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Porter's Tavern

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2412 Hillsborough St
Raleigh, NC 27607

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(919) 821-2133
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Reviews
( 34 )
( 11 )
( 3 )
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( 1 )

Best

One of the best dining experiences I've had since living in Raleigh for 20 years (after living in Europe and eating in many fine restaurants). There were six of us and we were all...

Worst

A big disappointment.... read good reviews online so decided to try. 10oz beers for 3 bucks is not a good deal...tempura green beans were delish. Fish tacos were a ridiculous inpo...

Editorial review from Citysearch 3/26/2013

We can't say enough great things about this restaurant located right down the street from us. Our favorite waiter, Joel is always so helpful and is such a great server. The food is amazing. The spare ribs are absolutely scrum-diddly-umptious! Paired with the mashed potatoes and they taste just as good as mom's. This is a MUST if you're on Hillsborough Street. The atmosphere is perfect for a business dinner or a romantic date night. more
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Pass 10/29/2011

A big disappointment.... read good reviews online so decided to try. 10oz beers for 3 bucks is not a good deal...tempura green beans were delish. Fish tacos were a ridiculous inposter..tiny slivers of cod (or some kind of fish that pretended to be cod) were mixed with other flavorless items..big disappointment and no taste whatsoever. Shrimp and grits was ok..shrimp cooked well but too many red peppers that overpowered the flavor of the dish. Would not go back and do not recommend. Don't waste your money, There are plenty of good restaurants in Raleigh...this is only mediocre. more
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WHAT A GEM!!!! 2/13/2009

First off let me say that this is a fantastic restaurant and I never would of expected such from Hillsborough st. My boyfriend and I went with a large group last night and sat in there extended private dinning room, we were greeted by a nice hostess and a great server. I LOVED the drink list and beers on draft there, what a great diverse selection, I fell in love with their season beer. The server pointed me in the way of the pork chop and said it had been a favorite of his for years, let me say....what a pork chop. My boyfriend had the hanger steak and it was great as well. The server was really nice and very informative about the menu, when we asked for all separate checks, he said no problem and came back with all of them in minutes. Sadly to say that this doesn't happen at most places I go. I highly recommend this place, I'll definitely be back. TRY THE PORK CHOP!!!!! Pros: Food, Drinks, Staff Cons: Parking more
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Caring staff 1/11/2009

Staff went out of their way to make us comfortable even though we had brought a two year old who was very hard to control. Very gracious people. Food was very acceptable and enjoyed the atmosphere. Enjoyed Porter's very much, more
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A wonderful evening out 9/12/2008

My boyfriend and I are tourists in this great city and randomly ended up at Porter's Tavern. What we encountered was great atmosphere coupled with fresh home-made food. We sat in the smoking section and were served by the bartender who was very professional. We had a great night and recommend Porter's Tavern to any through travelers or locals looking for unique food. Pros: Service, menu, price (parking not a problem Cons: not that I can think of :) more
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Over-rated, online menu out-dated, food was so-so 3/15/2008

We had a girl's night out here with the gals from work. We were seated promptly, since it was a Thursday night AND we had reservations. Our waiter was very friendly and upbeat. I'm on a diet, so I checked out the menu on their website before going so that I had an idea of what to get calorie wise. I was really looking forward to the Ahi Tuna and the Swordfish Salad! Pros: Very trendy and hip, great service, great desserts! Cons: Food is average, prices are too high more
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Our favorite regular spot!! 2/10/2008

We've been going to Porter's for a couple of years now. We've always had great service, every time we've gone. The food is always very good- their burgers are the best in Raleigh, to me. Somewhere I can get a burger and a beer, and my wife can get something a little nicer, and we both enjoy it. We've had a few nice dinners there as well, but the casual atmosphere is more our scene. Great place to go with friends, Great draft beers. Pros: A fun place Cons: A little loud on the weekends more
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Question About a piece of art in the restaurant 1/24/2008

This a strange question. I recently ate here and sat in the private party room (?). There were several brightly colored painting hanging on the walls. One was of fish with sharp teeth, and the other of two brightly colored birds (red and yellow maybe?) Does anyone happen to know who the artist is or what they are called. I am really interested in the one of the birds. I know nothing about art! Any info would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!! more
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Great food and even better service! 1/19/2008

This is fast becoming one of my favorite restaurants in Raleigh. The food is delicious, portions are good and prices aren't outrageous. They have great beers on draft, all microbrews. Our server was great, she never let our drinks get empty and really knew the menu. Pros: Food, bar, service, big tvs! Cons: Parking, only take reservations for parties of 6 or more more
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Awesome Food and Awesome Service 11/18/2007

Our first time at this restaurant and we will most definitely return. The service was really good and the food was even better. Great for a special occasion or just a last minute spot for dinner. Pros: Ambience, service (hostess and the wait staff) were great Cons: Parking more
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Not worth the very long wait ( and they underestimated that by nearly 30 minutes) 10/22/2007

Longer Wait than promised - Not worth it. Pros: Atmosphere Cons: Food, wait more
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Not all it's cracked up to be.. 4/12/2007

The food was alright, but definitely not worth the price. The portions were border-line small. Also, the large party I was with was seated in the back room which made me feel cut off from getting the full effect of the restaurant. The enviromnent created at Porters was not that impressive, especially not for the price you're paying for a ""nice"" meal. The one thing they did have going for them was the chocolate creme brulee. Other than that, I probably would not return. more
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Adding class to Hillsborough Street 3/12/2007

This place, along with its sister restaurant, Fraziers, is just what Hillsborough Street needs more of! Great food, great service, great atmosphere. The Sunday Brunch is also great...it's THE place in west raleigh to be on a sunday afternoon! When it's warm, they open up the patio which is great for eating and watching people go by. Pros: Tasty options, great Brunch choice, good locale Cons: Brunch starts late. Smoky bar. more
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Casual meets quality 2/11/2007

We've been to Porter's Tavern three times now. Each time has fully met our expectations. The food is excellent and reasonably priced, the service prompt and helpful (it's causual enough that you pour your own wine through the meal), and the atmosphere friendly. The wine list is decent, although not flashy. I'd say it's a better place for a nice dinner for two than a big group (we've done both), mainly because they don't seem to have many tables for groups of 5 or larger. The tavern chips are dynamite - but don't order them for two unless you don't mind turning back leftovers. The serving is about right for five. Pros: Casual atmosphere, very high quality food, excellent service, nice for two Cons: Lack of reservations for less than six, okay wine list more
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Great place for a casual dinner 9/18/2006

This place is fantastic. The food is great, wonderful service, good value, and just an enjoyable meal. I recommend it to anyone looking for a good meal. more
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An exciting find and rare gem 8/20/2006

Saturday night was my first time to hear and visit Porter's. Pros: promptness in seating, service, cuisine Cons: location (parking and access for those with walking difficulties) more
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Great night out 6/27/2006

I have been to Porter's 3 or 4 times and have never been disappointed. The service is good along with the drinks and food. If you need a date restaurant this is it. Pros: Food, Drinks, Service Cons: Parking more
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Great ""go-to"" place 6/22/2006

My wife and I have dined here many times and have always found the service and food to be wonderful. We've tried several items off the menu and have never been disappointed. The Flat-iron steak and fish tacos are especially good. The dinner specials are unique and always tasty. The prices are also quite reasonable. The wine list is okay for the type of resturant it is. Ambience is good, it can get noisy, and parking can be a problem. Overall one of the best meals for the price to be had Inside the Beltline. Pros: Service, Price Cons: Parking more
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Absolutely wonderful 4/9/2006

Not surprisingly, this restaurant has received a number of excellent reviews from those using Citysearch. It has excellent food and is in a wonderful location. The service was good. I will definitely return to Porter's-- I have so far been there only twice. I particularly liked the ""unsoutern"" ambience mentioned by another user. It is just wonderful. Pros: Excellent food, Excellent service, Simply excellent!! more
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Wonderful Place 11/27/2005

I went there with some friends and we stayed about 2.5 hours! It was very good. Our server was very friendly and very informative. Great mojitos and the food was excellent. This was my first time there, and I will go back. They could offer more entrees but besides that, the overall experience is worth going back for. Definitely recommend to others, especially couples. more
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Menu for Porter's Tavern


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Editorial

  • The Scene
    Porter's raises the bar for casual bistro dining in Raleigh. Attention to detail is apparent in the design, service and food. City denizens and suburbanites will feel...

  • 5/19/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon. - Thu. 11am - 10pm;Fri. 11am - 11pm;Sat. 5pm - 11pm;Sun. 11am - 2:30pm
  • Payments: Discover, American Express, Visa, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: University
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