CHillKids - Family Dining


This guide is for family dining in the Chapel Hill area. If you are planning a day-trip to Raleigh to visit the museums, etc., try this link for Top 10 Breakfast Restaurants in Raleigh. If you would like to suggest area family-friendly restaurants for inclusion in this list, please click here.
Family & Kids' Deals
Torero's - Authentic Mexican Cuisine: Kids Eat Free Mondays through Thursdays. (Valid for both lunch and dinner hours. One kid per adult; not valid with other coupons.) 104 Hwy. 54 West, (Carrboro Plaza), Carrboro, NC 27510. (919) 960-7640. (See Torero's listing below for more info. There are numerous additional Torero's restaurants throughout the Triangle.) Bear Rock Cafe: Thursday night is Family Night: Kids eat free (1 kids meal with purchase of each adult meal/sandwich). 201 South Estes Dr. (University Mall), Chapel Hill. Chick Fil A: Tuesday is Kids' Night: Kids meals are 99 cents when you purchase a "Combo," available from 4pm-7pm. (Up to 6 kids' meals with the purchase of a "Combo.") 201 South Estes Dr (University Mall), Chapel Hill. (919) 968-0126. Dominos Pizza Two-for-One Tuesdays: Tuesdays order a large pizza and get another pizza of equal or lesser value free. Call your local Dominos for details and availability.
Smoke-Free Dining
The Orange County Health Department has published on its website a Smoke-Free Dining Guide listing smoke-free restaurants in Orange County. View the Orange County Smoke-Free Dining Guide.
Family-Friendly Restaurants
Alfredo's Pizza Villa
	Popular pizza restaurant located in University Mall (back entrance across from Harris Teeter), Estes Drive, Chapel Hill. (919) 968-3424. Whole pizzas, pizzas by the slice, Gourmet Pizzas, Calzones, Stromboli, Hot and Cold Subs, Appetizers, Breads, salads, and desserts. Free delivery. Voted best Pizza in the Triangle by Spectator Magazine. Hours: Mon. - Sat. 10am-9pm; Sun. 11am - 7pm.
Allen & Sons Barbecue
	Chapel Hill restaurant: 6203 Millhouse Road, Chapel Hill, 27516. (919) 942-7576. (Located on Hwy 86/Airport Road, between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, one mile north of I-40.) Hours: 10am-8pm Mon-Fri; 7am (breakfast)-8pm Sat; closed Sundays. Pittsboro (roadside BBQ): U.S. 15-501, between Chapel Hill and Pittsboro, just north of the Haw River Bridge. (919) 542-2294. The Carolina-style barbecue and hush puppies are old favorites among Chapel Hill locals and visitors. Voted Best Barbeque (Chapel Hill News 2004 and 2005 Rose Award).
Amante Gourmet Pizza
	300 E. Main Street, Carrboro. (919) 929-3330. *Voted Best Pizza* (Chapel Hill News Rose Awards 2004 and 2005). Lots of gourmet pizza options; dine in the clean, bright casual restaurant (and see the art show next door at the ArtsCenter), or order for take-out or delivery.
Armadillo Grill
	120 East Main St, Carrboro, NC 27510. (919) 929-4669. A local favorite for a quick and inexpensive Mexican meal. Tortillas are made from scratch on the premises and all fresh vegetables are used. The upstairs level has a separate bar area. The quaint store-shop window-front looks out onto Carrboro's Main Street. Kids love it!
Bagels on the Hill Bagel Bakery & Deli
	Cedar Falls Courtyard, 630 Weaver Dairy Rd., Chapel Hill. (919) 929-7700. "Chapel Hill's only baked-from-scratch bagel." Casual indoor and outdoor seating available. Hot breakfast sandwiches served all day, ommelettes, hot and cold deli sandwiches & heros, bialys, Nova (Lox) & whitefish salad, fresh homemade salads, 16 varieties of bagels (including low-carb selections), smoothies, 15 varieties of cream cheese, mixed fresh daily. Also offers catering.
Bear Rock Cafe
	201 South Estes Dr (University Mall), Chapel Hill. Open Mon.-Fri., 7am-9pm; Sat., 8am-9pm; Sun., 11am-5pm. (919) 942-4811. Also Southpoint Mall in Durham. www.bearrockcafe.com/ Rustic mountain camp lodge furnishings and working fireplace make this a favorite for both kids and adults. Roomy booths and indoor and outdoor tables are available. The menu features overstuffed deli sandwiches, soups, baked potatoes, salads, and numerous deserts and bakery goods, as well as specialty coffee drinks. Kids' meals include drink, fruit salad, chips and a prize.
Breadmen's
	324 W. Rosemary, Chapel Hill. (919) 967-7110. Open 7am - 9pm, seven days a week (closed most holidays - check first). *Voted Best Place for Breakfast* (2005 Chapel Hill News Rose Award). Menu features a wide variety of selections; you can also enjoy breakfast anytime - mornings, afternoons or evenings. Casual dining; a Chapel Hill favorite!
Bruegger's Bagel Bakery
	1800 East Franklin St (Eastgate), Chapel Hill. (919) 968-9507. Voted Best Place for Bagels (Chapel Hill News 2005 Rose Award). 17 kinds of bagels baked freshly on premises, soup, fruit, brownies, cookies and a variety of beverages. Parking. Open Mon.-Sat., 6:30am-8pm; Sun., 8am-5pm; closed major holidays.
Bullwinkle's (Restaurant and "Family Fun Center") (further afield - in Cary)
	1040 Buck Jones Road, Cary, NC 27606. (919) 319-7575. Wide selection of menu items to please adults and kids, including kids' meals (choose from mac & cheese, corn dogs, grilled cheese, PB&J, pastas, chicken tenders, etc.), appetizers, burgers & veggie burgers, pizzas, salads, decadent deserts and more. (See menu.) Restaurant tables have view of "theater" stage (with moving mechanical "Bullwinkle" cartoon characters appearing in windows and doors) and fountain light/music show; amusement arcade center (exchange tickets for prizes); rock climbing wall; indoor slides and climbing maze. Click here for more information, hours, and directions.
Cafe Carolina & Bakery
	601 Meadowmont Village Circle, Chapel Hill. (919) 945-8811. Fresh baked breads, soups, sandwiches, muffins, cupcakes and desserts, using Carolina-grown fresh vegetables and meat. Kids menu. Outdoor dining available. Grab & Go Coffee Express. Food and gift market. Open Mon.-Sat., 6:30am-9pm; Sun., 7am-8pm.
Carolina Coffee Shop
	138 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill. (919) 942-6875. A Chapel Hill favorite since 1922! Warm, cozy atmosphere with exposed brick interior and large booths. Great for a leisurely breakfast or lunch. Walk to the Morehead Planetarium for a show afterwards or check out the neighboring shops on Franklin Street!
Carrburritos
	711 W. Rosemary St., Carrboro, NC. (919) 933-8226. Carrburritos offers great, fresh Mexican dining in a casual setting in downtown Carrboro. Enjoy generous portions, sophisticated flavors and reasonable prices! Try the burritos and six types of salsa. Everything is made fresh in-house daily. Open 11am - 10pm, Mon. - Sat. See the menu at www.carrburritos.com.
Charlie's Chinese Restaurant
	Village Plaza, 239 S. Elliott Road, Chapel Hill 27514. (919) 968-8228. No longer in business as of summer 2006 - Charlie has retired. Both take-out and in-restaurant dining are available 7 days a week. Traditional chinese food menu. Great food and friendly service! *Voted Best Take Out Food* (2005 Chapel Hill News Rose Award Winner).
Chick-Fil-A University Mall
	201 South Estes Dr (University Mall), Chapel Hill. (919) 968-0126. Popular fast food choice located in University Mall (across the street from the Chapel Hill Community Center Park). Kids' dining special on Thursdays - -kids' meals are .99 cents after 5:00 pm on Thursdays.
Chuck-E-Cheese
	National chain offers pizza, salad bar and other menu items along with kids' arcade, games and prizes.
Elmo's
	Carr Mill Mall, 200 N Greensboro St., Carrboro, NC 27510-1833. (919) 929-2909. *Voted the Best Place for Family Casual Dining and Voted Best Wait Staff* (2005 Chapel Hill News Rose Award). The atmosphere is casual, friendly and inviting, and there are crayons and activity sheets for kids to color. Exposed brick walls and large windows add to the open ambiance. (Planning Note: Elmo's is very popular and there is often a crowd on weekends; however, a waitlist is available and there is plenty to see in Carr Mill Mall while you wait.)
Fearrington's Galloway Deli and Market Cafe
	2000 Fearrington Village, Pittsboro, NC 27312. (919) 542-5505. www.fearringtonvillage.com Indoor and outdoor Casual dining. In warm weather you can have lunch outside under the lovely wisteria-covered pergola and enjoy the sound of the fountain and the birds chirping, not to mention the gorgeous lush gardens! Be sure to visit the downstairs folk art gallery while you are at the deli or cafe. Kids enjoy visiting the Galloway "oreo" cows (their fur is black on both ends with a white stripe in the middle) and Fearrington's resident goats and other animals. Galloway Deli Hours: Daily 9am - 3pm Market Cafe Hours: Lunch: 11:30 - 2:00pm, Monday - Saturday Brunch: 10:00 - 2:00pm Sunday (For a parents' night out, also note that the elegant, five-star Fearrington House Restaurant was voted the Best Place for Fine Dining** - Chapel Hil 2005 Rose Award).
Fiesta Grill Mexican Restaurant
	3307 Highway 54 West, Chapel Hill (West of Carrboro on Hwy 54 at White Cross Road). (919) 928-9002. In-restaurant dining take-out and catering. Menu features a wide variety of Mexican favorites and numerous vegetarian options. Open 6 days a week (Tues-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun. 11am - 8pm.
Foster's Market & Deli
	750 Airport Rd (Midtown Market), Chapel Hill. (919) 967-3663. Gourmet market and café offers pizzas cooked on a wood-burning oven, soups, sandwiches, salads, and homemade pastries. Sat. and Sun. brunch. Indoor and outdoor dining. Nice, relaxed atmosphere and great food has made Foster's a Chapel Hill and Durham fixture for over 10 years. (The owner, Sara Foster, is a protégé of Martha Stewart, and has published her own beautiful cookbook.) Open daily, 7:30am-9pm.
General Store Cafe -- (*Further afield, in Pittsboro)
	39 West Street, Pittsboro (Located next to the downtown traffic circle, just across from the Pittsboro courthouse.) (919) 542-2432. Great ambiance, great food, and live music make the General Store Cafe a popular destination further afield in Pittsboro. The General Store Cafe hosts a live Irish Folk Music Jam Session the first Saturday of each month. For hours and directions, visit www.generalstorecafe.com.
Mama Dip's Kitchen
	408 W. Rosemary St., Chapel Hill. (919) 942-5837. www.mamadips.com "Put a little south in your mouth; Serving Real Down-Home Country Cooking" for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Traditional country cooking including barbecue, hush puppies, fried chicken, and more. Voted Best Iced Tea (Chapel Hill News 2004 and 2005 Rose Award.) Hours: Mon.-Sat. 8am-10pm; Sun. 8am-9pm. Open all day.
Margaret's Cantina
	Timberlyne Shopping Center, Weaver Dairy Road, Chapel Hill. (919) 942-4745. "Mexican with a Twist"; takeout and in-restaurant dining. Homemade margaritas, mojitos, and sangria; vegetarian options; homemade desserts and ice cream. Voted Best Frozen Drink (Chapel Hill News 2004 and 2005 Rose Award.)
McAlister's Deli
	205 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill. (919) 969-1102. Also new location on 15-501 (new mall across from New Hope Commons): 5318 New Hope Commons Drive Ext., Ste. 104 (919) 419-9083 National chain deli offers made to order subs, salads, baked potatoes, nachos, chili, numerous vegetarian options and much more, as well as delicious and decadent deserts. Generous sized meals and the prices are right! Kids' meals include chips and packaged mini-cookies for desert. Informal dining inside; outdoor tables also are available for outdoor dining in fine weather. Enjoy lunch at McAlister's and then go for a walk at the botanical gardens down the street or stroll downtown.
Mediterranean Deli and Catering - Authentic Middle Eastern & Greek Food
	410 West Franklin St (Downtown), Chapel Hill. (919) 967-2666. Casual restaurant dining and Middle Eastern food take-out by the pound. Falafel, Hummos, Lamb & Beef Gyro, Chicken Gyro, Chicken Souvlaki, Tabouli, Grape Leaves Sandwich, Spinach Pie, and much more.
Owens 501 Diner
	1500 N. Fordham Blvd., Chapel Hill, NC 27514-5880. (919) 933-3505. A long-time Chapel Hill family favorite. Great food and service, and paper and crayons for the kids!
Panera Bread Company
	213 West Franklin St (Downtown), Chapel Hill. (919) 929-9189. Full-service bakery and café offers fresh-baked pastries, sandwich breads, bagels, and deserts, made-to-order sandwiches, soups, salads, and coffees (javas, lattes, mochas, etc). Outdoor dining. Open Mon.-Fri., 6:30am-9pm (Fri., till 10); Sat., 7:30am-10pm; Sun., 7:30am-9pm.
Pitt Stop Cafe & Race Shop (further afield - in Pittsboro)
	964 East St., Pittsboro, NC 27312. 919-545-9500. (The Café is located on the lower level of the Premiere Motorsports Complex on Highway 64 East in Pittsboro, North Carolina.) NASCAR fans can dine and shop while watching NASCAR mechanics at work. There is a two-way mirror spanning the back wall of the café which allows visitors to observe the Premiere's Busch Grand National race shop. Hours: Sun. - Thurs., 11am - 10pm; Fri.- Sat., 11am - 11pm. www.premieremotorsports.com/Pit_stop_Cafe.htm
Pizza Hut
	109 South Estes Dr., Chapel Hill 370 South Churton St., Hillsborough Kids and adults enjoy the lunch buffet with salad bar.
Pop's Pizzeria & Ristorante
	Chapel Hill North Shopping Center, 1822 Airport Rd., Chapel Hill. (919) 932-1040. Roomy restaurant booths (great for kids!) are available in the pizza/deli area (TVs are installed on the ceilings for viewing sporting events, etc.); try the adjoining restaurant dining room for a more formal atmosphere. Specialty Pizzas (whole and by the slice), Pasta, Subs, Stromboli, Grille Sandwiches, Hamburgers and Cheeseburgers, Salads. Open Mon.-Thu., 10am-10pm; Fri.-Sat., 10am-11pm; Sun., 11am-10pm.
Quizno's Subs
	Quizno Subs shops (national franchise) in Chapel Hill 1802 Airport Rd (Chapel Hill North), Chapel Hill. (919) 969-7482. Open Mon.-Sat., 11am-9pm; Sun., noon-8pm
Souper! Salad
	202 West NC Highway 54, Durham, NC 27713 (At Southpoint Crossing, across from Homestead Market Shopping Center.) (919) 544-4655 www.soupersalad.com Inexpensive and nutritious options; salad bar; young children eat free.
S & T's Soda Shoppe Ice Cream Parlor (further afield - in Pittsboro)
	85 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro. (919) 545-0007. Beautifully restored old-fashioned ice cream parlor located in the heart of Pittsboro. Menu includes a wide variety of lunch and dinner selections for grown-ups and kids. A destination in itself; but you may also wish to visit some of the many Pittsboro area attractions, such as the Carnivore Preservation Trust. Normal hours are 11am-7:30pm, Mon. - Sat., closed Sundays. Closed some holidays; you may want to call before making the drive.
Torero's Authentic Mexican Cuisine
	New Torero's location open in the Summer of 2005! 104 Hwy. 54 West, (Carrboro Plaza), Carrboro, NC 27510. (919) 960-7640. Family owned and run restaurant offers a wide range of authentic Mexican cuisine, including lots of great Vegetarian options, and numerous kids' meal options (each $2.99; kids eat free Mondays through Thursdays - one child per adult). Kids get coloring pages placemats and crayons for coloring. Catering also available. Little Amigo Menu (Kids' Meal options) as of August 2005: Taco, Rice & Beans; Mini Burrito, Rice & Beans; Enchilada, Rice & Beans; Mini Mexican Pizza; Cheese Crispy, Rice & Beans; Mini Quesadilla, Rice & Beans; Chicken Fingers with Fries; Grilled Cheese with Fries. Other Torero Mexican Restaurant family-owned and run locations in Chapel Hill (Cole Park Plaza - 11520 US 15-501); Durham (2 locations), Raleigh, Cary (2 locations), Goldsboro, and Roxboro.