Best Places to Eat in Mount Airy NC: Top 3 Local Spots for Good Food plus Sweets, Beer and Wine

Even though it’s a small town, there are a few highly rated places to eat and drink in Mount Airy.   

It boasts nationally recognized pork chop sandwiches, classic NC BBQ and an elevated winery dining experience.

Additionally, Main Street Mayberry features several sweet shops worth an afternoon stop.  

Finally, Yadkin Valley is home to countless wineries and breweries for those seeking an adult drink to wrap up a day of sightseeing.

For more about sightseeing options in Mount Airy, check out Top 22 Things to do in Mount Airy North Carolina.

If you want to hike nearby Pilot Mountain check out Pilot Mountain Hiking Trails: Everything You Need to Know.

Where is Mount Airy?

Mount Airy is located in the Yadkin Valley of North Carolina.  Surry County is located one hour north of Winston Salem and only minutes from the Virginia border. 

Is Mount Airy in the mountains?

Located along the eastern edge of the North Carolina mountains, Mount Airy is mountain adjacent.   Although not nestled between massive mountains most would say Mount Airy is located in the foothills of the mountains.

What is Mount Airy known for?

Mount Airy is most well known as the inspiration for the wholesome town of Mayberry made famous by The Andy Griffith Show.   

Andy Griffith grew up in Mount Airy and it provided him inspiration for the town featured in the 1960s show.  With over 200 episodes, the Andy Griffith show still airs on TVLand.

Where to Eat in Mount Airy

Of course, we could eat at a chain restaurant but I prefer to find a local business with something unique I can’t find at a national chain.    

Mount Airy is a small North Carolina town near the Blue Ridge Parkway and there are not a lot of highly rated places to eat.  That’s not to say there aren’t good places to eat.

But food is a personal preference based on tastes, dietary needs and budget. So we’ll help you identify the best restaurant for you in Mount Airy.

The Best Restaurant in Mount Airy

This article focuses on three local recommendations below.   We do not include any chains and focus on unique local spots to eat in Mount Airy. Between these three locations, you’ll find the best restaurant in Mount Airy to eat like a local.

Looking for something to eat in Mount Airy, check out one of the local hot spots, Snappys, Little Richards BBQ or for something a little nicer, try Old North State.

The Snappy Lunch

The Snappy Lunch was featured on The Andy Griffith Show and is located on Main Street Mount Airy next door to Floyd’s Barber Shop.

Their pork chop sandwich has been featured in magazines and TV programs. The Snappy Lunch is an NC diner offering comfort food for breakfast and lunch.

To a North Carolina native, a pork chop sandwich sounds very familiar. I remember occasionally eating fried pork chop biscuits for breakfast as a kid growing up in rural NC. The pork chop is typical NC down-home cooking, battered and deep-fried.

Ask for it all the way and it will taste like North Carolina. In case you’ve never tasted NC, it is covered in slaw and meaty chili. I know it sounds weird but try it and you’ll be hooked on the spicy and crunch combo.

If you are on a budget and want to experience an NC fried pork chop sandwich, then The Snappy Lunch is the best restaurant in Mount Airy for you.

Snappy’s Lunch Address: 125 N Main St, Mt Airy, NC 27030

Little Richard’s BBQ

Little Richard’s BBQ has great reviews. Some even say it’s the best restaurant in Mount Airy.

It is one of the top-rated restaurants in Mount Airy. We didn’t have time to try Little Richards but it’s described as a no-frills BBQ joint with burgers, BBQ (that means pork when in NC) and typical Southern comfort grub. They serve Lexington-style BBQ which is a tasty hybrid of Eastern NC vinegar-based and western NC tomato-based.

They have five other locations in the area including Winston Salem, Clemmons, Yadkinville and Walkertown. Little Richard’s BBQ is open for lunch and dinner most days except Sundays when they close at 2:30 pm.

Little Richard’s Address: 455 Frederick St, Mt Airy, NC 27030

Old North State

In my research, the other restaurant that kept coming up was Old North State. The Old North State Winery offers an “elevated dining experience” with its farm-to-table options.

Expect to spend a little more on this experience. Lunch entrees including tax and tip will set you back around $20 per person.

If you are looking for a nice local sourced meal then Old North State is the best restaurant in Mount Airy for you.

Old North State Address: 308 N Main St, Mt Airy, NC 27030

Sweet Treats in Mount Airy

If you are visiting during non-meal hours, like us, there are more sweet shops than any town needs. Everyone can find an afternoon pick-me-up treat or two.  You won’t have a problem finding places to eat a sweet treat in Mount Airy.  

What are sonkers?

First things first, you’ll see signs for sonkers at a few sweets shops. If you are like me, you’ll be wondering what are sonkers.

Sonkers are a regional western North Carolina sweet treat.  They are a pie disguised as a cobbler.  

Sonkers are a cobbler pie cross with a fruit base.   They are supposed to be juicier than a cobbler.   I suspect the best sonkers are made from local fruit orchards like Miss Angels. 

We didn’t try any sonkers on our Mt Airy visit because I am not a huge pie fan.  If you love pie, you might want to check out the Surry Sonker Trail which includes eight different sonker stops.

Sweet Places to Eat in Mount Airy

If you aren’t in the mood for sonkers, don’t worry. Mount Airy has an abundance of sweet shops. 

I was shocked to find more ice cream shops and bakeries on Main Street Mayberry in downtown than restaurants.

Miss Angels Heavenly Pies

It was a difficult choice but we chose baked goods over ice cream during our visit to Mount Airy.   Based on a little internet research, we decided to try Miss Angels Heavenly Pies. We were not disappointed.

Be sure to check out How to Spend a Perfect Day in Mayberry. to read more about our afternoon in Mount Airy and to plan your perfect day in Mayberry.

Once we entered the screen door, the choices were overwhelming. They had a dozen varieties of specialty brownies, muffins, danishes, cookies, cake slices, numerous pies (both full-sized and individual-sized), and of course sonkers.

I loved to learned that Miss Angel’s pies are made with fruit from the nearby Miss Angels U-Pick farm.

Miss Angel’s claim to fame is their moonshine-infused baked goods. We skipped the moonshine brownies and pies but online reviewers rave about them.

Kevin had a gooey salted caramel brownie that was definitely heavenly. I opted for a no-sugar-added peanut butter cookie which was a great guilt-free treat.

Miss Angel’s Heavenly Pies Address: 153 N Main St, Mt Airy, NC 27030

Hillbilly Ice Cream & Gluten Free Bakery

Next door to Miss Angels on Main Street Mount Airy, you’ll find Hillbilly Gluten Free Bakery and Creamery.

Hillbilly Ice Cream and Gluten-Free Bakery are also owned by Miss Angel. They also offer brownies, cookies, cakes and pies. All products are made in a gluten-free kitchen. It is a great option for Mount Airy visitors looking for gluten free treat.

Hillbilly Gluten Free Bakery and Creamery Address: 155 N Main St, Mt Airy, NC 27030

Bear Creek Gift Shop and Candy Kitchen

Fudge is a special occasion treat in our house. We have it during the holiday season and on vacation. It is too delicious and fattening to have more often.

Bear Creek Candy Kitchen in Mount Airy offers over a dozen flavors of handmade small-batch fudge. It is a great place to satisfy that vacation fudge craving.

Bear Creek fudge varieties include peanut butter, cherries jubilee, birthday cake, chocolate walnut, cookies and cream, double shot espresso, and seasonal varieties like black walnut and pumpkin pie.

In addition to fudge, Bear Creek Candy Kitchen in Mount Airy also offers candied apples, pralines and other candies.

Bear Creek Fudge Address: 165 N Main St, Mt Airy, NC 27030

Walkers Soda Fountain

We were very tempted to visit the old-fashioned Walker’s Soda Fountain in Mount Airy. Visitors can enjoy nostalgic décor and 1950s and 60s music.

I love bubbly beverages and the idea of creating my own flavor combination was intriguing. A cherry vanilla hand-mixed soda sounded delicious. But after enjoying baked goods at Miss Angel’s we couldn’t imagine consuming a sugary beverage.

Walker’s Soda Fountain offers booths and a lunch counter for visitors.

In addition to dozen of soda flavors, their simple menu offers a little something for everyone. The menu includes old-fashioned ice cream soda, milkshakes, malts, hotdogs, burgers, banana splits, hot fudge cake, ice cream sundaes and a few no-sugar-added ice cream flavors.

Walker’s Soda Fountain Address: 175 N Main St, Mt Airy, NC 27030

Scoops Ice Cream

Scoops Ice Cream is not located on Main Street in Mount Airy but still has great online reviews. There are even sculptures on-site to provide entertainment to patrons.

Scoops Ice Address: 5091 W Pine St, Mt Airy, NC 27030

Opies Candy Store

Opies Candy Store is just that a candy store. It is located on Main Street in Mount Airy.

They offer every variety of individually wrapped candy you can imagine. It is priced by the pound and you can buy a piece or a pound.

Also available are Opie’s fudge, ice cream and gift baskets.

Opies Candy Store Address: 135 N Main St, Mt Airy, NC 27030

Prudence McCabe Confections

Prudence McCabe Confections was closed during our visit to Mount Airy so we didn’t visit. I am a chocoholic so I was disappointed to find the shop closed during the hours posted on their website.

The chocolate shop offers many varieties of small-batch chocolates. In addition, they offer cheesecakes, cake pops, gourmet apples, fudge and truffles.

Prudence McCabe Confections Address: 192 N Main St #400, Mt Airy, NC 27030

Evening Treats: Adult Beverages near Mount Airy

If you have already eaten and are not looking for places to eat in Mount Airy, we can help. Mount Airy and the Yadkin Valley are home to numerous options for visitors seeking an adult refreshment.

Mount Airy Brewery

We didn’t have time to visit any breweries so these are not recommendations. Instead, it is a complete round-up of local Mount Airy brewery locations that deserve further investigation:

Mount Airy Distillery

Mount Airy Winery

Yadkin Valley was the first federally recognized American Viticulture Area in North Carolina. That’s to say they are serious about their wine.

More than 70 wineries surround Mount Airy in the Yadkin Valley. Wines labeled with The Yadkin Valley designation are made with at least 85 percent local grapes.

I’ve only featured those located in Mount Airy below.

Summary Places to Eat in Mount Airy

Although the small town of Mount Airy isn’t a metropolis there are several good places to eat including down-home cooking diners and farm-to-table restaurants.

If you need a pick me up while sightseeing, there is an abundance of sweet shops in Mount Airy. It’s even easier to find a refreshing local beer or wine to wrap up your day at one of the area’s many breweries or vineyards.

---

Pin This Article For Later

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/803188914805748434/

Related Posts

✅ Top 22 Things to do in Mount Airy North Carolina

✅ Pilot Mountain Hiking Trails: Everything You Need to Know

Other Posts You Might Enjoy

✅ Save Money on a Roadtrip: 13 Ways to Still Have Fun on a Budget

✅ Complete Guide to the Tobacco Heritage Trail: Everything You Need to Know Before You Visit this Virginia Rail Trail

✅ What Everyone Wants to Know about Full Time RV Living: Top 23 Questions We Get Asked