Ode to Being a Regular

Danny Katopodis started working with his dad, Art, at his eponymous Art's Barbecue & Deli in Dilworth in 1979, three years after the small restaurant opened. These days, Art, who is eighty, still stops by occasionally, but it's Danny who knows the regulars — the families and friends who have chosen Art's white linoleum tables and royal blue booths for gathering over coffee and hot cakes almost every morning.

"I've watched people go from single to dating to married to pregnant to babies," says Danny, whose friendly, smile-lined face you can find behind the counter almost every day, often alongside his wife, Kim. "Regulars who have been coming here for thirty years will come in and order the same thing — most order the breakfast special [two eggs, grits or home fries, and biscuits for $3.35]. There is a group of ladies who come in once a week for breakfast and have been for years. We know they're in the big booth in the back because we can hear them laughing."

Some of those frequent customers happen to be familiar faces. Panthers players and Bobcats mingle with Dilworth families when they line up at the counter for plates of eggs and bacon. Hoping to catch a glimpse of your favorite sports star — or just eat some seriously good breakfast? Become a regular. —S. C.