Featured Restaurant News
- The Triangle Business Journal shared the exciting news this week that the Phoenix-based wine cafe and restaurant Postino, after opening at Village District in Raleigh two years ago, has selected University Place in Chapel Hill (201 S. Estes Drive Suite 302) for its next Triangle outpost. Look for them to open this fall. The restaurant will have 180 seats and 100 seats outside on an 1,800-square-foot patio. The menu will be largely the same as Village District, including ample bruschetta choices (brie apple fig, burrata bacon arugula and ricotta date pistachio to name a few) in addition to paninis, salads and more. The restaurant has 10 locations in Arizona, in addition to others in California, Colorado, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and of course North Carolina. Get familiar with them here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- Got word this week that the folks behind Shinmai Shokudo and Shinmai Kumo in Cary are getting ready to open their third concept, Shinmai Moku, in the new section of Quail Corners shopping center later this July (corner of Millbrook and Falls of the Neuse roads). Moku is an intimate Japanese yakitori and izakaya inspired by the evenings found throughout Japan, where people gather around charcoal grills to share skewers, small plates, and drinks with friends. Their goal isn’t just to open another restaurant, but to bring a more authentic yakitori experience to North Carolina through craftsmanship, atmosphere, and hospitality. Best to follow along on Instagram here.
- Songbird, the new daylight-to-dusk cocktail bar by Charlie Blue Arm and Meg Paradise of Umbrella Dry Bar at East End Market (1020 E. Whitaker Mill Road, Ste. 130) officially opens today, July 3rd. The concept features a walk-up window, sit-down service, two intimate custom bars, and a lush patio and garden. The beverage line-up is extremely diverse as well as seasonal offering up alcoholic, low-ABV and nonalcoholic beverages, wines, small-batch spirits, coffee service (Willow House Coffee), and a tea program developed with Tin Roof Teas. On the food front, look for shareable plates, larger dishes and desserts developed by Dave Mitchell, formerly of Plates Kitchen and currently of Longleaf Swine BBQ, who will serve as chef-in-residency for the first few months. Check them out on Instagram here.
- In Cary, reader Vanessa Guirguis notified us that a new Balkan restaurant is coming to Cary, near Lochmere. The Balkan Table will open at 2425 Kildaire Farm Road, Suite 201, taking over the Lochmere Pavilion space formerly occupied by Bocci Trattoria & Pizzeria. Drawing from countries across Southeastern Europe, the region’s food is known for hearty meats, slow-cooked stews, fresh cheeses, roasted vegetables, and family recipes passed down through generations. Look for appetizers featuring a Balkan Dip Platter with traditional spreads such as Kyopolou and Liutenitsa served with warm pita, Armenian Figs stuffed with feta and wrapped in applewood bacon, and Potato & Cheese Pierogi. Entrees will include Moussaka, Stuffed Cabbage Rolls, Hungarian Goulash, slow-cooked Kavarma, and Salmon Nikoloff. Get your mouth watering here.
- Saw in The Cary Report that a Super Chix is opening in Morrisville at 1125 Hatches Pond Lane (right next to Wegmans). Based out of Texas, they have a couple other locations in North Carolina, but this is the first in the Triangle. They are expecting to open any day now. Go ahead and get familiar with them here.
- Over in Garner, friend Hugh Autry notified me that Dave’s Hot Chicken is building a stand alone at White Oak Shopping Center in Garner, in front of Cabella’s/Bass Pro Shops near the Long Horn. No word on a timeline nor an open date. They already have locations in Wake Forest and Holly Springs. Check out Dave’s here.
- You’ve been following their camper for years, but we learned that out in Willow Spring Dupre’s Coffee & Company will open their brick and mortar location on July 8th from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. at 3616 NC 42 in Southeastern Wake County. Probably best to keep up with them on Instagram here.
- Over in Wendell, Triangle Business Journal shared fantastic news for burger lovers. The Wendell Falls community will soon be getting a new fast-casual restaurant to add to the growing roster of retailers. Burger chain Five Guys has filed permits for a new location at 5900 Taylor Road in an existing shell space at Treelight Square. The chain will join other newcomers in Wendell Falls, including Chick-fil-A and Vic’s Pizzeria and Bar. Five Guys also has a new location in Crabtree Valley Mall. Visit Five Guys here.
- And in Fuquay-Varina saw that Jason Wunsch on his Today in the Quay Facebook page shared that TrySeaFood in Cary is opening a location in Fuquay-Varina in the former Aviator Smokehouse space. Look for familiar features such as 8 Piece Jumbo Shrimp W/ Fries, NYC Chopped Cheese W/ 3pc Shrimp, 6 Piece Fried Catfish Only, Lobster Tail 8 Piece Shrimp W/ Mixed Veggies, and Bucket Of Gold. Not sure of the timeline, but get familiar with them here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- Midtown Magazine reported on the Instagram this week that this October, Haven Hot Chicken will open its first North Carolina location at 706 Ninth Street, bringing the Connecticut-born concept known for its crispy, crunchy, juicy, spicy chicken to the Bull City. The Durham location will be operated by brothers John and Tim Enterline of The Enterline Group, longtime Jersey Mike’s operators. Start getting familiar with them here.
- Little Bull will open in their new location on Monday, August 3 completing a year-long renovation of a historic building dating to the 1910s in downtown Durham’s National Register historic district (301 East Chapel Hill Street). The work preserves a lot of the building’s history with wood from the original interior walls and repurposed the salvaged beams into a staircase that now connects the main dining room to the upstairs bar. Little Bull will serve dinner nightly beginning at 5 pm, with weekend brunch continuing on Saturdays and Sundays. The team plans to introduce weekday lunch service this fall, marking the restaurant’s first lunch offering. Congrats to Oscar Diaz and Juan Camilo Espada and the entire Mezcalito Group. Follow along on Instagram here.
- Over in Chapel Hill, we first told you about this a couple months ago, but we are inside a few weeks of Einstein Bros. Bagels opening in Chapel Hill’s Eastgate in the standalone building on the East Franklin Street side where Bruegger’s Bagels operated before Tropical Storm Chantal forced its closure last July. Bruegger’s and Einstein are owned by the same parent group and the conversion is part of a brand consolidation strategy. Visit Einstein Bros. here.
- La Vita Dolce opened in their new location this week in the former Market & Moss space a few doors down from their original spot in Chapel Hill’s Southern Village. The move triples the size of the popular cafe and coffee shop, allowing them to transition to an all-day concept with expanded hours and much needed additional space. The new spot is just as enjoyable for a morning latte as it is for an evening martini. Check out the new space here.
- Absence makes the heart grow fonder. And so it is as we remind you that Fiesta Grill in Chapel Hill (5 miles west of Carrboro) will be closed for their annual vacation from June 29 through July 14. reopening on July 15. Please plan accordingly. Hang in there! Visit them here.
, Closings
- After a 20-year run in Chapel Hill, we learned this week that Red Lotus on Elliott Road has closed their doors. Their last day of service was June 30th. Word has it another similar concept is coming into that space, so stay tuned.
- Reader Frank E. Rhodes notified us that Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar in Morrisville has closed (temporarily) on July 1st as they prepare for a move across the street to the old Hickory Tavern location. Construction is expected to be completed in August. Their old location is being demolished to make way for apartments.
Food Trucks
- Good news, bad news for dumpling fans. The Chirba Chirba truck has “retired” from being mobile and is looking for a location to “just sit” and churn out your favorite dumplings. That’s the bad news (although, we think it is pretty cool they will soon have a “permanent” home). The other good news is they will soon have a brand-new Chirba Chirba truck taking over their existing calendar in July! So, if you know of a good spot for them to “park” their first truck (no, not your driveway), drop them a line. Reach out to them with your ideas and see when Version 2.0 arrives on their site here.
- The final Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on September 27. You’ll find food and drink at over 30 food trucks as well as inflatables and family fun for all ages. It will be hosted at Durham Central Park (500 Foster Street, Durham). Go ahead and mark your calendar. Get all the details here.
- Looking to find your favorite food truck (or stalking them and simply don’t want to have to admit it)? We understand. Find them on Street Food Finder here.
Events
- July 16th through July 26th is Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week. From skyline cocktails to neighborhood favorites and exciting new discoveries, you’ll find exclusive prix fixe menus, chef-crafted specials, and limited-time offers throughout Downtown Raleigh during this celebration. Next week, they’ll start unveiling participating restaurants, including The Willard Rooftop Lounge, with many more to come. Stay tuned to see who’s joining this year’s list!
- The Left Hook Coffee shop is holding their grand opening at its Hargett Street cafe with a circus on Saturday, August 1. Located at 912 E Hargett Street, at the corner of Hargett and State, you’ll enjoy local vendors/artists/makers, live music, local food vendors, live screen printing, “circus” activities, wrestling, and more. A huge congratulations to Kristin and Nick! Follow along on Instagram here.
- Tickets are on sale now for the 2026 Dinner in the Meadow event on September 13th for a fundraiser that supports the Leonard-Mobley Small Farm Fund, a non-profit organization that helps small farms in North Carolina. Get tickets and all the details here.
Food Bank Corner
- Stop Summer Hunger when your gift doubles! The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina currently has a $100,000 match until July 31! For kids, summer should be a time of play and rest. But for too many local families, it’s a time of worry instead. When school breakfasts and lunches stop for the summer, parents on an already-stretched budget are challenged to fill the gap. Thanks to some generous friends, every dollar of your gift today will double, up to $100,000, to fund our summer meal programs so that kids can be kids. Because of our buying power and relationships with local food providers, every gift, of any size, will go a long way. Every $30 can feed
one childtwo children for a month! Every $90 can feedone childtwo children all summer! Consider a donation today!
