James Dickinson photo
I'm a passable cook at best, except for one item — biscuits. So when I'm at a restaurant and they serve me a subpar example or, worse yet, a roll mislabeled as a biscuit, it's one of the few times in my eating-out life when I can confidently say that I could do better. Biscuits at these five places, on the other hand, make the grade. (If you'd like the secret to my success — a recipe my mom uses —
click here .)
The Black Sheep For me, this is the restaurant biscuit by which all others must be judged. I have yet to eat here without getting one to go after my meal, and I have yet to share any of my biscuits with anyone. 901 W. Marshall St., 648-1300.
Perly's The biscuit here is a local institution, and with good reason — it's substantial yet crumbly, like a good biscuit should be. Just be sure you get there early enough that they don't sell out. 111 E. Grace St., 649-2779.
Capital Coffee & Desserts As a biscuit purist — some might say fundamentalist — I wasn't expecting much from this cheddar biscuit. Goes to show you what I know. The subtle hint of baked-in cheese makes it a true contender. 2928 W. Cary St., 204-1755.
deLux Diner & Lounge This brunch-only entry starts out with a great biscuit then goes a little crazy, with melted cheddar on top, accompanied by honey butter and tomato jam. Somehow, it all works. 2229 W. Main St., 353-2424.
Comfort Also sadly exclusive to brunch, this fluffy biscuit is best enjoyed with some of the apple butter that comes with it. Wait, make that lots of the apple butter, which elevates an already good thing even more. 200 W. Broad St., 780-0004.
