By: Emma Belk
Top of the Hill: A Game Day Classic
If you’re ranking famous restaurants in Chapel Hill, Top of the Hill is probably #1. Top of the Hill, or TOPO (pronounced “Top-Oh”) has been a UNC staple restaurant since it opened in 1996. I, like many of their customers, chose to visit TOPO on gameday- a UNC basketball gameday. The atmosphere was full of excited fans, students and adults alike, whose hunger could only be satisfied by two things: the Top Burger and a Dean Dome win.
The Atmosphere
The location and set-up of TOPO is probably what makes it so unique. You enter the restaurant right on the corner of Franklin and Columbia Street and either take the elevator or stairs up to the top floor. As seen in the name, when you eat at TOPO you are at the top of Chapel Hill. Their outside seating has a perfect view of the town and the sunset on a clear night. Its inside seating is also very fancy and decorated in typical UNC fashion.
The restaurant hosts various events from sports watch parties, bingo, to the occasional live music setup. You can always count on TOPO to be hopping for dinner and drinks.
The Menu
Before going to TOPO, my roommate recommended one dish: the sweet potatoes and pepper jelly appetizer. I would like to second this recommendation. It was really good. Beyond appetizers, I chose the Quinoa Bowl with chicken and my brother got the TOPO Whiskey and Coke Braised Beef at the recommendation of our waiter. I’ve also had the Top Burger before. Every meal I’ve eaten at TOPO has been good and the service is yet to disappoint.
Beyond its food, TOPO has also been a functioning brewery since it opened. Their roots are in English-style ales, and they’ve since brewed over 75 different varieties of beer. Their best seller is the Kenan Lager, a “light refreshing beer with a delicate taste & dry finish.”
Final Remarks
TOPO is all-in-all a landmark restaurant on the Chapel Hill map. I see it as sort of the focal point of Franklin Street. One word to describe it: classic.
Restaurant Info:
Monday: 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Thursday - Friday: 12:00 pm - 2:00 am
Saturday: 11:00 am - 2:00 am
Sunday: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
100 East Franklin Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Posted by The Honeycutt Team on
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