North Carolina: What Is Our Best Small-Town Restaurant?
Small towns are often home to hidden gems, offering various dining options from upscale restaurants to humble diners and roadside shacks. You might even discover a historic farmhouse where you can enjoy a delicious meal. Typically, the food scene in small towns is dominated by family-owned restaurants and cafes that offer a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Many of these places specialize in classic comfort foods such as homemade pies, BBQs, and hearty stews.
In North Carolina, small towns are known for their creative takes on classic dishes, as it’s often sourced from local ingredients and unique culinary traditions. LoveFood.com compiled a list of the best small-town restaurants in every state. Their selections are based on user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of their team.
Where can you find the best small-town restaurant in North Carolina?
Clawson’s 1905 in Beaufort was named the best small-town restaurant in North Carolina. It transitioned from a former grocery store, dress shop, and children’s clothing boutique into a restaurant in 1977. The site highlighted its outdoor patio and tables arranged over three floors, with views of the Beaufort waterfront and lighthouse. Guests can enjoy food options such as smokehouse baby back ribs, the catch of the day, and the Buffalo shrimp starter.
The restaurant has been showered with many glowing customer reviews, all of which seem to justify LoveFood’s ranking. According to one enthusiastic reviewer, dining at this establishment gave them a real sense of history.” We stopped in for dinner while staying nearby. The atmosphere and decor was outstanding,” said the Yelp review.
Another satisfied customer left a review raving about their food and service. “Awesome place with lots of history, food and service A++, a must see and read up on the history on how Clawson’s got its start and how they kept the original name,” they said.
