Over on Person Street in Raleigh, along with some delicious Krispy Kreme donuts, you’ll find a cluster of great restaurants and dining options. From Crawford and Son to Oakwood Pizza Box and Jolie, this once-overlooked neighborhood in Oakwood has become destination dining. And the addition of the family-friendly Standard Beer and Food is another good restaurant that slides in between the fancier options from Chef Scott Crawford and the fast-casual offerings from OPB. Let’s take a closer look at this popular dining destination and what to expect!
Standard Beer + Food, Raleigh – Location and Decor
If you’re a newcomer to Raleigh, you might not be familiar with this location. Standard Food was originally a restaurant and retail grocery spot but due to some ownership challenges, shuttered down in 2019 and re-opened under new ownership in 2020. Focused on a more casual menu and beer, the dining concept was VERY different than the original iteration but in a good way. While most of the interior stayed the same and the main dining room was opened up and changed into a biergarten type space (concrete floors, bench-type seating, bare pendant lamps overhead), it fits the sensibilities of the family-friendly Oakwood neighborhood well.
Standard Beer + Food, Raleigh – Menu and Food
Standard Beer + Food is serving a variety of affordable sandwiches, tacos, salads, and snacks, mostly under $16. Start off with the classic deviled eggs topped with paprika and microgreens, a classic Southern treat. And the French dip sandwich I tried featured lean, thin roast beef perfectly layered with cheese and caramelized onions. The tacos at Standard are also a favorite, I loved the steak and shrimp tacos which were well-loaded and generously topped.
Oddly enough, the must-have dish here is the tater tots! The puffy potato cylinders are perfectly fried and salted, showing of a crispy outside, tender inside and perfect for dipping into ketchup. I’d have to say these tots are pretty addictive and the perfect side. And of course, Standard offers some delicious beers, wines, cocktails, and slushies, the bar can get pretty lively here!
Standard Beer + Food, Raleigh – Service and Conclusion
The service at Standard during my visits have been mostly warm and friendly outside of an interesting incident that sometimes happens as a food blogger. The staff is professional and from what I can tell, long-term hospitality type personalities. And given the space and prices here, Standard is very family friendly so expect to have some children exploring the space during your meal. Like many restaurants in this area, it may take on a different personality once it gets later and given the nice bar.
But overall I do like what they’re doing here and can give Standard Beer + Food a solid thumbs up! Casual and tasty eats, good portion sizes and prices usually works well for me! And like many creatures, sometimes you have to figure out what you want to be when you grow up and Standard Foods did just that for this bustling Oakwood Neighborhood….
