Best New Restaurant
The Library Steakhouse Read More
Khao Sen
Nightingale Rooftop
Best Food Truck
The Portable Portugy
Dupre’s Coffee & Company
The Rican Lab
Best Appetizers
My Way Tavern
The Mason Jar Tavern
Vicious Fishes Tap & Kitchen
Best Cocktails
Moonlight Liquor Lounge
Nightingale Rooftop
Smashed Burgers and Cocktails
Best Bakery
Stick Boy Bread Co.
La Farm Bakery
JT’s Creamery
Best Dessert
JT’s Creamery Read More
Stick Boy Bread Co.
Fat Cat Homemade Ice Cream
Best Donuts
Duck Donuts Read More
Baker’s Dozen
Cultivate Coffee Roasters
Best Frozen Treats
JT’s Creamery
FRESH. Local Ice Cream
Fat Cat Homemade Ice Cream
Best Barbecue
Daddy D’s BBQ
Big Mikes BBQ
Aviator Smokehouse
Best Breakfast
Eggs Up Grill
First Watch
Brus On Main
Best Brunch
Vicious Fishes Tap & Kitchen
Eggs Up Grill
First Watch
Best Burgers
Smashed Burgers & Cocktails
My Way Tavern
Abbey Road Tavern and Grill
Best Date-Night Restaurant
Osha Thai Kitchen & Sushi
The Library Steakhouse
Nightingale Rooftop
Best Coffee Shop
Dupre’s Coffee & Company Read More
Cultivate Coffee Roasters
Thanks A Latte
Best Seafood
The Blind Pelican
Vicious Fishes Tap & Kitchen
Osha Thai Kitchen & Sushi
Best Steakhouse
The Library Steakhouse
Rey’s
Angus Barn
Best Pizzeria
Anna’s Pizzeria
J&S New York Pizza
Johnnys Pizza
Best Wings
Wingin’ It Taphouse and Grille Read More
My Way Tavern
Wing It On!
Most Kid-Friendly Restaurant
JT’s Creamery
Vicious Fishes Tap & Kitchen
My Way Tavern
Best Asian Restaurant
Osha Thai Kitchen & Sushi
Bep Vietnamese Kitchen
Mei Wei Chinese and Thai Restaurant
Best Mediterranean Restaurant
Nil’s Mediterranean Cuisine
Sassool
The Gyro Spot
Best Italian Restaurant
Garibaldi Trattoria
Vieni Ristobar
Mamma Mia! Italian Bistro
Best Indian Restaurant
Zeera Indian Restaurant
Cilantro Indian Cafe
Inis Kitchen
Best Mexican/Latin American Restaurant
Mi Cancun Mexican Restaurant
Aye! Toro Tacos & Tequila
El Cantarito Bar & Grill
Best Restaurant for Specialty Diets
Vegan Community Kitchen Read More
Cilantro Indian Cafe
DICED
Best Healthy Dining Options
Vegan Community Kitchen
Nil’s Mediterranean Cuisine
SupaBowlz Cafe
Best Neighborhood Bar
My Way Tavern
The Corner Biergarten
Black Dog Bottle Shop
Best Sports Bar
My Way Tavern
Wingin’ It Taphouse & Grille
Cleveland Draft House
Best Outdoor Dining
Aviator TapHouse
Vicious Fishes Tap & Kitchen
Cleveland Draft House
Best Craft Brewery
Oaklyn Springs Brewery
Vicious Fishes Brewery
TIE: Bombshell Beer Company & Mason Jar Lager Company
Best Caterer
City Barbeque
The Portable Portugy
Catering by Design
The Library Steakhouse
Best New Restaurant, Best Steakhouse
Once upon a time, a princess and her prince charming (Sara Lindsay and her husband, Charles) transformed an old public library building into a sophisticated steakhouse. The entire kingdom (of Fuquay-Varina) rejoiced for their new elevated dining experience. With a moody atmosphere, elegant bar, and plenty of literary details, The Library Steakhouse became an instant favorite.
“Sara spent about three months going to various antique and thrift stores to find vintage books, lamps, and other décor to pay homage to the former library,” Charles says.
Certified Angus Beef steaks, seafood, and pasta dishes — under the care of executive chef Da’Jon Brandon — pair seamlessly with clever cocktail creations like Gone with the Whiskey or Last of the Mojitos.
“We wanted to provide a great place for people to enjoy quality food and excellent service all while encountering the nostalgia of the original town library.”
Wingin’ It Taphouse and Grille
Best Wings, Honorable Mention: Best Sports Bar
With 20 sauce options, it’s no wonder Wingin’ It Taphouse and Grille rises to the top of many outstanding wing joints in Southern Wake. Among the saucy favorites is the Awesome sauce, “a combination of classic buffalo and garlic parmesan,” says manager Cheryl Carter — great on traditional or boneless wings. However, Carter insists that the secret ingredient at Wingin’ It is actually the TLC added to the dining experience by the friendly and attentive staff.
With big-screen TVs and crowd-pleasing fare, Wingin’ It delivers a great atmosphere to watch a game and meet up with friends. Make sure to check out inventive cocktail options, such as the Bloody Clucker, a loaded Bloody Mary topped with a chicken wing tossed in your choice of any sauce.
Duck Donuts
Best Donuts
An Outer Banks original, Duck Donuts has been operating across the Triangle for almost a decade. “We are humbled to know our fans are still supporting us and loving the donuts,” says owner Brandon Trimyer.
The Duck Donuts signature made-to-order experience encourages customers to be adventurous in their combinations — toppings from sprinkles to coconut to crumbled cookies and drizzles like caramel, raspberry, and hot fudge offer a world of possibilities.
The most popular order remains the maple bacon donut. A recent fan favorite is a donut dipped in vanilla icing and topped with crumbled Oreos and powdered sugar.
JT’s Creamery
Best Dessert, Best Frozen Treats, Most Kid-Friendly Restaurant, Honorable Mention: Best Bakery
Beloved Holly Springs ice cream shop JT’s Creamery opened an expanded second location late last year in Fuquay-Varina on Gathering Square Court. The street name brims with serendipity, since owners Josh and Sarah Belt intend for the space to inspire all types of gatherings: book clubs, church groups, business meetings, coffee socials, after-school hangouts, and more.
“We want people to gather, get a treat, and enjoy,” says Josh.
With the larger space, the eatery’s offerings also expanded to include coffee and bakery goods, such as bagels, cinnamon rolls, coffee cake, and cookies baked fresh daily, displayed right next to the colorful case of JT’s signature made-from-scratch ice cream.
Bananas Foster, Orange Chili, White Chocolate Pretzel, and Cereal ice cream represent only a few of the inventive flavors to try.
Vegan Community Kitchen
Best Restaurant for Specialty Diets, Best Healthy Dining Options
At Vegan Community Kitchen in Apex, you won’t find meat, eggs, or dairy in any of the menu items. You will find made-from-scratch plant-based foods with savory, global flavors. For example, Mediterranean seitan pita tacos and falafel, or Ethiopian spicy red lentils, collard greens, and yellow peas with injera.
Plant-based versions of classic American fare, such as meatball mac & cheese or a cheeseburger with french fries, put a wholesome spin on comfort-food favorites.
Dupre’s Coffee & Company
Best Coffee
This newcomer to the Southern Wake coffee scene operates out of a 1964 Shasta camper parked in the Century 21 parking lot on Judd Parkway. Owners Annet and Jay Dupre purchased the camper on craigslist — a find they claim was “meant to be.”
The Dupres brew beans from Carrboro Coffee Roasters and offer a variety of teas and lemonades, as well as scratch-made baked goods.
Open nearly a year, the business’ following grows each week, despite only serving on Saturdays and Sundays. You’ll often find a line queued up in front of the camper to order their favorite Dupre’s Coffee brew and chat with the friendly proprietors.
See the rest of the Maggy Winners:
- The Art of Restoration
- Presenting the 2025 Maggy Awards: Best of Main & Broad
- Quirky Sights in NC
- Small Business Spotlight: Dupre’s Coffee & Company
- NC Festivals Worth the Drive
- See & Do: March to April 2025
- Dig In & Drink Up: Den of Dragons
- Remembering the Crush of Covid
- 2025 Maggy Awards: Restaurants
- 2025 Maggy Awards: Lifestyle
- 2025 Maggy Awards: Services
- 2025 Maggy Awards: Shopping
