Southern Living calls this iconic Raleigh restaurant a bucket-list destination. Here’s why
A sprawling Raleigh steakhouse has landed on Southern Living’s list of restaurants to visit before you kick the bucket.
The Angus Barn, already the Triangle’s most famous restaurant, has been named by Southern Living as one of the 15 “Bucket List” restaurants in the South.
The distinction puts the Angus Barn in a select group of iconic restaurants like Galatoire’s and The Commander’s Palace in New Orleans and the Inn at Little Washington, a three Michelin-star restaurant outside of Washington, D.C.
Now in its seventh decade, the Angus Barn is owned by Van Eure, daughter of co-founder Thad Eure, and her husband Steve Thanhauser. It remains a year-long destination for diners in the South, particularly around the holidays, when the restaurant and its grounds are wrapped like a snowglobe in lavish decorations and twinkling lights.
“Folks have this big red barn on their must-visit list for good reason,” Southern Living wrote. “The Raleigh institution is known across the state (and the region) for its expertly prepared grilled steaks, available in nine different cuts with six different sauce and topping options.”
But to claim “bucket list” status, a restaurant must transcend food and the Angus Barn is perhaps more famous for its experience. Those holiday reservations are booked up weeks in advance as families have made the restaurant part of their annual traditions.
Like those traditions, the Angus Barn contains multitudes, simultaneously offering large dining rooms with blue gingham tablecloths, nailing the casual luxury vibe, while also having the upstairs Wild Turkey Lounge as a celebration of bourbon.
Steaks are king, of course, at the Angus Barn, but equally beloved are housemade cheese and crackers and an iconic chocolate chess pie.
Beyond the food, the Angus Barn boasts the Triangle’s most vast and valuable wine collection, with some bottles worth many thousands of dollars.
This is also far from the first time the Angus Barn has landed in greater spotlight. It’s been previously noted as one of the country’s most profitable restaurants, a list that includes other giants like New York’s Balthazar. And in 2020 it nabbed its first James Beard semifinalist mention for Outstanding Hospitality, a national award.
In compiling its list, Southern Living looked to a reader poll identifying the must-visit restaurants.
“The only complaint we have when it comes to the South’s impeccable dining scene is that there are simply too many incredible restaurants to try in one lifetime,” Southern Living wrote.
Joining the Angus Barn in North Carolina is Asheville’s original Tupelo Honey restaurant, famous for its style of Southern food and a must-have brunch.
“Asheville has long been known for its quirky mountain culture and sprawling Biltmore Estate, but in recent years, its impressive food scene has emerged as another top reason to visit,” Southern Living wrote. “In 2000, Tupelo Honey opened its first farm-to-table, scratch-made restaurant in Asheville. Since then, the widely popular operation has expanded with more than 20 locations across 17 states.”
Among those locations is a Tupelo Honey in the Village District in Raleigh.
This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 12:15 PM with the headline "Southern Living calls this iconic Raleigh restaurant a bucket-list destination. Here’s why."
