This weekend concludes the AAU Basketball tournaments where many of our recruits will be getting final offers and making final choices, so there isn’t much to report in Carolina Athletics. However, a different idea came to mind to me this morning while I was looking through photos I took from my recent Chapel Hill experience. What if our readers and fans have never been to Chapel Hill and been shopping down Franklin Street? I know you must be thinking everyone has been at least once, but I bet there are more than you think. So I thought I would share how I spend my day in Chapel Hill before the game, and point out some good places to eat and shop.
No matter which event it is; football, baseball, or basketball; I like to get to Chapel Hill at least two if not more towards three hours before the game start. That is simply because no matter how many times you’ve been you’re going to eat lunch or dinner, and shop while you’re there! Once you get to the campus and find some parking (if you’re going to stay or be near Franklin Street just take a parallel spot on the street) you’re going to want to get a grip of where you are. That’s understandable. Now this is the tricky part because depending when you get to campus you may want to eat first or shop first. So I can’t really going through what and how I’d plan my day on campus. However, I will provide you with lists of places to eat and shop that I recommend.
There are many great places to choose to eat at from public restaurants known all over the country to local country restaurants so I’m going to share some of my favorites and some favorites of the fans that have been given great reviews and ratings.
Spanky’s Restaurant & Bar: Hands down one of my favorites. They have juicy burgers, delicious chicken tenders, and it’s always packed so you know their entire menu is delicious. Those are my favorites to eat, but their menu is large and full of a variety.
Mama Dip’s Country Cooking: Good ole southern country cooking! They serve everything you can imagine eating at a southern family reunion and BBQ. If you’re from the south you know you will love the food because it’s what we eat everyday anyways.
The Ramshead Rathskeller: If you’ve been to Chapel Hill in the past few years you know this place is closed down, but do not fear…it is being reopened. I never had a chance to eat at the famous Amber Alley restaurant, but everyone I’ve ever talked to and asked about this place has never complained. So, I’m looking forward to finally trying this place out the next time I am in town.
Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery: Walking down Franklin Street it is kind of hard not to notice Top of the Hill. A place where you can dine in side or outside on the “roof” over looking Franklin Street. They have separate menus for each dining occasion (lunch, dinner, etc.) and they hold a wide variety of things to choose from. You can never go wrong with the Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich.
Now after eating you have to walk around and shop to burn off the many calories you’ve just gulped down! There are tons of shopping venues on campus and you really can’t go wrong with them, but I do have my favorites and my reasons for plugging them into this post.
Johnny T-Shirt’s: This is my personal favorite! They have everything you can imagine Carolina Blue! My favorites are the “comedic” T-shirts that rip Dook and State! I’ve grown fond of the ladies and gents at Johnny T-Shirt’s because living in Germany I found it hard to get new Carolina apparel sent to me, and these guys were the only ones who would. I mean it’s not that hard we still had a USPS Post Office and nobody but these guys could/would ship it to me?!
Chapel Hill Sportswear: The last store I’m recommending is this one obviously, but what I like about these guys is they carry their own stuff, but since they merged with the school’s official store they have an entire second floor dedicated to Nike school gear. Really cool store, and they’re adding tons more!