TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

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

Featured Restaurant News

• RalToday is reporting this morning that Longleaf Swine’s first brick and mortar location opens today in the now-transformed Oakwood Cafe space at 300 E. Edenton St. Folks in Raleigh can now expect whole hog pulled pork, 18-hour smoked brisket and Brunswick stew. Plus, the new spot has a large, covered outdoor patio. Check it out here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• According to the Triangle Business Journal, the Electric Company Mall on Raleigh’s Hillsborough Street (2526 Hillsborough St.) directly across from NCSU is getting a much needed facelift and a couple of new tenants. The Triangle’s sixth location of Crumbl Cookies will move into the space adjacent to the Starbucks facing Hillsborough Street. And just around the corner on the other side of Starbucks, The Dankery will move into the former Wing It On! space on the Pogue Street side. The Dankery, started by Ian Burris, serves late night bites including chicken tenders, shrimp, fries and vegan nuggets. Burris created the brand five years ago as a food truck operating out of his parents’ garage. His first brick-and-mortar location opened in Durham at 704 Rigsbee Ave. last year. The building itself will enjoy significant renovations. No word on a timeline. Visit Crumble here and The Dankery here on Facebook.

• RalToday reminded us that the Milklab is hosting its grand opening in Smoky Hollow this Saturday, Nov. 5. Stop by between 3-9 p.m. for premium boba tea and rolled ice cream. The first 130 customers will receive goodies like hoodies, T-shirts, tumblers, and reusable straws. This is their 4th Triangle-area location, with a 5th on the way for the Durham Food Hall. Get to know them here.

• RalToday also shared that Sugar Euphoria, a bakery specializing in custom cakes and celebratory sweets, is opening a shop downtown at 606 N. Person St. The storefront will also host tastings and sell party supplies like flowers and decorations. Stay tuned for an opening date. Get to know them here.

• From the folks over at Catering Works, the NCMA Café is now open! It is located in the East Building on Level C of the North Carolina Museum of Art. Open from Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am until 3 pm, the cafe features artful bites, curated salads, artisan sandwiches, sculpted entrees, crafted beverages and more! Check out the full menu here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Got word from Glenn Gillen that Bul Box (fast, friendly, local Asian-inspired dining) is now open in University Hills in Durham. This marks their 5th Triangle-area location after opening in Transfer Co. Food Hall in Raleigh in 2019. They also have locations on Hillsborough Street and North Hills in Raleigh as well as a location in Morrisville. Check them out here.

• Also in Durham we learned that Saladelia Cafe & Catering is moving their flagship location at 4201 University Drive to a new location, less than a mile from their current spot. The last day in the current location will be November 10th and will reopen on November 14th at 3604 Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard, near Sitar and the ABC store, right next to Konrad Automotive. Visit Saladelia here.

• The folks over at Durham Downtown shared the news that the owners of Birrieria El Patron 323 have now officially taken over the former Dos Perros space at 200 N Mangum St. Get ready for LA-style, Mexican food in Durham Downtown. El Patron already has locations in Raleigh, Clayton, Hillsborough and Smithfield. Look for them to open in a couple of months. Get to know them here.

Closing / Cancellations

• Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies founder Carrie Brogren shared the news that Elaine’s on Franklin has been sold. No word yet on future plans. Elaine’s opened in 1999.

Food Trucks

• 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 eighth-annual WRAL Voters’ Choice Awards presented by M&F Bank is here! Vote for your favorite from the top five finalists in each category. You can vote now through November 20. Winners will be announced in January 2023 at an event in downtown Raleigh. Vote here.

• RalToday reminded us to not miss Triangle Vegan Restaurant Week happening now through Monday, Nov. 7. There are 15+ restaurants, bakeries, bars, breweries, and food trucks around the Triangle offering innovative plant-based dishes this week. Get all the details here.

• This Saturday is the 94th Wendell Harvest Festival in downtown Wendell. The festivities begin at 9 a.m. and run all day until 9 p.m. There is a parade at 10 a.m., a kids village, arts, crafts and food trucks running all day. And music and entertainment on the stage. Get all the details here.

• Carolina Brewery is hosting their Fifth Annual Pittsboro Oyster Roast on Saturday, November 5th from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The event includes free admission with oysters available steamed or raw, served a la carte by the half-dozen or dozen. They will offer their full menu during the event as well. Enjoy live music by Snake River Canyon and Lee Gildersleeve & the Bad Dogs. Carolina Brewery’s Pittsboro Brewery Restaurant is located at 120 Lowes Drive in Pittsboro. Get all the details here.

• Here is a fun foodie event to put on your calendar. On November 9, Ashley Christensen will join forces with Mason Hereford for a one-night-only celebration of Mason’s new cookbook, Turkey and the Wolf: Flavor Trippin’ in New Orleans. The party, taking place at Beasley’s Chicken + Honey, will include signed copies of the book along with a heavy sampling of Mason’s iconic, creative food. Mason is the New Orleans-based troublemaker and chef behind Turkey and the Wolf, the iconic sandwich shop that has drawn raves and accolades nationwide, and Molly’s Rise and Shine, its equally rowdy breakfast spot. The two will share a feast of snacks and sandwiches from the book—think the famous collard green melt, fried bologna sandwich, “McCaviar,” and more. The evening begins at 7 p.m. and tickets are $90. Get them here.

• And looking to do some good this holiday season? The Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Group on Facebook is holding a holiday charity partnership again with Chapel Hill Service League’s annual Christmas House event. They are looking to raise as much money as possible allowing them to buy/distribute grocery gift cards for local families in need. If you’d like to donate, please do so here.

• And looking to continue dining outside even as the temperatures start to drop? No problem. The Downtown Raleigh Alliance has compiled a list of restaurants in downtown Raleigh keeping you warm all-year long! Check out that list here.

Food Bank Corner

• Looking for an easy way for you and/or your office to make a HUGE DIFFERENCE in people’s lives this Holiday season? Host a VIRTUAL Food Drive! Forget the hassle of a trip to the grocery store for your next food drive… create a food drive without the heavy lifting using our Virtual Food Drive, and maximize your donation times five! For every $1 donated, the Food Bank can provide FIVE meals! You can make a difference in your community by hosting a Virtual Food Drive for your friends, family members, or coworkers.  It is easy! Start here. #noonegoeshungry

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

Featured Restaurant News

• Owners of the two Raleigh locations of the wildly successful Cape Fear Seafood Company, Eddie Elliott and Matt Wivell, announced that they will open a third Triangle-area location up in Wake Forest next spring. The newest spot will be in the Wheat Field Shopping Center at 3612 Rogers Branch Road. They are shooting for an April/May opening. In the meantime, visit either of their other Triangle-area locations at Village District here or North Raleigh here. Cape Fear was originally opened in the Wilmington area by founder Evans Trawick, where they also have three locations. Congrats to Eddie, Matt and their entire team!

Wake County Restaurant News

• So, contrary to what I published last week, and what everyone had hoped for, The BBQ Lab at North Hills hasn’t opened yet due to hiring issues. They need good people! At this point, it is best to follow along on Facebook for the official announcement. When they do open, they will be in the space formerly occupied by Tom Meyer’s Q Shack. The BBQ Lab is brought to us by the same folks behind Johnston County’s Redneck BBQ Lab. Find them here.

• Got word this week that Salt & Lime Cabo Grill will open a second location at 4800 Grove Barton Road in the spot formerly occupied by Flying Burrito, near the Raleigh Grande and Lynnwood Grill and Brewing Co. No word on an open date. Stay tuned. Visit their North Raleigh location here.

• Up in Brier Creek, FF Chicken is having their grand opening Saturday, October 29th. They are located at 8531 Brier Creek Pkwy, Unit 109. FF Chicken is marinated for 24 hours, flame-grilled, and hand basted in your favorite sauce to bring you delicious, juicy and finger-licking chicken. FF Chicken extracts flavors that stem from South African countries: Angola and Mozambique where the peri peri chilli pepper (capsicum frutescens) is harvested. Get to know them here.

• Up in Wake Forest, John Huisman, aka Triangle Explorer, shared that he spotted Summer Moon, a new coffee shop coming into the Heritage area at 3600 Rogers Branch Rd. The shop features wood fired coffee over Texas oak. Their grand opening (including free swag to the first 50 folks) is this Saturday, October 29th. This will be their first location in North Carolina. Get familiar with them here.

• Big news over in downtown Cary. Jason Daniels is the new executive chef at Peck & Plume restaurant at The Mayton boutique hotel in downtown Cary. Daniels was executive chef at the Inn at Willow Grove, a Forbes four-star hotel and restaurant that was twice named best hotel in the South by Travel + Leisure. Daniels has launched new menus for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch at Peck & Plume, a polished yet casual restaurant offering a menu of modern American classics taking inspiration from our Southern surroundings. Check it out here for menus and hours.

• Down in Clayton, Hungry Howie’s (flavored crust pizza) opened its newest location this past week at 9145 Cleveland Rd Suite 103. They are celebrating with a special limited-time offer of a large two-topping flavored crust pizza for $11.99. Congrats to franchisees Randall Moran and Robert Wasden! Visit HH here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Glenn Gillen shared the news that Sabor Latin Street Grill at the Homestead Market shopping center in Durham (105 NC-54, Suite 201). This marks the first Triangle-area location for the Charlotte-based franchise. Get to know them here.

• A huge happy anniversary to Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken as they are celebrating a decade of serving guests with chicken sandwiches, biscuits, and donuts. Rise’s late founder Tom Ferguson and partner Brian Wiles opened the first Rise location in Durham in 2012. Today they have 17 restaurant locations in seven states and more than 100 units in development in major markets from coast to coast. Look for anniversary specials throughout November. Visit them here.

• Down in Chatham County, Triangle Business Journal shared a big company announcement. No, not VinFast…no, not Wolfspeed….Cook Out will open a location next July at at 1513 E. 11th St. in Siler City between Sonic Drive-In and Walgreens. Big things happening in Chatham! Visit Cook Out here.

• Our friends over at Bites of Bull City shared that North Durham baker and resident, Ashleigh Ratchford, has a new physical location for her Ashleigh Bakes Daily’s goodies. She is known for her scratch made cookies chock full of cookie bits, chocolate chips, and sprinkles. You’ll find this small but mighty cookie cafe shed located through the gates behind Crafts & Drafts at 3117 Guess Road. Opening hours will be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and one weekend a month that will be announced on Instagram here at the beginning of each month.

Closing / Cancellations

• Saw on the Triangle Foodies Facebook page that Tangerine Cafe in Cary will be closing on November 19th. Still time to get by!

• And in Morrisville, the Triangle Business Journal reported that the Hickory Tavern in Park West Village permanently closed their door earlier this week.

Food Trucks

• This is it! The final Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo of the year is THIS Sunday, October 30. Get there! 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 eighth-annual WRAL Voters’ Choice Awards presented by M&F Bank is here! Vote for your favorite from the top five finalists in each category. You can vote now through November 20. Winners will be announced in January 2023 at an event in downtown Raleigh. Vote here.

• The Bull City will be celebrating Oktoberfest in Durham Central Park THIS Friday, October 28, thanks to The Glass Jug Beer Lab. The event is scheduled for 4 until 10 p.m. and includes a live interactive performance by The Little German Band & Dancers, as well as a “kids zone” hosted by Bull City Inflatables. And, of course, there will be beer. The Glass Jug will be serving several German-style lagers both from their taproom and from a rolling mobile beer trailer inside the park. Food will be available from several food trucks on site as well as in the Durham Food Hall. Get all the details here on their Facebook event page.

• On Saturday, October 29 beginning at 5 p.m., Durham’s Vin Rouge will throw a 20th Anniversary Fête celebrating two decades! Trays of hors d’oeuvres, tabletops filled with oysters, house pâté, beautiful cheeses, and so much more. Bars inside and out for Champagne, a glass of Muscadet, or a cold martini! And… live Gypsy Jazz throughout the night from the ONYX CLUB BOYS!!! Ticket covers admission and food – cash bars upon entry. Cost is $60 per person. Get all the details on their Facebook events page here.

• Also on October 29th, The Optimist and Brookside Bodega will be hosting their first ever Fall Fest from 2-6 p.m. featuring plenty of family fun, including food trucks, music, trick-or-treating, and games. Vendors interested in setting up a booth can still apply. Get all the details on The Optimist Instagram page here.

• Refugee Hope Partners will host a community event, Taste & See, showcasing the cuisine and culture of the refugee communities they serve in Raleigh. On the menu: Afghani Baklava, African Sambusa, chai tea and bites from such local restaurants as Vidrio, Taverna Agora, a’Verde and MOFU Shoppe. Entertainment will include international dancing, music and more. A raffle also will be held for gift cards to Second Empire, Flourish and all the restaurants serving at the event. Come by between 5-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3 at Refugee Hope Partners Welcome Center at the Falls Village Shopping Center in North Raleigh. Tickets, which include all food and drink, cost $45 for adults and $20 for children ages 12 and under. The event raises funds for the services that the nonprofit provides to refugees relocated to our area. Get tickets and all the details here.

• On Thursday, November 3rd at 7 p.m., the NC Museum of Art, Vitis House, and Catering Works present “The Art Inside the Bottle” – a very special evening to explore the history, tradition, and process of winemaking.As you foster new insights that await you in the galleries, be immersed in a sensory experience of fabulous wines, specially curated food pairings and eye-opening works of art! Tickets are $150. Get tickets and all the details here.

• Carolina Brewery is hosting their Fifth Annual Pittsboro Oyster Roast on Saturday, November 5th from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The event includes free admission with oysters available steamed or raw, served a la carte by the half-dozen or dozen. They will offer their full menu during the event as well. Enjoy live music by Snake River Canyon and Lee Gildersleeve & the Bad Dogs. Carolina Brewery’s Pittsboro Brewery Restaurant is located at 120 Lowes Drive in Pittsboro. Get all the details here.

• Here is a fun foodie event to put on your calendar. On November 9, Ashley Christensen will join forces with Mason Hereford for a one-night-only celebration of Mason’s new cookbook, Turkey and the Wolf: Flavor Trippin’ in New Orleans. The party, taking place at Beasley’s Chicken + Honey, will include signed copies of the book along with a heavy sampling of Mason’s iconic, creative food. Mason is the New Orleans-based troublemaker and chef behind Turkey and the Wolf, the iconic sandwich shop that has drawn raves and accolades nationwide, and Molly’s Rise and Shine, its equally rowdy breakfast spot. The two will share a feast of snacks and sandwiches from the book—think the famous collard green melt, fried bologna sandwich, “McCaviar,” and more. The evening begins at 7 p.m. and tickets are $90. Get them here.

Food Bank Corner

• Looking for an easy way for you and/or your office to make a HUGE DIFFERENCE in people’s lives this Holiday season? Host a VIRTUAL Food Drive! Forget the hassle of a trip to the grocery store for your next food drive… create a food drive without the heavy lifting using our Virtual Food Drive, and maximize your donation times five! For every $1 donated, the Food Bank can provide FIVE meals! You can make a difference in your community by hosting a Virtual Food Drive for your friends, family members, or coworkers.  It is easy! Start here. #noonegoeshungry