Restaurants in Chapel Hill

Pig pickin' parties, poker games, and live bands are just a few of the events that regularly fill Rally Point Sport Grill with a vibrant crowd. Grilled meats such as baby-back ribs, eastern Carolina–style pulled pork, and hand-molded black Angus burgers fuel the revelry, along with more eclectic food such as hardboiled scotch eggs covered in sage-infused sausage and served with spicy mustard sauce. Bartenders pour draft beers, muddle cocktails with fresh oranges, and concoct 10 types of shooter bombs with the hand-eye coordination of a large-brained mammal.

The chefs at Yagg Sii Tenn Catering hail from Senegal—a West African country where vendors peddle tropical fruits in bustling marketplaces and fishermen pluck fresh fish from the bountiful sea. When they arrived on North Carolina soil, the chefs brought with them a wealth of traditional African recipes as well as a deep appreciation for good food and family. Today, they distribute housemade dishes from Senegal and other African countries throughout North Carolina.

Deep in the Yagg Sii Tenn kitchen, the chefs fold fresh ingredients and authentic spices into complex dishes—from spicy grilled chicken yassa to flavorful jollof rice. They also bottle their recipes in the form of housemade traditional sauces, such as the fresh roasted-habanero Kani spread and the garlic-and-lemon vinaigrette. The culinary crew has served these freshly made African specialties at weddings, large parties, and odd incidences when everyone in town is inexplicably drawn to the same abandoned factory in the middle of the night.

The chefs at Yagg Si Tenn Catering hail from Senegal—a West African country where vendors peddle tropical fruits in bustling marketplaces and fishermen pluck fresh fish from the bountiful sea. When they arrived on North Carolina soil, the chefs brought with them a wealth of traditional African recipes as well as a deep appreciation for good food and family. Today, they distribute housemade dishes from Senegal and other African countries throughout North Carolina.

Deep in the Yagg Si Tenn kitchen, the chefs fold fresh ingredients and authentic spices into complex dishes—from spicy grilled chicken yassa to flavorful jollof rice. They also bottle their recipes in the form of housemade traditional sauces, such as the fresh roasted-habanero Kani spread and the garlic-and-lemon vinaigrette. The culinary crew has served these freshly made African specialties at weddings, large parties, and odd incidences when everyone in town is inexplicably drawn to the same abandoned factory in the middle of the night.

The Big Easy borrows more than New Orleans' nickname—it's a full-fledged slice of the rollicking city, with authentic Cajun fare served amid street lamps and photos of the French Quarter. Louisiana classics include po'boys, gumbo, and jambalaya washed down by hurricane cocktails and sangria. An outdoor patio adds an alfresco option for romantic dining, with hanging ferns, candlelit tables, and cherubs posing for greeting cards. Inside, nightly events from live music to trivia games create a festive air around the restaurant's iron bar. There are also themed rooms for private events.

In the kitchen at Mario’s Pizza, chefs heap cheese, steak, and sun-dried tomatoes onto oversize New York–style and sicilian pizza crusts. A white pizza covered in ricotta cheese, fresh garlic, and mozzarella reminds taste buds of eating a delicious snowman, and comes in sizes ranging from 10 inches to as large as 19 inches. Baked pasta and sandwiches, such as a philly steak or veal parmigiana, round out the menu.

A red bicycle hangs on a wall at The Red Bicycle Coffee Café and Catering. Its perpetual stillness contrasts the bustling activity of the café's baristas, who grind single-origin beans for bold cups of coffee and creamy lattes. Though the beans are imported from exotic locales such as Hawaii, Ethiopia, or India, the local coffee artisans at Joe Van Gogh in Hillsborough check the expiration dates printed on each bean before roasting them to ensure a fresh taste.

In addition to steaming cups of joe, guests can sip Mighty Leaf whole-leaf teas, nibble locally baked pastries, and chomp into sandwiches loaded with deli meats and cheeses. The Red Bicycle's light morsels and laid-back atmosphere also attract local artists and musicians, who display their work on the walls and swing by to strum a guitar or perform Brahms's Second Concerto on the kazoo.