Butner, NC Food & Drink and More

5 Best Restaurants in Durham, North Carolina You Need to Try Before Everyone Else Finds Them

Durham, North Carolina — a city where tobacco warehouses stand shoulder to shoulder with glassy new towers, where the laughter of Duke students mingles with the wisdom of old-timers, where every street corner pulses with the energy of makers, dreamers, and families who’ve called this place home for generations. Here, the city’s soul is stitched together by the legacy of Black Wall Street, the rhythm of jazz and gospel, and the promise of new beginnings. It’s a place where barbecue smoke drifts through neighborhoods, where the scent of biscuits and collards mingles with the spice of new arrivals, and where every meal is a gathering — a celebration of memory and hope, of resilience and reinvention.

Durham, NC · 3d

Raleigh News & Observer

Live roaches, no food thermometer: 2 Triangle restaurants get B grades

The News & Observer publishes a weekly roundup of restaurant sanitation scores to keep you up-to-date on the health grades at Triangle dining spots. Sanitation scores and their corresponding letter grades are used in North Carolina to assess restaurants’ adherence to rules and standards intended to mitigate and prevent the spread of food-borne illnesses. You’ve likely seen sanitation grade cards at restaurants you’ve visited, and The N&O previously explained what those scores mean and how they’re calculated . Here are sanitation scores in Triangle counties from Nov. 3-9. Wake County sanitation scores The Wake County inspection management system shows 73 restaurant inspections were completed Nov. 3-9. Two restaurants received a B grade (a score of at least 80 but lower than 90): Dum N Grill (1000 Market Center Drive, Morrisville) received a score of 87 on Thursday, Nov. 5. The restaurant was in violation of 17 standards. Violations include gnats at a sink, no sanitizing solution test strips or food thermometer available, employees not washing hands while switching tasks and an employee tasting cooked rice with gloved hands and then putting the excess rice back into the pot of cooked rice, among other violations. The restaurant previously has not previously

Wake County, NC · 1h

chathamstartribune.com

Pantry Fried Chicken serves up crunchy chicken, friendly service in Danville

DANVILLE, Va. — Hot fried chicken and a friendly greeting made a good first impression during my visit to the newly opened Pantry Fried Chicken at 920 S. Main St., Danville. It is adjacent to Danville Community College. Employees smiled as I walked through the door and said, “Welcome...

Danville, VA · 3d

Raleigh News & Observer

Best Indian food? These 4 Triangle restaurants rank among the nation's favorites

Eight North Carolina restaurants rank among the nation’s best places to eat Indian food. And half of those fan-favorite dining destinations are in the Triangle, a new report finds. FULL STORY: 4 Triangle restaurants rank among the nation’s best for Indian food Here are key takeaways: To create the list of the top 100 Indian restaurants in the country, Yelp studied customer feedback. The restaurant review website said the results published Oct. 29 highlight the “most-loved spots in the U.S. for classic and trending Indian flavors.” Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar in Chapel Hill’s Meadowmont Village shopping center ranked highest among the Triangle spots at No. 18 on Yelp’s list. Three Raleigh restaurants also made the cut: Bombay Curry on Strickland Road at No. 41, Masala House on East Millbrook Road at No. 65 and Mustang House on Fayetteville Street at No. 72. Bombay Curry was named the nation’s favorite place for Indian takeout on DoorDash in 2024. Restaurants in Durham also have received recent nods for Indian cuisine. Four other North Carolina restaurants made the latest list from Yelp: Curry Gate in Charlotte (No. 32), Curry Palace in Burlington (No. 67), Mehfil in Asheville (No. 76) and

North Carolina · 3d

Raleigh News & Observer

Upscale Italian restaurant chain expands into Raleigh at Crabtree mall location

A major restaurant group is expanding in the Triangle as the mall makeover continues at Crabtree Valley. The upscale Italian chain Maggiano’s will open a new location at Crabtree next year, taking over the former Brio space at the mall. Maggiano’s is usually connected with shopping malls, but there’s currently only one location in the Triangle — at Durham’s Streets at Southpoint mall. Crabtree Valley owner Macerich confirmed the addition of Maggiano’s in an email. “Maggiano’s Little Italy has built its name on classic Italian-American dining, memorable experiences and timeless flavors, and it is exactly the kind of brand that becomes part of the destination,” said Guy Mercurio, Macerich’s vice president and director of national restaurant leasing, in an email. “As Crabtree’s redevelopment continues, we’re focused on adding more entertainment and bringing dining, retail and entertainment together to create a destination guests want to return to,” he wrote. “Maggiano’s strengthens that mix alongside both established names and distinctive new concepts.” Brio closed last year, a move that surprised many in the Triangle and coincided with the brand filing for bankruptcy in August 2025. The restaurant had been open for 15 years and left North Carolina without any Brio locations. Maggiano’s

Raleigh, NC · 5h

familyvacationsus.com

This Plain Little North Carolina Restaurant Serves a Ribeye Worth Driving Across the County For

There’s no menu here. A cook carries a whole raw ribeye to your table and slices your steak right in front of you. That’s the entire ordering process. You pick how big you want it, then you pick how you want it cooked. Every meal comes with a...

Wilson, NC · 1d

Raleigh News & Observer

Triangle restaurants and cafés face closures and changes. Here's what to know

Several beloved Triangle eateries are closing or relocating as owners cite post-pandemic struggles, oversaturated markets and shifting business conditions. From a longtime vegan standout in Raleigh to a national cookie chain, the local food scene is changing. Here are key takeaways: A fire at Village Coffeehouse in North Raleigh has shuttered the shop indefinitely, joining a wave of Triangle coffee shop setbacks that include The Optimist Raleigh ’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, Bad Brain Coffee Co .’s forced move from Raleigh Iron Works to make way for Drift Coffee + Kitchen, Village Coffeehouse ’s fire and the year-end closure of Parallax Coffee ’s Wendell location. ( Note: Parallax announced on Nov. 5 that they found a temporary space as a pop-up inside Daughters Soft Serve on N. Main Street in Wendell, starting mid-December.) Crumbl Cookies has closed multiple Triangle locations in 2026, including stores in Raleigh’s Six Forks Station, Chapel Hill and Cary’s Parkside, as the national chain reports a 70% drop in sales and its founders search for replacements to take over day-to-day operations. Fiction Kitchen , the influential Raleigh vegan restaurant , will close for good on Nov. 14 after 13 years, with owners Caroline Morrison and Siobhan

Raleigh, NC · 3d

thefullpint.com

partner publisher · 17.8K followers

Bull City Burger and Brewery Announces Outpost #1 in North Durham

From the editor: We first introduced Bull City Burger and Brewery back in 2012, so it’s good to see an independent brewpub signing a lease instead of a closure notice. Outpost #1 at Latta Park keeps the house-brewed beer and adds breakfast, soft serve and a kids’ play area, which is a smart neighborhood play. Calling it #1 tells you exactly where this is headed. Early 2027 can’t come fast enough for North Durham.

Durham, NC · 1d

Tasting Table

The 11 Best Southern Small Towns For Foodies

You don't need to visit Atlanta, Nashville, or New Orleans to eat well in the South. Some of the region's most rewarding food destinations are much smaller.

Lafayette, LA · 1d

decorhint.com

10 North Carolina Restaurants That Go Absolutely Overboard With Christmas Decorations Every Holiday Season

Two thousand gingerbread cookies a day is the kind of December statistic that makes me forget I was researching restaurants. One North Carolina steakhouse bakes roughly that many during the holidays, then sends diners home with cookies handed out by elves. From there, the decorating only gets more ambitious. I...

wunc.org

Due South live from The Rialto Theater. Plus NC's food scene, past and present

Three new Triangle-area restaurants recently received acclaimed “Michelin” status. Independent food writer Matt Lardie and News and Observer food and dining reporter Drew Jackson join Due South's Jeff Tiberii for some context and background on the prestigious “Michelin” designation. Drew Jackson, News and Observer food and...

partner publisher · 2.4K followers

Axios Raleigh

Wake Forest's Blackbird Brewing is bringing its beer to downtown Durham

Wake Forest's Blackbird Brewery is opening a taproom in downtown Durham's Unscripted hotel , taking over the space formerly occupied by Pour . Why it matters: The move introduces a new local spot for drinks and food downtown looking out onto CCB Plaza. State of play: Blackbird plans to begin selling beer this month in the Corcoran Street space. "A rolling opening is what we're calling it," Blackbird co-founder Harmony VanGundy says, laughing as she adds: "We still have no money. We need to sell some beer to make things happen." Because what they do have is product — a wide selection of beers brewed in Wake Forest — as well as permits, furniture and taps on the wall. Hours are not set, but Blackbird in Durham will "for sure" be open for the downtown tree-lighting on Nov. 21 and for other holiday events in December. What they're saying: "I just hope Durham likes us as much as we like them. They're tough, man. Tough crowd there. They kicked out Dampf BBQ real quick," she says with a laugh. Durham's beer drinkers have advanced palates, she tells Axios. "We're excited to have a space that when we make a smoked

Durham, NC · 1d

unearththevoyage.com

This Classic North Carolina Diner Still Serves a Full Breakfast for Under $8

Some of the best meals in North Carolina hide behind plain little storefronts you could easily drive past without a second glance. I almost did, until the smell of sizzling sausage and fresh coffee pulled me through the door before sunrise. What I found was a warm, crowded room full...

hoodline.com

publisher · 600.9K followers

Jim ‘N’ Nick’s Smokes Into Holly Springs, Bringing Triangle’s First Location This Week

Jim ‘N’ Nick’s Community Bar-B-Q is set to open its first Triangle location in Holly Springs on Wednesday, bringing the Alabama-born chain’s slow-smoked pulled pork, brisket and banana pudding to a new quick-casual spot at 115 Grand Hill Place. A grand opening celebration follows Thursday, complete with photo opportunities and a check presentation benefiting the Holly Springs Food Cupboard.

Holly Springs, NC · 19h

People

Chick-fil-A Is Testing 4 New Sandwiches in These 3 Cities — Including a Classic Breakfast Sandwich with a Twist

Chick-fil-A is testing four new waffle sandwiches in Tampa, Fla., Chicago and Raleigh, N.C. starting on Nov. 16

decorhint.com

This North Carolina Restaurant Looks Like A Backyard Party But Just Joined Michelin’s Exclusive List

The missing front door is what got me. Instead of walking straight into this North Carolina restaurant, guests follow a bright 1960s-style mural around a plain cinder block building until a backyard suddenly opens up behind it. By then, I already understand the name. It means “come over” in Hindi...

Raleigh, NC · 2d

Raleigh News & Observer

Beyond Buc-ee's: Restaurants with Texas ties keep heading to NC

North Carolina is getting a taste of the Lone Star State. Texas-based Buc-ee’s, already building one store in the state, is now eyeing a second location along Interstate 95. The travel center could join Texas-inspired restaurants setting up shop in the Raleigh area. From a barbecue joint to a beloved burger chain, here are openings The News & Observer has covered this year: Buc-ee’s could build a second North Carolina travel center near I-95 and Halifax Road in Rocky Mount. Its first NC location is already under construction off I-85/40 in Alamance County, and there’s no official opening date. East of Texas , a Texas-style barbecue restaurant from owner Claire Calvin, opened at Durham’s American Tobacco Campus . The restaurant serves brisket, burnt ends, pork belly and housemade sausage. It’s an expansion of a Winston-Salem spot that opened in 2023. Shipley Donuts , founded in Houston in 1936, plans to open two Raleigh shops over the next two years, with the first expected in 2027. The chain is known for handcrafted doughnuts and savory kolaches stuffed with fillings like sausage and jalapeños. Whataburger opened its first Triangle locations : in Wake Forest at 489 Calvin Jones Highway and in Raleigh

North Carolina · 7d

familydestinationsguide.com

Locals Can’t Get Enough Of These 10 Hole-In-The-Wall Restaurants In North Carolina

Curious about hole-in-the-wall restaurants in North Carolina that locals can’t stop talking about?. These 10 restaurants dish out bold flavors and true Southern hospitality!. 1. Zack’s Hot Dogs (Burlington) Burlington has a lot going for it, but Zack’s Hot Dogs on West Davis Street might just be the...

Burlington, NC · 12d

hoodline.com

Ladybug Creamery Opens in North Raleigh With $6 Scoops and Turkish Coffee Flavor

A new artisan ice cream shop has started scooping in North Raleigh, and it's leaning hard into North Carolina dairy and flavors you won't find at the usual chains. Ladybug Creamery opened at 3710 Exchange Glenwood Place, inside the Sojourn Apartments building near Glenwood Avenue and the Beltline, with a rotating lineup of a dozen flavors and a $6 scoop price.

Raleigh, NC · 3d

unearththevoyage.com