This fabulous Asian fusion restaurant on Franklin St is one of Chapel Hill's hidden culinary gems…read more-- an unparalleled blend of service, atmosphere and taste that makes it worth the drive from anywhere in North Carolina. On a recent visit, our family started off with an delicious order of Pork & Chive Dumplings, while I enjoyed a perfectly prepared Old Fashioned from the bar. For our entrees, we shared plates of tender Shaking Beef tasty Sticky Rice and succulent Pork Ribs, all paired with a fabulous Pinot from the restaurant's impressive selection. Service was outstanding throughout our visit, and Lantern's softly lit, intimate setting makes it the perfect spot for a date night or just to escape the Carolina heat. Everything about our visit was wonderful, and the prices were more than reasonable for a meal of this caliber. An amazing find in Chapel Hill!

A favorite for many years revisited after too long--birthday celebration with a couple that joined…read moreus every Friday night for all the years we lived downtown. This is a very special, romantic New York or Paris kind of spot. It was a great evening with killer soft shell crab and for me a perfect Black Manhattan. We all loved the evening. No detail was not perfect!

Solid brunch spot with great service and lots of GF options -- execution needs a tune-up (4)…read more Visited The Refectory Cafe on a busy Sunday morning. Parking was tight but doable in the lot. The space is charming inside and out; the shaded patio has a nice vibe, though foot traffic to the entrance passes by those tables. Ordering is walk-up, and food is delivered to the table. Menu is broad with clear gluten-free indicators (huge plus). Coffee was dark and delicious, and service throughout was genuinely warm, knowledgeable, and fast -- easily 5 stars for hospitality. Getting to-go boxes was effortless and we were offered refills often. Food was a mixed bag. My wife had the gluten-free smoked salmon toast with avocado. She wished the veggies and tomato were grilled; the GF bread itself was very good, but the greens/tomato ended up pushed aside. I had the smoked salmon Benedict. The salmon portion felt light, and the hollandaise leaned more toward mustard than citrus and was a bit thin. Breakfast potatoes and veggies were nicely cut and well-seasoned but undercooked; same for the bacon, which tasted more tough than crisp. (I reheated the potatoes/veg at home -- flavor was there once cooked through.) Prices felt reasonable, ingredients seemed thoughtfully sourced, and the team's earnestness shines. With a little tighter execution (fully cooked potatoes/veg, crisper bacon, brighter/thicker hollandaise, slightly more salmon, grilled tomatoes), this would be an easy 5. I'll definitely be back -- I gave it a 3.7 but rounded it up to 4 stars for the service, coffee, and GF-friendly menu options.

What a gem! This café has a warm, inviting vibe with its colorful murals (the sunflower wall…read moreoutside is stunning!) and plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors. We sat outside under their covered patio; it was drizzling when we arrived, but the space was still comfortable. When sitting outside you have to go inside to place your order but they bring it out to your table. My kids ordered the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. They're a decent size for little ones, topped with fresh strawberries (tip: if your kiddos aren't into strawberries, just ask to have them on the side like I did). You can also add extras like chocolate chips or blueberries for a small up-charge; both of mine loved theirs. I ordered Huevos Rancheros Brunch, which was good. Crispy tostadas loaded with tender shredded steak, beans, lettuce, and cream, and ask for a fried egg cooked medium so the yolk spills out perfectly. It came with pico de gallo and jalapeños on the side (I skipped those, but if you like a kick, i'm sure they will add great flavor). I tried their seasonal S'mores Latte; sweet, creamy, and topped with whipped cream and drizzle. Their dessert case is worth a peek; cakes, cheesecakes, pies, even vegan-friendly options. Didn't have any but next time. The staff were all so kind and welcoming, smiles all around.

I was given this popcorn as a gift and wow. It truly delights. I have not heard of this company…read morebefore but I'm glad I now do because if I'm ever in the area I do plan on stopping by to try more flavors. This is genuine popcorn that does taste gourmet. That word has become excessively exaggerated, but not the case here. Each bite of popcorn comes with dense texture, rich flavor, and desire for me. This is not simply popcorn to just grab by the handful and throw in your mouth while watching a movie, but instead to eat one or two kernels at a time to savor the taste. Highly recommend.

Yum! Flavorful popcorn without all those pesky kernels. Upon arriving at Mad Popper on a weekday…read moreafternoon, we were greeted by multiple friendly staff members. They were ready to answer any questions and take our order. I was hoping they would have dill pickle popcorn, but they vary their flavors. Pickle popcorn will be returning in October. We ordered white cheddar and kettle corn and enjoyed both flavors. I like how the popcorn was light and not overly flavored. Sometimes kettle corn can be too buttery and sweet, but this one was well balanced. The menu is easy to read including the prices and sizes. I don't live close enough to visit here again, however, we would recommend this place to others for a tasty treat.

Blue skies of maple view is the best barn in the WORLD! This stunning stable has changed my life…read moreforever in the best way possible! The horses are so gentle, well cared for, sweet and loving! Summer camp at Blue Skies is one of my favorite times of the year! The best way to describe it is a cowgirls heaven! Each day you get to ride horses, learn about horses, and draw horses, and then take a refreshing dip in the pool!!! I have been riding at Blue Skies for six years and every moment I have been smiling! Ms. Deborah is one of the kindest, most loving and patient people I have ever met! She is so passionate, caring and truly the heart of Blue Skies! This delightful barn has an amazing community, full of kind and loving people who share their appreciation and compassion for these amazing horses! When someone asks me if i could go anywhere in the world, my answer is always Blue Skies! If you are looking for a phenomenal, non-competitive, welcoming and unforgettable barn, than Blue Skies of Mapleview is your place!

I love this place! It feels like home to me with Deborah and those that I've met here. Everyone is…read moreso warm and welcoming. Deborah and Zoe really know what they are talking about, I've never been to a barn with so much respect for the horses and others and it's wonderful. I've learned so much here and found some a deeper respect and love for these beautiful horses.

Heel and Horn is a solid place for a casual night out. Food was pretty good. We were seated…read morequickly and our server, Rodrigo was on his game.

Food, drinks, and service were all excellent!…read more We came in for a later lunch and were well taken care of. I thought my buffalo chicken wrap and onion rings were so good. Everyone else at our table was also saying their food was excellent! They also had a good selection of drinks - I had a mango cart beer on tap. They do have a kids menu which was helpful for us! They also have some games for the tables too - like connect four.

Solid neighborhood watering hole…read more Somehow we've missed TCP until now. It's a great neighborhood beer and pub-grub spot for happy hour or after-work gatherings. The beer selection is very good, and the food is what you would expect: not gourmet, but a perfect accompaniment for a cold pint. The ordering process is chaotic: you have to push your way up to the bar between the seated patrons and wait for a bartender to notice you. There's no ordering spot and no queue so it takes a while. The bartenders were friendly if not efficient. The prices were about what you'd expect for a neighborhood spot. If you're in the area, stop by and wet your whistle.

I actually loved my experience here but my husband did not. And it came down to mostly price…read more This is in a little residential/retail space, past Whole Foods Market on S. Elliot Rd. We were greeted upon entry and stood there looking in awe of their large and diverse beer selection. The bartender was knowledgeable and helpful when I (as always) asked a lot of questions about the beer. My husband chose an IPA and I chose a flight. We went outside to grab a table since we were meeting friends and there was very little seating inside it was nice out AND I think there was a birthday party going on.) None of us had eaten yet so we all decided to order different things and share. The brats, pretzels, and sidewinders were pretty good. The photos looked great and they came out tasting decent. The wings were excellent but the flatbread was awful. It was like tomato paste on a cracker. Our server was very attentive and even helped us move our stuff inside when it started to rain. My husband decided to have a couple more IPAs while we sat and talked. My friend and I got up to look at the merchandise and the open stock for sale. I liked the vibe so much that I bought a koozie featuring The Casual Pint. I was also thrilled to find a Salty Turtle beer that I very much enjoy but usually only get at the beach. At this point I would have rated it a 4 but then we got our bill. Even though neither one of us paid any attention to the prices on the beer, it was a little surprising that my husband's IPAs were $10 each. And my flight was $17 (4, 4oz pours). Add the 4 pack and food, our total was over $110 before tip. We should have paid more attention but since my husband felt that it was all highly overpriced AND he had ordered the flatbread that was unappetizing, he doesn't want to return. I wouldn't mind coming back though!

Sup Dogs is hot dog heaven, full stop…read more If you love a creative, loaded, over-the-top hot dog, this is your place. The Firehouse Dog is a must -- bold, flavorful, and perfectly balanced with just the right kick. The cheesy jalapeño dog is everything it should be: melty, spicy, messy in the best way. And the taco dog? Somehow ridiculous and incredible at the same time. The fries are crispy, seasoned, and absolutely addictive, but let's talk about the real stars: the sauces. There are so many good ones that choosing becomes the hardest part of the visit. Drizzle, dip, smother -- you literally cannot go wrong. Even the buns deserve love -- soft, toasted just right, and strong enough to hold up to all that delicious chaos. Everything here is done right, from the flavors to the quality to the fun vibe. Sup Dogs is one of those places that makes you excited to come back before you've even finished eating. Five stars, no debate.

Sup Dogs was a big disappointment. We arrived on game day but early enough in the day that they…read morewere steady but not super busy. It was freezing today outside and we were seated by the door. Everything was fine until the hostess propped the door open. They left the door wide open and everyone in the front seating area was miserable. I asked if they could please close it and I was told no. They said the hostess stands by the door on game days. So they really don't care if their customers are comfortable or not. That says a lot. They certainly could've made adjustments given the cold and windy day. But our waitress was kind enough to move us when a table opened up in the back. That was a big relief and much more comfortable. Now to their food. The bacon cheese fries were great but didn't have bacon so we had to get them to bring back to sprinkle on top. The ranch was excellent and we all liked the app. My youngest got a grilled cheese which he enjoyed. My oldest got a burger which he said was okay, but nothing special. But the real disappointment comes in with the hot dogs. My first dog was cold, like unappetizingly cold. The waitress was very nice and took care of it immediately. However, the second dog came out almost immediately. If you like a boiled hot dog that's reheated in a microwave, you'll like their hot dogs. But I want a quality grilled hot dog. We'll stick to our ol' faithful CH burger joint from here on out. And I hope next time your customers are extremely uncomfortable on a freezing day sitting right next to the open door, you exercise some courtesy and close the door next time.