Best of Restaurants

Eat Dessert First

Thall shalt not go home hungry. While that isn’t the official motto of The Cheesecake Factory, it should be. The generous entrée portions make it hard to save room for dessert, but trust us, it’s worth the effort when dining at this year’s Best Dessert winner. The Cheesecake Factory offers 50 desserts, more than 35 of which are cheesecakes. Some of the most decadent include Caramel Pecan Turtle Cheesecake, the Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake and Hershey’s Chocolate Bar Cheesecake, the newest flavor on the menu. If you’re calorie-conscious (but at this point who really is?) a low-carb cheesecake made with Splenda is available. Many of the cheesecakes can be purchased online and shipped to your door. Oh happy day.

Psychedelic Slice

In 1974, three college students opened a restaurant centered on quality ingredients, progressive values and just a touch of eccentricity to supply their fellow scholars’ two main food groups: pizza and beer. Each Mellow Mushroom opened since — more than 100 nationwide — maintains the original eclectic vibe. Cary’s location, open since September, is no exception and became a fast favorite among Cary Magazine readers. Winning Best New Restaurant, Best Outdoor Dining and Best Pizzeria, the purveyor of pizza, calzones, hoagies and salads can be trusted to provide top-notch food in an artistic and casual scene. Don’t shy away if you’re on a restricted diet. Mellow Mushroom offers gluten-free pizza dough and a number of vegan options. Join the beer club for an excuse to sample the variety of beers available on draft and by the bottle. Try 50 and you’ll receive an engraved mug, future beer discounts, a T-shirt and more.

Pita Party

Authentic Greek and Mediterranean cuisine is never far away with one of the Best Greek Restaurant winner’s six Triangle-area locations. Greek Fiesta, a locally owned chain, strives to serve healthy and fresh food in a fast, casual and family-friendly atmosphere. Their most popular items are the Chicken Breast Pita and the house-specialty Mediterranean Platter, which includes a Greek salad, house-made hummus, stuffed grape leaves, tangy cucumber sauce, grilled pita and choice of steak or chicken kebab. Enjoy free Wi-Fi at all locations.
Sign up for the Greek Fiesta email club, which offers birthday coupons and exclusive offers, and receive a coupon for a free appetizer and baklava.

The Whole Hog

The Pit nudged out longtime favorite Danny’s Bar-B-Que for the top spot in the Best Barbecue category. Located in downtown Raleigh’s warehouse district, The Pit is most famous for the whole hog pit-cooked N.C. barbecue, offered chopped and pulled. But it also serves two types of ribs, beef brisket, fried chicken, and barbecue chicken and turkey. The starters might be the hidden gems of the menu though. With updated takes on Southern favorites like Pumpkin Skillet Cornbread, Barbecue Fries and Mini PBLT Biscuits — that’s pimento cheese, bacon, lettuce and tomato — you might forget about the barbecue you came for.

Thirsty Thursday  Every Day

We all know about the banging appetizers and seafood that have kept Bonefish Grill atop the leaderboard for Best Appetizers and Best Seafood many years running. But this year the restaurant also won in the new category Best Place to Get a Cocktail. Let’s celebrate with a round of Fresh Grapefruit Martinis for everyone (they’re finished with a hint of basil!). Extensive wine and beer selections pair perfectly with your fresh catch of the day. Nightly drink specials are served up for $5. Combine that with the $5 Wednesday Bang Bang Shrimp special and you’re well on your way to overcoming the midweek slump.

Written by Emily Uhland

Best Appetizers
Bonefish Grill
Honorable Mention: Tribeca Tavern
Angus Barn

Best Place to Get a Cocktail
Bonefish Grill
HM: Tyler’s Restaurant & Taproom
Carolina Ale House

Best Asian
P.F. Chang’s
HM: Sushi-Thai Cary
Kanki Japanese House of Steaks and Sushi

Best Bakery
La Farm
HM: Once in a Blue Moon Bakery and Café
Panera Bread

Best Barbecue
The Pit
HM: Danny’s Bar-B-Que
Smithfield’s Chicken ’N Bar-B-Q

Best Breakfast
Brigs
HM: IHOP
Cracker Barrel

Best Burger
Five Guys
HM: Tribeca Tavern
Red Robin

Best Dessert
The Cheesecake Factory
HM: Goodberry’s Creamery
Angus Barn

Best French Fries
Five Guys
HM: Red Robin
Chick-fil-A

Best Greek Restaurant
Greek Fiesta
HM: Neomonde
Baba Ghannouj Mediterranean Bistro

Best Hot Dogs
Snoopy’s
HM: Five Guys Burgers and Fries
Ashworth Drugs

Best Italian Restaurant
Daniel's Restaurant and Catering

HM: Carrabba's 
Maggiano's

Most Kid-Friendly

Red Robin 

HM: Chick-fil-A 

Chuck E Cheese’s

Best Ladies’ Lunch
Mimi's Café

HM: Panera Bread

Cafe Caturra

Best Mexican
Los Tres Magueyes

HM: La Rancherita
El Dorado

Best Neighborhood Bar

Carolina Ale House 

HM: Tyler’s Restaurant & Taproom 

Hibernian Irish Pub

Best New Restaurant

Mellow Mushroom
HM: Aviator Smokehouse
East Coast Wings

Best Outdoor Dining
Mellow Mushroom

HM: Tribeca Tavern

Lucky 32

Best Pizzeria
Mellow Mushroom

HM: NY Pizza
Anna's Pizzeria

Best Seafood

Bonefish Grill
HM: 42nd St. Oyster Bar
N.C. Seafood Restaurant
Farmers Market

Best Steak House

Angus Barn

HM: Ruth’s Chris
Sullivan’s

Best Vegetarian Menu
Irregardless Café

HM: Sweet Tomatoes

Whole Foods

Best Selection of Wines
Angus Barn
HM: Café Caturra
Ruth’s Chris