This revamped staple in the Mordecai neighborhood is serving staples that will blow you away.

It feels like just yesterday I was walking into a strange grocery/restaurant concept that was fairly empty next to the Raleigh City Gardens. Fast forward many years (to think my freshman year of high school was actually almost eight years ago is disgusting, but I digress,) and you’ll come to find the same name, but a much livelier and cooler feel. Welcome to Standard Food + Beer.

Graffiti all over the walls, bright natural lighting, huge fiddle leaf figs, and TONS of patrons, some even sharing tables with strangers fill this awesome space. I say awesome right off the bat because the Person Street and Mordecai neighborhood is probably my favorite in Raleigh, just from a small business standpoint (it also has some of the best food in a little area.) Spend the day shopping for books and vinyls at So & So, migrate over to Yellow Dog or Two Roosters for a sweet treat, and find unique goods at Unlikely Professionals and Edge of Urge. Oh and don’t forget to grab some wine from Wine Authorities. After all that shopping and grazing in that small little block right there, one can work up a healthy appetite. In the past, I would have skipped Standard Foods because of my original memories of it, but the hustle and bustle that I could see just drew me in one fine Sunday afternoon. Thank goodness for gut instinct.

We plopped down at one of the benches and began our order, and the brunch menu popped up-much to my dismay because I had heard of some good tacos, but we will circle back to that. Cocktails were first, and me being me, missing warm weather and not wanting a tequila drink, I ordered a frozen pina colada. Odd choice, but I mean it was a damn good one and I stand by it. The next order of business as I scrolled on my phone-the menu and ordering is contactless-think like Bar Taco-and made my decisions for the meal. Deviled eggs were definitely going to be ordered, and then the unassuming standard burger seemed alright to me. I wasn’t feeling the waffle or breakfast taco options and so I just went full on lunch.

The deviled eggs rolled in first to our party, and the paprika and capers gave them such a unique flavor profile- enough pickle to it plus a lil spice. It was nice! I was enjoying every last chew until my burger was placed in front of me.

I nearly dislocated my jaw looking at it.

The shock. The awe. The beauty! This was no regular burger, you know the kind that’s a safe bet, sometimes a lil dry, but always pretty consistent. This was not that. At all. This was a smashburger in all of her glory, dripping with a secret sauce and american cheese, a glimpse of a pickle saying hello, accompanied by this crisp choir of tater tots as the supporting cast. One bite, and I was sold. The patties were so crisp on the edges, the onions sliced nice and thin to give some crunch, but not overwhelm you, and that SAUCE! It was a bomb in every way.

I’m going to make a bold statement, but until I am given evidence otherwise, the Standard Burger is the best burger in the triangle*. By a mile. I couldn’t wait to go back and try out tacos and the other offerings because I was more than satisfied. I had been taken to Burger Church, and it was glorious, and I had a suspicion that everything else would be too.

So a few weeks passed, and a taco-shaped-hole had formed in my heart, so when my best friend and fellow food fanatic Lizzy surprised me with a weekend visit, I knew exactly what we were doing for dinner one night.

This time, we were the ones sitting next to strangers at a communal bench, and yet we didn’t feel odd about it and it was easy to move to an open two seater with their ordering system. Bonus points for convenience and community!

We ordered a few drinks that night, but my standout goes to The Chupacabra; tequila, mezcal, chili-pineapple, lime, jalapeño and good times. It had the smokiness and spice that I’ve grown to love in a cocktail, and in all of my visits since (spoiler alert, not like you can’t guess how this review will end anyways,) I have gotten that as my drink of choice. A star and the perfect patio drink, especially as summer creeps up on us (it was nearly 80° yesterday! The happy season is almost here!)

Next, I ordered three tacos; one fish, and two fried oysters. Oysters are my favorite and I just couldn’t imagine it being bad. Our food was prompt, and out came my three tacos on the tray. The winner between my two proteins? Shockingly, the crispy fish. Here’s why:

1. People had hyped the oyster taco up to outer space when I asked about everyone’s favorite item.
2. The oysters were teensy- this is definitely an irregularity with the batch though. I don’t blame the restaurant at all.
3. The toppings on these tacos were as follows: a red cabbage slaw, pickled red onions, and a crab aioli. The crab aioli complimented the fish, and I could still taste the fish. It had its legs (not literally of course, but kinda funny how that sentence ended up.) The oysters on the other hand were overwhelmed and overpowered by the aioli. Again, this could easily be due to them being smaller and the batch not being the greatest.

So while I was saddened a little bit by my oysters, my fish was amazing, and I will be going and giving those oysters another go when I return for dinner- I saw the vision, I could tell why it was a fan favorite. You just can’t control the size of shellfish!

Well having gone many times at that point, my dad and I thought “What the heck, it’s stunning out, let’s grab a couple sandwiches from Standard Food and soak up the sun.” yesterday. I ordered my chupacabra and thought to try out the Brunch Burger.

This varied from the Standard Burger in many ways; topped with garlic mayo, caramelized onions, bacon jam, cheddar, and a nice over-easy egg (swoon), this was the ideal brunch burger. When I think of brunch, I sometimes want a little bit of sweet and savory in one, and this burger brought exactly that. Is it better than the Standard Burger, not for me personally because I don’t enjoy sweeter toppings all the time, but for this morning and for when you do want a true brunch, this burger has got it going on.

So where oh where do I stand when it comes to Standard Food + Beer? 5/5 stars, easily. Even with my oyster experience, because that really is an out of control issue. Don’t worry, I’ll be back and I’ll be grabbing one with some real oysters on top, but that fish taco should win some recognition, it was seriously delish. I’d bring anyone and everyone I love and care about here; it’s casual, it’s youthful, it’s vibrant, it’s in an awesome neighborhood, and the quality of food is nowhere near standard, it’s freaking exceptional.

Go and try it, and while you’re at it bring me too.

*Think you know of a better burger? Send me recommendations via Instagram DM @munchwithriles. I’m ready to see how they hold up.