Location: Rocky Mount
Top Restaurants in Rocky Mount
Top Things to do in Rocky Mount
Countries
Rocky Mount Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Rocky Mount
Rocky Mount is a city in Edgecombe and Nash counties in the Atlantic coastal plain region of the U.S. state of North Carolina. Although it was not formally incorporated until February 28, 1907, the North Carolina community that became the city of Rocky Mount dates from the beginning of the 19th century. The first post office in the area opened in 1816. The city's population was 57,685 at the 2010 census, with an estimated population of 56,325 in 2014. Rocky Mount has received the All-America City Award from the National Civic League two times, in 1969 and 1999.
Things to do in Rocky Mount
1. The Prime Smokehouse Barbecue & Beyond
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 744 reviews
While we have the only "slow-smoked barbecue" in the Rocky Mount area (featuring spareribs, pulled pork, chopped beef and sliced brisket), we also feature thick hand-cut steaks, juicy burgers, and a wide variety of "fresh" seafood. Our lasagna is homemade with fresh herbs. All of our gourmet sides (orange ginger yams, collard greens, coleslaw, potato salad are made from fresh vegetables, etc.) are made in-house from fresh vegetables -- no cans or frozen! Our macaroni & cheese has been ranked in the top 10 nationally by Travel & Leisure magazine. Our desserts are also homemade, unique and delicious. The jazz-themed restaurant, situated in the neighborhood where legendary jazz pianist Thelonious Monk was born, is the brainchild of Ed Wiley III, Yalem Kiros and Harold Worrell. Ed Wiley is the son of jazz saxophone great Ed Wiley Jr.
Reviewed By Laura K - Saint Simons Island, Georgia, United States
This is a hidden gem for sure. Ed Wiley III and his wife Yalem created this culinary masterpiece in honor of Ed’s dad, Ed Wiley Jr who was a famous blues saxophonist turned barbecue chef extraordinaire! The menu includes all types of meats and seafood dishes along with salads and sides typical of home cooking in the South. But, this food is exceptional and the portions are huge. Take the time to get off the interstate in Rocky Mount and have a great meal. The owner chef came around to every table to meet the guests and share his family story. The gluten free options are plentiful and satisfying. Guy Fieri needs to find it and put it on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives!
2. Anne's Donuts
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 46 reviews
Reviewed By barymad - bethesda, md.
Anne's had been around a long time and for good reason. These are some of the best donuts around this and any other area for that matter. Also available are cakes, pastry and other goodies. Take some with you for the ride home.
3. LouReda's An American Table
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 449 reviews
Upscale casual with an elevated food and drink menu. Foods served can be found from all across the map, "An American Table". Great atmosphere, with beautifully plated, made from scratch foods. Full bar with an emphasis on Bourbon. Featuring 10 North Carolina Craft beers on Tap.
Reviewed By cyberlynx7 - new york
We always stop here when passing through NC and the food is consistently excellent. Great burgers, salmon, trout and sweet potato fries. Their fried oysters are exceptional and easily rival anything we’ve had in Boston. The wait staff is so friendly and the owners always check to see if we we enjoyed our meal. A kitchen that knows what it’s doing coupled with a caring, hands-on management all contribute to a winning combination. Will definitely return.
4. Krispy Kreme
Overall Ratings
5 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By travelmakesUrich - Rocky Mount, North Carolina
We had some time to kill while having our car serviced, and hadn't been inside a Krispy Kreme since our kids were young and enjoyed seeing the waterfall of icing on the production line. This location was quiet, clean, spacious, and the staff was helpful.
5. El Tapatio
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 122 reviews
Reviewed By E7864ENjuliel - Livermore, California
Coming from Northern California I think we have lots of good Mexican food restaurants around home and El Tapatio gives them a run for their money. Our party of 5 had a variety of dishes including: tortilla soup, chicken quesadillas, veggie quesadillas, fajitas and bean/rice burritos and we each liked our dishes. We also ordered the table side guacamole which was good but could use a little salt to brighten it up. Overall good food and very reasonable prices.
6. Pitstop Shoppe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By AlisonHHolland - Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Meredith helped us get the taste decision made, by offering a small sample to make it easier to choose. She made the experience smooth when you have so many choices to pick from. Thanks Meredith!
7. Highway Diner
Overall Ratings
4 based on 490 reviews
A unique 1950's diner experience with the best breakfast on the road servers all day. Also come check out our desserts.
Reviewed By rosieoh - USA
The Highway Diner is really cute. All black and white and red and chrome. Very 50s looking. Clean and shiny inside. The menu is very reasonable. That’s the good news. We ordered a club sandwich, and a soup and half Sandwich combo along with a side order of fried green tomatoes. We had been seated immediately and watched as more and more diners arrived. Then we watched as 1,2,3,4,5,6 tables of people who had arrived after us were served their food. We also observed people finish their food pay their bill and leave. They were people who had arrived after us. We kept asking our young waitress about our food. Three time she went back to the kitchen to check. Three times she apologized. But still no food.We asked to see the manager. We had been waiting 50 minutes for our food. We had ordered nothing out of the ordinary. We asked to see the manager. After waiting 15 minutes for her to appear we were told that she was in the back helping to cook the meals. Eventually she came out. She also apologized. We told her how much we had wanted to like this restaurant but how very disappointed we were. When the food came my husband’s sandwich was very good. My Cream of broccoli soup was hot and very good but the half grilled cheese sandwich was cold and soggy. The fried green tomatoes were very greasy. The manager came back to see how we were doing. We told her our concerns once again and about the concerns of the food. She graciously offered to cover our tab. She asked if we would like a dessert. We declined. We thanked her. We never saw our waitress again. We left. If you want to see a cute diner, stop in , but be aware that there may be a problem with the service and the food.
8. Cracker Barrel
Overall Ratings
4 based on 225 reviews
Reviewed By NJJayhawker - Palm Coast, Florida
THis Cracker Barrel was within walking distance of our hotel. We only arrived for a one night stay traveling north from Florida. Cracker Barrels are a favorite so we were delighted that this one was so close. The area is busy so again proximity to the hotel was a plus. Basic dinners is the norm, good well cooked, prepared and presented foods.
9. Outback Steakhouse
Overall Ratings
4 based on 321 reviews
Reviewed By Michael O - Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
My wife and I stopped for lunch I had the steak Cobb salad and my wife had the fish tacos which were made from tilapia. Service was good had a dirty plate had to send back also had a class was dirty they need a new dishwasher. Food was okay.
10. Westridge Grill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 80 reviews
Serving guests since 1996, this locally owned and operated restaurant offers a lot of neat things while in Rocky Mount! We have 1/2 price appetizers ($8.99 and below, dine-in)Monday- Wednesday 5:00-7:30. We have Team Trivia on Tuesdays 7:30-9:30. We have LIVE music on Thursdays 7:00-11:00. We have 100+ seats on our patio. We have an "ever-changing" selection of NC craft beers and NC wines. We have lots of food choices, as well; Hand- pattied burgers, homemade fried green tomatoes, homemade chicken salad, hand-breaded chicken tenders, fresh salads, wraps, many other sandwiches, daily lunch and dinner specials not from the menu.
Reviewed By LakeGastonRetired
We were transiting I95 and wanted a non-chain lunch. It was disappointing. Their 2017 ratings, mostly dinner/bar visits didn’t match the lunch experience. Great wait staff. Very prompt, attentive, replenishing drinks without asking. But, except their signature fried green tomatoes (they were exceptional) the food was another matter. We both had wraps. My wife had a chicken salad wrap. It was ok. I had the spicy shrimp wrap. Very flavorful. But amply stuffed with the fruit/veggies specified in the description but annoyingly shy of shrimp. It was a Buffalo veggie wrap with traces of shrimp garnish. After two bites and not seeing any shrimp in my shrimp wrap I de-constructed both halves. I had pieces of less than 2 shrimp total.
The bill was $27.17 for 2 coke’s , 2 wraps, and a .99 cent upcharge for fried tomatoes instead of a menu side. It wasn’t bad, but certainly not worth what we paid. Walking out the door we wished we stopped at the eat-in Honeybaked Ham store next door.
