restaurants

My introduction to chitlins was at the The Big Dinner sponsored by Washington County Sheriff Harvey Tackett. A friend later drove me miles up river to the ’Coon Hunters Ball, featuring turtle soup, squirrel stew, venison and oh-so-tender broiled rattlesnake.

Food & Wine and Southern Living magazines agree – Asheville’s STORM Rhum Bar & Bistro is the coziest restaurant in North Carolina.

On the 19th floor with panoramic views of Uptown Charlotte and the Romare Bearden Park, Merchant + Trade is a hip, modern, new rooftop lounge. The open-flow space has four zones, including the indoor bar with enormous windows, outdoor covered terrace, private VIP section, and astroturf lawn with rocking chairs and soft seating.

Perhaps you’ve heard the news: Peruvian-style food is trending upward. While it may not be as popular as sushi or as prevalent as food trucks, this healthy and delectable Latin American cuisine is gaining attention.

Located on the shores of the Neuse River in New Bern, Persimmons, a locally owned waterfront restaurant, offers three unique dining experiences. You can choose to dine in the downstairs great room, private upstairs room or the outdoor waterfront area.

Wilmington has been home to The George on the Riverwalk since 2004. Since opening its doors, it has transformed from a Caribbean fusion theme to its now Southern Coastal cuisine. Located on the Cape Fear River in the heart of historic downtown, it is a true Wilmington restaurant.

Greece native and NC resident Lou Moshakos has brought the spirit of the Mediterranean kitchen to Raleigh. Vidrio features a variety of traditional dining dishes, wines and flavors using local and imported ingredients.

Former owners of Scully’s Bar and Grille in Downtown Asheville, Paige and Danny Scully, are soon opening Mountain Madre Mexican Kitchen & Agave Bar in its place.

The Massachusetts-based chain Wahlburgers, started by Mark Wahlberg and his brothers, is coming to downtown Raleigh in early 2017. It will be located at 319 Fayetteville Street, where The Oxford previously stood.

When asking peers about Greensboro dining, Hops Burger Bar, located on Spring Garden Street near University of North Carolina at Greensboro with another location on Lawndale Drive, was described as “one of a kind.”

Clouds Brewing, located in Raleigh, North Carolina, off Hillsborough Street, is the first of its kind. It features “The Downpour,” an original concrete wall of ten rotating self-serve draft beers. You pay by the ounce, not by the pint, giving customers the chance to taste the many types of beers.

Named after the popular hotel destroyed by the Great Fire of Wrightsville Beach in 1934, the Oceanic is the only restaurant in Wrightsville Beach located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

The King’s Kitchen, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a nonprofit restaurant that donates 100% of its proceeds to feed the hungry in the Charlotte region.

Located in Pack Square is Asheville’s famous American cuisine eatery, Rhubarb. The rustic look and relaxed setting is well-suited for downtown.

The “Emmys” of the food world are held every year in the form of the James Beard Awards.

In 1926, Robert Green bought a lunch stand with 12 stools and began selling hot dogs for a nickel each.

Marcus Hall admits being a little crazy. He helped invent burgushi, a burger/sushi fusion with a cult-like following.