• 2026-06-17
• review
• restaurants
• bakeries
• rtp foodie
• durham
• raleigh
• cary, nc
• coffee
• fullsteam
• guglhupf
• brew bar
• foundation
• bean traders
• big spoon roasters
• best nc food
• best triangle drinks
• cocoa cinnamon
• little waves coffee
• restaurants
• bakeries
• bars
• cocktails
• beer
• travel guides
• coffee shops
• Revisiting RTP Favorites & Finding New Ones
• 17 June 2026

Every time I’ve been back to North Carolina since moving away in 2013, I’ve made sure to re-visit my favorite food and drink establishments. I began this blog in NC’s Research Triangle region, and so fond memories abound when I think about the purveyors I love most. As I was learning the basics of food and drink writing and photography, they were building an inspiring farm-to-fork community of restauranteurs, chefs, bartenders, and producers. I’m so glad so many of them are still in business thirteen years later.

Here’s a quick roundup of what I had and where I went on this most recent trip, in case you’re looking to make some new favorite food and drink friends in Durham, Cary, Raleigh, and beyond.

Old Foodie Friends in RTP #

Guglhupf (Durham): This German-inspired bakery and restaurant was only open for brunch, lunch, and pastries when I first started dining there in 2005. It evokes storybook charm from white-washed garden walls, a flowing patio and fountain, and a spiraling staircase to the wood-paneled second floor.

They now have a smaller café in Chapel Hill, but the original location has grown exponentially in popularity since I left. I admire their new line-management approach: waiting in the lengthy line to place your order makes it easier to find an open table once you do.

The food took quite a long time to come out on this trip. Though we all ordered one after the other, my and my husband’s dishes came out at least twenty minutes later than our friends. But the omelet was as light and buttery European as ever and the baguette welcomingly soft and squishy.

I really enjoyed the blackberry and cardamom beverage they had on offer.

They accommodated my request to add the flavored foam to a cold brew instead of a latte, as lattes are almost always too much milk, too little coffee for my preference.

Guglhupf brunch lines are a time investment now, for sure, and that makes me miss when I could go on a less busy weekday regularly. But it’s still a great spot for food, drink, and friends.

Cocoa Cinnamon (Durham): In the afternoon, it was time to swing by one of several Cocoa Cinnamon locations in Durham. Cocoa Cinnamon opened shortly after we moved from the area, but I heard so many great things about them, that I had to visit my first time back and I was impressed. So much so, that I subscribed to their Little Waves coffee subscription to see me through the pandemic. We ended up at the Lakewood Cocoa Cinnamon this time, which offers handmade churros with special sauces and sugars, unlike their other shops that are beverage and pastry only.

Mmm! That’s a churro loop for $5, which is plenty of churro for two people. The chocolate sauce was delicious, but I was disappointed by how lightly flavored the orange sugar was. I should have gone with cinnamon sugar instead. The churro itself was spot-on: fluffy, warm, and minimally greasy.

My Doctor Durham latte did have plenty of flavor!

It’s made with ginger and maca powders and vanilla syrup, then topped with black lava salt. It’s more strident than sweet, which is how I prefer my lattes.

Fullsteam Brewery (RTP, which is Durham): Our next stop was Fullsteam Brewery’s new location at the Boxyard RTP outdoor retail center. The taproom I used to visit no longer exists, and Fullsteam has transitioned to this location. They are also remodeling a flagship restaurant and event space in the American Tobacco District in downtown Durham.

I was disappointed that Fullsteam no longer appears to produce the Sweet Carver sweet potato beer—it used to be their signature item—but I did always prefer their summer basil more, and it is still refreshing! (Note: Fullsteam's Chief Executive Optimist, Sean Lilly Wilson, let me know that the Sweet Carver is now a seasonal special in the fall.)

Pictured, I am drinking their Coffee Is for Closers porter, which was rich, dark, and coffee-bitter. It’s a great option for the dark beer lovers out there.

I am glad that Fullsteam is continuing with their Plow-to-Pint ethos and wish I could try more of their recent experiments like Squabbit, the nut-brown ale made with chestnuts. The Boxyard location is making killer Detroit-style pizza as well. Slices are HEFTY—neither my husband nor I could finish more than one.

Foundation (Raleigh): This below-ground bar was so cool when it opened back in 2009. Stepping into its cavelike stone- and brick-lined walls is literally cool, too, as I was reminded on a warm spring day.

Whiskey has always been Foundation’s favored spirit, and a long list of whiskey options are available by the glass. But I am always intrigued by their inventive cocktails. It was super fun to thumb through the menu of seasonal and classic favorites, including notable selections from their whole 17 years of existence.

I was, as is typical for me, drawn to their vegetal selections.

First, I had the Green Thumb, made with Faccia Brutto Centerbe, which the bartender told me was similar to green chartreuse. That was mixed up with green pepper cream, a lime-pineapple cordial, and topped with cracked black pepper. So full of spring that it’ll wake you up!

I followed it with the tiki-informed Catwalk Fiasco. That’s made with vodka infused with sugar snap peas, a falernum syrup made in-house, sunflower seed orgeat, and lime.

The citrus of that falernum syrup and the lime shone in this preparation. It was a lovely, contrasting follow-up to the Green Thumb, with a more creamy and sweet finish.

The California Bay Area has no shortage of talented bartenders, of course, but I sure do wish I still had Foundation close by.

New Foodie Favorites #

I didn’t spend much time in downtown Cary when I lived in the area. But on this trip, we had the chance to check out their fancy new park—

—and make some new foodie friends while walking around. Here are some spots that may become regulars on my NC visit list for future trips.

Scratch (Cary): Scratch is a local chain with an eye toward healthy and homey eating with Asian twists. So of course, I loved one of the most calorie-dense items on their menu. 😄

The pimento-cheese wontons were delicious! They are stuffed with smoked pimento cheese, corn, and scallions, and served on top of a red pepper jam for dipping. Each warm, creamy bite was worth it, but I did feel grateful for the much healthier buddha bowl I had for my main course.

And I must give them props for the lovely mural on the side of their restaurant.

The Scratch building is tucked behind Cary’s downtown strip, so if you’re headed there, keep your eyes open for that eye-catching piece of art to help you find it.

Brew Coffee Bar (Cary): After strolling the park, we stopped to refill on caffeine at this modern café by the Cary Theater. I love when baristas are confident enough to play around with quality coffee, evident here in menu items such as the Black & Coke, which adds espresso and vanilla syrup to a can of Coca-Cola. I opted for an espresso tonic and asked if I could add the pistachio cream that they had listed as a special.

Am I glad they said yes! It had all the luxury and flavor of pistachio butter in a creamy layer that I lovingly stirred into the drink. I expected a relaxing beverage but received pure delight!

Brewery Bhavana (Raleigh): I already posted a full review of Brewery Bhavana here, so head on over to learn more about their dim sum deliciousness and line of Belgian beers.

Fond Farewells #

Bean Traders (Durham): When we first moved from NC, we organized one last hang at Bean Traders in Woodcroft, the area of Durham where we lived for 8 years. Friends showed up throughout the afternoon and we shared our farewells.

Our schedule worked out the same on this trip to spend our final morning with a few friends at Bean Traders.

Any excuse to visit Bean Traders is a good one, for their homemade waffles, pies, egg sandwiches, bagels, and of course, coffee.

That’s the chocolate habanero iced coffee, a sweet drink with a swift spicy kick that I’ve enjoyed each visit. I can’t imagine not making a Bean Traders stop when in NC, as I wrote a good portion of my first book there, when the café was one-third the size it is now. And they just opened a second shop in RTP! I wish Dave and Christy, and the Bean Trader team the best of luck.

Big Spoon Roasters (Hillsborough): My last farewell to NC on this trip came in the form of a Big Spoon Roasters Bourbon Pecan peanut butter jar.

Big Spoon Roasters first came on the scene in 2010, and local foodies quickly went crazy for their homestyle nut butters with extra pulp. I’d been considering ordering from them recently, as they’ve developed a ton of interesting flavors since I left, like pistachio brownie and carrot cake. But I hadn’t committed, wondering if they were still as good. So I decided, if I came across a jar on this trip, I’d pick it up to investigate. And I did, at Cocoa Cinnamon!

Spreading the bourbon pecan peanut butter on toast here in San Lorenzo brought a smile to my face. It’s gritty, full of peanut flavor and bits of spice and pecan that make eating it fun. I placed an order the next day. Like many Southern foods, Big Spoon Roasters isn’t light, but it sure is luxurious.

I always enjoy the reminders to truly enjoy good food and celebrate great local ingredients and adventurous recipes that visiting the RTP food scene stirs up.

Visited April 2026.