Restaurants in Wake Forest

North Ridge Pub's casual kitchen whips up varied dinner and brunch menus of upscale pub grub. Meat minders take the Cameron steak's 9-ounce lean cut of beef ($13.95) for a dip in a soy-and-pineapple pool before laying it out on the grill to roast, and coat tender slices of meatloaf ($8.95 half/$11.95 full) in a secret sauce whose taste can only be deciphered with the help of a decoder ring. Savory sandwiches such as the Carolina shrimp burger ($7.95) and crab-cake sandwich ($7.95) warm hands as well as stomachs.

Nothing says victory like a sticky high-five full of ketchup and chili fries, and Buck’s Sports and Spirits provides plenty of quality napkins to go with its plates of gooey deliciousness. The upscale Brookhaven sports bar offers southern-style pub fare in a welcoming environment. Start with a tower of slow-cooked pork ribs ($9.95) in a sweet barbecue glaze, or opt for an order of the crab dip and pita chips ($9.95). A hearty selection of sandwiches, such as Buck's big beefy barn burger ($8.95) or the hand-full-o'-hen ($7.95), a char-broiled chicken sandwich, will satisfy hand-held carnivorous cravings. Uncle Bucky's almost-famous meatloaf with broccoli casserole ($12.95) or the wild snapper in a bag baked in parchment paper with crab meat, clams, and napa cabbage ($15.95) each satisfy homesick taste buds while serving as a distracting subject of small talk when the debate over the hunkiest state senators takes an awkward turn. If your vitamin-D deficiency has you down in the dumps, cheer up with a decadent dessert, such as the banana-pudding cheesecake ($4.95) or deep-fried favorites like golden, melty fried Reese's cups ($4.95) or Oreos ($4.95).

Papaya-hued curtains cast a sunny glow across the expansive and airy dining quarters of Flights. Smart lunchers can fuel up on midday fare including Angus burgers cooked to order ($14), free-range pulled chicken salad wraps ($14), or black-truffle pasta bathing in a roasted-garlic madeira cream ($18). The menu melts the buttery hearts of the most discerning foodies with such dinner selections as grilled rocket shrimp with tropical salsa ($25), short ribs sided with shoe-string potatoes ($25), and blue-crab ravioli in a saffron beurre blanc ($20).

Like a pad of room-temperature butter atop a slice of fresh-baked bread, you'll melt in the loving arms of Gateway's menu of home-style comfort food. Put some pep in your morning step with a cup of coffee ($1.35) and a sweet stack of hot cakes or french toast ($4 for three), or wipe last night’s spooky dreams from your eyes with a spongy biscuit topped with country ham and egg ($2.85). Gateway Restaurant features daily lunch specials Monday–Friday, serving up no-frills favorites such as meatloaf, fried chicken, beef tips, and lasagna ($6.95), each served with your choice of two vegetable sides. Lunch delishins delight with hot dogs ($2), hamburgers ($4.75/half lb.), grilled ham-and-cheese sandwiches ($3.75), pulled-pork barbecue sandwiches ($4.95), and made-from-scratch vegetable soup and chili ($4).

Courtside Diner invites guests to taste something "down home countrified," with their chefs whipping up every dish on the homestyle menu from scratch. After nabbing a seat at the counter, rising grill steam prophesies morning offerings of three-egg omelets and soft blueberry pancakes. During lunch and dinner, flames kiss juicy burgers, and a stone oven bakes New York style pizzas to a bubbly finish. As guests dress greens at the fresh salad bar, they can peruse the diner's collection of wall placards, which are emblazoned with motivational phrases such as Simplicity, Faith, Family, and Exit This Way.

Buku takes its name from the international slang for “merci beaucoup”—the French phrase for "thank you very much.” The restaurant's global awareness extends beyond its name to a menu inspired by traditional street food all over the world. Chefs take their cues from culinary traditions from everywhere from Poland to Korea, creating gourmet dishes with authentic international flavors. As a result, the menu's wildly eclectic selection showcases dishes such as thai papaya salad, polish pierogis, and colombian arepas—soft corn pastry stuffed with pulled pork and guacamole.

Regardless of its cultural influence, each meal is prepared using eco-conscious ingredients such as hormone-free beef, sustainable market seafood, and certified-organic coffee raised on a diet of smaller, even more organic coffee beans. Diners can wash down their meals with their choice from an equally international menu of wines and craft beers, along with a selection of cocktails and sake.