Friday Fun Food Facts – November 15, 2019

Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news…that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.

Featured Restaurant News

  •  Chef Katsuji Tanabe, the renowned chef who appeared on Bravo TV’s hit competition series Top Chef, will open his newest venture High Horse this Sunday, November 17th. Be prepared to be entertained, as the News & Observer pointed out, there are no knobs or burners or oven doors, only two side-by-side wood-burning grills and a set of pans dancing with the flames. High Horse is located at 208 Wolfe Street in historic City Market in downtown Raleigh, and will be open Tuesdays through Sundays from 5 to 11 p.m. and later on Fridays and Saturdays. Get to know them here.

Wake County Restaurant News

  • The folks over at NC Triangle Dining informed us that Primal Cuts is now open at Morgan Street Food Hall. Primal Cuts specializes in slow roasted, hand carved to order Prime Rib sandwiches, where you can design your meal or pick from their suggested menu. Their menu will also include various other hot sandwiches as well as house made horseradish sauce, hand cut chips, artisan Italian bread, and a wide array of cheeses and ingredients to elevate your sandwich experience. Visit them here.
  • Over in Cary, David McCreary shared the news with me that Honey Pig Korean BBQ is coming soon to 1065 Darrington Drive at Preston Walk in Cary. For those that remember, that is the former Panera Bread location. Not much on their Facebook page, but I’m sure that is where they will provide updates. Here it is here.
  • The newest version of Town Hall Burger & Beer opens today (Friday) at 4 p.m. in Holly Springs. It is located at 301 Mathews Dr. THB&B also has locations in Durham and Chatham County with announced plans for a location in Raleigh and a second location in Chatham County. Visit them here.
  • The folks over at ITB Insider recently received some architectural documents for a project named Taco Roos that’s set to open in the home of a former KFC at 1221 New Bern Avenue. The documents list the project’s owner as a representative from North Carolina’s own Cook-Out. They indicated that there is also a Taco Roos slated to open in Wilmington this month. In a Wilmington Star article, the Roo’s location near UNC Wilmington was described as a “breakfast diner and Mexican fast food” restaurant. Perhaps that opening will shed more light on what to expect in Raleigh. Stay tuned.
  • Up in Wake Forest, reader Sandy Fore notified us that Rookies Sports Bar is open at 11200 Capital Blvd. not far from the Sam’s Club. They also have a location in Durham. Get to know them here.
  • And not exactly Triangle area restaurant news, but certainly something of interest to thousands of folks that travel to the coast for vacation, WRAL reported this week that Wilber’s Barbecue has been sold to a group of local investors known as Goldpit Partners, LLC. The Goldsboro restaurant plans to reopen in spring 2020. Here is the story on WRAL.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

  • Reader Jeremy Simon was the first to share the news that a concept called Chimney Indian Kitchen & Bar is going into the space formerly occupied by Vespa at 306 W. Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. There is a media preview dinner later in November, and looks like they will officially open before year’s end. Learn all about the concept on their website here.
  • Also on Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street, Simon also noted that there is a sign for “Well” in front of the former Carolina Ale House at 419 W. Franklin Street. Stay tuned as more details are sure to follow. Thanks Jeremy!
  • The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Gusto Farm to Street, which already has a location in Raleigh, will open its newest Triangle restaurant on Monday, Nov. 18 in Durham at 5431 Page Road.  The farm-inspired, fast-casual eatery brings healthier menu offerings made with local and seasonal ingredients. Check them out here.
  • According to the News & Observer, Chapel Hill’s bagel torch has been passed. The former Bagel Bar space will soon reopen as Deli Edison, a new deli counter and gourmet market. But don’t worry, bagels are still in the picture. And according to discussion on the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook page, that could happen before Thanksgiving. Deli Edison is the latest project from Sam Suchoff, owner of Lady Edison Hams, as well as the pork-centric restaurant The Pig and around the corner watering hole, Your Neighborhood Bar. Get ready for them here.
  • Carrie Brogren with Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies also shared with me this week that the Egg & I location in Chapel Hill’s 54 East will become a First Watch on December 12. Colorado-based Egg & I Restaurants were bought by First Watch in May 2015, and while not every Egg & I will become a First Watch, many “conversions” have already taken place. There are already six First Watch locations here in the Triangle. Visit First Watch here.
  • Perhaps this is old news and I just missed it, but happened to notice the other night that the former Torero’s in Durham’s Oak Creek Village shopping center on the Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. has switched over to Fiesta Ole. Check out their website here.

Closings

  •  Carrie Brogren with Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies was the first to notify us that Southern Season’s restaurant Weathervane had closed. And that appears to be the first phase of the eventual closure of the Southern Season retail space in Chapel Hill’s University Place. The entire store will close in early January. Look for some great clearance deals throughout December.
  • In downtown Raleigh, got word from the folks at Taste Carolina that Oak City Market neighborhood grocery and deli on the first floor of SkyHouse Raleigh has closed.
  • In Durham, reader Mark Rutledge was the first to notify us that after a 4-year run, American Meltdown closed their location at the Streets at Southpoint. That’s the bad news. The good news is you can chase down their truck here.
  • And David McCreary shared that Sweet Creations Frozen Yogurt at 400 Broad Street in Fuquay-Varina has closed its doors for good.

Food Trucks 

  • As things get cold, here are a  couple of sites to find and stalk your favorite food trucks here and here.

Events

  • The fifth-annual WRAL.com Voters’ Choice Awards presented by Millennium Buildings launched in a major way. Over 20,000 nominations were made for the area’s best events, restaurants, businesses and more. And thanks to my amazing readers and followers, yours truly (Triangle Food Guy) was nominated for Best Blog AND Best Twitter personality ! But now that I am in the final five, the real work begins! Voting is now open through December 1st and I would greatly appreciate your support! Thanking you in advance. Vote early and vote often!!! Vote here!
  • This is your last chance to get tickets to Families Moving Forward’s Chefs for Change Dessert Gala TONIGHT, November 15th at The Rickhouse, where desserts from Durham’s best restaurants, bakeries, and catering companies will be featured. The evening will include local desserts, a silent auction, live entertainment, and the unveiling of our 2020 Chefs for Change Series chef line-up! Sweets aren’t your thing? They’ll have savory dishes as well. Get tickets and all the details here.
  • Nomad, a new global fusion restaurant opening in early 2020 in Hillsborough, NC, is hosting a pop-up at Viceroy this Tuesday, November 19 from 6pm to 9pm; 335 Main Street, Durham. The pop-up will offer diners a “sneak peek” of Nomad’s menu before the restaurant opens to the public. Guests are invited to visit Viceroy during the pop-up hours to try delicious bites from Nomad and grab a drink from the Viceroy bar. Follow Nomad on Facebook here.

Food Bank Corner

  • Help us set a larger table this year at Thanksgiving! Right now your donation to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina goes twice as far thanks to some very generous matching donors. Right now, every $10 you give will help provide 100 meals for children, hardworking families, and seniors in our community facing hunger this Thanksgiving. Give now — and make twice the difference!

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