Irregardless Cafe & Catering

This neighborhood restaurant has loyal clients for good reason. As a long time customer I was taken aback during a nice conversation with the bartender, when the manager showed up at 9:30, in shorts, flip flops and tee shirt (I suspect he'd had a few drinks) and flipped all the lights on. It totally interrupted dinner service and conversation. I've worked food service before and for the guy to bustle in at the end of the night, dressed like that, and turn the lights on was just rude! Pros: Great Bartender, Dodge! Cons: Disruptive Manager more

The service team made sure all aspects of the meal flowed well. The whole staff was attentive to the whole restaurant. The music was pleasing support to our conversations. The meal was consistent in flavor and presentation: Vegan perogies and pesto polento for appetizers. Avocado salad with the house Lemon Tahini Dressing. Paella with abundant succulent toppings and crisped rice. Classic Morgan Street Chicken that melted upon chewing. Cheesecake, Smooth wine. Glad we had leftovers :) Pros: Best value of service, taste and price more

My husband took me here this weekend for a special Valentine's Day meal. Almost everything was excellent. The live music and overall aura of the restaurant was very pleasant and fitting for the evening. The server was absolutely wonderful and pleasant, and the food was outstanding (Great starters, I had the squash, my husband a great fish plate for dinner, and we both shared a heavenly piece of cheesecake for dessert). The only problem we had was the man who we think was the manager, Seth. At first he came up to say hello to us, which we found nice, but then he kept coming back and bothering us. He kept talking about himself and made me feel very uncomfortable with how he kept touching my shoulder and leering at me. We clearly weren't the only ones who felt this way as we both had a laugh when we overheard the table next to us ask our server why the manager was being such a slimball and he, our server, just politely smiled and said ""no comment"". In all, I suggest that you definitely come in for a meal.... Just try come in for a night when the manager is not around. Pros: Great food. Excellent service. Fun athmosphere Cons: Creepy manager. more

Irregardless is simply a great restaurant. My wife and I have enjoyed it for years. The menu has something for everyone and it changes enough that even the regulars can find something new. We like the atmosphere and the live music. They even have some artwork from one of our favorite artists, Kyle Highsmith! The price is very reasonable and the small plates are really not small! Irregardless is a good place for special events or just a simple ""night out."" Pros: Great food, great service, very consistent more

I admit I had not been to the Irregardless Cafe since perhaps the '80s. My wife and I recently went on a parent's night out to the Irregardless Cafe and were really disappointed in the food.\r \r * The ""paella"" the server raved about was a seafood stir over rice. Not cooked together. The seafood seemed to have been overcooked. It did not even seem to have saffron?\r \r * The shrimp on the shrimp and pasta dish were hard cooked. No flavor or juiciness, just cooked to death.\r \r The service was ok, basic. Around the end of our meal the stage was set up for a live band and in came a herd of ""regulars"" and family folks. We laughingly pointed out other bewildered couples who arrived late into this melee, glad we were not them. I cannot see why there were so many regulars, it's not like they had drink specials?\r \r We now have a gift certificate and are hesitant to go back, but perhaps they cannot mess up brunch? Maybe they should return to all vegetarian, at least that gave them a purpose other than to ""not be a chain""? Cons: Poor presentation, poor flavor, hype, dual-use room more

I'm fairly new to Irregardless but like to think I'm becoming a regular. I have been several times now, both for lunch and dinner. My servers have always been helpful in their recommendations, and I've thoroughly enjoyed all the dishes I've tried. The food is fantastic! The owner is very personable and has remembered me and made me feel welcome. I plan on bringing out-of-town friends here for dinner so they can see more of what Raleigh is all about! Pros: Delicious food, friendly staff, great atmosphere more

First of all, let me state that I've been to this restaurant twice. Once was last night for my friend's birthday and the previous time was two years ago. When I went there in 2007, our waitress was extremely rude, barely spoke to us and generally had the social graces and charm of a corpse. The food, however, was top notch. Last night, I came to Irregardless excited and hopeful because of the excellent food and the fact that our server would probably be better because I could not, at that point, have imagined a worse experience happening. I'll make this short because if I don't I'll be tempted to use profanity. It began with our hostess not being able to find the reservations I made for 6 at 7:30 over a week ago. No big deal because she eventually found them. Then we get led to some makeshift, pushed together seating that is directly in front of a loud jazz band and is positioned in the center of the room--all of us had to shout to talk. Our hostess hands our table two menus and tells us she'll be back. Eventually, she comes back to tell us there are no other menus available...so we take turns rotating two menus for about a half hour. Our server, shows up looking coked out of his mind and announces to the table (and bear in mind about 40 min have passed since we were seated) that he ""just found out that I've gotta serve so, um, I guess I'll be your waiter."" He took half our drink orders and left. We were confused so we tried to flag him down and he eventually came back and took the rest of our drink orders. When he came back, MUCH later, to take our food orders, he forgot my order. So I had to flag him down and tell him my order. I got the kabobs ($16) and he didn't ask how I wanted it done. So I had to flag him down a third time to tell him how my meat was to be done. Our food arrives and half the stuff that was supposed to come with my meal was missing. My friends fared worse. The paella my friend ordered (it was her birthday) was mush and the seafood absolute garbage, others recieved spare ribs that were (and I know this is typically a fatty dish but nonetheless) 80-85% fat with a small chunk of actual meat. Her fiance recieved exactly 3 raviolis as his meal--that was $11. The portions everyone recieved were absolutely OFF in relation to what we were paying. So our friend called over the manager who could best be described as smarmy, unpleasant, inept, and a joke. He saunters over and sits down, we calmly and politely explain our evening to him, and instead of having the meals on the house (every meal we recieved DEFINITELY was worthy of being ""on the house""), he took my meal, the spare ribs meal, (but not the ravioli) off the ticket. He did not offer us anything else and he said he ""hoped we'd be back."" Our server, fidgety, barely hiding his disgust, and generally looking like a sleaze, gave us our checks that we asked to be separate on a single check and did not offer us dessert or anything else. I was paying for my friend and the tab was $40. I have never once considered walking out on a check but I seriously pondered it over. If I had any less class I'd have done that but eventually, I signed my part of the check--but not before writing something I've never wrote on any server's tip space--""Find another job."" There are no redeemable qualities to this restaurant and I urge anyone considering eating here to just make something at home or go elsewhere. I'd have been content with a happy meal in comparison to last night's horrendous experience. The only reason I put up with it was out of respect for my friends. Pros: I made it out alive Cons: The entire experience, from start to finish. more

I recently had a birthday dinner along with 7 of my closest friends. The service was deplorable. Honestly I have worked in food service, my father is a chef, my mother a food and beverage manager and I have NEVER been some where with service this bad. First tip off should have been when we were seated and told they were short on menu's. Fifteen minutes later we recieved the rest of the menu's for the table but had yet to be greated by our waiter. 20 minutes after that we finally were addressed by a waiter who proceeded to only take half of our tables drink orders. We order items from the menu and when we recieved them with out anything as described in the menu told that they we no longer on the menu and the chef prepared something loosely realted to the oringial ordered dish. One of my friends recieved a short rib that was 85% fat and almost inedible. The manager was inepted at dealing with the resturant let alone our table. Though he compt two of the meals I feel like this resturant is over priced, under staffed, and frankly doomed to survive on reputation alone. Do not go here. Pros: Used to be good just on the back of their food Cons: SERVICE more

Irregardless was much more successful as a full vegetarian restaurant. The past 2 times I have had dinner there the food was average and overpriced for what we received. Last dinner I ordered the scallops, which were served with a corn relish and potatoes - the scallops were way over cooked and the corn tasted like it was straight from a can. I expected better from such a well known place. I will not return unless I hear great reviews and changes have been made. I hope Irregardless can step back up and remain successful. Pros: Good atmosphere Cons: Average food and service, cold!, more

We've used IC catering on numerous occasions. I don't know what happened. They used to have a crew that worked like clockwork and made our events shine.For t he past couple months it has been very different. It seems disjointed, less professional and sloppy. Where before everything wasgetting done and we often never had to think about it, we now have to ask for things. We are going to look for another catering group. Pros: Still a Good Menu available Cons: Catering Very Disappointing more

I've heard of this place but never tried until this past weekend. I was thrilled. Live music while we dined and then after dinner, the band transformed to a dance band. They moved the tables from the center and the restaurant was transformed to a supper club with dining and dancing. The food was excellent and great prices. Terrific wine list very well priced. We enjoyed the evening specials, Paella and Shrimp Pollenta. This is not just for vegetarians. This restaurant is for anyone looking for a special evening with an inviting atmosphere and lots of fun. Pros: Live entertainment and dancing on Saturday Cons: decor is outdated more

We arrived with our party of 6 for a 7:30 reservation and were told that there were two elderly women lingering at out table which would be ready in a moment. Two parties of similar size arrived after we did and were seated before we were. At 8:20 we walked out. All we got was a sarcastic ""sorry."" \r \r There is no excuse for keeping us waiting for nearly an hour without food, drinks, hors derves or obseqious apologies. We had plans to go out after the meal which we had to cancel. The whole evening would have been a complete waste except for our stumbling upon Zely & Ritz. more

Overpriced food, uncomfortable seating, not great but decent service. Vegan food options are unoriginal, tasteless, and way overpriced. Other food is nothing special, and overpriced.\r \r Seating is TOO CLOSE to other people. 12 inches between tables is not acceptable. more

I always like to try new restaurants. I have heard of IC for years; however it has always been mixed reviews (and some from ex-employee's ... which I took with a grain of salt). I finally took the plunge last weekend. I found it pricey for the type of food it served. My friends who went with me, who have food allergies and are vegetarian, were not impressed. I cook for a living, so perhaps I am pickier than most. But seriously I should have stayed home; I would have dined better and would not have to endure rude self-absorbed wait staff. A waste of time and money for below average fare. I don't really care about the inadequate parking, I always manage to find a parking space, but my friends who met me, were real annoyed at their scraped car after dinner. Needless to say, I felt rather foolish to have even suggested this place. Pros: ???? Cons: bad service, so so food more

I'm a vegetarian, so down south, my options are often limited. The IC has plenty of options, they all taste amazing, and the staff is really cool. Great place--I'll definitely take friends there! Pros: Excellent food and service more

The food was quite pricy for what it was. I've ordered paella because I loved it in Spain and it was nowhere near what it should be. Otherwise (if you don't mind leaving a lot of $) it was ok - service was nice and quick. more

The food was good but on the bland side, and more expensive than it should have been. \r It didn't offer much of a vegetarian menu. The service was good. \r I guess this place is not meant for thirty somethings, it's a good place to take your parents, if they like bland food. \r \r the pictures on the wall show a better irregardless 30 or more years ago. It's a weird change. Pros: Making a good effort Cons: too expensive more

I ate at the irregardless last Sat and had the best experience. I had heard about the dancing on Saturday nights and really wanted to try it out. I called for reservations and the hostess was very helpful in getting me the right time for my date and I. She put me down for 8:30 which was perfect because I had enough time to enjoy the wonderful meal and dessert before the dancing started at 9:30. The dancing was a ton of fun! There were a lot of couples on the dance floor, young and old so everyone felt comfortable! There was one couple that was amazing and I was told they are regulars at the dancing, they blew me away. Laura Ridgeway was singing and I made sure to pick up a music calander so I can see who is going to play each night. I can't wait to go back! Pros: great food and atmosphere more

I had heard many good things about the Irregardless Cafe, but my experience with the place was less than favorable. I attended on Valentine's Day in 2008, and I ordered the Spicy Shrimp with Polanto. I got lots of polanto and about a half a cup of the shrimp and veggies with a grand total of three medium sized shrimp. All for $16. What a rip off. It was tasty, but not worth the price. In fairness, the other people in our party ordered different items and looked like they had more food than I and at a better value.\r \r The atmosphere was great, the live music was very nice, and the service was good. Too bad the food was such a poor value. more

Extremely disappointed...I run a group for women in Raleigh and we do a monthly dinner, I was excited for us to try out Irregardless for a dinner party over a month away, however upon speaking with the 'events coordinator', I was told that our party of 20 would need to be sat before 6pm on a Saturday as 'we need those tables back by 9pm'...Wow...I made the statement that perhaps we should go elsewhere since Irregardless might not be able to accomodate large parties and she said that would probably be best ;) I was here one other time and although the food was decent the customer service/waitstaff was horrible...I would much rather feel welcomed and wanted in a restaurant than a nusiance Pros: Food was decent? Cons: Customer Service, ambience, available seating, size more