6 Best Restaurants in Central North Carolina, North Carolina

Dinner at this huge, rustic barn (a Raleigh legend) is a real event and certainly worth the sizable prices. With its big portions, kitschy surroundings, and 89-page wine and beer list, this steak house is both traditional and fun. Under the supervision of Iron Chef Walter Royal, the steaks, prime rib, fresh seafood, baby back ribs, and homemade desserts are all delicious.

The menu at this intimate seafood spot includes Lowcountry favorites, often presented with an Asian flair and a bit of French influence. The standout ahi tuna varies by season in its preparation. With black leather chairs and soft lighting, this is a classy pick for a date night. This white-washed brick restaurant is tucked away behind commerical buildings off of the highway, and is easy to miss after dark.

Five-time James Beard Award semifinalist Scott Crawford founded this comfy but sophisticated restaurant in the historic Oakwood neighborhood to showcase his unique approach to cooking and the seasonal bounty of his adopted hometown. The ever-changing menu is focused on seasonal, local produce that truly belongs to its community. Look for entrées like beef cheek ragout, pork schnitzel with smashed roots, and swordfish with ancient grains. Save room for dessert because pastry chef Krystle Swenson’s creations are out of this world. Craft cocktails and a solid wine list round out the experience.

If you can't get enough of Crawford's cooking (or the reservation time you're seeking), his French restaurant, Jolie, is next door and is equally terrific.

At this elegant hotel restaurant, the menu shifts with the seasons and is always filled with new twists on traditional Southern dishes and international fare. Truly farm to fork, the restaurant uses produce from its own sustainable farm, which is less than a mile away.

Wood paneling, muted lighting, and well-spaced tables make for an elegant dining experience in this restored 1879 house. The menu, which changes seasonally, has a regional flavor. The food is intricately styled so that colors, textures, and tastes fuse. A brick tavern on the lower level is more casual and has a less expensive menu that has included bison short ribs and grilled North Carolina trout.