Merritt’s Store & Grill

Best BLTs you’ll have anywhere. Sometimes there’s live bluegrass music on the weekends. Can take a while if there’s a long line. Very limited seating.

Merritt’s never disappoints. My boyfriend and I visit multiple times each month. Call ahead if you are in a rush and it is prime time. Sit outside at the picnic tables in the summer. Merritt’s could stand to improve their process flow of moving people through the restaurant, but — hey, it doesn’t deter the crowd.
My order: Double BLT on Sourdough with Chicken Salad and Avocado
Boy-​Friend Order: Triple BLT on Sourgough with Pimento Cheese

This is one of my kids’ favorite hang outs! They love the grilled cheese and BLTs. They really love to order grilled cheese for themselves and then steal the bacon from my BLT! I wish they had chocolate chip cookies every day. My kids are always hoping for one and when they run out the other desserts, while tasty, are a bit too pricey when you have to buy for four kids. My preschoolers beg me to take them here after school!

I’ve been going here since I was little (before it was a restaurant! There was just a grill in the back) the BLT is nothing but miraculous. If you get a double or triple I hope you’re sharing bc that’s a lot of sandwich. Fried bologna is a yes. Chicken salad is good. Burgers is okay. Homemade/​local sweet and amazing but before you eat those EAT THE BANANA PUDDING.

Upon arrival I heard the banjo strumming sounds and almost ran away, but I decided not to in the end. Exiting the gravel parking lot I entered a wee shack that seemed to shake from side to side. Well, honkey my tonk!
The grilled cheese, tomato and avocado sandwich I ordered was divine! I nibbled on it while glancing from side to side, a table was vacated and I pounced.
There’s plenty of dessert, spirits, snacks and sounds to enjoy here if you put your mind to it. I reckon I might mosey on over here next time I’m around.

Get the double BLT! It’s the perfect amount of meat to balance out the rest of the goodness, in my opinion. I sometimes add avocado and sometimes will go for pimento cheese. I’ve gotten a breakfast sandwich before with egg and either sausage or bacon, which was good, but I had found myself wishing I got a BLT instead that day. I like that you can choose your bread for your sandwich as well.
Outside seating on a beautiful day is a great way to spend an hour or so, enjoying your food and chatting with a friend.
Don’t be surprised if you find yourself at the back of a long line if you go on a weekend for lunch! Note that there is one line to place your order and one to pick up your food. You can easily park on the other side of the street and walk over if there are no spaces left around Merritts. But not to worry, the line moves at a relatively quick pace.

The Classic BLT I had was delicious. Although everything is take out, there’s lots of options to sit inside and outside. Can’t believe I only heard about this place my junior year in college. Merritt’s goes all the way back to 1929, so if they’re still around its because they’re doing something right. Try it!

If heaven had BLTs, they would taste exactly like the ones Merritt sells. I have had friends from out of state visit, and when they do, I take them to Merritt’s for lunch. And none of them have complained. All the ingredients are super fresh and delicious! I’m not a huge fan of tomatoes; when they fall out of sandwiches, I typically don’t slide them back in. That’s not the case at Merritts. I will seriously miss Merrits when I move. I will definitely go back for a BLT and buy a souvenir t-​shirt too!

This place is more of a three and a half star. It’s a-​ok and if you like blt sandwiches you’ve come to the right place. Merrits reminds me of a food truck without the truck. It focuses on one thing, has long lines and outdoor seating. They would kill on the food truck scene. There isn’t much indoor seating so if it’s cold it gets harder to enjoy. But, if the weather is nice you’re in luck! Plenty of seating outside and places for kids to run including a little bamboo forest.
Parking can be crazy. There is a lot across the street but be careful trying to cross. It’s right off an exit from hwy 54 and it gets pretty harrowing crossing with kids.
I wish they stayed open past 4 pm for the quick fix dinner crowd.
I’d definitely bump it up to four stars if they added a self serve ICEE MACHINE!

This place is always crowded and the famous BLT is delicious, you walk in and turn left to order then bring your form to the cashier.
However, there are many places selling equally delicious BLT and a single for $ 7 is very expensive for the small amount of food you receive.
I will still stop by for the music and chill setting.
Seating: very limited indoor seating, lots of outdoor seating.
Parking: free parking by the restaurant, never had a problem not finding a spot

What you’ve heard is true… they really do have the best BLT in the Triangle. Single BLT, double BLT, even a TRIPLE BLT… you can get the best here. They have other breakfast sandwiches and even burgers but I’ve never ventured away from the simple yet fantastic BLT. And I’m not usually a mayo person but you can’t even think about ordering a BLT without mayo — it’s just meant to be there. What’s so hard about combining bacon, lettuce and tomato? I have no idea their secret and what the ratio of salt/​pepper/​mayo is that makes these BLT’s so delicious but I will give them credit and keep coming back so I can keep tasting heaven with each bite.
This is an iconic old gas station in Chapel Hill, and you must make it a priority to come here… I promise you, you won’t be disappointed.

Very good place! I have been there twice now and the BLTs are great! I love the back seating with the bamboo forest thing. Although they were out of avocado. That is pretty much the only thing I have wrong with this place but parking is a little sparse. :)

This former gas station has perfected the BLT. You get a choice of bread, and you can add avocado. Other than that the only choice is how much bacon — single (normal amount), double (double a usual BLT), and triple (loads of bacon). Frankly there’s enough bacon in a double to fill you right up.
I had doubles on two different days, both on sourdough, one day with avocado, one day without. WOW! They were the best BLTs I’ve ever had. I think I prefer the BLT with avocado, but that just makes a big sandwich bigger.
They do one thing, and they do it to perfection. Before going, I wasn’t sure what all the fuss was about — what’s so special about a BLT? Now I know … and it’s a destination I won’t miss if I’m ever anywhere nearby.
One word of caution though — the line is handled very efficiently, but can get really long near prime lunch hour. Plan accordingly.

A place that serves bacon?
Wait, they also serve double helpings?
And triple servings?
Yes, yes and yes. Please and thank you very much.
This place has the most amazing BLT sandwiches I’ve ever had. Get yours with turkey, and guacamole or avocado … Oh and multiple servings of bacon… because you can never have too much bacon.
I promise to come back and try more things, like the burgers or the breakfast sandwiches. But so far, I always revert back to a bacon sandwich … #noregrets
Sit outside under the bamboo while the weather permits. Relax and soak in the bacon and sourdough goodness.

Merritt’s is an incredible little piece of Chapel Hill, and I can personally say that the BLT’s deserve all of the praise that Unilocalers and others have shelled out. I went to UNC Chapel Hill for undergrad and somehow overlooked this place. I’m kicking myself because if I would have known about this place during college, I would have been here at least once a week.
Merritt’s has a charming old southern store kind of vibe. The atmosphere is great and it doesn’t feel like it is trying too hard to be something that it’s not. The place just embodies what a great little local eatery is. It is a very small shop and there is not a lot of seating inside, but there is plenty of outdoor seating in the front and around back. You order your food to the left as you walk in the door, pay up at the counter to the right and anxiously sit and wait for your order number to be called.
They are quick about getting food out and everyone that works there is extremely friendly. This place is always going to be packed, but don’t turn away. There is extra parking across the street and the service is efficient. If there isn’t enough seating, then just take it home. Just don’t make a mistake and miss out on these BLT’s.
Of course I had to try the BLT after hearing all of the hype. I got a double on Sourdough and I added Pimento Cheese. The BLT is just insane. The sourdough is awesome and the bacon is flavorful and crispy. I would also recommend adding the pimento cheese, which they aren’t shy about piling on. They really aren’t shy about piling anything on. You will walk away full and honestly might be alright with just getting a single. I also love that they have glass bottles of Cheerwine, which is the perfect beverage to wash anything down.
If you are a student, alumni, or just visiting Chapel Hill, you need to give this place a try. It is just yet another excuse for me to come back home to Chapel Hill.

Definitely earns all 5 stars. Obviously if you come here, you need to get the BLT! That’s what they are known for and for good reason.
Small shop inside that supposedly started as a gas station/​convenience store back in the 20s! They still maintain a ton of old charm. It’s kind of tight inside so sit outside if you can grab a table. You order by the kitchen and then pay for it at the register. I had a single BLT on gluten free bread with pimento cheese. I think the double BLT would have been a perfect size if I didn’t add any toppings. So grateful they have gluten free bread! I have Celiac Disease and I asked them to change their gloves/​make mine on a separate piece of butcher paper, and the guy said it was no problem. Really nice. The gf bread was good! Not Udi’s. Overall the BLT was on point. The best I’ve had! And the pimento cheese was a nice touch. Kind of bummed I didn’t try this place sooner!

I probably ordered the wrong thing — considering their known for their BLTs. I ordered a simple turkey sandwich on wheat bread. Nothing special– although loved how much pepper was in my sandwich. We went with a friend and they said they try to go often in the summer bc the tomatoes are in season and tasty inside the sandwich.
My husband got a double BLT. He said the sandwich was chock full of delicious bacon! Lettuce and tomatoes were also very fresh. Overall a good loaded BLT!

Pigs beware, and bacon lovers rejoice. You’ve found the paradise you’ve been waiting for.
Arguably some of the best BLTs I’ve ever had in my life. Merritt’s truly is a Chapel Hill classic. The basics are as follows: choose your size (single, double, triple), your bread, and your toppings (pimento cheese, avocado, chicken salad, and more). My personal favorite bread is the Three Sky Big Seed, since it’s pretty healthy and is packed with flavor. My first time, I got the triple (I’m a die-​hard bacon fan). It was a challenge. But I like challenges, so I took it head on. Needless to say, the BLT almost won, so I stuck to a simple single after that.
I WILL DO CRAWL OVER BROKEN GLASS FOR THAT PIMENTO CHEESE. That’s my favorite topping by far. I love chicken salad, but I have to say, I was thoroughly disappointed by the chicken salad as a topping. It wasn’t very flavorful and only detracted away from the classic BLT taste.
In any case, it’s a great place, and you haven’t been to Chapel Hill if you haven’t had it. They also have a cute outdoor patio area in the back, where they sometimes play live music as well.

I’ve been hearing about Merritt’s for some time now: their outdoor patio, cozy space AND the BLT!!! Visiting on a Sunday, the grill was closed, but all breakfast and BLT items were still on the menu. I ordered the [classic] single BLT and added an extra southern flair by topping it with pimento cheese on sour dough bread. I’ve got to say, walking into Merritt’s I loved the ambiance but I couldn’t help noticing the glaring 91 sanitation rating. YIKES! Although it frightens me that they would have such a low rating, that BLT was awesome. It was HUGE and oh so delicious. Also, the employees at Merritt’s were awesome, they pointed people in the right direction, told us how the line works, etc. FYI: It’s a walk-​up to the counter, order and wait until your name is called type of place. You pay at the cash registers in the first room after you’ve ordered in the room off to the left and can stock up on Cape Cod chips, old fashioned/​homemade treats, sodas or beer. PRO TIP: As you stand in line to order, you’re surrounded by drinks: old fashioned sodas and bottled/​canned beers. Grab one while you wait!
I would say Merritt’s is a must visit, for locals and tourists alike. It’s unique to Chapel Hill and is classically quaint. Summer time visits might be better then school year, college students can take over! Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get an inside table, there aren’t a lot; try directly outside or around the back. Also, additional parking across the street! Enjoy, because I know you will.

After driving past this place for years, that’s right years, I finally had the time to stop in today. I got there about fifteen minutes before close. I was a little lost when I came in. They have a cashier station with all the chips and deserts up front but I was told I needed to go to the other side to order my food. I walked over and ordered a classic BLT. Then I had to walk back across the restaurant, with two kids in tow, to pay. As I was paying my number was called. I think normally I would’ve had to walk back to the order station to get my food but at that point the cashier took pity on me and got the sandwich for me.
The atmosphere was cozy and country. The sweet tea was labeled, Southern, and the unsweet was, not Southern. They had a lovely little flower garden outside. It was very nice. The BLT was wonderful!!! Lots of bacon, ripe, flavorful tomato, green leaf lettuce, just enough mayo, on toast. It was heavenly. They had fresh baked deserts. I got the kids oatmeal raisin cookies. They really enjoyed them. There was a large selection of bottled drinks including local favorites like Cheerwine. The seating was minimal inside but they had Al fresco dining outside. It’s a bit of a haul to go from my house but if I was in the neighborhood I would definitely go again. Although it would be nice if they could streamline their ordering and paying process.