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As new restaurants move into Chapel Hill, old favorites still make us smile.
The News & Observer asked readers to share the closed restaurants they miss the most, and we received more than 100 responses. Darryl’s — which had five Triangle locations at its peak — was the fan-favorite destination in our survey.
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Several beloved Chapel Hill spots were nominated, from Franklin Street mainstays to Southern-cuisine landmarks. Here are some memories readers shared about restaurants they wish would come back to the town.
“This place WAS Chapel Hill. It was cozy, felt nostalgic and historic, and had the best breakfast food. It brought people (students, tourists, and locals alike) to that end of Franklin Street and made it feel livelier during the day.” —Cameron of Chapel Hill
“No question it’s Crook’s Corner in Chapel Hill that I and so many miss the most. Why? Where do I start!?! The delish Southern fare and libations. The longtime and exceptional wait staff. The bamboo-lined patio. The Chapel Hill vibe. And that honeysuckle sorbet! I only got to experience it a couple of times since it was around about just two weeks per year, but I remember saying after my first time, this is what heaven must taste like. I still love seeing Chef Bill Smith around town!” —Kristin of Chapel Hill
“The Rat was an institution! Each room had a different theme/decor, and the staff had all been there for decades. The food was GREAT. Doug Clark (of the famed Doug Clark and the Hot Nuts) ate there for lunch almost every day. This place added a level of flair and funk to Chapel Hill that we haven’t been able to get back since.” —Cameron of Chapel Hill
“Delicious food, quiet and cozy ambience.” —Cindy of Chapel Hill
The love for bygone Chapel Hill restaurants didn’t stop there. Here are more places that received nominations:
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Many of the restaurants people were sad to see close had multiple locations. See a full list of the most-missed Triangle restaurants at newsobserver.com.
Though we collected nominations on our website, people also weighed in on social media. They reminisced about other Chapel Hill restaurants that went out of business, including Skylight Exchange and Zoom Zoom.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
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