97.9 The Hill’s Staff Picks: ‘Hidden Gems’ Edition

Welcome to the seventh edition of 97.9 The Hill’s Staff Picks!

In this edition, read on as your favorite staffers discuss their favorite hole-in-the-walls, restaurants, happy places, businesses and overall “gems” in the Chapelboro community.

“Hidden gems” is an idiom meaning something which is extremely outstanding that many people may not know about. While some of these picks are well known, they still hold a special place in our staffer’s hearts.

Interested to learn where to pick up “the best” Mexican food? Want to know where to purchase “the best Gin & Tonic you will ever sip on in your life?”

Find out all that and more below.

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Jada Jarillo (Marketing and Operations Manager)

Gem(s): Highlights of Hillsborough

When it comes to choosing a Triangle gem, the town of Hillsborough, where I have lived for going on three years, is my pick hands down every time. But, it’s not exactly a secret anymore that the Hillsborough community has plenty to offer.

Within the town it’s hard to choose my absolute favorite place because there are plenty that I love equally. And, how could I not with such a great variety of downtown features like Yonder Southern Cocktails and Brew, Radius Pizzeria and Pub, Carlisle and Linny Vintage Jewelry, Steve’s Garden Market and Butchery, and the Riverwalk to name a few?

However, heading west of downtown for a few blocks on Margaret Lane will bring you to Nash Street, where you will find the best dang ice cream you have ever had in your life.  The reason is because it’s not actually ice cream.  If you can believe it, it’s better. It is Whit’s Frozen Custard, and my (and my son’s) pick for the best hidden gem in the Triangle.

Frozen custard is a superior product to ice cream in every way because it is thicker and creamier due to the addition of egg yolk to the milk and cream, and because it is carefully mixed to avoid incorporating too much air into the final product.  Also, at Whit’s is it made fresh daily in a variety of delicious flavors.  My personal favorite is called Tar Heel Treat – a blend of hot fudge, chopped nuts, and small bites of brownie mixed into creamy vanilla custard.

I’ve had plenty of great times at Whit’s after trips to Gold Park with my son, or while waiting on to-go orders of nearby BBQ or pizza.  Just this past weekend my family spent time tailgating in the parking lot to enjoy our frozen custard from a safe social distance after a trip to the Eno River.  It’s the perfect way to end a perfect day having fun in Hillsborough.

If you ever find yourself on Nash Street, definitely check it out, along with all of the other wonderful local businesses Hillsborough has to offer.

Victor Lewis (Digital Content Editor)

Gem: El Restaurante Ixtapa in Hillsborough

Not only is Ixtapa hands-down the best Mexican food in a reasonable radius, it’s also somewhat physically hidden, which makes getting there that much sweeter. It’s within walking distance of Volume and some other great Hillsborough spots, if you’d like to make a day of it. Everything about Ixtapa is top-notch, and I would highly suggest looking at the daily specials before you make any final decisions on your order.

Elle Kehres (Reporter)

Gem: Beer Study

Beer Study has a location in Chapel Hill and Durham! I like the location in Durham for its indoor layout. It has everything I’m looking for – arcade games, a comfy atmosphere and a good selection of drinks. I myself am mostly a cider or sour beer drinker, which isn’t a problem as Beer Study has it all!

Plus, the place serves as a bottle shop if you want to bring something home. Not only that, but they’re dog-friendly. Last time I was there (pre-pandemic) the music choice was on-point and there were many nice dogs to pet – both of these are very important to me as I catch up with a friend or sip my cider in the corner with a book.

Aubrey Williams (General Manager)

Gem: The pond and grounds around the Legion building. I am not sure how hidden this gem is, but it is a favorite of mine.

This spot is behind my house, and while my living quarters are kind of small, having nature’s beauty just out the back door, feels magical. We spent years walking our dog up that way, and now my son and I ride bikes there. In summer there are frogs and turtles. In winter, mist will hover above the pond making it look mysterious and somber. Below is a picture my husband took one fall morning – it captures yet another moment of natural beauty in the heart of our town.

Kenny Dike (Billing, Broadcast Traffic, & Sales Operations Manager)

Gem: Yonder Southern Cocktails & Brew

Located in historic downtown Hillsborough a couple footsteps west of the Churton and King Street intersection, Yonder Southern Cocktails & Brew is maybe not considered “hidden”  to the many people who have fallen in love with this establishment in the last year, but it is definitely a Chapelboro “Gem.”

Pre-COVID, Yonder quickly built a reputation as a very popular neighborhood pub, art gallery, live performance and music venue. On the exterior, the main door is adorned with iron gas lanterns that give the place an almost ‘New Orleans’ look, and as you enter, the main room feels larger than it actually is. It kind of has the appearance that the building was once a 1930s/1940s era bank, like the ones you would see in old movies on a main street in a small town, but now with a modern charm. Immediately to the left is the ground level stage for nightly performances, including local bands, an open mic night , improv and book readings. The walls wrapping around the room are filled with a display of up to 50 pieces of art from local artists, for view and sale, that updates monthly. Set against a floor to ceiling brick wall on the right side of the room, sits a giant beautiful bar, where the owners spend most of their time pouring craft brew, slinging southern cocktails, and more importantly, making friends and telling stories with the patrons. Not a restaurant by license, Yonder is very creative with the ‘snack offerings’ with the favorites being charcuteries boards, locally baked cakes, and the ever popular cheese ball puffs served in a brandy snifter!  All of this is great, but what truly makes Yonder a “gem” are the owners and managers, wife and husband, Lana Pierce and Eryk Pruitt. A dynamic duo of real estate and fiction writing, and formerly serving as managers of King Street Bar in the same location, in 2019 they purchased the establishment and re-opened it as Yonder, a word that is a favorite of Eryk’s, omnipresent in his southern noir films and novels.

Whether it is your first time there, or you go all the time, they will immediately make you feel welcome, and their passion and care for the place shows in every detail including the fantastic local art that is procured by Lana – one local artist named ‘Gordon’  told me “the big secret about this place, is it is the best display gallery for artists in the triangle.”

Due to COVID restrictions for the 15 percent of bars in NC that do not have a restaurant license, Yonder has had to adjust its model currently, shifting to operate as a retail bottle shop, with a variety of wine bottles, chilled craft brew 4 and 6 packs, and to-go homemade frozes served in sealed mason jars, while regularly live streaming local music concerts and interviews with local business owners on their Facebook account. Hoping that the “new normal” is temporary, but knowing we will always “all be in this together” they are grateful to everyone who continues to patronize the bottle shop, helping them pay rent as they effort to stay open until they can once again welcome patrons new and old and give everyone a taste of Yonder.

Aaron Keck (Afternoon Show Host)

Gem(s): Belltree and Refuge

We can’t go there right now, but when COVID eventually subsides and we’re able to go to bars again, there are two hidden gems on (or just off) West Franklin Street: Belltree and Refuge! They’re not the most well-known bars on West Franklin (#crunkleton), but Brad and I love them both.

Refuge is located inside the Graduate Chapel Hill, formerly the Franklin Hotel. A couple years ago they brought in a mixologist from San Diego to completely revamp their cocktail menu, and now they’ve got some of the best drinks in town. Try the Oceanside. (Easy to make new friends there too – lots of the customers are in town staying at the hotel and eager to chat with “the locals.”)

And just down the road on Brewer Lane is Belltree, with a cool speakeasy vibe and some of Carrboro’s best and friendliest bartenders. (Double bonus: one of Belltree’s owners is Nick Stroud of Local 506, who’s spearheaded a fundraiser for Covid-affected service-industry workers that’s raised more than 50,000 dollars.) It’s the closest thing to a speakeasy you’ll find in Chapel Hill/Carrboro – that I know of, at least.

Ali Evans (Account Executive)

Gem: AC Hotel on Rosemary Street

I’ve lived in Chapel Hill for almost 30 years so choosing a fairly new spot in town is a little weird – but that’s how awesome this place is. They have, hands down, the best Gin & Tonic you will ever sip on in your life, and their Rose & Mary cocktail is really unique and delicious too. Even if you don’t like avocado toast, prepare to become a believer. You can sit at their bar, or on one of two outdoor patios. I’m sure their offerings are pretty modified these days, but I look forward to when I can sit in the lobby and enjoy a drink & appetizer before dinner!

Brighton McConnell (News Director)

Gem: The Chelsea Theater off Weaver Dairy Road

Watching movies is a big passion of mine. Not many of the local theaters in Chapel Hill and Carrboro show films that have limited theater runs, like documentaries or low-budget indie films. But that’s why I love the Chelsea Theater off Weaver Dairy Road! I’ve seen so many films there, especially come awards season. It’s so fun to go and catch the Academy Awards’ nominated short films presented together! All our local theaters are great, but if one qualifies as a “hidden gem,” I’d say it’s the Chelsea.

Dakota Moyer (Digital Content Manager)

Gem: Carrburritos

My wife and I love Carrburritos and think it’s the best burrito place in the area. If you go, get a mejor burrito and ask for flour tortilla chips. The flour chips pair great with their salsa!

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Check out our last staff picks (alternate universe jobs edition) here!

Learn more about 97.9 The Hill’s great staffers on our ‘Meet Our Staff’ page here!

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