TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

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

Featured Restaurant News

• Perhaps you’ve enjoyed his rubs and sauces or had the privilege of attending an event he has catered. But soon you’ll be able to sit down and enjoy his cooking in his new smokehouse. This week Carrie Brogren shared the news that July 15th will be the grand opening for Mike D’s BBQ Smokehouse and Retail. The smokehouse is located at 455 S. Driver Street in East Durham. Congratulations to Michael “Mike D” De Los Santos and his entire team for their continued success. Get to know them here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Triangle Business Journal shared this week that Cary is getting another breakfast and lunch option with a new location planned for Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken. The new Rise store is planned for 575 New Waverly Place inside Cary’s Waverly Place shopping center (former home to The European Cleaners). It will be a corporate-owned store. Visit Rise here.

• Got word from David McCreary that Chicago-style pizza chain Rosatti’s is coming soon to 76 Hunter St., Suite 104 near downtown Apex. No word on an open date. Check them out here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• My friends over at Bites of Bull City shared recently that Szechuan Mansion Hotpot, which has an original location in Cary, opened on Ninth Street in Durham. Check them out on Instagram here.

• Also in Durham, Lesley Stracks-Mullem (owner of Taste Carolina) shared the news that Chimbanga’s Neighborhood Market, has opened on Morgan Street (506 N. Mangum Street, #103) near Everlou Coffee. We could not find an online presence for them, so you will just have to pay them a visit!

• We first told you about this in March of 2022, but Chapelboro just provided an update on the newest breakfast eatery in Chapel Hill. Over in Eastgate Crossing, Snooze, An A.M. Eatery is inching closer to opening with an expectation to do so just after the summer. When they do, they will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on weekdays and from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. This would be their first location in the Triangle, fourth location in North Carolina. Visit Snooze here.

• Kudos to Pure Soul over in Durham for securing the #1 spot of best eateries in North and South Carolina according to Yelp. The restaurant, located at 4125 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd., is known for serving plant-based versions of soul food dishes. Get familiar with them here.

Closings

• I saw on a post in the Chapel Hill Carrboro Facebook Foodies group the unfortunate news Rasa Restaurant in Chapel Hill North Shopping Center (think Harris Teeter on MLK Blvd.) will close on July 29. Get by before then.

Food Trucks

• The next Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo is Sunday, September 3 from 12-4 p.m. The final rodeo of the season will be October 29. All the rodeos are from 12-4 p.m. Giddyup! Here is the link.

• 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

• They have been open for a little over two months now, but Lula & Sadie’s announced their Grand Opening Celebration on Friday, July 21st, from 6 to 10 p.m. at their new location in Lakewood at 2022 Chapel Hill Rd. They are inviting guests to enjoy an evening featuring their beautifully crafted menu, stylish ambiance and exceptional southern hospitality. Secure your spot here.

• The folks over at Acme are bringing back Salt & Smoke on Saturday, October 28th. This year’s event will be held at The Barn at Sonark Media (located just off of Old 86 in Hillsborough). If you are not familiar with the event, it is a full afternoon and evening of live music, whole hog barbecue, raw oysters, roasted clams and plenty of the right beverages to wash it all down – local beer, wine and cocktails. And if you get your tickets now, through the end of this month there is a $25 discount for all tickets purchased (just use the code FINALLY when checking out). Get all the details and tickets here.

Food Bank Corner

• Right now, one in five people in central and eastern North Carolina don’t have enough to eat. Your tax-deductible gift helps provide food and hope to families, children, and seniors right here in our community. Together, we can help people in our community during their greatest time of need. Give here. Every $10 you donate provides 50 meals! #noonegoeshungry

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

Featured Restaurant News

• Madre, the much-anticipated Mediterranean small plate concept, opened yesterday in downtown Raleigh’s Smoky Hollow development (corner of Peace and West streets). In addition to great food, they also have an extensive wine and cocktail menu along with a weekend brunch. Get to know them here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• This is interesting. The News & Observer reported this week that the building that houses Mami’s Latin Style Rotisserie Chicken over on Wake Forest Road in Raleigh has been sold to Cook Out. Current plans hold for Mami’s to move to a new, larger location somewhere in that immediate area. No word as of yet on the timing of everything.

• And speaking of Cook Out, Triangle Business Journal shared the news of their next spot in the Triangle. TBJ reported that they are soon to begin construction at 4112 Lake Boone Trail, the empty lot between City Barbeque amd CVS Pharmacy. Plans show their classic dual-drive-thru with no indoor dining. No word on an open date, as the plans are still under review by the city. Visit Cook Out here.

• RalToday shared the news that Blackbird Books and Coffee in downtown Raleigh’s City Market will hold their Grand Opening on Friday, July 21st. The neighborhood coffee and book oasis is also seeking artist and maker vendors to sell local products in the shop. Check them out here.

• Over in Cary, a quick update to the news we shared with you back on June 16. Triangle Business Journal shared this week that The Flying Biscuit Cafe that is going into Parkside Town Commons where Another Broken Egg used to be (1103 Parkside Main St.) will open in September. It is owned by Husband and wife team Tahir Rafiq and Zinnia Rafiq, who also own the Chapel Hill location. Keep up with them here.

• Also in Cary, on a drive down Cary Parkway yesterday, I noticed that the newest location of Chido Taco is now open at the intersection with Kildaire Farm Road in the shopping center with Trader Joe’s (151 SE Cary Pkwy. to be exact). This is their second location (first is on Bale Street in Raleigh), with a third on the way in downtown Raleigh. Get to know them here.

• And up in Wake Forest, reader Sandy Fore shared with us that Paul and Jack Bakery and Cafe opened this week in the previous European Bakery and Cafe spot. Check them out on Facebook here.

• And a huge shout-out to my friends over at Benchwarmers Bagels as they landed on Bon Appétit’s list of The Very Best Bagels in the United States. If you’ve never been before, do yourself a favor and head over to the Transfer Co. Food Hall this weekend and see for yourself. You can thank me later. Congrats to everyone at Benchwarmers! Visit them here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Indy Weekly shared the news that Homebucha, a fermented Triangle favorite, will open a taproom in East Durham this summer. Indy further shared that the taproom will open to the public in August, around the same time that other incoming East Durham businesses, like Congress and Mike D’s BBQ, plan to open their doors. Get to know them and their story here.

• And it has been a while since we last wrote about The Common Market, but they announced this week that The Parlour will be their first permanent vendor in the new Durham store. Look for them to open later this summer, off Durham’s Ninth Street at 1821 Green Street. Keep up with updates here.

• Rick Gutlon shared with the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook group that he saw a “coming soon” sign for Curry Up Now, Indian street food, at University Hill, near BB’s and Alpaca. Start getting familiar with them here.

• David Sadeghi is at it again! This time announcing that his People’s Coffee will open this August at MOSAIC at Chatham Park (60 Mosaic Blvd to be exact) down in Pittsboro. This will be the second location of People’s (the original location is on Highway 751 near Streets at Southpoint). Check them out here.

Closings

• None to report. Keep eating local, folks!

Food Trucks

• On Sunday, July 2nd, the Town of Smithfield will host their Red White & Brew Food Truck Rodeo in the 100 block of S. Third Street from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. Get all the details here.

• The next Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo is Sunday, September 3 from 12-4 p.m. The final rodeo of the season will be October 29. All the rodeos are from 12-4 p.m. Giddyup! Here is the link.

• 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

• Looking for a reason to head down to Fuquay-Varina this weekend? Well, I’ve got three. Beer, Bacon and Bluegrass. Yep, the folks over at Oaklyn Springs Brewery are hosting their extremely popular event Beer, Bacon and Bluegrass this Sunday, July 2nd from 3 until 6 p.m. at their location at 2912 North Main Street. Did I mention free bacon? While supplies last…Get all the details here.

• The folks over at Acme are bringing back Salt & Smoke on Saturday, October 28th. This year’s event will be held at The Barn at Sonark Media (located just off of Old 86 in Hillsborough). If you are not familiar with the event, it is a full afternoon and evening of live music, whole hog barbecue, raw oysters, roasted clams and plenty of the right beverages to wash it all down – local beer, wine and cocktails. And if you get your tickets now, through the end of this month there is a $25 discount for all tickets purchased (just use the code FINALLY when checking out). Get all the details and tickets here.

Food Bank Corner

• Right now, one in five people in central and eastern North Carolina don’t have enough to eat. Your tax-deductible gift helps provide food and hope to families, children, and seniors right here in our community. Together, we can help people in our community during their greatest time of need. Give here. Every $10 you donate provides 50 meals! #noonegoeshungry