Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news…that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.
Featured Restaurant News
- We got word this week that L’uva Enoteca, a rustic Italian kitchen in downtown Durham’s American Tobacco complex, has closed as they are relocating to a larger space. L’uva is the sister restaurant to Revolution, which is honoring all L’uva promotions and gift cards until they reopen. No word yet on where they are moving to. Keep an eye on it here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- We got the opening date this week from the folks over at The OAKZ restaurant on Glenwood South in Raleigh. The restaurant, which features American cuisine and is family owned and operated by Ira Freedman and Jaclyn Starritt, will swing open their doors to the general public beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, January 31 (dinner) and Saturday, February 1 (lunch and dinner). Check them out here.
- It was announced this week that North Raleigh’s Jubala Coffee will open a specialty café when HQ Raleigh moves to its new location in downtown Raleigh’s warehouse district. HQ Raleigh, an entrepreneurial incubator space, currently resides at 711 Hillsborough Street but will move to 310 S. Harrington Street in the coming months. Get all the details on the new partnership here.
- Triangle Business Journal was the first to report this week that Taco Mac Sports Grill of Atlanta will open its first location in the region at Cary’s Waverly Place. Taco Mac is known for their wings, burgers, tacos and craft beer and is expected to open this summer. Get a sneak peek at them here.
- Also in Cary, my friend Tim Moore noticed that the old Circus Restaurant on East Chatham Street is being converted into a Subway. He noted that the sign is already up and appears to be days away from opening…but then again, this is Cary. We’ll keep an eye on it.
- Thanks to a tip from long-time friend Julie Liddle, Uncorked, a café and wine shop in North Raleigh, has been sold. Apparently they will be closed for a couple of weeks before reopening under new owners. We’ll keep an eye on it. Thanks Julie! Keep up with them here.
- Also in North Raleigh, got word from John Huisman (aka Triangle Explorer) that a new Mexican restaurant called El Tapatio is in the works in Wakefield next to Sergio’s Pizza. We’ll keep an eye on it for an opening date.
- And if you couldn’t get enough of Triangle Restaurant Week, then you’ll want to head on over to Bolt Bistro in downtown Raleigh as they are extending their $30 three course dinner deal for another week (January 28th through February 1st). Check out Bolt Bistro here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News
- For those who were eagerly anticipating the Valentine’s Day opening of Café Love over in Durham, we are about to break your heart. Due to details too complicated to go into here (but are detailed here), they are foregoing their plans to open the café. However, they will continue to focus on making the food they sell through their truck and different retail outlets throughout the Triangle. They will also do pop-up dinners and hold classes. So just a temporary blip in their plans, but still going strong.
- The Herald Sun is reporting that a pizza shop called Papa Nizio’s Pizza, Wings and Subs has opened in place of Big Cheese Pizza at 3405 Hillsborough Road in Durham. Check them out here.
- The Herald Sun also reported this week that the Copa Vida Coffee has opened at the Southpoint Crossing shopping center at the corner of Fayetteville Road and N.C. 54 in the former Starbucks location. The shop was previously located at Erwin Terrace on Erwin Road. Check them out here.
- A big congratulations goes out to Jonathan Bonchak, winner of last weekend’s Southeast Regional Brewers Cup. Bonchak is the regional sales manager for Counter Culture Coffee and was the returning champion from last year’s competition. Learn more about Counter Culture Coffee here.
- Thanks to a posting by BurgeoningFoodie on Chowhound, we learned that a place called Mediterranean Grill and Grocery has opened in the former Parkwood Library location in Southwest Durham at 5114 Revere Road. All we know about them is that they serve fresh Halaal meat, Indian spices, Mediterranean spices and freshly grilled Mediterranean food.
Closings
- None to report!
Food Trucks
- Durham’s first food truck rodeo of 2014 is all set for this Sunday, January 26th from noon until 4 p.m. at Durham’s Central Park. Look for 40+ trucks and local beer from Fullsteam. Additionally, this edition will feature a hill full of snow for sledding thanks to the folks over at Durham Parks & Recreation. Bring the kids and all your friends! Get all the details here.
- According to Kim over at Triangle Localista, there is a new food truck roaming the streets called Bang Bang Bahn Mi. Owner Andrew Gaddis is bringing gluten free Vietnamese food to the Triangle (including vegetarian and vegan options). Congrats to Andrew. Check him out here.
- Got a tip from our friends over at Carpe Durham that there is a new sushi truck launching here in the Triangle in February called Miso Crazy. It is a sushi, pho, and bao food truck. You can follow them on Twitter here.
- Congrats to the ladies at Dump Pho King Truck who successfully hit their Kickstarter goal and are quickly working towards their April launch. As you can guess from their name, they are Asian inspired and their staples will be Dumplings and Pho. Keep up with them here.
Events
- The 3rd annual chef competition in Durham called the Bull City Vegan Challenge is back for the month of February. Six restaurants are competing to see who can dish up the most creative vegan entree and dessert for the entire month of February. Participating restaurants (one more to be announced) are Beyu Café, Dos Perros, Hummingbird Bakery, Parts & Labor (Motorco) and The Refectory Café. And you get to vote. Get all the details here.
- Looking for a unique and special way to spend Valentine’s this year? We’ve got the perfect idea for you. Well, really the folks over at Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours do. They are offering special Valentine’s Day tours in Raleigh. There are many different options and times available. Participating restaurants include: Sitti, Gravy, Centro, Calavera, Green Light, Chuck’s, Busy Bee, C Grace, 18 Seaboard, Escazu, Piebird, Tyler’s Taproom, Raleigh Wine Shop, Roast Grill, and Cold off the Press. Get all the details here.
- The Bull City Food & Beer Experience is back for its second year. This year’s event will be held at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) on March 9th at 4 p.m. The event pairs food from 30 Durham restaurants and unbelievable beer from 30 premier craft / import breweries. Tickets are $85.50. A limited number of exclusive VIP tickets are also available. Get all the details here.
- Here is an event you are definitely going to want to get on your calendar for 2014. Two words: Beer. Bacon. That’s right, a Beer and Bacon Festival is coming to Cary’s Booth Amphitheater featuring at least 75 craft beers and 10 varieties of bacon (did you know there were 10 varieties?). The event will be held on March 29 from noon until 6 p.m. Get all the details and ticket information here.
Food Bank Corner
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There is someone I would like you to meet. Her name is Kate. But chances are pretty good, you already know her. You see, in our area (just 34 counties) more than 560,000 people live at or below the poverty level: 191,000 are children. Read here to learn more about what the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina is doing to help those children. Do me a favor, and take the two minutes to watch the video. You’ll be glad you did.
