The Fiction Kitchen

Finally had a chance to dine here and we were not disappointed! This restaurant has a nice atmosphere, good service and thoughtfully prepared vegan dishes. The food presentation was very good. The ... Read more

Finally had a chance to dine here and we were not disappointed! This restaurant has a nice atmosphere, good service and thoughtfully prepared vegan dishes. The food presentation was very good. The risotto was delicious and tasted very fresh. The peanut noodle bowl was also very good but quite rich and I would have liked a bit more spice; I would ask for that next time. Overall it was a nice dining experience and I will be back. Read less

FIVE STARS for Fiction Kitchen, Raleigh's Gateway Plaza — Yes, outstanding vegan food that even non-vegans will love! We enjoyed ice-cold house-made root beer, refreshing (and freshly made) canta... Read more

FIVE STARS for Fiction Kitchen, Raleigh's Gateway Plaza — Yes, outstanding vegan food that even non-vegans will love! We enjoyed ice-cold house-made root beer, refreshing (and freshly made) cantaloupe soup, plus a double smashburger with cheddar, fresh toppings, and house-cut pickle fries. Desserts were next-level — a rich dark-chocolate pudding cake with butterscotch topping and a perfect chewy chocolate chip cookie. A chocoholic's dream even casual dessert fans will love these. Generous portions, friendly service, casual vibe. Dine in, take-out, or delivery. Plenty of parking in Gateway Plaza off Capital Blvd. (See photos of food and lunch/dinner menus. I included photos of the restroom – very clean and cool wallpaper!). Read less

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 s... Read more

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! Read less

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 e... Read more

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. Read less

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 enjo... Read more

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! ;) Read less