Support Us Button Widget

Hit the Road: A foodie foray to Raleigh, NC

We hope you’ve packed your appetite. This month, we’re finishing our Hit the Road series with a foodie foray into Raleigh, NC. Whether you’re interested in sipping your drink while strolling downtown (yeah, it’s allowed), snacking on charcuterie in an 1800’s Italianate mansion, or trying the James Beard award-winning food at one of Ashley Christensen’s six concepts (keep reading to learn more about Ashley), this driving-distance destination is every foodie’s dream.

Before you start packing your bags, here’s everything you need to know about the area + our insider recommendations.

Drive time: ~4 hours from downtown Greenville
Est. population: 1,547,000
Avg. high in August: 88°

8.22 Photo resize

You had us at merlot. | Photo by RALtoday

🎟️ Things to do

Sip n’ Stroll Downtown

Raleigh established its first “social district” earlier this month (read: open containers allowed) where you can sip on beer, wine + cocktails from local eateries and drinkeries while walking around downtown.

Videri Chocolate Factory, 327 W. Davie St.

Grab some soft serve or a bonbon + walk through the factory for yourself. Watch the chocolate-making process in the back on a self-guided tour.

Track down a food truck

DYK Raleigh was ranked No. 2 on Clever’s list “Best Cities for Food Trucks in America 2022?” RALtoday rounded up food truck hot spots to help you track them down + peep their City Editor’s (Hey, Cat + Anne! 👋) favorite spots.

Screen Shot 2022-08-22 at 3.03.15 PM

Try This: NC oysters with chili butter + preserved lemon gremolata | Photo by @deathandtaxesnc

🍲 Memorable eats

Death & Taxes, 105 W. Hargett St., Raleigh, NC
Sit at the bar to watch the chef prepare your meal at this Ashley Christensen restaurant. DYK: Ashley attended NC State University in Raleigh before going on to win the James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef in 2019 (one of the top honors for a chef). She operates six food and beverage concepts in Raleigh.

Saltbox Seafood Joint, 2637 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham
A 2022 recipient of the Best Chef: Southeast at the James Beard Awards, this spot is worth the short drive from Raleigh to Durham. Chef Ricky Moore takes inspiration from American fish camps and waterside seafood shacks, featuring fresh, seasonal seafood like whole black bass, griddled Yellowfin tuna, and fried Blueline tilefish.

via GIPHY

🏨 Accommodations with unique cuisine

Heights House, 308 S. Boylan Ave., Raleigh, NC
This Italianate-style mansion was first built in 1858 + features a parlor that serves Italian charcuterie boards and craft cocktails like the Pesca Spritz (Sevilla Orange gin, peach lillet, lime, spritz).

The Umstead Hotel and Spa, 100 Woodland Pond Dr., Cary, NC
In Cary, neighboring Raleigh, you’ll find Herons restaurant from James Beard semifinalist Steven Greene. Chef Steven uses ingredients locally sourced from over 14 nearby farms, including a two-acre culinary plot on the hotel’s property.

More from GVLtoday
Love is in the air, and so is the smell of freshly baked goods. We put together a list of where you can get a seasonal sweet Valentine’s Day treat in Greenville.
To help make your entire process at the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport as smooth as possible, we’ve created a guide that covers everything from parking to details on the airport’s nonstop flights.
We sat down with Ron Rallis for an exclusive look at plans for the property, which has sat defunct for years.
A local Instagram account shared visuals of what Main Street could look like without traffic and parking. Here’s what you think about that.
How well do you know these former USC + Clemson football players?
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport added four non-stop flights to its increasing list via Breeze Airways. Here’s where you can go.
“Beyond the Burrow” is a new public art initiative by the City of Travelers Rest, highlighting local artists and TR’s history.
Unity Park’s Honor Tower will pay tribute to local military and first responders, and architect Paul Endres says he hopes the design “unifies the city and helps bring people together.”
Ready for your lunch break? From tacos to smoothies, check out these $10 or less lunches.
It’s the end of an era at Brick Street Cafe as Miss Sue hangs up her apron after 30 years.