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Raleigh is ~230 years old, and despite the ever-changing + growing nature of the city, institutions like classic local restaurants help keep the city’s old soul alive.
The food scene in Raleigh has grown over the decades to reflect the diversity of the city, but many of Raleigh’s older restaurants are rooted in traditional Southern cuisine. And boy, are we grateful for them.
We took a look at some of the still-standing Raleigh restaurants with the oldest founding dates + here’s what we found:
The Mecca Restaurant
- Birthdate: 1930
- History: Mecca is located just a few blocks from the NC State Capitol and has long been known to serve NC politicians Southern classics. In 2014, the building housing the restaurant was named as a historic landmark.
- Try This: Mecca is known for their Glorified Jumbo Burgers which feature quarter-inch thick tomato + onion slices.
Bonus: The Mecca serves tasty southern sides to pair with your fried chicken.
Photo by @themeccarestaurant
Clyde Cooper’s Barbeque
- Birthdate: 1938
- History: Clyde Cooper’s stainless steel counter, wooden booths, and walls filled with historic photos transport you back in time as you’re eating. The restaurant has won a slew of awards and was even named one of the best in the US. NC is known for its barbecue, and Clyde Cooper’s serves it up Eastern Carolina-style with a vinegar-based sauce. This is the superior form of barbecue, and yes, we can fight about it.
- Try This: While the barbecue is a must, don’t miss out on the fried chicken, fried okra, Cheerwine baked beans, and mac + cheese.
The Roast Grill
- Birthdate: 1940
- History: The tiny but mighty Roast Grill serves only three things: hot dogs, glass-bottled Coke, and homemade Greek desserts. Oh, and don’t bother asking for ketchup, cheese, mayo, kraut, relish or to pay with a card. They do have chili, slaw made without mayo, mustard + hand-chopped onions. Plus, the iconic “Hot Weiners” sign out front is second to none.
- Try This: Say hello to Hot Dog George when you go in. His grandparents founded the restaurant and he now owns and runs the iconic joint.
Watkins Grill
- Birthdate: 1947
- History: Watkins Grill — located in a 1920s-era building outside of downtown — is a quintessential Southern comfort breakfast spot. The restaurant opens at 5 a.m. Monday through Saturday and closes at 2:30 p.m. Raleigh’s early-risers consider Watkins one of the best breakfast spots in town.
- Try This: Like any good Southern diner, Watkins serves up some delicious biscuits + gravy, grits, and huge pancakes.
Player’s Retreat
- Birthdate: 1951
- History: Player’s Retreat website proclaims it as “Where the keg of kindness never runs dry.” It’s the oldest standing bar in Raleigh and known as PR by the regulars. The Wolfpack decor wrapping the walls remind patrons of the namesake of the establishment. The large patio allows for furry friends to tag along and is the NC State gameday spot.
- Try This: PR’s wine + scotch list is nationally recognized, but don’t pass up on some of their simpler menu items like the pasta salad.
Char-Grill
- Birthdate: 1960
- History: Not much has changed about the way Char-Grill operates since it opened in 1960 on Hillsborough Street. Customers walk up to the ordering window, write down their order on a piece of paper, send it to the cooks through a chute and then wait for their order to be made. Char-Grill has now expanded to have 9 NC locations across the Triangle, including one at RDU.
- Try This: While Char-Grill is famous for its charred burgers + fries, the Carolina Packers’ red hot dogs remind us of childhood cookouts, especially if they’re a little charred.
Angus Barn
- Birthdate: 1960
- History: The Angus Barn is one of Raleigh’s most iconic steakhouses and has been family-owned since it opened. The restaurant has won countless national awards, including executive chef Walter Royal winning Food Network’s “Iron Chef America” in 2006 + current owner Van Eure won the National Restaurant Association’s Industry Legends Award in 2019. Van is the creative behind the restaurant’s elaborate Christmas decorations that cause locals to make December reservations up to a year in advance.
- Try This: We’ll leave the decision on what steak to get up to you, but definitely finish your meal off with either the award-winning chocolate chess pie or blackberry cobbler.
Amedeo’s
- Birthdate: 1963
- History: Founder Richard “Amedeo” DiAngelis came to Raleigh to play football for the NC State Wolfpack, where he was a part of the school’s first ACC championship team in 1957. A few years after graduating, he opened up Amedeo’s as a nod to his Italian heritage. He included family recipes on the menu, and the restaurant is still a favorite of Wolfpack fans today.
- Try This: You can’t go to Amedeo’s without trying the famous lasagna.
