Bear Grass, NC is a remarkably small community in the rural heart of Martin County, North Carolina — home to just 89 residents and only one stoplight. That makes its food and beverage scene quietly distinctive, with each spot earning its place by genuinely contributing to the warmth and character of small-town life. The signature dining stop is The Smokehouse Grill at Deadwood, a beloved family-owned restaurant inside the Deadwood Wild West Theme Park — famous for its marinated rib-eye steaks, Southern comfort sides, and the cozy Saloon No. 10 bar inside. Bear Grass also comes alive each October with the beloved Chicken Mull Festival, where 160 gallons of the town’s signature stew — built on parboiled chicken, broth, crushed saltines, eggs, and pepper — feed thousands of visitors in what may be the most distinctive small-town food festival in eastern North Carolina. Click on the restaurant below to explore the spot we’ve personally visited around Bear Grass.
