The Fiction Kitchen

Harrop

Visiting for March madness and didn't have much available for vegetarians nearby. Also don't have a car so me and two friends walked 45 minutes to get here. They let us in near closing time and I'm forever thankful to them for that. I got a parmagranite juice which was absolutely splendid, I just came back from Ecuador which is a JUICE country and this compared to them. My friend got a Flower and Flame(I think) which is this gorgeous purple drink. The taste was amazing each sip a journey of flavors ending with a really good smokey flavor. Now for the food, we started off with a cornbread which had the most immaculate topping and butter my whole group loved it. And oh my god the vegan chicken and waffles. Now this is probably one of the best meals I've had in my life. I know the staff had a giggle from our reactions and yes they were that good. We both had ratatouille style moments from our first bites. The breading was exquisite the taste even better than chicken. It made me forget what food was. I seriously cannot recommend it enough. Our other friend got the meatloaf which was also insanely good. I cannot believe how good this was. Thank you for such an amazing vegetarian meal, I'd been struggling to find stuff for the past 2 days here. The staff was super sweet and kind. We came in super late and they were so caring for us. The staff was gave us so much water and was caringly concerned about our walk. When I walked to the bathroom I got a little peak into the kitchen and just knew I was in the right place. :) Thank you for such an incredible meal and wonderful experience. So far this is the highlight of the trip and I cannot recommend enough.

Rasikanand Harvind

Love it! If you've been vegetarian / vegan all your life, this place will be a creative delight. If you were non-vegetarian anytime in the past, this might be a bit of a let down. I urge you to see the food here for what it is an not what it tries to mimic. Putting that aside, the food here is pretty great! Very healthy and balanced. Drinks are great and our server Castle was fast and friendly. We came in late and stayed a bit past closing and they still treated us with a smile. A++ service. Interior decor feels like something straight out of Edward Hopper's Nighthawks painting. Dim lighting with mid-century vibes. Perfect spot for a date night!

Justin Vizaro

This is the place you’ve got to hit up in Raleigh. Exceptional all-vegan menu, great vibes, and wonderful people. I can’t say enough. Get yourself to FK immediately. Great drinks including lots of inspired non-alc. Lion’s mane rangoons: 11/10 - the reason i came here, did not disappoint, can’t miss these. Great chili sauce. Mozz bites: 8/10 - good in the way that fried things are good. BBQ: 11/10 - the best i’ve had anywhere. Flavors, texture, everything on point. Mac: 7/10 - thick layer on top was like hash browns, then almost a pimento cheese in the mac itself. Probably 8-9 with thinner layer of topping. Smoked potats: 10/10 - ranch or old bayo to dip Meatloaf: 10/10 - didn’t love the setup as much, but main event was excellent. I want this with the smoked potats. Fried chik: 8/10 - good with a sauce to dip Fries: not for me, shoestring, plain Ranch: 9/10 Old bayo: 9/10 Marinara: 8/10 Drink was a castle original with lemon and ginger. Very good. 11/10

John E

We tried out the Fiction Kitchen tonight at their new location. The new space is absolutely beautiful and the food was outstanding. They have all the old dishes on the menu that we've always enjoyed, plus a few new items that were great too! Tonight we had the vegan meatloaf, an old favorite, and the vegan crabcakes, a new item! Highly recommended! Plus,- the bartenders make great drinks! ;)

Scott Hultstrom

To me, Fiction Kitchen is a comfy, safe, relaxing venue with an eclectic, retro feel while keeping a modern edge. First time in, we enjoyed our varied culinary journey from start to finish. We’ll be experiencing this North Carolina Gem in the future. We already thought about and decided what we want to taste there next! We were greeted by Drew and Castle, who made our stay a welcome one. Their witty, professional, courteous service made us feel like we were visiting friends and family. As we bellied up to the bar what was there to do but enjoy a beverage for starters. After some discussion of the wonderful choices, we enjoyed “The Stalker” and a “Rum Punch”. I didn’t try my wife’s Stalker, but the Rum Punch was a wondrous bright infusion garnished with an edible Johnny Jump Up. Very unique flavor with a fruity finish. Later I had a “Flower and Flame” cocktail. A sensory adventure with its deep color, beautiful garnish, with a smoky surprise with each sip. This cocktail had the “finest fizzy” element to it. Loved it. My advice is to open up your mind and let Castle guide you through her magical world of mixology. Starting with the Cornmeal Fried Mushrooms we experienced what I would call plant based fried calamari. Paired with the Old Bay Vegan Mayo this was probably my favorite. Never saw the seafood flavor coming. What a great surprise. Shifting gears we went to the Kale Fritters. Big, bold, beautiful and once you bite in they remind me of Thanksgiving is all I can say. Comfort food score of 10! Chef, these make me want for a side of gravy to dip them. The little crispy chickpeas running through this dish are little tasty treats. Soo gooood. We couldn’t resist ordering the Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread just to have with us, to compliment our meal. This makes a great partner to anything you order. Watch the skillet as its hot out of the oven. Very well done with a finely crisped outside while moist and soft inside. Almost wanted some baked beans to pair with it so we ate half and took the rest home for that experiment. On with the entrees. The Southern Style Plate with popcorn chicken was full of a variety of high notes. I had an expectation the popcorn chicken was going to be lack luster as “popcorn anything” in my opinion always is, but I was wrong. These lil’ poppers were fun and made you feel like a kid with every bite. I say they are best eaten with your fingers and some dipping sauces. Castle innovated her recommendation in, to have us pair it with the BBQ Pulled Pork and it was a home run. It was like a culinary game, mixing and matching the flavors on our forks, getting a magical taste combination every time. My favorite was a scoop of mashed potatoes with a scoop of BBQ Pulled Pork. When I ordered I simply told Castle to bring me a wonderful meal, surprise me, and she came through with flying colors. The Hearts of Palm & Lions Mane Crabcakes were yet another layer of culinary comfort. It was nice to see both entrees have either a fresh salad or sauteed vegetable component. They brought color and balance to each meal. The fried foods weren’t greasy. All the dishes and drinks had several layers of flavor voices. The staff is both friendly as they are efficiently professional. The setting is balanced with a nice park outside for friends and family to spend some time away from the hustle, bustle and trying times we live in. Fiction Kitchen has mastered extracting the multitude of flavors from their source of foods. While others drown foods in sauces and give a monotony of “the same”, Fiction Kitchen somehow mystically brings so much abundance in their flavors while creating layered complexity, so every bite is a sensory journey. I highly recommend you stop in, turn your phone off, and eat with your friends and loved ones. Thank you to everyone at Fiction Kitchen for this Culinary Oasis so close to home. See you soon.