Hillsborough restaurant recommendations?

Love2shoot

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Its date night WOO HOO..... going to drive through Hillsborough as we are trying to look at areas that we would be interested in buying a house in. ...... Id like to check out the area and then grab a bite somewhere in the town. Any of you from around that way have a recommendation for a place to eat? Not super fancy, just a good meal and maybe get a feel for what the town is like?
 
Used to be a small blue collar town but now is where all the liberals are moving to. They have a Whole Foods right downtown if that's a hint. I don't go there to eat anymore because there aren't any good restaurants left.
 
I left Hillsborough when I got married, in 1999. I am very disappointed in what its become: less family-friendly, more Carrboro/liberal. They call it progress.

Anywho, Hillsborough BBQ is popular, as is Wooden Nickel Pub and Saratoga Grill. Most of the mom-and-pop places are long gone.
 
Anna Marias pizza makes a really good Primavera pie. It is our favorite place for that pie.

The other choices are ok, but the veggie is killer.
 
wow not very encouraging.... thats funny too because when we were talking about areas the agent we talked to we said we wanted LESS liberal as in outside of like the super popular areas that everyone is flodding too ie. Chapel Hill, Cary, Apex etc. we were told Hillsborough, Mebane, as starters
 
Give serious consideration to commuting through downtown Hillsborough if it were to apply to your relocation.
 
wow not very encouraging.... thats funny too because when we were talking about areas the agent we talked to we said we wanted LESS liberal as in outside of like the super popular areas that everyone is flodding too ie. Chapel Hill, Cary, Apex etc. we were told Hillsborough, Mebane, as starters

Chapel Hill/Carrboro got married and had Hillsborough.

Mebane is good to go, and the houses in the Alamance County side of Mebane have cheaper taxes. If I moved west of Durham, I would go to Mebane.

Once upon a time Hillsborough was a multi-generational town, when my dad retired from the Marines and we moved there, there were like 4 cops, most of the businesses downtown were family businesses, everyone knew everyone. I lived in a house on Margaret Lane, backed up to the Eno. I think my dad paid $70K. Now that house is valued around $300K; and the taxes are just stupid.

I am very sad over what Hillsborough has become.

Edited to add, I would live around Efland. You still get OC taxes, but it's a nice area. @3ought2's point, traffic is no joke: it can take 45 minutes or longer to get from 85 to 70.
 
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Radius is also a good choice. Good pizza and sandwiches.

Hillsborough BBQ Co. is the bomb though.
 
The southern Alamance Co area is nice. That's where I live. I can be in CH, Pittsboro, or Burlington in about 15 mins. I can be in Hillsborough in 20-25.
 
40-50 mins from my house to Duke main hospital on Erwin. That's with usual morning commute traffic.
 
Ah very cool. Not me though my wife. Got a job at Duke eye center from one of her conference. Now we just have to find a living town that suits us lol
 
I've lived in Hillsborough for a few years now, and yes... there are quite a few "libs" here - they make good friends too as long as you set the rules of "NO POLITICS."

For restaurants,
  • Wooden Nickle (bar) has a huge fish and chips that is enough for two.
  • Somebody already mentioned Radius (wood fired pizza) - good but $$$.
  • Antonia's is Italian - really good, but can be a bit noisy if you are out front.
  • Bandito's Mexican - kind of hit and miss... sometimes good, other times I have sent food back because it was cold.
  • Our favorite is a hole in the wall upstairs, Saratoga Grill (might want to make reservations)

Saratoga grill and Antonia have alot of really good ratings also. Thanks for the suggestions.
 
Didn't I read that Hillsborough has a law limiting magazine capacity to 3 rounds?

:D
 
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Have been on the outskirts of Hillsborough for the last 25 years. Almost everything we do - church, school, friends, etc are in Hillsborough. The downtown restaurants have already been mentioned, but if you'll take 86 South towards Chapel Hill, you'll find Allen and Son Barbeque and behind it is the Farm House Restaurant which has really great steaks, etc in a romantic atmosphere and reasonable prices. Saratoga is our "go to" place before 6 pm for their "early bird" specials - which are good. Huey's Seafood over in Mebane has great seafood and is only 20 minutes away. Commuting from downtown Hillsboro to Duke eye center should take more than 20 - 30 minutes down I-85 to 147 to Fulton St. Lots of new sub-divisions going in around Hillsborough and the traffic jam thru downtown from I-85 to the North from about 3:30-6:60 pm is BAD. But, it's still a nice place to live and there are lots of open areas outside of town between Hillsborough and Efland or Cedar Grove or north Durham that will give you space.

Edit to add: Radius Pizza and Antonias are "gun free"
 
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You can go down to Saxapahaw to the Eddy Pub. We eat lunch at The General Store which is right beside it all the time.
 
Can't speak for Hillsborough, tho I'ma hafta check out the Wooden Nickle. Saxapahaw General Store has killer eats & an amazing beer selection, but that little complex there has become hip, with all that brings with it.

Mebane's growing fast. Traffic's getting worse & there's talk of a 600+ house "development" between 119 & Jones Dr. & 119's a nightmare during school times.

Southern Alamance Co. is a great place to live. Convenient to everything, without being crowded.
 
I live in eastern Alamance right next to Megane. My wife works at the VA next to Duke hospital. It takes her 35 mins to drive to work in rush hour (7 am).
We used to live in Hillsborough but moved here 2+ years ago. You get a lot more house with a lot less taxes than Orange County/Hillsborough/Chapel Hill/Carrboro.
Durham to the east and Burlington/Graham to the west have all of the good chain restaurants you'll ever need. Others have mentioned what's in Hillsborough. Ann Marias has good pizza. If you like Cracker Barrel there's one 15 mins west of Hillsborough. Alamance County and Efland are great choices for non-city living close to everything.
 
Can't speak for Hillsborough, tho I'ma hafta check out the Wooden Nickle. Saxapahaw General Store has killer eats & an amazing beer selection, but that little complex there has become hip, with all that brings with it.

Mebane's growing fast. Traffic's getting worse & there's talk of a 600+ house "development" between 119 & Jones Dr. & 119's a nightmare during school times.

Southern Alamance Co. is a great place to live. Convenient to everything, without being crowded.
My wife makes fun of me because of gas station fish tacos. But damn they’re good. I usually try to schedule out a day every couple weeks were I’ll be there for lunch. Hasn’t happened in awhile though.
 
You can go down to Saxapahaw to the Eddy Pub. We eat lunch at The General Store which is right beside it all the time.

You know you're like four miles from my house there right?
 
Next time you're gonna be in the area at lunch give me a heads up. Might be able to meet you at the Sax gen store
 
Chapel Hill/Carrboro got married and had Hillsborough.

Mebane is good to go, and the houses in the Alamance County side of Mebane have cheaper taxes. If I moved west of Durham, I would go to Mebane.

I am very sad over what Hillsborough has become.

Edited to add, I would live around Efland. You still get OC taxes, but it's a nice area. @3ought2's point, traffic is no joke: it can take 45 minutes or longer to get from 85 to 70.

This. ^^^^ I've been here since '92, before the boom. Look west or north for what you seek: Roxboro, Mebane (but it's about to get too big) , Efland areas.
 
Hillsborough BBQ Co. is good but I'm not impressed with their brisket. Brisket is supposed to be sliced, not pulled like pork and it's over sauced for my taste. A friend who food opinion I trust says that the Brunswick stew is really good.
 
Hillsborough BBQ Co. is good but I'm not impressed with their brisket. Brisket is supposed to be sliced, not pulled like pork and it's over sauced for my taste. A friend who food opinion I trust says that the Brunswick stew is really good.

It's always been sliced when I've ordered it ???

Though I haven't eaten there in probably 6 months or more now. Used to eat there all the time when I had an office in Hillsborough.
 
It's always been sliced when I've ordered it ???

Though I haven't eaten there in probably 6 months or more now. Used to eat there all the time when I had an office in Hillsborough.

It may have been pulled because I ordered the brisket sandwich. Hum. This calls for further research...
 
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