Buxton Hall Barbecue

Housed in a vintage building that has served as everything from a skating rink to a paper sales company, this eatery is the creation of two James Beard Award nominees. The menu’s backbone is eastern North Carolina style whole-hog, wood-smoked barbecue, but the fried chicken sandwich, topped with white barbecue sauce and pimento cheese, earns just as much acclaim. Smoked chicken and sausage are also featured, but the menu is tweaked often to suit the availability of items from nearby farms. Craft beer and creative cocktails are featured. The house-made desserts, including chocolate chess pie, are worth saving room for.