Last week, we asked our readers where the best place for this Southern staple was, and it’s no surprise that people had answers.

Did you know shrimp + grits shares a close history with the Triangle?

The entree can trace its early roots back hundreds of years to Native American + African dishes. The easy-to-prepare meal made its way into home kitchens in the Southern US.

Fast forward to the 1980s, to the kitchen of Bill Neal at Crook’s Corner in Chapel Hill. A New York Times journalist visited Bill at the restaurant, and printed his recipe for shrimp + grits in 1985 — sparking the dish to gain widespread popularity and pop up on menus all over the South.

Though Crook’s Corner closed in June due to the pandemic, you can still find its legacy nearby.

Here’s where our readers get shrimp + grits near Raleigh:

"Best place for shrimp n grits is The Rockford!" — Chelsea S.
"Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen has the best in my opinion." — Sue R.
"Winston’s Grille - by far the best!" — John K.
"Plates Neighborhood Kitchen on Glenwood!" — Dylan B.
"Cape Fear Seafood Company in the Village District!" — Rick H.
"I love the shrimp and grits at The Mason Jar Tavern in Fuquay-Varina mainly because I don’t like sausage and they use ham instead. Just awesome!" — Alice W.
"The Piper’s Tavern in North Raleigh has the best!" — Beth B.