45 Best Restaurants in Central North Carolina, North Carolina

Stepping into this artisanal patisserie with attached wine bar feels like being in Europe, save for the Southern hospitality. Hungry customers line up for plump Valrhona chocolate croissants, slabs of burrata-dotted focaccia, and sandwiches made on fresh bread with locally milled grains. Bobby Boy exists in perfect harmony with Caviste Wine Bar; bakery customers enjoy sandwiches and coffee at the bar by day, then fancy bar snacks are made to pair with the natural wines at Caviste at night. 

An Old North Durham mainstay for more than a dozen years alongside Fullsteam, Motorco, Cocoa Cinnamon, and King’s Sandwiches, this neighborhood gastropub is becoming more dwarfed by big buildings by the day as construction of mixed-use apartment buildings transforms the city. Always reliable, friendly, and unpretentious, diners can enjoy a variety of burgers and sandwiches, salads, and simple Southern-style plates at communal picnic tables on the covered patio or inside in a converted garage with exposed brick walls and bold local artwork (some of it by the artistic staff). Chef-owner Andy Magowan regularly pays homage to classic Chinese dishes and Mexican cuisine with menu specials and theme weeks. Sunday brunch is less inspired but still popular.

Winston's hippest coffee joint is known for its biscuits and burgers (the chef behind Heff's Burger Club started out at Krankies) as much as its espresso. A warehouselike interior offers plenty of room to spread out, and ample outdoor tables fill with locals relaxing or working on sunny days.

The most cutting-edge restaurant in the region, if not the whole state, MACHETE grew out of monthly underground supper club dinners and dining with them still has a feeling of being a culinary insider. Food and cocktails here are not just prepared, but curated and presented as edible works of art, yet feel effortless and unassuming. The menu, divided into Snacks and Plates, has sparse descriptions ("flank steak: black garlic. potato. mushroom") but dishes arrive with evocative descriptions from the well-informed servers. Drinks have fun, poppy names like Disco Stu Likes Disco Music (a Simpsons reference), with surprises like a popcorn garnish or a splash of squid ink.

A place to please both pizza purists and just plain enthusiasts, Mission Pizza serves authentic Neapolitan pizza with a perfect crust char and simple toppings, along with a few pasta dishes and starters. Those who are serious about their pie might opt for the five-course pizza prix-fixe menu ($50 per person, served family style) or give themselves over completely to the pizzaiolo with Pizzakase ($65, based on the Japanese tradition of "I leave it up to you"). Tongue-in-cheek notes on the menu note that pizza should be eaten hot out of the oven (takeout is discouraged), with hands, without devices on the table, and without ranch dressing for crust-dipping (see: $100 "ranchage" fee). Reservations are only taken for the multi-course experiences, but there are plenty of nearby spots for a drink or a browse while you wait for a table. 

House-made pasta, innovative bruschetta with 'nduja (spreadable pork sausage), and roasted vegetables and meats are the stars of this sophisticated Italian spot. By day, the Alimentari side serves lunch and brunch, as well as pasta and provisions to go. Chef Josh DeCarolis brings his passion for his Sicilian heritage and expertise in Italian cooking, while his partner Matt Kelly has contributed significantly to Durham's culinary scene next door at Mateo tapas, French classics at Vin Rouge, and the highly anticipated reopening of Nana's Rockwood.

New Orleans and North Carolina exist at two very different ends of the Southern spectrum, yet their cuisines coexist quite peacefully thanks to chef Sunny Gerhart, who worked under Ashley Christensen at Poole's Diner and later took over the lease of this historic former-storefront space in the heart of downtown Raleigh. St. Roch doesn't rely on Creole clichés, as NC barbecued shrimp gets a coconut curry broth, the gnocchi delivers alligator Bolognese, and the dirty rice is enriched by duck confit. The cocktail list is equally elegant without taking itself too seriously, with butter-washed whiskey, pimento bitters, and a Creole trinity (onions, celery, and peppers) syrup among the ingredients.

This Greensboro staple (for nearly a century) is a pilgrimage spot for barbecue lovers from across the state. The chopped, Eastern-style pork is mostly shoulder meat already sauced in the kitchen, though there's also plenty of vinegary Stamey's Secret Sauce at your table. If you're looking for something other than straight pulled pork, try the Brunswick stew, a traditional Southeastern, thick, tomato-based stew. There's a second location on Battleground Avenue north of town.

The city's best food hall has a soaring ceiling with giant skylights, filling the room and its many stalls with natural light. Grab a hearty burrito, an empanada, or a sandwich from Benchwarmers Bagels, where heirloom grains and a wood-fired oven result in one of the Southeast's best.

Known as Hillsborough's living room since 2003, this neighborhood pub has grown from an intimate nine-table bar and restaurant to a multilocation gathering space for craft beer and farm-to-pub grub. Folks of all stripes crowd in for a burger made from humanely raised cows from their own Wooden Nickel Farms, baskets of wings tossed in their choice of hot-as-you-can-handle sauce, and a pint from the rotating guest menu of craft beers from all over the world. The busy, friendly bartenders are as much of a draw as the food, and will happily recommend a beer (if you can flag them down). The James Pharmacy building next door holds a bottle shop and weekend bakery, while the Wooden Nickel Mebane opened in late 2023, 10 miles from Hillsborough.

Dinner at this huge, rustic barn (a Raleigh legend) is a real event and certainly worth the sizable prices. With its big portions, kitschy surroundings (especially known for its Christmas decorations), and 89-page wine and beer list, this steak house is both traditional and fun. The kitchen carries on the legacy of Iron Chef Walter Royal, who passed in 2023 after more than 25 years as executive chef, with delicious steaks, prime rib, fresh seafood, baby back ribs, and homemade desserts.

Downtown Durham is fortunate to have more than a few spots for craft cocktails, and Bar Virgile has small plates and classic dinner dishes as sophisticated and well-balanced as their drinks. The no-reservations restaurant gets busy before and after shows at DPAC and the Carolina Theatre, with many raves for the cheeseburger, mac and cheese, and deviled eggs. While the downstairs Annexe bar is crowded with diners waiting for a table, the full food menu is also available there, along with tiki-themed drinks.

James Beard Award–winning chef Ashley Christensen (also behind Poole's Diner and Death & Taxes) opened this hip fried chicken spot, which serves the namesake dish as well as modern takes on Southern classics. Sit at the bar and wash down the restaurant's hearty cuisine with a craft cocktail or glass of champagne. Brunch is also a hit on the weekends.

The menu at this intimate seafood spot includes Lowcountry favorites, often presented with an Asian flair and a bit of French influence. The standout ahi tuna varies by season in its preparation. With black leather chairs and soft lighting, this is a classy pick for a date night. This white-washed brick restaurant is tucked away behind commercial buildings off of the highway, and is easy to miss after dark.

A group of passionate bakers has built up this tiny neighborhood bakery over the past nine years, supporting it through a move and COVID closures. Boulted stone-mills their flour daily, with heirloom grains and local everything else, from eggs to dairy to chocolate.

North Carolina–grown and –milled flour, boiled and baked in the New York style, make these perfect bagels both local and authentic. Toasted and smothered with pimento cheese, bacon, and avocado, they're perfection.

Durham's oldest-operating restaurant sticks to the finely chopped vinegar barbecue that made it an institution. Pair a sandwich or platter with a bowl of beans or mac and cheese and you'll be in hog heaven. It's cash only, so head to an ATM before you arrive.

Swing by this local favorite (also in Winston-Salem) for a café au lait and a chocolate croissant in the morning, and then visit again after dark for the decadent desserts.

Coffee and hot chocolate made with love, community, and the best intentions just tastes better. Cocoa Cinnamon and their in-house roasters Little Waves source coffee beans and ingredients from small and sustainable producers all over the world, and tell stories through their beverages. The rotating Wonder Menu features seasonal special drinks like I'll Be Your Mirror (latte with Nutella and black pepper) and Two After Midnight's Children, a drinking chocolate with hot peppers, honey, and sea salt. Three locations include the more laptop-friendly Old West Durham, the coffee roastery and fresh churros at Lakewood, and the original Old North Durham, each with distinct thoughtful design and local art.

Five-time James Beard Award semifinalist Scott Crawford founded this comfy but sophisticated restaurant in the historic Oakwood neighborhood to showcase his unique approach to cooking and the seasonal bounty of his adopted hometown. The ever-changing menu is focused on seasonal, local produce that truly belongs to its community. Look for entrées like beef cheek ragout, pork schnitzel with smashed roots, and swordfish with ancient grains. Save room for dessert because pastry chef Lauren Yerrick's creations are out of this world. Craft cocktails and a solid wine list round out the experience. If you can't get enough of Crawford's cooking (or the reservation time you're seeking), his French restaurant, Jolie, is next door and is equally terrific.

This repurposed industrial-mod warehouse includes 10 counter-serve food and drink merchants, offering Neapolitan pizza, raw oysters, gourmet coffee, and more. The location, next to Durham Central Park and Farmers' Market and amidst a growing collection of apartment buildings, makes it a popular sport for families and singles on weekends.

A well-established wine bar with small plates, pasta, and classic American dishes, Foxcroft feels like dining in a cozy wine cellar with a private chef. More than 40 wines are available by the glass or taste, with flight samplings built around bubbles, Italian wines, Cabernets, and more. If you fall in love with a wine in the retail shop, the price is the same to enjoy at the table. There are additional locations in Charlotte and Greenville, with the original near Southpark. 

Approachable and surprising, Freeman's is a neighborhood bar with a satisfying food menu heavy on the smoked barbecue and meaty sandwiches, but with veggie versions, sides, and hearty salads too. Cocktails are mixed with their own infusions like banana bourbon and rosemary-and-garlic vodka. Less than a year after Freeman's was taken over by two of their former bartenders, the pub was voted in the top 100 of restaurants in the country by Yelp users. The new owners have kept the popular poutine with brisket gravy, Brussels sprouts in brown butter, and Mexican street corn side on the menu.

Wine lovers can enjoy a Mediterranean-influenced meal of pan-seared scallops, Lyonnaise salad, or braised short rib along with their glass. More than 25 wines are offered by the taste, glass, or flight, mostly European with a few from New Zealand and South Africa, and more than 300 different bottles are available to take home. Provisions from the pop-up Cheese Shop are in store Wednesday to Saturday, with a large selection of cut-to-order cheese and charcuterie to pair with your wine. 

In a series of connected rooms and outdoor spaces of a 1900-era mill house, Goodyear serves elevated comfort food, like shrimp and grits, French fries shaken in togarashi (a Japanese spice blend) seasoning, and Malaysian-inspired golden chicken, along with updated classic cocktails and local beer. The restaurant name refers to the higgledy-piggledy shape of houses expanded ad hoc as families had a "good year." The size and variety of seating makes it great for groups, but also chaotic at busy times.

In an austere building underneath the highway, this out-of-the-way eatery has dished up gyros and souvlaki since 1970. Patrons, including workers at the nearby hospital and local families, enjoy the friendly service and ample portions of moussaka, spanakopita, and salads, plus more familiar fare like hamburgers and pizza. The wine list includes Greek reds and whites.

Having built a following for his food at Krankies, Winston-Salem local Justin Webster took his smash burgers from pop-up to James Beard–nominated restaurant in his first year. Justin and his wife Heather (nicknamed Heff) focus on accessible but high-quality food, in a fun, eclectic environment that's heavy on nostalgia. All ingredients on the simple menu are NC-sourced—the furthest is brioche buns from Asheville—and highlight favorite regional flavors like pimento cheese and Cheerwine soda. Order a Ladykiller with white American cheese, black garlic sauce, pickles, and onions, with a side of crinkle-cut fries, while you peruse the pop-culture stickers and snacks in the vending machine.

This Greensboro mainstay (now with two locations in town) was early to the gourmet burger bandwagon. They keep up their sterling reputation with a commitment to well-sourced ingredients and inviting offerings like the North Carolinian (bacon, fried green tomato, pimento cheese, and a fried egg). There's a quality selection of local beers to wash down the caloric overload.