2026 Maggy Awards: Restaurants

Best Donuts

Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company

Best Craft Brewery

In addition to its on-tap beers, Sneaky Penguin offers ciders, wines, nonalcoholic Hazy IPA, and juices and sodas.

“We’re in a neighborhood. We’re a neighborhood brewery,” says Chris Nadeau, co-owner/brewer at Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company. “We try and make it as welcoming as we can for everybody.”

While trivia on Wednesday night is the most popular event, there’s always a good turnout for music bingo, karaoke, and dog adoptions … and there’s even a quarterly Pokémon night, puzzle swaps, and the Flying Penguins Run Club. “We want everybody to just come, hang out, meet new people, and have a good time,” Chris says.

The options for Sneaky Penguin events are plentiful, and the menu is varied. Yellow Umbrella, which started as a test batch, is now brewed year-round and has become synonymous with Sneaky Penguin. The 6.7 % ABV Hazy IPA is described as a “tropical juice bomb with layers of citrus and stone fruit” that “bursts with bold hop character.”

In April of 2025, Sneaky Penguin opened a second location in Warrenton, approximately an hour north of Raleigh, teaming up with the former Mill Hill Brewery to reopen its brewery and taproom.

Although Chris describes the vibe as the same, the aesthetic is different. It’s cozy indoors and spacious outdoors, “but it’s the same kind of welcoming … community based.” It’s also worth making the drive, he says, because Sneaky Penguin is “starting to brew more and more exclusive beers up there …”

Reflecting on winning the Maggy Award for Best Craft Brewery, Chris says, “We’re just three years old, so to have the community supporting us and picking us as their top choice, it’s awesome. It’s just a great feeling.”

sneakypenguinbrewing.com

Groovy Duck Bakery

Best Dessert

Groovy Duck is preparing to bring the same energy to their new downtown Apex location, with a goal to keep their hometown feel wherever they are.

Warm, welcoming, and a little nostalgic in the best way, Groovy Duck is the kind of place where you are greeted when you walk in, kids press their faces against the case, and regulars know what they are ordering before they reach the counter.

The bakery focuses on doing the classics exceptionally well, from scratch, every day. “No shortcuts, no frozen bases, no mixes,” says JP Rivera, who owns Groovy Duck with Laura Zabala. “Just real ingredients and a team that truly cares. At the same time, we do not take ourselves too seriously. The duck keeps things fun. We combine high-quality baking with personality, warmth, and consistency. That balance is what keeps people coming back.”

The blueberry muffin is a customer favorite and “probably the one people talk about most,” says JP. “It is big, buttery, packed with fruit, and topped with that perfect golden dome.” The chocolate chip and coffee cake muffins are also staples. Beyond muffins, custom cakes — which taste just as good as they look — are made-to-order for any occasion and bring customers’ ideas to life. Decorated shortbread cookies have become a signature, and chunky cookies have built a loyal following of their own.

Winning the Maggy Award for Best Dessert is “incredibly humbling,” JP shares. “Knowing that our community voted for us means everything. It motivates our team even more to keep raising the bar … and to continue being a place our community is proud of.”

groovyduckbakery.com

Mellow Mushroom

Best Pizzeria, Most Kid-Friendly Restaurant

Cheesy, saucy, chewy, and customizable to fit any palate — pizza just might be the perfect food. So what makes the best pizza?

“Our spring water dough is the real star of the show no matter what toppings you add,” says Karen Busick Halsey, who owns Mellow Mushroom locations in downtown Raleigh, Wake Forest, and Durham with business partner Casey Fox.

At Mellow, toppings extend into unexpected territory, including everything from jerk chicken and tempeh to bleu cheese and cucumbers. “The Mighty Meaty is a hit with carnivores,” Karen says, loading on pepperoni, Italian sausage, honey ham, and applewood-smoked bacon, “while the Kosmic Karma is a creative combination of tomatoes, pesto, feta and spinach.”

The pies aren’t the only standouts on the menu, though. “If you haven’t tried the Cloud 9 Garlic Parmesan wings, you are missing out,” Karen says. “Many people don’t know that we serve a delicious smash burger, too. We also have great vegan and gluten free menu options. We truly offer something for everyone.” And that includes a rotating selection of local beers and handcrafted cocktail menu!

Equally important is the vibe, which truly makes the Mellow experience unique. “Each store has its own funky art, cool statues, and most importantly their own unique staff members,” Karen says.

Being named Best Pizzeria reflects an ongoing drive to serve up the best food and experience. “We love our community and are honored that after almost 25 years in the area we are still feeling the love. We take pride in serving a delicious pizza and a mellow experience and are thankful to our guests, new and old.”

mellowmushroom.com

See the rest of the Maggy winners:

Best Lifestyle
Best Services
Best Shopping

More From Our Mar-Apr 2026 Issue

• Find Your Next Favorite Trail with Wander
• Out & About in Wake County: March/April 2026
• Pay it Forward: United Arts Wake County
• Small Business Spotlight: TrenLend
• 2026 Maggy Awards
• 2026 Maggy Awards: Restaurants
• 2026 Maggy Awards: Lifestyle
• 2026 Maggy Awards: Services
• 2026 Maggy Awards: Shopping
• Game On!
• Garden Adventurer: Voodoo Gardening