Best Restaurants in Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is a small city with a food scene that regularly surprises people who have not been. Concentrated mostly along and just off Franklin Street, the restaurants here range from nationally recognized fine dining to beloved hole in the wall spots that have fed UNC students for generations. Here are the ones worth knowing.

Lantern

Lantern at 423 W Franklin Street is the most acclaimed restaurant in Chapel Hill. Chef Andrea Reusing won the James Beard Award for Best Chef Southeast in 2011, and the restaurant has maintained its reputation for over two decades. The menu blends Asian culinary techniques with North Carolina ingredients, local farms and seasonal products are central to how the kitchen operates. The room is warm and intimate, the service is attentive, and the food justifies the praise it consistently receives. This is a destination restaurant. If you are in Chapel Hill for a special dinner, this is the answer.

Top of the Hill

Top of the Hill sits at 100 E Franklin Street, right at the corner of Franklin and Columbia, the most prominent intersection on the strip. The rooftop terrace has one of the best views in Chapel Hill, looking out over Franklin Street and toward the UNC campus. The restaurant has its own brewery on site, and the craft beers are worth ordering alongside the food. It is a good all day spot, weekend brunch is popular, dinner is reliable, and the bar is a strong option on game days when the energy on the street is at its peak.

Al's Burger Shack

Al's Burger Shack at 516 W Franklin Street is the kind of place food writers have been writing about for years. The burgers have appeared on national "best burger" lists repeatedly, and for good reason. The operation is simple, a small counter service spot with a focused menu, fresh ingredients, and burgers that are cooked properly. It is cash preferred. The line can get long, especially at lunch. It is worth the wait. If you are in Chapel Hill for one meal and you want something casual and excellent, come here.

Merritt's Grill

Merritt's Grill at 1009 S Columbia Street has been making sandwiches in Chapel Hill since 1929. The BLT here has been described as one of the best in America, thick cut bacon, fresh tomatoes, good bread, and a very specific technique that regulars have been ordering the same way for decades. It is a counter service spot, cash only, with a line that moves quickly. The hours are limited, typically breakfast and lunch only, so plan accordingly. This is as old school Chapel Hill as it gets.

Carolina Coffee Shop

The Carolina Coffee Shop at 138 E Franklin Street has been open since 1922 and claims to be the oldest restaurant in North Carolina. The building is historic, the booths are well worn, and the menu is straightforward American diner food done well. It is a breakfast and brunch institution. Generations of UNC students and faculty have had their first meals on Franklin Street here. The food is good, but you are also eating in a piece of Chapel Hill history every time you sit down.

Sutton's Drug Store

Sutton's Drug Store at 159 E Franklin Street opened as a pharmacy with a lunch counter in 1923 and has been operating ever since. It is one of the last old school soda fountain lunch counters still functioning in North Carolina. The menu is simple diner food, burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese, milkshakes, served at a counter with no pretense. It is a genuine piece of Americana that has survived intact in the middle of a college town. Go for the milkshake and the experience.

411 West Italian Café

411 West Italian Café at 411 W Franklin Street has been one of the most consistent restaurants in Chapel Hill since it opened in 1990. It has been named Best Italian Restaurant in the Triangle by The Independent nine times and has held Best Italian in Chapel Hill every year since 2012. The menu centers on fresh house made pasta and wood fired pizza. The room has the feel of a neighborhood Italian place that has earned its regulars over decades, it is comfortable, reliable, and the food delivers every time. Dinner only, so plan accordingly.

Mediterranean Deli

Mediterranean Deli at 410 W Franklin Street has been a Chapel Hill staple since 1991. The menu covers more than 50 authentic dishes from across the Mediterranean, Greek, Middle Eastern, and North African influences all present, with fresh baked pita made daily in house. It is a genuinely family owned operation with a loyal following from the university community. After a fire forced a temporary closure, the restaurant reopened in late 2025 and is back in full operation. Good options for vegetarians and vegans throughout the menu. It fills up fast at lunch, particularly on weekdays.

Bin 54 Steak & Cellar

Bin 54 Steak & Cellar at 1201 M Raleigh Road is Chapel Hill's upscale steakhouse. Hickory grilled steaks, an extensive wine cellar, and house made condiments throughout the menu. It is a quieter, more formal dining experience than most of what you find on Franklin Street, the kind of place people come to for a proper dinner rather than a casual meal. Dinner only, Monday through Saturday, with reservations recommended on weekends. It sits in the Meadowmont Village area, a short drive from the main strip.

Hawthorne and Wood

Hawthorne and Wood at 3140 Environ Way brings a serious culinary pedigree to Chapel Hill. The restaurant is owned by Chef Brandon Sharp, who earned seven Michelin stars during his career before bringing his approach to this corner of North Carolina. The menu is globally inspired and built around local ingredients, presented in a setting that is upscale but relaxed, outdoor patio seating, bar seating available, and a room that does not feel stiff. It opened in 2019 and has built a strong following among diners looking for something beyond the Franklin Street standard. Dinner nightly.

Kipos Greek Taverna

Kipos Greek Taverna at 1800 E Franklin Street in Eastgate Crossing is one of the better Greek restaurants in the Triangle. The menu covers the full range of Greek taverna cooking, mezze, grilled meats, fresh seafood, with a hospitality forward approach that gives the place a warm, welcoming feel. After a difficult period following storm damage to their previous location, Kipos reopened in early 2026 at its current address and has rebuilt its loyal following quickly. Lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays.

Acme Food & Beverage (Carrboro)

Acme Food & Beverage at 110 E Main Street in Carrboro has been one of the most beloved restaurants in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area for over 25 years. Chef and owner Kevin Callaghan built the menu around Southern American cooking done with care, the kind of ingredients first approach that made Carrboro a destination long before food tourism became a trend. The covered garden patio is one of the nicest places to eat in the area when the weather cooperates. Sunday brunch is worth planning around. Dinner nightly, brunch on Sundays.

Pizzeria Mercato (Carrboro)

Pizzeria Mercato at 408 W Weaver Street in Carrboro is a focused, serious pizza operation from the Barker family, who were behind the legendary Magnolia Grill for over two decades. The menu features Neapolitan and New York style pizzas with a seasonally rotating selection of toppings. It is a small operation with a short weekly schedule, Thursday through Sunday only, which means it fills up. Reservations are strongly recommended for dinner. If pizza is your thing, this is one of the best spots in the Triangle.

Frequently Asked Questions