Bonfire Bar & Grill, Indian Trail

The meals served at Bonfire Bar & Grill are exactly the type you might expect to eat around a bonfire at a backyard barbecue—there's crab cakes with roasted corn; strawberry salad with blue cheese; grill-fired pork ribs; hand-formed burgers topped with smoked bacon. Though rooted in comfort food, Bonfire's menu, like a dancing chimney sweep, has its moments of elegance. Spice-rubbed salmon is paired with local tomatoes, and asparagus brightens up a plate of garlic mashed potatoes and a 6-ounce filet. Diners can enjoy those meals in front of the sporting events broadcast each evening, or stop in for regular live events such as trivia and poker tournaments.