Coastal North Carolina
PinPoint was declared by Southern Living magazine as one of the South's best new restaurants – and they weren't lyin'!
Must-see restaurants in North Carolina
Asheville
Owned by hip Ashevillian chef Katie Button and her Catalan husband Félix, this convivial downtown hangout celebrates the simple charms and sensual flavors…
The Triangle
A poster child for Durham’s remarkable comeback, this James Beard–nominated ‘bar de tapas’ is downtown’s culinary anchor. Many dishes come with a Southern…
Charlotte
This sultry but welcoming Plaza Midwood speakeasy serves a globally inspired selection of small plates. Choices are wide-ranging, from skewers and sushi…
Asheville
How good is the barbecue at 12 Bones? Good enough to lure the vacationing Barack and Michelle Obama back to the River Arts District, a few years back…
Coastal North Carolina
Slightly out of place in olde Beaufort, Dank has graffitied walls and offbeat design features – including a retro (and playable) Ms Pac-Man arcade-game…
The Triangle
A strong contender for best dining spot in the entire Triangle, this modern, dinner-only, Asian-fusion spot is very much a farm-to-table affair, with all…
Outer Banks
There's a long list of tacos, burritos and fresh and spicy salsas at this sensational taco stand. If you're over fried clams and crab cakes, dishes such…
North Carolina Mountains
This cozy, lodge-like bistro, in a Prohibition-era building just off Main St, serves upscale New American cuisine – lobster or pork-belly mac and cheese,…
Coastal North Carolina
Each table at this fun fondue restaurant comes with a burner at which to melt a pot of cheesy goodness. Choose from different combos – the classic cheddar…
The Triangle
While it can’t claim to have invented chicken and waffles – it’s been a ‘thing’ for a couple of centuries – Dame’s has raised the ultimate comfort food to…
North Carolina
At lunchtime, Old Salem visitors wait patiently in line for waitstaff in old Moravian dress to serve old-time favorites, including pot roast, grilled…
Outer Banks
Yowza, this place is good. It's also historic – the entrance is a 1939 dining car that's listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Pub grub and…
The Triangle
This much-loved French bakery is hard to find, halfway to Chapel Hill and inconspicuous even once you spot the right strip mall. Its breads and pastries…
Outer Banks
Would it be wrong to write an ode to a side of french fries? Because Lord Almighty, the lightly spiced fries at this casual hot spot are the stuff of…
Outer Banks
A good-time local's haunt open year-round, Oceanas' Bistro will win you over with friendly servers and a pretty damn excellent menu that includes…
Asheville
What happens when two James Beard–nominated chefs, Meherwan Irani and Elliott Moss, open a whole-hog barbecue joint in a cavernous former skating rink on…
The Triangle
The downstairs half of this cool, friendly, split-level Japanese joint serves sizable bowls of ramen noodles in various broths, with added ingredients…
Halcyon Flavors from the Earth
Charlotte
A perfect people-watching perch overlooking the Uptown bustle, the Mint Museum’s light-filled restaurant is ideal for a zestful lunch or more substantial …
Asheville
Literally ‘tea and water,’ chai pani refers more generally to inexpensive snacks. Hence the ever-changing array of irresistible street food at this…
Asheville
Loved for its hearty homemade food, this bright West Asheville spot fills up each morning with solos, couples and ladies who breakfast; the little garden…
The Triangle
The food at this artfully decorated establishment – one of very few Laotian restaurants in the US – looks as gorgeous as the space itself. Enhanced with…
Coastal North Carolina
You'd never guess by the simple, unassuming nature of the decor, but chef Charles Park is a James Beard winner, and the food shines, whether that be…
Asheville
Set in a concrete bunker beside a car junkyard, this low-key West Asheville spot looks divey from the outside. It’s inside, though, where the magic…
North Carolina
They don’t take reservations at this hugely popular ‘Southern gourmet’ restaurant in the Arts District downtown, but it’s worth waiting in line to enjoy…
The Triangle
You’ll need to loosen your belt after a meal at this crispy venture from James Beard Award–winning chef Ashley Christensen. Inside her airy downtown…
Charlotte
Uptown’s finest dining is to be had in the Dunhill Hotel’s restaurant, opening straight onto Tryon St. Rooted in Carolinian classics, but given a…
North Carolina Mountains
Big windows frame this classy downtown bar-restaurant, where the emphasis is on organic local ingredients, and there are local craft beers on tap. Typical…
Charlotte
This indoor food hall's aromatic, irresistible kitchens and cafes entice Uptown palates with everything from gourmet coffee and craft beer to imported…
The Triangle
We like this superior German-style bakery and cafe for lunch, when skirt-steak sandwiches with blue cheese, homemade bratwurst on sub rolls and vegan…
Asheville
Now happily ensconced in large, glossy premises beside Pack Sq Park, this beloved downtown chocolate shop hasn't lost its chocolate heart. Small-batch,…
Charlotte
Down at street level, beneath Uptown’s soaring skyscrapers, this cozy, homely diner buzzes with bankers and bohos alike. Its Lowcountry classics include…
Charlotte
This new, shiny and very big outlet of a much-loved local bakery chain is the perfect spot to rest your feet or meet friends Uptown. The sandwiches and…
Outer Banks
Filling local bellies with a wealth of American breakfast fare since 1959, this is a classic American family-style breakfast spot. Order pancakes, eggs…
Outer Banks
Excellent budget option for a quick bite, with a few inside tables. This casual independent fast-food joint serves NYC- and Chicago-style pizza baked in a…
Charlotte
With tempting sides such as mac and cheese, lima beans or black-eyed peas to match its succulent fried chicken and juicy beef ribs, Nana’s offers treats…
Outer Banks
Menu items change seasonally at this eatery combining local art with local produce. Ingredients are sourced from both coastal famers and the restaurant's…
North Carolina Mountains
Students and hippie types gather at this farm-to-fork favorite – out on the patio, for much of the year – to gobble serious breakfast dishes (scrambles,…
Outer Banks
Eat upscale, beautifully presented dishes in this waterside restaurant, hidden inside Tranquil House Inn. House chefs use herbs from the Inn’s gardens,…
North Carolina Mountains
For a wholesome lunch or breakfast, stop to eat a sandwich and salad at the outdoor tables of this cheery roadside bakery-cafe. As well as turkey, chicken…
