Pubs are a popular destination for people seeking a comfortable place to eat, drink and be merry. For those who enjoy the simple charm of their favorite pub, there's great news: gastropubs. Gastropubs still have all of the inviting qualities of their counterparts, but they specialize in high-quality food in lieu of the average "pub grub". While this greasy comfort grub can really hit the spot at times, the excellent cuisine at gastropubs is great for those who want to venture out and try something new.

Raleigh boasts its very own gastropub, The Oxford. Located downtown on Fayetteville Street, The Oxford has the ambience of an upscale pub and restaurant combined. They offer a wide variety of excellent dishes, including Fried Goat Cheese Salad, Grilled Salmon Picatta, and Rare Roasted Prime Rib, to highlight a few. They also have impressive weekly specials, such as the $5 Pub Burger on Mondays and $2 well drinks on Sundays.

With summer approaching, The Oxford's outdoor seating allows guests to enjoy the warm weather and people-watch on one of Raleigh's busiest streets. Needless to say, there are fewer gastropubs than pubs out there, so you should definitely take this opportunity to check it out for yourself!