Dining & Nightlife - Page 2

Pizza Palace opened in May 1983 at the corner of Hope Mills Road and Raeford Road, and the Poulos family still owns and runs it. The menu is the comfortable mix of a family Italian restaurant: made-to-order pizza, spaghetti and other pastas, hot subs and sandwiches, and a set of dinner specials. That range makes it an easy pick when one person at the table wants a pie and another wants a plate of spaghetti. One feature sets it apart from most sit-down pizzerias in town: a drive-thru window for picking up to-go orders without parking. The restaurant keeps a five-day week, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and is closed Sunday and Monday. The early 8 p.m. close means dinner here is better planned than left until late. It has a strong following, with a 4.6-star Google average across more than 1,200 reviews, high marks for a pizzeria that has been at one address for four decades. Parking is on site at 109 Hope Mills Road.

Fayetteville, NC

Fast-casual Mexican restaurant offering customizable burritos, bowls, tacos, and salads. Located at Ramsey Commons, this location is perfect for quick, reliable meals for families, groups, and travelers.

Fayetteville, NC

Occupies a restored 19th-century building on Hay Street. Features an eclectic interior and a hidden rear courtyard oasis. Extensive coffee menu including frozen blended drinks.

Fayetteville, NC

Saigon Bistro is a Vietnamese cafe on lower Bragg Boulevard, the closest of the city's well-reviewed Vietnamese kitchens to downtown Fayetteville. The dining room has an ornate tin ceiling and Asian decor, and the menu sticks to familiar Vietnamese dishes. A local ratings site lists a seafood udon soup, vegetarian spring rolls, chicken wings and a special banh mi among its specialties. Service runs for both dine-in and takeout. The cafe has built one of the larger Google review counts among Fayetteville's Vietnamese restaurants, with more than 900 reviews averaging 4.5 stars. It keeps a short week: closed Monday, open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, so plan Sunday visits around lunch. Bragg Boulevard is the main road between downtown and Fort Bragg, which makes the cafe an easy stop on the way to or from post. There is no official menu website, so check the restaurant's Google listing or call for current dishes.

Fayetteville, NC

Southern Coals is a Raeford Road smokehouse that leans beyond the chopped-pork tradition most Fayetteville barbecue counters stick to. Ribs, pulled pork and brisket come off the smoker, and the menu fills out with chicken wings, country sides and banana pudding for dessert. Owner Jason Hairr signs the welcome note on the restaurant's website, which credits recipes handed down through generations of his family. Catering is a large part of the business, covering weddings, corporate events and office lunches, so it is worth calling ahead if you want a big order of brisket on a busy weekend. The schedule changes over the week. Tuesday and Wednesday are lunch-only, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday the restaurant stays open from 10:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. Sunday and Monday are closed. Unit C sits in a small strip on the 3300 block of Raeford Road with parking out front. Google reviewers rate it 4.4 stars from more than 500 reviews.

Fayetteville, NC

Barcade in Hope Mills featuring vintage arcade cabinets, pinball machines, and modern consoles. Offers craft beer and a social gaming environment.

Hope Mills, NC

A local legend traditional bakery famous for doughnuts, croissants, and custom cakes. The 'Honey-Dipped' doughnut is a particular favorite.

Fayetteville, NC

Thai Lanna serves Thai and Chinese food from its Bragg Boulevard dining room, on the stretch between downtown and the Fort Bragg gates. The regular menu covers curries, noodle dishes such as pad Thai, fried rice, stir-fries and soups, with a section of vegetarian dishes. Its biggest draw is a weekend buffet that is all-you-can-eat and dine-in only. The buffet runs Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the restaurant posts prices of $16.95 for adults, $10.95 for children 4 to 10, and $5 for ages 2 and 3. Buffet food can also be carried out by the pound. The kitchen is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. It is closed every Saturday. The restaurant asks that dine-in guests and takeout orders arrive at least an hour before closing. Takeout and delivery are offered every open day.

Fayetteville, NC

The Barbeque Hut has been part of Fayetteville's barbecue scene since 1965 and runs two shops: this one on Fort Bragg Road near Haymount and a second on Owen Drive. The company's site says the pork is cooked and sliced at the Owen Drive location, and the menu also includes fried chicken and fish. It also notes that Fayetteville Observer readers have voted the Hut the city's best barbecue in 27 of the 31 years since 1995, a run few local restaurants can match. The Fort Bragg Road store is set up for speed, with a drive-through that makes it a quick lunch stop for people driving the Fort Bragg Road corridor through Haymount. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; the site notes that the dining room closes an hour before the drive-through. The restaurant is closed on Sunday. For a first visit, a pork sandwich or plate is the standard order.

Fayetteville, NC

Famous for deep-fried turkey breast sandwiches that are moist and flavorful. Signature items include the turkey club and Thanksgiving-style sandwich. Also known for excellent fried okra.

Fayetteville, NC

Chic wine and champagne bar on Hay Street. Features 'Instagrammable' floral walls, plush seating, wine flights, and charcuterie boards.

Fayetteville, NC

A sports bar and restaurant near Cross Creek Mall offering made-from-scratch food, signature draft beer served at 29 degrees, and a lodge-style atmosphere. Ideal for late-night dining, groups, and catching the game.

Fayetteville, NC

Umami is a small Japanese restaurant on Yadkin Road, the busy commercial corridor in northwest Fayetteville. Rolls dominate the menu, with more than thirty listed, but the kitchen does far more than sushi. There are donburi rice bowls under the Umami Special heading, Japanese curry in several versions, noodle dishes, teriyaki plates, sushi and sashimi, salads and a long list of appetizers, plus a chef's special section that changes the mix. A kids' chicken boat makes it workable for families, and desserts round out the meal. Umami is a dinner restaurant. It opens at 3 p.m. and closes at 9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday, closing an hour earlier on Sunday. It is closed on Wednesday. Online ordering for pickup is available through its menu page, with the last online orders taken shortly before closing. The dining room is snug, so larger groups may wait on weekend evenings. Google reviewers give it 4.6 stars across more than 1,000 reviews.

Fayetteville, NC

Vietnam Kitchen is a Vietnamese restaurant in Westwood Shopping Center in west Fayetteville, ZIP code 28314. Pho is on the menu, and the kitchen opens at 10:30 a.m., early enough for a bowl of noodle soup before noon. The kitchen serves dinner until 8:30 p.m. on weekdays and Saturday and closes a little earlier, at 7 p.m., on Sunday. Thursday is its day off, which catches out first-time visitors more than anything else. The restaurant has no menu website of its own; pickup and delivery orders run through third-party apps, or you can phone the kitchen directly. Google reviewers give it a 4.6-star average across more than 550 reviews, one of the higher scores among Fayetteville's Vietnamese kitchens. It sits a short drive from Cross Creek Mall, so it pairs well with an afternoon of shopping, and the shopping center lot provides free surface parking right outside the door.

Fayetteville, NC

Offers loose-leaf teas, custom blends, and tea cocktails in a minimalist, chic downtown setting. Bridges the gap between a daytime cafe and evening lounge.

Fayetteville, NC