A Trip to the Pittsboro General Store Cafe

Residents of the Raleigh area, if you are looking for a unique evening out and are willing to drive a little extra, a trip out the Pittsboro General Store Cafe is highly recommended. The trek to Pittsboro takes from 30-40 minutes from the center of Raleigh.

The General Store Cafe is first and foremost a restaurant. At the front of the store, there is a bar where you can order sandwiches, coffee drinks, and sides. This is a popular option for lunch. There are also tables here, and you can order from the full-service menu. In the back of the store, there is another section with a stage and more tables, plus a bar where you can order alchoholic beverages.

The restaurant serves organic food. The evening I arrived, I shared the shrimp and grits with a friend and indulged in the peach ginger cobbler. The entree came with vegetables and dinner rolls. Before dinner, they served us awesome cornbread, which was baked with jalepenos. It was delicious. Including the cup of coffee and my tip, the total bill came to around $30. So it's definitely on the pricier side, but worth it for a special and unique evening.

The number of options on the full service menu was small, but the options were unique and interesting. Ironically, when I asked the waitress for a recommendation, she cited the burritos. I was expecting a down home country type of menu, with chicken, mashed potatoes, and bacon-soaked green beans, but the food served at the cafe is more health-conscious.

The decor was also something to see. The front half of the store looked similar to an old country restaurant, with an eclectic mix of tables and chairs, mostly made of wood. You could still hear the live music in this section, but it was quieter. There were some very interesting furniture pieces. I was especially taken with a coffee table made from an upcycled door, complete with a knob sticking out of it. The hostess told me that most everything in the store, other than the tables and chairs they used to seat customers, was for sale. They sell on consignment, so you could also go home with a unique piece of furniture or a decorative item.

In the back of the store, the cafe features live music on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. This section was originally built to be used as a car dealership. Each week, you can find the featured artists on the restaurant website. Two out of four nights a week, one can find shag dancing on Monday evenings. This is a great venue in which to watch live music. The setting is ample while still being intimate. The stage inspires expression with its mural, displaying Chatham County.

There is also an outdoor patio. With so many interesting things to eat, see, and do, this is a spot you don't want to miss. Make a point to drive out to Pittsboro and visit the General Store Cafe. Cafe hours are 8:00 am-9:00 pm, Monday through Thursday and 8:00 am-11:00 pm on Friday and Saturday. On Sundays, the store is open from 9:00 am-3:00 pm for brunch.