I venture down to Chapel Hill and the surrounding area at least once a year. I always leave having eaten a ton of delicious food, but much remains uneaten and many restaurants are still untested.
I asked my local family members where I need to go next and got some really great suggestions. Though I haven’t made it to all of these places, they’re on my list and were all recommended to me by friends and family. Most of them are conveniently clustered right along Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill.
Crook’s Corner
Googling “where to eat Chapel Hill” will inevitably lead you to Crook’s Corner. The seasonal menu reflects classic Southern comfort food. Though I’m not from the South, I have a deep and undying appreciation for grits, and I’ve been wanting to try theirs. The brunch menu looks delightfully indulgent. Also, honeysuckle sorbet? I’m sold. 610 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, (919) 929-7643
Lantern
This Asian restaurant boasts an emphasis on North Carolina’s farm-to-table ingredients. The chef and owner, Andrea Reusing, won the James Beard Award for Best Chef Southeast in 2011. 423 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, (919) 969-8846
Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe
The cafe is tucked in a brick courtyard nook off of Franklin Street. I’d love to sit back there with a plate of chicken curry. Underpinning the delicious fare is a real commitment to food justice. Vimala’s boasts an “everybody eats” policy, which manifests itself in community-supported dinners. 431 W. Franklin St., Ste. 415, Chapel Hill, (919) 929-3833
Maple View Farm
This place has got my name written all over it. Rocking chairs on a porch? Check. Holstein dairy cows? Check. An amazing list of ice cream, sorbet and frozen yogurt? Check. Also, they cater! Who doesn’t want catered ice cream? 6900 Rocky Ridge Rd., Chapel Hill, (919) 960-5535
Southern Season
Southern Season feels like a destination. It’s a gourmet grocery and a gourmet restaurant! You can have a fancy sit-down meal, and then pick up everything you need for a fun wine and cheese party, a wedding gift, a hostess gift or a fancy chocolate binge. It was really fun to wander the aisles and marvel at all the local North Carolinian food products. I was particularly impressed with the inventory of fancy cookbooks—you know the ones, with the beautiful covers, well-designed content layouts and really appetizing food photography. University Mall, 201 S. Estes Dr., Chapel Hill, (919) 929-7133
Weaver Street Market
No list of food-related places in and around Chapel Hill would be complete without a mention of Weaver Street Market. One of my favorite things is to buy a couple types of cheese, a bottle of wine (at non-Pennsylvania state store prices, to boot!) and a nice loaf of bread and sit outside of this cooperatively owned market to enjoy them all. I never feel like a trip to the area is really complete without at least one stop here. If you need more than wine, cheese and bread, there’s also a hot food bar inside, and of course everything else you’d expect from an awesome co-op grocery. 716 Market St., Chapel Hill, (919) 929-2009
Johnny’s Gone Fishing
Although it’s outside of Chapel Hill in Carrboro, this spot is worth the quick drive. Known to the locals simply as “Johnny’s,” it’s a cute little blue-sided, house-like structure containing a coffee shop and local treats, but it feels kind of like a community center. Stop by early for an amazing biscuit breakfast sandwich, and be sure to grab a LocoPop out of the freezer on your way out. If you need a place to stay while you’re in town, there’s a great little AirBnB apartment on the second floor that would be a nice spot from which to explore Carrboro, but a little removed from the hustle and bustle. There’s great outdoor space just outside, and if you’re lucky, you might end up drinking your coffee next to a ukelele trio with some sweet vocal harmonies. Also, keep an eye out for the crepe truck that’s parked outside on most Sunday mornings. 901 W. Main St. Carrboro, (919) 932-5070
- Photos: Lisa Yoder
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