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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 )
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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...

Thai Chicken Tavern Chips? 11/15/2005

What Happened? They changed the menu and removed the Thai Chicken Tavern Chips. Those chips were quite possibly the best appetizer in Raleigh. The Calamari is excellent, but no substitute. Fish Tacos are awesome as well as the Mac and Cheese. Bar service is excellent and wait staff good. Overall still a great restaurant, but seems to be having an identity crisis with the menu change. Pros: Atmosphere, Bar Service Cons: Menu Change, Parking more
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Outstanding 9/30/2005

I've been here 3 times now, always very impressed with their mixed selection of very well presented dishes and excellent appetizers. Parking on Hillsborough st. isn't always easy, but it's well worth the time to find a spot. In addition to their regular menu, Sunday brunch is also exemplary. Pros: excellent food, brunch, presentation Cons: parking more
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Perfection 9/19/2005

Me and my girlfriend were in a bit of a hurry to make it to the carolina hurricanes game and I when I told the waitress that we were in a bit of a hurry she got the food out MUCH faster than I thought would be possible. We were in and out in about 40 minutes total. The food was GREAT and we both left with a smile. Good prices, good service and an upscale atmosphere made it well worth while. Pros: Service, Food, Price Cons: Parking more
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Great for... everything 7/31/2005

I frequent Porters with groups of friends as well as classmates and it has always been great. Food, drinks, the staff all make it a worth while trip! Pros: Staff, Food, Ambience Cons: Parking more
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User review by kellis41183 6/16/2005

All of their food is priced well, the service is great, and the Brunch (My Favorite)is absolutly to die for. Good place for a date! more
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Not your typical college neighborhood cafe. 3/31/2005

Located across the street from NCSU, Porter's Tavern is casual but more upscale than you would expect from an establishment so close to a college. The menu ranges from simple through fancy, but everything we had was quite good. The Flat Iron Steak is marinated for 48 hours and is worth the prep time; its sweet & tangy and is served with haricot vert (lightly cooked green beans for the unpretentious among us). Oven roasted mixed vegetables are tasty and not overcooked. The crab cakes are quite good without much breading but the tartar sauce atop them was unremarkable & a bit unimaginative. The steak salad is generous & yummy. The bars selection of beer is fine, but choices of whiskeys are limited. Service is well trained, prompt and attentive. Expect appetizers @ $8.00 entrees @ $20.00. On-street parking only. Limited outdoor dining in warmer months. Pros: Service, Food, Ambience Cons: Smidgen Pricey, Parking more
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overrrrr rated 3/11/2005

hostess and employees are snotty! food is ok...i have eaten there 7-8 times and the experience gets worse each time... if you call for reservations - be ready for rudeness this is not a typical ncsu area restaurant - just plain unsouthern in its charm! Pros: some disehes ar prett, good place to drink Cons: rude hostess!, parking stinks!, snotty feel! more
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Shocked at how impressive this place is 3/2/2005

Porter's was great! The food was awesome! Went on a Friday night, it was crowded so my group and I had a drink before our table was ready. Our server was prompt, courtious and very professional. Everyone at our table ordered a different cuisine. We ordered the Lamb, Steak, Pasta and...something else? Nonetheless, all were practically flawless. This restaurant buzzes, which makes for an enjoyable evening. I must say, Porters has become one of my top choices in Downtown Raleigh Pros: Ambience, food was great, moderately priced Cons: tight quarters, very crowded, no parking more
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Simply Outstanding!!! 2/1/2005

It has been a long time since I was this impressed. The waiter was terrific, the food was amazing and the ambiance was hip and comfortable. This is my new favorite spot in the Triangle. Even on a busy and cold friday night, it was worth the trip and the wait. Don't change a thing! Pros: ambiance,, food, service more
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Hidden Treasure 12/20/2004

Porter's is an excellent restaurant. The food and service is consistently excellent. I love the atmosphere. It reminds me of something in New York City especially sitting outside on the patio. I would highly recommed Porter's to anyone. It is one of our favorite places to go in Raleigh! Pros: Excellent Food, Good Service, Great Atmosphere more
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Wonderful 12/15/2004

I would rate my three experiences 5 Stars each time. It is not often that you can revisit a restaurant and continually get great food and service. Our favorites are the lamb and tuna. The wait staff is very knowledgeable (unlike many more expensive restaurants), and the prices very fair for the portions. This has become our favorite restaurant in Raleigh. Pros: Food, Service, No Smoke more
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Just left there! 9/30/2004

My date and I arrived at 8:15 on Friday night. We sat and had a cocktail while we waited for our table and enjoyed the trendy bar. When we were seated at the rounded booth our sever came to us promptly to refill our empty drinks. I ordered the Braised Lamb Shank with Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Vegtables and she ordered the grilled pork chop with thin green beans and ""Mac and Blue Cheese."" Both were Fabulous and the bill was $42. Great Food. Great Service. And Great Atmosphere! Pros: Service, Flavors, Selection more
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Great little restaurant 8/24/2004

Great atmosphere, decent food, reservations highly recommended. The lamb was so tender it fell off the bone, the appetizers were plenty enough to be a small meal. The drinks were a bit pricy. Pros: Food, Service Cons: , Parking more
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Fantastic 7/21/2004

Porter's is the best casual place within miles of NCSU, but it's also one of the best places in Raleigh and certainly the best value. The food is always fresh, creative, and interesting. The staff are out of this world -- knowledgable, polite, professional! You will not regret the choice when you go to Porters for lunch OR dinner. Pros: Value, Service, Quality more
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Must Try It! 7/11/2004

My husband and I dined at Porter's this past weekend. I must say that it was an excellent experience! When we arrived, we were told there would be a 30 minute wait. It was 8:15 on a Friday night, so we expected as much. We went to the bar and ordered a few drinks in the meantime. A few bar stools opened immediately, so we were able to sit and enjoy our drinks before dinner. Less than 20 minutes later, we were seated. Our server, Steve did an extraordinary job! He was very laid back and catered to our needs perfectly. Our food was excellent and timely, and the dessert was to die for! It was my birthday, so Steve put a candle on it. We sat in smoking and noticed NO SMOKE - there's a first!! We're definitely going back! Pros: atmosphere, location, food more
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love this place... 5/27/2004

I agree with everyone here Porters a great addition to Hillsborough Street! It was a large group of us that went for dinner and we were all pleased with our experience. We started off with a couple orders of the nachos, which were enormous and very tasty!!! I loved the paintings on the walls I applaud restaurants that feature pieces from local artists. Anyway, whenever you go, try the Blue Cheese Mac-n-Cheese I never thought I would love it, but I do! I do! I do!!! It was so light and creamy. The pork chops were nice and thick, cooked just right (juicy and tender). A few ordered the special of the night, which was a fish dish, and it was fresh and flavorful. I would say Porters is definitely living up to Fraziers in every way possible. Pros: Great good, Innovative food, Relaxing atmosphere Cons: , long wait more
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Good food, Bad parking 5/1/2004

The food at Porter's is excellent. The service was professional. This is the kind of restaurant that Raleigh needs on Hillsborough. A pleasant evening was ruined by an unpleasant surprise. After our meal, we discovered our car was towed from the lot behind the restaurant!! We parked in a business lot where we were patrons. We were forced to pay $120 to retrieve our legally parked car! The hostess was rude when we asked her to call us a cab. Porter's wants to attract upscale patrons that can pay their high prices that are more than NC State students can afford. They need to ensure people can park near their restaurant without becoming victims of predatory towing practices. No one wants to end his or her evening at the impoundment lot. I don't want to reward businesses that set up their their patrons to get towed. I won't be back. Pros: good food, patio seating Cons: , $120 towing fees, unhelpful hostess more
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My Favorite 2/16/2004

This is by far one of my favorite restaurants in NC. I highly reccommend the po boys, wild mushroom fettuccine, chicken sun dried tomato pesto, or chicken ravioli. The food has always been hot and great. However, it's most always difficult to find a seat or parking. I have had only one bad experience where my pasta dish was too salty. The waitress was more than happy to bring me a new dish. The cook came and asked me if the new one was ok, which it was. Lunch and dinner time gets busy so expect a slight wait on the refills, but the food is more than worth it! Pros: great food, polite staff Cons: , seating more
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Great, if you can get a table 1/20/2004

One of my favorite restaurants in Raleigh. The food tastes as good as the place looks. The servers are terrific, the prices are reasonable. The only complaint I have is with the hostesses. I went in with a large group on a Friday night and was put on the waitlist. We went to a nearby bar, and the hostess agreed to call us when a table was available. We never got that call. I tried again a few weeks later to make reservations for a party of five but was told they only accept reservations for six or more, which is perfectly reasonable. Except when I told the hostess I was really only estimating and asked to go ahead and make a reservations for six, she refused, albeit tactfully. For heaven's sake, all I want to do is spend my money at your restaurant, is that so much to ask?? more
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A Nice Place 12/10/2003

A great addition to the Raleigh restaurant scene. Nice atmosphere, good drinks, excellent food at good prices. Try the steak! Park at the pay lot behind Hillsborough St. It's only a couple of dollars and there are always plenty of spaces. 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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