North Carolina: Do You Think This is the Best Local Restaurant?
There’s something so special about a local, independent restaurant. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy going to chains, too. But, nothing beats going to eat at a favorite local eatery. Thankfully, here in North Carolina, we have lots of fantastic local places to get your grub on. I’ve found some delicious spots all across the state, from small towns to the big metros. North Carolina peeps just love our food, and we have the restaurants to show for it. Now, one North Carolina restaurant has been named the best local restaurant in the state.
Ondeck.com has released a study about the best indie restaurants in America. In it, they note that the average person in the U.S. goes out to eat at a restaurant three times a month, according to USfoods.com. Does three times a month seem low to you? Perhaps they aren’t counting takeout. To me, going out to eat three times a month seems like a low number. But, I’m also the girl who grew up with parents who went out to eat all the time. Anyway, Ondeck.com states, “Grabbing a bite at a fast food chain is a popular go-to — indeed, we’re the world’s biggest consumers of fast food — but you may not know that over half of the restaurants in the U.S. are independent.”
To come up with the winners, they used Yelp data in each state. “We used Yelp.com to retrieve publicly available ratings and review numbers for 149,099 independent restaurants within the most populated cities in every state and across the following categories of cuisine served: pizza, vegan, burgers, breakfast and international cuisine (e.g., Chinese food).”
So, what’s the best local restaurant in North Carolina? It’s Ciao! Pure Soul in Durham. They received 4.9 stars, according to Ondeck.com. Moreover, the best local restaurant in South Carolina is Myles and Jun Yakitori. Find the full list of the best independent restaurants in the U.S. here.
You Should Probably Skip These Foods At A Breakfast Buffet
Eggs
Many establishments opt for powdered eggs instead of fresh ones, as it’s a cost-effective way to prepare large quantities of scrambled eggs to cater to numerous guests at once. However, powdered eggs cannot compare to the taste, texture, and color of their fresh counterparts. Another concern lies in the fact that these eggs are pre-cooked, which means they might sit at unsafe temperatures for extended periods.
According to the FDA, serving eggs immediately after cooking is crucial to prevent foodborne illnesses. Unfortunately, in a buffet setting, it’s challenging to determine how long the eggs have been sitting out.
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Fruit
Unless you witnessed the fruit being freshly prepared in the kitchen, it’s nearly impossible to gauge how long that eye-catching fruit display has been sitting there. According to the FDA, when fruits are cut, their protective skins are breached, leaving the flesh vulnerable to the surrounding environment and any potential bacteria. This creates two primary reasons that heighten the risk of contamination. Firstly, cutting the fruit makes its water content and nutrients readily available to microorganisms. Secondly, without any heating process, disease-causing germs aren’t eliminated, further contributing to the potential hazards of consuming cut fruits from a buffet display.
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Waffles
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There’s a joy of pouring your own batter into a Belgian waffle maker, flipping it eagerly, and waiting for that gratifying green light before embellishing it with toppings. However, it’s best to exercise caution and avoid the waffle station. As per TikToker Brandi Augustus, a former hotel employee, the waffle batter served there is often old and sour. Instead of disposing of the old batter, new batter is mixed with it. It’s worth noting that not all places offering breakfast buffets adhere to this practice, but it’s wise to stay informed and make a decision based on the circumstances.
