Ricky Moore’s Favorite Places to Eat & Drink

The James Beard award winning chef of Saltbox Seafood in Durham shares his favorite places to eat and drink in the Bull City and Chapel Hill
by Catherine Currin

For our 2023 Guide to Where to Eat and Drink in the Triangle, we surveyed a dozen food industry folks to find their go-to spots for everything from an elegant date night to a casual drink, to the best place to bring someone in from out-of-town. One of those folks was award-winning chef, seafood pioneer and cookbook author Ricky Moore of Saltbox Seafood in Durham. There he serves fresh North Carolina fish cooked in both classic and inventive ways along with his famous Hushy-honeys. When Moore isn’t running his restaurant, here’s where he likes to go for a good cocktail, a cup of coffee or a great meal.

What’s your go-to place for a craft beverage?

Alley Twenty Six. I order a Dirty Martini.

What’s your go-to dive?

Accordion Club 

Where do you go for date night?

Lantern 

What’s your favorite new spot?

Bendito 

Where do you take an out-of-towner?

Angus Barn 

What’s your go to place for coffee?

Beyu Caffè, Durham

Where do you like to go for brunch?

Guglhuph

What and where would your last meal on earth be?

A glass of Château d’Yquem, roasted foie gras with black truffles , fat fried hard croakers, Eastern North Carolina whole hog BBQ, greens with cornmeal dumplings, Banana Foster with vanilla ice cream. 

What are some chefs to watch this year?

Kevin Ruiz at Bendito, Jake Wood at Lawrence BBQ, Saif Rahman at Vidrio. 

What’s a place that’s worth the drive?

Sweet Potatoes Restaurant and Miss Ora’s Fried Chicken 

Where do you go for a meal to-go?

Bon Fritay Haitian Food Truck

What’s your favorite place for weekday lunch?

Merrit’s in Chapel Hill

What are your favorite places for International Cuisine?

Lebanese and Middle Eastern from Habibi Grill & Bakery, Sitti, and Flame Kabob

This article was originally published on waltermagazine.com on December 28, 2022.