The Yummiest American in Raleigh

Parkton Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (14)

"Service: the waitress was great. She was very attentive even with the restaurant being busy. The Food: The pork chops were very tender. Im not a big fan of boneless pork chops but these were awesome. The onion rings were fried well and the mac & cheese nuggets were as well. The Texas toast was soft snd butter and well season. Everything was great. The meal was about $12 and included 2 sides and a drink... Can't beat that. The ambiance is similar to any diner. There are two rooms that contain seating though."

Village Deli and Grill - Cameron Village

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (159) • $$

"As a new resident of Raleigh, I wanted to try this spot for lunch. It isn't far from where I'll be working and I was quite surprised how crowded it was on a weekday. So I figured it was worth a try.The cashier was very friendly and helped me figure out my order. I went with the turkey sandwich with the Vidalia onion dressing and pasta salad for my side. The food took maybe 10 minutes to prepare, which wasn't bad considering there was hardly a table to be found. Pretty good sandwich, nice quality ingredients, but certainly not the biggest I've ever had. The pasta salad was vegetarian, it had a tangy vinaigrette, it was solid. It was fine, but not what I would call special."

Mac's Tavern

★★★★☆ 3.5 (101)

"Stopped in for a quick lunch and was pleasantly surprised! Shrimp and crab dip was beach quality. Cool atmosphere, lots to do, pool, darts, games and tons in TV's. Play great tunes as well. Definitely will be back. Nice place to come and just sit at the bar for a couple of beers. Outside is nice, would definitely like to come on a night they have live music."

Tobacco Road Sports Café

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (630) • $$

"Tobacco Road is in the DPAC complex with LOTS to see. When attending a concert, we walked through the river area, caged basketball court, and around by the baseball stadium to get to Tobacco Road. TR is the PERFECT place to post up and grab a drink before a DPAC event/show. If you're into watching a/your team play, try and lock down one of the round booths facing the TV wall. Seriously, we haven't seen a wall like this since Caesar's (Vegas). There was a LOT going on with all the Sunday NFL games. Price point perfectly matches the food. We had all the greatest bar food hits, burgers, tacos, cheesesteaks, ribs, etc. All were solid choices. Service and hosts were friendly and accomodating. We look forward to our next concert, game, and/or downtown Durham stroll."

Carolina Barbecue

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (130) • $$

"Stop in for lunch at 11:30 on a Saturday. Note that there was a posting that prices had just gone up due to increasing cost.I posted photos of the menu so you can see.Honestly, my expectations were low, and they well over delivered with a delicious lunch. The hush puppies were perhaps the best that I've ever eaten. The Eastern Carolina style barbecue was moist, flavorful, accompanied by green beans, and a good tasting potato sala. The fried flounder was cooked nicely. The staff was incredibly friendly. My experience was excellent, and the food was fresh, tasty, and hot. The total price for 2 lunches with 2 drinks and a tip was $31. I look forward to going back when I am more hungry so I can try to get to dessert."

Rallypoint Sport Grill

★★★★☆ 3.5 (163) • $$

"My wife and I, along with another couple, stopped here last night to have a drink. There were only three other people because it was a bit late. The service was great and we enjoyed our drinks. My Guinness was poured perfectly.The ladies behind the bar were friendly, and the service was great.We were not here long but we would definitely come back."

Hot Diggidy Dog

★★★★☆ 4.3 (48)

"I moved to North Carolina in 2003. In the 17 years I have been here, I can honestly say I have not met a single person who sings the praises of Fayetteville. The consensus seems to be: it is hot, not pretty in most places, and the only people who live there are either associated with the military or have not managed to get out yet.Fayetteville does indeed get hot: they hold the record for highest temperature ever recorded in NC--110 degrees Fahrenheit on August 21, 1983. And as far as pretty is concerned, I'm sure there are some pretty spots, but I did not see many--lots of poverty and run down businesses. And Fort Bragg does seem to be the centerpiece for this area.But one good thing they have going for them is Hot Diggidy Dog.I made the trip to Fayetteville to continue my quest to visit all 30 of Our State Magazine's hot dog recommendations. And this was a good one.I ordered one all the way, one of their famous bacon wrapped hot dog "blt", fries, and a drink (to make it a "combo"). The hot dogs were very good. The wiener appeared to have been pan fried and had a good flavor. The slaw was tasty and the chili was excellent. The bacon around the bacon wrapped one was thin and crispy and good, but the flavor was largely lost. Overall both dogs were enjoyable. The fries were pedestrian.This place is reasonably cute and cozy but a little dark inside. They are very patriotic, with a U.S. flag flying outside and a giant one hung on the wall inside.My biggest gripe is the cost of adding fries and a drink to the order--$3.70. That is high by at least $2 in my book. I was shocked. It was highway robbery.It was almost enough to consider making this a 3 star review, but I won't because the dogs were worth 4 stars.So if you find yourself in Fayetteville, this is a place worth checking out if you love hot dogs.Just don't make your meal a combo."

Jack's

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (11)

"Upscale dining place with quality (albeit overpriced) food. The BBQ shrimp comes with this sauce that goes well with everything. I had their fried oysters (good texture and flavor) and penne pasta (enormous quantity wise for what I could handle). The pasta was creamy, and the penne had clearly soaked in all the flavor of the cream. Highly recommend! Service was fine, the tables seemed relatively empty right after peak time on a Friday night."

Zack's Hot Dogs

★★★★☆ 3.8 (168) • $

"Wish I could give them gem 10+ Stars!!! The family and I tried a new business in Burlington. Apparently this is a 96+ year business that has been established in the city for almost a year. They took over the old Steak and Shake. It's s cute 70s style vibe. We were seated immediately....not a huge crowd ! The menu has an array of items to choose from. ** They have the ol school Ne High Grape in a glass bottle!! **Food came out pretty fast - it wasn't an extended wait but just right. My entire family devoured our food and left nothing but cheese sauce on the plates. The hotdogs topped with chili/ cheese/ coleslaw was amazing!! Fries = came with chili and cheese. Amazing!! Kiddos got strawberry milkshakes which they loved!!My husband regretted getting the hotdog and chicken wing combo. He said the wings were good but he wanted another hotdog. Cash Discount if paying by Cash!! We will return!! This is a newer location ....the original location is located downtown Burlington, NC."

Buffalo Brothers Pizza & Wing

★★★★☆ 3.5 (144)

"We continue to always have good food from this location. If I'm craving wings, nothing is better than the grilled barbalo wings. They are always perfect. Husband enjoys their sandwiches and pizza, but this time he decided to try their boneless wings with habanero lime and loved it. We also shared the jalapeno poppers which are excellent.Take out service is fast & friendly during these covid times. They also have a lot of room inside to space folks out. You can order online via different services, but I prefer to call and make sure our dollars are going straight to them. Was just saying to Husband this weekend that I don't believe we've ever had anything from here that we didn't like and he agreed."

The PorterHouse Burger

★★★★☆ 4.4 (65)

"I came here around 3:10pm on a Monday afternoon to get lunch with a friend. It wasn't very busy as there were about 3 parties eating and one party reviewing the menu. The aroma when I first walked in was amazing. After reviewing the menu, our order was placed at 3:17pm. I got the jam-tastic burger with fries. My friend build his own burger. The food came at 3:23pm. My burger was delicious, as expected. I got this the previous time I was here. My friend enjoyed his burger as well. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful! The cashiers also walk around and clean the tables and check on the customers, which is awesome. No complaints at all. Mondays are their burger special day, so that's the day to go!!"

High Park Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.7 (81) • $$

"It's a bar so it was fun to watch a game here. It was the clubhouse sandwich with okra for my husband and a beer and the beef tips over mashed potatoes with apple sauce and lima beans for me. Both options were really good and so was the service. If you are into sports, check out High Park."

Nashville Exchange Steakhouse & Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (35)

"Good friendly service, food is good but not great, if your in Nashville this is one of the better sit down lunch dining. Place is really clean. With healthy options this is not a greasy bbq place."

Four Oaks Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (24) • $

"Extended days with breakfast hours! Now, Thursday through Sunday!This visit he enjoyed link sausage, eggs, grits, and toast. I had tenderloin and gravy, eggs, toast and hash browns. Ugh, I'm not a fan of the hash browns. They had an off taste. Next time, I'll try home fries. We're just glad we can have breakfast together on our day off during the week."

Chef's Palette Restaurant & Bar

★★★★☆ 4.2 (349) • $$

"This was our first visit. Our server was David and he was friendly and attentive just the right amount. The duck taquitos were great (the white sauce was a bit spicier than what I enjoy, but the cheese sauce was great and not spicy.) I tried the shrimp and grits for my meal. The meal was tasty but a little spicier than I anticipated and the grits were ever so slightly undercooked (still very edible and tasted good). I really enjoyed the Honeycrisp Bees' Knees (gin) cocktail. I think their hostess table may need a little work, and that the eclectic art for sale on the walls was interesting. I appreciated that the sound levels were pretty good in the restaurant."

Overtime Sports Pub

★★★★☆ 3.8 (66) • $

"This pub is a nice low key spot that's open late night. I enjoy the chill vibe, musical guest and most importantly the food is surprisingly very good!"

The Mason Jar Cafe

★★★★★ 4.5 (17)

"My daughter and I wanted to go somewhere new for lunch yesterday, and going to this little out of the way place fit the bill. The food was not bad by any means, but what we tried was just very average. I wish I could say that it is worth driving so far out of the way, but that's just not the case. However, if you're already in the area or live close by then it would be worth stopping by. Again let me say that nothing about our experience was bad."

Lillington Sports Zone

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (87)

"This is a very "locals" spot with good greasy bar food, decent beer on tap, and good service! I've only ever sat in the bar but this place is always poppin' in both the dining area and bar!"

Penn's Bar and Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (16)

"This location has changed owners over the years - the restaurant is within the property itself including banquets areas and accommodations- In the restaurant- delicious food - friendly knowledgeable staff - notably buffet brunch sometimes on the weekends of which I plan to visit soon &will add photos. There is a full bar service. The menu options are versatile- This is a one level location - lots of complementary parking & accessible parking available.I believe there is a DJ providing music sometimes but better to call in advance. The location is ridiculously situated a stones throw from I 85 exit 204 Oxford NC - several other shopping experiences close by and about 10 miles from a hospital."

Brookland Eats

★★★★☆ 4.1 (121)

"I've eaten here twice now but this last visit really hit the mark. The staff is always friendly and helpful with the menu and recommendations loved by the locals. Donna Jade was our server and was top notch. I got the fish and it was quite good well seasoned and delicious. The prices are very reasonable and I will visit again to be sure. Plus they did have a bottle Of Tabasco sauce on hand as mine was left in the car. I put it on just about everything. When you visit Roxboro make sure you grab at least one or more meals here."

Chris'drive-In

★★★★☆ 4.1 (34)

"I grew up in Siler City so this place has been a go too for me all my life. The people leaving negative reviews are obviously city slickers and do not know good food when it's in their face. Food is consistently good, service is as well. Cash only. Says it on the window before you enter so there's no reason to be surprised or complain. If you're expecting white table cloth covered tables then this isn't the place for you. If you're going to a place to eat to actually eat and not judge all your surroundings then you will not be disappointed ."

Woodys Sports Tavern & Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (206)

"I read that they had great wings here. We finally went this last weekend and I am pleased! We got a burger, fries, and the garlic wings. I wish they were saucier, but I can't wait to try their other styles. The oil they fry them was SO clean! You can tell by the taste! The fries are amazing and we even liked the queso. I did not expect to! They are not breaded, thank goodness and I really was a fun lively atmosphere.This location even had some fun outdoor space and lawn games!!"

Village Steakhouse and Pub

★★★★☆ 3.7 (42)

"We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary here in a private dining room at the top of the stairs. First dinner out with our own dining room in 25 years. Our waiter took good care of us without being too attentive. Steaks were perfectly cooked. We both had filets Oscar. Downstairs was much homier, including crafts for sale. We will be back for a casual meal and enjoy more of the variety offered on the affordable menu. Pizza anyone?"

Ronnie's Chuckwagon

★★★★☆ 3.5 (21)

"As a local I grew up eating here. It's a small town burger joint, which has come a LONG way from what I remember it as when I was a kid. You order/pay at the window and your food is brought to your table. It gets busy at lunch, but I've never had to wait an unreasonable amount of time. Call in (pick-up) is available. CASH ONLY. Don't count calories here or judge a book by it's cover. This place offers anything from burgers, hotdogs, fries, chili cheese fries, milkshakes, fish fillets, fried okra/squash/pickles, grilled cheese, etc. Their slaw is delicious. Many times I have ordered slaw from here for cookouts at my house. Easy peasy. Overall- It's dirt cheap, greasy/unhealthy, but delicious :)"

Cedar Point Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.7 (85) • $

"Holy Breakfast!! This restaurant was located near the hotel we were staying at, and my other half wanted something different than the breakfast offered there. When we walked in we were warmly greeted, and shown to a table. We looked at the menu and saw that all the southern favorites were present and accounted for! I went with a cheesesteak omelette with country potatoes and grits as my sides. There was also a biscuit involved that was seriously tasty! I had orange juice to drink, Husband had coffee and said that it was very good. What struck me even more than the amazing food, and the vast menu..is that the staff were all chatting with regulars and telling them stories and laughing..like old friends!"

Border Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (51) • $

"The cutest little breakfast place in town. It's a little hole in the wall on north main. My husband and I love this place. The staff is pretty much the same. They all very friendly and sweet. They talk up my kids. The prices are great too. It's so inexpensive here compared to most places in town. The owners come pretty often too. It just has such a family atmosphere and I feel so welcome when I'm here. I cannot explain it in words that will do it justice. The food is great. I've never ordered anything I didn't like. My husband typically gets an omelette and everything is perfect. They have good coffee too. Don't miss this hidden gem in wake forest. It's so good and I love supporting small businesses."

Franklin Motors

★★★★☆ 4.4 (31)

"Franklin Motors rates somewhere between three (OK) and four (good) stars for me. We had a good time here.Until we visited, I didn't know this was Chapel Hill's first and so far only beer garden. It's located just one block east of the Carrboro-Chapel Hill border, on popular West Franklin Street. The business opened in October 2021.Over the last few years, my wife and I passed by this place several times, saw all the people enjoying beer and food outside, and it piqued our interest. We're glad we finally got to check it out.According to Chapelboro.com ( https://chapelboro.com/news/business/beer-study-moving-to-new-chapel-hill-location-new-bar-taking-over ), the folks behind Franklin Motors renovated a small building previously owned by Franklin Street Auto, LLC. That's presumably where the "Motors" part of the name comes from. There are several auto shops in the immediate vicinity, including one I went to often: Automotion. I highly recommend them, by the way: https://www.yelp.com/biz/automotion-carrboro There's a Town of Chapel Hill gravel parking lot that you can pay to park in, adjacent to Franklin Motors. We parked for free on the street (South Graham Street).Compared to other beer gardens I've been to, Franklin Motors is one of the smallest and most humble-looking. The business sits on an unassuming corner lot. It's a simple, sort-of-makeshift spot that gives off vibes of an independent garage. You can get up on the rooftop, which is nice, and they also have a dedicated food truck on site: Roquette at Franklin Motors. The building has an indoor space on the ground level. Outside, it's gravel and there's a canopy -- that's where we sat. We couldn't get the fans to work. We stayed for hours, into the night when the property was string-lit. There was also a fire pit.This place is good for groups. We had a group of eight. It's also dog-friendly.Here's what my wife and I had:Drinks* Pimms Cup (forgot the price) - Pimms No. 1, lemon juice, cucumber topped with ginger ale* Middle James Great Musa Hefeweizen, 4.8% ($7)* Noble Wild Berry Knight Cider, 6.0% ($7)Food from the Roquette food truck* Mac & Cheese ($10) - fresh cream, Ashe County cheddar, toasted bread crumbs* Hand Cut Fries ($8) - hand-cut potatoes, parsley, rosemary, thyme, and housemade roasted garlic aioli (and ketchup).* Pineapple Chipotle Tacos ($18) - braised pulled pork, simmered in a pineapple sauce, chipotle, coriander, ginger, and orange, with avocado, pickled onion, cilantro, and queso fresco* Sliders (pick 3 for $15) - we got 2 Cheeseburgers -- Baldwin Beef (Yanceyville, NC), tomato, pickled onion, roasted garlic aioli, toasted brioche bun; and 1 Cajun-fried Chicken -- pickles, house slaw, roasted garlic aioli, toasted brioche bunThe drinks hit the spot. The beer selection was good. Decent variety. The cocktails were standard.The food was OK. The only underwhelming dish was the mac and cheese. While the portion size was generous, it didn't taste significantly better than instant mac and cheese. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but you expect better when going out and paying $10+ for mac and cheese. I did appreciate that it was made with local cheese. Everything else was pretty tasty and again, generous portion sizes. The fries were nicely seasoned. We wanted slow-cooked duck leg instead of braised pork on our tacos, but they were out of duck. That's alright. The tacos were meaty and filling. The sliders weren't bad. The beef in the cheeseburger sliders was a bit tough (well done to overcooked), but that was fine. Better safe than sorry. The Cajun-fried chicken slider was tasty enough. Some of our friends got the Caesar Salad ($10). It looked fresh and yummy. Portions on that were generous as well.Service was fine.We visited on an ordinary summer Saturday and stayed from about 5 to 9pm. There was a slow, steady stream of customers and it never got too busy or crowded. I wouldn't mind coming back to hang out and have drinks with friends."

Jimmy V's Osteria & Bar

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (373)

"This place was in the hotel lobby and after getting in the late evening, I dined here out of convenience. I got a pizza which was ok (there's no such thing as bad pizza, right?). I ate it, it was filling, and I went to my room and didn't look back (does anyone really look back when they leave a restaurant).There are so many other places around, but it's not bad if it's raining or you don't feel like going out."

Kings Dining & Entertainment - Raleigh

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (300) • $$

"Kings Dinning & Entertainment offers a variety of fun for everyone in your party. I highly recommend making reservations as far in advance as possible and leave well before 9pm. The atmosphere was great and everyone was respectful of each others personal space. However the later it became the rowdier groups became. Security had to speak to a few people because they were getting a bit out of control. Kings would be better if they limited guest by reservation and limited bar guest. There were a lot of people just sitting and waiting around and it became crowded pretty quickly."

The Farmer's Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.5 (41)

"Best waffles I have ever had! Service was great and you get alot for your money!! Have already invited friends and family to join us there again."

Pete's Family Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (48)

"A down home family style restaurant with fast friendly service. A nice selection of breakfast foods, wide variety of lunch a dinner options. Daily specials but seems like once they are gone, that's it pick something else, they do erase it from the board when it's not available though, just don't be last to order it. Will definitely go back."

Smithfield's Chicken 'N Bar-B-Q

★★★★☆ 3.7 (41) • $

"Quick, convenient stop to get BBQ. I always opt for the Value Pack - a BBQ sandwich with coleslaw, hushpuppies instead of fries and a Sprite. My husband ordered a pint of brunswick stew (it's buy one, get one free). The service was friendly and the food was great here."

Smithfield's Chicken 'N Bar-B-Q

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (107) • $

"Great fast service. barbecue was fresh and flavorful. I could eat a handful of hush puppies! The fried chicken is very crispy and juicy. Also, love the sweet tea."

Heavenly Buffaloes

★★★★☆ 3.8 (104) • $$

"I quite enjoyed my brief experience at Heavenly Buffaloes. I saw they had vegan wings so I stopped in. Ordering was quick and easy. I love ordered vegan wings to go, and a beer while I waited. They have many sauce options which is great. I got the hottest sauce they had and a BBQ. Both were great.The interior is clean. The employees are nice. The vegan wings are tasty. I'll return if I stay nearby again."

Smithfield's Chicken 'N Bar-B-Q

★★★★☆ 3.8 (53) • $

"This was my first time in North Carolina and I stopped by Smithfield's on a whim because I was so hungry.Never heard of this place but I saw BBQ & Chicken on the sign so I walked right in.Excuse my inexperience with this brand or being on the East coast but I loved that there was a hand washing sink right when you walked in. Can I get an Amen from another germaphobe??I asked the young man at the register what I should order and he recommended the BBQ sandwich w/ coleslaw. It was a sweet pulled pork and apple cider slaw but it was delicious. Didn't even use any of the BBQ sauce because it was so moist.Fries were ok- reminded me of McDonald's fries.I was still hungry so I came back for a couple of fried chicken thighs (which are my favorite part of the chicken). I rarely eat fried chicken so I especially savor it when I do and this was really good stuff. Tons of breading and great flavor!Wished I had saved room for dessert but next time.Service was great and friendly and lots of "Yes Ma'am""