Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery

As a student who had been here after hours when it turns into a bar before I ever ate here, let me just say that I’m very impressed with the clean up job done by staff. The food was decent, but nothing special considering the price. The best part is definitely the location, whose patio overlooks franklin street

Visited on NYE with no reservation. We were seated promptly. The food was phenomenal. I’ve been craving their lobster mac & cheese ever since. My only downfall was our server. He wasn’t rude, but also wasn’t personable. The restaurant wasn’t packed and I get it was NYE but it was only 6:30ish. My significant other and I wanted to have a prolonged dinner/​date night with no kids. Our food came within minutes of our app. I felt sorta rushed towards the end. I don’t want to knock the restaurant too much because it was just one server, but maybe a little more training on customer service and order spacing. Don’t worry, we’ll definitely be back!

DO NOT GET THE STEAK! The flavor is off, tastes like freezer burn… However they were very accommodating when we didn’t eat the steak tips. Cajun pork Benny was delicious! Beer was fabulous and we had the sweet potato app which was great. Service was excellent.

Love the outdoor seating during the summer and early fall.
The inside is also very classy feeling and you can see the beer brewery bins.
The service is very nice and attentive.
Food: just okay, not good not bad, nothing special. I had the Avocado & 3 Cheese Flatbread which was delicious but not that special.
Parking: difficult for free parking during the week
I will continue to return since it is TOPO, a tradition more than anything where many friends’ birthdays happened.
*free dessert for birthday

Little tip: check in with Unilocal and get a free half pint at this iconic UNC atmosphere. They brew their own beers and have some unique liquor items as well!

TOPO is a staple bar on Franklin street with the best view of the entire street. They have a great outdoor rooftop bar that if you’re lucky, you can get to if the tarheels ever win a big game and see Franklin street get flooded with fans! The coolest part to me is that they have their own distillery inside and make their own liquors that they serve or you can also buy bottles of. Its a great restaurant and also a great nightlife spot that everyone goes to in chapel hill. It getrs packed thjough so while you wait, they even have another bar connected to it called Back Bar that you can grab a quick beverage at while waiting to get in with pool tables and a bunch of different beers on tap. If you’re ever out on Franklin Street, this is going to be one of the most popping spots to check out!

Went to Top of the Hill the first time I visited Chapel Hill as it seemed to have the reputation of somewhat of a landmark. The entrance is oddly placed, kind of on the side. We were seated fast, I was surprised at how big the restaurant is. There seemed to be mainly college kids with their parents dining and pretty much just people of one single ethnicity. Our waitress showed pretty much zero personality and just acted kind of awkward, which is OK, but all the other wait staff seemed like fun people. Sevice in general was not very attentive, from giving us the bread to refill of water. It was Saturday night, understandable that the wait was long.
Started with the lizard chips which were somewhat addictive, very light in batter, perfect bar food, not like how some bars serve it all packed with 2-​inch thick batter wanting you to lay down on the floor and sleep after having a plate. If you don’t know what to have for appetizer — get the lizard chips! I think main course can be hit or miss — My wife totally loved her buttermilk chicken, very much worth the wait. I wasn’t as impressed, had the lobster mac and cheese which just lacked flavor and creaminess, just not worth the price of 17 usd.
The evening continued in the bar where it started getting very full around midnight, college kids everywhere, wow it really made me feel old! I probably wouldn’t make this my regular go to bar unless I was still in college. But the atmosphere was fun, bar staff were good, didn’t charge me for my sparkling water that I had alongside my wine. The bar area is in the middle, you can walk around it and it is a great spot for people watching. Side note — there was a 4 year old kid sitting at the bar at 10 pm, the bar staff asked; what do you want to be when you grow up? Without thinking he replied; a man of my word! Best answer ever!

This was my first time in Chapel Hill and I was craving for chicken wings arriving late at Durham. Top of the Hill was one of a few places open at the time and seemed to have wings as it is a bar.
It was bit confusing as to where we can get into the place. They had two entrances and we ended up at the wrong one first time. There was neither host/​hostess nor waiter/​waitress. So we just sat ourselves at a high top and asked one of the bar tenders for the menu and put a food order directly to him at the bar.
We waited about 15min for the food, which seemed a bit long for the amount of customers they had at the time. And all we ordered was three orders of chicken wings and a nacho. Chicken wings were really good. All different flavored sauce came on the side and they were all great… Buffalo, BBQ, Thai, siracha and blue cheese. One of them was really spicy and I absolutely loved it! On the other hand, the nacho was not my cup of tea. It didn’t have guacamole, sour cream or cheese. It was just covered with black beans… and I hate beans.
The price was reasonable and the music is okay. There is a free half pint of beer with Unilocal check-​in. There is nothing special about this place really but I thought the outside patio on the second floor was pretty cool and it is a good option for college kids to hang.

I returned to Chapel Hill after graduating nearly a decade back and the first place I went was Top of the Hill. It was great when I was in school, and it’s just as good if not better now!
They kept some of the great beers like the old well white while adding some new ones. I got the Rams head IPA (I think this was on the menu before) but it’s still a delicious IPA.
For dinner, I started with the thumbs and toes. Hasn’t changed, still amazing. Then I ordered the shrimp mushroom grit cakes. Again, didn’t disappoint. I’m sure a bit of nostalgia could be making my experience a little biased but the bartenders are nice, the food is tasty, the atmosphere is great and the beers are top notch.
To management, please oh please never ditch the grit cakes!

I went here on Saturday night for some drinks with 5 other people. It was already 8:00 or so, and we were asked if we were going to be eating or just there for drinks. The hostess said we could seat ourselves in the bar area, where there was no room. There were plenty of open tables on the back patio and inside the dining area, but she said they were saving those for people who want to eat. They were really going to deny us a table just because we didn’t want to order any food. Really? After we said we would just go somewhere else, she checked with the manager (after giving us an attitude), and seated us at a table.
After ordering, it took a while for us to get our drinks. We all ordered from their own beer menu. I wasn’t too impressed with any of them. Their Blue Ridge Blueberry was the best out of the flight I had.
This place seems really stuck up. It’s trying to be too many things at once. Either be a fancy dinner place, or a brewery/​distillery. And if you’re going to be a fancy dinner place, at least have nicer and cleaner restrooms. They were a mess, and felt like a step above a gas station restroom.

LIZARD CHIPS.
This isn’t a bad place to get a beer, watch the game, and enjoy fried pickles and jalepenos (aka «lizard chips»).
Beyond the bar food, you may be rolling the dice. So, make sure to lean on your waiter’s advice to navigate the menu. On a Sunday evening, I had their pork chop — which doesn’t seem to be on their regular menu — which was very good. But some of my tablemates weren’t as impressed with what they ordered.
For me, there seems to be a lot of better places to dine in Chapel Hill. But, I’m glad I’ve visited since this is a Tar Heel institution, having been opened in 1994 by a law student.

Top of the Hill has had many different faces for me over the past several years of life in the Triangle. Whether it’s the destination to meet up with a UNC alumni, weekend group gathering in the backbar, brunch on a Sunday on the patio or dinner with a group on a Sunday night, the place wears many different hats. «TOPO» (as the locals refer to it) is an enormous restaurant, and one that can only be reached through several flights of steps, or simply an elevator ride, to the third flood of a building directly on Franklin Street. TOPO has an extensive menu plus they brew their own beers and distill their own spirits (I HIGHLY recommend checking out their distillery tour!). Although the menu is extensive, you really need to order ‘right’, they’ve got some great items, and some average items. It you’re not on a health streak, the lizard chips are great [fried pickles and jalapeños, you can’t go wrong!] They’ve got a solid burger and I love their goat cheese salad.
As far as their beers and spirits go, they’re knocking it out of the park. You’re going to get a solid, easy to drink beer [check-​in on Unilocal for a free half pint!] and I especially love their blueberry wheat and Dr. IPA. On Sunday’s, about five of their cocktails are $ 5/​piece, which is a great way to try several different options. Overall, TOPO is an icon establishment in Chapel Hill, and I highly recommend trying them out for brunch or if you’re really looking for a wild time, try a weekend night while school’s in session [if you can get in!]

Top of the Hill is my go-​to spot to get food and beers before seeing my favorite basketball team play (UNC, duh). And, the views from the rooftop are amazing.
On this most recent visit we had 20 in our party and had no issues being seated. We started off with the Lizard Chips which are friend jalapeños and pickles, I tried to pick out the pickles since I am a sissy when it comes to heat. For entrees, Boyfriend ordered the TOPO Whiskey & Coke Braised Beef while I ordered the Buttermilk Fried Chicken. I was not a huge fan of Boyfriend’s meal, I thought the beef was a bit overcooked but he thought it was good. The only downside was that he wished there was more food for the price. As far as my meal went, it was delicious. I loved the fried chicken over mashed potatoes with gravy, a freshly baked biscuit and broccoli.
Beer — check-​in on Unilocal for a free half pint of your favorite brew! My personal favorites are the Old Well White, Cane Creek Cranapple Wheat (which is served with an apple slice) and Dr. Clark’s IPA (not too hoppy).
Can’t wait for basketball season to start so I can grab a few pints before heading to a game!

I’m finding it a little strange that I’ve never reviewed Top of the Hill. Over my many years in the Triangle area I’ve been here for games, drinks, dinner, and lunch. It’s definitely one of those unique spots that you need to take out of towners to while visiting Chapel Hill. You want find a better view and rooftop then Top of the Hill. UNC students take over the place during the school year but you will always see a mixed crowd. Definitely get out there and enjoy the outdoor rooftop when the weather is nice.
They have a event space for large parties and the restaurant itself has plenty of seating to sit a larger crowd. We walked in with a party of 20 on a Sunday evening and had no problem grabbing a table. Our server took great care of our party and the food came out in no time at all. I was in the mood to snack so I opted for a bunch of appetizers. We tried the lizard chips (fried jalapeño & pickle chips with chipotle ranch), soft pretzels, pimento cheese & pork flatbread, and nachos. Appetizers were solid and definitely would make game day more fun.
Top of the Hill is very unique, they are not only a restaurant but a distillery and brewery. In fact one of the first breweries in the Triangle area and their beer is good. Don’t even get me started on the distillery though, you will not find better spirits made right here in Chapel Hill. Go check out the tour and distillery down the street you won’t be disappointed.
I don’t really come here for the food but you can definitely get a decent meal. For a great views and drinks this is the place in Chapel Hill.

Great place to go to if you want to be in the middle of everything at UNC. The restaurant is on the top of the building that overlooks E Franklin Street– a busy and happening place filled with restaurants, stores and bars.
If you’re into beer this is the place to go as they brew their own.
We got a bunch of apps from the pretzels, nachos and lizard chips– which were awesome!!!
Instead of saying try this place– I would say it’s a must go to while at UNC!!!

Top of the Hill, or «Top O» as it is exclusively called by UNCers, is sort of the place to be seen and relatively upscale for most college students. You might forget that it is a bone fide brewpub, on a second floor. Not sure how they were able to get that zoned, as brewing tanks can weigh many tons when full.
Their house beer list is usually around 5 – 6 offerings with average styles like nitro stout, red ale, IPA. The beer is decent. No guest taps. Their best seller is a Blue Moon clone, Old Well White. Prices for drinks are a little higher than the rest of Franklin Street. Food is decent, but unremarkable given the price. Have eaten here probably 10+ times and never had anything I would recommend. The big draw here is the ambiance and the ability to look out over Franklin St.

If you are planning a night to go out in Chapel Hill, this needs to be on the list of places to stop. However, if you just are going for dinner, I wouldn’t put it as somewhere you have to go. The food, okay, that is about it. It has sort of the vibe that it is fancy inner city food with prices to match but overall does not compare. I had the pimento cheese burger which again was good but nothing special. Plenty of better places for a burger in Chapel hill at 25−50% cheaper. For example, the flatbreads for 10 – 12 dollars are a few bites of okay pizza. I will say it is a common spot because of the great outdoor views which in many ways can make up for the just okay food.
As far as the drinks, the beer is definitely delicious, I would probably give Topo a 4 for drinks and nightlife. It is a shame the food brings it down!
Also, be sure to check out back bar if you are going out as this adds a nice nook for chill hangout with friends.

Dine or Ditch?
Dine… Much like Tom Waits, I’m only goin to the top of the hill
This place is really an exceptional spot in the area. There are so many things going right here. First off, the atmosphere is pretty top notch. There’s indoor and outdoor seating. It’s spacious. Everyone was very friendly and it felt very inviting. Also, There is a mock (I think it’s mock) brewery within to showcase that they brew their own beers. It’s really a very cool spot and very important to the UNC faithful who rock Franklin Street. The girlfriend took me over here for a great meal (and to tell some UNC stories).
The beers also set this place apart. Being a brewery they showcase their beer selections and rightfully so. We got the Blueridge Blueberry Wheat, which was delicious. It was so flavorful and came with a few blueberries in it which enhanced the experience. We also tried the
Old Well White since we got a 10 oz. beer for checking in on Unilocal (which I realized after we ordered) which was also a great beer. I’m a fan of light wheat beers and this was pretty perfectly crafted.
The food was also really spot on. We shared the Arizona Chicken and the Penne D’oro, which we added shrimp to. Both were so tasty. The Penne had great fresh mozzarella and a nice sauce. Adding the shrimp was a great touch and added some good protein to the dish. The Arizona Chicken was also very flavorful. They added some chips to the top for some crunch which was a nice touch, but it really gave you a good mix of flavors. The corn and black beans (as always) worked very well together and the sauce was delicious.
I can’t wait to come back to this place for another meal and a couple beers.

Having had a pleasant experience here before for drinks, and ignoring many of the reviews (albeit rather old ones), we ambled in on a Friday night at prime time, calling first from The Carolina Inn, to be told it was about a 20 minute wait. We were given a pager and plunked down at the bar for a much needed drink. Feeling the bartender-​warmth, we decided to stay put and turned our pager in. We proceeded to have a really nice experience!
We decided to share the Spinach Jalapeño Dip and the Locavore Burger with Beer-​Battered Fries. The burger actually came out first, followed shortly-​thereafter by the dip. Obviously we would have preferred it the other way around, but they were apologetic and it was okay. The burger was really really good! I could eat another one right now. And those fries were super good as well. The dip was supposed to be spicy and wasn’t. Not bad, just didn’t live up to its’ spicy expectations. Even the two small jalapeño pieces were not spicy. Maybe if it had come first we would have loved it better, but that burger was so extra good that it probably would have over-​shadowed anything!
May I just say that Bartending has got to be one of the hardest jobs ever, and our Server could not have possibly worked harder for everyone in his territory! Finally got some help added right before we left.
Top of the Hill will be top of our list for places to go back to next time we’re in Chapel Hill!

Bananas Foster French Toast — Cinnamon custard griddled Texas Toast with sliced bananas, hot buttered rum syrup, powdered sugar, and bacon, $ 8.99. The bacon is perfectly crisp, not soggy or burnt, and very lean! Didn’t care much for the French toast itself, nothing special. The bread is thinner than I would like (Texas toast is supposed to be thicker than the average slice of bread, so it was not what I expected), and the syrup was too much.
This place is a well-​known, popular spot in Chapel Hill for food, drinks, and sports viewing. Also goes by the name TOPO. I expected a nice scenic view in the outdoor seating area, but unless you consider a view of Franklin Street and its shops magnificent, it’s really not much to see. No sunset over the mountains, no colorful trees lining the horizon, no breathtaking view of the ocean. Just a sight of industrialization. Staff is great though.