Given the name, you can probably guess that Rise isn’t the best place for people with gluten intolerance. Rise splits the dough between the oven and the deep fryer for, respectively, the biscuits and the donuts. You can go into Rise planning on getting something familiar – for example, a chocolate glazed donut or a chicken biscuit.

Rise (8200 Renaissance Parkway, Suite 1003; 919-248-2992) is known for their freshly baked biscuits and their delicious donuts that come in a variety of flavors. In the “sweet stuff” section of their menu: apple fritter, glazed blueberry biscuit, flaky strawberry biscuit, cinnamon pecan biscuit rolls, donut with vanilla icing and sprinkles, raspberry and jelly-filled donut, creme brulee (a crowd favorite), chocolate icing donut, maple bacon long john, and chocolate glazed donut.

In an area undergoing a bloom of haute couture donuts, though, where places such as Monuts and Rise offer eccentric specialties like chili mango or crème brûlée and their takes on the faddish cronut, Carolina Glazed stands out for its dedication to craft and its execution of the basics. To a near-comical extent, it is a bullshit-free eatery, the place to go if you want a top-quality, low-budget treat and none of the frills.

Start the day with biscuits and donuts from the original location of Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken next to Durham Central Park before kids barrel down to Mount Merrill, an interactive, ADA-accessible children's plant area on the eastern side of the park. A pixel wall is nearby with colorful blocks available for DIY creations on the three panels. Up the hill, a skate park awaits kids on wheels.

Downtown Durham Address: 401 Foster St, Durham, NCSouthpoint Durham Address: 8200 Renaissance Pkwy, Durham, NC Website. Yes, Rise is a franchise but many of us knew it when there were just a few locations in the area, especially the one located by the Farmers’ Market and Durham Central Park. That’s why we give Rise a pass and have included it in our guide to breakfast in Durham.

Rise's menu ranges from simple dishes like scrambled eggs and pig-in-a-blanket to more creative fare like the Luck & Money biscuit stuffed with black eye peas, collards and garlic mayonnaise. There's usually a long line at the counter by 9am on Saturdays, but the wait is well worth it. A strong cup of coffee and some greasy southern goodness is a great start to any weekend.

Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken opened with a simple vision: to offer great food at an affordable price, made with quality ingredients by people who truly care. It’s not like your typical breakfast spot!. Every day from 7am-2pm, Rise serves biscuits and donuts, with a swift service line and no waitstaff.

My husband teaches documentary filmmaking and one of his students made a short about Rise when they were newly opened, so my kiddos got to be on the big screen stuffing their faces with chocolate donuts. I love the fried green tomatoes and the s’mores donut, and appreciate their kid play space.

No, I’m not suggesting donuts for lunch (not that there’s anything wrong with that!). I ordered the Savory Buffalo Biscuit Sandwich with hashpuppies (think jumbo tots rather than hushpuppies) for $7.50 ($8.06 with tax). But you could also order the Righteous Chicken Strips for $5.95.

Rise is known for its award-winning biscuits; they are large and fluffy and perfect for an egg sandwich, which they will make for you there. You can also get a few biscuits and make your own egg sandwiches at home. They have around 10 varieties of donuts per day.

Rise Southern Biscuits and Righteous Chicken have a Downtown Durham and Southpointe location, which are both open every day from 7 a.m.