Jessica: "They serve traditional NC barbecue, chicken, and beef sausage. Choice of side dishes include onion rings, mac and cheese, fried okra, deviled eggs, french fries, and hush puppies."
Jessica: Recommended by Mike. Felix says this place is pure junk food. They have great hush puppies and milkshakes, but we should pass and eat something better if we don't want a heart attack.
Jessica: "Its permanent collection includes breathtaking pieces like the momentous Raqqa II from Frank Philip Stella and Kehinde Wiley’s haunting Judith and Holofernes, in addition to innovative limited exhibits, which have become the norm. In the summer, you can catch a blockbuster film or a big name musical act under the stars in the picturesque pavilion." Recommended by Felix. It has the largest collection of Rodin sculptures in the country.
Jessica: "Want to enjoy the best view of Raleigh’s skyline? You can’t beat the ones you’ll find at Dorothea Dix Park, Raleigh’s largest city park, sprawled over 300 acres... Starting in 2018, the City of Raleigh’s public utilities department began planting acres upon acres of sunflowers."
Jessica: Order a (chicken) biscuit and take advantage of the jam bar and lemon curd. JAM BAR!
Jessica: "Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern housed in [the historic and fully restored Victorian Dodd-Hinsdale House,] a late 19th century home in downtown Raleigh, is the quintessential fine dining establishment. Its menu is largely contemporary American, inspired by French cuisine with a decidedly Southern twist."
Jessica: "In southern Germany, Guglhupf is a type of Bundt cake. In southern Durham, Guglhupf is the name of a cozy bakery and cafe whose German-inflected brunch menu runs from bircher muesli and grilled Nutella sandwiches to pan-fried schnitzel with salad. Try the charcuterie platter of house-cured sausages and meats, which comes with an overflowing basket of fresh bread from the adjoining bakery." — The New York Times
Jessica: "Serves the best breakfast in Durham, as well as good comfort food and diner fare for lunch and dinner."
Jessica: "A walk-up lunch counter (no seating) that serves some of the best hamburgers, peach cobbler, and chocolate cake in Durham." Recommended by Felix as the place to get a fried chicken biscuit or a classic bacon, egg, and cheese. Insanely cheap and the biscuits are heavenly.
Jessica: "A local tradition, serving eastern-North Carolina BBQ, sweet tea, hush puppies, and plenty of fried vegetables. Go "family style" for about $9 and eat a bit of everything. Note that eastern-NC BBQ is dry and is cooked with vinegar... cash only." Recommended by Felix as a must. Tell them you want mac and cheese instead of french fries. Be extremely polite and nice so they will actually trade it our you. "Insanely good."
Jessica: "A great Southern restaurant with traditional brunch, lunch and dinner. The shrimp & grits and fried green tomato BLT won't disappoint."
Jessica: "Big Ed's signature breakfasts are the Southern standards: homemade biscuits, grits with red-eye gravy, etc. Come Saturday mornings for live Dixieland jazz."
Jessica: Recommended by Felix. One of the most important restaurants in the country in terms of innovative history and its influence on every other restaurant that came after it to utilize traditional Southern and American cooking. They are known for the shrimp and grits but Felix says the soft shell crab plate is truly the best if it's in season. The cheese pork and BBQ plate is also great. Burgers and fries are also "some of the best in the game."
Jessica: Mookie burger = a medium-rare patty smothered in bacon-onion jam, roasted-garlic aioli and blue cheese
Jessica: "You can’t go wrong with the flaky buttermilk biscuits stuffed with sausage, egg and cinnamon-scented fried apples or with house-made pastrami."
Jessica: They make a "biscuit with gravy in the center. You open the muffin and it just oozes out." They desserts are supposed to be amazing.
Jessica: Very close to our Airbnb and offers (raw) cacao drinks. Recommended by Felix. He says to ask them about their pour over options but that their Ethiopian Guji is amazing.
Jessica: Recommended by Felix — his friend is the co-owner. They make amazing Southern-inspired ramen with locally sourced ingredients. The smoked pulled pork is "the shit" and they have a high-quality sashimi plate.
Jessica: Recommended by Felix. This cheap plate lunch place is owned by a Korean chef who runs a mega fancy sushi place. M Kokko is his passion project that showcases his love for comfort food. Order the jiang jiang noodles, his take on ramen, and the KFC sandwich.
Jessica: Recommended by Felix. You can get a smaller, personal meal for $11. Get coleslaw, the Brunswick stew, and a piece of fried chicken with hush puppies and pork rinds. Cash only.
Jessica: Recommended by Felix. This place is tucked off the main road and is located in the woods. "Enjoy great coffee and people and also see some beautiful fucking nature." They have an outside patio with trees overhead and trails that lead to more places to sit and talk.
Jessica: Recommended by Felix. Little weird bookstore that is fucking strange and nostalgic.
Jessica: Recommended by Felix. They have a two-story art collection worth seeing.
Jessica: Recommended by Felix. They have killer queer dance parties and great bands playing here.
Jessica: Recommended by Felix. They play cool, classic movies here as well as indie movies. Get the popcorn!
Jessica: Recommended by Felix. It's a fast food chain and will give you a heart attack, but the biscuits are really good.
