<p>How about some advice from those who have been there - are there - for places to see and restaurants not to be missed in Chapel Hill! We are all headed to C-Tops this summer!</p>
<p>I live about 30 minutes from Chapel Hill and will be attending in the fall. I have to drive by there at least once a week so sometimes I leave early and walk around campus or get lunch. My favorite place to eat is Top of the Hill (love the atmosphere and the food) and I rarely stop by without getting some frozen yogurt at the Yogurt Pump.</p>
<p>Here’s a review that lists many that we really like:</p>
<p>[Matt</a> Barrett’s Favorite Chapel Hill-Carrboro Restaurants](<a href=“http://www.northcarolinatravels.com/food/chapelhill-carrboro-restaurant-reviews/index.htm]Matt”>http://www.northcarolinatravels.com/food/chapelhill-carrboro-restaurant-reviews/index.htm)</p>
<p>Spanky’s which is right across Franklin St from Top of the Hill is a great spot for lunch. Good soups, salads and sandwiches and lots of Carolina memorabilia on the walls…</p>
<p>[Spanky’s</a> Restaurant & Bar in Chapel Hill , NC](<a href=“http://www.spankysrestaurant.com/]Spanky’s”>http://www.spankysrestaurant.com/)</p>
<p>411 West is upscale Italian and always a good choice.</p>
<p>[Italian</a> Restaurant Catering Services, Chapel Hill, NC : 411 West Italian Cafe](<a href=“http://411west.com/]Italian”>http://411west.com/)</p>
<p>Mama Dips is southern comfort food and really good…we were sad that we only discovered it late in our son’s time at UNC, it’s that good.</p>
<p>[Mama</a> Dip’s Country Cooking Restaurant](<a href=“http://www.mamadips.com/]Mama”>http://www.mamadips.com/)</p>
<p>We’ve eaten at Crooks Corner and thought it was very good one time and so so the other; the second time they were so crowded that it might have negatively contributed to the experience.</p>
<p>[Crook’s</a> Corner Restaurant](<a href=“http://www.crookscorner.com/]Crook’s”>http://www.crookscorner.com/)</p>
<p>Mill Town (the review uses the wrong name) has an incredible beer selection and German influenced food; it’s in Carrboro but just minutes from the heart of campus.</p>
<p>[Mill</a> Town - Google Maps](<a href=“http://maps.google.com/maps/place?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=mill+town+chapel+hill&fb=1&gl=us&hq=mill+town&hnear=chapel+hill&cid=5575260045689333068]Mill”>http://maps.google.com/maps/place?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=mill+town+chapel+hill&fb=1&gl=us&hq=mill+town&hnear=chapel+hill&cid=5575260045689333068)</p>
<p>Another really good Italian spot (and pizzeria) is Pazzo! It’s in Southern Village which is in the opposite direction of Durham and not a place you’d usually find…it’s about 7-10 minutes from campus and worth the short drive especially when on campus restaurants are packed. We had a big dinner there during my S’s commencement weekend and it was great and was a great find…it’s another place we wish we had known about sooner… it was founded by the same person who started 411 West and Spanky’s.</p>
<p>[Pazzo</a>! crazy about food](<a href=“http://www.pazzo-restaurant.com/]Pazzo”>http://www.pazzo-restaurant.com/)</p>
<p>Another good spot for casual dining in that same shopping center is Town Hall Grill.</p>
<p>[Town</a> Hall Grill, Bar & Restaurant, Chapel Hill, Southern Village, Diverse Menu, Family Friendly](<a href=“http://www.thetownhallgrill.com/]Town”>http://www.thetownhallgrill.com/)</p>
<p>Breadman’s is nothing fancy to look at or in its presentation but is a CH institution for breakfast and lunch/hangover cure meals (I’ve never seen so many people eating grilled cheese sandwiches before!) and Elmo’s in Carrboro has great breakfast but be prepared for long lines…but worth the wait.</p>
<p>As far as places to see, you need to see A Southern Season which also has The Weather Vane restaurant in it which is another great place for lunch/brunch. If you have a son he may not enjoy the place but I’m guessing you will…it’s extraordinary.</p>
<p>[A</a> Southern Season, award-winning source for gourmet gift baskets and fancy foods.](<a href=“http://www.southernseason.com/]A”>http://www.southernseason.com/)</p>
<p>And last, but certainly not least, the Carolina Basketball Museum</p>
<p>[The</a> Carolina Basketball Museum](<a href=“http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/museum/]The”>http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/museum/)</p>
<p>Hope this helps 
Enjoy your time in “Blue Heaven.”</p>
<p>411 West is my favorite restaurant! Definitely get the Chicken Marsala. You will not regret it. :D</p>
<p>What would be a good place for Mother’s day?</p>
<p>I love love love the R&R! Try the veggie burger with chips, yum! Don’t be afraid of the name, it’s nothing like those gross veggie patties. It’s saut</p>
<p>Re: Mother’s day</p>
<p>That’s going to be a little tougher because it’s also the same day as commencement at UNC. Fortunately, this year Duke is graduating a week later which has not been the case in years past and really made it difficult. Note that some of the “fancier” restaurants like La Residence have multi course prix fixe menus that weekend and brunch that day.</p>
<p>[La</a> Residence Chapel Hill Restaurant and Bar for Fine Dining, Wedding Receptions, Private Parties in NC North Carolina](<a href=“http://www.laresidencedining.com/index.php]La”>La Residence)</p>
<p>I’d start calling places TODAY and you might be too late for spots near the campus, if so you can try one of the restaurants away from downtown like Pazzo…you’re going to need to call everyone TODAY to try to get reservations.</p>
<p>411 West
Pazzo</p>
<p>Some others I didn’t mention earlier:</p>
<p>Bin 54<br>
[Bin</a> 54 Steak and Cellar - Chapel Hill, NC](<a href=“http://bin54restaurant.com/]Bin”>http://bin54restaurant.com/)</p>
<p>Elaine’s on Franklin</p>
<p>[Elaine’s</a> On Franklin || Chapel Hill Dining](<a href=“http://elainesonfranklin.com/]Elaine’s”>http://elainesonfranklin.com/)</p>
<p>The Weathervane in A Southern Season also does a very nice brunch.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.southernseason.com/cafe.asp[/url]”>http://www.southernseason.com/cafe.asp</a></p>
<p>I know that sounds blasphemous, but downtown Durham, just 8 miles down the road has some fabulous restaurants now…in fact the dining there is outshining Chapel Hill and Carrboro…try…Rue Cler, Dos Perros, Revolution, Watts Grocery, Piedmont, Toast, Pops, to name a few. </p>
<p>[Durham</a>, a Tobacco Town, Turns to Local Food - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/21/dining/21carolina.html?emc=eta1]Durham”>http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/21/dining/21carolina.html?emc=eta1)</p>
<p>Thanks so much for all the great tips - it is appreciated!</p>
<p>Buns is a great place to buy delicious hamburgers (they also have veggie burgers) with awesome fries (they also have sweet potato fries). They give you soooo much food!</p>
<p>mediterranean deli is also a great place to eat</p>
<p>Bumping this thread for NJPeeps. If you do a search, you’ll find an overwhelming number of suggestions! There are lots of good restaurants in Chapel Hill.</p>