TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

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

Featured Restaurant News

• They’re back! Award-winning chef Cheetie Kumar and partner Paul Siler opened their latest venture this week in Raleigh’s Five Points community (209 Bickett Blvd.). The new restaurant, Ajja, features Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-inspired dishes. They transformed the back half of the building into what they’re calling an oasis – brightly colored walls, lush greenery and decor to match the Mediterranean fare. The restaurant’s main seating is outdoors on a covered patio, with only a few tables and a bar inside the restaurant. Thanks to WRAL’s Elizabeth Gardner for the first tip of the opening and Triangle Business Journal for providing additional details. Get to know them here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Reader Burke Williams shared with us the news that NY Corner Pizza just opened in the old Max’s Pizza and Grill location at 5609 Creedmoor Road by Relish Craft Kitchen and Bourbon Bar. Visit them on Facebook here.

• Down in Fuquay-Varina, David McCreary shared that Peach Cobbler Factory has opened at 8105 Fayetteville Road. This dessert spot offers various cobblers, puddings, cookies, sweet rolls and more. Check them out here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• We first shared this news with you in July, 2022, but the time is growing near as they are staffing up this week and anticipating the opening very soon. Giorgios Bakatsias latest concept is kind of a nostalgic twist of one of his former concepts. Nikos is coming to Brightleaf Square where Bakatsias previously had Nikos Greek Tavern until 2011. The new concept will bring back some of their best dishes, as well as featuring dishes from Israel, Turkey and Lebanon. Keep up with their progress and announced opening date on their Facebook page here.

Closings

• David McCreary shared the news that The Mason Jar Tavern location at 114 Grand Hill Place at Holly Springs Towne Center has closed its doors. They made the decision not to renew their lease. That’s the bad news. The good news is you can find a place “where your jar is always full” by visiting Scratch Kitchen and Taproom, TapStation, Mason Jar Lager Co, or Mason Jar Tavern in Fuquay-Varina.

• RalToday shared that Anisette Sweet Shop in Five Points is permanently closing Tuesday, June 27. To celebrate their final day, the shop will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with as many sweet bites in stock as possible.

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

• The third annual NC Hops Fest is back at the NC State Fairgrounds this Saturday, June 24. This event is a celebration of NC craft beverages with local vendors, food trucks, live music, and of course… beer. General admission tickets, which include a commemorative cup and unlimited 3-oz samples, are $45. Get tickets and 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

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

Featured Restaurant News

• If you work or live in the RTP area, we have great news for you. The second location of Manhattan Cafe has opened right in the middle of Research Triangle Park at 1004 Lower Shiloh Way in Morrisville (open weekdays from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.). So if you are looking for a great working lunch, catering for your office or one of the largest (and most beautiful) salad bars in the Triangle, this is your spot! (Editor’s Note: I’ve worked with them and their catering for years, and they are one of the best in the catering business! Trust me.) Congrats to the Vorbeck brothers on their continued success! Check them out here or their Instagram here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• RalToday shared the news yesterday that Gym Tacos is expanding to Morgan Street Food Hall, and will be opening next Wednesday, June 21. First, there were their trucks. Then the location on Hillsborough Street…and now this! Congrats on their continued success. Follow them on Instagram here.

• Also in downtown Raleigh, RalToday shared that Burger Village, an organic and all-natural food concept, has opened in the former Blowfish Bar location at 510 Glenwood Ave., Ste 103. This looks to be their first North Carolina location. Check them out here.

• Over in Cary, reader Holly D shared with us that Cafe Soul Cups opened at 643 Mills Park Drive. They are Cary’s first Korean dessert cafe and are serving up artisanal coffee, snow blingsoo, mochi donuts, croffles and more. Check them out on Instagram here.

• Also in Cary, reader Rachel Goer shared the exciting news that the space in Parkside Town Commons where Another Broken Egg used to be (1103 Parkside Main St.) has “coming soon” signs in the windows for The Flying Biscuit Cafe. No word on an exact open date, but the site lists 2023…so this year! Visit them here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Congratulations! Triangle Business Journal shared that that honor goes to Fullsteam Brewery in Durham, which was recently named among the 10 best breweries in the state by readers of Southern Living. The magazine noted that Fullsteam stood out for having “some pretty great brews like the Paycheck Pilsner, which won a gold medal in 2019’s U.S. Beer Open.” Visit Fullsteam here.

Closings

• Reader Mike Boylan notified us that the Pei Wei on Wake Forest Road in Raleigh has permanently closed. That also means we have just one Pei Wei left in this market (Brier Creek).

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

• This Friday night is the next edition of Merritt Grill’s BLTs, Bands & Brews. From 5:30 until 8:30 every Friday in June enjoy their famous BLTs, live music and tasty beverages from local breweries. Their food truck will also be there slinging goodness. And the weather will be perfect tonight! Visit their website here or their Facebook page here.

• If you were planning on hitting up Ricky Moore’s Durmnik, a Juneteenth celebration with Saltbox Seafood Joint and friends, tomorrow (Saturday, June 17), it has SOLD OUT! Jump on that earlier next year! Get all the details on what is in each box, and purchase tickets, here.

• Tickets are still available for the Father’s Day Pig Pickin’ from 1-3 p.m. June 17 at Peck & Plume at The Mayton in downtown Cary, just a day before Father’s Day. Tickets cost $40 and include a barbecue buffet with all of the traditional sides on the new all-weather terrace. Drink specials and the Peck & Plume No. 1 Private Select will be available for purchase at the bar. Get tickets and details here.

• June 14 through June 17th is Tasty Takeover Week at The Wine Feed Durham where Kim Hunter of Kimbap will be the featured chef helping you kick off your summer just right! Get all the details here.

• Sunday, June 18th is the date for the Summertime Seafood Festival in downtown Pittsboro hosted by The Sycamore and Postal Fish Company. From 2 to 6 p.m. on the lawn and inside of Forest Hall at Chatham Mills, guests will be able to enjoy delicious food, refreshing drinks and live music. Advance tickets for entry are $10 or purchase at the door for $15 (if available). Food, drinks and desserts are available for purchase. Get all the details here.

• On June 20th, join The Wine Feed in Durham as they host a Veg-Heads Wine Dinner at 7 p.m. Vegetarians will rejoice as head chef Taylor Halley expertly pairs delicious vegan and vegetarian dishes with world-class wines! Get tickets and all the details here.

• Next week, Raleigh will get to experience The 10,000 Scoop Challenge. What is it? Moose Tracks is bringing 10,000 scoops of FREE Hershey’s® Moose Tracks Ice Cream to downtown Raleigh at City Plaza on Tuesday, June 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For each scoop served, Moose Tracks will donate $1 to The Salvation Army of Wake County in hopes of raising $10,000 in just four hours to help fund vital community initiatives. Visit their Facebook events page here.

• The third annual NC Hops Fest is back at the NC State Fairgrounds on Saturday, June 24. This event is a celebration of NC craft beverages with local vendors, food trucks, live music, and of course… beer. General admission tickets, which include a commemorative cup and unlimited 3-oz samples, are $45. Get tickets and 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