The owner of Wine Authorities shares where he goes for quick bites, special nights, a well-made beverage and more.
by Ayn-Monique Klahre | photography by Forrest Mason

Here in Raleigh, we have a good problem: With so many great spots to choose from, how do you decide where to go for something to eat or drink? We think the best way to ask someone is to get a recommendation from a person who knows their stuff. 

For our 2026 Guide to Where to Eat and Drink in Raleigh, we tapped 10 local foodies and hospitality folks to share their favorite spots based on years of experience and excellent palates. Their selections include a broad range of tastes — from fine-dining experiences to quick-serve comfort food — that consistently deliver. 

One of them was Craig Heffley, the owner of Wine Authorities. Heffley has been a wine professional since 1991, working in restaurants, retail, importing, distribution and wine education. He opened Wine Authorities in 2007 with the philosophy of carrying smaller-batch, estate wines and developing relationships with the farms that produce them. 

Where do you go for a special-occasion meal? 

I love going to Stanbury, it’s just so cozy and quirky at the same time. The menu is always changing, and you can’t go wrong with anything. We try to do a bunch of small plates, like crudo, oysters, the bone marrow… for big plates, we’ll either to the fish special and the tagliatelle. In Durham, I hit Nanas and Little Bull. 

What’s your go-to restaurant? 

I like Mala Pata, it’s fantastic. I always try to get the stuff they’re doing with their own tortillas, like the Rajas Enchiladas. I like their Nixta Tonic… they’re doing fun, very creative stuff.  

What’s your favorite spot that doesn’t get enough cred? 

I have a couple. One is El Toro Supermarket. It’s always bustling with people in there, but I don’t see it get much buzz. I love the tacos they do there, especially the cabeza tacos. I also go to Pho Far East pretty regularly. A lot of my chef friends are fans of it, too. I get the the bún thịt nướng chả giò, it’s noodles with grilled pork and an egg roll. 

Where do you go to eat lunch? 

I like going to (ish) delicatessen, Sam Jones BBQ, Benchwarmers Bagels… those are great. I go to Toast in Durham once a week — their soups are world-class, it’s really unheard of. At (ish) I tend to go with the specials because I’ve had the regular stuff so many times. And I grew up in Eastern North Carolina, so Sam Jones is my jam. When I was growing up, we’d go to pig pickin’s in the fall; when I was living in Greenville for school we’d go to B’s Barbecue in Greenville or Skylight Inn in Ayden. So when Sam Jones opened up here, it was like a taste of home. At Benchwarmers, I like the duck rillette on an everything bagel with pickles. The quality of their bagels can’t be beat. 

Where do you get a meal on the go?

I love getting pizza from Oakwood Pizza Box. I love their toppings, but with pizza that good, the purist in me wants a Margharita or Cheese pizza. Anthony’s doing something special over there. 

Where do you like to get a beverage?

I mean, I own a beverage business, and I have to say that Wine Authorities is pretty amazing! We work with small farmers and everything is authentic, direct from the winery. When I go to a bar, Natural Science is fun. It’s not real showy, but the quality is really good. 

What’s your go-to coffee spot?

I love Black & White Coffee Roasters in Morrisville. We’ve got something world-class that’s right here in the Triangle, and we’ve got to support those local businesses or they’ll go away. I just do an Americano or a straight-up press pot.

Where do you get a sweet treat?

I love Guglhupf. Their base is in Durham but they’re opening these small bake shops, like there’s one in Chapel Hill, and have created a scalable model. Everything’s freshly baked, day-made, and it really is like a fine patisserie you’d expect someplace like Austria, Germany or France. 

What’s your favorite new-ish place?

For me, that’s TaTaco in Durham, that’s the new restaurant from Oscar Diaz, who also opened Little Bull and Aktun. Those are finer and mid-level dining, Tatako is the casual joint. It’s also just a couple of blocks from my house. The drink menu is spectacular, and they’ve got generous cocktails. 

What are you excited about in the hospitality scene?

LRB Provisions, that’s the new place from Amanda who was at Littler. It will be a lot of prepared stuff and ready to serve foods. They’re already doing some of that at Delafia, the wine bar in Durham, they have these small plates like a gigante bean salad and a little pot de pate.

In general, I’m really excited about the quality of mocktails in the Triangle. A lot of restaurants and bars are getting creative, doing infusions and housemade syrups from herbs and botanicals. 

This article was originally published on December 29, 2025 on waltermagazine.com