To be only 20 minutes away from Amélie’s but not actually stop at Amélie’s is considered criminal by many Charlotteans. At this French-style café, get yourself in trouble by salivating over the glass cases of delicate pastries and fluffy quiche before taking a seat in a cushy upholstered chair.
2424 North Davidson Street, Charlotte • (704) 376-1781 • ameliesfrenchbakery.com
On a sunny autumn afternoon, grab a seat on the patio at the lively Boardwalk Billy’s or elect for a spot indoors with a view of one of the many televisions set to various sports channels. Share laughs and a round of appetizers, from fried pickle chips to shrimp, with friends.
9005 J M Keynes Drive, Charlotte • (704) 503-7427 • boardwalkbillys.com
Following an afternoon game at Richardson Stadium, head to the historic arts neighborhood of NoDa. Fish tacos, a coastal California delicacy, are reinterpreted for the Southern palate at Cabo Fish Taco, where mahi-mahi gets a coating of homemade barbecue sauce and a topping of slaw. Afterwards, spend the remainder of the evening at one of the many top-notch breweries in the area.
3201 North Davidson Street, Charlotte • (704) 332-8868 • cabofishtaco.com
The food doesn’t get any fresher than at the State Farmer’s Market Restaurant, where the same North Carolina-grown food on your plate is also being sold at vibrant booths just steps away. Tear open a steaming buttermilk biscuit and slather with butter while you wait for your down-home meal to arrive.
1240 Farmer’s Market Drive, Raleigh • (919) 755-1550 • realbiscuits.com
For decades, Char-Grill has been the place where NC State students get their late-night burger and shake fix, but alumni still flock here to reminisce about their college days — just at an earlier hour. There’s no pretense here; food comes wrapped in aluminum foil and orders are filled out on slips of paper, proving that sometimes the best food is the simplest.
618 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh • (919) 821-7636 • chargrillusa.com
Every inch of the walls at Amedeo’s is covered with Wolfpack memorabilia, which makes sense when you realize it was founded by former NC State football player Richard “Amedeo” DeAngelis. Since opening in 1963, Amedeo’s has become an institution among fans, both young and old, and the lasagna is legendary.
3905 Western Boulevard, Raleigh • (919) 851-0473 • amedeosrestaurant.com
For lighter breakfast fare accompanied by a dose of caffeine, head to the cozy Oak House, which serves coffee made from a rotating lineup of locally roasted beans. Later in the day, the coffee shop transforms into a wine bar and craft beer lounge.
112 North Williamson Avenue, Elon • (336) 350-8116 • elonoakhouse.com
While burgers are classic, familiar fare at any football stadium, what The Root is serving on the edge of campus is a cut above. All-natural burgers are topped with an array of innovative ingredients, from fresh mozzarella to homemade truffle aioli. If you’ve sworn off brussels sprout, the restaurant’s flash-fried version of the vegetable will make a believer out of you.
110 West Lebanon Avenue, Elon • (336) 792-1081 • theroottrackside.com
Once you’ve spent an afternoon rallying behind the Phoenix, get your fill by grabbing a slice of pizza at Pandora’s Pies. Many of the ingredients the restaurant uses are locally sourced and organic. We recommend the buffalo chicken pizza; the tanginess of marinated chicken mellows out the creaminess of bleu cheese.
130 North Williamson Avenue, Elon • (336) 270-4599 • pandoraspizza.com
Aggie fans with serious appetites will have plenty to nosh on at the no-nonsense Smith Street Diner in downtown Greensboro. The menu is simple, but you don’t need a lot of options when the delightfully flaky biscuits are nearly the size of your plate — they’re what everyone orders.
438 Battleground Avenue, Greensboro • (336) 379-8666 • smithstreetdiner.com
Chicken and waffles is having a moment in the culinary world as the combination continues to sneak up on more menus. The dish is a specialty at Dame’s, and the restaurant does it justice with its variety of schmears: whipped sweet cream butter with infused flavors.
301 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Greensboro • (336) 275-7333 • dameschickenwaffles.com
Everyone loves a game-day soft pretzel or tub of popcorn, but stadium grub can leave much to be desired, so entertain your palette at Crafted: The Art of Street Food. Sample a variety of sharing plates influenced by cuisine from around the world. Long wait? Pop in next door to Preyer Brewing Company for a cold one first.
600-C Battleground Avenue, Greensboro • (336) 265-8859 • eatatcrafted.com
If you find yourself with time to spare on the morning of a Western Carolina game, make a stop City Lights Café to enjoy a breakfast crepe and peruse the bookshop that’s adjoined to this sweet little eatery in downtown Sylva.
3 East Jackson Street, Sylva • (828) 587-2233 • citylightscafe.com
With a selection of fruity margaritas and large portion sizes, Colima Mexican Restaurant is a popular hangout among Western Carolina University students and provides the perfect place to loosen up before the game.
62 East Sylva Shopping Center, Sylva • (828) 586-9999
Venture out to nearby Dillsboro for a traditionally prepared Southern meal at the restaurant located within The Jarrett House, one of the oldest operating inns in the western part of the state. You can’t go wrong with the trout, which was reeled in from nearby mountain waters.
100 Haywood Road, Dillsboro • (828) 586-0265 • jarretthouse.com
Haley and the Hound is a North Carolina-based lifestyle brand “for living the good life.” The inspiration originated with a love for the coast and the vividness that the coast inspires.
The unique name came about before the line was launched. The founder, Booth Parker, decided to take up sewing as a hobby after her son was born. She started making outfits for her son, décor for her home, and collars for her dogs. One day while sewing, her beloved yellow lab, Haley, and her hound dog, Bella, were under her feet, and in frustration she asked them, “What do y’all think this is, Haley and the Hound?” While it was a few more years before the name became a business, she knew the name was perfect for her vision. Dogs are a huge part of her life and, of course, they have living the good life down pat in the Parker household.
The Southern lifestyle is all about good times with family and friends. So whether it’s an evening boat ride, tailgating, or sipping mint juleps on Derby Day, Haley and the Hound can outfit you in style and comfort. The line is machine washable and is proudly made in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
When it comes to spreading holiday cheer, the residents of this Chatham County town start early.
Our editor in chief shares a few treasured memories from her childhood home, a Christmas Eve night being one of the very first.
We took some, ahem, creative liberties when we combed through Our State’s archives to find a few favorite stories that carry the tune of a Christmas classic.
From decades-old family recipes to a centuries-old Carolina cookie, we’re filling our holiday tables with dishes that have stood the test of time.
