3 NC hotel restaurants named among the best in the country. See the full list
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- OpenTable and KAYAK ranked 100 top U.S. hotel restaurants by reviews and bookings.
- Herons at The Umstead earned a spot for seasonal fine dining and high OpenTable ratings.
- Omni Grove Park Inn’s Blue Ridge and Sunset Terrace made the national hot-list.
Whether you’re traveling to the Triangle or planning a staycation, one local hotel’s restaurant is so delicious it’s considered worth the trip all by itself.
OpenTable and KAYAK released a list of the top hotel restaurants across America based on diner reviews and demand metrics, like ratings, percentage of bookings made in advance, and five-star reviews.
Of the 100 hottest hotel restaurants to wine and dine, three in North Carolina made the list — including The Umstead Hotel and Spa’s luxury dining restaurant Herons.
The fine dining restaurant in Cary, which has a 4.9 rating on OpenTable, is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch with an ever-evolving menu that “shifts with the seasons.”
In addition to dining a la carte, the restaurant also offers a five-course tasting menu at dinner with wine pairings, a restaurant spokesperson told The News & Observer.
“Reflecting the Umstead’s ethos of refined Southern hospitality and connection to nature, Herons showcases an artful balance of sophistication and warmth, serving progressive American regional cuisine,” a spokesperson said in a statement emailed to The N&O.
“The restaurant is dedicated to showcasing the bounty of the Piedmont region with precision, care, and creativity, celebrating the best of each season from the hotel’s One Oak Farm. This autumn, guests can expect freshly harvested mushrooms, fall squash, apples, sweet potatoes, and quince.”
The restaurant, led by four-time James Beard Award Semifinalist executive chef Steven Devereaux Greene, has been spotlighted for many national awards. It also recently claimed the distinction of one of the best brunch spots in the country by OpenTable, The News & Observer previously reported.
The dress code for Herons, a spokesperson explained, is “more casual throughout the day (but) guests are asked to be dressed appropriately in the dining room at dinner.” Jackets are requested, but not required. As far as pricing, costs for Herons’ 5-course dinner tasting menu is $150 per person, and starts at an average of $50 per person if you want to dine a la carte, according to the team. Entrees a la carte for breakfast, brunch and lunch start at $12 and $24 respectively.
“Being named one of OpenTable’s Best Hotel Restaurants is an honor for our entire team at Herons. It reflects the daily work of our cooks and servers, our pastry team, our wine team, and the partnership we share with One Oak Farm and local purveyors,” Steven Devereaux Greene, executive chef, said in a statement sent to The N&O.
NC’s other top hotel restaurants
Aside from Herons, one of the most popular hotels in western North Carolina was also spotlighted for two of its dining options.
The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa in Asheville is home to many eateries and bars, but among OpenTable’s list of the best restaurants is Blue Ridge, a Southern farm-to-table concept, and Sunset Terrace, known for fresh seafood, hand-cut steak and incredible mountaintop views.
Best hotel restaurants
OpenTable and KAYAK’s list does not rank the restaurants, instead listing them alphabetically by state.
You can read the whole list of 100 at opentable.com/c/top-restaurants/top-100-hotel.
This story has been updated with additional information from restaurants.
This story was originally published October 28, 2025 at 11:49 AM with the headline "3 NC hotel restaurants named among the best in the country. See the full list."