Triangle Restaurants

Coffee, Breakfast, & Brunch

  • Particularly popular among NC State students and those in need of some serious caffeine, Cup A Joe packs just the right punch. If you’re in desperate need for a pick-me-up, get something from the King size menu, which gives you six shots of espresso! They roast their beans in-house, and don’t be surprised if they ask you whether you need to take some home with you.

  • We found Dulce Café on our most recent trip to the Triangle, and were hoping for a decent pastry and a good coffee. What we found was an absolute gem of a pastry shop. We will certainly return whenever we’re in the Triangle. Our coffees were wonderful, and the pastries were the star of the show. They make - hands down - the best carrot cake I’ve ever had in my entire life. It’s filled with orange, and I’ll not soon forget it.

  • This is an awesome local coffeeshop. Delicious pastries, Liege Waffles, coffee, espresso, and everything that comes with it. If you want a good cup of coffee, come here. 

  • Rise started as one of the most popular donut and biscuit restaurants in the area, and they’ve kept up the momentum. Having expanded outside the Triangle (and even North Carolina), they focus on fresh-made biscuits and “righteous chicken.”

  • Known for their brunch, but also great for dinner, Tupelo Honey is a wonderful Southern restaurant that originally started in western, North Carolina. They have several locations now, including the Triangle and across multiple states. Pork Cracklings and Bacon Jam are some highlights that you’ll see incorporated in some of the dishes they have on the menu. One of my personal favorite dishes is the Fried Chicken & Biscuits.

Barbeque

  • This place is the real deal. This is the best eastern NC barbeque I’ve ever had in my entire life. I’ve never had anything that wasn’t amazing here. This is one of those restaurants that equalizes everybody. If you don’t know what I mean, you’ll understand when you go there. I’ve gone there for lunch with a team from work, and seen construction workers, law enforcement officers, men in full suits with French cuffs and ties, and people who could find just enough cash to afford the day’s lunch in the line at this place. And they’re all getting some of the best food money can buy. They sometimes run out of it, but I highly recommend the pork barbeque. I’ve had several people tell me that their ribs are quite scrumptious, but I’m partial to their pulled pork. The brisket is delicious, as is the turkey. If you want anything fried, it’ll take 10 minutes. They're closed on weekends.

Lunch & Dinner

  • This is a favorite from people at my old firm. Fantastic Italian food, down to earth and not pretentious. On Fridays, they have an Eggplant Rollatini special that is simply amazing. I could eat it every day and not get tired of it.

  • This is probably the best “Asian Fusion” type restaurant I’ve ever been to in the Triangle. It’s entirely different from what you’re expecting, though. They do not take reservations, and a 30+ minute wait for a seat is not atypical. At Cowfish, they have burgers. They have sushi. They have “burgushi” – a fun mash-up between land animal food products and seafood. Check it out, and tell them that you haven’t been there before. They’re more than happy to give you a “walkthrough” of their menu. (It's not any kind of hazing ritual, it's just legitimately helpful.). They also have a really awesome fish tank.

  • Chicken and waffles is a combination that baffles those who aren’t from the South, where it's quite popular. There are (finally!) two locations of this restaurant in the Triangle. The original location was in Durham, but has since been moved and expanded. When my wife finished grad school, she and I took her (extremely dubious) parents here for brunch. I highly recommend making reservations before you go, as this place can draw quite a crowd at peak times. I’ve been to the Cary location only once, and can say that it met the expectations set by the original. Don’t get anything other than the chicken and waffles – if you don’t get them, you might as well not go to the restaurant. As for sides, I personally recommend the collard greens. They come perfectly cooked with a delightfully spicy punch.

  • This restaurant is a favorite of my first team. Guasaca has incredible arepas! Everything is delicious! It’s a small local chain that I sincerely wish would start franchising so I could have their food up in Baltimore. I've had a hankering for this restaurant for years, and we'll certainly visit next time we're down that way.

  • Merritt’s is a Chapel Hill institution. Anyone who went to UNC will certainly agree with this. Incredible sandwiches, and they’re known for their BLT.

  • A Lebanese delight, with quick service and incredible food. Get a kabab, a pita, and several sides for an experience you won’t forget. I’m quite fond of the mjadara and the cilantro jalapeño hummus. Don’t forget the baklava, which you’ll crave for years to come.

  • The State Farmer’s Market Restaurant has some of the most reliable southern comfort food you can find. Their website is “realbiscuits.com” - and they do have some of the best biscuits I had in the area. Open for breakfast and lunch, I’d recommend anything on their menu.

Dinner

  • This restaurant’s tagline is “Mexican from the heart” – and that’s absolutely what it is. This place has probably some of the most amazing Mexican food I’ve ever had north of the border. If I recall correctly, most of the recipes used at this restaurant are from the family that owns it; so they’re family dishes, not made for a mass American audience.

  • Delicious French restaurant in Raleigh’s North Hills area. This is where my wife and I had dinner on our first date. I got her to try Brussels Sprouts and Escargot for the first time here (yes, on our first date). Since then, she can’t get enough Brussels Sprouts.

  • A delicious southern restaurant in the heart of Raleigh’s Hayes Barton neighborhood. Parking could be a challenge when I lived down there, but the food inside is worth circling the block or braving the small parking lot. Great food, great atmosphere.

Desserts

  • Whether you get a cup or cone, a shake, a sundae, or a concrete, you can’t go wrong at Goodberry’s. A local institution, anyone who likes a frozen treat will love this place. Be sure to check out the flavor of the day, and don’t be surprised if there’s a line.