A Year-Round Guide to Franklin and Nantahala

Find restaurants in your region. Western      Central      Eastern   Asheville — The Blackbird Restaurant This family-owned farm-to-table restaurant offers a modern twist on traditional Southern fare with

Rosemary and Goat Cheese Strata

Find restaurants in your region. Western      Central      Eastern   Asheville — The Blackbird Restaurant This family-owned farm-to-table restaurant offers a modern twist on traditional Southern fare with

17 Delicious Brunch Spots in North Carolina

5 Farm-to-Table Restaurants in Western NC to Try This Winter

Find restaurants in your region.

Western      Central      Eastern


 

Asheville — The Blackbird Restaurant

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

Asheville, Charlotte, & Raleigh — Tupelo Honey

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 “Old Skool” Breakfast Bowl — a bowl of heirloom grits with goat cheese, parmesan rosemary potato cracklins, cheddar cheese, chopped bacon, roasted red pepper sauce, green tomato salsa, and two sunny-side up 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


Black Mountain — Louise’s Kitchen

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


Hendersonville — Kosta’s Fireside Restaurant & Pancake Inn

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 Bacon Bit Waffle – a fluffy Belgian waffle loaded down with crunchy bacon bits.

295 Sugarloaf Road
Hendersonville, NC 28792
(828) 697-1004
kostasfiresidepancakeinn.com


5 Farm-to-Table Restaurants in Western NC to Try This Winter

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

Hickory — 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 pimento cheese grits.

You have to try: The Crab Benny.

242 11th Avenue Northeast
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 324-2005
caferule.com


Morganton — Abele’s Family Restaurant

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

 

 

 

Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, & Greensboro — Dame’s Chicken & Waffles

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


The Carolina Coffee Shop Offers a Side of Memories

On the Carolina Coffee Shop’s menu, “Classic BLT” is code for “triple decker.” photograph by Anna Routh Barzin

Chapel Hill — Carolina Coffee Shop

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


Graham & Durham — Press Coffee + Crepe

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

 

Winston-Salem — Sweet Potatoes

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

Raleigh — Hummingbird

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


Saxapahaw — The Eddy Pub

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 Country Grit Bowl — grits with house chorizo, two eggs, smoked gouda, and fire-roasted gravy on top.

1715 Saxapahaw-Bethlehem Church Road
Saxapahaw, NC 27340
(336) 525-2010
theeddypub.com

 

 

 

Beaufort — Beaufort Grocery Company

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


Goldsboro — Ashley’s Diner

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

New Bern — Baker’s Kitchen

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


Ocean Isle, Wrightsville Beach, & Wilmington — Drift Coffee & Kitchen

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


Wilmington — Jester’s Café

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

This story was published on Apr 20, 2021

Rebecca Woltz

Rebecca is the staff writer at Our State.