Ask a Local: This 42-year-old CEO's favorite Fayetteville hangout might surprise you

Welcome to Ask a Local, a weekly summer series where we get the lowdown on where to go, what to do and what to eat around Cumberland County from the people who know it best. Interested in being interviewed? Fill out the form here.  

In this week’s edition, we interview self-proclaimed foodie John Burnside, a 42-year-old Marine Corps veteran who owns short-term rental properties in vacation destinations throughout the South. He's a Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, native who moved to Hope Mills from Charleston, South Carolina, about three years ago.

Burnside has a passion for cooking, but when he eats out, he prefers to support local businesses. Read on to learn about his favorite Fayetteville-area stops — including an upscale hookah bar and a restaurant with wacky waffle creations.

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Best place to grab coffee?

Rude Awakenings makes coffee with a stronger, smoother taste. They have tables out front that are really cozy and calm; I love to sit outside and watch downtown Fayetteville go by. The people are super friendly, the food is awesome and the coffee is great.

Best place for breakfast?

Drizzled Waffles and Coffee in Hope Mills uses local ice cream to make waffle sundaes. It’s amazing. They also have Fruity Pebbles waffles, Cinnamon Toast Crunch waffles, waffles and gravy, even a Cajun chicken waffle. If you can think of it on a sandwich or in a waffle, they have it.

Restaurants you frequent?

Grilled Ginger on Yadkin Road has the best pho I’ve had since I’ve been to Vietnam. There’s one that has meatballs, a few types of beef and chicken, and even the rice noodles they use are so good. Their crab rangoon, fried rice and honey chicken are amazing, too.

Pharaoh’s Legacy on Traemoor Village Drive has authentic Mediterranean food. I like the hot mint tea with honey. They have a falafel gyro platter with saffron rice, a tzatziki sauce, tomatoes and cucumbers with your choice of falafel, beef, chicken or lamb. The sandwiches are really good, and so is the handmade pita bread.

I’ve never had a bad meal at La Catrina on Owen Drive. It’s a hole in the wall, but it is amazing. Tacos are great, burritos are great. My 15-year-old son is picky with Mexican food, and he loves it.

Favorite old-school restaurant?

Chris's Steak House has a classic and classy feel along with great food. It was my dad’s favorite place — if he was going to take you to a nice dinner, this is where he would take you. Their salad bar is always amazing. Their prime rib is really good. If I’m going to go somewhere for a steak in Fayetteville, Chris’s is at the top of the list.

I go to Luigi’s for Italian food. My mom was a big she-crab soup person because she was from Maryland, and the she-crab soup at Luigi’s is one of my favorites.

What’s a can’t-miss dish?

I’ve tried everything at Vibe Gastropub and their cheeseburger is my favorite, by far. It’s vegan, so you don’t get that overly-bloated feeling, it’s healthy and it tastes great.

Best place to hang out?

Walker’s Hookah Cafe is one of my favorite places; it’s very classy and upscale. They have Adalya shisha, a variety of hookah tobacco from Turkey, which is like the equivalent of a Cuban cigar. They can do different flavors, and the best part is that the owner remembers everyone in the lounge by name.

They serve Turkish coffee, and it’s the best coffee I’ve ever had in Fayetteville. The mint tea is amazing. Their baklava, honest to God, it’s better than what I’ve had at my Greek family’s events.

Best place to shop?

A Bit of Carolina downtown stocks everything from small, local businesses. There’s a fig vinaigrette made by a retired Army veteran that’s really good. Nearby is Garnett Skull, which is fun. I shop their crystals and rocks to add to my collection.

Best day trips?

I love going to Wilmington. They have some really, really, good seafood spots along the water.

Charlotte is great for sporting events. I’ve had season tickets for the Carolina Panthers for years. I’ll catch a Charlotte Hornets game on Saturday night and a Panthers game on Sunday.

Food, dining and business reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at tshook@gannett.com, on Twitter, or Facebook. Want weekly food news delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Fayetteville Foodies newsletter. 

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Ask A Local: Best Fayetteville-area eats, from a real estate CEO