My husband and I have been here a few times, and it's one of the very few places we always have an exceptional experience from start to finish. Our server Caitlin (sorry if it's misspelled!) was very kind, gave us time to decide on our meals before drinks (it matters!), suggested tea for me since I'm dealing with sinuses, and even brought out a candle for my husband since we didn't want dessert — it's his birthday! We shared the cornbread and I had the root vegetable salad and chicken + waffles, while my husband had the mandolin oysters and steak frites. The salad was honestly one of the best I've had in a long time, and my husband couldn't stop talking about how great the oysters were. Our entrees were phenomenal! We always recommend Mandolin to anyone who asks and look forward to dining here again in the future!
This was such a great find. I was looking for excellent food and comfortable ambiance. Mandolin has a calm, quiet vibe that is comfortable without being stuffy. The cocktails are refreshing and the chicken and dumplings were delicious. I can't wait to come back.
Cole P.
Cornbread needs lots of work - everything else, chefs kiss! Our server was excellent, and the food was yummy. Awesome wine selection as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
David McMullen
My wife and I visited Mandolin for her birthday yesterday and we had a wonderful time. Great atmosphere. You can see the kitchen. Waitress was very attentive and polite. Food and drinks were exceptional. This is one of our favorite restaurants in Raleigh. Would highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dinner experience: Lovely restaurant and the food is good. Great service. However, the decor and ambiance of this restaurant is really lacking , in my opinion. The energy in this restaurant is overall very low and sparse. We found the dining experience, outside of the good service and food, to be sub-par.
Susan De Santis
I held a bridal shower in Mandolin’s private room. The room was beautiful with lots of light and held our group of 21 women well. Michael our server was excellent! Very personable and so helpful. The food was delicious. Every dish came to the table warm and oh so tasty too! I will definitely be back to try the other dishes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Monique Bonner
Great restaurant, food was fresh and delicious. The service was topnotch. Everyone was helpful and friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kristi Flowers
Unfortunately my experience this go around was not as great as it was in the past. It took 30 minutes to be seated after our reservation time, an hour to receive our dinner, no refills on drinks, no apology and when the reservation was made I was asked if it we were celebrating something special. The answer was, “ yes, an engagement “…… nothing special was said or done for this particular occasion. Extremely disappointed in the entire night and unusual for a favorite go to spot.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Chicken & Waffles
Christopher Batts
Service was excellent - be mindful that this restaurant is for foodies! Order dishes with minimal substitutions so that you can enjoy the meals with their full flavor profile and intention. You’ll be happy you did!
Service: 5
Gary F.
Full marks! The entrees were excellent as were the salads. Inventive combinations of flavors. The wine selection was solid although not extensive. Great value for the quality.
Outstanding meal. Salad was inventive and entree was very good all around. Did not have dessert because of good size portions. Wine list was on point. We live in NorCal and have access to very good restaurants. Mandolin would hold its own in a bigger market. Good value as well.
DCEats
Another excellent experience at one of our favorite local spots! Service was attentive and engaging, the the food preparation and experience fantastic! We were so grateful to once again enjoy the hospitality and ambiance of Mandolin and the wonderful way they create a memorable dining experience!
Molly Burke
Excellent dinner experience at Mandolin. Only request I'd make would be to have either more menu options or more variety among the ingredients in the menu options. Lots of oysters and mushrooms throughout the menu, hard to get away from certain ingredients if they aren't your preference. But, that might also be part of the farm to table experience. Otherwise, good drinks and food!
BBdiner
Delicious! Highly recommend cornbread, catch of the day (puree was divine), duck confit and mushroom soup. Waiter was friendly and professional. Lively ambience. Follow directions on their website for parking. Great place!
Food was excellent however, some selections were somewhat saturated with vinegar based marinade which made in a tad bit more potent to my liking (i.e. the collards greens...). But the overall experience and dish chosen was satisfying! I purchased the Chicken and Waffles in which the chicken breast was quite tender and flavorful. 4.5 stars from my girlfriend and myself!
My husband and I have been here a few times, and it's one of the very few places we always have an exceptional experience from start to finish. Our server Caitlin (sorry if it's misspelled!) was very kind, gave us time to decide on our meals before drinks (it matters!), suggested tea for me since I'm dealing with sinuses, and even brought out a candle for my husband since we didn't want dessert — it's his birthday! We shared the cornbread and I had the root vegetable salad and chicken + waffles, while my husband had the mandolin oysters and steak frites. The salad was honestly one of the best I've had in a long time, and my husband couldn't stop talking about how great the oysters were. Our entrees were phenomenal! We always recommend Mandolin to anyone who asks and look forward to dining here again in the future!
This was such a great find. I was looking for excellent food and comfortable ambiance. Mandolin has a calm, quiet vibe that is comfortable without being stuffy. The cocktails are refreshing and the chicken and dumplings were delicious. I can't wait to come back.
Cornbread needs lots of work - everything else, chefs kiss! Our server was excellent, and the food was yummy. Awesome wine selection as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
My wife and I visited Mandolin for her birthday yesterday and we had a wonderful time. Great atmosphere. You can see the kitchen. Waitress was very attentive and polite. Food and drinks were exceptional. This is one of our favorite restaurants in Raleigh. Would highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dinner experience: Lovely restaurant and the food is good. Great service. However, the decor and ambiance of this restaurant is really lacking , in my opinion. The energy in this restaurant is overall very low and sparse. We found the dining experience, outside of the good service and food, to be sub-par.
I held a bridal shower in Mandolin’s private room. The room was beautiful with lots of light and held our group of 21 women well. Michael our server was excellent! Very personable and so helpful. The food was delicious. Every dish came to the table warm and oh so tasty too! I will definitely be back to try the other dishes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great restaurant, food was fresh and delicious. The service was topnotch. Everyone was helpful and friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Unfortunately my experience this go around was not as great as it was in the past. It took 30 minutes to be seated after our reservation time, an hour to receive our dinner, no refills on drinks, no apology and when the reservation was made I was asked if it we were celebrating something special. The answer was, “ yes, an engagement “…… nothing special was said or done for this particular occasion. Extremely disappointed in the entire night and unusual for a favorite go to spot.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Chicken & Waffles
Service was excellent - be mindful that this restaurant is for foodies! Order dishes with minimal substitutions so that you can enjoy the meals with their full flavor profile and intention. You’ll be happy you did!
Service: 5
Full marks! The entrees were excellent as were the salads. Inventive combinations of flavors. The wine selection was solid although not extensive. Great value for the quality.
Restaurantji Recommends
Outstanding meal. Salad was inventive and entree was very good all around. Did not have dessert because of good size portions. Wine list was on point. We live in NorCal and have access to very good restaurants. Mandolin would hold its own in a bigger market. Good value as well.
Another excellent experience at one of our favorite local spots! Service was attentive and engaging, the the food preparation and experience fantastic! We were so grateful to once again enjoy the hospitality and ambiance of Mandolin and the wonderful way they create a memorable dining experience!
Excellent dinner experience at Mandolin. Only request I'd make would be to have either more menu options or more variety among the ingredients in the menu options. Lots of oysters and mushrooms throughout the menu, hard to get away from certain ingredients if they aren't your preference. But, that might also be part of the farm to table experience. Otherwise, good drinks and food!
Delicious! Highly recommend cornbread, catch of the day (puree was divine), duck confit and mushroom soup. Waiter was friendly and professional. Lively ambience. Follow directions on their website for parking. Great place!
Food was excellent however, some selections were somewhat saturated with vinegar based marinade which made in a tad bit more potent to my liking (i.e. the collards greens...). But the overall experience and dish chosen was satisfying! I purchased the Chicken and Waffles in which the chicken breast was quite tender and flavorful. 4.5 stars from my girlfriend and myself!