Wilmington, NC

restaurants

Sweet n Savory Cafe

Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, Sweet n Savory Cafe is a must-try option while passing through Wilmington. The menu includes something for everyone with classic dishes (pot roast, chicken pot pie, meatloaf, etc.) and incredible creations from the restaurant's Executive chef and Sous chef.

Wilmington, NC

restaurants

Cast Iron Kitchen

This breakfast-brunch spot is serving up classic Southern flavors all day long. From shrimp and grits to chicken and waffles (and everything in between), Cast Iron Kitchen has a menu to satisfy any appetite. Guy suggests ordering the Not My Momma's Meatloaf, which is comfort food at its finest.

Wilmington, NC

restaurants

The Copper Penny

For a taste of Philly in North Carolina, head to Copper Penny where owner Brian Cadwallader is serving up inventive pub food. The 109 Chestnut Chicken Sandwich is a take on a chicken Philly cheesesteak. It is served with their famous onion rings. “Keep those onion rings away from me,” Guy said after he couldn’t stop eating them, “I never want to see them again.”

Wilmington, NC

restaurants

Ceviche's

Chef and co-owner Hunter Tiblier grew up in Panama while his dad was working on the Panama Canal. At Ceviche’s he’s bringing the Latin-inspired dishes of his childhood to North Carolina. The Ropa Vieja is a homerun. Chef Tiblier takes spicy braised flank steak and serves it with citrus cabbage slaw, coconut rice, fried plantains, salsa fresca and avocado. Not surprisingly they also do killer authentic ceviche.

Charlotte, NC

bar

Heist Brewery

This spot caters to craft beer aficionados who are particular about both their brews and their bites. In addition to its carefully curated selection of suds that extends beyond Heist’s own brews, the spot also serves not-so-basic burgers and other elevated takes on pub grub (Duck Confit Flatbread, anyone?). “That’s legit,” said Guy after sampling the sliders that feature miniature patties made from a blend of chuck, porter and brisket. These bite-sized beauties are packed with flavor, thanks to layers of herb goat cheese, beer-laced bacon jam, roasted tomatoes, fresh arugula and a house-made barbecue sauce.

Charlotte, NC

restaurants

Salud Beer Shop

Housed in a beer shop, this little spot churns out imaginative eats that are just as inventive as the craft brews on the shelves. The “wild waffle sandwiches,” as Guy called them, are a particular standout. Listed as Waffle-Wiches on the menu, these golden, fluffy creations come stuffed with a delectable array of fillings. Guy opted for a sweet variation inspired by s’mores. Two Belgian waffles made from a meringue-laced batter are sandwiched with graham cracker crumbs, chocolate sauce and a massive housemade marshmallow that’s caramelized with a torch before serving.

Charlotte, NC

restaurants

The Improper Pig

The Improper Pig is not your standard Southern barbecue joint. Here, classic Carolina ‘cue shares the menu with new-school creations shot through with Asian flavors. “There is nothing that I do not love about this,” exclaimed Guy when he tucked into the Chaobao Taco. Opt for this dish and you’ll get a steamed bun stuffed with succulent pulled pork that’s slathered with hoisin sauce and topped with a housemade coleslaw.

Charlotte, NC

restaurants

Bang Bang Burgers

The crowds pack in for the impeccable patties that Chef-Owner Joseph Huang turns out at his burger joint. Huang makes all his patties with Black Angus beef sourced from renowned butcher Pat LaFrieda, then dresses them up with a dazzling array of toppings. One popular pick is a Southern-tinged burger featuring a simply seasoned patty smothered with a housemade pimento cheese and topped with fried pickles (which Guy Fieri deemed “the kicker,” when he stopped in for a bite).

Charlotte, NC

restaurants

Papi Queso Streatery (Food Truck)

Locals track down this roaming food truck for a taste of the gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches turned out by owner Brian Stockholm. “You're a small food truck, but you’re getting all cheffy on it,” Guy declared after stepping inside. He raved about the Pig Mac sandwich composed of cheddar cheese slices layered between bechamel mac and cheese, caramelized bourbon onions and pulled pork that’s been rubbed with a slew of spices. A squirt of espresso barbecue sauce completes the creation.

Charlotte, NC

restaurants

JJ's Red Hots

JJ’s Red Hots is one food establishment that has gone entirely to the dogs … hot dogs, that is. Owner Jonathan Luther draws the crowds with his menu of hot dogs and sausages that can be customized with a slew of toppings. He makes the joint’s traditional Austrian-style sausages from scratch, using an 85/15 blend of pork butt and chuck. “That’s legit,” Guy declared after tucking into a spice-laden, cheese-laced sausage loaded with sauerkraut, pickled onions and mustard.

Charlotte, NC

restaurants

Mert's Heart & Soul

Guy couldn’t visit North Carolina without getting a taste of low-country cooking, so he made a beeline for this down-home Southern restaurant. Guy tried the Soul Roll, an egg roll wrap that comes stuffed with adobo-laced collard greens, black-eyed peas, seasoned rice and diced fried chicken. “This is a soul food missile pop … with everything combined in one easy-to-eat bite,” Guy declared of the dish.

Charlotte, NC

restaurants

South 21 Drive In

Since 1955, South 21 Drive-In has been serving more than 20,000 meals a month to Charlotte, N.C., locals; so Guy had to check them out. He's glad he did for their classic American burgers and shakes, including the Super Boy, a signature double burger with scratch-made chili and tangy slaw.

Charlotte, NC

restaurants

dish

Walking into Dish feels like walking into someone's grandmother's house. It's warm and casual and you get the feeling you're going to be taken care of. Come for classic Southern comfort food like fried green tomatoes or chicken and biscuits, a Guy Fieri favorite.

Charlotte, NC

restaurants

Pinky's Westside Grill

A converted auto repair shop, this casual restaurant serves towering burgers, snappy dogs and not-too-healthy salads topped with popcorn chicken and fried buffalo shrimp.

Charlotte, NC

restaurants

Intermezzo

This pizzeria sets its menu apart with a selection of traditional Serbian dishes, including Piroska, a Balkan-style stuffed pizza. Another standout is the grilled fungi option. Inspired by the foraged mushrooms the owners’ mother used to prepare, this earthy pie is scattered with grilled portobello, shiitake, oyster and button mushrooms over mozzarella before being finished with fragrant basil.

Charlotte, NC

restaurants

300 East

In a historic house a mother-daughter team prepares sensational seasonal New American dishes and homey desserts like a rotating ice cream sandwich.

Charlotte, NC

restaurants

Krazy Fish

Unlikely flavors come together for awesome dishes at this Charlotte seafood spot, which specializes in tacos like Szechuan-style salmon and blackened tuna.

Charlotte, NC

bar • restaurants

Victory Lane Indoor Karting

Set inside a Go-Kart Track, this casual restaurant serves crowd-pleasing dishes like wings, loaded fries and the Hot Lap, a sandwich packed with spicy chicke, jalapeno crema and cheese.

Kill Devil Hills, NC

bar

Outer Banks Brewing Station

This pub is committed to lessening its carbon footprint and not only sources local seafood and produce but also generate its own power using a wind turbine. Guy was impressed by the shrimp and grits with redeye gravy and sweet potato chips. Locals enjoy a handcrafted beer with their meal.

Charlotte, NC

restaurants

Jake's Good Eats

Brothers Jake and Gordon Stegall converted an old gas station to the local favorite for twists on Southern cooking. Guy's favorite, blackened flounder with country ham grit cakes, was an out-of-bounds winner. But locals savor the super tasty venison quesadillas.

Charlotte, NC

restaurants

Bar-B-Q King

What flows through the river of Flavortown? Guy says it's the Bar-B-Q Chicken at Bar-B-Q King. On The Best Thing I Ever Ate and Triple D, he chows down on their chicken that's been fried and then dunked in their famous barbecue sauce. It's nothing short of a tried-and-true recipe from 1959.

Charlotte, NC

restaurants

Landmark Restaurant Diner

Landmark Restaurant Diner may be a Greek family restaurant, but the menu spans the globe, from the American Turkey Tom-Tom ("Thanksgiving on a plate") to the Italian tiramisu (one of just 230 baked goods). Of course, they've got Greek too -- Guy could eat the spanakopita not once, but 36 more times.

Charlotte, NC

restaurants

Cabo Fish Taco

Even though Cabo Fish Taco calls North Carolina home, its tacos take a cue from Baja, California, as well as from south of the border. Guy visited Cabo looking for a new twist on the SoCal favorite and he found it in Flavortown with Cabo's Southern-style mango barbecue fish tacos.

Nags Head, NC

restaurants

Tortugas Lie

At this surfer hangout, grill master Richard Welch is dishing out "ridiculous" Caribbean-inspired dishes. Guy thought that the habanero jelly gave the jerk-seasoned pork chops just the right amount of spice and sweetness. The wet jerk-seasoned chicken with pineapple chutney was "off the hook."

Kitty Hawk, NC

restaurants

Black Pelican Oceanfront Restaurant

Located on the beachfront, this is where the locals know to come for fresh locally caught seafood. The Wanchese fisherman's risotto with scallops and shrimp had Guy lickin' his chops. This eatery is also known for its juicy citrus rosemary brine chicken with smoked gouda mash potatoes.

Grandy, NC

bar

Weeping Radish Farm Brewery

The whole idea of The Weeping Radish is to take literally everything from the farm to the restaurant table. You'll find a farm, butchery and brewery on the premises, as well as a pub serving comfort foods like a baked-potato soup loaded with cheddar cheese and house-cured bacon.

Manteo, NC

restaurants

Ortega'z Southwestern Grill and Wine Bar

At Ortega'z you'll find south of the border fare with an Outer Banks twist. Guy could not get enough of the "dynamite" fish tacos with sauteed tuna and pico de gallo. The giant soft-shell crab quesadilla and creamy shrimp and chorizo Aalfredo also impressed. Customers enjoy the seafood paella too.

Kitty Hawk, NC

restaurants

Coastal Cravings

Cravings may seem like an unintimidating drive-through next to a gas station, but don’t be fooled. It serves what Guy calls “killer seafood.” Try the seared scallops with Lobster lobster sauce and truffle oil, or a traditional Carolina dish – the steamer pot loaded with seafood, corn, sausages, and more.

Nags Head, NC

restaurants

The Brine and Bottle

North Carolina native Andrew Donovan finally returned home start a restuarant with another prodigal North Carolinan, Ashley Whitfield, creating a comfortable down-home eatery specializing in local seasonal cuisine partnered with excellent wines.