ONE restaurant

Your review helps others learn about great local businesses. I reserved a table two nights before, and when they called to confirm the reservation I mentioned we would be coming from me proposing. Upon our arrival they had roses on the table, glasses waiting, and a server pour for us. Most of the staff discreetly congratulated us on entering or leaving. I searched the bill afterwards and it was all complimentary. I was really impressed and so thankful for the thoughtfulness and service.
On top of that, every dish was amazing. The portions appear small but the quality and arrangement was so good that it ended up being just the right amount of food. This is an incredible place that I’d happily return to.

Celebrated our 2 year anniversary at ONE restaurant. They had a table set up with a nice view of the kitchen and a handwritten note addressed to us.
I was craving a red wine so I decided to go with a glass of Pinot Noir.
Boyfriend and I decided to both do the 4 Course Tasting menu.
Boyfriend selected the.
— Egg Fried in Pennsylvania Dutch Corn, my favorite selection of the night.
— Chestnut & Truffle Bisque, loved the ricotta dumplings.
— Beef Cheek Cannelloni, beef cheek was recommended by a friend so we had to give it a try, it was delicious and extremely tender.
— Broken Arrow Ranch, Axis Venison, a bit too rare for my liking but I did like the rutabaga.
While I selected the.
— Mushroom Strudel, definitely the favorite out of my selections but you have to love mushrooms to love this dish.
— Chicken & Sweetbread Ballantine, my least favorite dish of the night, I was just not a fan of the ingredients and how they were paired.
— Ribeye of Beef, I also wish this dish was cooked a bit longer, it was medium rare and a bit difficult for me to eat since it was so chewy. The next day I did cook it a bit longer, it was so tender and tasty.
— Dark Chocolate Torte, a tasty dessert choice.
Service was good, we did not have a dedicated server so a few questions were repeated since they did not communicate prior to asking us.
To end the meal, they brought out 2 Cookies n Cream Truffles which were to die for! What a great way to end the meal plus we left stuffed!

I have taken a little hiatus from reviewing, but eating at this establishment has moved me to write a review. The most astonishing fact about this place is that it is located in Chapel Hill, NC and not in a major city.
Upon entering we were seated promptly at our scheduled reservation time. The décor was modern and very clean. Open kitchen concept with dedicated stations clearly visible for those to watch.
Staff was on point and service was top notch. Wine selection was very good with excellent offerings by the glass as well. I started with a specialty cocktail that was so amazing I asked about how it was made. The bartender actually came over and explained his concoction of honeysuckle infused vodka, thyme, cranberry, balsamic reduction, and citrus masterpiece. Needless to say… doesn’t look like I will be able to easily reproduce this.
We opted for the 7 course Impromptu Chef’s Tasting. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for those who enjoy the art of dining. This tasting would easily be TWICE the price in any major city. What I found interesting was that they asked my wife and I what we liked, definitely didn’t want, and if we had allergies, then they created a different tasting for each of us! Not knowing what we were going to get next was cool. 42 Grams in Chicago similarly does not reveal courses as well.
The courses were perfect, not too much and not too dainty. They covered the full spectrum of acidic to savory flavors. You will NOT leave hungry. Every detail from the perfect amount of sea salt in their mini pretzels rolls to their amazing cream butter was spectacular.
We liked to collect menus from our fine dining experiences. When I asked the waiter for one of their menus (which didn’t really say what we had eaten specifically) he did one better and printed us 2 custom mini menus of our exact courses!
The ONLY negative thing I can say is that we live too far to be a regular at this establishment. We rank this as one of our top dining experiences. Kudos to the Chefs, Management, & staff! Well done!

From start to finish the service and the food was just down right some of the best anywhere in the world that I’ve had.
The wife and I flew in from NYC for the weekend to celebrate our five year anniversary.
The length to which the restaurant went to made us feel welcomed was way over the top. But that being said it was in such a perfect manner. From everyone wishing us a happy anniversary to a hand written card presented on a tiny pedestal. And the little chocolate bar given as a parting gift.
The best seats in the house are at the chef’s counter. Seeing the action to put together your dinner makes you appreciate the effort. If you go definitely sit at the bar.
The wife and I opted for the 4 course tasting menu. This gives you a chance to explore the options. Definitely save room for dessert. Try not to fill up on that little fluffy poof of heaven aka a pretzel roll with sweet cream and smoky butter.
The chestnut gnocchi, the octopus and the tagliatelle were the favorites of the night. The chicken of the sea was also a truly awesome dish. The crispy chicken skin around the kohlrabi fish was just to perfect.
The presentation of dessert was just so realistic. We got the autumnal leaves. It looked as though someone took the perfect picture of a small pile of leaves and then recreated it in chocolate banana and walnut. Visually as stunning as the taste.
What a wonderful evening! Definitely a must go while in this area.

Went here for my birthday last month and it was truly incredible. The best service food and ambience I’ve ever experienced. My second visit and standards were just as high each time. One put Herons, were I lunched the day before, to shame. We did the tasting menu and a bottle of wine. There are so many compliments served in addition to the food you actually order I was shocked. Usually a place like this you expect to get your food in small portions and nothing else but this was so much more. Each dish was an experience in itself. Since they’d been informed it was my birthday there was a card and a gift waiting for me at the table. The pretzel rolls are incredible and fresh-​baked constantly. Our least favorite things were the egg fried in corn and A fish dish with white asparagus that appears to have been removed from the menu already. Our favorites were the beef, falling leaves and every other accompaniment that was an additional surprise. Go now.

Amazing dinner for our anniversary. Did the 4 course tasting menu for $ 65. Great deal and left stuffed! Too stuffed!
The onion potage with fermented petals, watercress, seaweed, gruyére was unbelievably good. We also tried the octopus with marcona almonds and garlic aioli and the black squid ink tagliatelle was awesome. We could have eaten appetizers all night long.
However both our entrees were so-​so. We had the flounder with the pig tail and the cobia wrapped in chicken skin (aka chicken of the sea). I appreciate the fall theme and heartiness of the flavored but to be honest they overwhelmed the flavor of the fish.
The homemade pretzel bread was so hot the butter ran down the side dripping on the table– we ordered seconds and thirds!
The deserts were amazing and intriguing. A variety of different visual effects, textures, and tastes. We had the chocolate leaves with the banana and sour cream ice cream — yum. We also had a plate of orange colored tastes with meringue.
Service was slow to start — 20 min to be greeted and get the wine list — but was very attentive and professional after that. It’s actually an amazing sight so see 5 – 8 waiters walking quickly in a soldier like line delivering the entrees to tables. This attention to detail of the visual impact of all aspects of dining was wow.
Makes you feel like you are in a top city of the world eating — NY, London, San Francisco — not Chapel Hill.

this is how a restaurant must be. From the moment we arrived until the end all we received was treats and smiles, along with great food. this is a must for food fanatics!

Just had a wonderful dinner with my husband at One! The food was awesome, service unforgettable and the experience second to none.

I brought an important client from Japan here and am very happy I did. At first the look caught me off guard as it is very New York hip looking, designed with minimalism. My initial concern was elevated when just the bread came out. Amazing pretzel rolls that I could not get enough of. The handmade butter was also incredible. My client and I both ordered the steak which was made with perfection. To wrap it up we had desserts that made the overall experience 5 stars.
We typically eat at Herons yet now have a better option. Herons is great yet can be a bit stuffy. This place is a much more relaxed, top notch location.

This is the only review I’ve ever written for a place to which I’ve never been. I know what you’re thinking: «WHAT IS HE DOING IS HE A MADMAN»
He’s not. Chef Daniel and Chef Kim came up to the James Beard House in New York City with their team and prepared simply the most incredible tasting menu and wine pairing I’d had in quite some time. They made some special items so I can’t point to specific items on their menu, but if I’m ever in Chapel Hill, I’ll be splurging on that impromptu chef’s tasting menu.
In Daniel and Kim We Trust. #IDAKWT
Food: ⁵⁄₅
Value: N/​A
Service: ⁵⁄₅
Atmosphere: N/​A

Great food + nice atmosphere and service! Came here with friends, each of us has the $ 65 four course tasting menu. The foil gras appetizer was good but not great, like the fig jam, but would be better without the coco layer. Octopus appetizer was great! Highlight was the sweetbread main course. As good as in French. Dessert was good looking but taste OK. drinks wre all good. Overall love this place.

Went on a Thursday night and was surprised the place wasn’t packed. Yes it’s expensive for the area, but this ain’t no chipotle. Everything we tried was amazing. I have zero complaints. The service was impeccable. Drew took excellent care of us, although I’m sure we were a rather boring table with few questions and even fewer comments besides «YUM» and «WOW.» Sorry. That’s all I could come up with to describe my delight. My favorite item was the watermelon sorbet. I might come back and sit at the bar just to enjoy that again. I hope more people come out to support this establishment. Maybe we just happened to catch them on a slow night. I’ll be back!

Ah, another surgeon dinner meeting… Capital Grille? Mortons? Some other high priced chain? No, something completely different.
First, the menu revolves around the best local ingredients. There were some great fish options but I decided to go with the veal. Great presentation. We started with a foie gras appetizer that was insanely good.
Great place for a business meeting and inventive food. BRAVO!

I am pleasantly surprised to have found a restaurant of this caliber in the triangle!
My friend and I each ordered the chef’s impromptu tasting menu with no dietary restrictions. Imagine our surprise when every single course prepared for us was completely different! The service was outstanding, and the food was fantastic. The dessert courses fell a little short – the packed ice at the bottom of the «not root beer» float should not have been there – but the truffle given with the check was superb.
I’m excited to go back and see how the menu continues to change.

We went to One for my husband’s birthday on the recommendation of a friend. It’s always tough going into a place with high expectations, but One managed to supersede those expectations! Our waiter was so knowledgeable and kind! The way he described the food made us drool and want one of everything. All of the service was impeccable! The food … Wow! Beautiful, inventive, flavorful, and all around amazing!!! We will be back for sure!!! Highly recommend!

Arrived to an empty bar 7:30 on Saturday night and asked for dinner menus. The bartender was very polite but said the chef did not allow dinner at the bar when they were that busy. One truly is loneliest number when you all alone in a bar and still can’t get served. The bartender agreed that we were his only customers and asked the chef if we could dine at the bar, which he agreed to. It just feels very pretentious and not very welcoming.
I give the presentations a 5 star as the apps and entrees looked amazing, but the taste and portion size just didn’t match my expectations here. The menu changes frequently, but after my third trip here I realized there is nothing that ever grabs you and screams… «that sounds awesome»
And while there are six TVs, don’t expect to catch any sports as it against the rules. At 8:30 another couple arrived in the bar requesting to watch Stanley cup but were denied.

One Restaurant overcharges unsuspecting customers!
You expect to be ripped off by sleazy electronic stores in NYC, but by an expensive restaurant like One in Chapel Hill? That was exactly what had happened to us tonight! They sent us a bill for twice as much ($ 600 instead of $ 300 for a table of 4!), and when we went back to them, the two guys dressing like managers claimed it was wrong, and produced another bill with still many extra charges. when pointed out again, they went back and finally got us the bill with the correct items we had ordered, and made no apology or explanation as if this is how they usually do business. it probably is. The last thing you want after a dinner with friends is to worry about how the restaurant may try to cheat on you. This is the last time for me to come to this place.

Denmark has Noma. Chicago has Alinea, England has the Fat Duck. There are culinary innovators at the forefront of modern techniques, flavor mining and creativity paired with simple excellence and mindful sourcing in food. Chapel Hill is not — quite — up to supporting something quite like the Nordic Food Lab or the Momofuku fermentation laboratory, but what it does have is ONE restaurant. And that is definitely something worth counting on a culinary scale.
ONE is owned and operated by truly passionate chefs who embrace modernist techniques without needing showy gimmicks to be the focus of a dish. Meticulously artistic plating and a deep understanding of food chemistry at the molecular level is only the framing of the art that happens here. The canvas of each dish is painted in pure, vibrant flavors brought to their peak by impeccable culinary technique informed by the depth of that understanding. The overall ethos is playful and experiential, showcasing local and regional flavors with an international palate.
In some cases the produce is hyper-​local — microgreens and rare herbs are grown on premises, and their wild foragers ‘flavor mine’ the South for the unique and sometimes long forgotten tastes and textures of the region. Menus are utterly seasonal; one thing you won’t find is anything being served that isn’t at its peak. Creative preservation and fermentation is definitely a thing here, with house made wild ramp kimchi and aged local duck as outstanding examples.
I’ve eaten at some of the top spots and been privileged enough to confer with a few of the innovative giants of the culinary world. I am humbly grateful to have been able to experience their incredible artistry through the medium of food and flavor. ONE is a worthy member of this exclusive club, and a dining experience as complex and challenging and satisfying.
Service is as highly polished as the food, so if you’re looking for a romantic experience, this is one I would highly recommend. If you’re a hardcore foodie or in the industry, definitely ask for a seat at the chef bar. From there you get a full view of the working kitchen to watch and learn from their techniques, and that alone is worth the price of admission.
No, it’s not cheap. But it is surprisingly inexpensive for the level of cuisine, the amazing ingredients and the techniques being showcased here. The amount of highly skilled and meticulous work that goes into a single element on a single dish is impressive. This is a level of culinary skill and greatness that is worth aspiring to, and being inspired by.

Haute cuisine is ever so slowly penetrating the triangle dining scene. Though not necessarily a bad thing, it gives places like ONE a chance to shine.
These guys really try to meld the modern and stylish. Look past the sterile décor, busy floor, and there’s a kitchen that is nearly wide open for all to see. Menus are clean and every one of the a la carte items looked good. However, we decided on the impromptu tasting, which was supposed to be a menu of surprises. It consisted of about 6 courses and a few amuses. Many of the dishes came right off the menu, which was a touch disappointing. I would have been much more disappointing if I had been here before. The tasting for two were completely separate, which you could either like or dislike. On one hand you get to share and experience many more dishes; on the other you don’t get the experience of a full simultaneous taste. Feel free to debate that point.
Plating feels slightly restrained with many of the decorative components being made prior to plating, but execution was very near spot on. My favorite was the cold pork broth soup with kimchi and cucumbers, which was the first course and truly exceptional. Not to say that it was all downhill from there, but I could still remember that dish long after we had finished our meal. Desserts were definitely a plus with both the faux peach and egg being a nice finale. Overall, the menu felt fresh, exuding colorful and bright flavors, though not overly dressed-​up.
The first of what I expect will be many more visits, we elected to go with the wine pairing instead of a bottle. Since the menu leaned heavily on the lighter side, with lots of great seafood, white pairing were appropriate. I would have liked more red, but was satisified.
A few items to note. If you can, get seat at the bar running alongside the kitchen. This will give you some insight into what it takes to cook complex dishes and even some good conversation with the chefs. The bar was empty on a Saturday night. Based on the cocktail menu, it seemed like the bar could really produce something really good. The extensive wine list is a little daunting, but it comes on an iPad so it’s pretty easy to search through.
4 stars for haute cuisine that rivals Scott Crawford’s Herons food. 1 off for what felt like a surprise menu that really wasn’t. I’ll have to make another trip soon for a seat near the kitchen and a little more say on my menu.

Had the chefs’ tasting menu plus wine pairing! Service was wonderful! Super attentive and just wonderful!
Started with some «snacks» which were delicious! Then had the house made pretzel which was warm and soft and straight out of the oven… Delicious!
The first course was a soup with shrimp and it was pretty good. The second course was the chicken tortellini which I did not care much for… Not too much flavor.
The third course was amazing! Fried cobia w black lager with peas and ham knuckle and pickles. Amazing smoky flavor and texture! I loved it! My favorite dish of the meal!
The next course was a lamb dish which was okay. Finished with a delicious and beautiful dessert and a passion fruit marshmallow dish at the very end.
Overall, great service, love the open kitchen, love the presentation of all the dishes. The fried cobia was definitely probably one of the best dishes I have ever had ever! I wish the other dishes had blown me away too but they didn’t. Can’t wait to go back and try the impromptu chefs tasting menu!!!