Eat (and drink!) your way down memory lane for a taste of Raleigh’s restaurant history.
There’s no question that Raleigh is home to a thriving restaurant scene—and while our city continues to level up its eating and drinking game on the reg, ya just can’t beat the classics. Here, we challenge you to summon your nostalgic knowledge for a roundup of Q’s on Raleigh’s oldest eateries, spots you might’ve forgotten about and more. Ready for a trip down memory lane?
1. Char-Grill has been touting the “best burger and fries in Raleigh” since 1960! A Raleigh institution—from its late-night hours to sliding your order into the iconic window slot—the burger joint now boasts how many locations in NC? a. 7 b. 8 c. 9 d. 10
2. An, ahem, mecca, Mecca Restaurant has been sating stomachs in Downtown Raleigh since 1930 (and she doesn’t look a day over 25!). What was the OG name of the old-school eatery? a. Mecca Luncheonette b. The Mecca Diner c. Raleigh’s Mecca d. Nick’s Place
3. Get piggy with it via Clyde Cooper’s Barbeque, which has been pullin’ the local pork game for 80+ years. On what holiday did the institution first open its doors? a. Christmas Day b. Valentine’s Day c. July 4th d. New Year’s Day
4. Way back when… Thad Eure Jr. and Charles Winston purchased 50 acres of land on Highway 70 that would eventually become what is now the iconic Angus Barn steakhouse. How much did they pay for the prized plot of land? a. $825 b. $6,750 c. $7,750 d. $10,750
5. Hey, playa! Players Retreat—aka “PR”—has positioned itself as the prime hangout spot for Wolfpackers, as it sits on the outskirts of NC State’s campus and touts tons of collegiate memorabilia. Who currently sits at the helm of this fan-fave neighborhood bar? a. Mickey Hanula b. Bernie Hanula c. Pete Jarrell d. Gus Gusler
6. Mosey up a flight of stairs on Hillsborough Street beside Global Village and you’ll find the treasured Mitch’s Tavern, which has been serving Raleighites since 1974. The resto was also a setting of which famous baseball movie? a. A League of Their Own b. Bull Durham c. Field of Dreams d. Moneyball
7. Hot wieners found here! No-frills hot dog hot spot The Roast Grill has long embraced the mantra to do one thing and do it well—and in this case, that would be a delish hot dog (served with a cold glass bottle of Coca-Cola, natch). Which condiment does the joint not serve? a. Ketchup b. Mustard c. Chili d. Texas Pete
8. Ciao, bella! Amedeo’s Italian Restaurant opened its doors in 1963 after NC State alum Richard “Amedeo” DiAngelis turned his desire to fill the city’s need for a local sub/hoagie shop into a reality. What sport did DiAngelis play during his time in college? a. Baseball b. Football c. Wrestling d. Basketball
9. Before diners chowed down on delish Italian fare on the gorgeous Mulino patio, the aesthetic eatery was the home to Babylon, a restaurant offering eats inspired by which country? a. Egypt b. Turkey c. Croatia d. Morocco
Snapchat’s schtick has always been disappearing pictures and stories; then Instagram adopted its own daylong stories feature. TikTok built its video-based platform off the back of now-defunct Vine (#RIP), and Instagram added video reels. Meanwhile, Threads is essentially Twitter’s (er, X’s) fraternal twin (but may see only 15 minutes of fame); TikTok’s latest text feature is eerily similar to the Threads/X format—and the list goes on. (Don’t even get us started on BeReal). But, hey, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? Here, who’s running the show between the social media titans attempting takeovers of each other. … That is so Meta?
Platform
OG Intent
Target Audience + Demographics
Added or Upcoming Features
Instagram
Photo sharing
Millennials/Gen Z
Video sharing, reels, shopping, IGTV, live video, 24-hour stories
Twitter (X)
Short message sharing
Business-to-business, now also used to share personal thoughts
Extended character limit, X Blue, an edit feature, Notes (longform tweets), “unmentioning”—and eventually Musk plans for X to be an “everything app”
Downtown Raleigh, it’s time to welcome a few new neighbors to the block. Relative newcomer Bloc[83]—comprising One Glenwood and Tower Two at the south end of Glenwood—is continuing to amp up its urban appeal by adding a trio of sip and sup spots to its already impressive scad of ubercool amenities. Think a sky terrace (also the venue of our exclusive best restaurants soiree!), Raleigh’s largest urban courtyard, myriad retail/fitness ops, a 126-room boutique hotel and more—NTM local palatable powerhouses Dram & Draught and 321 Coffee. Here, the rundown on what’s coming. bloc83raleigh.com
The early bird gets the million-dollar bacon (!). Famed for its fab breakfast + daytime delights (think droolworthy omelets, stacked pancakes, hearty salads and more), First Watch first rolled into its latest DTR locale this spring to keep us sated with a breakfast of champions whenever we feel like rolling out of bed.
“We consider our Hillsborough Street location to be our crown jewel,” says VIM Holdings President and owner of multiple First Watch NC cafes Bob Frame of the new location. “Combining the energy that comes from being in the Downtown area along with our stylish patio, beautiful interior decor and amazing staff will certainly make it a destination restaurant.” And clearly Raleigh agrees, as the brekky spot has filled a much-needed DTR void and drawn a crowd since the day it bowed.firstwatch.com
Ciao, bella. You can soon grab a slice of ’za in Vic’s third local iteration, slated to bow by early next year with a new spin. Rather than sit-down service, the pizzeria is zoning in on quick bites for nearby desk jockeys (think Citrix, Pendo) and on-the-go locals with a grab-and-go cooler and counter-style service feat. a condensed menu—think pizzas, calzones, stromboli, wings, sandwiches, salads and desserts. Bonus: Patio dining is also on deck. And big news for hungry Dram & Draught fans, you’ll be able to fuel your drink sesh with fare from this neighboring nosh spot.
“I’m very excited to bring Vic’s Pizzeria to the WeWork building and surrounding neighborhood,” says owner Michael Longo, who also co-owns Vic’s other two uberpopular Italian restaurants. “We can’t wait to open and invite guests to enjoy our delicious food and welcoming hospitality.” vicsitalianrestaurant.com
How you brewin’? Founded by two Winston-Salem locals whose homebrewing hobby blossomed into a business, Incendiary Brewing Company is slated to open its third uberpopular taproom—joining Winston-Salem and Lewisville locales—in the Bloc by September (fingers crossed!), complete with private patio.
“We decided over a year ago we wanted to be in the Raleigh market,” says co-founder/operator Brandon Branscome. “So much change and growth is happening there right now, and we wanted to be part of it. It took us a while to find a location we felt would let us showcase our brand, but we believe we have done just that in Bloc[83].” And keeping its City of Oaks offerings stout, the new brewery will boast 24 rotating draft selects—from IPAs to pilsners, stouts and lagers. incendiarybrewing.com
Introducing Aunty Betty’s sultry little sister bar
Have you met Peggy? Tucked in the corner of Glenwood South’s Hibernian Pub, find Aunty Betty’s fresh-on-the scene swanky sister, Peggy’s Whiskey & Cocktails, also from the mind of Niall Hanley of Hibernian Hospitality Group. Spot Aunty Betty’s master mixologist Greg Ewan shaking up liquid masterpieces behind the recently bowed bar—from traditional ’tails to one-of-a-kind concoctions, plus beer, wine and sake in a juice box (!). In addition to the sultry sips, Peggy’s really has it all. Think an all-star team of mixologists and an intimate yet inviting ambience complete with tangerine couches and bar stools (they’re a vibe) and a green-marble-topped bar perf for perching over an after-work bev or a Saturday Funday. @peggysatthepub
Is hot plain coffee the drink of summer? RM weighs in on the caffeine controversy.
Picture this: It’s one of *those* mornings and you’re in desperate need of a cup of joe to boost morale. (We’ve all been there.) But by the time you’ve ordered your iced latte with an alternate milk and added in a tip, odds are you’ve shelled out ~$8 to fuel your fix. Clearly—staying caffeinated costs.
Enter the alleged hot plain coffee trend. Per a recent Bon Appétit article, this simple sippable gem is the “drink of summer,” as it is affordable and readily available at any shop—from your local haunts to the neighborhood Starbucks—making it a potential must-have for caffeine-addicted individuals who can’t keep ballin’ out on the boujee bevs. … But is its convenience and affordability enough to dub it as the “drink of summer?” We tapped the RM team to pour over their thoughts on the hot matter at hand—and to share their fave coffee spot around town. Cool beans, indeed.
“Disagree. My go-to is Fiction Coffee—dark coffee with a splash of cream.” —Gina Stephens, Publisher, @ginasdawgs
“Depends on my mood. Sometimes, I’m feeling a little extra and need an iced latte. But if I go to Iris Coffee Lab, my favorite coffee shop, I’m getting one of their seasonal drinks. Still dreaming about their cherry mascarpone latte.” —Liz Comella, Creative Director, @liz.comella.design
“Plain? That’s a no for me. Pumpkin coffee season started this week (don’t @ me)—and you won’t find me without some kind of iced pumpkin-ated brew unless you can’t find me. Sir Walter Coffee’s pumpkin really gets your gourd.” —Melissa Howsam, Editor-in-Chief, @mahowsam
“I personally don’t really drink coffee anymore—let alone plain black coffee—but the thought of drinking any hot bev in the peak of a humid NC summer makes me sweat. I’m a chai latte girly (iced in the summer, obv, and with oak milk!), and my fave around town is at Jubala.” —Lauren Kruchten, Associate Editor, @laurenn_nicol
“Hot coffee is my arch nemesis. There could be a blizzard happening and I’d still order an iced drink. My go-to local spots are 321 Coffee or Cup A Joe—and I’m typically drinking an iced lavender latte with oat milk or an iced dirty chai!” —Anna Beth Adcock, Editorial Assistant, @_annabethadcock
“Nothing beats hot plain coffee from Cup A Joe, except maybe a cortada or latte if you’re feeling fancy.” —Heidi Reid, Editorial Intern, @heidi.laurel
“I don’t drink coffee! I will order an iced chai latte during the summer—my fave spot would be Jubala in North Hills!” —Debby Serena, Account Executive
“Hard disagree, if it tastes like coffee, I won’t drink it. I love The Morning Times Downtown, and my go-to is an iced vanilla latte. “ —Cameron Rhinehardt, Account Executive, @camrht
“Yes, I agree that hot plain coffee is the drink of summer! To me, it goes hand-in-hand with the quiet luxury trend—simple and timeless. I have always loved Jubala Coffee; the espresso and vibes are *chefs kiss.* My go-to order is a flat white, which pairs perfectly with one of the sweet biscuits!” —Kelsie Barton, Contributing Writer, @kelsie_barton
“Hell no, coffee is disgusting and such a joyless choice! The painkiller at Standard Beer & Food is the real drink of summer.” —Eric Ginsburg, Contributing Writer, @eric_ginsburg
“Hot coffee for the win! It’s the only way I like to drink it all yearlong. My go-to order is a tall soy flat white from Starbucks.” —Emily O’Brien, Contributing Writer
“Plain hot coffee is my go-to order! Unless it’s over 90 degrees, then plain iced all the way. And my go-to shop is Jubala in North Hills!” —Sean Junqueira, Contributing Photographer, @seanjunqueira
