Best Restaurants Open for Newyears Eve this year in Wake Forest – 2024

Ate here last week. My burger was OK but not great. You can definitely do better for a burger in this town. Rudinos or Pat Munanes Pub burgers are better. I'm just saying. I have eaten at burger joints all across the USA so I know a good burger. Be forewarned, the burger you get looks very tired and small compared to the pictures on the wall with their menu. I didn't take pictures of my burger because I was too hungry and I finished before I realized I it was too late. I doubt I will be back.

No gluten free bun options so I ate my burger without a bun. Overall, I feel like it was an elevated fast food burger experience. Fries kind of taste like McDonald’s fries and came out hot and salted. Nothing special but nothing to complain about either. Indoor and outdoor dining tables available.

BELIEVE THE HYPE!!!! Great service…high quality food…always freshly prepared!! I’ve been acquainted with Wayback Burgers for many years now. I would frequent the Raleigh location and introduced a number of family/friends to their greatness, so I was excited to see the brand branch out to Wake Forest!! Happily, I was NOT disappointed when I dined in a few weeks back. The atmosphere was quaint, yet full of professionalism, cleanliness, and good vibes!! The prices are competitive and don’t break the bank, which is always a plus. Today, I ordered the double bacon burger combo with fries and a drink. What sets these burgers apart from other burger establishments (in my opinion) isn’t the a la carte menu items or the delicious shakes, but the BUNS!! OMG, the buns are soft, yet sturdy - and they marry perfectly with the burger!! I am a sucker for fresh food, piping hot, and due to the nature of the business, I never worry about receiving cold fries or sandwiches!! The restaurant maintains a clean environment - I went to sit down and the staff quickly addressed a dirty table without being prompted. The food comes out in a timely manner with minimal wait. This restaurant rests in a great location across from a high school I am connected to through work, as well as a neighborhood that is steadily growing, so I’m confident it will be open for years to come!!

$35.15 was my total order today. I bought the chicken bacon and ranch Mac and cheese along with the jerk chicken Mac and cheese with a side order of Philly egg rolls. Let me start by saying that visually these dishes were unappealing. My girlfriend says that you eat with your eyes first , and that can’t be farther from the truth. I prioritize taste over how visually pleasing food is, but this didn’t even have that. The base Mac and cheese itself was very flavorless and parts of it were gritty. The “jerk” sauce that was effortlessly drizzled on top wasn’t tangy, smoky, or flavorful. This dish was the most expensive item on my ticket and it severely underperformed. The chicken bacon ranch Mac and cheese was decent. The dish itself is heavily dependent on the ranch that’s drizzled over it. Out of the two, this one was the far better one Last but not least, the Philly egg rolls. They were the best thing in this order. The consistency within the roll along with the ingredients made it stand out. The shell was nice and crispy and the cheese brought it all together nicely. I think the ideas are there for the Mac house but the execution isn’t. The dishes ultimately lacked so much flavor. Highly disappointed

Overall Rating: 3.2/10 Atmosphere: 0/10 While the food turned out excellent, the actual location was a disappointment, differing significantly from its online portrayal. Expecting a branded, dine-in experience as shown in Google images, it was surprising to find a virtual food hall dedicated solely to takeout. This discrepancy created initial confusion and altered the expected dining experience. Service: 1.0/10 The service aspect was minimal, typical for a takeout-only establishment. While there were no significant issues once the order process was understood, the lack of clarity regarding the venue's nature detracted from the overall service satisfaction. Food: Mac and Cheese (7.8/10): Exceptionally good, standing out even as a takeout option. It featured a unique blend of flavors that were well-balanced and perfectly cooked. The portion size and pricing were also commendable, making it a highlight of the visit. Value: 6.8/10 The value was largely found in the quality and pricing of the food, particularly the mac and cheese, which delivered on both taste and portion size. However, the misrepresentation of the venue type might affect the perceived value for some customers expecting a traditional sit-down environment.

Absolutely amazing. AND it was take out. My workplace ordered this for our Wednesday catered lunch this past week and everyone agreed that this place was fantastic. I got the Caribbean Jerk Chicken Mac and the Thai Chicken Salad. The Mac by itself was top 3 Mac and cheeses I’ve ever had. Good amount of chicken and the jerk sauce on top was phenomenal. Spicy and flavorful. I ordered the salad just as a little extra and was blown away. By the amount of chicken, toasted cashews, and THE DRESSING. The Thai peanut dressing was perfect. HIGHLY recommend giving this place a shot if you’ve never been.

Just enjoyed a Saturday date night at this place and the food was AMAZING!! The crab cakes were great and the ribeye was seasoned and cooked to perfection! The potatoes au gratin “chef’s kiss”! Emilio was a great server whose service was top notch. He also recommended my entire meal and he didn’t miss a beat! Great atmosphere, great food, great night out!

We stopped by for the first time since it changed from beer and wine 101. Completely redesigned and very cool! A more open and welcoming atmosphere! Beer prices are good $6 to $7 for a pint. Worth checking out! We didn’t eat so no food reviews

Went for a ladies lunch, service was great but food was overpriced and just OK. Many others said the same, we do like trying new places tho. $6 for white bread with a slab of butter was a bit much...the espresso martini was good, my friend enjoyed her bloody Mary, the salad was just ok not much flavor and the crab cakes I ordered was delicious. Posted some other food pics friends for A+ for presentation. I splurged and ordered a few things but a $75 lunch with tip is not my norm. BUT I had a fun hang out time with friends and I brought my dog as well as my home inspection was this day so had time to kill and this was a nice place to do it in.

Went today for my birthday dinner. The food and atmosphere were amazing. The server was very nice but left us without drink refills several times. Apparently, there were two other women who were exceptionally special, but in any case, the food was amazing. I had wanted the Pecan Chipotle Trout, but they were out, so I had the chargrilled Mahi with fried okra. The hushpuppies that were brought put were perfect, crispy on the outside, and soft in the middle. My husband had the big sob. It is steamed shrimp, oysters, mussels, andoullie sausage, potatoes, corn, onions, and peppers. Everything I tried was amazing, and there was so much of it we took the rest to go.

Great bar. Great oysters. They have great menu options not many options for allergy folks.

This place is 5 stars all the way. We were there for dinner and they had a power outage. The whole situation was handled amazing. In addition the broiled oysters were fantastic. We never got our full meal so I will need to give them another shot.

Ok, went out for lunch with the wife and decided to try a new place. So, first impression was local sports bar with a nice vibe. First tried the cheese rolls, if you like cheese sticks you’ll probably like these. My wife had the patty melt sandwich which she said was pretty good. She really liked the bread. I decided to go with the smash burger which was more like a standard burger than a smashed burger. Also, had the bloody Mary it was pretty good not too bad. Our server was great very attentive. Excellent customer service.

Overall Score: 6.2/10 - The restaurant provides a spacious and inviting atmosphere that contributes to a unique dining experience. The exterior is appealing, straightforward, and neat, creating a good first impression. Inside, the service stands out due to the staff’s knowledge and attentiveness. Atmosphere: 6.1/10 - The interior is large and equipped with various types of seating arrangements, including numerous TVs, which contribute to a vibrant atmosphere. The different dining sections each have their own charm, adding to the overall appeal of the place. Although the outdoor area is basic, it complements the simpler side of the restaurant’s theme. Service: 7.0/10 - The service quality is high, with staff who are both courteous and attentive, making guests feel well cared for. Food arrives quickly, and the overall cleanliness of the restaurant is consistently maintained. Such attention to detail ensures that each dining experience is enjoyable and hassle-free. Smokehouse Burger: 5.9/10 - This burger boasts high-quality ingredients, including a perfectly cooked patty and fresh vegetables. However, the large bun and excessive toppings tend to dominate the flavor, overshadowing the taste of the patty itself. The burger is filling, but the balance of flavors could be improved to enhance the dining experience. Cajun Pasta with Chicken: 6.5/10 - The pasta is cooked to perfection, with the chicken seasoned well and the sauce adding a delicious richness to the dish. The portion size is reasonable, though for the price, a slightly larger serving could make it a better value. Overall, the dish stands out for its flavor and quality ingredients. Nachos with Chili: 7.2/10 - The nachos are served in a unique and entertaining manner, directly from a smoker can, which adds a theatrical element to the meal. The chili is flavorful and well-spiced, complementing the crispy nachos well, although some chips do become soggy. The price is on the higher side, which might not align with the value expected by all customers.

If you want a huge selection of beer to choose from that is all ON TAP and some damn good, this is the place for you! I got a couple different beers to try while I was there and they were all cold and delicious. We got the pretzel and egg rolls for an appetizer. The pretzel came out as like a giant bread loaf, but was still tasty. It came with a cheese sauce that was good as well. The birria eggs rolls were so damn fantastic and I could have eaten a plate of just those alone . For my meal I got the smokehouse burger and it was cooked to perfection. The burger was juicy and the bun wasn't soggy. It was a very good balance of toppings-meat ratio. The fries were served in a little deep fryer basket and they were so damn good. Crispy outside and soft inside. Exactly how a French fry should be! Our server was super friendly and attentive. We never went without a drink. I will definitely be going back. Pretzel & cheese - 7.8/10 Birria Egg Rolls - 9.5/10 Smokehouse Burger - 9/10 Fries - 9.2/10

I went here one time 2 years ago, and to this day i still think about the duck fat fries and turtle cheesecake that we ordered. The food and drinks were amazing. Slightly pricey but not outrageous by any means. The atmosphere was kind of like a sports bar where we were seated inside. But i would love to go back if I’m in town during warmer weather so i can sit outside. Overall I wish this place was closer to where i live, but will definitely return!

Went on a Friday night and they have live music. It was a solo gentleman playing, so it was a very chill atmosphere, which is exactly what we wanted. I have been here a few times and the food is always delicious. Food is a bit more pricy here than a normal bar, but it's still very good. I got the duck fat fries instead of the regular fries as my side, they were really good but not as crispy as the regular fries. Viking Burger - 8.5/10 Duck fries - 8/10 Pretzel - 8.6/10 (The cheese sauce is where it's at) Cheesecake - 7.8/10

We were not impressed. We were told we couldn't select what temp our meat was cooked to so everything was way over cooked. They were out of fries. Paying for the check made me jittery as it was a portable kiosk and were were unable to get a receipt after having to select a tip amount with the server holding the pad, then it asked for a pin number; that was uncomfortable. It was definitely not worth the $50.

This place is so overlooked and you’re making a mistake, because this is the first restaurant in the area that has homemade, out of this world food. Every time the family and I have gone, we get outstanding food and great service. I plan on going back, again and again. Be sure to check out this family run, incredible find! I recommend the soup!

The atmosphere is clean and relaxing. The service was excellent. The food is the best part, I tried the empanadas, fried fish (haddock) grits fries, Pancakes. If you are looking for a very nice affordable place with great food Hartura is a great choice.

Authentic Dominican cuisine (I should know having grown up eating this kind of food). I’ve had the Picadillo, the Tres Golpes, the Sancocho, all of it just perfect. Highly recommended! 2024 UPDATE: I have eaten here several times and have always enjoyed the food. This time we had Sancocho, a Cuban sandwich, and two Mofongos with Pernil (pulled pork). The Cuban was good but just not Cuban enough for us (we’re originally from Miami and my wife was born in Cuba). My sancocho was an 8 out of 10 (I was raised in the Dominican Republic) and the Mofongos were great. The room temperature was a bit warm for such a hot day. Still recommended and I will be back again!

Came here for dinner on Sunday and the place was pretty slow. They did have the games going on a couple of the TVs which was nice. We got the nachos as an appetizer and by god they were the best nachos I've had in a long, long time. I'm pretty sure the chips were made in house, super crispy! And the cheese was melty nacho cheese, not just melted shredded cheese. It's what belongs on nachos! They were amazing and we'll be back just for those. I ordered the flounder and shrimp as my meal and it was alright. The shrimp were cooked perfectly and tasted awesome, but the flounder was overcooked and kinda dry. My brother got the burger and said it was amazing though! The fries were also cooked perfectly and had a good amount of salt and very flavorful. And the service was amazing! Dude was super nice and quick! Nachos - 9.8/10 Flounder - 6/10 Shrimp 7.7/10 Fries - 8.9/10

Wonderful lunch today! New menu item: Sticky Ribs. We didn’t like them! HAHAHAHAHA! Evident by the empty bowl and meatless ribs! First ever chocolate martini - Lauren’s creation! Delicious!

I was pleasantly surprised. I've been living in the area for about 10 years and have never heard of this place. Friends and i were searching for a burger place one Saturday night and stumbled across this. It was decently packed, but we found seating. The staff were delightful and the food was on point. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for good food or somewhere to drink and hang out. Will return! The only negative is that their online hours are wrong and their kitchen closes randomly and without notice. Call ahead if going after 8pm.

I came down to visit my sister from Northern Virginia and we were fortunate enough to have Dominic as our spectacular server . He is fantastic and was so fun to chat with. I will definitely be back for the yummy food and the great service.

First time visiting this location. The wait for two was about 20 minutes on Sunday at about 11 am. Our waitress Emme was AMAZING! She was knowledgeable, fast, upbeat, and just as sweet as can be! Our food came out within 10 mins and was correct and hot! Everything tasted fresh also. I will definitely be back to try their other selections.

Came for the first time with my family. We came 30 minutes before they were closing and ordered. At this point we didn’t expect a whole lot but man we were extremely impressed. The food was fantastic and the server exceeded our expectations. It was her birthday and she was so pleasant. Can’t wait to go back again!

Farm Table quickly became a favorite spot after we moved to the area several years ago. Reliably flavorful, balanced, delicious plates & drinks. Love the staple dishes and always enjoy when a new dish joins the line-up. Friendly, attentive hosts and waitstaff. Great atmosphere. Love the vibe here all the way ‘round.

We had dinner here last night, to celebrate our babysitter’s birthday. Our server was so sweet and patient and helpful and we thoroughly enjoyed chatting with her! She was also really diligent and professional And the food…Every single dish there was literally amazing, including the homemade chicken tenders for my son. Those chicken tenders were crispy, light and juicy and I even myself had some, because they were probably some of the best chicken tenders I ever had. We also got the pommes frites as an appetizer and they were delicious. They were sweet potato fries and had shavings of fresh cheese, parsley and were perfectly seasoned. I also really liked the dipping sauce, and I’m planning to snack on those with my lunch today. The main entrees were fabulous as well. The corn and crab risotto was out of this world, and the salmon and shrimp was perfectly cooked. The salmon combined with the corn and crab risotto is incredible. My babysitter also really enjoyed the chicken schnitzel dish, she took a bite and I could see her with the “oh wow” expression. Needless to say, it was one of the best meals we’ve had in a while, and we can’t wait to come back!

Great experience overall! Nice menu options and we enjoyed sitting in the “garden” section as opposed to the “main”. Also, before going, we saw some reviews about portion sizes being small, but it turned out they were QUITE large. Maybe small for southern folks ? My husband and I shared the beet salad, and as entres got the full rack of ribs & chicken schnitzel. It was so much food that we took home 2 pretty heavy to-go boxes.

Very nice sports bar. Came in for lunch and had the BLTA, bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado sandwich. I had the half sandwich and soup combo. The meal was filling and tasty! Service was great and atmosphere fun.

I’m a regular customer and I have never received fish this small and the quality. Very disappointed. Spoke to the manager Jess regarding the size and quality of fish and the response was they weigh the fish. I totally understand but if I knew that this amount and the size would be like this I wouldn’t order this for $15.00.

Recently celebrated my daughter’s graduation at the Ale House in Wake Forest. Suzy was our server & she was simply amazing. It was several of us but she handled it like a pro. All orders & extras were correct & prompt. She even took our pic. The new hot honey ribs are everything!!! Thanks Ale House & Ms SuzyQ ❤️

The food was the the best, they made the eggs so perfect. Staff was amazing and welcoming. Although the lines are a bit long.

5 stars! Came to town for a wedding, and the groom said Brigs was a must for breakfast. He wasn’t lying. I had Dania as my sever who was awesome, super friendly, and on top of everything. I thought I was done eating but kept going because everything was just too dang good. Eggs, sausage, homefries, a pancake, toast, coffee - all perfect. Snapped a couple pics but they don’t do it justice. Definitely coming back!

I order the Bacado omelette with a side of strawberry pancakes. Everything was made good especially the fried potatoes. Customer service was good but we did wait about 30 minutes and that seemed to be the average wait for anyone coming in after 9:30. Overall good experience!

Amazing experience!!! Every single item that came out of the kitchen was a unique culinary treat. The drinks were very well done and the service was fast and friendly. We went on a Sunday afternoon and were immediately seated. Atmosphere was romantic and cozy. We will definitely use this restaurant as a fun downtown wake forest date night.

This place is incredible! I’ve been here a few times, and everyone is always so friendly and kind. They never rush you, even if it’s past closing time, and the food is truly outstanding. I can’t say enough good things about this spot… I’ll definitely keep coming back because everything is exceptional.

So this place is absolutely amazing! The food, service, staff and atmosphere is unmatched! I took my wife here for her birthday and it was the best experience ever! I can honestly say that I’ve never had food this good from any restaurant that I’ve ever been to. Make sure you visit this awesome restaurant!

Maybe it’s just me but I hate swatting at flies while I’m eating. It makes me unable to concentrate on my food, company, and surroundings. Otherwise, I would walk 500 miles for these crab cakes and seafood! I’m a transplant from MD and promise you this is the ONLY restaurant that knows how to STEAM (not boil!) crabs and make crab cakes that aren’t mostly bread crumbs. I believe the owner is from MD and that makes all of the difference in the world!!!!

Very happy with our experience here. Our friendly waitress was helpful and stayed right on top of things. Casual place with very high quality seafood. Raw oysters were very good, well selected and shucked nicely. Pasta with shrimp was delicious. Very nice garlicky sauce that complimented the blackened shrimp perfectly. Snow crabs were great, served with a nice coleslaw. Will definitely be back!

5/3/2024 - Updating to add more pictures of the food from this awesome place. Just look at the monster crab legs Rob and I got from Backfins! Picked up cold to grill out at home. Pictures are: 1. ready to go on the grill, 2&3. grill 4-5 minutes each side, 4. end result ready to eat! Simply perfection. Fresh, delicious seafood. Combo platter with snow crab legs, pan seared scallops, new potatoes and green beans. Crab Cake Sandwich with fresh cut fries. AND…some delicious cold beverages ... Served with pride and eaten with joy. Support local folks!