"Being a Tarheel Means Eating Like a Tarheel"

By: Weston McCurry

As you walk around college towns and speak to students, the topic of food is almost guaranteed to come up. Every university has their traditional restaurants that are tailored towards school pride and tradition. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is no different. After surveying several students it is clear where the “hot spots” to eat are located on campus. Overwhelmingly, students had the same three responses: Sutton’s Drug Store, Top of the Hill, and Spanky’s.

Not long after arriving to UNC, I began to search for great places to eat. I experimented with several restaurants; however, the main three became the usual. It was a combination of the great food and the atmosphere, both of which are tailored towards UNC tradition. It became increasingly evident that eating at these places made me a part of the Tarheel family. These are locations where students, faculty, and athletes dine together as Tarheels. Outsiders come from all over just to share this experience and be a part of the tradition.

Sutton’s Drug Store has a tradition of supporting the Tarheels since 1923. They are very proud of this fact and prominently display it in several areas such as the menu and entranceway. This display gives it a point of emphasis in the Tarheel community by showing how they have served Tarheels for decades to attract new Tarheels as customers.

Of the aforementioned three, they serve the cheapest food. They have a unique menu. In addition to serving famous hot dogs and hamburgers, they also serve unique items such as: Roy’s Reuben, The Dean Dome Deluxe, and the Franklin Street Ham.

Cindy, one of the few waitresses, says that “Roy’s Reuben is one of the best sellers; people are attracted to it because of the name and continue to order it because of the taste.”

Many of the same employees work every day that the grill is open. The waitresses and manager know many of the regular Tarheels by name. This adds to the warming atmosphere they provide to the UNC “family.”

However, Sutton’s offers more than just a unique menu and warming atmosphere. Upon entering, it is evident to see why eating here makes you feel like a Tarheel. Hanging from the ceiling are sports jerseys donated by the athletes themselves. The athletes usually hand sign the jersey to say something like “Thanks for all of the great food and support over the years.”

These donated jerseys include famous UNC athletes such as Raymond Felton, David Noel, Rashad McCants, Sean May, Connor Barth, and the entire baseball team.

These hanging gems are one of the main reasons that people come from all around to share in this experience and eat like a Tarheel. In addition to seeing the jerseys, fans often come with high hopes of seeing their favorite UNC athlete or coach. Stars such as Roy Williams frequently dine at Sutton’s.

As if the experience wasn’t complete enough, there is more. To prove that Sutton’s is a favorite for all Tarheels, they place pictures on the walls of individuals eating there. These pictures include not only great athletes such as Tyler Hansbrough, but regular students as well.

Sutton’s hangs these pictures of a combination of famous and regular Joe Tarheels in order to show that it is a place for all UNC students, faculty, and fans.

Another popular place among Tarheels is Top of the Hill Restaurant (commonly called TOPO). They also create an atmosphere that is unique to North Carolina, and enjoyed by UNC enthusiasts. HHh

Founders of Top of the Hill reached out to harbor a Tarheel environment based upon the name of the restaurant itself. They recognized that the name alone would draw in Tarheels. By their use of this name it is clear that Tarheels are more likely to eat there as opposed to if the restaurant were named “Jack’s Burgers.”

Although the name is a means of business, it has also become synonymous with an experience that only a Tarheel would truly enjoy.

One of the most unique experiences about Top of the Hill is the fact that it is literally located at the top of Chapel Hill. It overlooks the renowned Franklin Street. There is a section of the restaurant on the roof, where you eat outside.

Hostess Sarah says, “People often request for outside seating on nice days. It’s all part of the experience that we offer here.”

In order to get a true perspective on how often people came for the experience of being a Tarheel, I asked Sarah if people request seating anywhere else. She responded, “Many people request to be seated around the UNC cylinder.”

This cylinder is in the middle of the room and contains photographs of UNC athletes. Every time I have been inside of TOPO it seems that the cylinder is full. This shows that people really want to be a part of this tradition by being seated near the “heart” of the restaurant and near the pictures of the famous athletes. It makes them feel as if they are as close as they can get.

Top of the Hill is more upscale than Sutton’s, but still provides the same unique atmosphere that all of the Carolina family enjoys.

For the older fans, there is a brewery that is owned by Top of the Hill. Many UNC fans enjoy a drink from TOPO, and also come for the experience of seeing the brewery through the clear glass. It is very interesting to see, and many people remark about the brewery adding to the overall atmosphere.

On the menu are items unique to UNC tradition such as “Franklin Street Nachos” and “Figure 8 Crab Cakes.” The nachos are named for the famous stretch of road that TOPO overlooks, also the place where students rush after a big UNC victory. The crab is named after a basketball warm up that the UNC team practices on a daily basis. William Farmer, a UNC student, says that he feels like he is eating a part of history when he orders the Franklin Street Nachos.

On the balcony of the restaurant, there are numerous televisions. These are placed there so that fans can watch the various UNC teams in action.

Joseph Holland, a Duke fan and UNC student, says that although he roots for Duke, he feels as if he is embraced as a part of the Tarheel family while dining at Top of the Hill.

Spanky’s is yet another restaurant renowned by the UNC family. Although they offer the least in the way of UNC culture and tradition; they are not lacking by any means.

Just outside the door is a wood engraving that Carolina students carved when UNC won the National Basketball Championship in 2005. Out of all the places on Franklin Street and around campus, they chose Spanky’s. This shows that in return for the great service and atmosphere, students honored Spanky’s with the sculpture.

Rebecca, one of the managers at Spanky’s says, “It is really cool that the students chose to place the memorial outside of Spanky’s, it makes us feel as if they appreciate what we do for them.”

As you enter Spanky’s, you will see walls full of cartoon paintings. These cartoon paintings are of famous UNC athletes. They provide a bright and playful atmosphere that Spanky’s always seems to embody.

They also offer upstairs seating, however it is not as famous as Top of the Hill.

Like the other restaurants, they also serve a unique item that is named for UNC culture and tradition such as the Franklin Street Club.

At the bar, which is located in the middle of the downstairs, there are two large televisions. When Carolina is playing, the bar is always crowded with fans wanting to share the experience of eating like a Tarheel while watching them play.

Spanky’s is a place for UNC fans to come and enjoy the company of other Tarheels while eating a decently priced sit down meal.

There are many places to eat in Chapel Hill. However, after eating at Sutton’s, Top of the Hill, or Spanky’s I feel like I can genuinely say “I’m a Tarheel.”

The three restaurants use everything from sandwich names to Tarheel memorabilia to goofy paintings in order to draw in the Tarheel crowd. Many of the people only come for the experience that they have created. These items are particularly tailored towards UNC fans and ultimately are the reason that these individuals dine there.

These restaurants have realized that they are in the heart of “Tarheel Country.” In order to attract fans they are ultimately forced to create an atmosphere in which these Tarheels will enjoy dining. As mentioned, a Tarheel fan would be much more apt to purchase the Roy’s Reuben than just a regular Reuben. This is what the restaurant must do in order to please the multitude of Tarheel customers.

The atmosphere, tied together with the tradition, creates an environment that will people dining there to leave feeling as if they are a part of something much larger-the Tarheel family.