"Gabe Barker (son of Triangle restaurant legends Ben and Karen Barker), came back to his hometown of Carrboro from San Francisco in 2016 and opened this brick-oven, Neapolitan-inspired pizzeria to local and national acclaim. With pies that utilize the bounty from the nearby Carrboro Farmers’ Market while staying true to Italian roots, Barker has turned Mercato into a destination pizzeria. Favorites include the salami (with hot honey, of course), the funghi, and the puttanesca, but to get an idea of just how good the pizzas are, opt for the classic margherita and be wowed." - Matt Lardie