CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Mama Dip’s Kitchen is considered a beloved dining destination in Chapel Hill and the Triangle region.

The restaurant served its first plate of southern country cooking more than 40 years ago and it’s still one of the most populars spots in the community.

 

 

 From the moment you walk into Mama Dip’s Kitchen, you feel like you’re right at home.

In 1976, Mildred Cotton Council opened Mama Dip’s restaurant, named for the childhood nickname given to her by her siblings.

According to the restaurant's website, the nickname surfaced because Council’s height and long arms allowed her to “dip” all the way into the bottom of the rain barrel as a child.

Council’s children grew up working beside her and continue to manage the restaurant today.

Since Council’s passing in May, her children have been dedication to carrying on her legacy and staying true to Mama Dip’s original family recipes.

"People come here and they feel like they're coming home. We pretty much try to make people feel like they're at home when they come here," said Mama Dip’s daughter, Spring Council.

"People really like coming here because they feel like their Grandmother is in the kitchen.  Many people who went to college in the area will come back here with their kids and they're just amazed about how it hasn't changed.  The food still tastes the same. It's just as good as when they were in college," added Sandra Council, another daughter of Mama Dip’s.

Many say Mama Dip’s success is built upon her love for making people feel like they’re a part of her family with the inviting ambiance of the restaurant and the classic comfort food served each day.

"She set the standards high for us and she instilled a lot of that in us," Sandra Council said.

 

Specialties:

  • Macaroni and cheese
  • Fried chicken
  • Fried porkchops
  • Fried catfish
  • Chicken and dumplings
  • Homemade cornbread and biscuits

 

Mama Dip’s Kitchen is located on West Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill.

The restaurant is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information about Mama Dip’s Kitchen and the products sold, click here.