Here in North Carolina, Bojangles reigns as the place to get biscuits. Krispy Kreme is typically the destination to get donuts. When they flip on the “Hot Now” sign, we are helpless but to flock towards them to consume warm donuts by the dozen. However, for North Carolinians living in the Triangle area, there is a new sensation in the world of scrumptious breakfast pastries. Rise Biscuits & Donuts is a specialty biscuit and donut shop that originated in Durham in 2012. Since then, new locations have opened in Morrisville, Cameron Village, and recently, in Sutton Square right by school! Every day from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Rise’s staff serves up a variety of fresh biscuits and donuts. Stop by before school or during lunch; just do not show up for an after school snack. Be sure to get there well before closing, though, in order to guarantee the best selection for yourself. The closer it gets to 2:00 PM, the more likely it is that your favorite products might be out.

 First, let us talk about the biscuits. Rise’s biscuits are crispy, fluffy, buttery little pillows of goodness. You can buy them plain or with butter, or with a variety of toppings. You can customize your biscuit by adding an egg, cheese, or spread of your choice or you can opt for one of Rise’s biscuit sandwiches. The fried chicken biscuit — dare I say –beats a Bojangles chicken biscuit anyday. Some other notable biscuits include the sausage biscuit, the country ham biscuit, and the pig in a blanket biscuit. Their biscuit sandwiches are a bit on the pricier side, ranging anywhere from $3-$6 depending on if they are an everyday or a specialty biscuit. However, senior Cynthia Correa says, “While the price for their biscuits may seem expensive compared to Bojangles or McDonald’s, the size of those things makes them worth the while.” One item that is on the biscuit menu but is not really is a biscuit is Jane Dough’s Famous Potato Hash Cake. It is everything you have ever wanted a hash brown cake to be: it’s gooey and cheesy and crispy all at once.

 Now we move onto the donuts. As you walk into Rise, your eyes will be treated with the sight of a beautiful rotating carousel of iced donuts. Perched tantalizingly on this display is any type of donut you could crave. Rise offers plain glazed, chocolate iced, raspberry jelly filled, old fashioned, crème brûlée, s’mores, chocolate chocolate cake style, caramel apple butter filled, nutella icing with hazelnuts, and carrot cake donuts. The Sutton Square location’s monthly special is currently a pineapple basil and pistachio donut. Other sweet items offered include the maple bacon bar, apple fritter, and cinnamon twist. My personal favorite is the apple fritter. The donuts and other sweet items range from $1-$2.50.

 Rise’s unbeatable quality and unique selection make it a prime destination for everyone to try for a delicious breakfast, lunch or snack. Senior Chase Binion said, “I love to go to Rise for their delicious food. The biscuits and donuts are simply amazing. However, if I had one complaint, it would be that there is not much seating.” This is true, and the few tables at Rise are awkwardly short. Rise fans will just have to take their heavenly biscuits and donuts to go.