The Borough

10/27/2008 Posted by hqueen

This is my new favorite hangout! They have a great menu that they serve all night - it is really reasonably priced & they have a good amount of vegetarian options - homemade veggieburger, vegetarian soup, grilled cheese & tomato sandwich (with the tomato bisque is awesome!), but my meat-eating friends are always happy with what they find too! And I’ve never had to wait to be seated. I’ve always found the staff fun and attentive (even when it’s busy). They have a full bar & PBR on tap for $2. I love hanging out there for dinner after work or a drink late at night.

Pros: great food; great prices; attentive staff

Cons: can be crowded late on weekend nights

05/21/2008 Posted by sunn3ycup

I have decided that I need to tell people in Raleigh about special finds. This, The Borough, is one of those special finds. The establishment now on its second year has proven its sustainability. As a matter of fact, finally after ten years of living in Raleigh, I have found a neighborhood bar where you can trust the food, the drinks, and the atmosphere. I feel safe and always welcome here. Consistency is a trademark for Liz, the bar’s owner. She is very good at ensuring there is always a new beer on tap, or the consistency of her staff and their product. I know exactly what I am going to get when I order it, and most of the time, the staff can even anticipate my order by suggesting the new hoppy beer added to the drink list. It is a fun neighborhood bar, where the staff is very aware of Raleigh happenings and tries to ensure their constituents are happily attended to. Just as Farther and Son has become a downtown Raleigh retail staple, The Borough is in it’s genesis of being tapped the Raleigh downtown eatery and neighborhood bar.

Pros: Always a smile and warm welcome from the staff, accommodating to parties

05/20/2008 Posted by FunGood

The Borough has that all around cool atmosphere that makes it perfect for an after-work drink, happy hour with friends, quick dinner, or late night hang-out on the weekends. The aesthetic is trendy yet warm and inviting. The food is solidly tasty. And, the wait staff is reliably great. I'm sure the staff has an occasional off night, but every time I've been there I've been impressed. The owner and her staff will often shout a greeting as you walk in the door, giving it an intimate quality that makes it an excellent candidate for your new "regular", neighborhood bar.

04/22/2008 Posted by honeymoonerz

I was reading reviews of downtown restaurants, I love the Borough but I know what you mean about the bartenders, I saw Shmitty chase down a customer one night, she literally ran down the street after them. I would have been so angry I would have thought about suing them. The customer had paid the other person at the bar. While I sat at the bar, they're so busy talking back and forth with people they don't know all of what's going on and it shows. Still, the Borough is great. The bartenders just need to be organized and act with class

Pros: See all of the above!

Cons: Bartenders cursing and yelling at people

04/21/2008 Posted by Streetwalkerrdu

I'm 36. I do look young but not under 21 young. Liz at The Borough does. She honestly thinks I have a fake ID. I would think after so many visits (I'm there at least every other week) she would finally know me. Last Sunday I was there with a friend, 10 years younger. He didn't get carded- I got quizzed. She also knows a lot of people I know. This past Sunday she pulled and tugged at the plastic. It's honestly getting frustrating; this last time I went I literally was embarrassed because of it. She could be more tactful. Instead I had other people sitting at the bar joking about it. It's a shame because it's a great place, the food is good and the atmosphere is great. I like The Borough but I'm going to have to think hard about going again since I'm tired of the inquisition and the lack of tact.

Pros: Atmosphere, Boisterous, Fun, Good Food, Not too expensive

Cons: Lack of tact Liz has and the schitzo bar tender Schmitty, she may chase you down the sidewalk if you pay another server so be careful

04/20/2008 Posted by GabbieNew

I am new in town and I went here because of all the reviews that the bartenders are the best and I though it might bea good (not know anyone in town) place to go and strike up some conversation with some cool people. Well walked in and sat down it took a while for anyone to say hello to me and when they did they took my drink order. The four women behind the bar seemed very into what their conversation was about and did not look up to see if I needed anything else. They were vey attentive to the people that they knew. A group of women walked in and sat a a table and I watched how they smirked and made fun of these women. As a matter of fact one of the women order her drink and certain way and behind the bar one bartender said to the other that was making the drink to the order said “f*#k that, just shake it around” …….There was two very nice bartenders both with light brown or blonde short hair and the other two had brown hair one had it long and tied in a bun and the other had short brown hair ( this is the one that said F that ) and the shortest one behind the bar. When you go hope that you get the blond hair girls. I have a suggestion to the owner be as attentive as you are to your fiends that go to the bar , to all costumers and you have a gold mine. Continue the way you are going and you will have few repeat customers. You may get new customers but if they don’t come back than business looks bad.

03/26/2008 Posted by summerbrew

I go there b/c my buddies like the owner. Everyone I have met that works there has been really cool to me. The seats are not the most comfy, but it's a pretty well rounded new Raleigh type of bar. It's doesn't feel like a big city bar, but it's got enough charm to draw a steady crowd of people. It is smokey on occasion but thankfully the ceilings are high so if not too many people are smoking at once, it has relatively better air quality than most other bars.

Pros: Nice staff

Cons: They allow smokers

06/08/2007 Posted by pokystix

The staff at The Borough is awesome, these ladies are fun while still having their act together and are capable of holding it together and getting drinks out quickly even when it is slammed. fFood is served all night and the menu is quite reasonable in price for the quality. I am a huge fan of their signature drinks, especially the Pombr

05/13/2007 Posted by jadorealways23

Open 7 days a week, so you never drive all the way there just to be let down. The bartenders are quick and creative, and the food.... let's just say.... try the filet, try the filet, try the filet!! I visit all the time, it is the perfect afternoon place to sip a martini and take advantage of their free wi fi!! They actually encourage me to bring my dog!! ( We sit on their patio and do some serious "people watching".) It's really just an all around great place!

Pros: Full menu every day 4pm-2am

Cons: None

04/28/2007 Posted by jessicabenton1976

My fiance and I go here at least once a week to wind down with a simple meal and beverage of choice. Good music and great service. I'll be there next week for sure.

Pros: Half Price Appetizers before 7 PM

Cons: Parking