Most everyone can agree that Fayetteville is always evolving. Fort Bragg soldiers and their families come and go. New businesses open all the time to cater to changing appetites. Yet, some restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and butchers remain the same, often still run by the same families who founded them decades ago.
We have a number of eateries that have withstood decades of change in Cumberland County and show no signs of stopping. Here’s a look at some of the oldest places to eat in the area.
Did we miss one that's been open a while? Let us know by emailingtshook@gannett.com.
Fayetteville Food Culture:How Fayetteville's earliest restaurants built the city's food culture
70-plus years
1937: Rainbow Restaurant
Rainbow Restaurant was first established on the ground floor of the Palace hotel as “Rainbo Restaurant” at 223 Hay St. in 1937 andmoved to Ramsey Street in 1976. For three generations, the family-owned restaurant has served from-scratch diner food like pancakes and grilled steak.
Address: 3708 Ramsey St., Fayetteville
Website:rainbowrestaurantnc.com
Early 1950s: Luigi’s Italian Chophouse and Bar
First founded downtown in the early 1950s, Luigi's moved to McPherson Church Road in 1982. Since then, it’s served signature red-sauce favorites, beef and fish alongside a wine selection that won Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence.
Address: 528 N. McPherson Church Road, Fayetteville
Website:luigisnc.com
60-plus years
1956: Superior Bakery
Founder John Poulos, a Greek immigrant who worked as a dishwasher until he saved enough money to purchase a closed bakery on Raeford Road, opened Superior Bakery in 1956. Hemoved the operation to Hope Mills Road in 1971. Now, his son Nick Poulos operates the bakery known for cakes, pie, doughnuts, and fried croissants.
Address:2433 Hope Mills Road, Fayetteville
Website:superiorbakerync.com
National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day:Celebrate National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day at these 6 Fayetteville area bakeries
Bakery:Making king cakes at Superior Bakery.
1957: New York Restaurant
Gus Poulos, brother to Superior Bakery'sfounder, opened New York Restaurant in 1957 on Eastern Boulevard. Its location along U.S. 301 made it popular with travelers. Still open today, the family-style diner serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
Address:201 N. Eastern Blvd., Fayetteville
Website:facebook.com/pages/New-York-Restaurant/119749261374557
1961: Kentucky Fried Chicken
Nick Fasul, his daughter Dena Fasul and Fasul's nephew Steve Paris opened the Hillcrest Drive-In on Bragg Boulevard in 1961. It became North Carolina's first restaurant to serveKentucky Fried Chicken after Paris trained for two weeks with Colonel Harland Sanders in Louisville. Ten years later,the restaurant became a Kentucky Fried Chicken. The original building was torn down in 1989, but the Kentucky Fried Chicken has remained at 1207 Bragg Blvd.
Address: 1207 Bragg Blvd., Fayetteville
Website:kfc.com
KFC:The road to North Carolina's first KFC
50-plus years
1963: Chris’s Steakhouse
Chris Poulos founded a steakhouse named after himself in 1964 on Raeford Road, shortlyafter his brothers John and Gus founded Superior Bakery and New York Restaurant, respectively. Known for fine cuts of meat cooked over an open hearth, the restaurant is now owned by Greg Kalevas, whom Poulos made his business partner in the early 1980s.
Address:2620 Raeford Road, Fayetteville
Website:fayettevillesteakhouse.com
Kirby:’He gave me the opportunity of my life,’ Kalevas remembers Chris Poulos
1965: Barbeque Hut
Alfred Barefoot and his wife,Julie, own Barbeque Hut, which was founded in 1965 on Owen Drive. The restaurant serves authentic eastern Carolina-style barbeque prepared in-house and has won Fayetteville Observer Reader’s Choice Awards for best barbecue since the inception of the list in 1995.
Address:2802 Fort Bragg Road and 2965 Owen Drive, Fayetteville
Website:bbqhutsfayettevillenc.com
Welcome to Pork Paradise:10 spots for great barbecue around Fayetteville
1968: Lindy’s
Known for its country breakfast and spaghetti, Lindy's was founded in 1968 on Raeford Road. Head cook and owner Pete Skenteris, nephew to the late Pete Skenteris of Hamont Grill, runs the restaurant with his wife, Angela. The couple purchased it from the original owners in 2008.
Address:3001 Raeford Road, Fayetteville
Website:facebook.com/Lindys-Restaurant-100146918322878
1972: Peaden’s Seafood and Catering
Peaden's Seafood and Catering was founded by James Robert Peaden, Sr., in 1972 on McArthur Road.The food — Calabash-style fried seafood, pork barbecue, fried chicken, and hushpuppies are a few of the favorites — could be described as homestyle country cooking.
Address:1600 McArthur Road, Fayetteville
Website:peadens.com
40-plus years
1973: Golden Corral
National buffet chain Golden Corral, now with nearly 500 locations, got its start on Bragg Boulevard in 1973. Originally named Golden Corral Family Steak House, it was founded by James Maynard, now the CEO of a large holding company for food service and service industries, and William Carl, who died in 2005.
Address:1806 Skibo Road, Fayetteville
Website:goldencorral.com
1974: Zorba’s Gyro
Founder Tommy Frangakis was the first to bring gyros to Fayetteville when he opened Zorba's in 1974. Now run by his son John, the restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Regulars order the traditional gyros, Greek omelets, and the Wednesday spaghetti special.
Address:2919 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, and 3114 N. Main St., Hope Mills
Website:zorbasgyro.com
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30-plus years
1983: Pizza Palace
Pizza Palace was founded by Tom Poulos in 1983 on Hope Mills Road. Ran with the help of his son Deno and his wife, Crystal, the house specialties are pizza and spaghetti. The Greek salad and special sub are also popular.
Address:109 Hope Mills Road, Fayetteville
Website:pizzapalacenc.com
1984: Hunan Garden
Hunan Garden in Highland Shopping Center has changed hands a few times since it opened in 1984. It continues to serve more than 100 Chinese menu items, including many fish, vegan and vegetarian options. Customer favorites include beef in chili sauce and sauteed tilapia.
Address:2726 Raeford Road, Fayetteville
Website:hunangardenfayetteville.com
1985: Elizabeth’s Pizza
The first Elizabeth's Pizza opened in Pamalee Plaza in 1985and moved to Skibo Road in 1989. The Hope Mills Road location opened in 1999. Rosario Coppola runs the restaurant with his uncle, Michelle Massa. Linguine sapore di mare — linguine with shrimp, clams, and mussels that are sauteed in wine and then blended with cherry tomatoes, olive oil, basil, and spices — is a popular dish.
Address:1800 Skibo Road and 2468 Hope Mills Road, Fayetteville
Website:elizabethspizza.org
1987: Noble Meats and Eatery
Noble Meats on Lillington Highway was founded by Nabil Isbanoly in 1987 and is now run by his son Jason.Once a bulk meat supplier, the restaurant started serving lunch in the late 1990sand is known for ribs, pulled pork, brisket and chicken.
Address:2469 Lillington Highway, Spring Lake
Website:facebook.com/NobleMeats
More Hidden Gems:Noble Meats feeding the people, from Spring Lake to South Pole
1988: Captain Jerry’s Seafood Family Restaurant
Captain Jerry's Seafood Family Restaurant was opened by brothers George and Andy Anagnostopoulos in 1988, and now their kids manage it. Stella Anagnostopoulos and her brothers, Jerry and Spyro, have worked at the restaurant since they were about 8 years old. The house special is a big plate of various fried seafood: flounder, popcorn shrimp, jumbo shrimp, oysters, scallops, and a stuffed deviled crab.
Address:691 South Reilly Road, Fayetteville
Website:facebook.com/CaptainJerrysSeafood
Late 1980s: Chang’s Seafood Market
Chang's Seafood Market on Johnson Street has been around since at least the 1980s. Sun Thompson and her late husband, James, bought it from the Chang family in 1995. Now, Thompson's kidsJennifer McNair, Sabrina McNair and Edward McNair manage it. Regional specialties like croaker and catfish can be purchased fresh, steamed or fried.
Address:110 Johnson St., Fayetteville
Website:facebook.com/changsfishmarket
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1990: Mi Casita
Juan Macias founded the first Mi Casita in 1990 in Tallywood Shopping Center.The small chain now has11 locations in Cumberland County serving such specialties as Mexican pizza, chilaquiles, and chimichangas.
Address:Multiple locations around Cumberland County
Website:micasitarestaurants.com/
1991: Country Fish Fry
Fayetteville Hidden Gems:Celebrating 30 years of family and fish at Country Fish Fry
Tasos Hasapis first founded Country Fish Fry on Fort Bragg road in 1991 and moved across the street to the current building in 2000. The drive-thru-only restaurant servesfried fish (some flounder, mostly whiting), fried shrimp, French fries, coleslaw, deviled crab, iced tea, and water.
Address:3307 Fort Bragg Road, Fayetteville
Website:facebook.com/CountryFishFry
Food, dining and business reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at tshook@gannett.com.
