Reviews of Crook's Corner (Restaurant)

Casey McGoun

Had a great dining experience here! I really enjoy their outdoor patio, it is right in the middle of town but feels secluded!

Allison Ross

EXCELLENT experience! My first time ever having shrimp and grits and it was really good! ! Our group also got a Cesar salad, porkloin, and the sampler. Everyone was super impressed. Husband's previous shrimp & grit experience was with 82 Queen in Charleston and said that this was different but still very, very good. Pricier than we anticipated but fantastic. One of the better stops in Chapel Hill. Will put it on our short list to take family/visitors to. The patio was absolutely beautiful and a great vibe... Even on a rainy night! I can't believe we waited so long to try Crook's Corner! The desserts were fabulous! We tried the banana pudding, brownie, and mint sorbet- all of which were fantastic!! Could definitely make a meal of sharing small plates and desserts.

Marvin L

Classic. the people there are professionals. It is a tight knit group that is like a family of restaurant pros. Been that way since the beginning. Its in great hands of folks who love giving perfect service. Great patio w fountain, Pig on the roof - line out the door. see their menu for specials. Buy a Bill Neal cookbook. You will want it later.

Laura Walton

The service was good, but the food was very disappointing. The cocktails were good (although a bit small). The barbecue was mushy, the shrimp and grits flavorless. When we made reservations, the hostess recommended the patio. We literally fought bugs and flies the whole time. A fly was floating in my cocktail. We couldn't wait to leave!

Joel Rosch

Classic Chapel Hill restaurant. New management still great food at a reasonable price. I should go there more often

Frank Bookhardt

Interesting twist on some classic cuisine. Menu changed but the shrimp and grits is legendary

Laura Tuck

One of the very best dining experiences ever! Such a wonderful place!!!

Anne Garner

Eating at Crook's is always a pleasure. Their brunch menu is my favorite. They have a limited amount of French toast, so get there early.

Alex Worsnip

I want to love this place so much, with it's great vibe, history, simple approach and friendly service. But the food is just so-so. Entrees that I've had all average, supposedly famed hushpuppies are bland. The best aspect of the food is the dessert, which is the way you hope all the food will be: simple and classic but delicious.

Russell Smith

Nice place with history but the prices are a bit high for what you get. The service is average.

Marisa Asturias

Crooks corner (New Orleans/Southern Cooking Fusion)is for SPICY hot food lovers. Food last year was really tasty, and spicy hot. Now its just spicy hot, flavor just wasn't there sadly. Owners retired recently...New ownership, we went a few days ago. Not fantastic, just okay. Hope new owners revamp, and find better cooking, menu, etc.

Hilde Weisert

Always good, classic southern dishes, top notch staff

Allen Herring

First time to visit and I really enjoyed it. The food and price point were spot on.

Gary Saunders

Great classic but different southern dishes. Get the Atlantic Beach lemon pie...outstanding!

Jay J. D'Lugin, MD, MS

Nice place for brunch. Food is pretty good.

Rachel Farrow

Our server Gayle was the sweetest. So quick and such great service.

ray luce

Excellent anniversary dinner. Pork belly swimming in an avacado & corn sauce was both creative and tasty. Shrimp n grits always worth the visit. Desserts luscious. An old standard still receiving an A+.

J R

Nice place with history but the prices are a bit high for what you get. The service is average.

Ashley Monitor

Great quiet little find. Food is good, specials even better.

Mark Sistare

Get. The. Shrimp. And. Grits. That said, everything here was just fantastic. No matter what you get, you will not be disappointed!

Jeffrey Webber

Great southern specialties and large portions. Outdoors seating, and funny diner-esque interior. Somehow it all works, and works well!

Amy Crossette

Loved the outside patio and the food was excellent. Unfortunately, I had a server (Betz) who, attentive at first, was gone for long periods of time and spent quite a bit of time chatting with a table of either friends or regular customers....while I was left with an empty wine glass and empty water glass for over 15 minutes. I realize it's unfair to judge a restaurant on one server, so I still highly recommend the place. As I said, the patio and food were fantastic.

Walter McDougal

Great food and attentive service. Just a little small inside. We'll go back in summer and eat outside on the patio.

Peter Dai

Their dishes are so pretty! Very large portion lol. Nice place to hangout

Stu Miller

Service was slow & they were not crowded. Artichoke & Crab Appetizer was mostly melted cheese. Ordered Shrimp & Grits. So spicy we had to send it back. Waiter admitted it could have had too much hot sauce. Brought a second plate & it was exactly the same. Over all a bad dining experience.

Danielle Sollace

Best shrimp and grits in the area!

Caleb Lively

Great service and delicious food in a unique setting. Atmosphere is upscale southern comfort, mixed with eccentric diner. Pricey, but worth a visit.

Christopher Pleasant

I have heard about this place for years and finally got to visit on my birthday. Reservations for that Sunday morning were full so we got there a few minutes before they opened. We were first in line and the hostess found my party a table right away. The menu had a Millermosa, which I had never heard of. Great way to start your day. Every list of great shrimp and grits dishes list Crooks Corner as the best. Believe all of the reviews. Also the Eggs Benedict are on point. Every member of the staff was helpful and smiling. As we were leaving each staff member said good bye and wished us a great day. Will not wait years more to visit again.

Shinnal Locklear

Not really my cup of tea but others in my party enjoyed the food.

Paula McKinley

Shrimp and Grits at it's finest. Jalapeno Hushpuppies are a must.

Zach Brown

A delicious institution. The launch pad of Southern food into the popular culture started right here and the modern menu is worthy of that history. The place is charmingly run down but that is purely aesthetic. The food and service were both superb.

Kate Degiule

Loved it! Especially the orange red-hot sorbet..

Dan Carr

The issue was the service, the waiter was nowhere to be found most of our meal, and at one point we asked if there were specials and all she said was "Yup" and didn't tell us what they were... The red gumbo was alright, honestly not the best that I've had.

Randy Harrell

Excellent food in a casual and funky setting.

Jinny Baeckler

So pleasant. Sit outside in the totally imaginative patio, bounded on two sides with real live bamboo and featuring a gurgling fountain cascading down one wall. Then too, there are fabulous eats and reasonable prices.

Justin Watkins

Really unique southern style cuisine. Get the frozen mint julip for dessert.

Marsha Skjaerris

The most AMAZING brunch !!! Very cordial staff. Justin was outstanding as our waiter; we were shocked to learn that it was his 3rd day of training; we all thought he’d been there forever...extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of the food. And the food....OMG, scrumptious from first to last bites. Thank you for making my 71st birthday so memorable and wonderful.

Jeremy Brown

Good atmosphere. I got the eggs Benedict with ham. The hollandaise was broken. Ham was far too salty. Orange juice was amazing as were the hush puppies.

Dianne Christensen

An old chapel hill favorite. A must if visiting the area. Funky little place with a really neat fenced in patio. The brunch is my favorite.

Esther Brown

The late great Southern chef Bill Neal made a Shrimp and Grits at Crook's that has been a favorite of my family’s for as long as I can remember. Cheddar and Parmesan, balanced with the brightness of lemon, green onion and mushrooms, not to mention oceans of tender, garlicky shrimp; it’s the perfect dish. My brother Zoli worked at Crook’s in high school. When we would visit him at the restaurant, somebody always ordered that Shrimp and Grits and whoever it was would spend the rest of the meal shooing the rest of us away from his or her plate.

Josh Addington

The shrimp and grits were good, but the catfish po'boy was definitely not worth it.

John Maynard

A Traditional Favorite before a UNC "beatdown" on dook.

Zoe Rind

Very good brunch on two visits

Derek Langston

The food quality ranges from good to great. However, it is overpriced even given the quality. The Carolina sampler costs almost 20 dollars for example. Not a place you can afford to eat at as often as you may like unless you are working with a relatively high food budget. 4 stars for the food, 2 for the price.

Dave Hill

A quirky local establishment serving delicious food at good prices.

J. Eric Elliott

Southern done right. Fried oysters otherworldly.

Jennifer Smith

Outdoor covered terrace with overhead fans was the right place to enjoy a Father's Day Brunch! Unique setting with waterfalls, bamboo forest, and weird art! Food was good, medium priced, and service was pleasant.

Dan Sr.

Good food and atmosphere, loved the strimp on grits and honeysuckle sorbet.

Glenn Girtman

Great food. Be sure to check out the art. Yes, it's for sale.

Wendy J. Katsiagianis

Excellent in every way!

Kristen Carella

Long-standing Commitment Hill icon great food.

Chris Corsi

Was surprised with how fancy it was, I underestimated that. Food was good, nothing spectacular. Attractive waiters lol. French toast was great if you're into that.

Priya Chokshi

I was surprised how much I liked Crook's corner! I wasn't sure what to expect with this little restaurant in Carrboro but the brunch menu did not disappoint. All the food that came out was in large portions and the food itself was really delicious! I'll be back again as the service was really good for a busy Sunday morning and the food was top-notch and filling. Parking in the area can be tough but there are lots and a parking deck nearby.

Austin Phoenix

My favorite restaurant in the world.

Cell6621 sleep music

Great farm fresh produce + specialty drinks

Alex Krueger

The blueberry crumble desert was delicious, but the rest of the food was disappointing. For example, the hush puppies were bland and served with regular old ketchup.

John Watkin

Simply the best restaurant in Chapel Hill! Always fresh wonderful southern cuisine. And the nicest wait staff anywhere!

Sean Anderson

Pretty good food. Bacon was overcooked. Atmosphere is a throwback to the 40's diners.

Mark Burke

Excellant rocket lettuce sallad. Great shrimp & grits.

Angel Rhodes

Considering the restaurant is slightly upscale the prices were very reasonable. I was also surprised by the portions- neither overly enourmous or stingy. I had the shrimp with grits, and I was surprised to find quite a bit more than the half dozen shrimp most restaurants provide in a shrimp "meal." The food was cooked perfectly and the flavor was divine. The menu is small, so it may be worth checking there's at least one dish you like if you're even a fairly picky eater. But assuming there is, I have yet to experience a better restaurant in the triangle. Highly highly recommended.

Adrian Ilie

Tasty food, but a bit pricey.

Aryd'ell Hotelling

Food excellent. Service needs help. Had to flag another server to fetch ours, when one of our salads was lacking an ingredient, spotty service even after that. Strong smell of MOTHBALLS, which are toxic, in patio area, which ruined the smell and taste of meals for some of us.

Meghan Brown

Everything I had here was amazing. The fig appetizer was was so unusual and delicious. My very favorite was the mint julep dessert, mint sorbet with bourbon. It's part dessert, part drink and all tasty. I find myself craving another!

Kelly N

great tasting food. Good portions. Will be back!

Dawn Denkins

Never had a bad meal. Shrimp and grits are the best I've ever had.

Greg Wilson

Have had both brunch and dinner and both were great. They regularly change their art as well!

Carmelita T

My first taste of Southern Comfort Food! Absolutely delicious. Really quaint atmosphere, we sat on the heated patio. Really good service. I had a little bit of everything - loved the Cheese Pork, Hushpuppies as well as the Biscuit & Sweet Potato pudding!!! YUM!

Peter Robson

Nice place, cozy. Shrimp and grits was quite good.

Nick DeBarmore

I am not sure what I expected from my visit to Crook's Corner, but whatever it was, my visit did not meet that expectation. The service was awesome, the outdoor seating was great. The food was just "so-so". Honestly, it was a bit over priced for what it was. I should have reviewed the menu before I went, so I'll take the blame there. I would still like to give Brunch a try to see if that is better.

Hannah Lewis

Jalapeño hush puppies were mushy and undercook. Shrimp and grits was mostly mushrooms and the burger was dry without mayo or mustard as described. Waitress was nice but didn’t stop much. Would not eat here again

Raymond Caldwell

Great art work on the wall that can purchased.

Michael Muir

One of my favorite places. I always go with several small plates. Cheese grits are the best I've eaten

James Perry

Was ok. Deviled eggs had too much celery. Shrimp and grits were solid not special. Cornbread didn't really taste like cornbread.

John Morrison

Today we had brunch there. Eggs New Bern come highly recommended; it's a NC twist on an old classic. The french fries are obscenely good. The mimosas are pleasingly tart. I recommend sitting on the patio if the weather is decent, because it's fairly loud inside. Overall excellent.

Doug Zabor

Drinks great...cocktail from list and recommended Coq de Rhone with NC BBQ place... But hush puppies super dry.BBQ from. picnic super dry. Honeysuckle sorbet superb. Service superb. Quality way to variable for $60 a person. Disapointing

Skyview Retractables

Awesome homemade dessert lemon line pie and coffee

Matthew Aguero

Get ready to crush some southern cuisine.

Virginia Wiggins

Gayle is the best server! She made me feel so special on my 50th birthday! Oh yeah, the food is incredible! Especially the hoppin' John and the honeysuckle sorbet!

Jacob Mader

Try the mint julep sorbet cocktail. It's a delight!

William Graham

Top of the line Southern classics. Often imitated. Never duplicated.

Camryn Anderson

I had some of the best southern comfort food here, not to mention an amazing cocktail and delicious desserts. We also had an incredible waiter named Justin who treated us like family. If you’re in Chapel Hill looking for a high-class brunch with low class prices, I’d recommend Crooks Corner.

angela prescott

Me and the husband love Crooks! We've been eating there for years and watched it change hands 3 times now. The food and service are always fantastic!

Scott Yagodzinskie

Liked it a lot. The tables are a bit close.

Derek Hatfield

Only had the hush puppies and Mac & Cheese and they were good. A snowstorm caused a lot of items to be unavailable. Seemed like a good atmosphere We would go back.

Eric W. Livingston

Great food and atmosphere. Highly recommend

Susie Hartsog

The bass was a little overcooked. The steak was great, but it was a tiny portion for the price. Service at the bar was great, and the ambiance was lovely.

kellie freeborn

great food great wine great service

Scott Reynolds Nelson

Signature restaurant for Chapel Hill, over 25 years old. One of the first to do haute-Southern cuisine in Chapel Hill. Pricey but delicious

Bonnie Denkins

We made reservations for 6 people for 7:00 and arrived on time, anticipatory and hungry for what has always been great food. It took 20 minutes for the waitress to even take our drink orders. It took another 10 minutes for her to re-appear and ask about our order. We ordered appetizers which arrived cold (hushpuppies, oysters). Our main courses were lukewarm, our waitress non-existent, we had to ask various wait staff for refills of our beverages and finally asked one of them to please find our waitress. We ordered dessert and coffee. The desserts arrived, no coffee, and our waitress once again disappeared. It took another 20 minutes to get our bill, and again another 10-15 minutes for her to pick up our credit cards and process them. In all, we were there for over 2&1/2 HOURS!!! We were past disappointed and don't plan on going back anytime soon. The most activity at our table were the "table vultures" that frequently reached in front of our faces to remove anything they thought we weren't using. Disgusting and rude service all around.

Millie Kwan

A classic institution in Chapel Hill for seasonally Southern food. Some really nice classic Southern preparations as well as some tweaks including a cracker plate with homemade pimento cheese, jalapeno cheese hushpuppies, and spicy Mac and cheese. They also have hoppin' John, collard greens, cornbread, and banana pudding with meringue topping. I had fried sea sea trout with diced vegetables which was terrific and fresh persimmon (NC persimmons not Asian) pudding with whipped cream which were quite tasty. Portions are not only generous, but Southern (read as huge). Lots of nearby parking if you follow the directions on their website. Also one of the only restaurants open Sunday nights.

Shahab Siahpoosh

The owner is very friendly and an interesting man.

Jackem The Person

I had the NY strip steak, it was cooked excellently and was a overall great dinner.

Brian Kurzius

I just felt it was overpriced and the food not worth it. Got a burger with bacon and cheese, hushpuppies (both of which were ok - nothing amazing) and a coke -- and the bill was $27 (without the tip). Maybe the higher priced meals are better but I would much rather go to Al's or Sandwhich - and pay a lot less :-(

Rebecca Fox

I've only had cocktails and dessert here, but both are

Jeff Mecham

Best shrimp and grits anywhere...And I've had them all over the deep south. Great brunch, great outdoor sitting area. Definitely different and a must visit when you can

Christopher Rose

As always, amazing.

Trevor Riley

Southern home cooking like no other!

Natalie Martin

The food and staff are wonderful. Great place to take a guest to get great southern food. Can be a bit packed and noisy, but only because it's so popular.

E. O. Pederson

Good and imaginative Southern cuisine, excellent service, fantastic drinks, what more could one want? We always stop by for a meal when we are near Chapel Hill, indeed we detour just to eat here.

Mary Martha Breithaupt

Incredible southern food. Diner vibes featuring rotating local art and easy charm. Get the banana pudding!

Michael Booth

Casual elegance, exquisite food and wonderful service!

Bo Wiseman

Hoppin John. Nuff said...

Alex Sarmiento

Went there for the Louisiana cooking in February. Heard the commercials on NPR, but I was extremely disappointed with the service and the quality food. It took 20 minutes from being sat at our table to getting greeted by our server. Drinks took age to make, and they were not good. The bartender must have had a heavy hand with the simple syrup because the two drinks we ordered were all sugar no booze. The featured gumbo was seasoned horribly. Saying it was seasoned is probably not a good idea... I had to salt and pepper my food on my own. It was not representative of cajun cooking at all. The steak that my fiance ordered was good, but it could not redeem the rest of our experience. Also, we had reservations through Open Table, but for some reason the website gave me a message that I was a no show. It's minor, but between that and the server consistently disappearing, it reflected poorly. I did see another server crushing it, and the water guy was on his game.

patrick nichols

Never have had a bad meal here. The shrimp and grits are a must order as well as the banana pudding. Service is great, always a good experience here.

Peter Enchelmayer

Good food with good friends. Attentive service. We lingered maybe 3 hours. Lovely.

James Parker

Nine years ago I visited Crooks Corner with friends and we had good food and fun. This recent visit was a different story. We enter Sunday at 1 pm and they are not busy ... it takes six or seven minuets for someone who was chatting at the bar to greet us with "outside or in. " We ask for an inside table as it was raining. and he takes us to a row of dirty tables... I had to point to a clean table for us to be seated. Several minuets pass before a server comes over and ask if we were ready to order. We ask for a menu and she walks away. After we have a menu I ask if we can order crispy bacon and she said they do not serve crispy bacon. We leave and are very thankful as we found 411 West a block away and everything was wonderful including the crispy bacon and the service. +Google Local Guide.

Lori Bentley

Best Shrimp and Grits I've ever had! Definitely recommend!!!

Eddie Taylor

Great food and service. The shrimp and grits are amazing. The pepper jelly on cracker platter appetizer is the best I've tried. Highly recommend. Be warned though, it gets loud in the restaurant.

Dominik Röttsches

Had a stale tasting fried fish dish with confused sides of slaw and corn bread, my friends had other odd dishes and portion sizes. The place was not a highlight. On the plus side, fairly quick service and a good local brew on tap.

Patrick McCallum

Excellent southern food, great service

Jimmy Little

Great restaurant with excellent food and service. Try the Atlantic Beach pie, outstanding.

K Walton

Is it local or is it southern? It's both! Local foods and folks and top-notch southern comfort food in a french-cafe like "joint" …. that got a James Beard Award but is super casual - though some do dress up. Southern might mean a bit of Mexico (tamales) or France … Best patio. Best: Old world wines by the glass, aperitifs, beer… and pat-ay plates, French Fries, steak w/ Bourbon brown sauce, oysters, Honorable Desserts and festive fish dishes like Trout Bon Femme. Surprising things like Red Hot candy orange sorbet, Scuppernong sorbet, fried pecan succotash, southern schnitzels (think fried cutlets with Madeira sauce). Plus the southern canon: Shrimp & Grits, the best Banana Pudding, collards, black pepper cornbread. Those are my picks. Some swear by the Hoppin' John

Arash Sayadi

We tried Crook's a year ago and it was closed. We we're glad to have trued it again. They have a great selection of local ingredients, drinks and flavor. The shrimp and grits dish was unique and delicious. I would highly recommend getting the cracker and jalepeno jelly appetizer. If you're in Chapel Hill, you have to stop by here!

Gossett McRae

Good food, good menu choices

Robert Monahan

Crook's is an institution around here but doesn't rest on its laurels. I went for brunch on Sunday and had an amazing version of one of my faves.. Croque Madame. I ate slightly too much of the pepper jam and pimento before meal came out and almost didn't finish.. But I powered through. Amazing cocktails to boot. The rest of the menu sounded incredible so I'll need to go back.

Maya Anderson

Amazing food and friendly service - I will definitely be returning. Our server, Justin L. did a great job making us feel welcome and was very charming. The atmosphere on the back patio is perfect for any occasion. The shrimp and grits are to die for & I had the best collard greens in my life. Thank you Crook's Corner!!

Brandon Morgan

Very poor service, missed orders, had to.ask for someone to serve us, took our food outside, couldn't figure out who ordered what. Food was good, that is why it.gets 3 stars.

Adam Bokesch

our second visit and food and service were mediocre. there are better restaurants for both. atmosphere was casual, comfortable, and eclectic. the strangest part of the experience was an opossum that crawled around the restaurant water fountain, bamboo plants, and fence on perimeter. some tables were disgusted by a rodent in the restaurant and according to our server, the animal has been a nuisance for quite some time. won't be back.

Kate McPike

Cute place.... Pricy, but the food is so good. I head the shrimp and grits (yum) and my friend head the catfish. Both were excellent. Be sure to have a mint julep!

Janene Townshend

Ate "world famous" shrimp and grits. Apparently the origin of restaurant shrimp and grits. A good representation of the meal, very plump, flavorful shrimp. Different to Charleston style, but as good. Service was quick and friendly.

Tyler Curtain

The food is flavorful and consistently good. The main issue: everything is served at near-room temperature. I've eaten here over 20 years. The food is always tepid. The wait staff is polite and competent. I never have a bad meal here but it has been a long time since I've had a good one.

Wiley Barbour

This place has been serving southern cuisine for as long as I can remember. Every bite is a pleasure and you leave feeling comforted and cared for.

Al Wodarski

Great southern food and great service. Try the Hoppin John's and any dessert!

Brian Crawford

My wife and I ate brunch here on June 23, we shared this review via Resy and received no response from the owner or management. We ordered two coffees, a side of hoppin john and a biscuit, steak and eggs, eggs benedict and a side of grits. Our coffee sat empty for at least 7 minutes before we flagged down a bus person to refill it. This happened more than once. The hoppin john was not good, it consisted of a plate of rice and you charged us $8 for it. The tomatoes were old and unripe, the green onions were old and wilted - and again, it was 90% rice 10% black eyed peas. The biscuit was average. The eggs benedict was good. The side of grits were slightly below average, they had sat in the cup for so long it grew a skin on top and overall flavor was lacking. The steak and eggs, while the steak was good - the eggs were not good, no seasoning, cooked inconsistently - the yolk was somewhat runny but mostly set and yet some of the whites were still uncooked. The most disappointing part of this meal were the potatoes, they were undercooked, unseasoned large hunks of a miserable excuse for potatoes. We are happy to have tried a new place, but do not intend on returning. We wished the manager would have come around to ask us how our meal was as we would have been happy to share this information with them directly.

Ann Williams

Great food and thrilled they sent out an em to let is know they were open Food was superb

Sarah Alexanian

We had brunch and the food was fine. There's nothing creative going on here for brunch; it's all expected stuff. I had shrimp and grits and it was a traditional and basic version with way too much raw scallion dumped on top. Two of the party ordered the shrimp and grits without hot sauce and all of the shrimp and grits at the whole table came without the hot sauce, which is not a big deal because you can just add your own at the table, but I'm just noting that the orders weren't accurate. Several at the table had coffee and only at the very end of the meal was anyone able to get a refill, and that was done by aggressively flagging a server down. Overall I'm not sure what the fuss is about this place. All the food was super basic stuff that I could have prepared better at home and I'm a very minor level foodie. Overpriced for what it is, considering the service wasn't great either.

Ray Linville

Classic foods of the South prepared creatively. Excellent service even when super busy. Plan to call ahead for reservations to guarantee that you will be able to get a table.

Katie Cleaveland

Shrimp and grits are out of this world. This has been a family tradition for a long time for my grandmother's birthday, she's 92!

Steven Pohnert

Exceptional food

Phillip Bond

The Carolina Sampler is incredible, I will always have a place in my heart for Crook's Corner.

Bill Churchwell

Great food! Great place for a date night with the wife.

Matt Takas

Excellent dinner here! Service was on point at the bar and the one drink I had (Old Fashioned) was tasty. I started out with Tuscan Sausage Soup, which was very flavorful with the mustard greens in it. I then had the Grilled Pork Chop for dinner which was very good. It came with New Potatoes, mushrooms, caramelized onions, pickled raisins and almonds. Sounds like it would be overly sweet, right? Not very much at all actually, as the flavors worked with each other quite well without one being too much. Good job on this one! For dessert, I was a little unsure what to get. I didn't want something over the top sweet or too much of anything either. I opted for the Atlantic Beach Lemon-Lime pie after asking the bartender for ideas. I was not sure what to expect, especially with a saltine crust which was quite thick on the back of the slice. It was delicious! Great dessert with just enough of a tart to it to stave off the heat of the day. I didn't eat the entire crust, as it was a bit more stuck together at the back and I didn't want to make a huge mess. All in all, great meal. As stated, service was on point and everyone I encountered there was very polite and engaging to make sure my experience was a good one. I can't speak to some of the negatives in other recent reviews, as this was my first time there, but I'll definitely be back to try a few different things when I'm in the area.

Crazy Unicorn

AMAZING FOOD!!!!! I had their shrimp and grits and it was just unbelievably good!

Millicent Bowie

This place is very quaint. The food is amazing. I have been many times for lunch and brunch on Sunday and I have never been disappointed. The fried oysters are amazing, well just about anything you get will be awesome. There may be a "wait" but the food is worth it. Parking may be somewhat challenging because the parking lot behind the restaurant is small. There are other places to park so you can walk to the restaurant. Plan accordingly. You may want to call ahead. It is a landmark and the pink pig adds a little whimsy that makes the place endearing and food keeps you coming back.

Chef Bambu

Decore is nice, service efficient but the food I can get from a cafeteria. Barbecue I ordered was not from the restaurant and 1/3 of the plate was a piece of cornbread I called corncake because it was sweet. Save your money.

Ron G

First heard of this spot through Our State magazine when I used their Atlantic Lemon Lime pie recipe for Thanksgiving. The pie was fantastic as were the other dishes my wife and I tried on our visit. Great staff who are obviously passionate about what they are serving. The space feels upscale but has a casual vibe. The menu is updated versions of down to earth comfort foods that we loved. As much as I loved the lemon pie I actually recommend the Good Banana Pudding for desert. Highly recommend this place.

Traci Cappiello

I fell in love with every single dish I had at Crook's Corner and thanks to my trusty dining mate, we tried each of their most famous dishes. The heirloom tomato salad is fantastic and I never knew I loved mayo with tomatoes until I dined here. The pimento and hot pepper jelly plate is a must-eat, along with the pulled pork dish, with collard greens. For the huge servings, top-notch service and delicious meals, Crook's Corner offers great value.

Laura Windham

Crook's was the first nice restaurant I went to in Chapel Hill over 25 years ago. Today, it's still just as good and dinner there feels like visiting an old friend. I never regret getting the shrimp and grits, but I've managed to branch out. Tonight's leek and mushroom risotto was creamy and wonderful. Here's to 25 more years!

Karl Muessig

Top shrimp& grits

John Millican

Great place!

James Wallace

Classic southern food at its best. The service is impeccable, as is the food. Best brownie sundae ever.

Tyle Stelzig

I came here for brunch, and got the grits. This was like two years ago, but I still remember the flavors very clearly. One of the most delicious brunches that I have ever eaten. My dad also got the grits, and he loved them too. My girlfriend was actually not very impressed though, but she ordered something else.

Keith Pottmeyer

It's an heirloom, what more do you need to know

Amy W

Excellent service, great food, in a tucked away, low key setting.

denise hallfors

The softshell crab and honey suckle sorbet were superb. Perfect anniversary dinner!

Jim Roberts

Always a great meal!

Jim Price

Great food and a wonderful environment.

Eddie Burks

Great food! Loved the work from the featured artist, Jake Brower!

Walker Knight

Amazing restaurant! I had the jalapeno cheddar hush puppies, some fried oysters, and the shrimp & grits (pictured). Everything was seriously delicious! The shrimp & grits pack so much flavor it's unbelievable! Cute little spot with a fun atmosphere and great staff. Space is limited, so I would recommend a reservation unless you are planning to show up when the doors open.

Ted Frazier

We decided to try this restaurant for my mothers 76th birthday. The chef had gotten a good review in one of the publications I follow. We also live locally and like to suport the local buisnesses. The service was good but sadly we found the menu lacking, the food marginal and overpriced for what was offered.

Kimberly Willardson

A lovely patio dinner.

barbara kingsbury

Located in the charming downtown of Chapel Hill (home of the mighty Tar Heels), Crooks Corner has been a mainstay in inventive, delicious Southern cuisine for over 30 years. Everything they serve is beyond description, but I especially like Sunday Brunch. If you're anywhere near Chapel Hill do yourself a big favor and eat at Crooks.

Monica Samsky

The honeysuckle sorbet really is all that. Delicious AF.

meme bernholz

One of my favorite restaurants of all time. Consistently excellent over the decades. The food, the servers, and Bill knock it out of the park every single time. Highly recommended!

David Meyer

Best shrimp and grits I've ever had! And I hate grits. Like this was so good!

Jill Rinehart

What a great place to get really good southern cooking. The patio is the place to be if you enjoy being outside. Love all the plants and flowers.

Vic Marriott

Highly recommend the CHEESE PORK! and the Bourbon Buck. Also the gin thing my wife had.

Carla Parks

Tried Crook's Corner recently and really enjoyed the delicious food and terrace dining. Fun place!