Mint

The Mint is okay. Not stellar, but okay if you are looking to spend twice too much for average food and service. Let's face it folks, small food on gigantic plates is not the only measure of culinary chic. Based on the hype, stellar is the expectation.\r \r We arrived for our reservation and were shown to the absolute worst table in the place, underneath the stairwell and next to the private dining room in a high traffic pattern. Think Harry Potter before his owl from Hogwart's arrived. We asked for alternative seating and were accommodated.\r \r At the new table, the flatware was soiled. I pointed this out to our waiter who whisked it away and returned with replacement utensil cuddled in a fresh linen napkin. For the atmosphere they try and project here, the waitstaff should insure impeccable tables. The menus were distributed, much ado was made over the choice of lap napkins (available in black for the ladies in dark attire) and the wine book presented. Our waiter described the flavors of the day and left. We're thinking, maybe a drink order would be nice while we're selecting our courses?\r \r The first course of salads and buffalo mozzarella was enjoyable. The entree course was a pleasing attempt at fine presentation. Big white plates for a canvas with food pleasantly arranged. Everyone felt a salt shaker on the table would help the otherwise bland seasoning. My tuna arrived very rare, not medium rare as requested. It was an average cut with some stringiness. For the cost, I anticipated sashimi-grade which it was not.\r \r Dessert, unfortunately, was a joke. Strawberry shortcake was 3 berries sliced in half, two mint leaves, a tablespoon of shortcake crumbs, a tablespoon of frozen mascarpone , dressed atop a round of sheet gelatin served on a 12-inch plate. The coconut cake was more traditional and better received.\r \r Atmosphere: Upscale, well done\r Value for the price: Huhn-uh\r Go back again: Nope\r Best part: Free valet parking and extensive wine list Pros: Free valet parking, wine list Cons: Pretentious more

My husband and I have visited this restaurant twice now, once for lunch and once for dinner. I have been very pleased. The food was wonderful and our server was amazing. We enjoyed the outdoor seating for lunch (before it became blistering hot out) and sat inside for our dinner. I really appreciated our seats indoors as they were in a rather intimate nook which was great for out evening out without the children, celebrating our anniversary. I highly suggest that anyone interested in this restaurant check it out and ask to sit at one of Bryan's tables. Bryan (our server) was the chief reason we decided to go back to the mint for our celebration instead of another top restaurant. His service is impeccable. With three months between our visits, he remembered our names and most of what we had ordered before. He somehow manages to balance feeling absolutely friendly, approachable, and like someone you've known forever with being absolutely professional and polite. Observing some of the other wait staff around us, it was clear that he is much more suited to a four or five star restaurant . One of the other wait staff I observed seemed to be quite friendly, but at the expense of professionalism. I would highly recommend this restaurant, with Bryan as server, to anyone who appreciates good service about as much as good food. (I cannot speak for the rest of the wait staff, as I have never experienced them.) Pros: food, Bryan (wait staff), wine, downtown Cons: parking more

My wife and I visited the Mint on a Saturday night and found our new favorite place to eat in Raleigh. We don't get the chance to dine out frequently, but have had the pleasure of eating in quite a few top notch restaurants all over this country in our lives, any the Mint is at the top of that list. I don't understand the previous bad reviews this restaurant has received; and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I'm here to tell you don't believe everything you read. The food was superb, the service was the best in town, and the atmosphere is amazing. Maybe the other reviewers weren't ready for what the Mint delivers, great food. Don't take my word for it though, give it a try. Pros: Food, service, atmosphere Cons: Not closer to my house more

I went to the Mint for lunch with my boyfriend last week. I was met at the door by the hostess who seemed to have a bit of an attitude problem. She seated us far too close to a table of young men talking about business on their lunch break who seemed a bit uncomfortable with us that close, as well. The room we were in was empty, mind you. The decor was beautiful and very fitting. We were greeted by our server. Since we'd never been before, she gave both of us recommendations: strawberry gazpacho for an appetizer for both of us, tuna for my boyfriend and the steak sandwich for me. The food was perfect. It took a little while to arrive, but was more than worth it. The sandwich was amazing as was the salmon. My boyfriend still hasn't stopped talking about it. People who say the portions are too small are crazy. After the appetizer and half of my sandwich, I was already full. The staff, minus the one rude hostess, were very accommodating and wonderful. Our server checked on us constantly and she made sure our drinks were never less than 2/3 full. All in all, completely worth the money spent for the amazing food and great service! Pros: FOOD, servers, atmosphere Cons: rude hostess, bad seating, parking more

My co-worker and I came for lunch and found our first time at The Mint to be a thoroughly enjoyable and pleasant experience. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. She gave us excellent recommendations as to what to order. We saw a red soup come out and asked what it was, turns out it is a gazpacho, she let us have a taste and it was absolutely delicious. I found the menu to be very well thought out and the lunch prices are extremely reasonable. It is a nice retreat to grab a bite to eat. Service was excellent. There is no other place in Raleigh by far. I will be coming back!!! Pros: Attentive service, Unique menu Cons: Parking more

My wife and I tried the mint on tuesday night and really were very underwhelmed. The portions were small and not at all tasty. Amazingly, our plate was burning hot but the food on it was cold. How does that happen? My wife had a steak and found it to be chewy and tough (as well as undercooked) Our server was nice but the host staff and manager at the door were not very welcoming and in fact made us feel like they were doing us a favor by seating us when the restaurant was pretty much empty. We wanted to check it out for ourselves but think that most of the unfavorable reviews on here were fairly accurate considering our experience as well. Pros: I'm struggling with this one. Cons: Bad, cold and overpriced food, unfriendly manager and hosts. more

My wife and I tried the mint the other night and really were very underwhelmed. The portions were small and not at all tasty. Amazingly, our plate was burning hot but the food on it was cold. How does that happen? My wife had a steak and found it to be chewy and tough (as well as undercooked) Our server was nice but the host staff and manager at the door were not very welcoming and in fact made us feel like they were doing us a favor by seating us when the restaurant was pretty much empty. We wanted to check it out for ourselves but think that most of the unfavorable reviews on here were fairly accurate considering our experience as well. more

Are you kidding me? I ate at the mint for the first time last week. Before we get to the food: It has to be one of the most ostentatious places I've ever stepped into (particularly for Raleigh)! I mean, are they trying to rub it in everyones faces how much money they dumped into it(along with the tax payer dollars as well), or are they just so tasteless that they think that this glitz and bling is actually beautiful?? It looks like a cheesey vegas buffet!\r \r Now to the food: Wow, where do I start. I'll keep it brief. I've had better meals at Outback, Burger King and Taco Bell (and I hate all of the places I just mentioned) Save your money, go to 2nd Empire, J Betskis, Fins, or 18 Seboard before wasting your $$ at the Mint! Pros: none that I can think of..... Cons: please see my review! more

I've been here for lunch on Secretary's Day with my coworkers, and then on a Saturday night for pre-dinner show.\r \r First off - they have FREE valet parking! We just tipped a few bucks.\r \r This is a great place to go if you enjoy an upscale environment and fine food. It is NOT a good place to go if you have a huge appetite, are impatient, or are starving! I don't mean to offend, but you see mostly fit, trim people eating there...the type of people who want a 2 pound steak and bloomin onion will be shocked by the very small portions on the very big plates. The food is high quality, but low volume. The wine is pricey, but the selection is very good. I had a thai-style pasta dish with shrimp for lunch, and a duck breast for dinner, and both were excellent.\r \r The service can be a little unpredictable...the waitstaff is trying very, very hard to be top rate, but they seem to be learning. Or maybe it's the kitchen's fault. Either way, we found the waitstaff's efforts to be earnest and charming...they are very friendly and are trying their best to make this a top-rate restaurant. \r \r I understand there is jazz on Saturday nights and one weekday (can't remember which one).\r \r We had a great time here. I would strongly recommend it for a romantic dinner or a business meal to impress. (I do not recommend it to lovers of Outback Steakhouse and all-you-can-eat buffet's.)\r \r Pros: Classy, high quality food, earnest service, fun location Cons: Service can be slow, expensive more

I took my wife there for the first time Thursday night and had an exceptioanl meal. The place is breathtakinly beautiful. The food, service and wine were all top notch and definetly up there with the best I've ever had! Scored major points with the wife as well for taking her to such a beautful spot (hint hint guys) We will return often! Pros: FREE Valet Parking, Amazing Service, Food, Wine and Space Cons: none that I can think of more

My experience at The Mint was no less than outstanding! It was a very metropolitan feel unlike any other in Raleigh, We need new places like this to continue to enhance our opportunites for great evenings out. It touched all the senses. Highly recommend for a fun night of dining! Got to try the Lobster app. Pros: Awesome look, comp. valet park, outside dining Cons: undiscovered more

Went to the Mint a few days ago with a group of friends to celebrate a special occasion. Mint is defintiely nicely decorated , with a noveau rich-kindda-vibe. Service was good but other than that I wouldnt recommend it. Mint is overrated and over priced. You can only do so much with a nice ambience but the food needs to stand out.\r The food --Ugh! Forget about ordering the steaks! The steaks were either tough or have no flavor at all. If youre in for a good steak , your better off going to a REAL steak house like Ruth Chris or The Angus Barn. A friend ordered a steak but it came out wrong twice! He ended up not having any dinner because by the time everyone else had finished eating , his steak wasnt out yet ! Apparently it takes 17 minutes to cook a steak so go figure if you cant make it right the first go around. The ala cart sides were good but the serving size was small. \r Service was good and the wait staff was apologetic about the mistakes but by that time the whole dining experience was already ruined.\r If the empty tables that night were and indication of Mint's success, I think the Raleigh's tax money was money wasted. Pros: decor, ""uber-rich feel"", good service Cons: small servings, subprime steaks more

What a tool! I actually asked the waiter if the guy was for real. While decanting our wine it was obvious that he loved the sound of his own voice. What's the problem with wine people in general? They seem to all use the same terms while flailing their arms around in ecstasy. It's wine. Shut up and pour it please! Anyway the guy seemed to be speaking down to us and then went away with a smirk after we didn't fully understand what he was talking about. Aside from that the food was excellent. The pork chop was outstanding. Pricey but good. The waiter was nice. The decor pretty. Valet parking and polite hostesses. I'd dine there again. But I'd skip the wine service and get a cocktail instead. Pros: valet parking, nice food Cons: Poor wine service. more

\r Finally made it to the Mint after all of the hype and was very disappointed. Upon entering the decor and ambiance is awsome. This is where it ends as far as 5 star is concerned. The hostess was not friendly at all and acted like we should be thankful to be in the Miiiint. It took 10 minutes or more for our waitress to greet us. We ordered wine after asking multiple questions, which could not be answered about any of the wines from our waitress. The person who opened our wine, who was not our waitress, broke the cork and did not offer to decant it. Upon asking questions about the menu the waitress acted clueless. She did not know if the Salmon was farmraised or wild and did not even try to find out. My wife and I ordered the famous lobster appetizer, salads and our entrees. The salads came out first and then our entrees. NO famous lobster and no one offered to take our entree's back and get the lobster. 15 minutes into our entrees the manager approached our table and said "" I am sorry your appetizers did not come out before your entrees, but the lobster appetizer is great after any entree. Let me know if you are still hungry and I will have your waitress bring it out."" I eat dessert after my entrees not appetizers. We ordered dessert and then quickly asked for the check. The desserts were not even comped. The best part of the night was seeing a colleague on the way out. If you want a 5 star restaurant go to Herons at the Umpstead Hotel and do not give this place a second thought. Pros: ambaince Cons: service and prices more

Wow, were we dissapointed. The food is ok. it's plated beautifully, but too salty and over cooked. We had a lovely server...Jodi i think, but the wine server was a pompus A_ _. He was already in a bad mood wneh he came to the table and then proceeded to make our friends feel like idiots becasuse we didn't understand ""the wine service""? Give me a break, we're in Raleigh for goodness sake having an avarage bottle of wine. ...thank god we didn't let him spoil our evening. no dessert thank you...we're otta here!\r The plus is vallet parking...that's it. I think we'll stick with who we know for excellent food, friendly atmoshere, and helpful wine stewards... Mo's Diner, Fins, Cafe Luna, Nana's,....too many to mention. more

We go regularly to restaurants in Raleigh on our way to NC Symphony Concerts, often with friends. Four of us went to the Mint tonight, and the evening was superb. To cut to the chase, this is one of the two or three best restaurants in the Triangle (with Magnolia Grill and Fearrington House). We were seated promptly. The amuse bouche was a tiny cube of Tasmanian salmon and mushroom. The tastes were surprisingly complex. The wine list is superb, particularly since we love Oregon & California Pinot Noirs and they have roughly 40 available. The sommelier was friendly and helpful - he knows his stuff. Two of us had crab cakes and they were much more interesting that usual, mostly due to the spices. Our main course was duck (and yes, it was perfect with the Shea Vineyard Pinot), with parsnips, and a pear with a gorganzola based filling. The person who had lamb and risotto was also very impressed. Desserts were fine, not quite a match to the wine list, appetizers, and entrees, but fine. Service - uniformly excellent. Setting - quietly elegant. A place for special occasions? Absolutely. We'll be back. Expensive, but worth it. Pros: Food. Lengthy & well chosen wine list. Ambience. Cons: It's expensive.... more

I had dinner at the Mint with my girlfriend last week, and it was by far the best fine dining experience I have had in Raleigh. I take my hat off to the chef, because it is clear that he is many steps ahead of any other premier restaurant in the Triangle. Every dish was excellent, both in taste and presentation. I had the mushroom soup and the tuna, both of which were amazing. You can tell they use the freshest of ingredients, and the wait staff is also very accommodating. This restaurant should be a wake up call for other four-stars, as they need to seriously step their game up. Prices were a lot more reasonable than I had anticipated! I plan on returning to the Mint very soon. Pros: Valet Parking more

I wen to the mint for cocktails and appetizers. The food was bland, expensive, and small portioned. The service was unattentive and very slow. The only good thing about the mint is the free valet parking. I will not be returning. Pros: free valet Cons: expensive more

I am not a prolific review writer, but I did want to express my gratitude and share my good experiences I had at my first visit to The Mint.\r A friend of mine and I came in for a beer and an appetizer a few weekends ago during the late evening. I was strongly impressed by all aspects of my experience there.\r We were greeted very warmly upon entering, as if old friends, and were promply seated. The grand spiral staircase was beautiful and we took our time just taking the atmosphere in. Everything was visually stunning. Shortly after being seated, we were warmly greeted by our waiter. We each ordered a beer and an appetizer (I, the Foraged Mushroom Soup, and my friend, the Beef Tartare) which were absolutely outstanding.\r I was so impressed that my wife and I have dinner reservations for this weekend. If my last experience is any indication of what I have in store, I highly anticipate the full dining experience at The Mint and I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a fine dining experience where you feel like a truly welcomed guest. Pros: Visually stunning, kind and timely waitstaff, excellent food Cons: If you valet park you're okay, but if not then parking can be difficult more

The overly hyped, The Mint, is not worth the money nor the time. I don't mind paying the high prices for fine food but if The Mint calls that 'fine' food, we have major issues. The night we went, the restaurant was pretty emptied. Yet they sat us at the table right next to the stairs. We found that odd but didn't say anything. Then I ordered the forage of mushroom soup thinking that I would get chunks of exotic mushrooms. WRONG. What I got was, overly cornstarched soup with a splash of mushroom flavor. My spouse ordered the lobster...first, it wasn't cooked and the portion you get for the price won't even feed an anorexic!! Going back to the smell...we noticed that perhaps the kitchen doesn't have a good ventilation/hood system. We told the host about it, he went to check it out, came back and told us that someone had accidentially turned off the 'air freshener."" WHAT? Air freshener? So, needless to say, we walked out of the 'fine' restaurant smelling like we had just pan seared seafood in our own house without turning on the fan/hood system. The bar didn't impress us one bit. It actually looks, ""cheap."" I agree with some of the other comments about having much better bars and foods in the downtown area. We will certainly not go back. At least one writer got a bottle of champagne. We got nothing but, ""Someone forgot to turn on the 'air freshener.'"" \r \r more