Where to eat

Whether you like Italian, Vietnamese, Indian or just a tasty sandwich, the dining scene offers something for everyone. Here is a sampling of restaurants the Observer staff has visited in the past year. For more listings, go to
fayobserver.com/life.




Bento Box and Sushi
2651 Raeford Road, 483-9311
Diners get a unique sushi experience at Bento Box and Sushi. You can buy pieces of different types of sushi without having to buy an entire roll, creating a sort of sushi buffet. The restaurant, however, is more than just sushi. The bento box, or lunch box, selections include chicken teriyaki, teriyaki tofu and tempura vegetable mix, and shrimp tempura, barbecued eel and miso salmon. All bento boxes include rice, a fruit medley and salad. Six pieces of sushi can be added for an additional cost. Or you can order 12 pieces or an entire roll. Side items include seaweed salad, miso soup, and fruit cup. A selection of beers is also available.


Louie’s
132 Person St., 323-9420
Louie’s, located in downtown Fayetteville, offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. In fact, diners can get any lunch or dinner item at any time of day, even during breakfast hours. If you’re there for breakfast, however, the Texas Toast French Toast (three slices of Texas Toast, bacon or sausage and a drink) is a true crowd pleaser. So is the club sandwich, served with ham, turkey, American cheese and bacon on Texas Toast stacked three high. Louie’s also offers 7-inch personal pizzas and fresh-made salads, which have been a hit with lunch crowds.


Kiss Me Cakes
4251 Legion Road, Hope Mills, 425-6862
Life is certainly sweet at Kiss Me Cakes. The Legion Road bakery has made a name for itself with its delicious assortment of cupcakes that leaves no dessert-lover unfazed. The bakery also sells doughnuts, croissants, sticky buns, cinnamon rolls, muffins and coffee. Cakes are available, either by the slice or whole. Custom cakes can be decorated in any shape imaginable, from digital cameras to footballs. They must be special ordered, and the price depends on the size and design.

Sherefe Deli at Belk
Belk at Cross Creek Mall, Skibo Road, 864-1111, ext. 276
For years, Sherefe Mediterranean Grill on Ramsey Street has attracted customers with its authentic Mediterranean cuisine. The Sherefe Deli at Belk offers similar types of dishes as the Ramsey Street location, with an accent on soups, salads, sandwiches and wraps. Fresh ingredients and healthy food choices are key at the mall eatery, which offers soup specials daily, including red lentil, broccoli and feta cheese, roasted cauliflower and the favorite, lemon chicken. Other favorites include Greek salad, seared tuna salad, a Greek chicken wrap and the grilled eggplant pizza — a bit hit at lunch.


Ramona’s Cafe & Restaurant
235 Person St., 486-3388
Located across from the courthouse in downtown Fayetteville, Ramona’s Cafe & Restaurant offers the best of three cultures — American, Mexican and Italian dishes. The restaurant’s specialty, however, is its handmade, authentic Mexican cuisine, which has made it a popular downtown lunch destination. Diners are certainly welcome to try the pizza or calzone, or even a Philly cheese steak, but it’s the tacos a la plancha (consisting of three hand-made flour tortillas with shredded meat, lettuce, cheese and lime) that help the restaurant stand out. Another favorite is the tacos de carne asada, which comes with four tacos, with steak on fresh corn tortillas, cilantro, onion, lime and rice.


The Lodge Steakhouse and Tavern
3451 N. Main St., Hope Mills, 339-6821
The restaurant, located on Main Street in Hope Mills, offers hickory-smoked steaks, chicken, seafood and more in a mountain lodge-type setting. The chairs are rough-hewn cedar. Mounted deer and caribou heads line the walls. Even the light fixtures have an outdoors theme. The menu features hearty fare with a focus on steaks. The menu also includes grilled chicken breasts, baby back ribs, and grilled pork chops. Seafood selections include mango-glazed salmon, pan-seared crab cakes and grilled shrimp. There are also several selections of salads, burgers and a veggie burger to reach out to any taste bud.



Latitude 35
1217 Hay St., 485-4777
The restaurant and bar, located in historic Haymount, is named for Fayetteville’s position on the map. The interior features a beach theme, with calming green walls and bright island-themed art. The menu, meanwhile, is West Indies and Caribbean-inspired, including dishes with names like Bahama Quesadilla, Key West Chowder and Coastal Crab Cake Sliders. Sandwich selections include a Maui chicken sandwich and a Cubano panini. Soups and salads include a Key West chowder and a Caribbean salad. Dinner entrees include the popular fish tacos, shrimp Alfredo and broiled grouper. Live music often can be found on the back patio on weekends.

Riverside Steakhouse & Oyster Bar
1122 Person St., 437-5177
Located at Campbellton Landing next to the Cape Fear River, Riverside Steakhouse & Oyster Bar offers a solid lineup of surf and turf dishes. The menu features hand-cut steaks with and produce and seafood coming fresh from local sources. Favorites include the 18-ounce porterhouse steak served with three-cheese macaroni and sauteed vegetables, the shrimp & grits plate, steamed mussels, crispy fried calamari, fried flounder, as well as peel & eat shrimp, crab legs and oysters — all available in half-pound and one-pound servings. For those who prefer their oysters raw, they’re available by the half dozen, half peck and one peck sizes. The restaurant also offers a a functional front deck patio that has been added with roll-up windows, allowing customers to order from the outside.