North Carolina’s Roadside Eateries: A Traveler’s Guide to Local Restaurants, Diners, and Barbecue Joints

Southern Gateways Guides

by D.G. Martin

Want to eat like the locals? D. G. Martin has spent years traveling the major roadways of North Carolina, on the lookout for community, local history, and, of course, a good home-cooked meal. Here D. G. is your personal tour guide to more than 100 notable local roadway haunts that serve not only as places to eat but also as fixtures of their communities.

*Features locally owned and time-tested community favorites
*Covers a range of food tastes from BBQ joints and country kitchens to Mexican restaurants and Greek diners
*Introduces diners to the restaurant owners and locals who make these places unique
*Includes current contact information, hours, directions
*Features nearby points of interest to explore after eating

This handy reference to good food just off North Carolina's interstates should find a spot in every Tar Heel traveler's glove compartment.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2016

About the author

D.G. Martin has hosted North Carolina Bookwatch on UNC-TV since the series' third season in 1999. A Yale Law School graduate and former Green Beret, Martin has been involved with public service and politics throughout his life, including stints as interim Vice Chancellor for Development and University Affairs at both UNC-Pembroke and North Carolina Central University, and as the Carolinas Director of the Trust for Public Land. Martin writes a weekly newspaper column, "One on One" and has been a popular guest writer and panel moderator for Ashe County's On the Same Page Literary Festival.

Reviews

[Matthew Tessnear · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you regularly travel North Carolina and love food at one-of-kind restaurants, this book is an essential passenger you must take with you on your journey! DG Martin shares a high-volume of dining options in a book organized by interstate proximity, which makes it easy to read and navigate. The book is an especially strong resource for meat-and-three, NC barbecue and dessert opportunities, which along with burgers are the essential food groups I consider when visiting North Carolina’s unique array of special restaurant gems. You can never include all great restaurants in one book or website, because you’ll always discover another as soon as you publish. I’ve realized that myself in my own foodie pursuits, but DG does a great job filling your head and stomach with a full course of appetizing meals options to explore yourself. A true 5-star read!

[Lesley Looper · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cool idea for a book! I enjoyed reading about the different restaurants, some I've been to and some new to me. I thought the book was well-organized, with good tips on other local jewels.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the fact that D.G. gives directions and what to do after you eat section. I also liked the notes about favorite places of our local writers and some NC sports figures. He also gives a background on the owners or history of the eateries. It's a nice travel companion book.