TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

Featured Restaurant News

• Raleigh Magazine shared the exciting news this week that next summer Lawrence Barbecue will be moving from their Boxyard RTP spot to a new brick and mortar location in downtown Cary at 150 E. Cedar Street (near Scratch Kitchen & Taproom and Zest Sushi and Small Plates). The new spot will bring together all three of Jake Wood’s concepts – Lawrence Barbecue, Lagoon Bar and Leroy’s Taco Shop – and will also feature a patio, smokehouse, full bar and merchandise. Congrats to Jake on all his success and hard work (and his team)! Follow along on Instagram here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Word spread quickly this week that acclaimed Dominican chef Luis Zouain will open LaGana in the former Prospects space at 911 N. West Street sometime this fall. LaGana’s menu will consist of elevated wagyu-blend burgers, with one rotating “burger of the month.” In addition to the burgers, guests can enjoy “Mr. Thick,” a massive french fry topped with parmesan, chives and spices, as well as decedent layer cakes for dessert. The drink menu will boast a carefully curated selection of bubbles, beer and wine. Will be best to keep up with their progress on their Instagram page here.

• Got word this week that local wings joint Heavenly Buffaloes will open next Tuesday, September 3rd in Raleigh. They are located in the former Hungry Howies spot at Haverty Square at 6701 Glenwood Avenue. This will be the restaurant’s fourth location in the Triangle (two in Durham and one in Chapel Hill). Get to know them here.

• Raleigh Magazine shared that North Carolina will soon land its first location of Timber Pizza Co. in Raleigh as they move into the former Ladyfingers Catering spot on Whittaker Mill Road at High Park Village (627 E. Whittaker Mill Road). Look for them to open towards the end of September. Start getting familiar with them here in Instagram.

• Union Station Deli & Catering from Rocky Top Catering, located inside the iconic Raleigh Union Station at 510 W Martin Street in downtown Raleigh opened yesterday (yes, I was there!). Touted as a true New York-style deli, they are serving up breakfast bagels, deli sandwiches, and hot pressed sammies – with toppings like house-smoked pastrami, corned beef and chicken cutlets — as well as black-and-white cookies. They have weekday service (6 a.m. until 3 p.m.) initially, with weekend service to start in January. The concept is managed by Sean Degnan, known for his outstanding restaurant portfolio including bu•ku, so•ca and kō•än. Follow along on Instagram here.

• The News & Observer reported this week that an all-day Colombian restaurant is expanding to the Triangle. Cali Colombian Restaurant, which was founded in Charlotte a year ago, will open at 5601 Atlantic Ave. in Raleigh in September. The company that owns Cali, Andi Valentino Investments, is also behind Raleigh’s Pollo Campero, located on Litchford Road. The N&O also noted that they are looking to open two other Cali locations in Raleigh. Get familiar with them here.

• We first told you about this back in December, but an update this week confirmed that Raleigh’s “doughnut guy” – aka Alejandro Contreras – will open a brick and mortar location of Tepuy Donuts next month! Located in a small shopping center where Capital Boulevard and 440 meet (2820 Capital Blvd.), the new spot will lean toward grab-and-go doughnuts and coffee, with some indoor seating and a spacious patio. Check them out here. (warning, visiting the site will make you drool)

• Really sad to share this, but you will want to make plans to get by one last time. Seaboard Cafe, which opened in the back of Logan’s Trading Company at Seaboard Station in 1991, will officially close on September 28th. Word has it that owner Rick Perales is working on a commemorative t-shirt that you can purchase as a keepsake. They are open 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday thru Saturday (closed on Sunday). Visit them here. (Pro tip: they will be extremely busy for the final month, so get by early)

• Out in Brier Creek, reader Jennifer Buccholz shared that Golden Krust, a Caribbean bakery, is coming to the former CycleBar location. No word on an open date. Visit the chain here.

• And up in Wake Forest, got word from reader Rebecca Taylor that a concept called Jeff’s Bagel Run is coming to 12534 Capital Blvd. No word on an open date. Looks like this is their second location in North Carolina and the first in the Triangle. Get familiar with them here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Thanks to the keen eyes (and a little internet snooping) of reader Shelley Colbert, she shared that a concept called Xolo Tacos + Tlayudas will open soon in Southern Village in Chapel Hill – possibly as early as November, 2024. The concept will be Mexican with a Oaxacan touch, according to their Instagram page. I share in Shelley’s excitement about this discovery. Follow along on their Instagram for updates.

• In Chapel Hill it is time to ‘eat mor’ chickin’ as the long awaited Chick-fil-A at University Place (241 South Estes Drive) announced that they will open on September 5th according to our friends over at Chapelboro. They are located in the footprint of the former K&W Cafeteria, complete with drive-thru service. This opening at University Place marks the first time the franchise has had a location on that side of town since the former location inside of University Mall closed in November, 2021. Visit them here.

• The Daily Tar Heel reported that Max’s Tin Can opened this week on Franklin Street. They are located at 201 E. Franklin St., beneath Time-Out in the former Downtime nightclub space. Congratulations to owner Michael Rosenbacher. Visit them on Instagram here.

• And a little further up Franklin Street, the good folks over at Zayka Indian Grill & Bar posted on Facebook that they are now open at 105 E. Franklin Street – just in time for the return of the students! They moved into the former Base Camp spot. They also have a location in Raleigh. Check them out on Instagram here.

• Over in Durham, after almost 20 years on Erwin Road, Nosh has completed their relocation and are now open in their new digs (but same great nosh!) at 717 Broad Street, complete with rooftop dining as well. They are open daily from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Visit them here.

• Also in Durham, Indy Week brought it to our attention this week that the local popsicle shop, LocoPops is launching a second location called LocoShop. Located on Foster Street in downtown Durham, it will carry just about everything that LocoPops does, including popsicles, ice cream, cakes, and sweet and savory pies as well as local and specialty pantry items and prepared meals, beer and wine, and sundries. Visit them here.

• Looking for a good dive in Durham? Buddy Glenn Gillen shared that High Dive bar is now open (where Glori and Quarter Horse used to be) at 101 W Main Street. They tout themselves as a stylish “dive” with games, beers, spirits, a vintage jukebox, pool, darts, foosball, pinball a great vibe and more. Best to follow along on Instagram here.

Closings

• Cary Magazine shared the sad news that after 43 years, Dallas Famous Chicken n’ Biscuits at 1101 East Williams Street in Apex will close for good on August 31. Thanks to David McCreary for passing that information along.

• And over in Raleigh, WRAL shared that Cousins Maine Lobster is closing their location at Morgan Street Food Hall. The restaurant’s last day open will be Aug. 31. Their trucks continue to thrive and roll all over the Triangle!

• Also in Raleigh, The Goat Bar announced that they have closed. They were located at 5111 Western Blvd. (pro tip: watch their Facebook page as they are still selling The Goat Bar swag).

Food Trucks

• Jennifer Martin let us know that the last Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo of 2024 will take place on Saturday, September 21st from noon until 6 p.m. on Fayetteville Street in the heart of Downtown Raleigh. Whether you’re a fan of gourmet burgers, delicious tacos, or decadent desserts, this food truck rodeo promises to have something for everyone! Visit their Facebook event page 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

• Lakeside Kitchen will have a Kentucky Bourbon Dinner on Thursday, September 12th at 6:30 p.m. featuring Bardstown Origin Series KSBW, Woodford Reserve Wheat, Willett Family Estate Rye, Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey and Willett Pot Still Reserve. They are located in the Park Alumni Center on NC State’s Centennial Campus. Tickets are $125. Get all the details here.

• Alley Twenty Six and Night School Bar, two of Durham’s most cutting-edge cocktail destinations, are excited to announce their collaboration on a four-part monthly series titled Cocktails 101. Starting Tuesday, Sept. 3, Shannon Healy, owner of Alley Twenty Six, a 2022 James Beard Award finalist for Outstanding Bar Program, will lead the class. Participants can join either online or in person at Night School Bar, a venue known for blending academics with an unforgettable bar experience, having gained national recognition for offering college-level humanities courses in a bar environment. Get all the details and purchase tickets here. Individual class tickets can also be purchased, but are subject to availability.

• Tickets are on sale now for the 9th Annual Dinner in the Meadow which will take place on September 15, 2024 on a grassy knoll atMeadow Lane Farm, in bucolic Franklin County, offering beautiful pastoral views and clear, starry skies. Some of the region’s most sought-after chefs will be preparing delicious dishes using ingredients from local farms and food artisans. It is an annual fundraiser for the Leonard-Mobley Small Farm Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 2014 to support and cultivate small farms in our region of North Carolina. Get tickets and 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.

Food Bank Corner

• Kids are heading back to 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

• On a recent drive down Hillsborough Street, I noticed signs flying announcing that Lobera Tacos & Tequila is now open at 2100 Hillsborough Street in the former Gonza Tacos spot across from the Memorial Belltower. They tout that they are a family-owned establishment inspired by the warmth of their own gatherings where you can expect to taste dishes inspired by generations-old family recipes along with creative culinary twists that keep things fresh and exciting. Open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week, check them out here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• It was shared this week that we are getting ever closer to the opening of Scott Crawford’s newest concept – Crawford Brothers Steakhouse – which will open this fall at Fenton, the 92-acre mixed use development in Cary. When it opens, it will be the largest Crawford Hospitality restaurant to-date with seating for 120. It will celebrate the nostalgia of an old school steakhouse, but with a lighter and edgier twist. They will specialize in house dry-aged beef, and boast an extensive wine program, a vibrant cocktail bar, two private rooms. A prominent feature of the design will be a floor-to-ceiling “glass curtain” on one side of the restaurant, visible from the street, giving passersby a full view into both the warm, inviting cocktail bar. Keep up with announcements on their Instagram page here.

• And we have the official opening date for Union Station Deli & Catering from Rocky Top Catering. Located inside the iconic Raleigh Union Station at 510 W Martin Street in downtown Raleigh. They will swing open their doors on Thursday, August 29th. Touted as a true New York-style deli, they will be serving up breakfast bagels, deli sandwiches, and hot pressed sammies – with toppings like house-smoked pastrami, corned beef and chicken cutlets — as well as black-and-white cookies. Look for weekday service (6 a.m. until 3 p.m.) initially, with weekend service to start in January. The concept will be managed by Sean Degnan, known for his outstanding restaurant portfolio including bu•ku, so•ca and kō•än. Follow along on Instagram here.

• Raleigh Magazine shared the news this week that Ruckus Pizza, Pasta and Spirits is spreading its wings again with the announcement that they will open two additional locations in Raleigh. First up, they will move into the former Leesville Taproom in Leesville Towne Center at 13200 Strickland Road. Following on the footsteps of that, they will open a location in the new part of the Quail Corners shopping center at the intersection of Falls of the Neuse and Millbrook roads in North Raleigh. These will be their fifth and sixth locations. Visit Ruckus here.

• Also in the North Raleigh / Wakefield area, reader Katie Page shared a couple of nuggets with us. First up, St. Honore Artisanal Bakery has opened at 14460 Falls of the Neuse Road in the Wakefield Commons shopping center. Page noted that it is a husband and wife team using quality ingredients in all their pastries, desserts, croissants, quiches, breads and coffee. They also have some gluten free macaroons. Get to know St. Honore here.

• Page also noted that Canto Brasil, authentic Brazilian cuisine, has opened at 13600 Falls of the Neuse Road. Their website notes that you can enjoy everything from savory feijoada to succulent churrasco, pointing out that their menu celebrates the diverse regional cuisines that make Brazilian food so unique and irresistible. See for yourself here.

• Reader Thomas Porter shared with us that he saw a coming soon sign at Hillsborough Plaza at Hillsborough and Jones Franklin (5619 Hillsborough St.) for a Jabal Premium Yemeni Coffee. They look to be out of Michigan, but opening up multiple locations across the country. This is their first venture into North Carolina. Visit them here.

• Porter also pointed out that a concept called Milonga Argentinian Bakery has opened in the same shopping center (5619 Hillsborough Street). A quick perusal of their Instagram page will leave your mouth watering!

• And down in Cary, David McCreary informed us that a place called Tiger Sugar, which calls itself “original brown sugar bubble tea with fresh cream and a unique tiger stripe design” has opened at 1969 High House Road in Cary beside H Mart. They are under the same roof as Chunky Boss (Taiwanese-style fried chicken joint). This is their first North Carolina location. Get to know them here.

• And congratulations to Longleaf Swine and Lechón Latin BBQ & Bar for being included in  Southern Living’s list of “The South’s Best New Barbecue Joints.” The magazine’s contributing barbecue editor Robert Moss traveled all over the South to put together the list based on factors like overall experience, setting, food presentation, sauces and authenticity to the region for restaurants that have opened since their last list (September, 2021).

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Triangle Business Journal shared that news that Preeti Waas will open a new Cheeni restaurant in 2025 in the Horseshoe at Hub RTP (3151 Elion Drive), a mixed-use development along Highway 54 at Davis Drive in Research Triangle Park. The menu will feature regional Indian and American cuisine with a homemade feel and the lunch options will be similar to what Waas served at her former Raleigh restaurant. Waas also has a restaurant in Downtown Durham. Visit her there until her new restaurant opens.

Closings

• Reader Mel Montano shared the news that the Durham Filling Station, formerly Wimpy’s Grill, has closed. She noted that there is a “For Lease” sign on the building at 617 Hicks Street in Durham.

Food Trucks

• The Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo presented by Shop Local Raleigh is this Sunday, August 25th from noon until 6 p.m. in Downtown Raleigh on Fayetteville Street. It will feature over 50 locally owned food trucks and beverages. Whether you’re a fan of gourmet burgers, delicious tacos, or decadent desserts, this food truck rodeo promises to have something for everyone! The weather looks perfect, so make plans to attend! 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 Saturday and Sunday (August 24 & 25th) is the annual Lazy Daze Arts & Craft Festival in downtown Cary. This festival features nearly 300 artists from 16 states, plus a beer garden, interactive art activities, a children’s area and more. The event is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. Get all the details here.

• Lakeside Kitchen, located in the Park Alumni Center on NC State’s Centennial Campus, has cranked back up their Whiskey Wednesdays where they feature a special bourbon, whiskey, or scotch at a featured price from 4 – 8:30 p.m. The next one is on August 28th. Complimentary snacks await at the bar, perfect for nibbling while soaking up the beautiful weather on their gorgeous patio overlooking Lake Raleigh. It is truly one of Raleigh’s gems under the direction of chef James Eason. Get to know them here.

• And speaking of Lakeside Kitchen, they will have a Kentucky Bourbon Dinner on Thursday, September 12th at 6:30 p.m. featuring Bardstown Origin Series KSBW, Woodford Reserve Wheat, Willett Family Estate Rye, Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey and Willett Pot Still Reserve. Tickets are $125. Get all the details here.

• Carrie Heinonen, CEO of the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, informed me that they are launching a new culinary series “Dine and Discover” on August 29th from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. This “after hours” experience is 21+ (so get a baby sitter!) and come prepared to enjoy a chef-curated dining experience under the stars celebrating the birth of their Red Wolf pups where (in addition to enjoying great food and an adult beverage…or two) you’ll learn more about the conservation of this critically endangered species. Your ticket gets you a four-course meal, one complimentary adult beverage and an after-hours museum experience. Get all the details here.

• Wine enthusiasts, join Mandolin in Raleigh on Saturday August 31st from 1:30 to 4 p.m. for a wine tasting event that you will not soon forget. They have invited eight of their top wine purveyors to pour some of their favorite wines – offering over 24 different wine selections with light hors d’oeuvres, fruit, and cheese. The wines will be available for purchase at deep discounts. This is the perfect way for any wine lover to spend a Saturday afternoon! Tickets are $45 and can be purchased here.

• Alley Twenty Six and Night School Bar, two of Durham’s most cutting-edge cocktail destinations, are excited to announce their collaboration on a four-part monthly series titled Cocktails 101. Starting Tuesday, Sept. 3, Shannon Healy, owner of Alley Twenty Six, a 2022 James Beard Award finalist for Outstanding Bar Program, will lead the class. Participants can join either online or in person at Night School Bar, a venue known for blending academics with an unforgettable bar experience, having gained national recognition for offering college-level humanities courses in a bar environment. Get all the details and purchase tickets here. Individual class tickets can also be purchased, but are subject to availability.

• Tickets are on sale now for the 9th Annual Dinner in the Meadow which will take place on September 15, 2024 on a grassy knoll atMeadow Lane Farm, in bucolic Franklin County, offering beautiful pastoral views and clear, starry skies. Some of the region’s most sought-after chefs will be preparing delicious dishes using ingredients from local farms and food artisans. It is an annual fundraiser for the Leonard-Mobley Small Farm Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 2014 to support and cultivate small farms in our region of North Carolina. Get tickets and 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.

Food Bank Corner

• Kids are heading back to 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!