And Raleigh's one man welcoming committee, found at Big Ed's City Market Restaurant, is there to greet you. Big Ed has welcomed visitors for breakfast and lunch for decades. Dressed in overalls and a red checkered shirt, Ed greets everyone with a warm smile and the best southern cooking in town. We're talking red eye gravy, grits and real southern fried chicken. The restaurant is decorated with items from his farm from old plows to Mason jars.
Food is fast, filling, affordable and fun.
For more sophisticated palates, Cafe Luna offers innovative Italian cuisine in an art gallery with sunny yellow walls. The Oyster Bar has been serving fresh seafood for decades just a few blocks on the other side of the capital building. Plan on waiting a while. And, if you're in the mood for beef, The Angus Barn, outside of town toward Durham on Highway 70, serves tender steaks in an elegant country atmosphere. It features an expansive wine cellar.