Irregardless, it's my new favorite restaurant...

Irregardless Cafe, that is! Picture this: a non-descript building on the corner in downtown Raleigh, but when you walk in, you suddenly enter into a swanky cafe in Paris or somewhere on the Mediterranean. You are seated with a fabulous glass of wine and a menu that would make the best decision maker writhe in pain as they try to determine the one dish they will have to narrow down to. The owner, Arthur, in all his sweetness, stops by every table donning his yarmulke to schmooze with the guests. There's a band playing a wonderful mix of Jazz music on one side of the restaurant, and after the huge rush of guests dwindles down, they clear a dance floor, which quickly fills with couples cutting a rug. The upscale atmosphere seems to contradict the name. Irregardless, the food was amazing.

Morgan Street Chicken

One look at the menu and it will be clear that deciding on your dish will be the hardest decision you make that day. The Morgan Street Chicken with it's Lemon-Tahini dressing (which is good enough to drink!) and encrusted in cashews was delectable. The mushroom and black mussel parmesan risotto was so creamy and perfectly cooked. Everything we ordered was beyond fantastic. 

The service was impeccable. Our waitress profusely apologized for "slow service," which to us, did not seem the slightest bit slow and ended up comping some items to show their appreciation. We were so grateful and it just added to the whole experience to see how much they valued customer service (which is rare to find these days). 

And since there is always room for dessert, you have to try one of theirs. It was fabulous!

This is a restaurant you'll want to keep coming back to as they update the menu regularly with fresh ingredients and everything on the menu looks amazing!


Irregardless is definitely a place you need to put on the top of your list to visit in Raleigh. I'll definitely be making many more trips to try out more of their menu. It has surpassed all other restaurants in the Triangle as my favorite restaurant. 

UPDATE: And the brunch is fabulous too! Everything from their Morgan Street Chicken and other savory dishes to typical (and not-so-typical) breakfast fare like omlettes, challah french toast, pancakes and even blintzes!