2026 Maggy Awards: Restaurants

Vegan Community Kitchen

Best Restaurant for Specialty Diets

Chef and owner Tiru Kassie’s journey with food began in her grandmother’s kitchen, which she describes as “a universe of memory flavored with love.”

Vegan Community Kitchen chef/co-owner Tiru A. Kassie knows that vegan restaurants function as more than eating places. They are vital social hubs. For the local vegan community, Tiru relishes how her restaurant serves as “a physical anchor.”

The Vegan Community Kitchen menu is inspired by global dining traditions, as its first owner was born and raised in Türkiye and represented the dining traditions of Eastern Europe, Greece, and Türkiye. Since Tiru and her husband Getachew Wolie took over, they have added some of the most popular African traditional foods, to include Ethiopian injera.

The vegan landscape is dynamic, and Tiru continues to add new dishes from all over the world. Middle Eastern hummus and falafel; Mexican tacos and burritos; Italian pizza; Ethiopian injera; American burgers; and European gyros and spanakopita are some popular dishes.

Tiru knows that veganism can sometimes feel isolating and dining out can come with worries about options, ingredients, and cross-contamination. Vegan Community Kitchen provides a stress-free environment where diners can trust that every item is 100 percent plant based.

The diversity of Cary makes the “loving, supportive community” receptive to authentic international restaurants like Vegan Community Kitchen, says Tiru, so winning this award offers “a deep sense of validation,” not just for her and Getachew, but for “the entire philosophy of veganism.” It tells her that her restaurant isn’t just serving food — it’s nurturing well-being, and that this purpose has been seen and celebrated by the community. “This award feels like a collective victory,” she says.

vegancommunitykitchen.com

Catering by Design

Best Caterer

Phillip recently won
five awards, including Best Caterer, in the 2025 WRAL Voters’ Choice Awards.

“Long after an event ends, guests may forget décor details or timelines, but they always remember how the food made them feel — comfortable, celebrated, and cared for,” says Phillip Lin, owner of Catering by Design. “Food becomes part of the story,” he adds, “bringing people together, sparking conversation, and turning an occasion into something truly meaningful.”

While Catering by Design enjoys the creativity that comes with every type of event — to include weddings, corporate functions, social celebrations, and private gatherings of all sizes — consistent quality, thoughtful menus, full bar service, and a smooth, well-organized experience make corporate events and milestone celebrations like weddings and anniversaries especially popular.

Catering by Design has had the privilege of serving many memorable events over the years. One that stands out to Phillip is grilling for more than 3,500 people at a local hospital during National Hospital Week every year in a show of appreciation for healthcare workers and their important daily work.

Another favorite is the annual Moon Festival, for which Catering by Design creates multiple stations featuring Asian cuisines, including a live stir-fry action station. “Events like these are memorable not just for their scale or creativity,” Phillip says, “but for their sense of community.”

Delicious food, Phillip knows, connects people and anchors memories. “I am truly honored and grateful to receive the Maggy Award for Best Caterer,” he says. “While the recognition means a great deal to me personally, it’s also a reflection of the incredible employees I have the privilege of working with every day. I’m very thankful to share this moment with them.”

catering-by-design.com

Lawrence Barbecue

Best New Restaurant

For chef/owner Jake Wood and his team, since opening Lawrence Barbecue in downtown Cary in late 2025 following a successful stint at Boxyard RTP, winning the Maggy Award for Best New Restaurant “feels awesome and means so much more coming from folks in the community” — a community that Jake says “is our home now.”

Jake knows it’s easy to go home and think, “‘Man, that was so delicious. I can’t wait to go back’ … and just go on about your business and not tell anybody.” So for diners to take the time to vote for Lawrence Barbecue “feels great,” Jake says. “I hope to continue to make an impact on the community in different ways than just being a place to come eat.”

lawrencebarbecue.com

Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen

Best Date-Night Restaurant

Cary’s Crescent Green location is open 7 days a week!

Emphasizing scratch-made Southern cuisine, Lucky 32 has, since 1989, reflected regional traditions through upscale comfort food. From the original Greensboro location to a second restaurant in Cary, the eatery has become synonymous with consistent, high-quality food in an upscale setting.

Locally sourced ingredients meet seasonal menus, and Southern specialties are given a fresh spin. Take the Shoestring Okra Fries or Skillet Fried Chicken — which comes with mashed potatoes, ham hock collards, and cornbread — or even the Sweet Potato Cheesecake on the current dessert menu as evidence of Lucky 32’s homage to the classics.

In addition to seasonal menus that boast the freshest local ingredients, the restaurant features live music and a lush Garden Terrace patio that’s perfect for a special date night or leisurely weekend brunch. The dining room is no less enticing, with friendly and attentive service from an employee-owned team.

Get Lucky & Go offerings allow you to pick up meals curbside, ready to serve or heat and eat.

The wine list is extensive, and bespoke cocktails (or hand-crafted mocktails), also made with local ingredients, reflect the same culinary dedication that goes into every Lucky 32 meal. An impressive collection of after-dinner drinks will round off any date and, if things are going well, several decadent coffee creations will keep the conversation flowing.

lucky32.com/cary

See the rest of the Maggy winners:

Best Lifestyle
Best Services
Best Shopping

More From Our Mar 2026 Issue

• 2026 Maggy Awards: Shopping
• 2026 Maggy Awards: Services
• 2026 Maggy Awards: Lifestyle
• 2026 Maggy Awards: Restaurants
• The 2026 Maggy Awards
• Garden Adventurer: Voodoo Gardening
• Recipes from Readers: Apple Cinnamon Crumb Cake
• Liquid Assets: Small Town Charm
• Catch the Smoke: Lawrence Barbecue Comes to Cary
• Game On!
• Pay It Forward: NeighborUp
• Small Business Spotlight: Alloy Personal Training
• Things to Do: March 2026