Once upon a time, Chapel Hill, a town synonymous with the University of North Carolina, offered little more than simple cafés. In recent years, it has developed a diverse restaurant culture and today is home to some of the country's most creative chefs. From legendary student hangouts to one of the South's most famed barbecue joints to the birthplace of shrimp and grits, all of these establishments helped earn the area recognition as a top dining destination. Local authors Chris Holaday an...

The story of the restaurant industry in Durham is also the story of a once prosperous tobacco town that suffered through a long decline only to undergo a stunning rebirth. Legendary barbecue restaurants such as Little Acorn, Bullock's and Dillard's and small cafés like Lewis' served generations of tobacco industry workers. Establishments such as Annamaria's and the Ivy Room were aimed at the growing college student population. More recently, Nana's, Magnolia Grill and other award-winning e...