{"id":4182,"date":"2026-07-08T17:06:56","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T17:06:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=4182"},"modified":"2026-07-08T17:06:56","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T17:06:56","slug":"triangle-restaurant-you-miss-the-most-what-readers-had-to-say-about-20-of-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=4182","title":{"rendered":"Triangle restaurant you miss the most? What readers had to say about 20 of them"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.<\/p>\n

Read our AI Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

We asked for the closed restaurants you missed the most, and you shared lots of memories.<\/p>\n

Read more Stein vetoes \u2018poorly constructed\u2019 bill banning homeless encampments statewide<\/a><\/p>\n

After The News & Observer invited readers to reminisce about the Triangle restaurants<\/a> they wish would return, more than 100 nominations poured in. We heard about the local spots that fueled you through college and the special places that served as the backdrops for first dates.<\/p>\n

Sure, we were expecting to hear about Darryl\u2019s, Finch\u2019s and other fan favorites. But there are so many more places that readers still crave.<\/p>\n

So we created this roundup of what you told us. Each of the restaurants featured below received multiple nominations, so let\u2019s take a nostalgic look back at these popular picks.<\/p>\n

For a full list of all the nominations we received, visit newsobserver.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Darryl\u2019s received the most mentions. Here\u2019s what readers had to say about it and other restaurants:<\/p>\n

\u201cI liked them all but Darryl\u2019s on Hillsborough was special. Everything was good but the garbage pizzas and ribs were the best, but I was in college and was easily impressed!\u201d \u2014R. of Raleigh<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of great memories. Location of first date with my wife.\u201d \u2014Andrew of Raleigh<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cI think I ate at most all of them from the 1970s until they closed permanently.\u201d \u2014Betty of Raleigh<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/i>Awesome sandwiches & the Sunday lunch vibe\u201d -\u2014Anna of Raleigh<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough the sandwiches were very tasty, Sadlack\u2019s had a hippy artsy vibe and a collection of unique characters out of an Edward Hopper painting\u201d \u2014Dikran of Raleigh<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cI loved the Dr. Frank\u2019s sub. The hoagie roll was always perfect. Never hard. I believe the rolls were baked fresh daily.\u201d \u2014Albeda of Durham<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cThere was always a good selection for a competitive price.\u201d \u2014Dee of Raleigh<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cBest soups and best BLT sandwich on the planet.\u201d \u2014Susan of Raleigh<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a beloved gem. Many of the menu items were vegetarian at a time when vegetarian food was not very common in restaurants. They had the very best vegetable plate, and their lemon-tahini salad dressing was legendary. I still dream about it after all these years. The vibe was cozy and dark, a lot of wood, a lot of small alcoves. Prices were student- and young-person friendly, so it was a fairly cheap date. Tom and Linda Payne were the owners. They still live in Raleigh.\u201d \u2014Julia of Raleigh<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cI loved their vegetarian menu items and I\u2019m not even a vegetarian.\u201d \u2014Ann of Durham<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cThis 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.\u201d \u2014Cameron of Chapel Hill<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cAmazing healthful, artfully-prepared meals.\u201d \u2014Jan of Durham<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cFirst date with my now-wife when we were undergraduates.\u201d \u2014Patrick of Rougemont<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201c18 Seaboard at Seaboard Station was a serene spot to eat before going to the Symphony. Menu was varied and delicious. Always had intriguing specials. Easy to get to and park. Miss the fried fish!\u201d \u2014Phyllis of Raleigh<\/i><\/p>\n

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\u201cZest Cafe & Home Art suddenly closed a few months ago, and it was a real disappointment. My family had been eating there regularly for decades and felt close to a number of staff members, especially Maggie. I often met friends there for lunch and frequently purchased their sides for Thanksgiving each year. And I loved the gift shop and regularly purchased the lavender lotion. I wish that there had been more advance notice so we could have said goodbye to our friends and enjoyed our favorites once more. Their catfish sandwich was outstanding, as was the coconut cake. We also loved the Select Salad and the carrot cake.\u201d \u2014Stef<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cLots of great food options and a fun retail store.\u201d \u2014Judy of Raleigh<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cRock-Ola had the BEST onion rings!\u201d \u2014Russell of Raleigh<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cBest burgers, delicious onion rings, great drink specials. The staff at the Avent Ferry store were super friendly and tons of fun!\u201d \u2014Jay of Fuquay-Varina<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cPinnacle of a casual college hang. What I would give to eat a burger and french fries on that patio again!!\u201d \u2014Lauren of Raleigh<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cI know it closed down in an ugly circumstance, but for five years I worked at a place that was walking distance and their food was just sooo good. Their soft tacos and burritos were made from fresh dough that you could see the press mashing down, and the taste and texture was outstanding. They\u2019d load it up with meat, beans, pepper and onions, and you\u2019d be full and still be wanting more.\u201d \u2014Dan<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cIt had everything: good food, nice bar, but a family restaurant. And it was open for lunch and dinner. I celebrated many special occasions there. Many restaurants have opened in the general area, but nothing compares to Tripps.\u201d \u2014Iris<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/i>Tripps was the perfect spot for first dates, business lunches, out-of-town guests, Sunday brunch. The food was always good, the service was consistently good. The only negative was takeout orders that were inevitably, well, wrong! Time after takeout time! We miss you Tripps and promise if you come back, we\u2019ll dine in week after week, just like we did before.\u201d \u2014Darcy and John of Raleigh<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cNo question it\u2019s Crook\u2019s 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!\u201d \u2014Kristin of Chapel Hill<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/i>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\u2019t been able to get back since.\u201d \u2014Cameron of Chapel Hill<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cSmoked chicken salad and mac \u2018n\u2019 cheese were amazing, and the smoked meatballs\u201d \u2014Jeremiah of Durham<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cThe brisket sandwiches, brisket mac bowls, and smoked turkey were the best\u201d \u2014Michael of Durham<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/i>A more perfectly crafted elegant meal could not be obtained anywhere.\u201d \u2014-James of Durham<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cFat Daddy\u2019s on Glenwood had the best build-a-burger and even better grilled ham-and-cheese in upstairs restaurant, and hidden dive bar downstairs to quench your thirst while playing a few games.\u201d \u2014Dan of Raleigh<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/i>Replaced by a Panera (WHY???). Burgers were delicious, and the condiment bar meant you could make them to your exact taste. Cool little bar downstairs. Man, I miss that place.\u201d \u2014Jack of Raleigh<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cFood was delicious, with always something new to try, and also had an intimate in-the-know kind of vibe about it that\u2019s hard to repeat in a newer building.\u201d \u2014Lauren of Raleigh<\/i><\/p>\n

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\u201cDelicious food, quiet and cozy ambience.\u201d \u2014Cindy of Chapel Hill<\/i><\/p>\n

Here are other restaurants that received multiple nominations<\/b>:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Which closed NC restaurant do you miss the most? N&O readers told us their favorite, most loved places to eat in Raleigh, Durham & Chapel Hill, North Carolina.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4181,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-read-todays-edition"],"yoast_head":"\nTriangle restaurant you miss the most? 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