4 NC brunch spots rank among the nation’s best. Why fans crave them
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- Four North Carolina restaurants rank among the nation’s top 100 brunch spots.
- To create the list, OpenTable studied ratings and reviews ahead of Mother’s Day.
- Restaurants in Cary and Greensboro were on the list again this year.
Whether you’re craving French toast or mimosas, you may not have to travel far to get a top-notch brunch.
That’s because four North Carolina restaurants rank among the nation’s best places to eat the late-morning meal. Here are the brunch spots that made it onto the list from reservation website OpenTable:
- Herons in Cary
- JOLO Winery & Vineyards End Posts Restaurant in Pilot Mountain
- O.Henry Hotel in Greensboro
- Seabird in Wilmington
Here’s what to know about the North Carolina restaurants featured on the list, which published Tuesday, April 21.
OpenTable’s best brunch list
To determine the top 100 places for brunch, OpenTable said it studied restaurants across the United States. It focused on more than 10 million reviews from “verified” customers and other dining metrics for the year leading up to Feb. 28.
OpenTable scored each place for “ratings, the percentage of five star reviews, the number of alerts set, the percentage of reservations made in advance, percentage of capacity and direct searches.” The website in a news release said it also considered whether restaurants had a minimum number of reviews and were open for Sunday brunch.
The results were released ahead of Mother’s Day, which falls on Sunday, May 10 this year. OpenTable cited results from a Ripple Research survey that found 42% of moms want to celebrate the occasion by dining out.
Why fans love the NC brunch spots
While the holiday is a popular time for brunch, fans have raved about the winning North Carolina restaurants throughout the year. And two of the brunch spots — Herons and the O.Henry Hotel — again rank as favorites after they landed on last year’s OpenTable list, The News & Observer previously reported.
On OpenTable, fans of Herons continue to praise the customer service at brunch time. The restaurant at the Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary — just west of Raleigh — serves omelets, biscuits and other staples.
Meanwhile, O.Henry Hotel in Greensboro was recognized for its afternoon tea. Several customers went online to praise the menu, which includes “traditional scones, savory finger sandwiches and sweet treats,” The N&O previously reported.
Northwest of Winston-Salem, End Posts Restaurant at JOLO Winery & Vineyards was another favorite. Fans have taken to OpenTable to say how much they love the scenic views at the Pilot Mountain dining destination.
Rounding out the list of North Carolina brunch spots was Seabird in Wilmington. Some OpenTable users couldn’t get enough of the dishes at the restaurant, which specializes in seafood.
Other fan-favorite brunch restaurants
Across the country, the state with the most brunch spots on the list was California, with 19 top restaurants. OpenTable published all results in alphabetical order, rather than in ranked order.
Last year, the review website Yelp named Young Cardinal Cafe & Co. in Winston-Salem the No. 1 place to eat brunch in North Carolina, The N&O previously reported.
