Steer wrestling, a practice credited to legendary cowboy and rodeo star Bill Pickett, usually involves leaping onto a steer from the back of a specially trained horse. At the Madison
Put ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake for 25-35 minutes, until puffed and golden. Remove from oven, and let stand for 5 minutes. With a flexible spatula, remove strata to
Western All Souls Pizza Dining: Take-out Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 12 – 8 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: Yes In a town that already takes bread seriously, All Souls sets a high
Western All Souls Pizza Dining: Take-out Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 12 – 8 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: Yes In a town that already takes bread seriously, All Souls sets a high
Western All Souls Pizza Dining: Take-out Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 12 – 8 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: Yes In a town that already takes bread seriously, All Souls sets a high
All Souls Pizza Dining: Take-out Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 12 – 8 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: Yes
In a town that already takes bread seriously, All Souls sets a high bar. In a tiny building that used to be a diner, they grind their own flour, creating a whole-wheat crust with an emphatic chewiness.
Birchwood Hall Dining: Take-out Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sunday, 12 – 9 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
Growing up in Fairview, Chef Nicolas Peek recalls, there was always something that needed doing at home or on his grandpa’s farm. When he and his siblings saw a pail of green beans sitting on the porch, “we knew a chore was coming.” In the kitchen of his own restaurant, Birchwood Hall, tasks like snapping green beans feel a lot more fun. Every delivery from a local farmer is exciting, an opportunity to combine farm roots and fine-dining techniques.
111 North Main Street
Waynesville, NC 28786
(828) 246-6111 birchwoodhall.com
Five Points Restaurant Dining: Take-out Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
In Asheville, one old-school diner serves up the hamburgers and hospitality that have drawn regulars for nearly 50 years. For those loyal customers, all roads lead to Five Points.
Shake Shop Dining: Take-out Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 4 – 8 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
The signature meal at this hole-in-the-wall joint has always been a Lottaburger: two burgers cooked on a flattop grill and served inside a hoagie-type bun. With slaw, tomato, and pickle. Only.
505 West Church Street Cherryville, NC 28021 (704) 435-5778
At the Shake Shop in Cherryville, a signature Lottaburger is stacked with slaw, tomato, pickle. photograph by Tim Robison
Plant Dining: Take-out Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 4 p.m.– 9 p.m. Gift cards for purchase:Yes
Here’s what you won’t find at Asheville’s vegan mainstay: meat, dairy, or eggs. You will find a creative menu unlike any you’ve ever seen — or tasted. Here in the Barbecue Belt, it’s perfectly fine to be skeptical. But first, take a bite.
Around the world on a plate: Plant’s take on the Indian dish uttapam, a lentil and fermented rice pancake, includes house-made kimchi, peanut-and-sesame chutney, and avocado. photograph by Bill Lusk Studio
Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge Dining: Take-out Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: Yes
Here, hand-chopped ’cue, painstakingly pit-cooked over a bed of glowing hickory and oak and slathered in red Lexington-style sauce, pairs perfectly with red slaw and hush puppies.
2000 East Dixon Boulevard
Shelby, NC 28150 (704) 482-8567 bridgesbbq.com
At Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge, you will want to order the ’cue, but don’t forget the perfect sides — sweet tea and hush puppies. photograph by Johnny Autry
Shelby Café Dining: Take-out Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday to Sunday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
Shelby has claimed livermush since at least 1933, when two local businesses — Mack’s Livermush and Jenkins Foods — got their start. Try the regional delicacy on a sandwich at the Shelby Café. Think of it as a softer, richer sausage patty.
220 South Lafayette Street Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 487-8461
Smokey Mountain Diner Dining: Take-out Hours: Monday to Saturday, 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
Smokey Mountain Diner’s recipes, at their heart, are still old-fashioned home cooking: Many have been handed down through generations, especially from owner Genia Hayes Peterson’s great-grandmother.
White Duck Taco Dining: Take-out Hours: Monday to Sunday, 4 – 8 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
Inside a cave-like, refurbished Quonset hut by the French Broad River, you’ll find wildly creative fare. Start with the Bangkok Shrimp Taco: sesame-glazed fried shrimp with curry aioli and house-made pickles.
Thai peanut chicken tacos, Southwest Corn Chowder, and roasted duck confit tacos with mole and apple-cranberry salsa. photograph by Tim Robison
Central
Angus Barn Dining: Take-out Hours: Monday to Sunday, 4 – 8 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: Yes
Sure, the grilled steaks are great. But we’re here to talk about the legendary chocolate chess pie: Its signature crackly, crusty top is drizzled with chocolate syrup and dolloped with whipped cream.
Hayes Barton Café and Dessertery Dining: Take-out Hours: Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Wednesday to Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 6 – 8 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
At this Raleigh restaurant, friends and neighbors gather for homey entrées, famous layer cakes, and memories of those who came before.
Inizio Pizza Napoletana Dining: Take-out Hours: Monday to Sunday, 12 – 8 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: Yes
Owner Grant Arons is a stickler for details: He brought his ovens (and even his water) from Naples. Here, pizzas are divided into two camps: red sauce and no red sauce. Either way, expect lots of speckles and char on the crust, chewy edges, and a soft center.
2230 Park Road, Suite 101 Charlotte, NC 28203 (704) 900-0929 iniziopizza.com
Kermit’s Dining: Take-out Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
People come to Kermit’s for a taste of nostalgia. They long for the warm buns, the freshly chopped onions, the coleslaw, and the homemade pimento cheese.
At Kermit’s in Winston-Salem, a cheese dog means pimento cheese. Who could resist? photograph by Jerry Wolford
Kindred Dining: Take-out Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and 5 – 10 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: Yes
Baked in a graniteware bowl and sprinkled with delicate flecks of hand-harvested sea salt, Kindred’s milk bread is more than a mere loaf. Warm and pillowy, sweet and salty — it’s pure magic. A hug, if you will, in carbohydrate form.
Lexington Barbecue Dining: Take-out, Curbside service Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
At this legendary Piedmont joint, the meat is the thing: pulled from slow-roasted pork shoulders and enhanced by a dark, thin sauce — or “dip” — that is neither too mild nor too fiery.
100 Smokehouse Lane
Lexington, NC 27295 (336) 249-9814
Mama Dip’s Dining: Take-out Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
At Chapel Hill fixture Mama Dip’s, the beloved sweet potato pie has a custardy filling made with milk, eggs, and melted butter, plus warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. The sweet potatoes are boiled until tender, then mashed until smooth.
408 West Rosemary Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 942-5837 mamadips.com
Merritt’s Store and Grill Dining: Take-out Hours: Monday to Wednesday, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m., Thursday to Saturday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
Merritt’s calling card is the B.L.T. — a destination sandwich. And while a standard B.L.T. has a recipe only three letters long, the Merritt’s version comes in three sizes: single, double, and triple. The numbers correspond to how many layers of bacon, lettuce, and tomato the sandwich contains. Dreams do come true.
Mission Pizza Napoletana Dining: Take-out Hours: Monday to Sunday, 4:45 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (times vary) Gift cards for purchase: Yes
A taste of Naples has come to Winston-Salem. At Peyton Smith’s restaurant, the humble, cheesy pie you think you know is transformed into something you’ll never forget.
Pizzeria Mercato Dining: Take-out Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 5 – 6 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: Yes
Gabe Barker, son of Durham restaurant legends Ben and Karen Barker, has set up shop near the Carrboro Farmers Market to make the most of the seasonal ingredients around him. His margherita crust is thinner and crispier than some, and his toppings are adventurous (think mustard greens). There’s an anchovy version, too, for those who crave the salty bits.
Postal Fish Company Dining: Take-out Hours: Thursday to Friday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
More than 60 years ago at Miller’s, hamburger met pimento cheese. The rest is history. It’s no longer the only pimento cheese burger around, but the faithful — who don’t mind spreading it on thick sometimes — will tell you it’s still the best.
710 Wilkesboro Street Mocksville, NC 27028 (336) 751-2621
Price’s Chicken Coop Dining: Take-out Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 5 – 7:30 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
“The Coop” has been dishing out the same light and crunchy fried chicken since 1962. Service is carryout only, but when customers can’t wait for that first savory bite, they simply feast inside their cars parked along the street.
Snoopy’s Dining: Take-out Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10:30 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
Eating at the original Snoopy’s Hot Dogs is a Raleigh rite of passage. Since the restaurant opened in 1978, folks have been lining up for a hot dog served eastern Carolina-style: mustard, onions, and chili, steamed in a bun.
1931 Wake Forest Road Raleigh, NC 27608
(919) 839-2176 snoopys.com
Snappy Lunch Dining: Take-out Hours: Tuesday to Wednesday and Friday, 5:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Thursday and Saturday, 5:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
It’s the only Mount Airy business ever mentioned during the eight-year run of The Andy Griffith Show, but it’s Snappy Lunch’s pork chop sandwich that endures. Fans will drive for hours to stand in a line so they can eat, on a bun, a piece of fried pork bigger than a dessert plate.
125 North Main Street
Mount Airy, NC 27030
(336) 786-4931 thesnappylunch.com
At Snappy Lunch, order the pork chop sandwich “Charlie’s way.” That’s with coleslaw, mustard, chili, onion, and tomato. Just make sure to grab a fistful of napkins. photograph by Travis Dove
Stone Table Dining: Take-out Hours: Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: Yes
For Union County diners, one chef’s modern take on traditional fare is a constant source of discovery and delight.
The Dairy Center Dining: Take-out Hours: Monday, 7 a.m. – 2 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
Mount Airy’s (other) famous sandwich? Ground-steak: ground beef thickened with flour and water, served on a toasted, buttered bun, and topped with coleslaw, tomato, chopped onion, and mayonnaise. It’s like a sloppy joe without the ketchup.
407 West Lebanon Street Mount Airy, NC 27030
(336) 786-2349
The Fried Turkey Sandwich Shop Dining: Take-out Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
It is what you think it is. You can get your sandwich in a dizzying array of options: turkey with cranberry sauce, turkey with stuffing, turkey with cranberry sauce and stuffing. All this on Texas toast — gravy on the side.
The House of Fish Dining: Take-out Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 12 – 6 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
An unassuming cinder-block building in Moore County proves to be the perfect stage for one chef’s take on “classic American soulful seafood” — and plenty of his star power.
The Roast Grill Dining: Take-out Hours: Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
There are no “show dogs” here. What brings people are charred dogs — the restaurant’s motto is “We burn ’em for you” — topped with mustard, onions, chili, and homemade slaw. The chili is so good that it even inspired a no-ketchup rule. You wouldn’t want to cover up all that flavor, would you?
7 South West Street
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 832-8292 roastgrill.com
Village Diner Dining: Take-out Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 4 – 8 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
After more than 40 years, the hub that brought mill workers and civic leaders together over meat loaf and mashed potatoes is still the heart of Hillsborough.
Yum Yum’s Dining: Take-out Hours: Monday and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
Some customers come to Yum Yum Better Ice Cream for — you guessed it — the ice cream. It’s legendary. But so are the hot dogs, served six ways in a warm bun, each boiled weenie as red as a Christmas tree light.
1219 Spring Garden Street
Greensboro, NC 27403
(336) 272-8284
Eastern
B’s Barbecue Dining: Take-out Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. — 2 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
At B’s, there is plenty of whole-hog barbecue, cooked to tender perfection and doused in an eastern-style sauce.
751 State Road 1204 Greenville, NC 27858 (252) 758-7126
The Beefmaster Inn Dining: Take-out Hours: Daily, 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 5 – 9 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
No substitutions. No choices. And most definitely no menu. The Beefmastor serves rib eye — and only rib eye. Customers are greeted with a slab of meat on a wooden butcher block. They make a selection. Then, they eat their meal with a baked potato and Texas toast.
2656 U.S. Highway 301 South Wilson, NC 27893
(252) 237-7343
Big Oak Drive-In Dining: Take-out Hours:Tuesday to Thursday and Monday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
At Big Oak, the star of the walk-up window is the shrimpburger: small, very lightly battered shrimp; a little tartar sauce and coleslaw; a little ketchup. It’s a honey-pack-the-car-I-need-one-today meal on a bun.
Baker’s Kitchen Dining: Take-out Hours: Monday to Sunday, 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: Yes
Bill’s is take-out only. There are no fancy condiments. Just order a bag full of white paper-wrapped, oil-fried, nuclear-red hot dogs “all the way” — that’s with special spicy chili, onions, and mustard — and be prepared to share.
109 Gladden Street
Washington, NC 27889
(252) 946-3343
Chef & The Farmer Dining: Take-out Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 12 – 8 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: Yes
The breakout dish at Chef Vivian Howard’s landmark Kinston restaurant was the barbecued chicken slathered with her special blueberry, eastern-style sauce.
Dick’s Dining: Take-out Hours: Tuesday to Friday and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
A Wilson landmark, Dick’s Hot Dog Stand has been serving up dogs since 1921. And, pssst, it would be a mistake to leave without trying the chili, made from the same recipe for nearly 100 years.
1500 West Nash Street
Wilson, NC 27893 (252) 243-6313
El’s Drive-In Dining: Take-out Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 10:30 a.m. – 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 10:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
At El’s, the drive-in hasn’t given way to the drive-thru. Since 1959, carhops have been delivering a bagged bounty — shrimp and oyster plates, cheese dogs, the signature Superburgers — right to your window.
3706 Arendell Street Morehead City, NC 28557 (252) 726-3002 elsdrivein.com
Flo’s Kitchen Dining: Take-out Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 4 a.m. – 12 p.m., Sunday, 4 a.m. – 2 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
Good homemade biscuits require a lot of hand-holding, and the famous, hoop cheese-stuffed cathead biscuits at Flo’s are no exception. It takes two hands to make them, and two hands to eat them.
1015 Goldsboro Street
South Wilson, NC 27893 (252) 237-9146
The Hackney Dining: Take-out Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 12 – 8 p.m. Gift cards for purchase: No
Farm-to-fork dining gets a posh polish in a historic bank building in Washington.
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.