Raleigh restaurant ranks among the ‘most legendary’ in the South. Here’s why
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- Southern Living surveyed readers to find the region’s “most legendary” restaurants.
- Angus Barn ranked No. 5 on a list of dining spots that “set the standard.”
- The Raleigh steakhouse is known for its steaks, chocolate chess pie and Christmas lights.
A North Carolina steakhouse persisted through its early days — and now it’s been named one of the “most legendary” restaurants in the South.
The Angus Barn in Raleigh ranks No. 5 on a list of dining spots that “have outlasted trends — and still set the standard,” according to results published Thursday, March 12.
“The South’s most legendary restaurants have shaped their cities, hosted generations of celebrations, and perfected the dishes that keep guests coming back,” Southern Living magazine wrote in its report.
The Angus Barn earned recognition after the magazine teamed with researchers at Proof Insights. From July 9 to Sept. 9, they conducted an online survey that asked readers to “rate their favorite places across the South.”
What makes the Angus Barn special?
More than 17,000 people weighed in across several South’s Best award categories. When it came to legendary restaurants, Southern Living said “delicious dishes are just one part of the experience at these storied establishments.”
The Angus Barn is located in an iconic red structure on Glenwood Avenue, near the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. On its website, the steakhouse said it has roots dating back to the 1960s, when its owners had trouble retaining dishwashers and saw their building burn down. But the restaurant persevered, becoming a Triangle staple.
“The region has grown a lot in the past six decades, but diners have come to rely on these hearty aged beefsteaks,” Southern Living wrote in its report. “And while the restaurant remains a fixture for regulars, it’s also become a bucket list destination during the Christmas season thanks to its extravagant wall-to-wall displays that are filled with twinkling lights, garlands, and bows.”
The Angus Barn, known for its steaks and chocolate chess pie, isn’t a stranger to receiving acclaim. In 2023, readers of The News & Observer picked the restaurant as the runner-up for best steakhouse in the Raleigh area. And more recently, it ranked it among the Southern restaurants topping people’s “bucket lists” and was selected as one of the honorable mentions for The N&O’s Top 50 restaurants list.
Best restaurants in North Carolina
This time around, two other North Carolina destinations ranked in Southern Living’s restaurant categories. Here’s how they fared:
- Lexington Barbecue in Lexington again ranked as the state’s top barbecue joint, The N&O reported.
- Biscuit Head in Asheville landed at No. 2 in “classic restaurants,” defined as places with “a loyal following that’s lasted for years.”
Across the region, Southern Living said the No. 1 “most legendary” restaurant was The Olde Pink House in Savannah, Georgia. The magazine didn’t immediately share additional information with The N&O. In the past, it has considered the South to include the following places: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia, The N&O previously reported.
