Sometimes the best way to experience a town is through its food.

In Whiteville, you can start the morning with a plate of eggs and grits at a hometown diner, enjoy some authentic Carolina barbecue for lunch, and finish the day with a creative dinner that takes your taste buds somewhere unexpected.

If you’re looking for three local places that can give you a taste of Whiteville from morning to night, here’s a good place to start.

Sue’s is located 112 Memory Plaza. If you’re looking for a breakfast that feels like it belongs in Whiteville, Sue’s Diner is the kind of place you should know about.

This small, no-frills diner has developed a reputation for good old-fashioned home cooking, affordable prices and a distinctly local atmosphere. Current restaurant listings highlight favorites including biscuits and gravy, three-egg breakfasts, French toast and sausage patties, liver pudding, eggs and grits, and breakfast pork chops.

Breakfast is often the star of the show, but Sue’s also serves lunch, including daily specials and sandwiches.

What to try: Biscuits and gravy, eggs and grits, or the three-egg breakfast.

Best for: A traditional Southern breakfast, a casual morning with friends, and anyone looking for a genuine hometown diner experience.

By lunchtime, it’s time to get serious about barbecue.

Joe’s Old Fashioned Barbecue, located at 500 Green Hill Drive, is a natural choice when you’re craving the flavors of classic North Carolina barbecue.

Joe’s specializes in the kind of hearty Southern food that makes a satisfying midday meal—barbecue, traditional sides and other comfort-food favorites. There’s nothing complicated about the appeal. You walk in hungry, order the kind of food you’ve been craving, and leave full.

For visitors to Whiteville, it’s also an opportunity to experience one of the foods most closely associated with eastern North Carolina.

What to try: A barbecue plate with your favorite Southern sides.

Best for: Carolina barbecue, families, a filling lunch and anyone who believes lunch should come with plenty of food.

After a day of Southern comfort food, dinner can take things in a completely different direction.

The Chef & The Frog offers a more chef-driven dining experience, combining French and Asian influences with Southern touches. Located at 607 S. Madison St., Whiteville, its menu goes well beyond the typical small-town restaurant fare, making it an interesting choice when you’re celebrating something, planning a date night or simply want to try something different.

The restaurant has become known for creative dishes, seafood, steaks, pasta and other selections that change the pace from traditional Southern cooking.

It is also a reminder that Whiteville’s dining scene is more diverse than you might expect from a small town.

What to try: Ask about the chef’s specialties or explore one of the restaurant’s signature dishes.

Best for: Date night, special occasions, entertaining visitors or trying something outside the ordinary.

One Town. Three Meals. Breakfast at Sue’s. Barbecue at Joe’s. Dinner at The Chef & The Frog.