If you’re visiting Chapel Hill and the University of North Carolina, may I make a lunch suggestion if you’re a meat-eater? Merritt’s Grill has been a Southern favorite for nearly 100 years in this area! Known for their fresh sandwiches and grill items, it’s an old-school spot to grab a quick lunch or meal to go. But what it’s really known for are the BLTs, and if you visit, you’ll see exactly why!
Merritt’s Store & Grill, Chapel Hill – Location, Interior
Merritt’s is conveniently located just south of UNC Chapel Hill off of Fordham Boulevard. Turn into the gravel driveway and you’ll see a low-slung white building with US flags flying up front and a covered patio area. On the weekends, Merritt’s parking lot will be jammed up but there’s quite a few parking spots behind the building. Make your way slowly and try not to hit any of your fellow BLT-lovers!
Inside Merritt’s you’ll find a small and tidy country interior with two cash registers in the back. Put your order in, pay up and then you’ll pick up your order up front at the kitchen service area where you can also grab any ToGo orders. There’s a bit of interior seating (12 to 20 seats) inside but during busy periods, it’ll be tough to grab a seat. But don’t worry, there’s plenty of patio seating out front and in the back! Self-service soft drinks are available to the side while you wait for your food (sweet tea, please). When your name is called (or you get texted), grab your bag of deliciousness and find a seat or table.
Merritt’s Store & Grill, Chapel Hill – Menu, Food
Merritt’s offers up a traditional Southern menu of sandwiches, soups, salads, grill items, and more. Egg and cheese, pimiento cheese, chicken salad, egg salad, hot dogs and burgers in addition to their classic BLTs. Sandwiches are served up on sourdough, rye, or a classic bun and range from $5 to $18 (April 2026) so it’s all quite affordable here. Canned drinks, banana pudding and coconut cake are also available in a refrigerated case up front.
All the sandwiches at Merritt’s are generously sized and served up on great bread. The chicken salad is a behemoth, stuffed full of tender chicken and layered with bright green lettuce and tomato. You can’t get more traditional than the chicken salad for lunch.
But oh those BLTs! Offered as a single, double or triple sandwich, think thick slices of salty bacon, ripe red tomatoes, cool lettuce with a slather of fresh mayo and stacked between perfectly toasted sourdough. It’s the type of sandwich that you need to open wide for and when you bite in, you get a hit of different textures, temperatures and flavors as you bite through. And while BLTs are served year-round, they are just a bit better in the warm summer months when local tomatoes are in a season. Don’t miss a chance to grab a BLT at Merritt’s during this peak period but you’ll need a LOT of napkins.
Merritt’s Store & Grill, Chapel Hill – Conclusion
What can I say, but as a former UNC Chapel Hill grad student, Merritt’s is a classic taste of summer for me. From the country store interior to the classic sandwich menu, it’s a throwback to a simpler time and place that’s unique to North Carolina. So in my mind, I’m going to Carolina and for sure I’m getting an amazing BLT for lunch. You should too!
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