Relish in Raleigh is well-known for their Southern fare, especially the macaroni and cheese skillets. We took a trip to Relish for lunch and we all left satisfied, and with leftovers.
The Location: Relish is just past Crabtree Valley Mall on Creedmoor Road. Although it's located in a strip mall, inside the restaurant is cozy and welcoming.
The Food: Relish specializes in comfort food, but their menu offers many choices, from soup and grilled cheese to fish tacos and burgers.
The Meal: We all shared an chips and three different salsas for an appetizer, and ordered different things for our entrees. So many things looked good; it took us a while to decide what to order!
Caitlin: The ambiance at Relish just makes you want to sit back and relax for a while. The chips and salsa were very good and unique. My favorite salsa was a sweet cranberry concoction. I also ordered the creamy tomato soup, served in a mug with two huge croutons. The soup was a big mug of comfort, just like the menu said. My only complaint was that the croutons got very mushy and fell apart pretty quickly.
I ordered the tuna melt with a side of vegetables (red bell pepper, broccoli and cauliflower steamed in butter sauce). The sandwich was huge, topped with homemade tuna salad, tomatoes and a slide of cheddar cheese. It was a very good sandwich, and I was able to save half of it for later. All of the flavors blended together into simple deliciousness.
All of the servers and staff were friendly and helpful. I especially liked that in the front of the restaurant they were selling local products from small vendors. I will definitely return to Relish!
Jodi: The prices at Relish were remarkably reasonable and the portions were ridiculously large. There are so many temptations on the menu, you will want to go with a group and consider sharing.
I ordered the open-face beef sandwich for lunch. It was easily enough for two and was simply perfect. The meat was fork tender and the mushroom gravy rich. The sourdough bread was grilled to add an extra touch of taste.
Since I had a long shift ahead of me, I also ordered fish and chips to go – another entrée that over-delivered. There were two huge planks of fish, a cilantro-tartar sauce with bite and crunchy cole slaw.
I'd return to Relish when I had time to linger and enjoy the décor. It seemed an ideal stop for a Saturday lunch while shopping.
Lisa: I had “Veggies for Dinner” (fried green tomatoes, seasonal fresh vegetable, green beans, and buttery mashed potatoes) for lunch and it was tasty. And at $9, the value was outstanding since I took half of it home for dinner. The fried green tomatoes were crispy, not soggy, and the mashed potatoes even included more skin and less “buttery” (which was, in my opinion, unique for mashed potatoes and totally fine by me). The house “comeback sauce” certainly prompts a response worthy of the name. If I had to try and best describe it, I guess it was like a southwest ranch. Whatever it was, it was perfect for dipping bites of the fried green tomatoes into. (And yes, for anyone who is counting, the is the second time I’ve fallen off of my “no fried foods” for the rest of the year bandwagon in the name of an Out & About restaurant review…).
Also, total insider tip here: go for the Winter Cranberry, the Verde, and Carolina Caviar salsas for the chips and salsa flight appetizer! Those were all delish.
The Service: All of the staff were friendly and helpful.
The Bill: We all felt that Relish delivered great value. Sandwiches and burgers range from $7 to $9, and their signature macaroni and cheese skillets are $7 to $8. The prices are all reasonable for lunch and dinner, especially with the amount of food that comes with it.
The Verdict: Relish is a perfect lunch stop – we'll definitely be back to try more of their menu.
