A recent addition to Chapel Hill’s thriving restaurant scene is capping off a successful 2023 by celebrating a very big honor.

Bombolo, located in Midtown Market on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, has just been named North Carolina Restaurant of the Year by the magazine Eater Carolinas.

Owned by siblings Garret Fleming and Eleanor Lacy, Bombolo opened its doors in February in the space formerly occupied by Kitchen. Fleming is the restaurant’s head chef, while Lacy is the pastry chef. It’s been a hit with residents ever since, with an eclectic concept that’s “rooted in Italy” and grounded in pasta but also willing to incorporate other traditions and styles from all over the world. (On the wall inside is a sign reading “Ceci n’est pas un restaurant Italien” – or “This is not an Italian restaurant,” with a nod to Rene Magritte.)

It’s not Fleming and Lacy’s first time at the restaurant rodeo: they both have extensive culinary backgrounds, and prior to Bombolo the pair owned and operated Big Belly Que in Chapel Hill’s Blue Dogwood Market downtown.

“Despite its size, opening Bombolo was a gargantuan effort and we never could have brought it to fruition without the help of an amazing team,” Fleming told Chapelboro. “We are honored to be named ‘North Carolina Restaurant of the Year’ and look forward to being a part of this amazing community for years to come.”

Bombolo is open for dinner every night except Tuesday and Wednesday. You can find more information on the restaurant’s website.

Photo via Forrest Mason.

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