Chef's Palette

We went for our anniversary and had a great time! They added a little flag to the table so the server and others knew it was a special day for us. It server was Ashley who was fantastic! She helped us choose what to get, was super friendly, and knew everything we asked her. Overall, just fantastic service! The food was fantastic! We got the shrimp & grits, and the steak frites. Both were terrific. The steak was super tender & cooked perfectly! The food came out quickly, too. We also got the cheesecake dujor, which was a pumpkin spice flavor and was also incredible. I highly recommend going here, especially for a special occasion. Ask for Ashley, she really was fantastic!

We went on a Tuesday to celebrate Mother's Day. The entire experience was great. David was our server and hit all the check points, thus leaving this review. Drink refill were on point, he gave great suggestions, and was amazing with my mother with helping her pick her wine. Thank you David.

We had a wonderful Birthday dinner on a Monday evening. Our server Ashley was fantastic and very observant. We really enjoyed the Deviled Eggs, Flounder and porkchop. We love coming here for special occasions. The staff always goes above and beyond to make our experience special.

Celebrated my 25th birthday here! One of the best meals we have had in the triangle area in a long time! From start to finish appetizers were fresh and light (started with arancini and Caesar salad), dinner was well beyond our expectations shrimp and grits and pan seared flounder and dessert was out of this world between the cheesecake and crème brulee! Ashley was an incredible server and we hope to see her again when we visit next! Friendly personality and great suggestions for both drinks and meals!

FIVE STARS!!! Was in town for business and searched for the best in Cary to take the team… such a win. Across the table we ordered: Bacon Wrapped Filet Seared Branzino Seared Flounder Chicken Parmesan No notes across 7 people. Service was excellently attentive and knowledgeable. Special shout out to Ashley, our server. Chef’s palette was exceptionally accommodating with our reservation changes. The staff set a high bar for my dining expectations in the future.

Celebrated my Mother’s birthday here this year and my family fell in love. Our server David was spot on the art work was lovely but the food was spectacular we enjoyed eating off of each others plate. My mother had the Salmon which was cooked to perfection my brother and I got the Thai Noodles with salmon and shrimp. The flatbread was delicious as well as the scallops I could go on and on but I can’t forget about the drinks I really love that they have a mocktail menu my brother felt less pressure to drink because there were so many great choices on there! But my mother enjoyed a spritz and I loved their spicy margarita.

Great dinner experience. Last time we were there the place was under a different management. That was quite a few years ago. The place doesn’t seem to have missed a beat. Food was still great and the staff was superb.

This place was great; the staff was friendly and attentive, food was well prepared, tasted good, looked good and did not disappoint. My husband and I just moved to the area and we were celebrating our 3rd anniversary got a few drinks, an app, and dinner each the bill came to around $150 with tip. The waiter gave us a piece of cheese cake at the end when we had decided not to order desert because he couldn’t let us leave without desert on our anniversary and it came out with a little sparkler on it (so cute!) and of course no matter how full you are you can always eat a little cheesecake especially when it tastes soooooo good. Definitely recommend and will be going back.

Perfect place for a birthday dinner! Great service from Chris, one of the nicest cocktails I’ve had in a while (espresso old fashioned), really enjoyed our meals (duck and steak frites). Nice atmosphere. I would highly recommend.

Delicious food with a great selection of yummy options. Very friendly service from everyone we interacted with from the greeters to our server to the bartender. Highly recommend this place! So glad it's nearby us - we are looking forward to coming back!

We went here because they have an entire GF menu. It’s almost all their dishes but GF. They also have a mocktails menu. I got their cos-no-politan and it was SO tasty! My husband ate the Brie bites (not GF) and LOVED them, especially with the berry compote and the honey almonds. They give fresh bread and even split our Caesar salad that we shared (he ate it with house made croutons). The GF flounder meal was delicious. The service was fantastic. Cannot wait to go back. The GF dessert menu isn’t online but they have one!

Don’t be fooled by the low key atmosphere - the food is incredible! The staff was incredibly kind, friendly, and attentive. The service was fast. Most importantly, the food was DELICIOUS. We’ve been to a lot of different restaurants around Raleigh that have a much more high class atmosphere where the food wasn’t nearly as delicious. Extra props to the staff members who could be seen washing down the chairs and fixing wobbly chairs with a power drill. This place seems like the owners treat their staff well and the chef cares about putting out high quality exceptional food. 10/10 would recommend this hidden gem.

Just moved to the area first time going to chefs pallet. Walking in alone is always awkward to me. So sat at the bar and a male bartender greeted me instantly. Was very friendly and made me feel very welcomed. Immediately introduced himself as Ty. Was very knowledgeable about the menu and drinks gave suggestions for food and drinks. Had a great time and will definitely be back for Ty. Thank you for the experience. Top 10 dinning experiences i have ever had.

Ashley was super helpful for us as first time patrons! She made great suggestions, was quick to help us out (with our 6 year old especially), and gave us more recommendations on what to check out while we’re in town. Great first meal after arrival, thank you!!

A Memorable Anniversary Dinner Worth Praising I rarely write reviews, but our experience last night was simply too exceptional not to share. My husband and I celebrated our anniversary with dinner here, and from start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations. Our server, Niko (Nikole), delivered impeccable service—professional, attentive, and genuinely personable. She was knowledgeable about the menu, checked in at just the right moments, and made us feel truly welcome. The food was equally impressive. The American menu offered thoughtful, elevated twists on familiar dishes, transforming them into something special. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his short rib entrée, while I savored the seasonal pork tenderloin, beautifully paired with a dried cherry port compote. Each dish was complemented by accompaniments that enhanced the flavors rather than competing with them. We began with house salads, which were fresh and well-balanced, and ended with a shared dessert—both delightful. A heartfelt thank you to the team for the complimentary slice of cheesecake in honor of our anniversary. It was a gracious and memorable touch. We look forward to returning soon with friends.

My boyfriend and I came here a few years ago and loved it but hadn't returned until recently, we decided to celebrate our 6th Anniversary here. They took care of us so well! The food was absolutely incredible. From the mozzarella bites with tomato butter (and crispy prosciutto, to die for), to the expertly balanced Chicken Franchese, to the rich and creamy ice cream on the Apple Galette, I wouldn't change a single thing. We agreed that we are going to make it a tradition to come here for our Anniversary!

We had a large group come together for dinner to celebrate Friends' 10 year anniversary, which I coordinated through Demario (thank you!!!). Jay & Ethan made great first impressions, greeting all of us as we arrived. They were smiling, very friendly and kind. Taylor and Gwyneth (sp?) were our servers. They were THE BEST!!! They were attentive and proactive; they took really great care of us. The food was delicious and the service was top-notch so that we had an awesome experience. I will visit again and again, highly recommend (and suggest that you ask for Taylor or Gwyneth when you can)!! oh and!!! It is hard to get a good dirty martini - but not at Chef's Palette - several in our group had a martini (some vodka, some gin) and all were commenting on how great they were (YES!!!)! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Gwyneth, Taylor, Ethan and Jay!

We had a wonderful dinner at Chef’s Palette with our waitress, Ashley, who made the evening exceptional. She was warm, attentive, and genuinely helpful in guiding us through the menu. The mocktails were refreshing and beautifully balanced, the pimento deviled eggs were a perfect Southern touch, and the duck breast was cooked flawlessly. Even the Caesar salad stood out—crisp, fresh, and full of flavor. Overall, the food was excellent, the atmosphere inviting, and Ashley’s service elevated everything. Highly recommend both the restaurant and asking for Ashley when you go!

Had a wonderful dinner here Saturday night. Everything from drinks to dessert was superb! The flounder was cooked perfectly. The dining room atmosphere was relaxing. Our waitress Ashley was fantastic. She new the menu and answered our questions easily, timed out courses perfectly and was attentive without being intrusive. You couldn't ask for a better server!

An upscale restaurant in a strip mall setting, it makes for an expensive lunch that is somehow worth it. Our server was new, but exactly as attentive as we needed. My visit was mid-week and there was no crowd; if you're in a similar situation, you probably won't need a reservation. Large TVs broadcast sports shows in the bar area during lunch. The fancier linen tablecloths and silverware area is off-limits for mid-day eaters. But the fish and chips, followed by a decadent dessert, was terrific. The best f&c since I was in Scotland. Would I go again? Absolutely.

We shared a collection of appetizers for our dinner. Each one was superb, both in taste and presentation. The service was the icing on the cake. Kaylee was amazing! This was a business dinner with 2 people from out of town, and they are heading home having had an excellent experience to top off their trip.

My Filet steak was cooked to perfection and melted in my mouth!! I ordered my filet steak medium rare. Probably one of the best steaks that I have ever eaten. The fingerling potatoes were ok. I took those home in a to go box since I wanted to save room for the white chocolate pumpkin dessert which they were out of. The waitresses on the non bar side on Wednesday Feb 11, 2026 at 6pm did an awesome job! It was nice that the hostess chipped in to help pick up plates etc when she wasnt busy. The smoked salmon deviled eggs were awesome! Very nice presentation with all our dishes!

Very good food. Nice atmosphere and friendly staff. A lot of diners celebrate special occasions here (birthdays, anniversaries). At peak times the service and kitchen can be slow due to being overwhelmed. There are 2 separate sides of the restaurant, a dining side and a bar side. Despite having a full bar, there are no beers on draft, which was a disapointment. Standout dishes: - Ahia Tuna Wonton appetizer - Steak Frites - Shrimp and Grits

The waitress barely came by to check on us. I had to go find her to ask for a to go box and the check. The food was pretty good. We got the pretzel appetizer. They were SO good!! I loved both the cheese and the spicy mustard dipping sauces. I would go there again just for more of those pretzels and dipping sauces!! I got the tortellini. It needed salt, but once I added the salt, it was delicious. My mom got the chicken Caesar wrap and fries. She said the wrap was too salty. I tried her fries, and they were really good. I ate a bunch of them. We went for lunch, and they had a limited lunch menu, but there were still enough tastey looking options.

My steak was done perfectly and the summer salad was really good. The rest was perfectly acceptable. Service was a bit of an issue. They kept saying they were bringing us something (bread/water) and not bringing it. One of our drinks was messed up and they did fix that so that's a plus. The atmosphere was neither great nor bad.

I had high hopes as we saw other reviews and pictures of the food online. The mocktail menu was a nice touch, and Georgia’s Sour was delicious. The $5 margaritas were okay (you get what you pay for). We loved the appetizers - from the fig flatbread, to the Brie bites and the babaganoush that came with the Mediterranean dip duo. The entrees were a mixed bag - the nut & berries salad a delight, the duck while pretty was dry and underwhelming, and the price I paid for my NY strip was justified but it was undercooked. Overall, we had a wonderful server but the service was SLOW. It wasn’t a busy evening yet our dinner took three hours from start to finish. And the chocolate torte recipe needs some tweaking - it was hard to cut through with a fork and almost stale like it had been in the fridge too long. I’d rather come here for a glass of wine and enjoy the bar service.

Had a lovely Anniversary meal. Arancini appetizer was flavorful and more than enough to share as a couple. Parmesan custard was bland, but the sautéed mushrooms were the hidden star of the dish. Lots of choices for main course that made it difficult to choose, but we both decided on the flounder and it did not disappoint. Pan seared crusted flounder was moist surrounded by the most sublime lemon burre Blanc, risotto and tender asparagus. The meal was wonderful and only surpassed by the attentive and knowledgeable Kaylee who guided us through the menu and was truly a gem.

Enjoyed a really good dinner at Chef's Palette. This was my second visit. I had the pan seared flounder which was quite good. My wife had the filet and said it was excellent. Service was very good. Overall our dining experience was really enjoyable, but the roasted potatoes that came with the filet and the dessert - a fruit pastry with ice cream - were not quite up to the standard set by the rest of the meal.

ambiance was decent. music at the right volume to muffle others , tables in a circle facing the center slightly. the brie bites. delicious. the almonds do clump together making it a bit awkward . the chicken decent. was the special of the night but not amazing. the steak, not good. the sauce tasted like a1c steak sauce with modification and had very little mushroom flavor to it. fries over fried and limpy.

We went for our anniversary and were a little disappointed. I got the short rib and it was very dry and the portion was quite small, especially for the price. The atmosphere was decent but not quite what I'd expect at this price point. We finished with the flourless cake dessert to share and the slices were extremely thin. Maybe 1/2" at the thickest point. Overall it was not quite what we'd hoped, especially given the price and reviews.

We attempted to eat here tonight, but after sitting down, we were told they didn't get a shipment in and were out of the short ribs, lamb shank, beef Medallions and one other item. This is a big chunk of their dinner menu (and we had come for the short ribs and lamb). They had my cell# but didn't bother to text me to let us know all of these items wouldn't be available. Had we known, we would have cancelled. We live in Durham, but luckily we were in the area for something else. Otherwise it would have been a 40 minute drive for nothing. You failed your customers tonight. Next time when at least a third of your dinner menu won't be available, text your customers to let them know so they can decide whether to still come or not. Very disappointed. Luckily, my wife suggested we go to LuLu Bang Bang in RTP and it was amazing (and much cheaper). If you've never been there, you need to check it out. The Korean BBQ steak is unreal. And very good sized portions. UPDATE: I appreciate you taking the time to reply. Too many businesses ignore their reviews. I hope you can find a solution so that your customers can be notified if you're out of a lot of food on a given night.

I am not one to write bad reviews. I have loved chef’s palette for date nights. Tonight was very disheartening. We made a reservation a week in advance. It took over 25 minutes to get our drinks and over an hour to receive our entree. I love small, non-chain restaurants and am only writing this review in hopes that changes will be made for us to visit again. It’s hard to have experiences like this and want to take the chances on visiting again.

This place used to be awesome but not anymore. It took 30 minutes to get our drinks, which arrived when we had already finished our appetizers. Our server apologized and took 50% off the appetizers, which was appreciated. I don't like onions, which I told our server, and asked if the deviled egg appetizer had onions or not. She promised to ask the chef and let me know, but never did. I had the flounder, which was excellent, but the risotto that comes with it is loaded with large onion chunks. Those are not mentioned on the menu, it just says herb and parmesan. I should have asked, but forgot, but since the server didn't bother getting back to me about the deviled eggs, it probably wouldn't have mattered. Of course, a good sever would have remembered I hate onions, know that the risotto was loaded with them, and advised me of that. But I guess that's asking too much. Besides that, every single table where other patrons had been sitting remained dirty during the roughly 90 minutes we were there. The restaurant is clearly understaffed at the bar, and has nobody to buss tables. The host was doing double duty, bussing only the tables that were to be reseated and none others, giving the dining area a dirty and chaotic look. It's a shame such a great place has declined. Do better, Chef's Palette. Hire more people, train them better, and list the major dish ingredients on the menu.

I hope management sees this and gives some reprieve to their staff. I took my family out to dinner on a Monday and by the time we left, the waitress (I believe Ashley) had 9 tables she was waiting on. We got one opportunity to order a drink, one opportunity to order an app, and one to order an entree. The expediter cleared both our app and entree dishes. Nobody checked on us after food was dropped, which is unfortunate because my grouper was floured (not parmesan crusted as described) and fried but not seasoned, so I got a fishy protein. Thankfully, the orzo underneath was good. However, there was no inquiry when the dish was cleared. Additionally, I noticed after the service that there was no manager on duty, which is atypical for most restaurants. Overall, the food was decent (probably not worth the overall price) but the service did not meet the expectations for the price we paid.

I ordered lemon lamb shank with the rice... my friend order chicken her food was hot mine was kind of cold my rice wasn't done so crunchy it was hurting my teeth. Our waiter wasn't as good at coming back we had other waitstaff waiting on us. My salad was about 3 fork fulls. When I said something about my rice I said I love the flavor I want more rice but want it to be done he said they gave me the last so I believe they scraped the sides and give me that to me and that is why it was hard. They did give me fries i ate a few and gave it to my friend because i didnt want any fries...We had reservations at 930pm feb 14 we had to wait which was fine because the hostess was great and polite.... even though I had a bad experience with the food I will still give them another try... I wouldn't say don't go because you might not have the same experiences as I did

Went for Thanksgiving. Do NOT recommend. To start out it was close to $100 per person after gratuity that they include themselves. And I will say the service at the table was great. The bad was the food and the atmosphere. They pack you in like sardines. The tables are super close together where you have to wait for someone at a different table to get up before you have room to get up. Almost feels like they are trying to squeeze every dollar off of every square foot of the place. Thats not what I expect when paying that kind of bill. Lastly, the food was just okay nothing great, but being it's buffet style they were constantly running out of stuff, waiting to refill it and then would sometimes run out of stuff completely before you could get to it. Overall, the staff was friendly and service was great. The rest of the experience doesn't line up with the price tag.

I brought my family here who was visiting from Virginia. My brother is a vegetarian, and they were completely out of the one vegetarian entree. He was like fine, I’ll just get a vegetarian starter and a salad. Guess what! They were out of the vegetarian starter! Poor guy just got a salad. Then when we ordered dessert they were out of the apple compote…unreal.

Very disappointing Valentine’s Day experience I’m not from Cary so I come here maybe 2-3 times a year from NW Raleigh. The regular menu is usually good. The Valentine’s experience was not good. 1) We had to wait for our table. Then they sat us by the bathroom. Not horrible but not a good atmosphere. 2) My filet was undercooked. I asked for medium rare. It was still moving. 3) His food was some roasted vegetables and lukewarm seafood thrown on a plate with zero presentation. 4) We had trouble getting the waiter at times. He was just too busy. He didn’t ask how things were until the very end. Then said the manager wouldn’t let him discount anything. We hadn’t asked. We just wanted someone to know how bad it was. We still tipped 10% despite the bad service. 5) With tax and tip, including one glass of wine each, it was $264 for a three course dinner. My mistake. I would come back for the regular menu, but not a special event.

my family has been coming to chefs palette since it opened many years ago. it was always a nice casual dining spot close to our neighborhood and we like to support small local businesses. tonight we dined in the bar and left after a disheartening encounter with the manager. the sign as we arrived said"martinis 7.00 tonight.". we proceeded to order a vodka martini but were told when we were brought out check after our meal that only "certain" martinis were included. i approached the manager to express concern as this is not indicated on the sign with the specials and i told him i thought he should clarify that on the sign. he very rudely and sarcastically said ... thank you for telling me what i should do". anyway... to whomever it may concern... martinis are not actually on special. only certain ones apparently. hope his rude response was satisfying enough to him to loose a long term customer.

I had heard good things about Chef’s Palette and was really eager to try it. We stopped in on Friday for lunch with a party of three. When we arrived, there was a bartender chatting with someone and only one table of guests in the restaurant. We were not greeted or acknowledged at all. After waiting about 15 minutes with no one checking on us, seating us, or even making eye contact, we decided to leave. We ended up eating across the street at Meche Cocina, where the food and service were fabulous, which made the contrast especially noticeable.