A&BÉ EATS: OUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS IN RALEIGH, NC
the best places to eat in 2021 in raleigh, nc
BEST RESTAURANTS near raleigh, nc
we have a confession. you know us as the best wedding dress collection in raleigh, north carolina, but besides being bridal experts, we consider ourselves true southern comfort food aficionados. our favorite kind of days are the ones we spend hopping around to local cary, nc bbq restaurants, sampling barbecue sauce till we find the perfect tangy palette. to us, there’s simply no better meal than north carolina bbq with a side of hush puppies and cheerwine. so now that you know that fun fact, we’re sure you’re more than eager to hear a few food recs we’ve gathered up to elevate your big dress shopping day. from fun restaurants near raleigh, nc that will be perfect for celebrating finding your wedding gown to quiet diners and ice cream shops close to raleigh that are ideal for catching up with friends and family members who came in town for the occasion while enjoying a sweet treat, we’ve got your back, babe!
southern style cooking in THE TRIANGLE
scratch kitchen and taproom
searching for raleigh restaurants that specialize in southern-style cooking? scratch kitchen and taproom is walking distance from our shop and has a smorgasbord of delicious dishes served with a southern hospitality focus. our personal favorites are the pimento cheese wontons and smokehouse mac and cheese. we always wash those down with the ‘honey don’t be mine’ blueberry moonshine cocktail.
best coffee bar in cary
brew coffee bar
here at a&bé raleigh, we practically run on coffee so it’s no surprise this spot has become a quick favorite for the entire team! if you’re looking for the best coffee shop in cary, nc, you’ve come to the right place. brew coffee bar is a fun hangout to grab coffee and a small bite before or after dress shopping. their pimento cheese sandwich is our go-to and we’ve fallen in love with their signature black and coke, 2oz of expresso and vanilla syrup added to a coca-cola. we know our weekend appointments can start early, so if you’re looking for a caffeine kick before bridal gown shopping, we highly recommend stopping by brew coffee bar.
hip neighborhood dive
hank’s downtown dive
looking to grab dinner and drinks in cary, north carolina? hank’s downtown dive is the perfect spot to celebrate after saying yes to your dress. within walking distance from our shop, we love stopping by for drinks after work and know our brides will be equally obsessed with this cool cocktail spot. this chatham street restaurant is well-known in cary for their signature cocktails. if you’re looking for libations and love retro-vibes, we’d definitely say hank’s downtown dive would be a fun place to sip and celebrate.
wood-fired cooking in stone creek village
tazza kitchen
if you’re a pizza lover looking for wood-fired pizza near raleigh, tazza kitchen is a must-try. they have two locations in raleigh and cary. tazza kitchen cary in closest to us, but is still a short drive from the shop. two of our favorite dishes are their smoked pimento cheese appetizer and beef short rib tacos with fried green rice, but you seriously can’t go wrong because everything is simply so good, babe.
pro tip: if you are hoping to stop by, especially during the weekend, we definitely recommend making a reservation. this popular raleigh restaurant is in high-demand and we want you to have the best dining experience possible.
local sweet treats in cary
FRESH. local ice cream
if you’re like us, celebrating with a sweet treat is customary! FRESH. local ice cream is within walking distance from our shop and has some of the best made in-house ice cream in raleigh, north carolina. we’ve tried quite a few flavors and would say that midnight brownie crunch and birthday cake are two of our favorites. this local cary, nc ice cream spot also releases monthly flavors so if you discover a favorite flavor, please share it with us. we scream for ice cream over here.
homemade ice cream near raleigh
andia’s ice cream
you know we’re all about an instagram-worthy moment and andia’s ice cream in raleigh, nc is that and so much more. this ice cream spot is about a 5-minute drive from our shop and we go here every chance we get. the family that owns andia’s are as sweet as the ice cream they serve and they only use diary from ethically sourced co-ops. not only do we love the owners and their mission, but the shop’s interior is incredible. from neon signs to giant mason jar milkshakes, we promise you’ll be taking photos every chance you get. whether you’re hoping to split a milkshake with your significant other after finding the dress or crush ice cream sandwiches with your crew before shopping, andia’s ice cream would be such a fun celebration spot.