5 Best Restaurants in Central North Carolina, North Carolina

Krankies Coffee

$ | Downtown Fodor's choice
Winston's hippest coffee joint is known for its biscuits and burgers as much as its espresso. A warehouselike interior offers plenty of room to spread out, and ample outdoor tables fill with locals relaxing or working on sunny days.
Breakfast Lunch Quick Bite Southern $ Fodor's Choice
211 E. 3rd St., Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27101, USA
336-722--3016
krankiescoffee.com
Known For
  • a chicken biscuit marinated in honey and Texas Pete
  • miel iced coffee lattes, flavored with spices and honey
  • full bar to get your midday drink on
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.

Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen

$$$ | Friendly Fodor's choice
Gourmet meets fried catfish at this staple of Greensboro fine dining for three decades. A remodel in 2020 brought the chic dining room up to par with the elevated, Delta-inspired cuisine. Cocktails like the peach-honeysuckle margarita are as grand as the hearty jambalaya, a rich amalgam of andouille sausage, pulled chicken, and Carolina shrimp.
Lunch Dinner Brunch Southern $$$ Fodor's Choice
1421 Westover Terr., Greensboro, North Carolina, 27408, USA
336-370--0707
lucky32.com
Known For
  • silky sweet she-crab soup
  • short ribs braised in sweet tea
  • skilled, friendly service
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.

Mothers & Sons Trattoria

$$$ | Downtown Fodor's choice
Order a table of small plates to share, or dive into an entrée from the open kitchen's wood-fired grill at this Italian-themed café (no pizza though) that's known for making its own pasta.
Italian Dinner $$$ Fodor's Choice
107 W. Chapel Hill St., Durham, North Carolina, 27701, USA
919-294--8247
mothersandsonsnc.com
Known For
  • bruschetta menu
  • spaghetti with pork and beef meatballs, done right
  • laid-back but elegant dining scene
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.

Recommended Fodor's Video

Stamey's

$ | Coliseum Fodor's choice

This Greensboro staple (for nearly a century) is a pilgrimage spot for barbecue lovers from across the state. The chopped, Eastern-style pork is mostly shoulder meat already sauced in the kitchen, though there's also plenty of vinegary Stamey's Secret Sauce at your table. If you're looking for something other than straight pulled pork, try the Brunswick stew, a traditional Southeastern, thick, tomato-based stew. There's a second location on Battleground Avenue north of town.

Transfer Co. Food Hall

$ | Oakwood Historic District Fodor's choice
The city's best food hall has a soaring ceiling with giant skylights, filling the room and its many stalls with natural light. Grab a hearty burrito, an empanada, or a sandwich from Benchwarmers Bagels, where heirloom grains and a wood-fired oven result in one of the Southeast's best.