TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

Featured Restaurant News

• Christmas is coming early! We just found out this week that Empire Eats is opening up The Mecca for one day next Wednesday, December 15th. Repeat, ONE DAY ONLY. Take off work. Call in sick. Do whatever you have to do. They will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and they will be serving breakfast and lunch favorites. They will not be taking reservations and all tips will be donated to the Salvation Army. Check out Empire Eats here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• After extensive renovations that caused them to close, Sushi Thai on Lake Boone Trail in Raleigh has re-opened, but just doing take-out and delivery at the moment. A slightly modified menu features the largest variety of Japanese and Thai cuisine in the Triangle. Reacquaint yourself and check out the new menu here.

• In the Quail Corners Shopping Center, Darryl Fuller, owner of Morning Rolls, reached out to let me know they have been in soft-open mode for the past few weeks after taking over the former Justin’s Grill spot. I can confirm that the cinnamon rolls are out of this world, and that they are expanding the menu adding breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Stop by and pay Darryl a visit. Check them out on Facebook here.

• Got word from Matt Christ that a Bibibop Asian Grill is going in the old Zoes Kitchen spot at 2007 Walnut Street in Cary. Bibibop is a Korean-inspired fast casual that encourages well-being through healthy eating and an active, balanced lifestyle. With locations throughout the mid-section of the United States, this will mark the first North Carolina location for the chain. Get to know them here.

• Also in Cary, Carrie Brogren shared the news that Pineapple Sol will be opening a full scale restaurant at Waverly Place in Cary early next year. They plan to offer breakfast, lunch, brunch on weekends, and fresh pastries seven days a week. Congratulations to Dahiana Vitabar and Aleena Azhar on their continued success. Get to know them here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that another new restaurant is coming to the American Tobacco Campus, and this concept is a first for Durham. The Louisiana-inspired seafood restaurant and bar is from the brothers behind NanaSteak, also located at American Tobacco Campus. Named after their great-great-great-grandmother, Seraphine is aiming to open in the second or third quarter of 2022. Seraphine will have classics like gumbo, grilled oysters and seafood boils done the way the Weddingtons learned from home. Plus, a cocktail menu dominated by whiskey. It will be located in part of the former Tyler’s Taproom space, near Parker & Otis. We couldn’t find an online presence, so you’ll have to just visit NanaSteak until then.

• The Downtown Chapel Hill Partnership shared the news that a new coffee shop called Blue House Cafe, founded by students, has opened at 462 W. Franklin Street. Expect to find espressos, lattes and more. Love their current mottto of, “Exams suck. Coffee helps.” Get to know them on Facebook here.

• If that is not enough Chapel Hill coffee news for you, Chapelboro shared the news that a new coffee café on Franklin Street is set to open in the next few weeks, right beside Carolina Coffee Shop. 1922 by Carolina Coffee Shop will be a coffee café with grab-and-go options and the name refers to the first year Carolina Coffee Shop opened. In addition to coffee, 1922 will have grab-and-go food options like pastries, salads and sandwiches. Carolina Coffee Shop will continue to operate as a sit-down restaurant. They are aiming to have a soft opening in the next few weeks with a full opening at the beginning of 2022, coinciding with Carolina Coffee Shop’s centennial year. Check out the article on Chapelboro here.

• Also in Chapel Hill, Sarah Boak shared with the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies group that Bouquet Garni, the only Senegalese restaurant in the immediate area, just opened in Blue Dogwood Public Market just off West Franklin Street (306 W. Franklin Street). Chef Eric was born in Senegal, grew up in Lyon, France and had culinary training in Paris. Check it out.

• Over in Hillsborough, follower Howard Siegal shared the news that town-favorite Saratoga Grill has re-opened for lunch (11-2) every day except Wednesday and Sunday. They reopened last Friday. Re-familiarize yourself here.

• Need another reason to head over to Hillsborough? Here’s a great one thanks to a tip from my favorite Catholic priest (sorry Fr. Dan!) Scott McCue, pastor at St. Thomas More. Fr. McCue let me know that La Muñeca Ice Cream opened this past Monday at 131 Mayo Street. Probably best to follow them on Instagram or visit their website here.

• Out in RTP, got word from Giuseppe Cataldo and Kelly Potts that they have closed their current location of Societa Sicilian Influenced Cucina and are “moving” it across the street to 5400 South Miami Blvd. They are taking their current Sicilian influenced menu with them, but will be adding Sicilian bakery pan pizzas by the square and sheet for lunch. In the evening, they will be firing up their coal fired oven for personal pizzas that will take influences from cuisines all over the world. Look for them to open late summer/early fall in 2022. Follow their progress on Instagram here.

Closings / Cancellations

• Jeanette Hauser shared the news, and confirmed by Yelp, that Neo-Asia on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh has closed.

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 Downtown Raleigh Alliance has officially launched their Sip and Savor the Season guides, which gives you all the intel you need to pick a drink or dinner spot while shopping in downtown Raleigh. You’ll find festive and seasonal cocktails, coffees, ciders, beers, and more. Check it out here.

• Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies is doing a holiday charity collaboration again this year with Christmas House. Donations will go towards the purchase of grocery gift cards that will be distributed to local families in need (as identified by Orange/Chapel Hill/ Carrboro School system social workers). Additionally, during the month of December, they have partnered with Tandem restaurant in Carrboro to sell Carrie Brogren’s “Partridge in a Pear Tree” holiday cocktail with a portion of the sales from each cocktail added to the Christmas House donations. Make your donations here. Visit Tandem here.

• This weekend you can enjoy great pizza and pasta, have your photo taken with Santa and support a great cause all at the same time at the Mellow Mushroom location at Brier Creek. As part of the event, they are collecting toys (new, unwrapped toys) to help children who have faced a disaster (North Carolina Friends of Santa). Pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus will take place on Saturday and Sunday (December 11 & 12) from 12-4 on the patio. Visit them here.

Food Bank Corner

• Double your impact with your holiday donation to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina! Because of the ongoing economic effects of the pandemic, and the rising cost of food, many of our neighbors are struggling this year. They are having trouble making ends meet and the holidays will only add to the pinch as heating bills soar and kids miss school meals during holiday break. Fortunately, there’s a chance now to make twice the difference for families facing hunger this year. Compassionate friends are matching all donations up to $600,000 to help our neighbors have a happy and bountiful holiday season. Your gift today can provide two times as much food to families in our community.

Featured Restaurant News

• Today, Friday, December 3rd, chef Scott Crawford will open the doors to Crawford Cookshop – located at 401 Main Street in downtown Clayton – his most casual restaurant to-date. Crawford Cookshop celebrates simple, delicious “Americana” style food from a wood-fired grill – with signature Crawford style. Crawford tapped North Carolina native Bryan Slattery as Chef de Cuisine. Slattery, a Culinary Institute of America graduate and former Crawford mentee at the Forbes 5-star Cloister at Sea Island in Georgia, recently served with Michelin star-rated chef Brandon Sharp at Carolina Inns’ Crossroads Chapel Hill, honed his butchery skills at Carolina Butcher Shop in Angier, and his barbecue techniques in his backyard with his father over the past two decades. Crawford Cookshop will be open Tuesday-Saturday, and does not take reservations. Get all the details and view their menu here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Got word this week from owner Eric Reyes that Crave Hot Dogs and Barbecue has set a tentative opening date of December 18th. They are opening up a brick and mortar location at The Shoppes at Oberlin Court at 1028 Oberlin Rd. (former Zoës Kitchen spot). They also have a food truck that hit the road last week attending events at breweries, festivals and more, all around Raleigh. They will be serving up all beef hot dogs, hot and mild sausages, and brats, along with the pulled pork, pulled chicken and smoked brisket, it’s a classic family friendly favorite with something for everyone. Oh, did I mention they have a self serve beer well with 24 taps!?!? Congrats to Eric and Jesse Reyes! You can follow them on Facebook here or Instagram here.

• A shout out to the great folks over at 321 Coffee for being voted the best coffee shop in the Triangle according to the News & Observer. If you are not familiar with 321, it was created to offer jobs to people with developmental disabilities. The 321 refers to Down Syndrome, which some of its 31 employees have, meaning the third copy of the 21st chromosome. Their coffee shop is located at the NC State Farmers Market, but the News & Observer also noted that they have expansion plans to open another brick & mortar location in the new Pendo building in downtown Raleigh. Read the article here. Visit 321 here.

• Big news out of Sanford (yes, I know that is Lee County). Last month, Fonda Lupita Mexican restaurant at 129 W. Main Street, was named one of the of 11 best new restaurants in the U.S. by food publication Eater. Yes, in the entire United States! And since then, their business has more than doubled according to an article in the Triangle Business Journal. Which has caused two additional things to happen. First, they will be moving to a new location (within a mile of the current location) and hope to have that opened by the first of the year (they will keep the current location, but convert to a different concept). And secondly, they are exploring opening a location in the Triangle. Check them out here.

• Over in Holly Springs, David McCreary sent me a note letting me know that Yummi Japan, a Japanese and hibachi eatery, will open soon at 7216 GB Alford Highway near the Walmart. Check them out.

• Down in Garner, saw on the Garner Biz Facebook page that Nana’s Sweet Treats will be opening a brick and mortar location on Main Street in early 2022. Until then, continue to order their sweet treats online. Keep up with them on their website here.

• Also in Garner, the Triangle Business Journal reported that Biscuitville is aiming for a January 11 opening date for their newest location off Highway 42 near exit 312 on Interstate 40. Their Garner address is 25 E. Malibu Dr. Biscuitville has one other location in Johnston County (Clayton) as well as seven locations in the greater Raleigh area and three in Durham. Visit them here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• The Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership brought it to our attention that Pirate Captain is now open at 163 E. Franklin St. (former Ms. Mong spot). Check out their ramen, seafood plates, poke, smoothies and more! Order online for grab and go pickup or stop by and dine-in. View their menu and get to know them here.

• Over in Durham, Taste Carolina owner Lesley Stracks-Mullem notified us that she saw a sign for Bul Box near the new Happy & Hale in University Hill (3103 Shannon Road). There isn’t a listing on their website just yet, but this would mark their fifth Triangle-area locaiton. No word on an open date, so stay tuned. Get to know them here.

• Also in Durham, thanks to a Facebook post from Carrie Brogren (Chapel Hill/Carrboro Foodies Group) we learned that the grand opening of the Durham (Southpoint) location of Crumbl Cookies is today, Friday, December 3rd! They are located at 8128 Renaissance Pkwy. Check out Crumbl here.

• The Pittsboro-Siler City Convention and Visitors Bureau brought it to our attention that Thirsty Skull Brewing is officially opening today (Friday, December 3rd) at 3 p.m. at 915 N Second Avenue in Siler City. They are a small scale brewery with kegs available as well as limited 12 oz. bottles. Get to know them here.

Closings / Cancellations

• David McCreary shared the sad and unexpected news from Fuquay that Tsuru Sweets & Coffee at 411 Broad Street has closed due to the chef/owner being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Our prayers are with Paolo.

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 Downtown Raleigh Alliance has officially launched their Sip and Savor the Season guides, which gives you all the intel you need to pick a drink or dinner spot while shopping in downtown Raleigh. You’ll find festive and seasonal cocktails, coffees, ciders, beers, and more. Check it out here.

• Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies is doing a holiday charity collaboration again this year with Christmas House. Donations will go towards the purchase of grocery gift cards that will be distributed to local families in need (as identified by Orange/Chapel Hill/ Carrboro School system social workers). Additionally, during the month of December, they have partnered with Tandem restaurant in Carrboro to sell Carrie Brogren’s “Partridge in a Pear Tree” holiday cocktail with a portion of the sales from each cocktail added to the Christmas House donations. Make your donations here. Visit Tandem here.

Food Bank Corner

• Double your impact with your holiday donation to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina! Because of the ongoing economic effects of the pandemic, and the rising cost of food, many of our neighbors are struggling this year. They are having trouble making ends meet and the holidays will only add to the pinch as heating bills soar and kids miss school meals during holiday break. Fortunately, there’s a chance now to make twice the difference for families facing hunger this year. Compassionate friends are matching all donations up to $600,000 to help our neighbors have a happy and bountiful holiday season. Your gift today can provide two times as much food to families in our community.