Favorite Restaurants of CFF members--Post Here

For anyone in the Cleveland/Lincoln County arease, check out The Honey Hog in Fallston. Truly farm-to-table, they raise their own hogs and cows and source most vegetable locally. I eat there 1-2 times a week, and it's a 20 or so minute drive for me. Check out their FB page.
Saturday is brisket night. Their own raised beef, freshly sliced chips, and macaroni this time for me. Wanted to go for rib night last night, but had too much going on already. Some of y'all may know one of the co-owners, Johnny Ray, from his sauces and seasonings in several large chain grocery stores. The Peach Bourbon is my favorite. Finished tonight's brisket off with a big ol hunk of pumpkin pie cheesecake and my buddy got the sticky bun cake.
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Don Betos Tacos in Clayton.

The best.

You don't have to speak Spanish here, but it could help. The real thing.
I love me some real tacos. @Jeppo knows a place to get them.
 
Don Betos Tacos in Clayton.

The best.

You don't have to speak Spanish here, but it could help. The real thing.
I moved here 11 years ago from So California. Don Beto's was the best authentic Mexican place I've found anywhere around. Amazing tacos.

But they are now my second favorite. Otro Plato recently opened in Louisburg and they are as good as anything I grew up with. It helps that they're 10 minutes from my place, vs. an hour. If you're in the Louisburg area, check them out.
 
Tried a chain place Friday night - Viva.
They have 2 in GSO, it's Peruvian chicken
DANG it was good!
I got the 'Great' sandwich
Tried a bite of my friends rice bowl
both really tasty
I’m not a fan of chicken. But the wife and child love this place, so we go.

I will say the Wow Lomito (steak) sandwich is pretty dang tasty. Used to be better before they ditched their Caesar salad and now no longer have the huacatay Caesar dressing that I’d add to it. That steak sandwich is actually the only thing I’ve ever ordered at Viva Chicken. :D
 
I’m not a fan of chicken. But the wife and child love this place, so we go.

I will say the Wow Lomito (steak) sandwich is pretty dang tasty. Used to be better before they ditched their Caesar salad and now no longer have the huacatay Caesar dressing that I’d add to it. That steak sandwich is actually the only thing I’ve ever ordered at Viva Chicken. :D
Heck, I didnt notice steak on the menu!
The chicken was very tasty and I'll go back
It's not an expensive place, close to where I play hockey, I'll return to it
 
I moved here 11 years ago from So California. Don Beto's was the best authentic Mexican place I've found anywhere around. Amazing tacos.

But they are now my second favorite. Otro Plato recently opened in Louisburg and they are as good as anything I grew up with. It helps that they're 10 minutes from my place, vs. an hour. If you're in the Louisburg area, check them out.

I will, although OP will be an hour from my digs, rather than the quick trip to Don Betos.

By the way, Don Betos is opening a more upscale restaurant on 42E + 1003 "Don Betos Tacos and Margaritas " ...s/b opening at the end of the month. Hope they don't ruin it in the transition to the 'burbs.

I lived 25 yrs in NM and one in N. Central old Mexico and DB is the best I've tried out here. Will give Otra Plato a try!

2023 Edit: The don betos Tacos y Taquillas is indeed Yankeeized. Go to the one at main street and 70
 
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Tried a chain place Friday night - Viva.
They have 2 in GSO, it's Peruvian chicken
DANG it was good!
I got the 'Great' sandwich
Tried a bite of my friends rice bowl
both really tasty

We have a place called Alpaca in the Raleigh area. Good Peruvian chicken. I made the spice rub and sauce at home once, easy to find online and darn close to the restaurant for a first try. Good stuff.
 
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Heck, I didnt notice steak on the menu!
The chicken was very tasty and I'll go back
It's not an expensive place, close to where I play hockey, I'll return to it
It’s the only steak item on the menu I think. I order mine plain. Sometimes add cheese. I just don’t like tomatoes or onions or mayo...which is why I used to add the Caesar dressing. And I’ve only tried the ciabatta bread, not the wrap.


WOW LOMITO

(Choice of ciabatta bread or sun-dried tomato wrap)

Sirloin, Tomato, Onions, Rocoto Mayo.​
 
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It’s the only steak item on the menu I think. I order mine plain. Sometimes add cheese. I just don’t like tomatoes or onions or mayo...which is why I used to add the Caesar dressing. And I’ve only tried the ciabatta bread, not the wrap.


WOW LOMITO

(Choice of ciabatta bread or sun-dried tomato wrap)

Sirloin, Tomato, Onions, Rocoto Mayo.​


Yeah, I had the cibatta and it was good!
 
By the way, Don Betos is opening a more upscale restaurant on 42E + 1003 "Don Betos Tacos and Margaritas " ...s/b opening at the end of the month. Hope they don't ruin it in the transition to the 'burbs.

Be sure to share when it's open. Might be worth checking out!

I lived 25 yrs in NM and one in N. Central old Mexico and DB is the best I've tried out here. Will give Otra Plato a try!

Grew up in Riverside CA, my father was from Tucumcari. I grew up on grandma's cooking and annual trips to NM for chiles. I still order my chile powder from there! Even the Big Jims and Joe Parkers I grow here don't match what they grow in Hatch :)
 
Cast Iron Kitchen in Wilmington I highly recommend. The mrs and I went down to Wilmington over MLK weekend and stopped in since we had seen them featured on diners drive ins and dives. Food was excellent and the owners are stand up folks. Husband runs the kitchen and the wife manages the front.

We have a place called Alpaca in the Raleigh area. Good Peruvian chicken. I made the spice rub and sauce at home once, easy to find online and darn close to the restaurant for a first try. Good stuff.

Alpaca is good. Have you tried Mami Nora’s on wake forest road? That was some good Peruvian chicken!
 
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I have an affinity for local breakfast joints, and diners for lunch. The simpler the better.

Juss Enuff in Fuquay
Red Barn in Angier
Ed’s Family Restaurant in Angier
Cornerstone Cafe in Coats
 
@fieldgrade - those spots are close enough I’m gonna have to try them out. Always look for good breakfast spots.
 
@fieldgrade - those spots are close enough I’m gonna have to try them out. Always look for good breakfast spots.
Believe me, they are not fancy. Just local joints.

two eggs, two sausage links, pile of hasbrowns, toast and coffee is $7 at Red Barn and Ed’s.
Same thing is $9 at Juss Enuff, but closer to me.
I think it’s $10 at Eggs Up Grill down the street,
but it’s $13-14 at Barry’s in Cary, which used to be my favorite when I lived there, but you get less.
 
8207AA4B-EC07-45F8-8331-C044774E026B.jpeg I has a sad. Jus’ Enuff in Fuquay has closed forever as of last week.

:(
 
Had KickBack Jacks in Asheboro tonight.
Never been there before, wasnt too bad, I had a pizza.
Id go back, but not in a hurry/top of my list.
 
We are in Charlotte and just finished a meal at Sea Level. It’s amazing, salmon tartare raw oysters and grilled snapper along with a few stout beers. Now off to Tyler Childers and Sturgill Simpson.
 
Surf City - Sears Landing
Hillsborough - Hillsborough BBQ or Village Diner
Chapel Hill - Squid’s or Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe
Carrboro - Venable
Durm - Tobacco Road or The Pit
I-40 near Benson - Redneck BBQ Lab
 
I think Ive said it before, but dangit Ive GOT to tell you about a meal I had yesterday
So me and @gravehunterzero went to the WS gun show. Sort of a bust. Well, it was.
Anyway, afterwards we're going to go get food.
He's not very familiar with WS, so when he's around I try to take him to different local spots.
Sunday I gave him two options - Irish Pub or Soul food. He chose Soul.

We went to Sweet Potatoes down on Trade.

It was brunch, which Ive never had there before, but menu looked alright. I was eying the "trade street benedict" Price was 8 or 9 bucks, reasonable.
He had chosen something as well.

Waitress comes up and tells us about the chef special - white and sweet potato chunks with steak over top, covered in a brown gravy, topped with two over medium eggs, cheese, and some diced tomatoes. She also recommended the grits as a side. Sure.
Price not mentioned though...

WOW
It came out and was SO delicious. In fact, best grits Ive EVER had, unlike at most greasy spoons around here, very creamy.

But then came the bill. Im prepared for the worst, figure that with my drink Im probably close to 20 bucks for a dang brunch, but it was SO good, so Im not upset.

Nah. 9.99 for the special. 3 for grits. 2 for tea.
VERY reasonably priced and stuck with me till I had dinner around 8:30 (this was at 12:20ish)

We both felt like it was undervalued, but I wont complain about not paying as much as I was expecting.
 
Midway Grill on Midway Road (Half Hell Road to the old locals) has become one of my favorites. I have never had a bad meal from there. I carry it out to take it home to dine with my wife. It is on the way home from the farm and the range. It is behind where Worms and Coffee used to be.
 
We tried a new place yesterday that was really tasty. Persis Indian grill in Fort Mill SC. Had simosas, buttered naan, chicken tika misala and chicken korma with pistachio ice cream for desert. All the food was great, staff was friendly and the space was big, open, very clean and they were very good at keeping tables separated for social distancing. Portions were big too, brought home 1/2 the tika misala and korma because we couldn't hold anymore and they boxed up a couple containers of more rice to go along with it after we'd finished the meal, so I think that's a plus too, leftovers from generous portions and including what you need to make a 2nd meal from them.
Will be going back there and also look for other places in Fort Mill as well.
 
Fairly new to the area but so far my favorite restaurant is The Mediterranean Deli in Chapel Hill on Franklin Street. The spicy chicken pesto wrap is delicious and the freshly bake chicken fatayer was out of thus world. The desserts are really good too. I'll go back for sure.
 
The Eatery in Lexington
It's a lot like a Moes or Chipotle etc, but, in my opinion, fresher and LOCAL
Good people run it, good food
 
Is there decent seafood to be had in Fayetteville?
 
For those in Cleveland County or close by, the owners of The Honey Hog in Fallston now (since April) have a fried chicken and fish joint called Nannie's just a vouple miles south of Fallston right on NC18. The talk around the water cooler is that they are looking to open a steakhouse somewhere in Shelby in the near future. I've bought a few of Tyler's (Bones Jones Butchery) wagyu cross steaks to cook at home, and they are fantastic. Better than store-bought for sure. Plus, I get to support a local farmer.
 
Vinny's Italian Grill and Pizzeria in Hillsborough is pretty good, IMO. Blue Ribbon Diner in Mebane is also nice. Neo-China in Durham is also delicious, and beautifully decorated inside despite the humble exterior. :D
 
Didn't know this thread existed. Hmm, lets see...

J&S Pizza in either Fuquay or Apex
Stephenson's BBQ on Hwy 50 Garner/Benson?
Skippers in Apex has a great fish sandwich
Stubbs & Son BBQ outside of Carthage was pretty good.
Michael's at Carolina Beach was also very good.

I'll think of more...
 
@Geezer , today RS and I went to Florence to go to Cains.

Heads up next time? Maybe Dawn will be over her Wuhan Flu by then.

And she's doing fine, by the way. You almost can't tell she's sick, except for her voice. Sounds just like anyone else that has a cold.
 
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