Carvers Creek

I was saddened to find out on a recent drive through the parking lot that Carver's Creek has closed. I remember going on a "fancy date" as a teenager to what was then Mountain Jacks. More recently, I frequented Carver's Creek for lunches (its walking distance) and for Prime Rib dinners, with gladly given raw bones bagged up to take home to my dogs. Its a shame that with all the businesses and hotels in such close proximity that this restaurant could not make it. You will be missed! Pros: Used to be great prime rib, good cocktails, nice table side salad bar Cons: THEYRE CLOSED! more

This was our first visit to Carvers Creek. It was a toss up between here and Ruth Chris. We are so glad we gave it a try. The service was outstanding. Our waiter, Frank, helped us with our choices and was able to make a substitution (which was so appreciated). From the tasty appetizer sampler to the "to die for " mudslide pie, our meal was nothing short of remarkable. I had the ribs and my husband the prime rib. Some of the best we have ever had! We will certainly go back. I am sorry for the reviews that weren't so favorable, they almost kept us away. We are glad we kept an open mind and tried it ourselves. Pros: Service and Food Remarkable Cons: Not easily accesible more

My husband and I have been to Carvers Creek on many occasions. We did notice that the service was kind of slow and the food was a little bit overpriced for what we got. However, we had no idea what Valentine's Day would bring us. We called them 2 weeks before Valentine's Day and made a "reservation" for that Vday. I was told that they are doing "hourly seating" - but I just assumed that was for people who didn't have a reservation. So we got there about 10 minutes before our "reservation" at 8pm. I noticed in the foyar that there were about 30 people. I assumed again that these were people waiting. Not until I checked in was I told that we probably wern't going to be seated till 8:30 instead of 8pm. I was willing to wait, even though I was pist. We could of left but we would of never got in anywhere. So it's about 8:55pm and after an hour of waiting we finally get in to sit down. Our waiter was ok. He seemed like he had a lot on his plate. He took our drink orders at a normal wait, but as soon as he brought the drinks back, he said he had to go take care of something. We waited at least 15 minutes for him to take our salad/entree order. That's nuts. All I'm saying is I would never recommend going to this place on V-Day. They don't understand the point of a "reservation" -- what's the point of calling for one when I'm made to wait for a table anyway. I don't know if it's a stupid southern thing, but they need to make some changes or they're business is going to slump dramatically. Another thing- make sure on such a busy night, put on ALL your staff, there didn't seem to be a lot of staff. Waiting 15 minutes for someone to take my order is upright absurd. Pros: good tableside salads, nice location Cons: slow service, bad idea of "reservations" more

I have been here on a couple of occasions for group luncheons and once for a Valentine's Day Dinner with friends. All experiences were wonderful. Drinks were promptly refilled, meals brought out immediatly following appetizers. They were very accomodating with the large groups also. We had our own seating area set and ready to go when we arrived. All the food was excellent. with the group luncheons we ordered off the banquet menu and it had a lot of selections. Very well priced for a group at lunch time. more

I had previously heard great things about Carvers Creek. Boy, was I disappointed. Our service was beyond poor; the food was cold, bland and overpriced; and to add insult to injury, the gratuity was automatically added into our meal ticket. I will make sure to tell all my friends about this miserable dining experence. Opt for Outback if you're craving a steak! Pros: the chocolate cake Cons: everything else more

My husband and I went to Carver's Creek Friday night for the second time. This time we took friends. Our dining experiences at this restaurant have been wonderful. The server brings a mini salad bar to your table which is VERY appealing to me (and a unique touch). My steak, a filet, was cooked perfectly and had an amazing flavor. It was so good, the next day I found myself wishing I had left a little for a second sitting. The service was great. We had a very enjoyable experience. Pros: Salads are made tableside, food quality is excellent Cons: Location more

Carver's has a very uniquely rustic/classy and romantic atmosphere. Dimmed lighting, White table clothes, Some romantic booths. Service is Excellent. The food is wonderful. There desserts are to die for. We feel this restaurant far exceeds any of the others in overall rating in the Raleigh,NC. No one could ever duplicate this restaurant Tucked in a cove of trees in the middle of the noisy city that's our kind of place. We Highly Recommend Carvers Creek. C & D Pros: Service, Food , Atmosphere Cons: none, none, none more

My husband and I love to eat out. We frequent steak places-- we found a little gem in Carver's Creek. I highly recommend the porterhouse steak (great value) and the table side salad... to die for!! What I love most, is we have NEVER had to wait for a table. Be sure not to tell too many of your friends about this place! Pros: no wait, Great steak, value Cons: none more

I made a reservation a week in advance and they preceeded to ruin valentines day for us. They overbooked and there was a 2 hour wait once we got there. There was 50 upset people in the lobby. Would not go back. more

This is one of Raleigh's best kept secrets. The steaks are excellent. I have never had a problem with my order in the many times I have eaten here. The table side salad bar is excellent as well. The staff is friendly and attentive. I particularly appreciate the quiet, elegant atmosphere. This is one of my favorite restaurants. more

I have always had a great meal at Carver's Creek in the 4 or 5 times I have been there over the years. I usually get the prime rib; this is probably their specialty. It melts in your mouth. I like the personal salad bar they bring to your table. The crab stuffed mushroom appetizer is really good. I'm sorry to see the negative reviews, but a friend reminded me that people are more likely to complain when they're displeased than to make the effort to give positive feedback when they are pleased. So, that's why I wanted to take the time to highly recommend Carvers Creek. I've never been disappointed there. Been to Outback twice now and haven't gotten a good steak there yet! Go to Carvers Creek!!!! Pros: Food, Atmosphere, Service Cons: Waiting room sofa more

I thought we had stumbled upon one of Raleigh's hidden treasures. The building is lovely, service prompt and friendly, and unlike most restaurants these days, it was quiet. I appreciate not having to yell your conversation across the table. The table side salad was nice, and the side salad was very large. The disappointment came when our meal arrived. You assume that if you are paying $18 for your steak and an additional $3.50 for your side salad, you will be having a nice meal. Our steaks were over done. Actually tasted burnt. There seemed to be no seasoning on the meat either. It tasted bland. The baked potatoes arrived cold. The servers immediately corrected the problem, but it was still rather disappointing. Pros: atmosphere, service, salad Cons: cold food, bland steak, price for quality more

Food was really bad. The others (3) with me all ordered the Prime Rib and seemed to enjoy it. They had been there before and like the place. Since I was not paying, I did not complain to them but this place is not impressive at all. The only thing I can remember that was above the ordinary was the promptness of service. (Server was not as upscale as the place looked.) Everything else needs LOTS of improvement. I like my steaks medium/medium rare. The steak was DONE! What a disappointment, espeically for the money. Pros: Fast Service, Location Cons: Food, Prices more

Great food! Great atmosphere! Great service! Great value! You can't find a better deal in the Triangle. Carver's Creek is so low key that it is almost never busy, unlike other retaurants in town, and the food is spectacular every time. Pros: Never Crowded, Inexpensive more

I don't think most people in Raleigh even know this quiet & quante place exist. The food is good, but they have had better food in the past. It is really just a nice place to go relax, sit back and be pampered a bit by an excellent waitstaff. Sometimes you want to go out and just have a pleasent experience - this is one of the places to do just that. Dinner entree's run about $12-$18, and lunch runs about $6-$12. more

Valentine's Day...a night where you need excellent service/food in order to please the Mrs., but you might get a subpar dining experience due to the hectic nature of the restaurant. I can honestly say that this was THE BEST time we've had eating out in a long while. The waiter was very courteous and fast, the food was cooked perfectly and delicious and the after dinner drinks at the bar made this wonderful night complete! Thank you Cavers Creek for making our Valentine's Day, which also happened to be the 10 year anniversary of our engagement, a perfectly memorable night! Highly recommended. more

Well, at least as far as the Prime Rib is concerned. If you go to Carver's and you don't try the Prime Rib you are doing yourself a huge injustice. They use a spice, I think it's fennel (like someone else said) that makes it taste unique and amazing. It's also very moist and tender. The salads are good as well, since you design them yourself, and back when you got both soup AND salad, the soups were delicious as well. I've never been disappointed in that restaurant and I have been going there since I was about 8 years old -- when it was Mountain Jacks. It continues to be my favorite steak house, and it's better value-for-money than the Angus Barn Pros: GREAT steaks, good sides, good price more

Terrible. I had the highest expectations going in, but thought I had just eaten at a bad Ponderosa going out. My porterhouse was cooked brown all the way through after I ordered it rare/med rare, but I didnt complain because it looked like the quality of the meat was in need of disguise. The place was empty at 8:00pm the day after Thanksgiving, when supposedly everyone goes out to eat. It was empty for good reason. The sides selection doest have any of the steakhouse staples such as creamed spinach or hashbrowns. It is a sorry excuse for a steakhouse from beginning to end. They didnt even offer to take our coats when we sat down...the one other table seated on Friday night had them over the back of their chairs. Waiter talked too much, and didnt know enough (a dangerous combo). Stick to the Angus Barn Pros: Decor Cons: Food, Service more

Excellent food! Loaded with casually dressed (sweatpants, jeans, tshirts) and children. That was disappointing. The restaurant needs to enforce a dress code if they want to be considered for their ambience. Pros: menu choices Cons: children, casual dress more

I had the filet and it was delicious. My husband had prime rib and he was able to cut it with a fork. He's never had one that tender before. Definitely worth trying. Service was great. Really enjoyed having the salad made at the table with my choice of items. Pros: food quality, service Cons: not open for lunch more