North Bistro Lounge

Food was OK, though the rice in my dish was cold, and the grouper was only passable. We came in with a buy one-get one coupon. They tried to short change us on the coupon by claiming it was only good for a much cheaper appetizer and not one of the entrees. When I sent the bill back for correction, the waiter went behind the bar to speak the owner, where we could hear the owner bitching about us and the coupons.that she had signed up for. The bill was returned with a little more taken off , but still not the full amount of one of the entrees. Needless to say, we will never return. more

We have eaten at the Bistro a number of times and it was usually very good. But after our experience this past Saturday night we will NEVER eat there again. After being seated, we waited 20 minutes for our water while other patrons who arrived after us were receiving their food. We asked for the manager and my wife said that there seems to be a problem. Instead of trying to accommodate us, the manager starts yelling at us that ""We have the problem."" Shocked, we immediately got up and left. In our rush to leave my wife left her glasses on our table, and our incompetent waiter brought them out, taunting us with them. I lost my temper and told the waiter off! With that, the waiter threw my wife's glasses down and then actually physically attacked me, screaming racial obscenities. The manager, who is also black, came out of the restaurant yelling and screaming at us, calling us ""white crackers."" The waiter had to be held back by another employee so we could leave. When we got home, we called the police, but they talked us out of filing charges. DO NOT EAT AT THE NORTH SEAFOOD BISTRO, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE WHITE!! more

I moved here from Maryland and had yet to find any decent seafood until eating here. everything I've tried has been great! they have awesome crab soup and calamari! everytime my family visits this is the first place they want to go. my grandfather loved it so much he made sure I took the rest of the family and they thought it was better than some of the most popular spots back home. I recommend going at night though- I went twice around lunchtime more

I was under the impression that this establishment was a seafood market but apparently that changed a couple years back. After a friend recommended it, my boyfriend and I went to North on a Tuesday which happened to be ""date night"". For 35 bucks, we enjoyed a delicious meal and a bottle of wine. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and both the chef and owner took time to check on us. The food was reasonably priced and delicious, on account that everything is made from scratch. It has become one of our favorite places to eat or have a drink at the bar. I recommend getting there early on Tuesday or weekends as it fills up quickly. Wish we had found it sooner!! more

So, I happened to come across this place as I was going nearby to pick up my wife. Since it was lunch time, and I'm always up for seafood, I figured, Why Not? We went in about Noon, there were 2 tables in there which seemed a little odd to me. The inside is close to what this place bills itself as - a Bistro. The minimalistic decor is actually pretty fitting and goes well with the overall design of the restaurant. We ended up ordering a salad - to be honest, I forget the name of the salad, but it was very refreshing and tasted excellent!. The candied walnuts, cranberries and mild Feta went really well with the balsamic vinaigrette and mixed spring lettuce. For our mains, we ordered the Catfish and the appetizer portion of the Crab Cakes. The Crab cakes were absolutely scrumptious! Good fresh crabmeat drizzled w/ a (Chipotle/lobster Aioli?). The Catfish was perfectly cooked, with the perfect amount of seasoning and was equally as wonderful (and I'm not a big Catfish fan). The side of fried Mac and Cheese was simply amazing! (I had the one with Jalapeno seasoning - they offer it plain as well). The only gripe I had was that the food was a tad slow to come out. I can understand that good,fresh food takes a little more time but I've been in the restaurant business myself, and this was about 10 minutes too much for the entrees. All in all, a very good experience. I'm definitely going to be going to this place again, and hopefully, this wasn't just a one-hit-wonder! Pros: Good Quality Food, Price Cons: Could use a little pep in their service more

My boyfriend and I decided to give NRB one more chance after the last time we went. (It was not a great experience, it began with waiting 20 minutes for the waitress to even acknowledge our presence at her table and it ended with the waitress giving us a handful of bar naps for the bathroom because they keep the toilet paper in the office and there was no Manager on Duty to get the TP). \r When we first arrived I was concerned by the lack of people in the restaurant at 6:45pm. An empty restaurant at prime time is never a good sign. I usually leave, but we figured one more shot. \r We were seated promptly and our waitress was polite and cheerful. We ordered the crab dip, which was delivered promptly and was quite tasty, for the small amount that we received. Now I realize that any time you go out and Dine crab dip is going to be a little pricey, since it is made with crab, but this dish was $10.95 and I think we got about 5 chips each. The serving bowl itself is of smaller than average size and they put in huge chunks of artichoke, so 60 percent of the already tiny bowl is nothing but artichoke. They are refereed to appe-Teasers on the menu, which I thought was cute, but I now realize that it is exactly as described.... a teaser of food.\r My boyfriend and I agonized over the menu because it all seemed so yummy, but we finally decided on the Cilantro Lime scallops, (for me) and the Caribbean-jerk Swordfish (my BF). After a rather long wait for the small amount of customers in the place, we received our plates. I was surprised by the large amount of scallops hidden in the pasta dish (which by the way it is, but you'd never know by the description on the menu) I counted 6 large scallops. For all of you food lovers, Wow, that is a great deal for $16.95. I shortly realized that it was all in the presentation.\r At first I couldn't realize why they would bury the scallops into the dish which softened up the crispy sear on the scallops. Once I got in there and started rooting around I realized that my 6 large scallops were nothing more that 3 scallops that had been sliced in half-length wise. What a disappointment. They were overcooked and soggy. The sauce on the pasta was delightful though, and while I usually don't like sun-dried tomatoes, they added a nice ""pop"" of flavor.\r My boyfriend ordered off of the nightly specials menu and got the Caribbean-jerk Swordfish. The dollop of sauce on the on the fish had a lovely flavor, but the fish itself was overcooked and chewy. He opted to trade the rice for the Jalapeno Mac and Cheese, which is to die for literally. It was very yummy, but clearly would cause a heart attack or high cholesterol if eaten n a regular basis. (Like most yummy foods!)\r All in all, the food was all right..... Nothing more, nothing less. For the price though, I'll probably go elsewhere on my search for good food at good price. I know that seafood will never be cheap, but I have had much better in Raleigh for roughly the same price.\r Pros: its not awful Cons: Outside seating more

I love the genius who wrote ""You'd be better off eating at the Mayflower (where is that?) or Captain D's (?) and for a lot less."" Okay, #1, if you have even heard of or eaten at a fast-food seafood restaurant (I am assuming that is what genius was referring to), you do not belong at a seafood restaurant where REAL, FRESH SEAFOOD is served. And B: If your palate is familiar with the likes of Red Lobster and Captain Hook, then I can tell you right now that you don't have a clue what real seafood is supposed to taste like.\r So, please don't listen to people who complain about close seating and price. It is a NEW RESTAURANT, and if you know anything at all about business, most restaurants fail in the first 12 months and 80% fail within 5 years. Close seating is not only necessary for financial viability, but also provides a nice ""neighborhood"" atmosphere. That is what North IS. It is neighborhood. And as for price, if you want good seafood then you should be prepared to bring your wallet anyway, Chief. It isn't pork and beans. This isn't Smithfield--it's North Raleigh. Most importantly, the crab legs are TWICE the size of those at Shuckers OR 42nd and they (what?) COST LESS!!! Amazing. I probably sound like an employee or manager/owner or something, but I'm not. I just live in Falls River and eat at this restaurant a lot. I would hate for someone to read a review from Buckminster Fuller and decide to go somewhere less worthy. So, if you have half a brain in this ridiculous, fast-paced, morally bankrupt, upside-down, microwave world we Americans live in, go have a nice meal at North. It'll do you good. Pros: Friendly service, great seafood Cons: parking, but that is because it is popular more

We drove from Morrisville to this cute, neighborhood bistro and it was worth the drive. My fiance and I don't venture out much from our usual (restaurant-wise) and decided it was time. After searching the net for ""best date restaurants"" in the area I found an article of this bistro. I had found a lot of posh/glamorous looking places w/great sounding menus but we were in low-key mode (jeans/casual) that night so once I read the review, especially the coconut shrimp part, we were sold. We arrived not knowing what to expect- we didn't want to waste our drive and money. There was a live band and small (40+ people) but crowded-- almost every table taken. There's outdoor and indoor seating; we hoped there were available indoor seats. There was a 2 top and the bar. The tables are pretty close to each other a turn-off but we didn't want the bar. We ate at 9pm and didn't want to wait. The review of the restaurant raved about the coconut shrimp so we ordered that first. They were sooo good! Coconut shrimp is a fave and sometimes they're not so good. They were jumbo and with perfect amount breading & coconut. I had to try the crabcakes to die for-- good ones are a fave. The name isn't disappointing. Actual crabmeat, tender and cooked perfectly. I normally have reumolade sauce but the aioli was a good change. My fiance loves shrimp & grits and the description had him wanting to try it. Although it's a big portion, it was just OK and not the Charleston style we know of-- it had mushrooms and tomatoes. We stopped eating pork so the bacon was also a surprise. We're from the south and know about some shrimp & grits. He still ate most. We forgot it was a Californian restaurant. Since we're so close to the 2 others beside us, we overheard the girl enjoying the tuna she ordered. Our server was attentive and nice. We would def eat there again, more likely earlier than 9pm b/c of the crowd and my fiance will try something else. A good change. A- Pros: good coconut shrimp, parking, live music, laid-back Cons: tables are too close, sat beside kitchen, bad shrimp & grits more

I give this place a year to stay in business. Everytime (three total) my husband and Ihave gone there is a woman at the bar who has obviously been over-served but she's loud and obnoxious. That has ruined our dining experience every time. There is a manager but he does nothing really. The service is ok if you do not get the short waiter kid. We've had him two of the last three times and were not happy. The food quality is fair... nothing spectacular by any means. The ambiance is... odd. A plasma TV by the bar and movie posters on the wall. There is no ""theme"" - just a compilation of stuff thrown together. Pros: Close to home off Litchford Cons: Poorly managed more

My wife's good friend came for a visit so I wanted to make it a special night so I searched citysearch for a good seafood restaurant that we had not been to before. We felt good about the decision and went around 7pm for dinner. We were actually happy to see the place crowded and thought it must be good. Had lots of outdoor tables, all full, and a two piece band outside. We were promptly seated inside. Now things start to go downhill. The waitress was not too informed and she indicated she was new. We ordered calamari, sesame tuna, scallops with linguine and the halibut special (22.50!). We all agreed our dinners were flavorless. My tuna was supposed to be cooked medium rare but was basically raw and cold. The vegetables I felt were the best part of the dinner and were quite good. I liked how they removed the seeds from the zuchini and squash. Potatoes are not offered, only rice and veggies. We had one drink each and our dinner cost $99 before tip. I felt ripped off. I've had bad dinners before but the reason I'm taking the time to write this is because of the lousy service we received. Our out-of-town friend was sitting there not eating for about 5 minutes before we realized that he did not have a fork, he just didn't want to complain. He asked for one once a waitress came by (not ours) and she said she would get one. Another 5 minutes went by and nothing. Finally I got up, angrily, and approached the hostess and told her my friend has been waiting 10 minutes for a fork and asked her to get one. She said, ""K,"" and promptly brought it by with no apologies. My wife and I eat out about a dozen times a month because we enjoy good food and service. This restaurant failed at both we thought. We understand that restaurants can sometimes have a bad night at either food or service but being bad at both is too much for us and we won't give them another chance. Pros: Outdoor seating with live music. Veggies were good. Cons: Poor service and lack of food taste. more

My boyfriend and I have been to North a couple of times now for dinner. The food is okay, but nothing extraordinary. The staff is nice, but needs to be more educated at serving. We were patient waiting for our drinks and bread, but after a while we couldn't help but ask for the status of it. It turns out the bread is still in the oven and we're not sure why it took so long to bring the beer. We'll go back, because we live so close to it, but will drive further to get better seafood. Pros: Nearby, variety Cons: service, taste, small more

Ok - if you want high prices and a stuffy atmosphere - GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. North is my Cheers. I live in Bedford, and my wife and I eat at North about once a week. We started visiting the bistro the first month it opened, and we are thrilled with the way business has expanded. The manager/owner makes sure to stop by our table, discuss the menu, and recommend his drink special of the week. The hostess knows us and no longer bothers giving us menus - you get the drift yet? North is a friendly neighborhood bar - if you want Sullivan's have fun driving downtown. \r \r OK, as for the food. I am pretty lame in that once I find something I like I stick with it. I am thoroughly devoted the the Mahi Tacos with garlic fries. The fries are very strong, so don't get them on a date. The tacos are incredible. I also enjoy the she crab soup. I have tried several other menu items, but each time I feel like I am cheating on my true love - tacos. \r \r The mojitos are great. \r \r Enjoy North for what it is - a great neighborhood bistro where you can relax. Pros: FISH TACOS!!! MOJITOS Cons: service can be iffy more

***I'm giving NSB one star only because zero stars is not possible. \r \r Atmosphere: Loud, small, no music...I don't know exactly how to describe it. Undesirable. I thought the date night thing was a joke, I would not take a date there. It was way too loud to have a decent conversation and way to small to be comfortable. Don't be fooled with euphemisms like cozy, it's not. They have a plasma t.v. and coloring placemats if that tells you anything.\r \r Price: Way too expensive. I don't mind paying for a meal but if I pay a lot I at least expect decent presentation. Presentation (or lack thereof aside) the taste was nothing special, a little on the greasy side. \r \r Service: Despite having nearly one server for every two tables the service was poor (at best). \r \r Food: As previously stated, the food was greasy lacked decent flavor. No real presentation and nothing special. I was expecting they would have little things like whipped butter but no, you won't find any of that here. \r \r Summary: Don't waste your time (and you will wait) or money. You'll get much better seafood someplace else like the Mayflower or Captain D's and pay a lot less. Pros: Average Selection Cons: Everything Else: Atmosphere, Price, Food, Service, etc. more

What a unique little place! I came here on Saturday night, a short wait, a little table inside. Very nice wine selection. I tried a infused fruit Mojito, Wow! Waitress was very warm and friendly, a genuine nice feel from all of the staff. We ordered the calamari as an appetizer, and it was very delicious and generous, crispy with great flavor! Then, with great timing came our entrees, I had the Linguine with Scallops, and waitress offered to do a combination of shrimp and scallops (a nice touch), and it was delicious: wine, garlic, butter sauce, dipped my bread into, large shrimp and scallops and fresh vegetables tossed in! My husband had the combo plate with flounder and oysters, very generous plate with garlic fries, yum, and the best coleslaw he said he's had in a long time! Homemade tartar sauce was perfect as well. Would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone- -not a fancy place, but genuine service and of course fresh, delicious food. Will be back! Pros: Friendly staff, great wine/beer selection, delicious menu options, unique Cons: small (but quaint), too many choices!! more

I've been here twice. It's a cute little place, sunny and open during the day, and cozy at night. It doesn't seat many people. The food is GOOD, except for the undercooked fries (I like brown and crunchy, not tan, anemic, and mushy). But so what about fries (they had to come with my lunch). She-crab soup is great, only Duffy's is better on the east coast. Reason I didn't give this more stars is the service. On my first visit, I arrived late, joining friends. After ten minutes, I had to ask the young waitress for a menu. ""Oh! I forgot!"" she said. After I got my food, I had to ask for silverware, and got another ""Oh!"" And my coffee came cold. This time I got another ""Oh! I forgot to turn the coffee machine on. Can I get you another cup?"" But we were leaving soon. I didn't hold this against the waitress, seeing the food was good. Second visit -- again, a young waitress. I ordered soup with my lunch, She forgot it. I'd asked if I could get a cup instead of a bowl, and she obliged (which was nice). When it finally came, it literally came in a cup (okay) and was literally less than three quarters full. If I were serving, I wouldn't have measured quite so analy (is analy a word?). Being in a cup, I had to eat all my other food until it wasn't too boiling hot to sip (no surface area in a cup to cool). Food was good. Waitress filled my tea regularly, but never picked up debris (used sugar wrappers, used napkins, discarded lemon, straw wrapper, etc.) from table. She gave me my bill when I was considering dessert, so that decided for me. Good food, uneducated service. Pros: Good food, Good atmosphere Cons: Poor service more

THIS IS THE BEST LITTLE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT IN NORTH CAROLINA. I HAVE BEEN TO THIS PLACE AT LEAST ONCE MONTHLY SINCE IT WAS OPENED IN 2007 AND IT ONLY KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. THE FOOD IS FRESH AND WONDERFULLY PREPARED. THE SERVICE IS EXCELLENT AND VERY FRIENDLY. I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN IT FIRST OPENED AND WITH EACH VISIT, I SEE NEW AND BETTER THINGS HAPPENING. THEY NOW HAVE ALL ABC PERMITS WITH EXCELLENT SELECTIONS OF WINES AND BEER. YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS EATING EXPERIENCE AND TO DO SO, YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO WAIT BECAUSE THEY ARE ""SLAMMED"" ALL EVENINGS. THE BEST TIME TO GO, I FIND, IS BETWEEN SEVEN AND EIGHT AND CATCH THE SECOND SEATING. I HAVE EATEN SEAFOOD FROM MIAMI TO MAINE AND ON ALL COASTS, NORTH BISTRO IS THE PLACE TO BE FOR SURROUNDING AREAS. MY HUSBAND, MY CHILDREN, MY FRIENDS AND PATRONS I HAVE MET IN NORTH SEAFOOD, ALL AGREE THIS RESTAURANT IS HERE TO STAY. Pros: ALL AROUND WONDERFUL Cons: NEED BIGGER DINING ROOM SO THAT EVERYONE CAN ENJOY THIS FOOD. more

My wife and I tried North Seafood Bistro 2 weeks ago on a friday night. We arrived about 6:30 and were told it would be a 35-45 minute wait. We decided to stay because we had heard such good things about this place. We grabbed a couple of glasses of wine and decided to wait outside on their patio because of the unseasonal warm weather. About 30 minutes later we were sat inside and greeted almost immediately by our server who was very pleasant. While I ordered the She Crab soup, my wife ordered the scallop appetizer. The scallops were HUGE with crispy bacon and a sauce I could've soaked the yeast rolls they serve in it. My soup was the best she crab soup I have ever tasted. For our entrees I tried the Salmon with Mango Salsa and my wife had a perfectly cooked sesame seed encrusted tuna. We were told the entrees came with rice and vegetables but we could substitute any side. My wife decided to venture off and get a unique deep fried mac n cheese. It was so good, I could come back for this alone. The sauteed spinach she got was delicious and while I am usually not a fan, she made me try it. After stuffing ourselves we were too full for dessert but the description of a homemade flourless chocolate torte got our attention and we took a piece home with us. I cannot believe how rich and simply irrestible it was, I was very glad we got it. We were told they get their homemade desserts from friends who run a local Italian Deli called Ferlo's Alimentari. My wife and I have decided we will be picking up our next holiday desserts from them. All in all, a wonderful evening, great food, great service, and I even noticed the owner personally attending to the tables to ensure everyone has a perfect evening. Now if they only had more seats! Pros: Food, Service, Music Cons: Not enough Parking but I heard they are getting Valet on weekends! more

My wife and I went to North Seafood on a Friday night. I had been meaning to visit the restaurant for some time now. There is only seating for perhaps 30 or 35 folks so even though we arrived at 6 PM there was already a half hour wait for a table. Would be nice if they took reservations.\r \r The wait staff was very friendly and attentive and took special interest in our 1 year old so high marks in that regard. But my wife and i go to restaurants for the food and unless the quality meets our expectations we are not likely to return no matter how great the wait staff is. We started off with the crabcake appetizer and had the fried mac and cheese. Both were different and while well prepared didn't taste like anything special. The quality of the ingredients in the mac and cheese was ordinary and the attempt to make it special by breading and frying didn't really help that much considering their deep fry oil needed changing from the taste of the dish. the crab cakes were good and if the whole night had just been those crab cakes they would have gotten another star from us. Fresh tasting crab with an unusual sauce. However the entrees were both below par. I had the shrimp and grits, and billed as a classic Charleston version. My versions normally have bacon on them served over a creamy bed of grits with mushrooms and onions. While some folks add fresh chopped tomatoes as well the addition of chopped canned tomatoes lowered the taste quality. In addition the grits were dry and clumped, there was no discernable bacon, way too much of the canned tomatoes and the shrimp was a tad over cooked. Overall very disappointing. My wife had the lobster pasta special. Fresh green beans, whole lobster pieces over a thick spegetti like pasta. The lobster had been overcooked the pasta sauce fairly flavorless and as hungry as my wife was, she only finished half of the dish. While we normally will order a desert to split we felt at that point it would be a waste of time and money. Pros: Very attentive genuine service Cons: Don't go here for the excellent food, it isnt here more

We went there on a Saturday night for a birthday dinner. The restaurant looks a lot like a diner with a gray black color scheme. Its small, can't probably hold more than twenty or thirty people, there's a lot of glass so you can see the cars going by on Durant road, the sound system had music by people like Springsteen and Sheryl Crowe, which I liked.\r Enough of that, why the five stars?\r \r The sauteed clam appetizer came with the shells in a large heavy earthenware bowl with giant croutons to soak up the delicious juices.\r \r The New England style clam chowder was the best white chowder I have ever had.\r \r My wife and I had Scallop Linguine with julienned vegetables in a white wine sauce. There were lots of large sea scallops of unimpeachable freshness cooked perfectly in an even bigger bowl. This was so yummy I couldn't believe it. Of course the scallops didn't make it to my doggie bag, I've got a little bit of linguine, two big pieces of carrots cooked just right, and some squash and onion strips to heat up and savor tonight.. Ah, reminiscence...\r \r Our dining companion tried the catfish based on the recommendation of our knowledgeable and competent waitress Katie. She said ""My taste buds keep saying 'Yes, Yes' even after my tummy says 'No, No''"".\r \r We all had chocolate pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. Good, good, good!\r \r We're looking forward to returning to North Seafood Bistro. They have a Bacon BBQ Shrimp Sandwich I'm curious about and a Chesapeake Benedict for Sunday Brunch that involves a 95% crab crabcake and a poached egg. Could be drooley.\r \r This place is a gem Pros: Great tasting seafood, serious dishware and tableware, not crowded, good wait staff Cons: Ambience less than the food deserves, too much success could spoil it. more

A friend recommended I try North Seafood Bistro for a first date and it was perfect. The salmon was so fresh and the mango salsa that came with it makes my mouth water just thinking about it. My first date has now turned into second, third, and fourth dates. The second and fourth dates we went back to North Seafood and I had ridiculously good fish and shrimp tacos and my new ""boyfriend"" had sesame crusted tuna. It's not just the food, but the hip owners really make us feel comfortable - their vintage rock n roll posters let you know that they are cool too. Pros: tasty seafood more