Best Comfort Food

Coconut Cake from Hayes Barton Cafe (Raleigh): Chocolate is a common comfort food choice, but don’t underestimate coconut! It’s beachy and tropical in a Jimmy-Buffett-take-my-blues-away kind of way. The slices are huge and if you order one for dessert, plan on taking half home to enjoy the next night. It’ll give you something to look forward to all day! One caveat… if you’re having a bad day, you do not want to tackle Five Points parking. Maybe call on a best friend who owes you a favor and ask them to pick up the coconut cake and bring it to you.

Chicken and Dumplings at Mama Dips (Chapel Hill): This might actually be better described as chicken and pastry, but no matter what you call it, it’s guaranteed to ease that aching feeling. The dough is perfectly chewy, the chicken is tender and shredded, the gravy is creamy. And the wait staff at Mama Dips is friendly and warm and sure to bring a smile to your face. If you’re still feeling down after you eat, take a walk down Franklin Street and browse the shops and boutiques for a little retail therapy!

Pullen Place Cafe (Raleigh): Pullen Park = Happy Place. Pullen Park just reopened after a year’s worth of renovations and the Pullen Place Cafe is one of our favorite upgrades. They source local, seasonal ingredients for their classic, family favorite foods. They make our list of Five Fave Comfort Foods because of their Dinner-to-Go catering option. Meatloaf, mac and cheese, and spaghetti with meatballs are just a few of the comfort food choices that you can order, pick up and eat in the comfort of your own home. Because no one feels like cooking after a bad day.

Rockwell's American Grill (Cary): They are somewhat new to the scene, but they’ve proved themselves Five Fave worthy and we couldn’t leave them off our list! Self proclaimed “comfort foods with a twist” Rockwell’s offers entrees like meatloaf and mashed potatoes served family-style and classic comfort foods with an upscale twist like Gouda grilled cheese sandwiches. Oh, and breakfast is served all day! With music like Mumford and Sons and Kings of Leon in the background, their playlist is just as cozy as their menu.

Original Glazed donuts from Krispy Kreme (Various Locations): If you wake up in the morning, and just can’t motivate yourself to get out of bed, think of the “Hot Now” sign. What’s more motivating than that? Put your two feet on the floor and get out of bed and make sure you have time to swing by Krispy Kreme before work. Pick up a dozen to share with your coworkers and make everybody’s day!