Saxapahaw General Store

I live across the street so you could say I have a bit of experience going to the general store. I get a cup of coffee and a croissant every other morning, pick up odds and ends for dinner and regularly get a large brunch there on the weekends. The owner, Jeff, is almost always present and the employees are attentive and caring. I love that they provide everything from gas to a dinner plate because out here in the country it is life saving to have everything you need in one place — and in walking distance — from your house.
My favorite meals include the Shrimp & Grits or Eggs Parma for brunch, and the Mac & Cheese plate or Duck Salad for dinner. Check out the wine section in the back — and look for locally made items throughout the store!
Some of the reviews on here complain of lack of parking — please know there is parking at the top of the hill across the street as well as an open field with a designated parking area off of Sax-​Beth. When there are events at the Haw River Ballroom — it is safer to park in these alternate parking spaces than on the street :)

You order, pay, then get a table (if you can find one). They bring it to you. Atmosphere is «granola» and very casual. Foodie quality better than what it looks like on the inside. Had the shrimp and grits and my mate an omelette. Both were tasty. Get there early for brunch or wait for a table. Be sure and check the chalkboard menu for additional items not on the laminated menu… plus they mark what they may be out of which will save you from having to come up with an unexpected plan B. Lucky us, we don’t live all that far away… we’ll be regulars.

I rave about this place to everyone I know in Chapel Hill. The food is delicious, well crafted, and locally grown. At 30 minutes away from Chapel Hill down little country roads, it is definitely worth the drive.
Weekends are the time to come in for breakfast. Don’t get me wrong, the breakfast during the week is good, but weekends are when the interesting specials make their appearance. I usually get the eggs parma that is a homemade english muffin, prosciutto, eggs, and a basil tomato sauce that is out of this world. Deadly.
Lunch and dinner dishes are also amazing. I’ve gotten the green chili burger which is amazing. I honestly don’t think you can go wrong.
The location is very local and tiny. It’s inside of the general store for Saxapahaw which means you’re eating next to grocery shelves. But I honestly don’t mind as the products in the store are just as interesting, local products, such as Cackalacky sauce. Now, with this small space, comes quite the wait time, especially on popular days like Saturday and Sunday. We arrived on Saturday at 2pm and found a 45 minute wait (which we gladly waited for!). You have to hover around tables and wait for someone to leave so you can quickly snag a table before someone else does. Less of an issue on warm days when their patio is more enticing.
Wonderful food, I can’t emphasize that enough. Go. Make the trip out.

We have been here twice now– once in the intense heat of August when there was no one around and a few people in the store. We had a sandwich then that was decent but nothing memorable. I can’t even recall what it was so that’s how memorable it was. We liked the atmosphere and thought we would try it again when it wasn’t blazing hot.
Today we returned on a chilly January day and the place was packed. There were no parking spaces to be had and the store was crowded (and very smoky from the grill) We ordered a steak panini as almost everything else was sold out and waited for almost thirty minutes to get it (I waited outside due to the smokiness). We ate down by the river which was very pleasant although the food was a huge disappointment. The sandwich was served on a doughy roll (not cooked, as panini are) and had a slab of steak, some caramelized onions and a flimsy piece of cheese. I am not sure why this took so long to prepare but the steak was chewy, the bread way to much for the amount of filling and there was nothing panini-​like about it. Over-​priced for what it was at $ 8. If we hadn’t already waited so long to get it we would have said something but, oh well.
A return visit is not necessary.

Overrated. Was quoted a 20 minute wait, which turned out to be 55 minutes. I ordered my burger medium. It showed up well done and burnt on the outside (see my uploaded photo). The bun was stale and chewy. The home fries were rubbery, and tasted more like they’d sat in a chafing dish for five hours before being unceremoniously scooped into a bowl by a teenager than cooked to order. They were also inexplicably sweet, which was a very off-​putting flavor. I would have asked for a replacement had the original, disappointing dish not taken so long. I fail to see what the hype is all about.

Cute little store with good food in the middle of nowhere. The pork shoulder sandwich was awesome, but the beef loin sandwich did not not impress me much. Duck fat fries was great, but slightly salty today. Definitely worth a visit!

Cute place. Extremely SLOW service — 30 minutes to get food! Food quality — ok. Would not return.

This is a quirky little place with lots of character. The lamb burger with feta was yummy with lots of flavor (good quality lamb) on a good quality bread bun (might have been a potato roll). The duck bacon club sandwich was good too, though if I hadn’t been told it was duck bacon, I never would have guessed.
The atmosphere of a general store (they sell food, pump gas, and all kinds of other things) wasn’t quite country, but it still had some charm. The indoor seating consisted of formica booths and a long shared table … functional, but no more.
I enjoyed going, I enjoyed the sandwiches, but I’m not in a rush to go back. It’s definitely a local experience, with lots of strong opinions front and center inside — and in the parking lot, we were hit with a «Jesus Saves» proselytizer passing out pamphlets.

Absolutely incredible! Always Fresh and an unbelievable menu… The atmosphere is so laid back and natural! We eat here several times a week… Never disappointed. I think it’s some of the best food in the County

Several people suggested the bf and I check this place out. And I’m glad we did! Saxapahaw itself is a tiny town about 20 minutes away from Carrboro. When I say tiny, I mean the town consists of a gas station, the General Store, a butcher, a pub, and a grassy area where there’s a weekly farmer’s market and music. There are a handful of other things, including a ballroom, but the area can be walked in less than 30 minutes. As a city girl, it felt like a world away, which made for a unique cultural experience. After briefly checking out the farmer’s market and free music, we walked back over to the General Store for some dinner! The downside was that they were out of duck fat fries and crabcakes, but on the upside, our dinner was delicious. My boyfriend had the Farmhouse burger, and said it was cooked just right. I had the Blacked Fish (catfish) sandwich, and it was flavorful, fresh, and light! We also shared a potato salad which was tasty. To top it off, we also got 2 «Duclaw, Sweet Baby Jesus!» Chocolate Peanut Butter Porters! We have been on the search for this porter for MONTHS, and the General Store had it!
Lastly, the environment was very cool, relaxed, and pleasant for a summer day. We sat in the outdoor patio where they play some fun tunes. We plan to return earlier in the day so we can snag some duck fat fries, and try their brunch! FYI, this place is small and can get pretty packed, so you may have to wait for your food and a seat.

NOT great experience re-​visiting Saxapahaw General Store this past weekend. It was disappointing that the grill menu was not being offered on a Saturday night, and during a large town function (Saturday’s in Saxapahaw as well as Trust the Bus), but maybe that’s the reason they were only offering burgers, sammies and salads, they can’t handle a crowd. Regardless, we waited in line and placed our order, or at least tried to… they were out of two items [ruben and the cuban] at 5:30p so we ended up having to go with an Italian sandwich [finocchiona salami, ham, prosciutto, provolone, tomato, lettuce, banana peppers, red onion, and balsamic vinaigrette on focaccia] and the duck salad [pan-​seared duck breast, goat cheese, dried berries, grilled red onion, cucumber, tomato, over mixed greens, with balsamic vinaigrette]. The sandwich was very disappointing, you could easily pick up the same ingredients and craft the same sandwich at home. The salad, served with six dry pieces of duck breast, unfortunately had a hair in it. I sent it back, after an employee examined it, and then was confronted by a member of the staff asking if it was his hair I found. We had another salad (hopefully remade!) with four pieces of duck. But overall, the salad was also not very complex with the addition of the duck, but unfortunately they didn’t cook that right.
Maybe the kitchen was overcrowded or they were having a bad night, but it was a very disappointing experience and one that I won’t want to accidentally repeat. Saxapahaw is a tiny town, and there aren’t many options, but I think I’ll have to try one of those other options next time instead. The ONLY plus side is the actual «general store» [NOT the grill], which is very cute and could come in handy for some local products. Also, the beer selection is surprisingly good for how tiny this town is [and don’t forget the new brewery around the corner for some extra fresh beverages].

Date.. .. .. .. .. …5.16.15
Type.. .. .. .. .. .Gourmet Grocery
Location.. .. .…Strip Mall
Prices.. .. .. .…Normal
Tap Selection.…None
Bottle Selection. .Smaller, Local Focused
Full Bar.. .. .. .. .No
Samplers.. .. .. .No
Full Pours.. .. .. .No
Beer Level.. .…Good
Food Level.. .. …Very Good
Staff.. .. .. .. .. .Friendly
Growlers.. .. .. .No
Noise Level.. .. .Quiet
Décor.. .. .. .…Cramped, Organic Grocery Store
Kid Friendly.. .. .Sure
Dog Friendly.…No
Parking.. .. .. . …Private Lot, Packed
Cash Only.. .…No
Recommended. .Perhaps
Comments: If you are into beer and in Saxapahaw, your #1 stop is Haw River. Stop in here for good sandwiches and perhaps grab a six pack of US craft beer or NC local beer. Selection is limited to about 90 different bottles, but all are refrigerated. Some special edition singles. Good stop to know, but not a critical beer place.

Chill lil spot with some bangers! Had a BLT hard to f**k up but still, shit was good with some local cheddar and a fried egg. Local products nice folks. Beer. Cold brew coffee. Check it out if your out this way! Hollla gotta finish the brew and sandwich! Oh yea dope patio and we brought boner jamz (our pup) he had a good time too fool!

What a gem in the countryside! Hubby had told me about this store with food he found on a bike ride and I was pleasantly surprised when we walked in. The variety of food was great and everything tasted wonderful. I had red beans and rice with asparagus do andouille sausage. It had a nice kick but could have used a little more salt. Asparagus was delicious. Veggie lasagna filled with squash, peppers and onions was a treat too! It’s quite a drive for us but worth it!
To top it off there as nice music in the arbored outside area. We caught just the beginning of this.

So you’re visiting the tiny village of Saxapahaw and checking out the brewery nearby. You see take a short walk around and see this store and decide to check things out.
Inside, you find basically a convenience store with a deli and table seating. You can find all the necessities here including beer and wine. The selections are small but they have some decent options.
The deli serves various kinds of sandwiches. I went with a tempeh reuben which was good but could have used a little more kraut.
The staff is super friendly here. They also have gas pumps outside.
I would check it out if you are in the area. and if you need gas because there isn’t anything else closer than a few miles.

If you find yourself on a back country road it makes total sense that you would come across a general store, but one with gourmet menu choices, totally unexpected. First off you walk into the bustling general store and they offer the typical snacks, local goods, and a great selection of beer. The entire back wall is a wide selection of beers to choose from. Then at the front of the store is a top notch kitchen that offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner amazements. Local beef, cheese, goat and duck is offered in many ways. Want some red curry? They have it! Want some bahn mi? It’s on the menu! Sit at the communal table inside the store or enjoy an afternoon on their patio.

The Saxapahaw General Store is a great place. In Alamance County about 15 minutes past Carrboro, it’s a haul from a lot of places in the Triangle. But it is worth it.
The breakfast and brunch are terrific. For my money, the best breakfast in the area. Portions are generous, b

This is a rather unusual, beyond eclectic restaurant by almost any measure. It is located in the tiny, rural community of Saxapahaw, 15 or so miles south of Graham, and maybe the only restaurant inside the community boundaries. This little community has become something of an artistic area, is currently considered kind of cool.
The restaurant is located in a small, considerably dated strip center, which it shares with a working fuel pump island, some other shops, and an incredibly full parking lot, even at 10:45 AM. This is basically a small grill in a worn «general store», which is lined with shelves and displays containing can goods, dry goods, a small frozen section, containers of spices, coolers of soft drinks (a number of which organic from manufacturers you probably never heard of) & beer, and a few wine & cheese selections. Much of the offered items are produced in North Carolina, and they pride themselves on using local products.
Its non-​breakfast menu, which is written on a chalkboard, is composed of a variety of sandwich choices, a few plate options, and several sides. The sandwiches range from the normal (burgers, Reuben, BLT, Chicken Salad, Turkey Club, Housemade BBQ Pork, and even a Hot Dog), to the somewhat road less traveled type (Avocadomater — just what it sounds like; a Hummus Wrap; a Portabella Wrap; Smokey Cheddar Pesto; a Cuban; a Rib-​eye Wrap; and more! But even the usual style sandwiches get a different spin with a variety of breads (mulitgrain, sourdough, foccacia, baguette, rye, croissant, and wraps), and twists on additions to the sandwiches (sprouts, cream cheese, fresh mozzarella, goat cheese, basil pesto, thick cut housemade pickles,), and different spreads.
So this place is remote, different, creative, even quaint, which is often more than enough for some folks to declare it a gem with great food, We didn’t quite see it that way, rather found it to be ok but nothing special: (the cheeseburger — rather small on a dry bun, with very little flavor to the meat, and overpriced at $ 8, even with a side; the Chicken Sandwich was 5 inches of bread with a ½ inch layer of filling, some of which was chicken. This sandwich was also priced at $ 8.
Since they offer pork barbecue (cooked in house), we got a plate (with a roll and 2 sides to go for $ 9). The barbecue was not at all bad, but the slaw is very wet, and does play well with the meat. The Duck Fat Fries are really home fries, and this batch was burnt so much, they weren’t edible.
The folks here are friendly and personable, but not especially efficient, and the entire ordering process is a little unorganized. Even under rather lite customer pressure, it took over 20 minutes to get our food, and 20 for the barbecue. Interesting place in some ways, but rather overpriced for the quality received. Not somewhere we’d come back to.

We love this place. The people, the feel of the space and the food, mmmmm. Finally got to meet Jeff the owner. One Michigander to another. Hubby always enjoys the local dog. Come, sit and stay awhile. When the weather is nice, we take our food to go, grab a beer and head down to the haw river and sit at a picnic table. All kinds of awesomeness.

I’ve been here a few times and always loved my food. But this time the staff went above and beyond and I felt like I needed to take a minute to write a great review.
You see, I’m a vegetarian. I kind of hastily read the menu and ordered something that looked vegetarian but had a bit of meat in it. I took it back to the counter to order something else, fully expecting to pay for my replacement meal since this was all the result of my own error, but the cashier refused to charge me, recommended something delicious to me, and offered me a box for my first meal so I could take it home to share with a meat eater.
On top of all that, I got the typically great general store experience. The food was great, the staff was friendly, the other customers were all enjoying themselves, the service was fast, and the atmosphere fun and welcoming.
I look forward to coming back again soon!