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 Mountain Morning Bowl: two sunny-side up eggs, rosemary & parmesan crispy potatoes, cheddar cheese, chopped apple cider bacon, green tomato salsa, red pepper sauce on top of stone-ground goat cheese grits.
12 College Street
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 255-4863
1829 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 505-7676
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 grit cakes — black bean and corn grit cakes topped with spicy srirancho sauce and fresh pico de gallo.
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 apple cinnamon — with homemade maple syrup.
You have to try: The Bacon Bit Waffle – a fluffy Belgian waffle loaded down with crunchy bacon bits.
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 brunch burger.
You have to try: The Egg 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: Stuffed French toast with baked apple-mascarpone filling, and buttermilk syrup.
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
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
359 Blackwell Street
Durham, NC 277
(919) 748-3142
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 Brunch Burger — a house-ground ribeye patty with pimento cheese, a fried green tomato, and a fried egg between brioche buns.
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 Breakfast Sammy — a pretzel bun with preserved lemon, smoked salmon cream cheese, local arugula, red onion, local tomato, and mixed green salad.
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 Benedict Arnold — a Hollandaise-topped treat with crab cakes, poached eggs, asparagus, and sweet potato threads on crostini.
117 Queen Street
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-3899
beaufortgrocery.com
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 with butter syrup.
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
221 North Front Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
110 Dungannon Boulevard, Suite 170
Wilmington, NC 28403
114 Causeway Drive
Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
(910) 236-3033
driftcoffee.kitchen
This bistro, in the Castle Street Arts District, makes its dishes — like homemade pimento cheese with caramelized onions, tomato, and bacon on thick sliced rye 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
Tucked into a historic neighborhood, a backyard in Forsyth County holds hundreds of Southern wildflowers collected by one wild flower woman.
John Champlin has traveled across the state — and the nation — in search of hard-to-find spots that serve an unforgettable hot dog. After 11 years, what he’s discovered goes way beyond the bun.
In the early 20th century, textile mill owners sponsored baseball teams, providing entertainment for their employees and nurturing a passion for the game that’s been handed down through generations of North Carolinians.
Our writer reflects on where his love of vinyl began, and how the snap, crackle, and pop of a needle sliding across a turntable will always satisfy his soul.
