Eat Your Way Through North Carolina With These 14 Amazing Restaurants

It's no surprise North Carolina has its fair share of award-winning restaurants. From Open Table Top 100 to mentions in Southern Living, we know how to dine in the Tar Heel state. Most recently, The James Beard Foundation announced its 2017 Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists, and 14 restaurants, chefs and bakers from North Carolina were nominated.

Best Chef : Southeast Fearrington House, Chef Colin Bedford.

Fearrington House in Pittsboro has been a beloved destination for both lodging and dining on a gorgeous estate.

Chef & the Farmer, Chef Vivian Howard

Howard isn't shy to press or fame; she stars in the PBS show, A Chef's Life. Read our full piece on the amazing Chef & the Farmer here.

Mateo, Chef Matt Kelly

This Durham restaurant made our list of 25 must-try restaurants for good reason. Serving a variety of traditional Spanish small plates called 'tapas,' it remains one of the best restaurants in the area.

Herons, Chef Steven Devereaux Greene

Located in the Umstead Hotel in Cary, Herons is perfect for a night of fine dining in an unforgettable atmosphere.

Rhubarb, Chef John Fleer

Be it brunch, lunch, or dinner, Rhubarb is a coveted spot to grab a delicious meal on the shaded patio.

Kindred, Chef Joe Kindred

Since opening in downtown Davidson, Kindred has been packed to the brim and known for its high-end yet approachable dishes served in a comfortable environment. The milk bread is also the main event, but it's not always so easy to get a table at this popular restaurant, which is why we included it on our list of hard to get in but totally worth it restaurants.

Buxton Hall Barbecue, Chef Elliot Moss

Buxton Hall broke the mold when it brought whole-hog, eastern style BBQ to Western NC. Today, among the BBQ, the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich is also quite life changing, so much so we included Buxton Hall on our list of 12 restaurants you must dine at in 2017.

Heritage Food & Drink, Chef Paul Verica

Located outside of Charlotte in Waxhaw, Heritage has received a number of press, praise and awards for its artistic plating and inventive use of locally-sourced ingredients. It's no surprise it's one of the most highly-rated restaurants in North Carolina.

Garland, Chef Cheetie Kumar

Garland brought more than just a trendy new Asian fusion restaurant to Raleigh, with it it brought seriously amazing food and inventive selections.

Rising Star Chef of the Year - Gabe Barker of Pizzeria Mercato

Who knew pizza could be so downright delicious and perfectly handcrafted until dining at Pizza Mercato in Carrboro. While the classic Margherita Pizza never gets old, you can't go wrong with other options like hearty salads, antipasta, and larger plates.

Outstanding Chef Chef Ashley Christensen of Poole's Diner

Christensen owns a number of noteworthy Triangle restaurants, but her standout dishes (especially the macaroni au gratin) got her nominated for yet another James Beard Award. Read our full write up about this amazing diner (and what to order) here.

Chef Andrea Reusing of Lantern

Located in Chapel Hill, Lantern is outstanding for asian fusion and a seasonal menu that keeps diners on their toes. Staple dishes include the salt and pepper shrimp, pork and chive dumplings, and Korean fried chicken. Don't forget to order a unique craft cocktail while you're at it!

Outstanding Baker Phoebe Lawless of Scratch Bakery

Scratch is more than just a bakery, but one of the best brunch spots in Durham. The cozy and cute atmosphere has you wanting to order a cup of joe and spend some time on a Sunday morning. While their sweet classics are a hit, the inventive brunch items deserve a lot of praise as well.

Lionel Vatinet of La Farm Bakery

Located in Cary, La Farm is an amazing bakery and cafe offering a french-centric brunch menu that beats the rest. Favorites include the white chocolate baguettes, croque madame, breads, honey lavender scone, and of course macarons.

The final nominees will be announced March 15th. Until then, you get to dine your way through North Carolina at these award-winning restaurants and bakeries.

Did any of your favorites make the list?