Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news…that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.
Featured Restaurant News
- Just when you thought everything in New York was already in Cary, it was announced this week that the Shake Shack is coming to Cary’s Waverly Place. Shake Shack is a modern day “roadside” burger stand known for its 100% all- natural Angus beef burgers, chicken sandwiches and griddled flat-top dogs (no added hormones or antibiotics – ever), fresh-made frozen custard, crispy crinkle-cut fries, craft beer, wine and more. The Cary Shack menu will feature all the classics, including the ShackBurger®, crinkle-cut fries and handspun shakes, plus a selection of frozen custard concretes in collaboration with local food purveyors. The business started out as a hot dog cart in New York’s Madison Square Park in 2001. In 2004, a permanent kiosk opened at the park. While permits have been filed, no word yet on an opening date. Get familiar with them here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- A much deserved tip-of-the-hat to Raleigh chef Ashley Christensen who was announced this week as a finalist for a national James Beard Foundation Award. She is up for best chef in the country, an award she was a finalist for last year as well. The awards are often referred to as “The Oscars of Food,” and the Triangle has a legacy of taking home honors. Let’s hope she wins! See all the honorees here.
- The folks over at EatRaleigh stumbled upon some great news this past week. They noticed at 17 E. Martin Street in downtown Raleigh that the Slice Pie Company, home of the State Fair blue ribbon pie, and Sweet Water New York Ice Co. are setting up a joint shop together. No word on a timeline, so stay tuned. In the meantime, let your mouth water by visiting Slice here and Sweetwater here.
- Reader Hugh Autry shared the news that J&S New York Pizza, which has locations in Apex and Fuquay-Varina, opened at some point in the last week or two in Cary. They are in the former Ruckus Pizza & Pasta spot at the Arboretum at the intersection of Weston Parkway and Harrison Avenue. The restaurant is known for its New York-style pizzas. Get to know them here.
- Also in Cary, a reader shared the news that Amberly Local, a beer, wine and sandwich shop, is opening sometime in May in the small shopping center in Amberly Village Square. It is owned by the same folks behind High Craft Beer Market. Check them out on Facebook for more details and their opening date once it is announced.
- Not long after the opening of the Triangle’s first location of The Lost Cajun at 10901 Forest Pines Dr., reader Burke Williams shared the news that a second location is on the way in North Raleigh in Bent Tree Plaza at 7909 Falls of Neuse Rd. No word yet on a timeline. Get familiar with The Lost Cajun here.
- Also in North Raleigh, Derek Wilkins shared the news that NDB Commercial Real Estate has broken ground on Bedford Market a mixed use development located at Falls of Neuse and Dunn Rd in N Raleigh. This will be home to the fourth installment of locally owned The Butcher’s Market. Look for them along with some other restaurant and retail options such as Triangle Wine to open up early fall 2019. The Butcher’s Market has locations in Raleigh, Cary and Holly Springs. You can keep up with their progress here.
- Things just got a lot sweeter at Crabtree Valley Mall when Triangle Business Journal shared the news that a permanent Häagen-Dazs ice cream kiosk will open soon in front of Starbucks, Zales and Lencrafters, upstairs in the former Sears corridor. Check them out here.
- Down in Holly Springs, saw on a Facebook post by Shane Phillips that a new seafood joint is on the way. The Blind Pelican Seafood House is coming soon, possibly early April, to 120 Bass Lake Road. Nothing much on their website, but you can follow their progress on their Facebook page here.
- And just south of the Triangle in Harnett County, we got word that Daddy Bob’s Barbeque is laying down roots in Angier. Fans of the food truck can dine at Daddy Bob’s new brick and mortar location at 333 N. Raleigh Street E. in Angier. Daddy Bob’s was named some of the Triangle’s best barbecue by the News & Observer. Get to know them here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- In Durham, WRAL reported that NanaTaco has a new ownership structure and name. Jennifer Gillie and Scott Howell opened the Durham restaurant in September 2011 in a former garage on University Drive. In late 2018, Gillie, a Durham native, became the sole owner and announced that the name will officially be changed to NuvoTaco. The menu will continue to include the same hand-pressed corn tortillas, house-pickled jalapeños and “Dirty Meats,” including local hog jowls, pork belly and crispy chicken liver. NuvoTaco is located at 2512 University Drive, is open 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Check them out here.
- Reader Nick McBride shared with us that he saw a sign that Durham’s Mad Hatter Cafe is soon to open a location on UNC’s campus in Chapel Hill. Not sure exactly where (I’ll go anywhere for Mad Hatter) or what the timeline. We will keep an eye on this one. Check out Mad Hatter here.
Closings
- None to report! Keep eating local, folks!
Food Trucks
- Go ahead and mark down the dates for 2019 for the Durham Food Truck rodeos – they are: June 16, September 1 and November 3! Get all the dates here.
- And the dates for the 2019 edition of the Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo have been released – they are Sunday May 5th – 12-6pm (Cinco de mayo ); Sunday June 9th – 12-6pm; Sunday August 4th – 3pm-9pm ( Evening Rodeo ); and Sunday Oct 6th – 12-6pm. All are held along Fayetteville Street. Get all the details here.
- This Sunday, March 31st, food trucks will gather in Chapel Hill for the Food Truck Rodeo on Rosemary from 1-4 p.m. More than a dozen trucks will be on hand. Get all the details on their Facebook page here.
- Thanks to a note from Mark Ginsberg, I learned that the Knightdale Food Truck Thursdays is getting ready to kick back up for the season. The event is held the third Thursday of the month from April through October at Knightdale Station Park for lunch AND dinner. Get all the details, truck schedule and more here.
Events
- Les Dames, NC, a philanthropic society of professional women leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality is hosting its annual fundraising event – Dudes for Dames Dinner. This year, chefs Bill Smith of Crooks Corner, Sean Fowler of Mandolin and other extraordinary chefs will be cooking to support this organization in their efforts to raise funds for the NC K12 Culinary Institute and No Kid Hungry in Memory of Karen Barker. The event is Sunday, April 7th, 2019 from 4:00pm – 7:00pm at Lavender Oaks Farm. Purchase tickets and get all the details here.
- Shop Local Raleigh’s annual craft beer festival, Brewgaloo, will take place April 26-27, 2019 Brewgaloo features craft breweries from North Carolina and partners with local food trucks, local vendors and local bands. Get tickets now and all the details on their website here.
- Recently Brewgaloo was nominated as one of the top beer festivals in the country! That’s right, in the country! Right now we sit atop the leaderboard, but we need your vote to stay there. Please click through here and keep us there! Thanks to Jennifer Martin for bringing this to my attention.
- Cary’s 4th annual Fest in the West festival returns on Saturday, May 4th from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. The event features old-fashioned contests (like pie eating!), artists, beer, food trucks (10) and live bands on multiple stages. (Rain date is May 5). Get all the details here.
- Tickets are on sale now for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina’s Thrive NC, scheduled for May 9 -10 at City Market in downtown Raleigh – NOTE: Friday’s event is SOLD OUT! The inaugural event attracted thousands of members of the community to celebrate North Carolina’s culinary roots, while also initiating critical conversations about food insecurity in our state. The highlight of the two-day event is the festival which will feature more than 60 of the area’s best restaurants serving food and drink samples as well as live entertainment, including chef demonstrations and music. Get all the details here. Get all the details here.
Food Bank Corner
- Right now, through March 31, your gift to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina goest TWICE as far! No child should ever have to go to bed hungry. And right now, your gift goes twice as far towards making sure children in our community go to bed with full stomachs. Through March 31, your gift to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina will be doubled up to $107,000! Make your donation today.
