Dining Out: The Best Restaurants in Durham & Chapel Hill

Best of the best

One of the best culinary experiences this side of the Mason-Dixon line awaits you at the Fearrington House in Pittsboro. Located on the property of Fearrington Village, a charming community of specialty shops, cafes, homes and a five star inn, this elegant restaurant puts together a four course prix fixe gourmet dinner more-than-worthy of the many accolades bestowed upon it. Chef de Cuisine Graham Foxe--whose resume includes work at Michelin-starred and Five Star restaurants alike--brings to the menu a masterful imagination and acute culinary sophistication. Sample, for instance, seared foie gras with sweet potato and apple gratin and toasted brioche; poached lobster with a ravioli of duck, leeks and a mustard seed butter sauce; or seared scallops with chive polenta cake, orange braised endive and shellfish dressing. Meticulously prepared desserts and an exemplary wine list catapult the Fearrington dining experience to the top of our list--or any list--of dining in the area. DC
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Best of Durham
Magnolia Grill
1009 Ninth Street

"Not Afraid of Flavor" is the aptly-named cookbook and bulls-eye description of the dishes from Ben and Karen Barker, executive chefs (he does entrees, she does desserts) and owners of Magnolia Grill, our pick for Best of Durham. Located just far enough down Ninth Street, Magnolia surprises with its sparse, chic, downtown interiors (think white tablecloths and lacquered wood), and of course, the food--sometimes overly complicated for the casual diner (at least the descriptions) but always interesting and innovative especially to die-hard foodies. The menu changes daily depending on availability of ingredients and the chef's creativity; October's pumpkin bisque was spicy and pungent with a dollop of sour cream and baby shrimp providing a cool, creamy foil. As an entree, the sashimi grade-tuna is excellent and sophisticated. The finale to the meal is always a sweet bonus. Karen Barker updates classic, homemade Milano cookies with chilled milk (more Sunday-best than Sunday picnic). Be forewarned: On busy nights, many items quickly sell out. You can make a reservation or dine at of the walk-in tables (usually no more than a 10 minute wait, even on a Saturday night). However you do it, the uniquely American creativity of these multi-honored James Beard chefs, and the outstanding service, is worth a visit. WR
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Best of Chapel Hill
Elaine's on Franklin
454 W. Franklin Street

It should come as no surprise that native southerner Bret Jennings trained extensively at the Magnolia Grill before opening his own eatery. At Elaine's, Jennings has proven a master chef with a smart attitude, producing complex, rich flavors and succulent dishes all in a cool, urbane setting. The fusion of worldly flavors with local, southern ingredients makes his the top-notch menu in Chapel Hill for those craving a tasty meal prepared with care. Extraordinary dishes such as rare seared North Carolina tuna with roasted fingerling potatoes, local herb salad, oven dried tomatoes, olives and a quail egg and grilled North Carolina wahoo with crawfish succotash, roasted sweet pepper cornbread and old bay aioli make dining at Elaine's a pleasure not to be missed. Expect a trendy crowd in a packed, buzzy atmosphere. DC
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