Food & Drink · Restaurants
Death & Taxes
About
Death & Taxes: Wood-Fired Fine Dining in Downtown Raleigh
On West Hargett Street in the heart of downtown Raleigh, Death & Taxes has become one of the city’s defining dining destinations. This is the wood-fired restaurant from acclaimed chef and restaurateur Ashley Christensen, and it channels every ounce of her considerable talent into a single, elemental idea: cooking with live fire. From the moment you step inside, the glow and crackle of the hearth signal that this is a restaurant built around flame, char and the deep, primal flavors that only real wood can coax out of great ingredients.
A Restaurant Built Around Live Fire
Death & Taxes is described as a contemporary restaurant dedicated to the technique of cooking with wood fire, and that dedication shows in every corner of the menu. Nearly everything passes through or near the open hearth, from vegetables and seafood to the restaurant’s celebrated steaks. The result is a style of cooking that feels both rustic and refined, where smoke becomes a seasoning and the fire itself is treated as an ingredient. It is contemporary American cooking with an unmistakable Southern accent and a reverence for craft.
The Story Behind the Name
The restaurant’s memorable name is rooted in its history. Death & Taxes occupies a striking 1907 building in downtown Raleigh that, over the decades, served as both a bank and a funeral home, an inspiration for the wry, unforgettable moniker. Today that history is woven into the experience. The dining room is full of character and warmth, and downstairs you will find a wine cellar built into the basement’s old converted bank vault, a genuinely one-of-a-kind spot to explore a thoughtfully assembled list.
What to Eat and Drink
The menu changes with the seasons and the market, but the through line is always fire and quality. You might begin with roasted North Carolina oysters finished with chili butter, fried NC shrimp with buried garlic aioli, or a bright plate of market tomatoes. From there, wood-fired mains range from a grilled half-chicken with embered mirepoix to fresh North Carolina fish, alongside a lineup of prime and dry-aged steaks that are the stars of the hearth. A full bar, craft cocktails and an extensive wine selection round out the experience, and desserts like Basque cheesecake offer a fitting finish.
Ashley Christensen’s Vision
Death & Taxes carries the pedigree of one of the South’s most celebrated chefs. Ashley Christensen is a James Beard Award winner, honored as Best Chef: Southeast in 2014 and as Outstanding Chef in 2019, one of the most prestigious recognitions in American cooking. Her restaurants have helped put Raleigh on the national culinary map, and Death & Taxes represents her ambitious, fire-focused vision at its most polished. Diners here are experiencing the work of a chef whose influence reaches far beyond North Carolina.
Plan Your Visit
Death & Taxes is open for dinner Monday through Thursday from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM and Friday and Saturday from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and is closed on Sundays. Given its popularity and intimate setting, reservations are strongly recommended and can be booked easily through OpenTable. Whether you are marking a special occasion, entertaining out-of-town guests or simply craving the singular pleasure of food cooked over an open flame, this downtown Raleigh landmark delivers an evening worth savoring.