Death and Taxes
1 / 10

Death and Taxes

4.6
·491k reviews·,

A celebrated Raleigh restaurant by Chef Ashley Christensen, known for wood-fired cooking in a historic, intimate setting with sophisticated cocktails.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Death and Taxes

Death and Taxes

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A celebrated Raleigh restaurant by Chef Ashley Christensen, known for wood-fired cooking in a historic, intimate setting with sophisticated cocktails.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"This meal wasn’t just dinner, it was an experience."

TIP

Romantic Seating

Request a table along the outer wall with bench seating for a more romantic dining experience.

Cocktail Choice

Try the Happy Camper for colder months; My Second Rodeo is also a standout.

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Quick Facts

Open·Closes 9PM

Cuisine

New American

Price

$$$

Phone

(984) 242-0218

Address

105 W Hargett St, Raleigh, NC 27601, USA

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Wood-Fired Culinary Mastery

Wood-Fired Culinary Mastery

Experience the artistry of James Beard Award-winning Chef Ashley Christensen's wood-fired techniques, highlighting local ingredients.

Best Restaurants in Downtown Raleigh, NCBest Restaurants In Raleigh That You Need to Try Now17 Best Restaurants in Raleigh, NC+2
Intimate & Swanky Ambiance

Intimate & Swanky Ambiance

Dine in an intimate, upscale setting within a historic building, featuring a sophisticated atmosphere and an open kitchen.

17 Best Restaurants in Raleigh, NCThe best restaurants in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and beyond
Inventive Cocktails & Dishes

Inventive Cocktails & Dishes

Savor unique cocktails like Happy Camper or My Second Rodeo, alongside creative dishes such as bone marrow starters.

Best Restaurants In Raleigh That You Need to Try NowGoogle Review
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Death and Taxes 60 second review! #deathandtaxes #videogamereview #worthaminute #wam #indiegame #managementsim #shorts #lifeanddeath
@worthaminutereviews
986 likes • 62.8K views

Romantic Seating

Request a table along the outer wall with bench seating for a more romantic dining experience.

Cocktail Choice

Try the Happy Camper for colder months; My Second Rodeo is also a standout.

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@gamereviewskvm
453 likes • 66.1K views
What do you think of taxes? People have always held opinions about taxes. Even today, we are amidst a heated battle about it. Join us tomorrow for the theatrical premiere of "Death & Taxes" to watch the personal story of a father and son at odds over the estate tax, which we hope will open up discussions about how our tax policies affect our democracy. "Death & Taxes" opens at 7 pm at the IFC Cent...
@deathtaxesdoc
11 likes • 453 views

Parking

Parking is generally easy to find on the street or in nearby lots.

Dietary Needs

The restaurant is accommodating for food allergies and can create off-menu dishes.

I love it when my boss keeps the job simple. Check them off and get out.#deathandtaxes #cozygames #cozyathome #steam #instantgaming #gameplay #grim #grimreaper
@unclemiahh
44 likes • 4.3K views

Tips

from all over the internet

Romantic Seating

Request a table along the outer wall with bench seating for a more romantic dining experience.

Cocktail Choice

Try the Happy Camper for colder months; My Second Rodeo is also a standout.

Parking

Parking is generally easy to find on the street or in nearby lots.

Dietary Needs

The restaurant is accommodating for food allergies and can create off-menu dishes.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Death & Taxes is highly praised for its inventive New American cuisine, impeccable service, and intimate, upscale atmosphere. Diners rave about wood-fired dishes, creative cocktails, and the attentive staff. While most experiences are overwhelmingly positive, some have noted minor disappointments with specific dishes or desserts, though the overall consensus points to a memorable and high-quality dining experience.

"We brought our friends here for a lovely meal! A very intimate space. The wait staff were well versed in the menu and also friendly to chat to in-between courses. We all got a variety of different food but my personal favorites were the potato leek style soup, the roasted oysters and the wintered greens. It was an amazing meal and I can’t wait to come back and try it with the rotating menu!"

Rosie H

"Amazing Birthday Celebration

I celebrated my birthday at Death & Taxes in December 2024 with family and friends, and the whole experience was incredible. Everyone in our group had a great time. The Second Rodeo cocktail was a standout—perfectly balanced with a smoky twist that I’ll definitely come back for.

The food was delicious from start to finish—each dish was packed with flavor and cooked with care. The wood-fired cooking really added something special. The atmosphere was cozy yet modern, and the open kitchen made the experience even more engaging.

The staff was attentive and made us feel welcome throughout the night. It was a memorable evening, and I’d highly recommend Death & Taxes for birthdays, celebrations, or just a great night out in Raleigh."

Sukhbir Gill

"Death and Taxes is a great spot for a 4th or 5th date (or first, if you’re a big baller), or celebrating any occasion. The food is good to great, and service is really excellent! I tend to only leave 5 star reviews if this combination is met, and they definitely delivered.

We are vegetarian, and it is pretty hard to introduce us to new ways to eat vegetables. So, the beet appetizer was a pleasant surprise as we hadn’t really had such a flavor profile before. The tomato appetizer was also good. We shared the vegetarian pasta afterwards, which was citrusy and good, although could have used more umami notes. The carrot side was also good, and family style sharing is definitely possible (or even encouraged?) here. All the dessert options and drinks are delicious.

Our waitress was awesome, in line with other reviews. Shocked to hear it was only her second day on the job! Upon hearing about the reasons for our celebration that evening, she kindly brought out a little pour of something special on the house. But regardless of that gesture the attention and excitement she has for the food and our dining was impressive.

Since I was a bit confused about dress code before going, I can now suggest this spot fits squarely into the category I call “if your shirt has at least two buttons, you’re good.”"

Divyam Goel

What People Like

Inventive wood-fired dishes
Exceptional and knowledgeable staff
Creative and well-balanced cocktails

What People Dislike

Occasional issues with dessert quality
Some dishes found underwhelming for the price

Frequently Asked Questions

Death & Taxes is celebrated for its wood-fired cooking techniques, inventive New American dishes, and sophisticated cocktails, all served in an intimate, upscale atmosphere.

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Popular choices include bone marrow starters, wood-fired oysters, steaks, and creative desserts like the Baked Alaska.

Google Review+1

Yes, the restaurant offers a well-curated cocktail menu with unique creations like 'Happy Camper' and 'My Second Rodeo', as well as zero-proof options.

Best Restaurants In Raleigh That You Need to Try NowGoogle Review

The dress code is generally smart casual; if your shirt has at least two buttons, you're likely good to go.

Google Review

Yes, they are accommodating for food allergies and can prepare off-menu dishes for dietary needs like vegetarian or vegan.

Google Review+1

Parking is typically easy to find along the street or in multiple lots around downtown Raleigh.

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When chef Ashley Christensen opened the 60-seat Death & Taxes—her fifth dining spot in downtown Raleigh—in 2015, the news made big waves, ultimately earning the restaurant the honor of being one of five finalists for the Beard Foundation's best new restaurant award. The wood-fired-focused restaurant—housed in a building once home to a bank and then a funeral home (hence the name!)—boasts an extensive cocktail and wine program that compliments meat and fish staples that are further complimented by grilled vegetables, oysters, salads and more. View this post on Instagram

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Death & Taxes: We loved our experience at Poole’s the first time we visited Raleigh. So much so that we knew we had to try another Ashley Christensen restaurant upon our return to Raleigh!. Death & Taxes was listed as one of the Best New Restaurants by Food & Wine in 2016, and it is definitely worth the hype. Death & Taxes features a menu of wood-grilled dishes prepared with Southern ingredients, and it will certainly be one of the most memorable dining experiences of your life!

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Death & Taxes is a contemporary Raleigh restaurant dedicated to the craft of cooking with wood fire. Chef Ashley Christensen packs the menu at Death & Taxes with embered elements and local ingredients, from North Carolina oysters to embered tomato jam on grilled peaches. The food doesn’t disappoint, and the craft cocktails pull a close second – try the Carolina Gold, with peach-basil syrup and balsamic caramel to complement dry vermouth and vodka.

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Death & Taxes is an upscale restaurant by James Beard Award-winning chef Ashley Christensen. It opened in 2015 in a historic downtown building that once housed a bank and later a funeral home (hence the clever name). In a renovated 1920s building, Death and Taxes is best known for its wood-fired cooking techniques, elegant atmosphere with an open kitchen, sophisticated cocktails, and delicious dishes made with locally sourced seasonal ingredients.

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This restaurant gets its unique name from the Benjamin franklin quote that used to be on its walls – “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”. In fact, if you consider the previous owners of these four walls, you would understand where the name came from – a funeral home and a bank. Ashley Christensen, the founder of multiple popular restaurants around town came up with this concept in 2015.

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It's been a decade since chef Ashley Christensen's Death & Taxes opened in downtown Raleigh, a period that feels long enough to call it a certified staple of the Raleigh fine-dining scene. Built around the power of a wood-fired cooking, Death & Taxes has one of the most intimate dining rooms in the city, and the perfectly roasted meats and veggies continue to make it a go-to for special occasions or just a Tuesday night out.

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Also, I love AC restaurants, Beasley's is a favorite when family comes to town and Death and Taxes is a great meal alongside Poole's. I think my favorite thing about AC is the influence she has made on the scene in Raleigh and how may people who have come through her kitchens have opened places of their own. I just wanted to give some love to the places that aren't in the paper all the time.

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Death & Taxes, a contemporary American restaurant by acclaimed chef Ashley Christensen, is another excellent choice. Located in a historic building on Hargett Street, this restaurant specializes in wood-fired dishes that highlight seasonal ingredients. Try the grilled oysters or the heritage pork chop, and pair your meal with a craft cocktail or a selection from their extensive wine list.

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Death and Taxes is a prominent venue in Raleigh known for its inventive New American cuisine and crafted cocktails. The restaurant in a former bank enhances its unique dining experience by incorporating an onsite wine cellar within the original bank vault, blending historical elements with modern culinary practices. The interior of Death and Taxes has an intimate, swanky ambiance.

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Ashley Christensen’s fine-dining restaurant is not open yet for in-restaurant dining. But it recently resumed serving meals to take-home. For Valentine’s Day, this take-home meal for two includes lobster tortelloni in melted leek cream, Picanha steak with bone marrow butter twice-baked potato, and bacon-wrapped green beans, focaccia with olive oil and Videri chocolate budino.

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Death and Taxes in Raleigh, NC is a modern American restaurant located in the heart of downtown. Their ever-changing menu offers a unique blend of classic flavors from around the world, all crafted from locally sourced ingredients. With an atmosphere that is both cozy and upscale, Death and Taxes is the perfect spot for a special occasion or romantic date night.

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You can spend hours geeking out together over the amazing exhibits before cruising over to the capital building to indulge in a fancy meal at Death and Taxes. The menu is as sublime as the elegant decor and reason to get dressed up if you wish. Save room for dessert and handcrafted cocktails at Bittersweets, where the menu is loaded with temptation.

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