This family-owned farm-to-table restaurant offers a modern twist on traditional Southern fare with dishes like the shrimp and grits.
You have to try: The Farm Breakfast — a plate of local eggs with stone ground grits or Sunday potatoes, apple wood smoked bacon or sausage, and a buttermilk biscuit.
47 Biltmore Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 254-2502
theblackbirdrestaurant.com
Born in downtown Asheville more than 15 years ago, Tupelo Honey has spread its love for biscuits and honey to more than a dozen locations across the country. photograph by Tim Robison
The team at Tupelo takes pride in crafting scratch-made Southern food from responsibly sourced ingredients — like the picnic chicken salad, made from antibiotic-free chicken.
You have to try: The Shoo Mercy Griddle — a plate of pancakes or French toast topped with spiced pecans, plus two strips of bacon, buttermilk fried chicken, and two eggs.
12 College Street
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 255-4863
1829 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 505-7676
101 South Tryon Street, Suite 130
Charlotte, NC 28280
(980) 270-7268
425 Oberlin Road
Raleigh, NC 27605
(919) 723-9353
tupelohoneycafe.com
The windows historic Stepp House was reimagined into a restaurant that serves breakfast all day. George W. Stepp, the home’s namesake, was a cabinetmaker who worked on the Biltmore Estate and served as mayor of Black Mountain from 1908 to 1911 and from 1915 to 1917.
You have to try: The huevos rancheros.
115 Black Mountain Avenue
Black Mountain, NC 28711
(828) 357-5446
louisesblackmtn.com
This gem of a restaurant is known for superior service and specialty pancakes — like spiced apple cinnamon — with homemade maple syrup.
You have to try: The Mountain Style Breakfast – a hearty selection with bacon, sausage, or ham; two eggs; fried potatoes, shredded hash browns, or country grits; and homemade buttered toast.
295 Sugarloaf Road
Hendersonville, NC 28792
(828) 697-1004
kostasfiresidepancakeinn.com
A view of the Chef’s Table, and Fried Broccoli Baffle with lemon zest, sea salt, and vegan aioli. photograph by Café Rule & Wine Bar
Despite the name, Café Rule is all about, well, breaking the rules. They like to approach familiar foods in innovative ways — like the cheesy grit fritters with jalapeño jelly.
You have to try: The Crab Benny.
242 11th Avenue Northeast
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 324-2005
caferule.com
This country cooking restaurant and general store is known for its all-you-can-eat buffet and its homemade Smokey Mountain Gravy — a traditional Blue Ridge recipe that uses simple ingredients: bacon grease, flour, milk, salt, and pepper.
You have to try: The buttermilk biscuits smothered in the aforementioned famous gravy.
2115 South Sterling Street
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-5400
abelesfamilyrestaurant.com
With menu items like collard greens, macaroni and cheese, grits, and potato salad, Dame’s offers true Southern comfort food, but they’re, of course, known for their chicken and waffle offerings.
You have to try: The Carolina Cockerel — three fried chicken wings over a classic, sweet potato, vegan, or gingerbread waffle with your choice of shmear and side.
Dame’s Chicken & Waffles
823 Bass Pro Lane
Cary, N.C. 27513
(919) 234-0824
147 East Franklin Street
Chapel Hill, N.C. 27514
(919) 240-4228
530 Foster Street #130
Durham, N.C. 27701
(919) 682-9235
301 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Greensboro, N.C. 27406
(336) 275-7333
dameschickenwaffles.com
On the Carolina Coffee Shop’s menu, “Classic BLT” is code for “triple decker.” photograph by Anna Routh Barzin
Founded in 1922, Carolina Coffee Shop is the oldest continually running restaurant in North Carolina and has been serving up dishes made with fresh, local produce long before it was fashionable — like the nuts and berries salad with mixed greens, blueberries, strawberries, goat cheese, red onion, toasted pecans, and raspberry vinaigrette.
You have to try: The shrimp and grits.
138 East Franklin Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 942-6875
carolinacoffeeshop.com
Press is more than just a coffeehouse: Here, customers can indulge in made-to-order sweet and savory crepes prepared with locally sourced ingredients.
You have to try: The berries-and-cream crepe.
133 North Main Street
Graham, NC 27253
(336) 395-3645
presscc.com
Diners at this down-home Southern restaurant can treat themselves to savory Southern comfort food — like the fried green tomato and okra basket, or a hot pan of sweet potato cornbread served with honey ginger butter.
You have to try: Miss Ora’s Fried Chicken.
607 North Trade Street
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
(336) 727-4844
sweetpotatoes.ws
At Hummingbird, brunch tastes best on the patio. Try the tartine: seeded levain bread topped with béchamel, rosemary ham, mushrooms, Manchego cheese, arugula, and a sunny-side up egg. photograph by Alex Boerner
Menu items — like the peacemaker po’ boy and the charbroiled oysters — at this intimate eatery were influenced by chef Coleen Speaks’s years in New Orleans.
You have to try: The Hummingbird Breakfast — with eggs, choice of bacon or sausage, toast, and home fries or grits.
1053 East Whitaker Mill Road, Suite 111
Raleigh NC 27604
(919) 301-8900
hummingbirdraleigh.com
This farm-to-table pub was founded on the belief that the shared enjoyment of good food makes happy people.
You have to try: The smoked salmon benedict.
1715 Saxapahaw-Bethlehem Church Road
Saxapahaw, NC 27340
(336) 525-2010
theeddypub.com
This American bistro-style deli and bakery offers a specialized brunch cocktail menu that includes made-from-scratch Bloody Mary’s and rum punch with freshly squeezed orange juice.
You have to try: The chef-created seafood omelet, which is made with the chef’s choice of the freshest seafood available each week.
117 Queen Street
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-3899
beaufortgrocery.com
With homemade chicken salad, hoop cheese biscuits, and banana pudding, this down-home country restaurant is a local favorite.
You have to try: The cheeseburger omelet.
1201 North Williams Street
Goldsboro, NC 27530
(984) 207-7006
ashleys-diner.edan.io
Baker’s Kitchen is best known for breakfast, but the restaurant’s chef, Duke Kroger, has been expanding its lunch menu, too. photograph by Baxter Miller
The recipe for this restaurant’s famous butter syrup is kept strictly under wraps, but it’s not a secret that it makes the best dishes even more delicious, especially the fluffy Belgian waffles.
You have to try: The French toast.
227 Middle Street
New Bern, NC 28560
(252) 637-0304
bakerskitchennb.com
Founded by brothers Michael and Ben Powell, Drift offers hearty and healthy brunch options — like their Market Bowl Breakfast, with a fried egg, roasted sweet potato, quinoa, avocado, roasted tomato, and greens, or the house-made pecan walnut granola with seasonal berries, honey, and yogurt.
You have to try: The veggie burrito.
20 East Second Street
Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
1005 International Drive
Wilmington, NC 28405
110 Dungannon Boulevard, Suite 170
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 236-3033
driftcoffee.kitchen
This bistro, in the Castle Street Arts District, makes its dishes — like homemade tuna salad on thick sliced wheat and black bean Benedict — with the freshest ingredients and a healthy dash of love.
You have to try: The French toast casserole.
607 Castle Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 763-6555
jesterscafe.com
In North Carolina, spring brings the scent of fresh-cut grass and memories of helping Dad mow the lawn.
Nostalgic burger joints are like time machines, delivering something extra special that keeps us coming back.
This tiny city block in downtown Greensboro once had a gigantic reputation. Not so much for its charbroiled beef patties — though they, too, were plentiful — but for its colorful characters and their wild shenanigans.
In the 1950s, as Americans hit freshly paved roads in shiny new cars during the postwar boom, a new kind of restaurant took shape: the drive-in. From those first thin patties to the elaborate gourmet hamburgers of today, North Carolina has spent the past 80 years making burger history.
