce and a side of braised red cabbage. My dad had Dalmation Chicken Pasta. Chicken breast with sundried tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil, lemon juice, and parmesan cheese. The ingredients were great quality, and you get what you pay for, in my opinion. We were both very happy with our meals and the appetizer. It has 4.6 stars with 1.3k reviews. This would be a great place for a date night. Or they have things going on during the week. Tonight is poker night! I am not playing, though. 😂

What a fantastic surprise! Coming from a small ethnic town filled with various European ethnicities, this restaurant was a delight! Food was fantastic (Hungarian Goulash, Stuffed cabbage bundles, Baklava for dessert!) Plus, the entertainment was a wonderful surprise! Can’t wait to go back!!

Absolutely amazing restaurant when you get cravings for foods from Balkans. Bulgaria being in the center of Balkan peninsula is under the influence of variety of foods around them, so there's something for anyone's taste, no matter where you're from. Of course, there's also space on the menu for classic American dishes, if you're not too keen on exploring other cuisines that day. Staff is amazingly friendly, entertaining and fast to assist. Music is playing from the source authentic Balkan style. I'm hearing that most Fridays and Saturdays they also have a live band that plays variety of repertoar, including song favorites from Balkans. They occasionally organize Russian, Serbian, Bulgarian evening events, as well as medium size weddings. Not to be missed, if you are in the neighborhood!

Food was good but one of our hot entrees dishes was cold by the time we got it. Everything tasted good otherwise. Might be worth another stop but too many places to check out and probably won’t make it back to see.

I love Sophie's Grill and Bar! The staff is incredibly friendly — Helen is the absolute best waitress, so sweet and on top of everything. Neli makes the most amazing desserts (seriously, don’t leave without trying one!), and Desi, the owner, is just full of love and good vibes. I had my favorite lager beer there 😄. The whole place feels like home, and the people like family. Honestly, it is an awesome spot for a wedding or special event — they make everything feel so warm and personal. Highly recommend!

Our office held our holiday party at Sophie’s Bar & Grill, and it was nothing short of spectacular! From start to finish, every detail was thoughtfully planned and executed to perfection. Desi, the owner, went above and beyond to sit down with us and help customize a wonderful evening. Her personal touch and attention to detail made all the difference. The food was absolutely delicious, with a menu tailored just for our event, and the open bar kept the drinks flowing with a fantastic selection. The custom cake was not only beautiful but mouthwatering, and the champagne toast added such a festive touch. The entertainment was a highlight of the night—karaoke with a high-energy DJ kept everyone on their feet, and the surprise performances by Elvis himself were unforgettable! The staff at Sophie’s were amazing, especially Helen, who was attentive, kind, and ensured everyone had what they needed throughout the evening. Their warmth and professionalism truly elevated the experience. If you’re looking for a venue that delivers incredible food, top-notch service, and an unforgettable atmosphere, Sophie’s Grill & Bar is the place to be. Thank you, Desi and team, for making our holiday party so magical. We’ll definitely be back! 🎉🎤🍾

What a wonderful place to share an amazing meal with friends and family. Always a welcoming atmosphere and delicious food! They allow us to host a very welcoming meeting weekly that is critical for many of our businesses! Highly recommended!

This was our first time visiting Sophie's. Very nice dining area with white tablecloths and covered chairs. Our waitress explained that this is a Bulgarian restaurant so we sampled the local fair. The Bulgarian beer they had was excellent. It was great to have a break from all the IPAs locally. Rude in the area. My wife had ty cabbage rolls which had a little spice to them and I had the Dalmatian Coast chicken and pasta. We shared the tomato and cucumber salad which was excellent. Very happy we chose this place. Our table was ready when we arrived and we had a great time.

Visited Sophie's today for the first time for lunch - and we're so very sorry we didn't try it earlier. The food was fantastic! We had the perfect lunch for two to share: the Slovakian Paprikash - chicken, potatoes, tomatoes and lots of paprika - and the Armenian Figs - sweet Armenian baked figs, stuffed with feta cheese and wrapped in applewood bacon, baked with Asiago and balsamic glaze. (For purposes of illlustration, there's one left on the plate in this pic; it disappeared shortly after the pic was taken.) Our server, Neli, made the experience even better; she's absolutely charming! We'll definitely return!

We were in a different area so we thought we'd try something new. His choice and I was VERY pleased. We both were.

My boyfriend and I dined here a few weeks ago for a date night and we were very impressed. We were both craving Eastern European food and Sophie's exceeded our expectations. The owner is from Bulgaria and has a lot of unique food and drinks on her menu. We were able to make reservations and we asked for a booth. There are lots of fresh flowers and plants decorating this restaurant. We loved the vibes and definitely felt like we were transported to a restaurant in Europe. I started with a bourbon drink called the Boulevardier with Campari and it was delicious. My boyfriend had a bourbon. We ordered the Armenian figs appetizer, and my only complaint is the bacon was barely cooked. That is on me though because I should have specified we like our bacon well done. For our entrees my boyfriend had the Balkan's wine kebab and I had the stuffed cabbage rolls. My entree was really good, but next time I'm ordering the wine kebab. The flavors were amazing! It consisted of slow roasted chicken, veggies and rice. The bartender was our server and she was wonderful. We both can't wait to return.

Wow, this place is lovely. I had no idea they were here. The atmosphere is lovely and very romantic. My husband and I came here for afternoon tea. The service was phenomenal, I felt catered to and pampered. They gave us an impromptu wine tasting. I learned a lot about wines from around the world. They have a Romanian Chardonnay that you must try. They do have a small menu, but they are serving authentic dishes from Eastern Europe. I really encourage people to try for something different.

Bottom line: Sophie's Grill and Bar served a very good meal in the Potato & Cheese Pierogi and Chicken Schnitzel menu selections I had on my visit. Nice atmosphere and good service. I am a fan! The Deets: Venturing out on a rainy Sunday, I tried Sophie's Grill and Bar off Hwy 55 in Cary. They do take reservations off Open Table but it was not needed on this day. They have a very open space, nicely done with a hint of European flavor. There is a spacious bar front and center as well with plenty of TVs to follow sports action/programs. I was seated upon entering and given the menu. Again, the menu gives an Eastern European impression with some American favorites as well. I chose to start with Potato & Cheese Pierogi with menu description "traditional eastern European fried dumplings, stuffed with cheese, boiled potatoes, butter and seasoning, served with caramelized onions." I liked these a lot, a definite crisp along the edges and tasty ingredients inside. They do appear a bit greasy/oily when they come out but taste very good. For my main choice, I went with their Chicken Schnitzel, menu described as "pickled marinated & panko crusted. Served with mushroom Marsala sauce and mashed potatoes." Again, I liked this one, the flavors were great together and the mushroom sauce made a nice addition. Service was good during my visit and I was checked on several times during my meal. I think I will be adding Sophie's Grill and Bar to my rotation, a nice surprise, I enjoyed my meal there. I'd say more along 4.5 stars here.

I love the avocado appetizer. It's yummy. I've been a few times. The servers are nice & it's a comfortable place. You can tell they have a lot of regulars because they are so nice to people. I went on Thanksgiving day too. I wouldn't recommend that just bc the limited menu didn't have enough things that I liked, but I do enjoy coming here.

We recently moved to this area and have been waiting to rank our favorite restaurant. Needless to say, this restaurant has undoubtedly topped them all. From the initial greeting by the one and only Simeon while taking in the ambiance of the restaurant, to the wonderful music by Nadia. Now let's talk about the food... I ordered the "My Big Fat Lamb Burger" and my boyfriend ordered the "Avocado Burger". Both burgers were delicious and adorned with the perfect amount of toppings. I also got a side caesar salad which was really fresh. Simeon provided exceptional service and attention to our needs. We will be returning as this is now our favorite restaurant!

Visited for Easter with my family of 6. We had reservations at 1, but arrived 15 minutes early. As we entered the dining room we were immediately greeted by name and asked to follow the hostess to our table. This may have been the nicest and warmest welcome I have ever experienced at any restaurant. The initial hostess/waitress seemed very nice, but shortly after she left, we were greeted by the head waiter, Simeon. Simeon initially comes off as pompous, as he likes to talk about himself. However, he means well, and is very passionate. He's very accommodating and informative. It was a pleasant experience. We ordered a few apps, a few cocktails, and an entree each. The food and drinks are heavenly! Truly a very delicious meal! The apps are amazing, but small. The desserts are so tasty they did not last 5 seconds in front of us. We ate all of our food with no leftovers. The prices are reasonable. After tax and tip the tab came to $233 for the 6 of us. We will be returning.

I appreciate the restaurant being open on a holiday. It was decorated beautifully. The music was nice. Quality of the food wasn't up to the reviews. The Armenian figs were too dried and hard to eat. The Pierogis were short on filling. The salmon entrees were good. Service was amazingly quick We had a very good bottle of wine. The prominent posting of divisive awards on the walls made me uncomfortable.

We walked in during a busy hour but the staff went above and beyond to accommodate us. The place has a unique ambiance and has a lot of cute little touches. The food was delicious, it tasted authentic and home made. But they lost a star because we had to wait for the check for 30minutes and ask 3 different servers until eventually someone brought it.

met a friend, in town for work, ... are at the bar, several TVs, friendly, knowledgeable staff ... latino dancing night was entertaining ( we only watched ) Forbidden Quince Mezze Warm prosciutto, limoncello infused quince, parmesan, arugula, walnuts and balsamic glaze. Beef Stroganoff both of these were $$$ recommend and will be back

Food was subpar. Was really not good. We went with a large party and none of us liked our food. Atmosphere was interesting. Server was friendly tho.

Delicious lunch in a warm, welcoming environment! Visiting from California, this foodie was delighted with the stuffed cabbage rolls and stuffed cheese avocado! I've never had the Hungarian sauce with the cabbage rolls and it was so flavorful. Avocados are delicious always, but adding cheeses elevated it to heavenly. Nely graciously sat us and took our orders, while Simeon took care of us while we enjoyed our food. We'll be back!

I like the food & attention you receive from the staff like the hostess Helen from the minute you walk in! I enjoy the Latin dances on Saturday evenings but I do wish the music could be a little lower volume so that it's easier to talk to other dancers & people! Desi is the chef & innovative appetizers abound on the menu. Try the ginger beer spritzer for a real treat!

I've been here a couple times, it is a very interesting place! For starters the menu has some very unique items that you won't find anywhere else such as cabbage rolls and other Eastern European dishes. It also has your standard bar food such as burgers and fries which is what I got the last time I visited. The service here is excellent as well, in fact the one waiter is an award-winning former cruise ship host. They also have entertainment most nights, but it's usually later so that it doesn't interfere with people coming here just for dinner. They do have a small outdoor seating area which can be nice depending on the weather. Overall I would highly recommend this place if you want to try something a bit different than the standard bar restaurant.

The disproportionate number of recent positive reviews makes me think Sophie's staff solicit those from customers and friends. We have been loyal patrons since 2021. We have recommended this restaurant to many people. The handful of disappointing experiences in recent months still wasn't enough for us to stop going. Smudged wine glasses, smaller portion sizes and one waiter in particular who pushed customers to write good reviews - even those things we considered not to be serious enough to give up on Sophie's. I even left a glowing review a few years ago because we had a genuinely positive experience (in addition to being asked to give good feedback by our waiter). Last night was the final straw. We realize that Sophie's has officially joined the "cut-corners" club that we now see all around us. My Dalmation chicken was basically a plate of penne with sauce. Very small pieces of bland chicken were included, along with a few roasted tomatoes for color. No more fresh, tender chicken breast sitting atop. I asked our waitress "is there chicken in this dish" to which she responded, "yes, it's in there". She seemed to be in a rush even though two tables were occupied. It was Thursday night in the prime of dinner hour. This place used to be packed. When she came back to our table, I mentioned that there used to be a piece of chicken on top but she reverted to the comment that the chicken was cut into the dish. Anyway, we had invited two friends to join us, and it was their first visit, so I did not express my dissatisfaction in front of them. My husband's favorite has always been the stuffed cabbage. It did not contain the amount of beef it once did and the taste was blander. Our friends enjoyed the goulash and moussaka, and this was all we hoped for. Maybe the bar keeps this place afloat. It is not the quality of food.

I would personally stay away from this restaurant. There is a mis-management along with a possible smell problem from who knows what. We went on New Years eve and left for a few reasons. One big one was they decided to charge a cover charge that night for no reason but as the owners "husband" stated "well you know it is New Years Eve". The place was probably 25% filled at 7pm and it appeared they were trying to make money to pay for a band they were having later that night. When we booked our reservation there was no mention anywhere of a $7 per person cover charge. When I asked the owners husband to show me where it showed this anywhere online his response was he didn't have to. I asked him numerous times until he got upset and went face to face with me. He was rude and knew he was wrong. It also appeared others were leaving because of him and/or the smell. They even had the front door open due to this. Not great to have a front door open where you can let additional rodents in. I did not check the back kitchen door as we wanted out of there anyway. My guess they will not be there much longer due to numerous problems including not being full on a New Years Eve. We had picked there for that reason but now we know what many know...stay away due to numerous problems. This owners husband suggested we go to Burger King and now we know why as it would probably would have been cleaner and smelled better and for sure better management. People were leaving this restaurant as it appeared they too were disappointed in it.

DON'T ORDER TAKEOUT FROM HERE. I can't speak on eating at the restaurant, but the portion size for take out is laughably small. What you see in the picture is $18 after taxes and It didn't included the fresh basil that was advertised. Also, my fiancé got the smallest piece of salmon to exist in her $22 meal and didn't get spinach that was advertised. Pathetic.

Entire experience was excellent- Simeon was the best head server & a pure pleasure! Food was delicious and menu very unique! Highly recommend!

Consistently disappointing. I've ordered items off their menu several times and find that they are always overcooked and dry. Only the fries end up being good. With all the other mediocre-or-better options in the area, this place just doesn't stack up to the competition.

First time at this restaurant. I had the Dalmatian chicken pasta and it tasted great. My wife had the cabbage rolls which was equally as tasty. Both dishes were large portions. Service was excellent by Simeon and Lana.

Just returned from dinner with a large group. A wonderful assortment of great food with a most pleasant staff.

Great meal, outstanding service. I had the Hungarian Goulash. Just the right amount of spice and chunks of tender beef. My wife had the vegetable lasagna, she loved it. Portion sizes were just right. Our waiter Simeon took great care of us even though the restaurant was packed. Warm and welcoming atmosphere. Highly recommend!

We went here on Christmas day on a whim and they were very generous and were able to fit us in! The food was great, I would definitely recommend going outside your comfort zone and ordering more.of the eastern european specialties than just getting a burger (although I'm sure that would be delicious as well). The stuffed cabbage is delicious, and the lemon cake with whipped cream was amazing! And the prices are pretty good on top of that! Our server was also great, but not all of them are as over the top as ours was on Christmas (forgot their name).

Simeon had fantastic knowledge of the menu and steered us to a delightful meal. I will be back.

The food is good at Sophie's, but not great. While the service is very good and the personnel are very welcoming, the prices are high. For the prices here the food needs to be better and the ambience improved. Add to that the drinks are just not good at all. They truly need someone to train the bartenders because the Bar is beautiful And again for the quality and ambience... I always feel like I payed too much.

The owner, wish I could understand most of his conversation but he was great with his customers service immediately made us feel welcome and just amazing with our entire party. My family only had drinks but the friends that were with us said the food was so delicious and different. The drinks were amazing he didn't have margaritas on the drink menu but he went above and beyond to accommodate us. We will for sure be back and I highly recommend this place

Service was very slow at a recent Browns backer's Sunday; Been here a few times and prices are very high, service is average, and they add 20% gratuity even though I was a party of 1 sitting at the bar. Not acceptable, especially since all I got was a few beers.

We were looking for a nice meal for Christmas dinner and decided to go to Sophia's. This was our first visit and chose based off of reviews. Well our experience did not live up to the "hype". The service was great, the food not NOT... Lacked flavor completely; no seasoning. Not even salt. The ribeye was completely overcooked and the chicken Kiev was dry and tasteless. We were super disappointed in this meal, especially for what we paid. The only other highlight outside of the service was the dessert, which probably is not made by Sophia's team, and the drinks. Finally, they add gratuity to parties of 5 or more, which is typical. However, we were a party of 3 and gratuity was added... not sure if this was a biased attempt, however we noticed and was not happy. Do not recommend.

Today 3/19/23 another perfect lunch for at Sophies Grill! Neli's Burger and Salmon Sandwich ware super good! It comes with fries which i could exchange for very good sallad. They have bulgarian beer Kamienitsa there which is now my favorite. Great place, Great atmosphere, Great people there taking Great care for us!

Finding Sophie's was a nice surprise. When I saw, "Bar & Grill" I figured it was the usual. Not at all. There were tablecloths and a wine menu that lights up when you open it. The waiter treated us well. My Greek salad with shrimp was like the ones I got in Greece. It was crunchy and fresh. The dressing was extremely light - mostly olive oil with some herbs (just like Europe). The waiter saw me question it and asked if I would like some balsamic dressing. I used just a bit. This salad filled me up. The small shrimp were scrumptious. My husband asked for pork chops. The waiter suggested the schnitzel. My husband really liked it. It had a light mushroom sauce on it. My husband does not like sauces at all. He was using up every last drop of this one between the meat and mashed potatoes. Sophie's was a little more expensive than a typical bar and grill but Sophie's is not typical. We'll work this in our rotation of favorite restaurants.

Such a unique place. Eastern European and I really liked it. I will totally come back. Try the Chicken Schnitzel!!! Really good

Amazing service! And the food was incredible. This is hands down the best Balkan food I've ever had in the US. There were also a few different options for Rakija which I thoroughly enjoyed. I HIGHLY recommend this place!!!

What a great find! In a city where burger/pizza/chicken wing spots seem to pop up like weeds, here we've got a restaurant that specializes in Bulgarian dishes. I'd never had Bulgarian food (although some of the dishes like the pirogies are familiar), but the home-cooked quality is universal, and we really enjoyed our meal. Simeon, the head waiter, is quite the character and will assure you this is "no Mickey Mouse" operation. Food is solid, prices are more than reasonable, this is the perfect dining dig if you're a little adventurous. And, if you're friends aren't so adventurous? That's ok! Sophies has a list of specialty burgers as well. Outdoor seating available. Live music on the schedule. Recommended.

I came here for lunch with a group of 16. They were expecting us and very well prepared for our visit. The table and decorations were just beautiful. A very nice place, plenty of parking and they have multiple TV's going, but no sound, so the atmosphere is great for conversation. I ordered the Greek salad with shrimp. The salad was a good size and fresh, but there were only 6 VERY small shrimp in the dish. It was served with no dressing, so had to wait to ask for dressing. Got the raspberry vinaigrette and it was good. No crackers, no bread, nothing served with the salad, so by 3:00 I was really hungry as there was nothing in the salad that was filling. Others got different dishes, and some portions were a good size, some were not. Not a big menu and there are sandwiches and other salads. A few hot entrees, but they are too costly for lunch. I didnt get a sandwich because there is only one side, fries, offered and I do not eat fries. I love to support small private places such as this one, but I probably will not return here.

Went to Sophie's one night to hear a band play We figured we would go back for dinner a few weeks later I order a chicken sandwich. It was so dry it was tough to bite into And the roll wasn't fresh It also was supposed to come with marinara But, it didn't I ordered onion rings in place of fries and the onion rings were nothing like the picture on their online menu We also ordered a "homemade" burger. The meat was tasteless and the roll again wasn't fresh Both sandwiches came with wilted lettuce Again, absolutely nothing like the online pictures which are what lured us in. If a place isn't going to serve what they advertise, they shouldn't post what people are expecting to get

Totally unimpressed with their service and honesty. Listed on DD as another restaurant that accepts your order and then doesn't fill it.

Over priced cocktails - $11 for a champagne glass sized Ukrainian Sangria so then I ordered a Stella. It was fine until I saw the bottom of the glass w what looked like multiple crumbs (picture 5-7 pieces of diced garlic). The food reviews for our group of 8 varied so I'll leave that rest. Will not visit or recommend to anyone. 0 stars

Enjoyed tonight's World Wine tasting with Dali! Sampled wines from India, Armenia, Moldova and Japan with delicious appetizers! Highly recommend!

The food and service at dinner was a great experience! Very much recommend Sophie's! Head waiter Simeon made our evening so much fun! recommend Sophie's for those traveling in the Cary, NC area !

Food is great service was fast and friendly, very clean and loved the atmosphere. Ken R.

Last night was my husband and I first time being there and it was very nice. We had a awesome water, SIMEON !! The food was delicious and they were having a trivia night and the music was great. Thank you all for a great date night.

We came for Christmas Eve dinner. The food and atmosphere were absolutely wonderful. We have come back several times after. Great service and great food.

I chose Sophies because it's in my credit card rewards program. So there's that. I like getting bonus airline miles! Rather quiet on a Monday night during football season despite the number of televisions and screens they have mounted about the place, but they were all tuned in to different sports channels. Chicken wings were in a sweet and hot sauce that was very good. Tasty and medium meatiness. For main course, I chose the buffalo burger with bacon minus bun. Ordered medium rare, it came out closer to medium well. Still tasty but overdone. Nicely topped and presented well with a good serving of asparagus. No bun or fries as I'm still doing my keto diet. Good service, a nice and clean restaurant. Other than the burger being overdone, it was a good meal. [Review 11851 overall, 1633 of 2019.]

Food was amazing. Only beat by the service. Highly recommend. They went above and beyond to accommodate our requests.

We stopped here while getting new tires at Discount Tire. Just something to hold us over, appetizers and a drink. We were seated right away , we were given a choice for inside or outside, front or back outside dining. We were seated and out server came with water and menus . Explained Sophies and items on the menu for us. What a nice guy, very friendly and had a cool wit to him. As I was walking in he stopped me and asked, you look familiar....I have been mistaken in my life for a few people. Cat Stevens, Burt Reynolds, Mark Spitz, and Sean Connery. I told him you must be mistaken . The service was great and so was the food. As you see our dishes in the pictures. Quick and friendly service. As I was leaving everyone there said good bye to my wife and I. That was very nice. They said it with a genuine smile also. I will come back and give dinner a try there.

Had a great time, the staff is friendly and the menu is different! The bartender did a great job with drinks and entertainment lol

My family has spent a fair amount of time touring Eastern Europe, so I was delighted to happen upon Sophie's a few weeks ago! One of the things I most enjoyed the Czech Republic was all the small taverns where you would tuck into a booth to enjoy some excellent local beer (cheaper than water!) and a delicious homemade meal. Walking into Sophie's certainly made me feel like walking into an Eastern European tavern. I was delighted to see that there were a lot of people (being Covid-appropriate, plenty of designated space between groups) and it seemed like a lively place to hang out. This is definitely a place I would come back to to watch a game or meet friends. They had a setup for a band, and I bet that is a lot of fun. My husband and I both ordered the Hungarian Goulash, which is one of my favorite dishes in the whole wide world. I'll be frank - it was not very good. The liquid was very thin (more broth than sauce), and was bland. I could taste the paprika, but none of the richness and depth of flavor one would expect from the dish. Looking at the menu, I believe this is a new addition to the menu, and I would like to chalk this up to being a "recipe in progress". I will certainly return to try other menu items. Beer was great, and staff was delightful.

I just polished off the leftover Hungarian Goulash from our recent dinner at Sophie's Grill and Bar and honestly thought about licking my bowl. I'm not sure what ingredient(s) give this dish its deeply rich flavor, but I think I could eat that stuff every week forever. We tried several things from the menu and enjoyed it all. Chicken Schnitzel with Creamy Mushroom Sauce (wow), Stuffed Cabbage Rolls (a first for me and I loved it), and Slavonian Paprikash (that was my husband's favorite), plus appetizers of Mozzarella in Carrozza and Baked Armenian Figs. Dessert was Crème Caramel. I would order every single one of those items again. (Hint - visit their website to see the full menu.) I asked for cocktail recommendations (they list several specialty ones but are also happy to make any other cocktail you would like), and tried two of them - a Boulevardier and a Brazilian Classic Caipirinha. They were both delicious. We also enjoyed and appreciated our waiter, the bartender, and even had a chance to meet Desi, the owner. Such a treat. Oh! Visit the ladies' room, if you get a chance. It is decorated in such a fun and unique style.