by Heidi Reid | Dec 4, 2025 | December/January 2025, Eat
Big Ed’s is built to last.
Can you even call yourself a Raleighite if you haven’t indulged in a big breakfast at Big Ed’s Restaurant? The country-cooking mainstay has been holding down City Market since 1989 for good reason: hearty authentic plates, affordable prices and an atmosphere so homey it’s practically kinfolk—all refusing to let Big Ed’s fade into the annals of time.
On my recent Saturday morning (post-barhopping) jaunt, the City Market mainstay was—as usual—abuzz with regulars and newbies alike. While I was able to waltz right in and be seated, a long but fast-moving line formed shortly after. Steamy cuppa black coffee later, the kitchen speedily churned out my choice of a farm-fresh country breakfast: scrambled eggs, cheese grits, a biscuit (buttered, natch) and bacon. No frills, just good comfort cooking—it’s one of the many down-home specialties that never miss. And, of course, I had to secure the hotcakes—thick, fluffy, fattening and the size of your head, they’re a staple on any visit to the longtime establishment.
The OG Big Ed who started the whole operation in 1958 retired in 2006—but his homestead-esque legacy lives on, not just through his recipes, but through the eatery’s ambiance. Big Ed’s is what Cracker Barrel wishes it was: the epitome of Southern Americana, right down to the rusted tools and antiques hanging from the ceiling, the red-checkered tablecloths and ever-wandering server with a fresh pot of coffee. That deep, generational legacy—the true heart of Big Ed’s—endures long after you’ve treaded past the uneven cobblestones of City Market.
Raleigh restaurants can often feel like trendy moments—coming in hot with what’s new while failing to feed lasting legacies. Surrounded by an ever-evolving skyline and the city’s constant craving for what’s next, Big Ed’s has held its ground. And while Raleigh is rightfully excited about the forward momentum of its bustling food scene (we see you, Michelin), lest we forget the OG restaurants like Big Ed’s that made us who we are. City Market, North Raleigh, Garner; bigedsnc.com
by Anna Beth Adcock | Sep 14, 2023 | Eat, September 2023
RM’s picks for business breakfast meetups
Breakfast is serious business. With many professionals electing to morph their first meal of the day into a meeting, we tapped the RM team for their go-to brekkie spot boasting tasty cuisine and an ideal ambiance for connections with colleagues and clients around the city. … A toast, indeed!
“A Place at the Table!”
—Gina Stephens, Publisher, @ginasdawgs
“Sola—the Staff Eggwich is great!”
—Liz Comella, Creative Director, @liz.comella.design
“I’m not a big breakfast person (brunch, please!)—but if I must dine before 10am, you’ll find me at Plates every time. That Breadbox Coffee cart is a vibe. … Order the BEC breakfast sandwich and prove me wrong.”
—Melissa Howsam, Editor-in-Chief, @mahowsam
“Big Ed’s—bring on the biscuits!”
—Lauren Kruchten, Associate Editor, @laurenn_nicol
“The outdoor seating at The Morning Times with a bagel and iced latte in hand is the best place for a meetup—especially during the crisp fall season!”
—Anna Beth Adcock, Editorial Assistant, @_annabethadcock
“The Morning Times—the coffee and bagels are so good, and the environment is so cozy.”
—Cameron Rhinehardt, Account Executive, @camrht
“Jubala in North Hills”
—Debby Serena, Account Executive
“Waffles are my fave, so First Watch is always my go-to spot for breakfast.”
—Heidi Reid, Contributing Writer, @heidi.laurel
“It’s hard to beat Big Ed’s for a business brekkie, but I also like Sir Walter Coffee for a quick work meeting. The staff is friendly, the atmosphere is bustling, and the avocado toast with everything bagel seasoning always hits the spot.”
—Kelsie Barton, Contributing Writer, @kelsie_barton
“Go-to breakfast meeting would have to be Jubala on Hillsborough Street. Bacon, eggs and coffee on the patio… what’s not to love?”
—Sean Junqueira, Contributing Photographer, @seanjunqueira
“Boulted Bread”
—Emily O’Brien, Contributing Writer
“My fave breakfast spots are A Place at the Table or Heirloom.”
—Forrest Mason, Contributing Photographer, @fmasonmedia
by Anna Beth Adcock | Sep 14, 2023 | Eat, September 2023
Six top-notch spots for a morning meeting
The antidote to an early-morning business meeting? Breakfast, naturally. After all, it’s the most important meal of the day—brunch is reserved for weekends!—so why not double down on productivity and add a meeting to your weekday wake-up menu. Dubbed by some as “power breakfast,” morning meals are now being leveraged by business professionals for meaningful corporate convos in a more casual setting (read: in a restaurant over a cuppa and a side of bacon!). Here, six savvy spots for a post-sunrise sit-down.
A Place at the Table
Tuck into feel-good food with a purpose via a BYO breakfast platter or sandwich (NTM rotating selections of pastries for those with a sweet tooth) at this delectable do-good DTR pay-what-you-can cafe. After all, good business favors the benevolent.
Big Ed’s Restaurant
Make big biz moves at Big Ed’s City Market spot over breakfast fare served all day long (best enjoyed before noon though). We’ll have an order of networking: over easy.
Plates Neighborhood Kitchen
All the professionals can be found at Plates—most likely munching on French toast, a sweet potato hash bowl, or Greek yogurt and granola. Pair it with your coffee of choice from the resto’s on-site coffee trailer out on the patio or opt for an indoor atmosphere (dealer’s choice!) for a mega delish meeting.
Mecca Restaurant
A, ahem, mecca for breakfast meetings, the long-standing DTR dining haven (as recently tested by RM’s publisher and editor-in-chief!) is a great place to toast to business beginnings with a breakfast sammie, pancakes or an omelet. Pro tip: the grits are 10/10.
Pam’s Farmhouse
Well done! Connect with a colleague at Western Boulevard’s ~30-year-old diner serving up satisfying Southern comfort classics—think hotcakes, biscuits, country breakfasts, etc.—for family-oriented cooking and professional collaboration.
State Farmers Market Restaurant
There’s no better spot for a business breakfast than this beloved NC fare-focused restaurant evoking comfort in both cuisine and atmosphere. “Y’all come!” … And bring your coworkers!
