TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news…that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.

Featured Restaurant News

• Is Darryl’s making a comeback? The News & Observer reported this week that current owner William “Marty” Kotis definitely has Raleigh at the top of his future expansion plans. The N&O noted that Darryl’s was founded in 1971 by Angus Barn co-founders Thad Eure and Charles Winston, with restaurant namesake Darryl Davis. The founders left the company at separate times as Darryl’s was sold to larger restaurant groups. At its height there were 39 locations, including five in the Triangle alone. The Hillsborough Street location was the last in the area to close, and did so in 2003. Visit Darryl’s in Greensboro here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• With the weather warming up as we inch closer to summer, we got a reminder this week that The Redneck BBQ Lab is on schedule to open this summer in North Hills as The BBQ Lab. Their first location opened in Benson in 2016 and has appeared on the Food Network’s “Chopped.” Its new location will serve BBQ, new menu items, Sunday brunch, and a twist on traditional small plates. Keep up with announcements on their Facebook page here.

• Also in Raleigh, RalToday shared an update. Warm cookie delivery company Tiff’s Treats is set to open June 4 in the Village District. To celebrate its grand opening, the shop is giving away one dozen cookies to all new subscribers. Sign up for free cookies here.

• Down in Fuquay-Varina, reader Chris Creighton shared a couple of quick updates. The first one is The Gyro Spot at 1005 E. Broad Street which will be serving up authentic Greek food. And the second bit of news is a Wing It On going into the new out parcel building in front of the Walmart on E. Broad Street. This will be their second Triangle location, as there is one on Raleigh’s Hillsborough Street. No word on an open date for either. Visit Wing It On here.

• This is fun (and tasty!). The folks at Morning Rolls (think cinnamon rolls!) in the Quail Corners shopping center in Raleigh are having a contest for kids to tell them why their mom is the sweetest. After reading all the entries, they will choose a winner that will win a free breakfast or lunch for the entire family! Share this with your kids! Visit them on Facebook here.

• Some exciting news from the folks over at Cary’s Catering by Design. Owners Philip and Amy Lin have started a nonprofit foundation with the goal of bringing Howdy Homemade Ice Cream to the Triangle. If you are not familiar with Howdy, it was established to train and mentor young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities using smiles and amazing ice cream. In order to make this dream a reality, they are holding their first fundraising luncheon on Thursday, May 5th at the Courtyard by Marriott in Cary. Get details on the luncheon here, and learn more about Howdy Homemade Ice Cream here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Carrie Brogren shared via her Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies group that Carrboro’s Belltree Cocktail Club is up and running with a “soft” reopening schedule for the next two weeks, leading up to a grand reopen on May 6th. Meaning they will have limited hours, 5-10pm this week, and a scaled down menu. Re-familiarize yourself with Belltree here.

• And thanks to a post by Ian Enverga to the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies group we learned that a “sweet tea” spot called Romanz Tea is coming to the corner of Mt. Moriah and Erwin in Durham. Best to follow them on Instagram for updates/announcements.

Closings / Cancellations

• Reader Stephen Head shared the news that Dharani in Morrrisvile has closed their doors. That said, the new management has plans to reopen that location (1000 Lower Shiloh Way, Morrisville) under a new brand. Stay tuned.

• And not a restaurant (but we have so many “foodies” among our followers)….Vanessa Guirguis shared that Whisk Carolina (a store for cooks, foodies, chefs and gadget lovers), located in the Waverly Place shopping center in Cary, is closing their doors, including the cooking classes, June 11th. So you still have some time to get by and/or attend a class. Get their closing schedule and details here.

Food Trucks 

• OK, pay attention. Some changes to the Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo 2022 schedule. The are just two dates for 2022 rodeos and they are as follows – June 12th and Sept 25th. There is NOT one this weekend. The rodeo is set up on downtown Raleigh’s Fayetteville Street featuring a half mile of food trucks and restaurants spread out over 10 city blocks. Details here.

• The remaining Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo 2022 schedule is as follows: June 5, September 4 and October 30. Mark your calendars. 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 Town of Cary hosts their annual Spring Daze Arts and Crafts Festival this Saturday (April 30) from 9 am to 5 pm nestled under the shady canopy of Bond Park. The arts and crafts festival gives a true nod to the artistry and creativity that makes up the state of North Carolina, welcoming 170 local artists. Embodying the importance of sustainability through an Earth Day Celebration, encouraging an active lifestyle with outdoor sporting activities, and bringing the community together at no cost, Spring Daze is a highly anticipated festival each year! Guests can also expect to find toe-tapping entertainment on four stages, delicious food and several activities for the kids. All the details here.

• North Raleigh’s Lafayette Village will host the 2022 Wine Cheese and Chocolate Festival this Saturday, April 30 from 1-6 pm. There will be live music and vendors in the courtyard. Explore the unique shops as you sample wines, cheeses and chocolates throughout this beautiful, locally-owned shopping village. You are welcome to bring lawn chairs to enjoy the event. General admission tickets are $39.99; VIP tickets are $99. Visit their Facebook event page here.

• Great Grapes in Cary’s Saltbox Village is continuing their 20th Anniversary Party Series this Saturday, April 30th from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The event will feature lobster (provided by The Lobster Dogs), beer (Fullsteam) and wine (15 Seafood-friendly, spring-weight wines). Get all the details and tickets here.

• This Sunday, May 1st the folks over in Pittsboro will gather under the stars for Local on Lorax: A Farm & Art Dinner from 6-9pm at The Plant at 192 Lorax Lane in Pittsboro. It is a pop-up dinner with a super-local twist gathering area farmers, chefs, restaurants, craft beverages, and visual and performing artists for a good time. Tickets are $125 and sales end Friday night (April 29) at midnight. Get all the details here.

• The town of Cary has announced that Fest in the West, western Cary’s signature event, is back at Thomas Brooks Park on Saturday, May 7th from 11am-5pm. There are two stages with entertainment featuring some of the best talent in the Triangle. Food trucks will be in three areas, a centrally located beer garden and a fun Kids Corral with activities for families along with a petting zoo. Mark your calendar and get all the details here.

• Thanks to the folks at RalToday, we were reminded that Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard is hosting a Spring Music Fest on Saturday, May 14 from 2-10 pm. Join the Brewyard for a night of shopping from local vendors, sipping on cocktails and cold brews, and music performed by NC bands. Get all the details and tickets here.

• The folks at Bites of Bull City shared the great news that The Glass Jug’s third annual Hops & Blues Fest returns this year on Saturday, May 21st from 4-8pm at Glass Jug Beer Lab’s RTP location (5410 NC-55). Note: the event is capped at 250 people, so get your tickets early. The $45 ticket price gets attendees unlimited samples from the best IPA and hop-forward beer makers in the area along with live music from some of the best local blues musicians: Brett Chambers & The Usual Suspects and The Pheobees. Along with The Glass Jug, other brewery reps on site include Aslin, Resident Culture, New Anthem, Wilmington, Commonwealth, Triple Crossing, Funguys, Durty Bull, Wooden Robot, Grimm, Equilibrium, and Southern Grist. Get tickets here.

• The second annual Bubbles and Brisket is scheduled for Saturday, June 4th from 2-6 p.m. at Smoky Hollow in downtown Raleigh. The event is a collaboration of chefs, pit-masters, wine producers, sommeliers and brewers, pairing sparkling bubbles with a variety of cooking techniques and side dishes that feature everyone’s favorite: brisket. Early Bird Tickets on sale for the month of April are $65/person. On May 1st, tickets are $75/person. Get all the details and tickets here.

• After a 2-year hiatus, Dinner in the Meadow will return as attendees will be gathering in the meadow again on Sunday, September 11th from 5:30-8:30 in the evening. The dinner sells out each year, so you are encouraged to get your tickets early. Get all the details here.

• Like beer? Excellent. Visit Raleigh has established a Raleigh Beer Trail that gives you a passport to get stamped at the 30+ breweries in the Raleigh area, from Wake Forest to Raleigh to Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina. Once you’ve filled up your passport with stamps, you send it in to receive prizes. Nothing like being rewarded for drinking! But as always, please drink responsibly. Get the details here.

Food Bank Corner

• You can make a difference every month! Despite a record amount of food being distributed to individuals, seniors, children, veterans, and families of all kinds who are facing hunger last year, the food bank is still not meeting the increased need in the 34 counties the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina serves. Their partner agencies on the front lines are still reporting a sustained 35% increase in need over pre-pandemic levels. They need your reliable support to nourish all their neighbors in need. Sign up this January and your 1st monthly gift can be matched up to $2,500! Start giving today! #NoOneGoesHungry

Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news…that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.

Featured Restaurant News

• Big announcements out at RDU airport this week, and we’re not talking about direct flights to Paris. Even better. Durham’s Beyu Coffee was approved to operate two coffee shops (one in each terminal). Look for those locations to open later this year. Additionally, Scott Crawford is teaming up with a group out of Miami to open Crawford Genuine, a casual dining bar in Concourse C, as well as an open-air kiosk, called Carolina Craft, serving craft beer, cocktails and light food. Black & White Coffee Roasters, founded by U.S. Barista Champions Lem Butler and Kyle Ramage, will join the Marketplace. Black & White currently operates multiple full-service coffee shops in the Triangle area. See the airport’s announcement here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• At Celebration at Six Forks, reader Burke Williams noticed that the sign for Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company has gone up at 7449 Six Forks Road. The brewery/tap room is looking to open late summer. Congrats to brewer/owner Chris Nadeau. Probably best to keep up with their progress on their Facebook page here.

• Reader Chris Creighton reached out to let us know that the Chick-fil-A in Holly Springs at 801 Village Walk Drive, has reopened. You can visit them here.

• Up in Wake Forest, Michael DePersia of DePersia & Associates, Sandor and Andrea Bosze who own Kono Pizza Food Truck have purchased The Bake Shoppe at 2010 S Main St. in Wake Forest from Tom and Roselie Halik. The couple will close for a few months and undergo a light renovation with plans of reopening and offering similar baked goods (retail and wholesale) as well as adding a little European flair (they are from Hungary). Check out The Bake Shoppe here.

• Also in Wake Forest, the Triangle Explorer, aka John Huisman, shared that a dessert and cocktail bar opened this week in Wake Forest. Cravin’ Confections Dessert Bar opened at 3612 Rogers Branch Road. Check out some of their yumminess on their Instagram page here.

• Some exciting news from the folks over at Cary’s Catering by Design. Owners Philip and Amy Lin have started a nonprofit foundation with the goal of bringing Howdy Homemade Ice Cream to the Triangle. If you are not familiar with Howdy, it was established to train and mentor young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities using smiles and amazing ice cream. In order to make this dream a reality, they are holding their first fundraising luncheon on Thursday, May 5th at the Courtyard by Marriott in Cary. Get details on the luncheon here, and learn more about Howdy Homemade Ice Cream here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Thanks to a tip from reader Chris Creighton, we learned that the Triangle will get its second location of Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop. The first is located in Waverly shopping center in Cary. The new location will be at 127 East Franklin Street in Chapel Hill (the former Waffle House spot). If you are not familiar with Capriotti’s, do so here. Look for an August opening (just in time for the return of the students).

• Michael DePersia of DePersia & Associates shared the news that the former Melting Pot location in Durham (Renaissance across from the Streets at Southpoint Mall) is currently being renovated and will become a First Watch. You’ll remember that Melting Pot moved to 202 W NC Highway 54, and their former spot has remained empty since then. No word on an opening date. Visit First Watch here.

• Also in Durham, Geer Street Garden is devoting their daily specials to pay tribute to their love of Chinese cuisine. The featured menu items, part of “Chinese Week” at the restaurant will be available from April 25th through April 30th. Best to check out their Facebook page for a look at the special menu items.

• Down in Pittsboro, we recently shared the news that Greek Kouzina was moving into Mosaic in Chatham Park, but Neha Shah, director of the Pittsboro-Siler City Convention & Visitors Bureau was kind enough to remind me that David Sadeghi is also bringing two of his extremely popular concepts, People’s Coffee and O’Ya Cantina, to Chatham Park as well. No word yet on a timeline. Visit People’s here and O’Ya here.

Closings / Cancellations

• None to report. Keep eating local, folks!

Food Trucks 

• The first Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo of 2022 is coming up a week from Sunday on May 1! The remainder of the dates for 2022 rodeos are as follows – June 12th, August 7th, Sept 25th or Oct 2nd and November 6th (Alternate/Rain Date). The rodeo is set up on downtown Raleigh’s Fayetteville Street featuring a half mile of food trucks and restaurants spread out over 10 city blocks. Details here.

• The remaining Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo 2022 schedule is as follows: June 5, September 4 and October 30. Mark your calendars. 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

• It is here! This year’s edition of Shop Local Raleigh’s Brewgaloo is today and tomorrow, April 22-23. It is NC’s largest craft beer festival and 2nd biggest in the US! Voted #1 Best Beer Festival two years in a row by USA Today’s 10 Best. The weekend of events features craft breweries from NC and partners with local food trucks, local vendors and local bands. Friday night will be a sampler event from 6-10pm. Tickets are $45 per person. Saturday’s event is 2-10pm and open to the public. Beer is sold by the pint or the taste. The day will feature over 75 NC breweries, over 50 food trucks, dozens of local vendors and bands. Drink tickets will be sold in advance and available for purchase at the festival. Food trucks and vendors accept cash and credit options. Get tickets and all the details here.

• The Glenwood South Neighborhood Collaborative (GSNC) is holding their annual Glenwood Faire this Sunday, April 24th from 11am to 2pm at Smoky Hollow. They will offer guests a chance to taste the food of 15 of the great restaurants in Glenwood South. Participating restaurants include: Mellow Mushroom, Raleigh Beer Garden, My Way Tavern, Plus Dueling Piano Bar, Vidrio, Ale House, Cortez, Clockwork, Hibernian, Sushi Blues, Plates, La Santa, DeMo’s, The Willard, and Dose Smoothie Bar. Beer will be provided by Clouds Brewing and wine will be served by Raleigh Wine and the Wine Feed. The event will also feature artists selling products, live music from local musicians and dog contests sponsored by West Street Dog. Tickets for a taste of all the food are $25 in advance and $30 day of. Beer and wine sold separately. Get tickets and all the details here.

• Great Grapes in Cary’s Saltbox Village is continuing their 20th Anniversary Party Series with the next event on April 30th from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The event will feature lobster (provided by The Lobster Dogs), beer (Fullsteam) and wine (15 Seafood-friendly, spring-weight wines). Get all the details and tickets here.

• On May 1st the folks over in Pittsboro will gather under the stars for Local on Lorax: A Farm & Art Dinner from 6-9pm at The Plant at 192 Lorax Lane in Pittsboro. It is a pop-up dinner with a super-local twist gathering area farmers, chefs, restaurants, craft beverages, and visual and performing artists for a good time. Tickets are $125. Get all the details here.

• The town of Cary has announced that Fest in the West, western Cary’s signature event, is back at Thomas Brooks Park on Saturday, May 7th from 11am-5pm. There are two stages with entertainment featuring some of the best talent in the Triangle. Food trucks will be in three areas, a centrally located beer garden and a fun Kids Corral with activities for families along with a petting zoo. Mark your calendar and get all the details here.

• The folks at Bites of Bull City shared the great news that The Glass Jug’s third annual Hops & Blues Fest returns this year on Saturday, May 21st from 4-8pm at Glass Jug Beer Lab’s RTP location (5410 NC-55). Note: the event is capped at 250 people, so get your tickets early. The $45 ticket price gets attendees unlimited samples from the best IPA and hop-forward beer makers in the area along with live music from some of the best local blues musicians: Brett Chambers & The Usual Suspects and The Pheobees. Along with The Glass Jug, other brewery reps on site include Aslin, Resident Culture, New Anthem, Wilmington, Commonwealth, Triple Crossing, Funguys, Durty Bull, Wooden Robot, Grimm, Equilibrium, and Southern Grist. Get tickets here.

• The second annual Bubbles and Brisket is scheduled for Saturday, June 4th from 2-6 p.m. at Smoky Hollow in downtown Raleigh. The event is a collaboration of chefs, pit-masters, wine producers, sommeliers and brewers, pairing sparkling bubbles with a variety of cooking techniques and side dishes that feature everyone’s favorite: brisket. Early Bird Tickets on sale for the month of April are $65/person. On May 1st, tickets are $75/person. Get all the details and tickets here.

Food Bank Corner

• You can make a difference every month! Despite a record amount of food being distributed to individuals, seniors, children, veterans, and families of all kinds who are facing hunger last year, the food bank is still not meeting the increased need in the 34 counties the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina serves. Their partner agencies on the front lines are still reporting a sustained 35% increase in need over pre-pandemic levels. They need your reliable support to nourish all their neighbors in need. Sign up this January and your 1st monthly gift can be matched up to $2,500! Start giving today! #NoOneGoesHungry