TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

Featured Restaurant News

• Created by the talented culinary team behind Boulted Bread, Jubala Coffee, and Bright Spot Donuts, Transfer Co. Food Hall’s Benchwarmers Bagels announced this week that they will open a second, independent location on the ground floor of Rockway, one of Raleigh’s most anticipated new developments located directly beneath The Row Apartments (925 S Saunders St.). The space features ample patio seating and dual frontage on S. Saunders Street and the Rocky Branch Greenway and at the doorstep of Dorothea Dix Park. This new 4,000-square-foot space will significantly boost Benchwarmers’ production capacity allowing them to offer an expanded menu featuring bagels, sandwiches, and nightly pizzas and allow for an expanded beverage program including beer, wine, and casual cocktails. Might be best to follow along on their Instagram page.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Got word from Felicia Trujillo and her team over at Food Seen that chef Luis Zouain’s LaGana, an elevated burger joint, will officially open on Saturday, October 12th at 911 N. West Street, in the former Prospects and Rainbow Luncheonette space. You can find them on Instagram here.

• Raleigh Magazine shared this week that the second location of  Sir Walter Coffee will open Monday, October 21st on Fayetteville Street in the former B.Good spot in Charter Square. In the morning and throughout the day, look for them to serve up the coffee and food menu you have come to love in their current location. In the evening, they will transition with the city into evening mode switching to Sir Walter Cocktail – and your favorite adult beverages. Visit them here.

• Saw on the Raleigh Downtown Facebook page that Oak City Pizza & Grill is now open at 2811 Hillsborough Street adjacent to NC State’s campus. They noted that the NY-style slices are huge and a whole pie gets you 24” (especially the special Gyro pizza, meat cooked first, then topped on the pizza before it’s oven baked). They also recommended the stromboli, cheesesteaks, subs, wings, pastas, appetizers, as well at the chargrill burgers topped with their imitation In-N-Out sauce. Check out their menu here.

• Saw on RALtoday that North Carolina’s first location of DC-based pizzeria Timber Pizza Co. will open on Tuesday, October 15th in the former Ladyfingers Catering spot on Whittaker Mill Road at High Park Village (627 E. Whittaker Mill Road). Get to know them here.

• Nearly every media outlet in the Triangle shared the news that Whataburger has submitted plans for two locations in Raleigh. The first is the former Applebee’s at 501 E. Six Forks Road and the second will be in the former PDQ location at 6305 Falls of Neuse Road. These will be the chain’s first locations in North Carolina. No word on the timeline for either location. Visit Whataburger here.

• Raleigh Magazine shared the news that Ryan and Jennifer Kolarov, the husband-and-wife couple behind Neuse River Brewing, plan to open a new bar called Blotto in a new retail redevelopment at 1601 New Bern Ave. The bar will serve English beers, local craft beer and cocktails. Look for them to open before the end of the year. Best to follow Neuse River for now.

• And speaking of places to get drinks, Downtown Raleigh will soon be home to a couple of new upscale bars – The Brass Tap will open in early November on the ground floor of 400 H Apartments on Hillsborough Street and will boast 45 taps of local and global brews, wine and spirits—plus fab food to pair. Next up will be Urban Oak Raleigh, which will become Raleigh’s “tallest” bar as it sits atop the soon to open Tempo Raleigh Hotel at 200 West Davie Street. Visit Urban Oak Instagram here and The Brass Tap Instagram here.

• Up in North Raleigh, Triangle Business Journal reported that Oh Mochi, a Virginia-based eatery, will open their first Triangle-area location in the former Cheeni Indian Food Emporium spot in Falls River Town Center. Their menu includes Korean corn dogs, mochi doughnuts, boba tea and more. Look for them to open in early 2025.  Get familiar with them here.

• Also up in North Raleigh at 6820 Davis Circle, buddy Paul Nani shared with me that Eggs Up Grill is opening a location (near the intersection with Millbrook Road). While they have 4 other locations in the Triangle, this will be their first location in Raleigh. It will soon be followed by a second location in Raleigh at 10501 Shadowlawn Drive. Get to know them here.

• One of the newest hot spots in downtown, chef David Ellis of Raleigh’s Figulina announced this week that he has launched a special Aperitivo menu, available from 5-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Inspired by the Italian tradition of pre-meal drinks and snacks, the light menu of sips and snacks celebrates the ritual of Aperitivo, which comes from the Latin word meaning “to open”—a delightful way to prepare the palate before dinner. Chef Ellis plans to change the Aperitivo menu regularly. See the full menu here.

• Down in Fuquay-Varina, Donovan Manor, a new wedding venue, opens on October 11th. Donovan Manor is owned and operated by Jill Donovan, owner of Donovan’s Dish. The expansive, private 15-acre estate is located just 10 miles from downtown Raleigh and provides the perfect setting for all your special occasions. Check it out here.

• And we would be remiss if we didn’t mention arguably one of the biggest food events of the year – the NC State Fair will be held at the State Fairgrounds located at 4285 Trinity Road in Raleigh between Oct. 17 and Oct. 27. Visit the Fair here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Saw on the Triangle NC Foodies Facebook page that Tacos Number Juan just opened (official grand opening will be on Oct. 12) at 910 MLK Parkway (in the former Wendy’s near Zaxbys). With lounge seating, air hockey, games, taco bar and more, this eatery is hopping! Start with refreshing margaritas and aqua frescas (with wine, beer, and more to come). They also noted that the menu serves up amazing quesabirrias, tacos, ACP, burritos and all your other favorites. It was also shared that they have a drive-thru! Might be best to check them out on Instagram here.

Closings

• The folks behind Oak City Fish and Chips announced this week that they will not renew their lease at Morgan Street Food Hall and will return to focus on their roots – their food trucks! So this is not a goodbye, but a come out see them out and about. Find them here.

• Reader Thomas Kuehl shared the sad news that Brewster’s Pub in Cary (1885 Lake Pine Drive) was not given the option to renew their lease and their last day of business after 12 years will be October 31.

Food Trucks

• The final Durham Food Truck Rodeo of the season will be Sunday, November 3rd from noon until 4 p.m. at Durham Central Park. 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

• This is the final weekend for Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week which ends on Sunday, October 13th! From now until then, participating restaurants downtown will offer 3-course prix-fixe meals or limited-time lunch, dinner, & drinks specials. Support your favorite spots or try somewhere new, Restaurant Week is your excuse to skip the grocery lines and go out to eat instead. Get all the details here and a list of participating restaurants.

• Pure Vegan Café is welcoming the season with a festive (and vegan-friendly) Fall Tea Party on October 13 from 2-5 p.m. at the café’s Durham location at 2812 Erwin Rd. Guests can enjoy a delicious assortment of fall-inspired bites, including finger sandwiches, flatbreads, pastries and fresh fruit skewers. Of course, no tea party would be complete without the beloved brew, so there will be plenty to go around, including black, fall-flavored and iced varieties. Tickets are $30 per person and include all food and drinks. Guests may contact [email protected] or 919.251.9694 to reserve their seats. Visit Pure Vegan here.

• Chapel Hill’s Market and Moss will host an event each week in October to celebrate their anniversary: Thursday, October 17: Live Music & Half Off Wine by the Bottle Live music from Tea Cup Gin on the patio from 5:30p to 8p, plus Half Off Bottles of Wine normally priced under $100 for all diners. Wednesday, October 23: Free Gift Bags – All dinner guests will receive a free bag of goodies from the kitchen. Sunday, October 27: Benefit Brunch for Compass Center – 20% of all brunch sales will be donated to Compass Center, which helps people navigate their journey to stability, safety, and health with services that include domestic violence crisis and prevention programs, education, assistance with legal resources, and youth health programs.  Get details and reservations/tickets on all their events here.

• Everybody knows what October 19th is…right? Yep, National Whole Hog Day. Yes, The Pit in Downtown Raleigh will be celebrating by serving up $5 barbecue sandwiches and $5 Clouds Brewing Baltic Porters for National Whole Hog Barbecue Day, Saturday, Oct. 19 (11am – 11pm)! They’ll be cookin’ up whole hogs on the pit and making their signature Eastern N.C. barbecue sandwiches for you to dig into. Go hang and celebrate the tradition and history of authentic whole hog barbecue. Best to visit their Facebook events page here for all the details.

• USA Today Food & Wine Experience is coming back again to Raleigh on Saturday October 26th at the Big Field at Dix Park. Chef Jared Bobkin coordinates this event visiting approximately 12 U.S. cities annually. Get all the details here.

• Seabird’s (Wilmington) Chef/Owner Dean Neff will team up with Preeti Waas from Cheeni in Durham for a dinner on Wednesday, November 20th specifically earmarked to benefit industry peers in Western North Carolina, in the wake of Hurricane Helene. (They are also doing a dinner in Wilmington on October 15th). Tickets are $150. Tickets for the Durham event can be purchased here.

Food Bank Corner

• Kids are back in school. And with that, the effects of hunger reach well beyond the classroom — influencing health, well-being and earning potential well into adulthood. The Food Bank operates programs like Weekend Power Pack, Youth Pantries and Kids Cafés. With the support you provide, the Food Bank is able to connect more kids and teens with the resources they need to succeed and thrive. Help kids get the nutritious support they need to be successful by donating today!

Featured Restaurant News

• This coming Monday, October 7th will see the opening of the latest concept from the team over at LM Restaurants (think Carolina Ale House, Vidrio, Taverna Agora, a’Verde Cocina, etc.). Birdie’s Barroom & Kitchen occupies the first floor of the landmark 150 Fayetteville Street building in Downtown Raleigh (Wells Fargo building). The 150-seat restaurant will serve guests from sunrise to moonrise and feature a morning barista-led café, as well as a private event room for business meetings and special events. The restaurant will feature a central bar-in-the-round with ample indoor and outdoor seating, exclusively designed to provide outdoor dining and special event space. I joined the beautiful and talented Lori Bowers-Lennard for dinner this week and was overwhelmed by what they have done with that space, not to mention the amazing food. A tremendous addition to downtown. I will also add I was extremely impressed with how they incorporated the outdoor space – take advantage of that this week! Check it out here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Two Roosters Ice Cream will open their newest location at Waverly Place in Cary (575 New Waverly Place) THIS Saturday, October 5th at 2 p.m. The first 100 people get FREE ice cream (Limit one menu item per person). They are located next door to Enrigo Italian Bistro and near Gonza Tacos Y Tequila at the grassy area. This will be their 6th location, and first in Cary. Visit them here.

• RALtoday reported this week that Poole’s Diner will open its expanded dining room on Friday, November 1 after previous occupant Poole’side Pies closed in December 2023. Guests should expect an expanded menu with wood-fired options, thanks to Poole’side’s pizza operation, comfort food, and more of what you love from Poole’s. They also indicated that the original Poole’s dining room will close temporarily at the end of October to receive some updates, but should reopen in short order. Follow along on their Instagram here.

• The News & Observer shared this week that Captain Cookie & The Milk Man is opening a second Raleigh location in North Hills THIS Saturday, Oct. 5. The shop will offer freshly baked cookies, ice cream and unique flavors. Opening day will feature giveaways and a chance to win free cookies for a year. Their original location is in the Transfer Co. Food Hall in Downtown Raleigh. Check them out here.

• Up in North Raleigh, reader Katie Page shared with us that Corbett’s Burger and Soda Bar Is now open at 13200 Falls of Neuse Road in Wakefield. This is their third location (also in Cary and Sanford). Start getting familiar with them here.

• A changing of the guard over in Clayton thanks to an update from Raleigh Magazine. They shared that Crawford Hospitality has sold Clayton’s Crawford Cookshop to Oscar Diaz of Cortez fame (who also recently opened Little Bull in Durham, with concepts AAKTUN and TaTaco also coming soon to Bull City). Diaz and Mezcalito Group Inc. will be introducing a new concept in the space. Stay tuned. Cookshop’s last service will be tomorrow, Saturday, October 5.

• Down in Fuquay-Varina, Donovan Manor, a new wedding venue, opens on October 11th. Donovan Manor is owned and operated by Jill Donovan, owner of Donovan’s Dish. The expansive, private 15-acre estate is located just 10 miles from downtown Raleigh and provides the perfect setting for all your special occasions. Check it out here.

• A couple of changes in the pizza world thanks to an update from Michael DePersia of DePersia & Associates — the Little Ceasars at 4800 Grove Barton Rd. in Raleigh has been sold to a multi unit franchisee from California and will continue to operate as per usual. Also, Mega Pizza at 9101 Leesville Rd. in Raleigh has been sold to the group that owns Big Sergios Pizza at 2127 Ten Ten Rd. in Apex. For now it is “business as usual” with minor changes to the menu over time.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Triangle Busiiness Journal reported that a new coffee shop, tiki bar and restaurant venue is on its way to Durham. Aaktun Coffee + Bar will open in a few weeks at 704 E. Ramseur St. that will add to a growing lineup of food and beverage on the block. Aaktun’s Instagram describes itself as a “local coffee shop during the day, Tulum inspired bar by night.” Mezcalito, a restaurant group with six Tex-Mex restaurants in North Carolina, is behind the concept according to the new shop’s social media account. Keep up with their progress on Instagram here.

• Saw on the Triangle NC Foodies Facebook page that Tacos Number Juan just opened (official grand opening will be on Oct. 12) at 910 MLK Parkway (in the former Wendy’s near Zaxbys). With lounge seating, air hockey, games, taco bar and more, this eatery is hopping! Start with refreshing margaritas and aqua frescas (with wine, beer, and more to come). They also noted that the menu serves up amazing quesabirrias, tacos, ACP, burritos and all your other favorites. It was also shared that they have a drive-thru! Might be best to check them out on Instagram here.

• Over in Carrboro, the folks behind Glass Half Full have opened an event space in the space behind their restaurant called The Other Half. The space can accommodate up to 30 people for special occasions or business meetings. Visit or inquire about availability here.

Closings

• This past Saturday, we said goodbye to Seaboard Cafe at Seaboard Station (and located inside Logan Trading Company) after 31 years.  

Food Trucks

• The final Durham Food Truck Rodeo of the season will be Sunday, November 3rd from noon until 4 p.m. at Durham Central Park. 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

• The tenth-annual WRAL Voters’ Choice Awards will be back this fall. The new and improved ballot will make it easier than ever to nominate and vote for the best. With over 100 categories, this is your chance to help businesses, people and services in central North Carolina get the recognition they deserve. From now through October 9th you can submit nominations here.

• Turn up the heat because Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week is back October 5th–13th! Throughout the week, participating restaurants downtown will offer 3-course prix-fixe meals or limited-time lunch, dinner, & drinks specials. Support your favorite spots or try somewhere new, Restaurant Week is your excuse to skip the grocery lines and go out to eat instead. Get all the details here and a list of participating restaurants.

• The 12th Annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser, where our community – local artists, chefs, and musicians – comes together to help feed local children, will take place on Sunday, October 6th from 3 – 6 p.m. at the Carrboro Town Commons. Enjoy a delicious dinner of soup, freshly baked bread, and cookies donated by local restaurants, live music and more! And, of course, the choice of a bowl from a variety of beautifully crafted bowls from local artists. There are a lot of ticket options including Soup-er Star VIP, Bowls & Bites, Simply Soup, and Tiny Tasters. Help them continue to feed our kids and expand their reach! Visit their Facebook events page here.

• Chapel Hill’s Market and Moss will host an event each week in October: Wednesday, October 9: Anniversary Toast – Market and Moss will be toasting to its 4 years in business at 6p and 8p, with complimentary bubbles provided to all diners that evening. Thursday, October 17: Live Music & Half Off Wine by the Bottle Live music from Tea Cup Gin on the patio from 5:30p to 8p, plus Half Off Bottles of Wine normally priced under $100 for all diners. Wednesday, October 23: Free Gift Bags – All dinner guests will receive a free bag of goodies from the kitchen. Sunday, October 27: Benefit Brunch for Compass Center – 20% of all brunch sales will be donated to Compass Center, which helps people navigate their journey to stability, safety, and health with services that include domestic violence crisis and prevention programs, education, assistance with legal resources, and youth health programs.  Get details and reservations/tickets on all their events here.

• Pure Vegan Café is welcoming the season with a festive (and vegan-friendly) Fall Tea Party on October 13 from 2-5 p.m. at the café’s Durham location at 2812 Erwin Rd. Guests can enjoy a delicious assortment of fall-inspired bites, including finger sandwiches, flatbreads, pastries and fresh fruit skewers. Of course, no tea party would be complete without the beloved brew, so there will be plenty to go around, including black, fall-flavored and iced varieties. Tickets are $30 per person and include all food and drinks. Guests may contact [email protected] or 919.251.9694 to reserve their seats. Visit Pure Vegan here.

• Scott Crawford, a renowned chef, five-time semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation, will hold an exclusive seated, family-style dinner on October 20 at Healing Transitions called Freedom Harvest: an Evening with Scott Crawford. Healing Transitions is a nonprofit organization in Raleigh dedicated to providing long-term recovery services and overnight shelter for individuals who are homeless, underserved and uninsured. This event holds special significance as it marks Crawford’s 20th year of recovery. Attendees can look forward to experiencing Crawford’s culinary expertise while supporting a vital cause. Get all the details here.

• USA Today Food & Wine Experience is coming back again to Raleigh on Saturday October 26th at the Big Field at Dix Park. Chef Jared Bobkin coordinates this event visiting approximately 12 U.S. cities annually. Get all the details here.

• Seabird’s (Wilmington) Chef/Owner Dean Neff will team up with Preeti Waas from Cheeni in Durham for a dinner on Wednesday, November 20th specifically earmarked to benefit industry peers in Western North Carolina, in the wake of Hurricane Helene. (They are also doing a dinner in Wilmington on October 15th). Tickets are $150. Tickets for the Durham event can be purchased here.

Food Bank Corner

• Kids are back in school. And with that, the effects of hunger reach well beyond the classroom — influencing health, well-being and earning potential well into adulthood. The Food Bank operates programs like Weekend Power Pack, Youth Pantries and Kids Cafés. With the support you provide, the Food Bank is able to connect more kids and teens with the resources they need to succeed and thrive. Help kids get the nutritious support they need to be successful by donating today!