Best road-trip restaurants in North Carolina

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Southern steakhouse in a stunningly restored mid-century church serving wood-fired prime rib carved tableside.

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Flagship of chef Michael Lee's acclaimed M Restaurants group and the Triangle's first dedicated sushi and seafood destination downtown.

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Downtown trattoria from chef Matt Kelly making fresh handmade pasta daily with a seasonally focused menu of regional Italian specialties.

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Lively neighborhood spot known for wood-fired pizzas and seasonal snacks with a bustling bar in downtown Durham.

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Longtime upscale French bistro serving escargots, steak frites, and beef bourguignon for special occasions in Durham.

$ · Outer Banks Scenic Byway

Ocracoke food-truck tacos that fit the ferry-day rhythm better than a formal dinner reservation.

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Cheetie Kumar's neighborhood spot driven by wood-fired Middle Eastern and Mediterranean small plates.

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One of the first Laotian restaurants in the United States, a Moore Square favorite serving vibrant Southeast Asian fare.

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Chef Cheetie Kumar's colorful, James Beard-nominated fine-dining Indian restaurant in the North Hills neighborhood.

$$ · Blue Ridge Parkway

A southern Blue Ridge detour worth knowing about when the trip drops toward Cherokee or the Smokies and you want a meal with real destination energy.