10 Places North Carolinians Turn To For Sunday Dinner (Beyond Grandma’s Table)
Sunday dinners in North Carolina are a cherished tradition, but locals don’t always limit themselves to grandma’s kitchen.
Across the state, restaurants and hidden gems serve comforting plates that feel like home while offering their own twist on classic recipes.
From hearty roasts to sides that spark nostalgia, these spots capture the warmth, flavor, and community of Sunday meals.
Exploring them shows that delicious traditions can thrive beyond the familiar dining room table.
1. Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen: Where Grandma’s Recipes Got an Upgrade
Locals flock to Cary’s Lucky 32 when they want Southern classics with a touch of sophistication.
The restaurant transforms seasonal ingredients from nearby farms into dishes that honor tradition without being stuck in the past.
Their voodoo pig bread appetizer has prevented countless pre-meal family arguments.
Sunday afternoons here feature a rotating menu of specials that changes faster than Carolina weather, keeping regulars coming back to see what’s new.
2. Mert’s Heart & Soul: Charlotte’s Soul Food Sanctuary
Soul food reaches spiritual heights at this Charlotte institution. Mert’s cornbread alone has been known to make grown men weep with joy.
Sunday crowds form early for a taste of their salmon cakes and shrimp and grits that would make your grandmother question her own recipes. The walls, covered with photos of satisfied customers and visiting celebrities, tell the story of a restaurant that’s more community living room than business.
3. Angus Barn: The Red-Roofed Palace of Prime Rib
Walking into Angus Barn feels like entering a rustic cathedral dedicated to beef. Since 1960, this Raleigh landmark has been the go-to for families celebrating everything from confirmations to college acceptances.
The complimentary cheese and crackers alone have started family feuds.
Regulars know to save room for their legendary chocolate chess pie, served with a dollop of pride by staff who’ve worked there for decades.
4. The Pit: Whole-Hog Heaven in Downtown Raleigh
Barbecue arguments may divide North Carolinians, but The Pit unites them under a haze of hickory smoke. Their whole-hog approach satisfies both eastern and western NC barbecue devotees.
Families pile into wooden booths each Sunday, passing plates of pulled pork and fried chicken.
The Brunswick stew recipe here reportedly ended a decades-long feud between two Raleigh families who now break hushpuppies together in peaceful barbecue harmony.
5. Tupelo Honey: Asheville’s Mountain-Inspired Comfort
Perched in downtown Asheville, Tupelo Honey serves Southern classics with a mountain twist that makes even traditionalists nod in approval.
Their famous biscuits arrive at the table like fluffy clouds of butter and love. Sunday brunchers linger over honey-dusted fried chicken while plotting their Blue Ridge afternoon drives.
The restaurant’s commitment to local ingredients means your meal tells the story of nearby farms and producers with every delicious bite.
6. Beasley’s Chicken + Honey: Raleigh’s Modern Chicken Shrine
Chef Ashley Christensen’s love letter to fried chicken draws Sunday crowds willing to wait for that perfect sweet-savory combination.
The chicken and waffles here have prevented at least three families from moving out of state.
Communal tables encourage the Sunday dinner feeling, where strangers become friends over shared hot sauce bottles.
After church, you’ll spot everything from suits to sundresses as Raleighites flock to this downtown spot that elevates simple chicken to an art form.
7. Sam Jones BBQ: Pitmaster Royalty Comes to Raleigh
Barbecue dynasty meets modern dining at Sam Jones’ Raleigh outpost. The Jones family has been smoking whole hogs since 1947, and this heritage flows through every bite of their eastern-style ‘cue.
Sunday regulars know to order extra cornbread with their trays of chopped pork.
The simple, cafeteria-style service belies the complexity of flavors that come from generations of smoke mastery and a stubborn refusal to cut corners even as the restaurant has expanded beyond its Skylight Inn origins.
8. Picnic: Durham’s Farm-Fresh Barbecue Destination
Former vegetarians have been known to renounce their ways after one visit to this Durham gem.
Picnic’s commitment to whole-animal cooking and locally-sourced ingredients creates barbecue with both conscience and flavor.
Families gather around outdoor tables on Sunday afternoons, passing plates of pulled pork and farm-fresh sides.
The restaurant’s partnerships with Green Button Farm and other local producers mean your Sunday dinner supports an entire ecosystem of North Carolina food artisans.
9. The Cowfish: Where Sushi Meets Burgers in Surprising Harmony
Sunday dinner takes a wild turn at Charlotte’s most unexpected fusion spot. The Cowfish demolished the notion that families with picky eaters can’t dine together by offering both burgers and sushi under one roof.
Kids marvel at the colorful fish tanks while parents debate between the High Class Hillbilly roll and a half-pound burger.
Their signature burgushi creations bridge culinary divides, making this SouthPark staple the Switzerland of Sunday dinner debates for families with diverse taste preferences.
10. Mama Ricotta’s: Charlotte’s Italian Comfort Food Institution
Charlotte families have been solving disagreements over plates of penne alla vodka at Mama Ricotta’s for nearly three decades. Their garlic rolls alone have the power to temporarily unite warring siblings.
Sunday dinner here feels like visiting your Italian friend’s house, if your friend happened to make the city’s best pizza.
Owner Frank Scibelli’s commitment to authentic ingredients means importing flour from Italy and making mozzarella fresh daily, creating flavors that transport diners straight to the old country.