The Peddler Steak House

My parents were in town visiting and they wanted to go here, as I recently took them to Angus Barn.
We arrived around 6:30 and the hostess told me mother they were clearing off tables and it would be 5 minutes. After 15 minutes my mother asked again when our table would be ready, and the hostess was extremely rude, saying it would be at least another half hour. We were about to get up and leave, but decided to wait it out. We shared our experience with another group who advised that the hostess has always left something to be desired.
45 minutes later (one hour in total), a group of 6 (minimum reservation is 8) walks in and is seated immediately. Both my group and the other group stood up and asked for an explanation. The hostess was again rude and said the owner took this special reservation, and there was nothing she could do.
We were seated a few minutes later, and the owner came over to our table and offered us free drinks, which was nice. But why after waiting over an hour could he not come out to the waiting area and offer us an explanation?
The ribeye was fantastic, as was my mom’s fish. My dad did not like his prime rib, as he said it was bland, and was sitting in way too much liquid. The salad bar is excellent, and has some items you don’t normally see on a salad bar, which was nice.
Overall the food gets a 4/​5, and the service gets a ¹⁄₅. The hostess was terrible, the waitress was fine, and the owner could have done more for people waiting an hour when they were told 5 minutes. Even Outback gives finger foods and drinks when people have extended waits. I live just a few minutes away but it’s doubtful I go back.

The atmosphere is dark but quaint and dimly lit. It’s good for a date or quiet conversation.
The food is tasty but the steak needed more seasoning perhaps they leave the salt off for the consumer to add for the health conscience folks. I saw some reviews before I went that downgraded the salad bar but the vegetables were fresh and I felt that it was amply stocked.
I would go again.

Fabulous steak and salad bar. Probably one of my favorite steaks in Raleigh so far but the atmosphere is pretty dated. Great food weird atmosphere.

Went here for my husband’s birthday. Got there a little after 5:00, which is when they open and there were already quite a few full tables. We waited less than five minutes and were seated in a back room. The waitress was attentive and took our orders quickly.
*** One thing to note is that they don’t take reservations unless you have a party of 8 or more ***
As for food, I was impressed with the number of items on the salad bar, but the lettuce was limp. It was sitting in a bit of water, so probably just waterlogged. It looked fresh. They had broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, hard boiled egg, olives, green peppers, cucumber, red onion, cheese, etc. Probably 30 different items (including dressing). Everything was very fresh.
We both had the French onion soup au gratin and while my hubby liked it, it was pretty flavorless to me.
My husband ordered the large portion prime rib and said he thoroughly enjoyed it. He really liked the au jus. I ordered the chopped steak and while it was cooked perfectly, it was rather bland. The chopped steak was supposed to have a seasoning on it, but I couldn’t taste anything other than the steak.
My husband received a free dessert for his birthday which was very nice. It was cheesecake with chocolate and caramel drizzle and written in raspberry or strawberry purée (I think) was ‘Happy Birthday’. It was delicious. I saw another dessert on a table next to us that looked very good and overheard them saying they really liked it.
I came here for my husband and he really liked it which was great. I was a bit disappointed as both the soup and my steak were bland to me. We both loved the dessert.
Overall the service was excellent and if you’re going for prime rib, my husband gives it two forks up. We both recommend the dessert.

This is by far my favorite steakhouse. The environment is soothing and the food is always great. Well worth the splurge. Nice place to celebrate small to medium size gatherings.

The good:
Rib-​eye is flavorful and nicely marbled (read: fatty and delicious)
The wood paneling and vintage décor gives it a nod to nostalgia
Service is fantastic
The «Peddler» comes around and gives you your cut of meat– very cool
The «meh»:
The parking
Salad bar is just okay, not terrible, but just okay
I have driven by 1000 times, but didn’t get to eat here until last week. I enjoyed it and I’m glad I finally got the chance to try it.

I’m a big fan of letting businesses know when they please me as their customer. The Peddler Steakhouse was one of those tonight.
The occasion was my husband’s birthday celebration and this is the restaurant he picked. We haven’t been there in probably 20 years give or take, not because we don’t enjoy it, but we really go out more often for lunch than dinner (it’s the age/​cost thing). While the ambience has not changed, i.e. soft, rich, old-​school, the 20 – 30 ages with us liked it as well as we remembered it. There were six in our party, Mom, us, sons and daughter-​in-​law. We waited in the cozy bar for everyone to arrive, enjoyed the atmosphere and the bartender was professional and pleasant.
Lisa was our server and she was wonderful. The perfect server, actually, as we never ran dry and she was there when needed.
For our entrees, we had the salmon, prime rib, and ribeye for our entrees. All were cooked exactly as ordered. The prime rib was tender and the au jus was plentiful. We all had the salad bar with our meals and it was just as we remembered. Love the smoked oysters! My only criticism there would be the lettuce as it looked wet and was mostly iceberg (I’m a romaine and spinach fan so that’s a personal preference). The baby corn had us smiling remembering Tom Hanks in «Big». The birthday boy was also treated to a complimentary slice of cheesecake with raspberry (?) drizzle, lighted candle and whipped cream that was delicious and we were given extra forks… yay!
As for pricing, The Peddler is competitive as a steakhouse. Salad bar, side and bread are included in the entrée price, so I think it’s reasonable given the area. I’m not a fan of a $ 35 steak where you have to pay extra for a side or salad. They’ve been there for 46 years for a reason. Our total bill with dinner (6), cocktails (3), wine (1 bottle) and 20%+ tip was less than $ 40 per person.
That’s just me so take this review for what it is — my middle-​class, hard-​working, 50-​something, get-​what-​I-​pay-​for opinion. It was good food, good service… that’s all I need. We all left full and happy.

Went here on 7÷7÷15 for a business dinner. They bring the side of meat to your table and slice it to your satisfaction. I opted for the 10 ounce ribeye, sweet potato, and salad bar. The salad bar was well stocked and the house dressing was very good (a vinaigrette). The steaks were cooked to perfection. Hands down the best medium ribeye I have ever had. Melt in your mouth juicy, no sauces or salt needed. The sweet potato was perfectly cooked, peeling away from the skin, and stuffed with cinnamon and sugar. I only rated it 4 stars because it is dark and looks like a funeral home inside. The steaks though? Solid 5 stars.

My lovely dinner guess said ‘it’s not glitzy or glamour’ but truth be told, you don’t need the glitz and glamour when you over all have a fantastic product. the idea behind this place is fantastic, a guy literally comes to the table as a peddler to sell you a steak. I have the 10 ounce ribeye medium rare, it was absolutely delicious I had a side of sweet potato, a salad, & a gin and tonic and a shrimp cocktail. The gin and tonic with a bit light on the gin for my tastes but it was still nice and refreshing for a hot summer night. Everything else was delicious, and the service very attentive, neat, charming. I also appreciate that I didn’t have to wait forever everybody knows how I get when I get hungry :-)

This place is a FAVORITE!
The steaks are cooked on a charcoal grill capturing all the flavor and juices one can hope for in a steak. The atmosphere and dining experience are memorable and the staff are friendly and sincere. You definitely can tell they love what they do — serving!
As if it couldnt get any better, the salad bar is absolutely my favorite part of the visit. You will be back again and again, trust me.

This place is by far the WORST restaurant I have ever been to. The online menu was deceiving as are the other reviews. Atmosphere «intimate «more like an over priced dirty coffee shop. The salad bar was horrific all canned vegetables nothing fresh. I ordered a martini with blue cheese stuffed olives. No go. What kind of steakhouse doesn’t have blue cheese? I then ordered the kabobs. Disgusting! I asked for medium they were rare. So awful I couldn’t eat the food and the martini tasted like cough medicine. When the check came we asked for the manager. He proceeded to tell us that «He didn’t need our business and to get out»
This place needs to close their doors. It was awful. Don’t waste your money. I have never had such an awful meal.

It can be a little pricey but the steaks and prime rib are very good. We love the salad bar too, there is stuff for everyone which is nice. The main problem is the small wait area and bar if they are busy, which is most of the time.

I’ve been here twice, both for birthdays but with two different experiences. The ambience was very quiet and perfect for a nice evening out. Peddler’s gets a lot of criticism for their décor, but I actually like the old-​school décor. It works well with their clientele which is generally slightly older. I love the salad bar as it’s a nice little appetizer to munch on while waiting for the steaks to cook.
I ordered the New York Strip the first time, and sure enough the cart came around to our table and I was able to watch as my steak was sliced. The food was perfect! I asked for a medium and the meat was cooked to the perfect color. The server even brought out a cute little dessert for our birthday guest. The only disappointment was that the fry machine was broken so fries weren’t available as a side.
The second time I went, I got the rib eye cut which can also be cut table-​side. We were asked for the size of our cuts which disappointed me a little because I love watching them cut the steak right in front of me. We both asked for medium and once we cut into our steaks, we realized it was still a cold rare. The server was very apologetic and took our steaks back to be regrilled immediately. The second time they were the perfect temperature but the cut of meat was not the quality I was expecting. Rib eyes are generally a little more fatty, but I the chunks of fat still in my steak made me unable to finish. It had such a greasy taste and would probably not have been the cut of meat I would have picked out myself. The server did once again bring out a nice slice of cheesecake for our birthday guest.
The 3 stars is purely based on the experience with the food – I’ve had wonderful experiences with the servers both times!

If you are like me and enjoy a great filet this is a good place to come!
If you are coming for the atmosphere — go to the Angus Barn… this place hasn’t been updated in decades.
After getting over the out of date look of the restaurant the food and service are spot on. They have a great salad bar with a lot of fresh options to make a wonderful salad. They have a peddler that comes around and will cut the exact piece of meat you are looking for — very neat!
This is a great place for a date night or a celebration — a lot like the Angus Barn, a little cheaper and not as nice of an atmosphere. Overall a decent place to get a steak.

If you want to get a lot of food but you don’t care about the quality then this is the place to go. We had the thinnest most tasteless filet mignon and various other uninspired dishes including chicken, and salmon. I suspect the offerings here have not changed since the day it opened 45 years ago. The same iceberg lettuce salad bar is provided with all entrees including grocery store dressings, canned mushrooms, pickles, and the like. They do make a delicious baked potato that you dress yourself.
There is clearly a market for this place so I’m glad Peddlers is there for those folks. We will not return.

Huge portions! In the area for business and it was recommended to us. Very quiet — not a lot of seating. Big salad bar that comes with your meal, along with a side. A lot of food but not too pricey, would recommend for a quieter evening and filling meal.

It’s been a while since dinning here. Grew up in Spartanburg SC and used to eat at the one there. We were looking for a low key dining experience with a good steak. That’s just what this place provides. They do not take reservations and we went at 6:30 on Saturday night so we ended up waiting about 30 min. I passed the time with a Macallan 18 on the rocks. Dinner was a 10 oz New York strip. It could have been a bit thicker but I’m possibly to blame on that as you can cut to your liking. Being from a small country town this place reminds me of home and I like that.

Yup, it’s a steakhouse alright!
The juiciest filet mignon I’ve ever had hands down. It practically melted in my mouth!
Each entrée comes with a side of your choice.
Their french fries were crunchy and came out piping hot– I know because I burnt my tongue eating them haha
My boyfriend ordered a ribeye steak. You can order a 10 oz or a 12 oz size OR if you have a hearty appetite like him, you can order a larger portion for just $ 1.50 more per oz!
And did you know, each entrée comes with an all-​access pass to their unlimited salad bar? Not that you’d want to fill your tummy with a bunch of veggies at a steakhouse but they offer anything/​everything you’d ever want to BYO salad~
We also ordered the peddler sampler (fried mushrooms, fried cheese and onion rings) as an appetizer. ‘Twas delicious but really, there’s no need to order an appetizer when you know you want to (& should) save your stomach for the meat here!
Our server was extremely friendly and attentive. They actually had a mix up with our order but the chef came out to apologize and immediately had it fixed without charging us or anything like that.
The atmosphere’s very intimate and it was a cool experience but know that each entrée’s ~$ 30…

The peddler came to our table and was the most humble and customer service oriented person that I have ever met!
He made great recommendations. We went with the hose special prime rib — medium rare. According to the Peddler, the family recepie is a secret that not even he, the son of the owners, knows how to make. Comes with the salad bar and your choice of side.
The absolute best prime rib that I have ever eaten! Juicy, thick, flavorful, tender — everything you could possible want in a excellent prime rib!
The crème brûlée was also excellent with a side of raspberry sauce.
The décor of the restaurant is really dated. I believe the Peddler said its been since 1969 since they have renovated or made any changes to the interior decoration.
The waitstaff were very kind and hospitable. Would highly recommend!

Despite the address being on Glenwood, the restaurant is actually closer to Hollybridge Dr. in the Oak Park shopping center. There’s not much parking directly to the front or side of the restaurant, so many people just park along the edge of the parking lot near the restaurant. This sort of haphazard parking around the restaurant can make the place seem less classy.
Inside, it’s dark and quiet, with wood paneling and Sinatra playing, giving it a nice Godfather vibe. We were seated immediately when we arrived at 5:05pm on a Saturday night, and about ¼ the seating was filled already. By the time we left at 6:40pm there was quite a wait, and unfortunately I don’t believe they take reservations for small parties.
I ordered the petit filet mignon, and my husband ordered the larger filet mignon. We were given a choice of potato, rice or steamed veggies, and we both picked the steam veggies. My son ordered the kid’s chicken tenders with fries. All entrees come with the salad bar.
The salad bar was disappointing considering the atmosphere at the restaurant. It was mostly oversized cuts of iceberg with some finer stuff thrown in for show, and then various buckets of cut veggies and other salad toppings. I wasn’t expecting a Brasa-​type buffet, but a few other options like potato salad or cole slaw would have been nice to see, as well as some fruit. Additionally, not all toppings can be reached from one side, so you have to switch sides to get everything you want and that’s just awkward with other people trying to get at the salad bar too.
The food came out after about a 20 minute wait or so. The plates were not hot, and I could see right away the myoglobin leaking out all over the plate probably meant that my filet was not cooked medium as I had asked. I cut it in half and it was quite red, and I doubt it was cooked past medium-​rare in the middle. However the outside was very well done, so I didn’t want to send it back to be overcooked. I think the problem was the grilling method used for the filet. I think they could have done better with a method that involved putting it into a hot oven for 5 – 10 minutes, then searing it. Bacon on the outside could have kept it from getting dried out as well. Either that or they could have butterfly cut it, but this never looks very appealing with a filet mignon.
My husband’s steak, being larger, was even more rare in the middle and even more well-​done on the outside. He was very disappointed in the way it turned out.
The steamed vegetables served with the steaks were mostly broccoli, with a small amount of cauliflower and carrots underneath. The vegetables had no butter or seasoning, so they were incredibly plain.
My son actually liked his meal pretty well. The chicken tenders were served with honey mustard, but he just used ketchup, and he was able to finish off two of them, as well as some fries.
Despite our disappointment with the steaks, I really wanted to get some dessert. It took a long time to get our waitress to bring us a dessert menu, and even longer for her to come back and take my order. By that time my husband just wanted to leave, but I wanted to order the chocolate lava cake. It was $ 6, which is borderline for me, but it ended up being really big and really good. It had a delicious chocolate cake on the outside, warm chocolate lava on the inside, and was served with huge portions of ice cream and whipped cream. It was big enough to share, but I had the good fortune of being able to eat it all myself.
At over an hour and a half, we spent a lot longer at The Peddler than we intended to. I like a nice leisurely dinner, but anytime over an hour and I start feeling bored. I think if I ever come back, I’ll order dessert at the time I order my meal, and request the bill halfway through my meal.
I think the fundamental problem is we ordered filet mignon at a restaurant that wasn’t prepared to cook it to medium without burning the outside. But maybe they shouldn’t put it on their menu if they can’t do it correctly. For a $ 30 steak, they really need to do better. If I ever come back, I would instead go for a rib eye or prime rib, but I would definitely not get the filet mignon ever again. If I get in a filet mignon mood again, I think I’ll head to Brasa, since they wrap it in bacon the way I like it.