Start your day with these readers’ top picks for bakeries, cafes and breakfasts in Pittsboro
By Olivia Paul | Photography by John Michael Simpson
Cafe Root Cellar
Rise and shine with elevated seasonal cuisine at Cafe Root Cellar on Suttles Road. The house-made pop tarts and cinnamon rolls have been exciting Sunday brunch-goers since 2018, and the classic breakfast biscuit, piled high with bacon, egg and cheese, is the ultimate comfort dish. Or, try the McCellar, a spin on a fast-food classic made with a sourdough English muffin, American cheese, Taylor pork roll and a fried egg. Co-owner Susan White recommends the breakfast burrito, inspired by chef Sera Cuni’s love for Mexican cuisine. The recipe brings a hit of Tex-Mex spice with chorizo sausage, plus black beans, fluffy scrambled eggs, cheesy potato hash browns and avocado in a grilled flour tortilla. “Personally, it’s the one dish we crave week after week,” Susan says.
The architecture inside the restaurant reflects a modern yet cozy feel – a perfect backdrop for Sera’s recipes, which combine her Italian roots with her love for Southern cuisine – and a relaxing environment to try something new any time of day. Cafe Root Cellar is open for dinner service Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and as of Aug. 21, is open for lunch Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, too! The menu changes weekly, but some recent dinner dishes include vegetable potsticker salad with peanut dressing and crispy fried oyster mushroom tacos. “We love that these kinds of bold and creative dishes entice guests to step outside their culinary comfort zone,” Susan says.
Breakaway Cafe
Spend your morning with the entire family at Breakaway Cafe. The restaurant is located off of Chapel Hill Road and has been offering a homey ambiance with a modern interior since November 2016. The cafe is a perfect child-oriented spot with couches for kids to lounge on as they finish their meal. The kids’ breakfast, featuring chocolate chip pancakes, eggs and fruit, is popular among the little ones, along with the French toast and baked goods.
The neighborhood cafe is also an amiable place for work meetings, celebrations, casual outings and more. “We are definitely a community environment,” says co-owner Amy Coughlin. “We see a lot of regulars and a lot of people call [the cafe] their third home.” Breakaway partners with Durham-based Counter Culture Coffee and offers a variety of staple drinks made with house syrups, including the lavender latte and maple latte. This season, try a seasonal specialty drink, like the classic pumpkin latte.
The Phoenix Bakery
Mouth-watering breakfast bites and baked goods line the pastry cases at The Phoenix Bakery on West Street in Pittsboro. The bakery has been preparing biscuits, cinnamon rolls and doughnuts from scratch for the past 11 years and is still iterating on their recipes; one of their newest home run hits is the cream cheese Danish roll. Sweet dough is buttered, sprinkled with brown sugar and rolled up with cream cheese filling. Each roll is then sliced, raised and baked to the perfect shade of gold, then smeared with homemade cream cheese icing.
The Boston cream doughnut is also a customer favorite. “We often joke about a riot if we stopped making them,” owner Jodi Hackney says. The cream filling is whipped to a puddinglike consistency and stuffed inside a pocket of fresh baked dough, then topped with homemade semi-sweet chocolate ganache. The bakery also offers a communal and vibrant dining area where Jodi says you will never feel like you are among strangers, even if you come alone. “It’s really easy to disconnect with food and folks nowadays but, with our bakery, people can choose healthier, wholesome sweets, breads and made-to-order meals that have been prepared by a local community and culture of people who care about what they do,” Jodi says.
Small Cafe B&B
Extend your visit to Small Cafe B&B by staying the night in one of the three available rentals on the property. The Woodshed features a queen-size bed, private bathroom and a deck overlooking the gardens. The Treehouse has a full-size bed, private bathroom and amenities such as a mini fridge, a coffee maker, Wi-Fi and a smart TV. The Guest Cottage is also perfect for families and extended stays with a king-size bed, queen-size Murphy bed in the common area, a kitchenette and more. Even better? Breakfast is included in your stay when the cafe is open.
The lemon ricotta hotcakes at Small Cafe B&B are a hot ticket item. Lisa Verwoerdt, who’s owned the cafe since July 2021, recommends pairing them with a side of crispy applewood smoked bacon. The hotcakes are whipped up with flour, sugar, buttermilk, freshly juiced lemons, ricotta cheese and lemon zest for an extra citrusy flavor, then cooked on the stovetop before finishing in the oven. The cafe provides an eclectic, colorful setting and guests enjoy sitting in the outdoor garden seating area. “It has a relaxing, funky vibe where people feel like it’s their own backyard,” Lisa says. It’s also a quiet place to enjoy the company of others and chat with family and friends, while still being within walking distance of downtown Pittsboro. “I do notice that when it rains, people love to go inside and share tables,” Lisa explains. “It’s very communal and everybody is kind and accepting.”
West End Kitchen and Catering
Enjoy a cozy brunch with friends at West End Kitchen and Catering, located on Rectory Street. The restaurant originally opened in November 2023, and since then, chef Chad Hardin has worked tirelessly to craft a mind-blowing menu. A dish that’s proven to be buzzworthy is the signature Chatham eggs, which features pimento cheese grits topped with crumbled Firsthand Foods sausage, a light and bright spiced housemade tomato compote, shaved Parmesan cheese and a sunny-side up Latta’s egg.
The menu is overflowing with a variety of inventive dishes that put creative twists on modern farm fare and elevated comfort food. You’ll also find a curated craft cocktail list featuring hand-squeezed juices and intriguing names that will leave you eager to try them all. The restaurant offers a cozy seating area with oversized dining chairs, rustic barn wood paneling and a sofa nook – perfect for conversations over appetizers and cocktails. Or, savor wine by the glass or bottle and explore an extensive craft beer menu designed to pair perfectly with your meal. The restaurant’s Wednesday wine club is a great way to find a new favorite!
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