Best Bagel in the Triangle: Monuts
1002 Ninth Street, Durham, monutsdonuts.com
INDY: Pretty soon, Monuts is going to switch to its summer menu, and when it does, you’ll be able to order this delicious slice of breakfast heaven called the Heirloom Summer. It’s pretty simple. Heirloom tomatoes atop chevre cream cheese slathered over a bagel (salted, if you’re smart), with some sweet basil pesto to pour over it all. If you like, they’ll slap an egg on it, too. The bagel has to hold all of this together, which means the bagel has to be done just right. And Monuts’ bagels are just right—as a sandwich, with cream cheese, on their own, whatever.
Finalists: Bagel Bar, Benchwarmers Bagels & Coffee, New York Bagels& Deli Raleigh
Best Bakery in Durham County: Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Biergarten
2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard, Durham, guglhupf.com
INDY: Pulling off of the busy commercial strip along 15-501 and stepping into the dim, twinkling recesses of Guglhupf—a bakery, restaurant, and biergarten that has the feel of old-world Europe—always requires a few moments of calibration. Once your senses adjust to the romantic lighting and sweet smells, you still have to process the wealth of Guglhupf’s upscale offerings, which are baked fresh daily and run the gamut from mainstays—sandwich bread, baguette and batard, kaiser rolls—to olive ciabatta, black pepper parmesan, and Jewish rye. A brotzeit menu, which translates loosely to “bread time” (please and thank you!), is available from mid-afternoon through the evening, offering plenty of grains to pair with a wide selection of beers and cheeses.
Finalists: East Durham Bake Shop, Loaf, Ninth Street Bakery
Best Bakery in Orange / Chatham County: Guglhupf Bake Shop
1800 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, guglhupf.com
Finalists: Mediterranean Deli, Bakery, and Catering; Phoenix Bakery; Weaver Street Market
Best Bakery in Wake County: La Farm Bakery
4248 Northwest Cary Parkway, Cary, lafarmbakery.com
Finalists: Boulted Bread, Stick Boy Bread Co., Utica Bakery
Best Barbecue in Durham County: The Original Q Shack
2510 University Drive, Durham, theqshackoriginal.com
Finalists: Backyard BBQ Pit, Picnic, The Pit Durham
Best Barbecue in Orange / Chatham County: Allen & Son Bar-B-Que
5650 U.S. Highway 15, Pittsboro, stubbsandsonbbq.com/location/pittsboro-allen-son-bbq
Finalists: Hillsborough BBQ Company, The Pig, Spotted Dog Restaurant & Bar
Best Barbecue in Wake County: The Pit Authentic Barbecue
328 West Davie Street, Raleigh, thepit-raleigh.com
INDY: The Pit—the kind of restaurant joint that offers valet service, so don’t imagine a shack in the middle of nowhere—doesn’t take sides in the Great East-West N.C. Barbecue Rivalry. What it does is serve excellent whole-hog ’cue alongside a ton of fixins’—collards, mac ‘n’ cheese, hush puppies, etc.—and you leave happy and full.
Finalists: Clyde Cooper’s Barbeque, Ole Time Barbecue, The Redneck BBQ Lab
Best Biscuits in Durham County: Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken (Downtown Durham)
401 Foster Street, Suite A, Durham, risebiscuitsdonuts.com/locations/downtown-durham
Finalists: Monuts, Rise (Southpoint), True Flavors Diner
Best Biscuits in Orange / Chatham County: Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen
1305 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, sunrisebiscuits.com
INDY: Everyone’s first experience with a Sunrise biscuit is pretty much the same: hungover in college, squeezed into a car full of other hungover college students worn out after a night of unnecessary romantic turmoil. You order without expectation and bite into a biscuit that tastes like nirvana and lasts for what feels like an hour. The weird thing is, as you get older, the biscuits hold up—figuratively, but also literally: They’re flaky and buttery, but won’t crumble when touched. And you can get everything you need for less than four bucks. (Also: Skip the line of cars stretching down Franklin waiting for the drive-through; park and walk to the window instead.)
Finalists: Neal’s Deli, Rise (Carrboro), Saxapahaw General Store
Best Biscuits in Wake County: State Farmers Market Restaurant
1240 Farmers Market Drive, Raleigh, realbiscuits.com
Finalists: Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant, Rise (Morrisville), Tupelo Honey
Best Bloody Mary in Durham County: Motorco Music Hall
723 Rigsbee Avenue, Durham, motorcomusic.com
Finalists: Jack Tar and The Colonel’s Daughter, Pizzeria Toro, Watts Grocery
Best Bloody Mary in Orange / Chatham County: Acme Food & Beverage Co.
110 East Main Street, Carrboro, acmecarrboro.com
Finalists: Laplace Louisiana Cookery (closed), Spotted Dog Restaurant & Bar, Zogs Pool
Best Bloody Mary in Wake County: The Mason Jar Tavern
305 South Main Street, Fuquay-Varina
Finalists: Beasley’s Chicken + Honey, NOFO @ the Pig, The Raleigh Times
Best Bread in Durham County: Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Biergarten
2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard, Durham, guglhupf.com
Finalists: The French Corner Bakery, Loaf, Ninth Street Bakery
Best Bread in Orange / Chatham County: Weaver Street Market
228 South Churton Street, Hillsborough, weaverstreetmarket.coop
Finalists: The Bread Shop, Chicken Bridge Bakery, Guglhupf Bake Shop
Best Bread in Wake County: La Farm Bakery
4248 Northwest Cary Parkway, Cary, lafarmbakery.com
Finalists: Boulted Bread, Stick Boy Bread Co., Yellow Dog Bread Company
Best Breakfast in Durham County: Elmo’s Diner
776 Ninth Street, Durham, elmosdiner.com
Finalists: Foster’s Market, Monuts, True Flavors Diner
Best Breakfast in Orange / Chatham County: Elmo’s Diner
200 North Greensboro Street, Suite B12, Carrboro, elmosdinercarrboro.com
Finalists: Acme Food & Beverage Co, Breadmen’s, Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen
Best Breakfast in Wake County: State Farmers Market Restaurant
1240 Farmers Market Drive, Raleigh, realbiscuits.com
Finalists: Angie’s Restaurant, Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant, The Fiction Kitchen
Best Brewery in Durham County: Ponysaurus Brewing Company
219 Hood Street, Durham, ponysaurusbrewing.com
Finalists: Durty Bull Brewing Company, Fullsteam Brewery, The Glass Jug Beer Lab
Best Brewery in Orange / Chatham County: Haw River Farmhouse Ales
1713 Saxapahaw-Bethlehem Church Road, Saxapahaw, hawriverales.com
Finalists: Carolina Brewery, Steel String Brewery, Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery
Best Brewery in Wake County: Trophy Brewing & Taproom
656 Maywood Avenue, Raleigh, trophybrewing.com
Finalists: Bond Brothers Beer Company, Brewery Bhavana, The Mason Jar Lager Company
Best Burger in Durham County: Bull City Burger and Brewery
107 East Parrish Street, Durham, bullcityburgerandbrewery.com
Finalists: Dain’s Place, Only Burger, Town Hall Burger and Beer
Best Burger in Orange / Chatham County: Al’s Burger Shack
516 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, alsburgershack.com
INDY: You always remember your first Al’s burger—it’s one of those flashbulb memories that evoke the good kind of nostalgia. Ours was the Mookie, a burger that comes topped with bacon-onion jam, roasted garlic, and blue cheese. Is that a lot of aggressive flavors for one burger? Yes. Does it make your breath smell repulsive? Absolutely. Does it taste incredible? Obviously. Still not convinced? If you haven’t had Al’s Bobo Chili Cheeseburger, the one that was named Best Burger in America by TripAdvisor in 2018, know that it is a cheeseburger in paradise.
Finalists: Buns, Hops Burger Bar, Wooden Nickel Pub
Best Burger in Wake County: Char-Grill
Multiple locations, chargrillusa.com
Finalists: Chuck’s Burgers, Krafty’s Burgers and Brews, Players’ Retreat
Best Burrito in Durham County: Cosmic Cantina
1920 Perry Street, Durham, facebook.com/cosmiccantina
INDY: There are lots of people around here who, during their college years, lived almost exclusively off of Cosmic Cantina—and who can blame them? These burritos make other burritos look wimpy. The protein offerings (see: the Regular Chicken Burrito and its kissing cousins, the Old School Chicken Burrito and the Deluxe Chicken Burritos) are all good values. But the secret is the Old School Vegetarian burrito, which is $3 and could feed a small army. Cosmic is open until 4:00 a.m., making it a prime spot for night owls.
Finalists: Chubby’s Tacos, Nanataco, Taqueria La Vaquita
Best Burrito in Orange / Chatham County: Carrburritos
711 West Rosemary Street, Carrboro, carrburritos.com
Finalists: Cosmic Cantina, Fiesta Grill Restaurant, El Restaurante Ixtapa
Best Burrito in Wake County: Gonza Tacos Y Tequila
7713 Lead Mine Road, #39, Raleigh, gonzatacosytequila.com
Finalists: Chubby’s Tacos, Original Flying Burrito, Totopos Street Food and Tequila
Best Caribbean or Cuban Restaurant in the Triangle: Mami Nora’s Rotisserie Chicken
2401 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, mamislatinrotisserie.com
Finalists: COPA, Cuban Revolution Restaurant & Bar, Qspresso Food Truck
Best Cheap Eats in Durham County: Cosmic Cantina
1920 Perry Street, Durham, facebook.com/cosmiccantina
Finalists: Guasaca, King’s Sandwich Shop, Nanataco
Best Cheap Eats In Orange / Chatham County: Mediterranean Deli, Bakery, and Catering
410 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, mediterraneandeli.com
Finalists: Cosmic Cantina, Elmo’s Diner, Neal’s Deli
Best Cheap Eats in Wake County: Guasaca
4025 Lake Boone Trail, Raleigh, guasaca.com
Finalists: Carroll’s Kitchen, Mami Nora’s Rotisserie Chicken, Mitch’s Tavern, MOFU Shoppe
Best Chef in Durham County: Ricky Moore
Finalists: David “Flip” Filippini, Matt Kelly, Mike Lee, Roberto Copa Matos
Best Chef in Orange / Chatham County: Vimala Rajendran
Finalists: Andrea Reusing, Ben Braxton, Martina Russial
Best Chef in Wake County: Ashley Christensen
INDY: Everyone around here knows who Ashley Christensen is. (You can’t really call yourself a Raleighite if you’ve never eaten Poole’s macaroni au gratin, can you?) Now the world is taking notice. Last month, Christensen won Outstanding Chef at the James Beard Awards, pretty much the most prestigious honor a chef can receive. And soon, she’ll add to her empire—Poole’s, Death & Taxes, Beasley Chicken + Honey, Chuck’s Burgers, Fox Liquor Bar—with Poole’side Pies, a pizza joint that will almost certainly enter the market among the Triangle’s very upper crust.
Finalists: Adam Jones, Cheetie Kumar, Miguel Cuevas
Best Chinese Restaurant in Durham County: Happy China
2505 Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard, Durham, happychinasichuan.com
Finalists: Neo-China Restaurant, Peony Asian Bistro, Shanghai Restaurant
Best Chinese Restaurant in Orange / Chatham County: Gourmet Kingdom
301 East Main Street, Carrboro, thegourmetkingdom.com
Finalists: Jade Palace Restaurant, Lucha Tigre, Red Lotus
Best Chinese Restaurant in Wake County: Brewery Bhavana
218 South Blount Street, Raleigh, brewerybhavana.com
Finalists: Five Star Restaurant, Mei Wei Asian Diner, MOFU Shoppe
Best Chocolate in the Triangle: Videri Chocolate Factory
327 West Davie Street, Raleigh, viderichocolatefactory.com
Finalists: Chocolate Fix, Escazu Chocolates, Matthew’s Chocolates
Best Coffee Shop in Durham County: Cocoa Cinnamon
Multiple locations, 4thdimension.coffee
Finalists: Bean Traders, Joe Van Gogh (Durham), Joe Van Gogh (Woodcroft)
Best Coffee Shop in Orange / Chatham County: Caffe Driade
1215 East Franklin Street, Suite A, Chapel Hill, caffedriade.com
INDY: Caffe Driade feels like something plucked from Lord of the Rings, like maybe it just sprouted from a stump or a mushroom: It blends with exceptional naturalism into its enchanted wooded settings, and doesn’t offer your average coffee shop experience (once, while we were sitting outside, a raccoon ran underneath our table, which somehow felt more charming than alarming). Driade’s espresso is award-winning, as are the baristas who make it, so this is certainly a place with an artisan menu that’s not to miss (there’s also wine, beer, and a diverse selection of teas). Here’s a suggestion: Leave your laptop at home and bring a book instead.
Finalists: Cup-A-Joe, The Meantime Coffee Co., Open Eye Café
Best Coffee Shop in Wake County: Sola Coffee Café
7705 Lead Mine Road, Raleigh, solacoffee.com
Finalists: Drive Bru, Fount Coffee + Kitchen, The Morning Times
Best Cupcake in the Triangle: Smallcakes Durham
4711 Hope Valley Road, Durham, smallcakesnc.com
Finalists: The Cupcake Shoppe Bakery, Cupcakes d’Amour, Gigi’s Cupcakes
Best Deli in Durham County: Lucky’s Delicatessen
105 West Chapel Hill Street, Durham, luckysdelinc.com
Finalists: Eastcut Sandwich Bar, Neomonde Mediterranean Durham, Parker and Otis
Best Deli in Orange / Chatham County: Mediterranean Deli, Bakery, and Catering
410 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, mediterraneandeli.com
Finalists: Neal’s Deli, TRU Deli and Wine Bar
Best Deli in Wake County: Neomonde Mediterranean Raleigh
3817 Beryl Road, Raleigh, neomonde.com
Finalists: Charron’s Deli & Café, Sassool, Village Deli and Grill
Best Desserts in Durham County: The Parlour
117 Market Street, Durham, theparlour.co
Finalists: East Durham Bake Shop, Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Biergarten, Mad Hatter Cafe + Bakeshop
Best Desserts in Orange / Chatham County: Guglhupf Bake Shop
1800 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, guglhupf.com/chapel-hill-bake-shop
Finalists: Laplace Louisiana Cookery (closed), The Root Cellar Cafe & Catering, Weaver Street Market
Best Desserts in Wake County: Hayes Barton Cafe & Dessertery
2000 Fairview Road, Raleigh, facebook.com/HayesBartonCafe
Finalists: Annelore’s German Bakery, Bittersweet, lucettegrace
Best Distillery in the Triangle: Durham Distillery
711 Washington Street, Durham, durhamdistillery.com
INDY: Last year, USA Today named Durham Distillery the best gin distillery in the country, and that’s only the latest in a slew of bests and gold and silver and platinum medals in competitions all over the world. (Heck, Durham Distillery’s Navy Strength Gin won Best Locally Made Liquor in our readers poll as well.) It makes some other spirits—liqueurs and a cucumber vodka—and they bring home the hardware, too, but it’s the gin, bursting with botanicals, on which the distillery has made its name.
Finalists: The Brothers VilgalysSpirits Company, Mystic Distillery, Topo Distillery
Best Donut in the Triangle: Duck Donuts
8323 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh, duckdonuts.com
Finalists: Early Bird Donuts, Monuts, Rise (Southpoint)
Best Draft Beer Selection in Durham County: Beer Study
2501 University Drive, #4, Durham, beerstudy.com
Finalists: The Glass Jug Beer Lab, Growler Grlz, Tyler’s Restaurant & Taproom
Best Draft Beer Selection in Orange / Chatham County: Beer Study
106 North Graham Street, Chapel Hill, beerstudy.com
Finalists: House of Hops, Tyler’s Restaurant & Taproom, Wooden Nickel Pub
Best Draft Beer Selection in Wake County: Raleigh Beer Garden
614 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, theraleighbeergarden.com
Finalists: Bottle Rev Apex, Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, Krafty’s Burgers and Brews
Best Food Truck in the Triangle: Chirba Chirba Dumpling Truck
Finalists: American Meltdown, Arepa Culture, Boricua Soul
Best French Restaurant in the Triangle: Vin Rouge
2010 Hillsborough Road, Durham, vinrougerestaurant.com
Finalists: Coquette, La Farm Bakery, Rue Cler, Saint Jacques
Best Fries in Durham County: Bull City Burger and Brewery
107 East Parrish Street, Durham, bullcityburgerandbrewery.com
Finalists: Federal, Heavenly Buffaloes, Only Burger
Best Fries in Orange / Chatham County: Al’s Burger Shack
516 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, alsburgershack.com
Finalists: Spotted Dog Restaurant & Bar, Tyler’s Restaurant & Taproom, Wooden Nickel Pub
Best Fries in Wake County: Char-Grill
Multiple locations, chargrillusa.com
Finalists: Chuck’s Burgers, Players’ Retreat, The Raleigh Times
Best Frozen Treats in the Triangle: Maple View Ice Cream
6900 Rocky Ridge Road, Chapel Hill, mapleviewfarm.com
Finalists: The Parlour, Pints Ice Cream & Beer, Vida Dulce
Best Greek Restaurant in the Triangle: Neomonde Mediterranean Raleigh
3817 Beryl Road, Raleigh, neomonde.com
Finalists: Kipos Greek Taverna; Mediterranean Deli, Bakery, and Catering; Taverna Agora Greek Kitchen & Bar
Best Guacamole in the Triangle: Gonza Tacos
Multiple locations, gonzatacosytequila.com
Finalists: Carrburritos, Centro, Totopos Street Food and Tequila
Best Hot Dog in the Triangle: Snoopy’s Hot Dogs
600 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, snoopys.com
Finalists: The Cardinal Bar, Merry Franksters, The Roast Grill
Best Indian Restaurant in the Triangle: Vimala’s Curryblossom Café
431 West Franklin Street, #415, Chapel Hill, curryblossom.com
Finalists: Viceroy, Sitar Indian Cuisine, Zeera Indian Restaurant
Best Irish Pub in the Triangle: Bull McCabe’s Irish Pub
427 West Main Street, Durham, bullmccabesirishpub.com
Finalists: Hibernian Pub, Doherty’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, James Joyce Irish Pub and Restaurant
Best Italian Restaurant in Durham County: Gocciolina
3314 Guess Road, Durham, gocciolina.com
INDY: Downtown Durham is great and all, but don’t forget our standout restaurants in strip mall land, especially Gocciolina. It’s the coziest little Italian place, out by the ABC store on Guess Road, an unusually warm and casual room for fine dining. And its menu of pasta dishes, seafood and steak, and small plates is delightfully modular. We groan a little when a pasta portion shows up looking like three meals on a plate, so we love to see a little ramekin with a couple of rows of perfect gnocchi that leaves plenty of room for white-anchovy-wrapped olives, spicy chickpeas, sautéed brussels sprouts, and other shareable nibbles.
Finalists: The Boot (closed), Mothers & Sons Trattoria, Pompieri Pizza
Best Italian Restaurant in Orange / Chatham County: 411 West Italian Café
411 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, 411west.com
Finalists: Alfredo’s Pizza Villa, Panciuto, Pizzeria Mercato
Best Italian Restaurant in Wake County: Garibaldi Trattoria, Pizza & Pasta
900 North Main Street, Fuquay-Varina, garibalditrattoria.com
Finalists: Amedeos Italian Restaurant, Bella Monica, Gravy
Best Japanese Restaurant in Durham County: M Sushi
311 Holland Street, Durham, msushidurham.com
Finalists: Dashi, Kurama Japanese Seafood, Shiki Sushi
Best Japanese Restaurant in Orange / Chatham County: Akai Hana Japanese Restaurant
206 West Main Street, Carrboro, akaihana.com
Finalists: Mr. Tokyo Japanese Restaurant, Oishii, Sushi Nikko
Best Japanese Restaurant in Wake County: Waraji Japanese Restaurant
Waraji Japanese Restaurant
5910 Duraleigh Road, Raleigh, warajijapaneserestaurant.com
Finalists: Kanki Japanese House of Steaks & Sushi, Sono Sushi, Yuri Japanese Restaurant
Best Juice Bar in the Triangle: Happy + Hale
Multiple locations, happyandhale.com
INDY: With two locations in Raleigh and another in Durham, Happy + Hale’s “Health = Happiness” mission statement has made it a favorite among local wellness enthusiasts. The emphasis here is on fuel to power your day, from smoothies to quinoa and acai bowls, falafel to avocado toast, all served in a lively, lunchtime grab-and-go-friendly atmosphere. Right now, you can preview Ashley Christensen’s new concept and try the Poole’side Salad at all three locations.
Finalists: Juicekeys, Pure Juicery Bar, Raleigh Raw Juice Bar & Café
Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant in Durham County: Elmo’s Diner
776 Ninth Street, Durham, elmosdiner.com
Finalists: Bull City Burger and Brewery, Pompieri Pizza, Pour Taproom: Durham
Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant in Orange / Chatham County: Elmo’s Diner
200 North Greensboro Street, Carrboro, elmosdinercarrboro.com
Finalists: The Root Cellar Cafe & Catering, Saxapahaw General Store, The Town Hall Grill
Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant in Wake County: The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar
4208 Six Forks Road, #100, Raleigh, thecowfish.com
INDY: The youngest wants a cheeseburger. The older kid has suddenly discovered that she loves sushi. Mom just needs a chardonnay. Few restaurants can satisfy everyone’s cravings. Cowfish, in North Hills, does so without compromising quality. The bustling fusion restaurant has a menu long enough to make your head spin, but the bento box offers the best of both worlds, with a mini burger, sushi roll, edamame, and sweet potato fries.
Finalists: Carolina Ale House, The Daily Planet Café, Ruckus Pizza, Pasta and Spirits
Best Late-Night Meal in Durham County: Cosmic Cantina
1920 Perry Street, Durham, facebook.com/CosmicCantina
Finalists: Dashi, Heavenly Buffaloes, Parts & Labor, Pie Pushers
Best Late-Night Mealin Orange / Chatham County: Time-Out Restaurant
201 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, timeout24-7.com
Finalists: Cosmic Cantina, The Northside District, Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery
Best Late-Night Meal in Wake County: Char-Grill
Multiple locations, chargrillusa.com
Finalists: Abbey Road (Fuquay-Varina), The Raleigh Times, Whiskey Kitchen
Best Latin American Restaurant in Durham County: Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken
302 Davidson Avenue, Durham, alpacachicken.com
Finalists: COPA, Gonza Tacos y Tequila, Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas
Best Latin American Restaurant in Orange / Chatham County: Carrburritos
711 West Rosemary Street, Carrboro, carrburritos.com
Finalists: Bandido’s Mexican Cafe, Fiesta Grill Restaurant, Monterrey Mexican Restaurant
Best Latin American Restaurant in Wake County: Gonza Tacos y Tequila
525 New Waverly Place, #104, Cary, gonzatacosytequila.com
Finalists: Jose and Sons Bar and Kitchen, Guasaca Arepa& Salsa Grill, so•ca
Best Locally Made Craft Beer in the Triangle: Trophy Wife, Trophy Brewing
INDY: The session IPA can be a tricky beast. It’s meant to be lighter and lower-alcohol, the kind of thing you drink on a Saturday afternoon—not quite a “light beer” (because gross), but something that doesn’t punch you in the face with hops and leave you sprawled out on the couch. But it’s also an IPA, so it needs to be bright and hop-forward and not lose its flavor profile or seem even remotely watered down. Trophy Wife pulls off this delicious alchemy better than anyone around.
Finalists: First Squeeze, Raleigh Brewing Company; Opacity, The Glass Jug Beer Lab; White Street Kolsch, White Street Brewing
Best Locally Made Liquor in the Triangle: Conniption Navy Strength Gin, Durham Distillery
711 Washington Street, Durham, durhamdistillery.com
Finalists: Bedlam Vodka, Graybeard Distillery; Krupnikas, Brothers Vilgalys; Oak City Amaretto
Best Locally Made Wine, Mead, or Cider in the Triangle: Bull City Ciderworks
305 South Roxboro Street, Durham, bullcityciderworks.com
INDY: With its all-inclusive cider house on Roxboro Street—not to mention its production facility and taproom in Lexington—Bull City Ciderworks has become a premier destination for the state’s cider aficionados. The “Exploratorium” boasts brews that are anything but sickeningly sweet—think honey, black tea, pear, butternut squash, maple syrup, hibiscus, hops, ginger, cherries, bacon, Carolina Reaper peppers, even candy corn infusions—a diverse set of offerings designed to meet the demands of a growing cider culture.
Finalists: Botanist and Barrel, Honeygirl Meadery, Starrlight Mead
Best Mediterranean Restaurant in the Triangle: Mediterranean Deli, Bakery, and Catering
410 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, mediterraneandeli.com
Finalists: Neomonde Mediterranean Raleigh, Sassool, Sitti
Best Mexican Restaurant in Durham County: Gonza Tacos y Tequila
604 Fernway Avenue, Durham, gonzatacosytequila.com
Finalists: Nanataco (now NuvoTaco), Tamale Factory and Tequila Bar, Taqueria La Vaquita
Best Mexican Restaurant in Orange / Chatham County: Carrburritos
711 West Rosemary Street, Carrboro, carrburritos.com
Finalists: Fiesta Grill Restaurant, Monterrey Mexican Restaurant, El Restaurante Ixtapa
Best Mexican Restaurant in Wake County: Gonza Tacos Y Tequila
7713 Lead Mine Road, #39, Raleigh, gonzatacosytequila.com
Finalists: Centro, Salt & Lime Cabo Grill, Torero’s Mexican Restaurant, Totopos Street Food and Tequila
Best Middle Eastern Restaurant in the Triangle: Mediterranean Deli, Bakery, and Catering
410 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, mediterraneandeli.com
Finalists: Neomonde Mediterranean Raleigh, Sassool, Sitti
Best New Restaurant in Durham County: Zweli’s Kitchen
4600 Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard, #26, Durham, zwelis.com
Finalists: COPA, Eastcut Sandwich Bar, M Tempura
Best New Restaurant in Orange / Chatham County: Oakleaf
310 East Main Street, Carrboro, oakleafnc.com
Finalists: The House at Gatewood, Lula’s, Samantha’s Pupusas
Best New Restaurant in Wake County: Vicious Fishes Taproom & Kitchen
132 South Fuquay Avenue, Fuquay-Varina, viciousfishes.com
Finalists: Bodega Tapas, Wine, and Rum; Fount Coffee + Kitchen; Postmaster Restaurant
Best Outdoor Dining in Durham County: Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Biergarten
2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard, Durham, guglhupf.com
Finalists: Geer Street Garden, Namu, Parts & Labor
Best Outdoor Dining in Orange / Chatham County: Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery
100 East Franklin Street, #300, Chapel Hill, thetopofthehill.com
Finalists: Acme Food & Beverage Co., The Eddy, Glasshalfull, Saxapahaw General Store
Best Outdoor Dining in Wake County: Taverna Agora Greek Kitchen & Bar
326 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, tavernaagora.com
Finalists: Humble Pie, Krafty’s Burgers and Brews, The Station at Person Street
Best Pie in Durham County: East Durham Bake Shop
406 South Driver Street, Durham, eastdurhambakeshop.com
INDY: While East Durham Bake Shop’s scones have received some well-deserved shine from the INDY, the pies definitely shouldn’t be overlooked. Owner and baker Ali Rudel is a protégé of Emily and Melissa Elsen, owners of New York’s famous Four & Twenty Blackbirds pie shop, and that lineage is evident in a rotating spread of fruit and chess pies (current offerings include strawberry ginger crumble, honey lemon chess, and buttermilk coconut chess). The dough is rolled out by hand, and all fillings are made from scratch. It’s a treat to be able to pick up a whole pie in the shop, but EDBS’s charming interior makes it a welcome stop if you’re just looking for a slice.
Finalists: Bean Traders; Foster’s Market; Rose’s Noodles, Dumplings, and Sweets
Best Pie in Orange / Chatham County: Weaver Street Market
716 Market Street, Chapel Hill, weaverstreetmarket.coop
Finalists: Laplace Louisiana Cookery (closed), The Root CellarCafe & Catering, Village Diner
Best Pie in Wake County: Angus Barn
9401 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, angusbarn.com
Finalists: Annelore’s German Bakery, Pastry Works, The Remedy Diner
Best Pizza in Durham County: Pizzeria Toro
105 East Chapel Hill Street, Durham, pizzeriatoro.com
INDY: Toro is the cornerstone of Gray Brooks’s downtown empire, splitting the difference between the accessible faux-diner Jack Tar & The Colonel’s Daughter and the elite Littler. Downtown’s favorite wood-fired pizza (and fancified bar snacks!) is reliably good, with just the right amount of flash, effortlessly convincing you that things like escarole, turnips, and Meyer lemons are not only acceptable but are in fact excellent pizza toppings. And though we’re going to kick ourselves for saying this, Toro’s barroom is a sometimes-overlooked sneaky spot for a great cocktail and a bite when the downtown bars are packed. (Not the dining room, that’s full as hell.)
Finalists: Pie Pushers, Pompieri Pizza, Randy’s Pizza
Best Pizza in Orange / Chatham County: Pizzeria Mercato
408 West Weaver Street, Carrboro, pizzeriamercatonc.com
Finalists: Italian Pizzeria III, Napoli Wood-Fired Pizza, Radius Pizzeria & Pub
Best Pizza in Wake County: Lilly’s Pizza
1813 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, lillyspizza.com
Finalists: Capital Creations Gourmet Pizza, Oakwood Pizza Box, Trophy Brewing & Pizza
Best Restaurant in the Triangle: Brewery Bhavana
218 South Blount Street, Raleigh, brewerybhavana.com
INDY: “But make it fashion”—the famous, heavily memed quote from Tyra Banks—applies perfectly to Raleigh’s Brewery Bhavana: “Dim sum, but make it fashion.” Bhavana has taken the concept of dim sum, removed the cacophony often present in traditional dim sum dining experiences, and elevated the fare while retaining core flavors of Chinese cuisine. Scallion pancakes with bone marrow and coconut and oxtail jam. Turnip cakes with bacon bits and hoisin-honey sauce. In a more general sense, Bhavana’s atmosphere fits the bill for “a restaurant, but make it fashion.” It’s the readers’ choice for Best Restaurant in the Triangle, but “restaurant” is only one of Bhavana’s many hats: It’s also a flower shop, a craft brewery, and a bookstore.
Finalists: COPA, Krafty’s Burgers and Brews, M Sushi, MOFU Shoppe
Best Salad in Durham County: Happy + Hale
703 Ninth Street, Suite B, Durham, happyandhale.com
Finalists: Pizzeria Toro, Saladelia Cafe + Catering, Toast
Best Salad in Orange /Chatham County: Spotted Dog Restaurant & Bar
111 East Main Street, Carrboro, thespotteddogrestaurant.com
Finalists: Glasshalfull, Laplace Louisiana Cookery (closed), The Root Cellar Cafe & Catering, Venable Rotisserie Bistro
Best Salad in Wake County: Irregardless Cafe & Catering
901 West Morgan Street, Raleigh, irregardless.com
Finalists: Happy + Hale, Manhattan Cafe & Catering, Sassool
Best Sandwich in Durham County: Toast
345 West Main Street, Durham, toast-fivepoints.com
Finalists: Eastcut Sandwich Bar, KoKyu Na’Mean, Lucky’s Delicatessen
Best Sandwich in Orange / Chatham County: Merritt’s Grill
1009 South Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, merrittsstoreandgrill.com
Finalists: Imbibe, Left BankButchery, Neal’s Deli, Spotted Dog Restaurant & Bar
Best Sandwich in Wake County: La Farm Bakery
4248 Northwest Cary Parkway, Cary, lafarmbakery.com
Finalists: Krafty’s Burgers and Brews, MOFU Shoppe, State of Beer
Best Seafood Restaurant in the Triangle: Saltbox Seafood Joint
2637 Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard, Durham, saltboxseafoodjoint.com
Finalists: 42nd Street Oyster Bar, N.C. Seafood Restaurant at the Farmers Market, Saint James Seafood
Best Southern Food Restaurant in the Triangle: Mama Dip’s Kitchen
408 West Rosemary Street, Chapel Hill, mamadips.com
Finalists: Bullock’s Bar-B-Cue, Crook’s Corner, Picnic
Best Southeast Asian Cuisine in the Triangle: Bida Manda Laotian Restaurant and Bar
222 South Blount Street, Raleigh, bidamanda.com
Finalists: MOFU Shoppe, Namu, Thai Café
Best Sports Bar in Durham County: Tobacco Road Sports Café
280 South Mangum Street, #100, Durham, tobaccoroadsportscafe.com
Finalists: Bull McCabe’s Irish Pub, Dain’s Place, Pour Taproom: Durham, Town Hall Burger and Beer
Best Sports Bar in Orange / Chatham County: Linda’s Bar & Grill
203 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, lindas-bar.com
INDY: Linda’s is special. A favorite of UNC-Chapel Hill students and faculty alike, it’s been a Franklin Street fixture since its current location, across from McCorkle Place, opened in 1988. Drink prices are reasonable and, as if in a dream, college basketball games seem to play year-round on the televisions. The twice-weekly trivia nights, meanwhile, are a blast (be ready to lose: it’s packed with competitive grad students), and the menu is filled with reliably greasy staples like burgers, sliders, and fries. Speaking of special: Linda’s cheese fries are a religious experience, matched only by Linda’s generously-loaded sweet potato tots. When you’re not watching basketball or losing at trivia, this bar is perfect for PBRs and lingering conversations in one of the famously deep booths.
Finalists: Tobacco Road Sports Café, Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery, Tyler’s Restaurant & Taproom
Best Sports Bar in Wake County: Players’ Retreat
105 Oberlin Road, Raleigh, playersretreat.net
Finalists: Carolina Ale House, Krafty’s Burgers and Brews, WINGIN’IT Bar and Grille
Best Steak in Durham County: NanaSteak
345 Blackwell Street, Durham, nanasteak.com
Finalists: Metro 8 Steakhouse, Rue Cler, Vin Rouge
Best Steak in Orange / Chatham County: Bin 54
1201 Raleigh Road, Suite M, Chapel Hill, bin54chapelhill.com
Finalists: Acme Food & Beverage Co., The House at Gatewood, Tandem
Best Steak in Wake County: Angus Barn
9401 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, angusbarn.com
Finalists: Rey’s Restaurant, Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern, Vinnie’s Steak House & Tavern
Best Sunday Brunch in Durham County: Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Biergarten
2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard, Durham, guglhupf.com
Finalists: Monuts, True Flavors Diner, Vin Rouge
Best Sunday Brunch in Orange / Chatham County: Acme Food & Beverage Co.
110 East Main Street, Carrboro, acmecarrboro.com
Finalists: Laplace Louisiana Cookery (closed), Lula’s, Venable Rotisserie Bistro
Best Sunday Brunch in Wake County: Beasley’s Chicken + Honey
237 South Wilmington Street, Raleigh, ac-restaurants.com/beasleys
Finalists: Brigs Great Beginnings Restaurant, The Fiction Kitchen, Irregardless Cafe & Catering
Best Sushi in Durham County: M Sushi
311 Holland Street, Durham, msushidurham.com
Finalists: Sake Bomb, Shiki Sushi, Sushi Love
Best Sushi in Orange / Chatham County: Akai Hana Japanese Restaurant
206 West Main Street, Carrboro, akaihana.com
Finalists: OiShii, Spicy 9 Sushi Bar & Asian Restaurant, Sushi Nikko
Best Sushi in Wake County: Waraji Japanese Restaurant
5910 Duraleigh Road, Raleigh, warajijapaneserestaurant.com
Finalists: Sono Sushi, Sushi Blues Café, Yuri Japanese Restaurant
Best Tapas in the Triangle: Mateo Bar de Tapas
109 West Chapel Hill Street, Durham, mateotapas.com
INDY: Did you know the Michelin Guide only evaluates restaurants in four U.S. cities (New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and D.C.)? If the Guide ever decides to inspect Durham restaurants, mark my words: Mateo will be the first place to secure a spot on the prestigious list. Michelin acknowledges five general criteria for awarding stars: quality of the product (check), mastery of flavor and cooking techniques (duh), the personality of the chef in his cuisine (c’mon, it’s Matt Kelly!), value for money (most plates are around $10), and consistency between visits (there’s a reason Mateo wins this Best Of category every year).
Finalists: Juju Durham, MOFU Shoppe, Taberna Tapas
Best Taqueria in the Triangle: Gonza Tacos y Tequila
Multiple locations, gonzatacosytequila.com
Finalists: Chubby’s Tacos, Taqueria El Toro, Taqueria La Vaquita
Best Vegan-Friendly Restaurant in Durham County: Goorsha
910 West Main Street, Durham, goorshadurham.com
Finalists: Earth to Us, Pompieri Pizza, Souly Vegan Cafe
Best Vegan-Friendly Restaurant in Orange / Chatham County: Vimala’s Curryblossom Café
431 West Franklin Street, #415, Chapel Hill, curryblossom.com
Finalists: Sage Vegetarian Café, Spotted Dog Restaurant & Bar, Vegan Flava Cafe
Best Vegan-Friendly Restaurant in Wake County: The Fiction Kitchen
428 South Dawson Street, Raleigh, thefictionkitchen.com
INDY: “Vegan-friendly” doesn’t do justice to The Fiction Kitchen. It’s more like “carnivore-hostile”—or it would be, if its completely meat-free kitchen didn’t produce dishes so well-conceived and executed as to satisfy all but the biggest meat fiends. Maybe you grew up eating meat but gave it up and miss the experience, if not the ethics; at The Fiction Kitchen, tacos and sandwiches are filled with mock chicken and veggie barbecue, as well as many pure-vegetable dishes that don’t even pretend to be flesh. Breakfasts like biscuits with soysage gravy let the veg-heads among us—and we are legion—keep something of our Southern roots without the guilt.
Finalists: Irregardless Cafe & Catering, Neomonde Mediterranean Raleigh, The Remedy Diner
Best Veggie Burger in Durham County: Bull City Burger and Brewery
107 East Parrish Street, Durham, bullcityburgerandbrewery.com
Finalists: Eastcut Sandwich Bar, Elmo’s Diner, Only Burger
Best Veggie Burger in Orange / Chatham County: Spotted Dog Restaurant & Bar
111 East Main Street, Carrboro, thespotteddogrestaurant.com
Finalists: Al’s Burger Shack, Buns, Saxapahaw General Store
Best Veggie Burger in Wake County: The Fiction Kitchen
428 South Dawson Street, Raleigh, thefictionkitchen.com
Finalists: Chuck’s Burgers, MoJoe’s Burger Joint, The Remedy Diner
Best Wine List in Durham County: Bar Brunello
117 East Main Street, Durham, barbrunello.com
Finalists: Mothers & Sons Trattoria, Parizade, Pompieri Pizza, Vin Rouge
Best Wine List in Orange / Chatham County: Glasshalfull
106 South Greensboro Street, Carrboro, glasshalfull.net
Finalists: 411 West Italian Café, Botanist and Barrel, West End Wine Bar
Best Wine List in Wake County: Angus Barn
9401 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, angusbarn.com
INDY: The myth. The legend. The Angus Barn. Since 1960, “Big Red,” the beloved red barn that houses Raleigh’s most cherished steakhouse, has been an Oak City landmark. Its top-notch wine cellar, which has its own staff, kitchen, and dining areas, was first developed by co-founder Thad Eure, Jr., who was commissioned to build a wine list that would compete with the very finest California had to offer. Before Eure passed away in 1993, he’d collected wines that would soon make his list one of the most envied in the country—and the recipient of twenty Wine Spectator Grand Awards.
Finalists: Vidrio, Vinos Finos Tapas and Wine Bar, Vita Vite Raleigh
Best Wings in Durham County: Heavenly Buffaloes
1807 West Markham Avenue, Durham, heavenlybuffaloes.com
Finalists: The Blue Note Grill, M. Kokko, Mattie B’s Public House, Tomato Jake’s Pizzeria
Best Wings in Orange / Chatham County: Wooden Nickel Pub
113 North Churton Street, Hillsborough, thewnp.com
Finalists: Heavenly Buffaloes, Town Hall Burger and Beer, Wings Over Chapel Hill
Best Wings in Wake County: Wingin’it Bar and Grille
1625 North Main Street, #109, Fuquay-Varina, winginitbarandgrille.com
Finalists: Krafty’s Burgers and Brews, MOFU Shoppe, Sharky’s Place
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This is getting dumb and tired.
As a former Happy & Hale employee, I can attest to the fact that they no longer sell cold pressed juices, and haven’t for a while. It seems like some of these awards are just annually handed out to the same restaurants. I’m sure theres more to it than that, but Happy & Hale is definitely not a juice bar. Maybe we should spread the love around to some “lesser-known” restaurants in the area.