TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Raleigh will soon have a new steakhouse near Crabtree Valley Mall in the 145,000-square-foot Crabtree Terrace building. Perry’s Steakhouse and Grille is a Texas-based restaurant that will occupy more than 12,000 square feet, with space for 350 guests, in addition to a “towering” wine wall, an island bar and four private dining rooms, according to a press release. The steakhouse serves prime USDA-aged steaks and carves up the meat table-side. The steakhouse is scheduled to open in early 2020. Start getting familiar with them here.

Wake County Restaurant News

Got word from Mike DePersia of National Restaurant Properties that Johnny’s Pizza opened their third location in Wake County at 13654 Capital Blvd. in Wake Forest on Tuesday. They also have locations in Apex and Cary. Check them out here.

Over in downtown Raleigh, the Morgan Street Food Hall will have their “official” grand opening party this Saturday, October 27th. The event will include door prizes, food and drink specials from all the vendors, and live music. Check out their Facebook Event page here for all the details.

And a little bit more downtown Raleigh news – the folks over at Eat Raleigh shared this week that brown paper has gone up on the windows of the former Provenance space at 120 E. Martin Street. We will keep an eye on this development.

Just outside of downtown Raleigh, the folks over at ITB Insider shared that a new fast-casual health food franchise will soon be muscling its way into a space at McNeill Pointe. Permits were issued last week for the fit-out of an 1,800 square-foot space for the Muscle Maker Grill at the corner of McNeill Street and Wake Forest Road. The chain focuses on healthy menu items and meal plans that help improve their customers’ physiques. They offer flatbread pizzas, Cajun chicken pasta, turkey burgers and more. There are about 50 locations of the chain nationwide. Get familiar with them here.

In Cary, we got word that a new juice bar called Pure Juicery Bar has opened in west Cary at 716 Slash Pine Drive. They are a juice and health foods bar focusing on using high quality, healthy ingredients to make great tasting, ultra-premium juices, smoothies, and food. Check them out here.

Boy do we have more great news to share. Krispy Kreme now delivers from Triangle locations in Raleigh, Durham, Wake Forest, Knightdale and Fuquay-Varina. That’s the good news. The “fine print” delivers some limitations like: only doughnuts by the dozen, boxes of coffee and bottled drinks are available. There’s a minimum order of $7.99 to qualify for delivery; a dozen doughnuts is $8.99. A delivery charge of $5 ($10 if you want it “fast”) is tacked on for the convenience, but it’s waived on orders over $25. Delivery is limited to roughly five miles from most stores. And most deliveries take at least 30 minutes. Check out the delivery options here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

A quick update from Jennifer Buchholz on the Uncle Julio’s Mexican restaurant that is moving into the former Champps location at the Streets at Southpoint. Jennifer is telling me that they will have their grand opening on November 13th. She says it looks great and you won’t recognize the inside – a complete remodel. Check them out here.

Also in Durham, WRAL shared the news that the East Durham Bake Shop will be the next “pop-up” tenant at American Tobacco Campus next month. The bakery will be operating from Nov. 5-21 and they have already begun taking orders for Thanksgiving. Check them out here.

And over in Chapel Hill, WRAL shared a quick update regarding CAVA which will be in the Village Plaza shopping center on Elliott Road just down from Whole Foods. Got word this week that they will swing open their doors next month, November, but we don’t have an exact date just yet. CAVA, a Greek/Mediterranean concept, allows you to customize your ideal grain bowl, salad, or pita. In the meantime, get familiar with them here.

And next door in Carrboro, reader Ari Bowers and the folks over at Taste Carolina shared the news that that The Shoppe Bar and Meatball Kitchen at 370 E. Main Street has closed and is being replaced by Spike’s Hot Chicken and Dogs, featuring Nashville hot chicken and Connecticut style hot dogs. It’s the same owners of One Fish Two Fish and Esperanza. Can’t find an online presence, but will keep you posted.

Staying in Carrboro, chef Teddy Diggs revealed this week that his Coronato Pizza will find its home in the new South Green development that is currently under construction on S. Greensboro Street. He is hoping to open next May. Check out the entire South Green development here.

Closings

My buddy Gordon Brown shared the news that Noodles & Company in Cameron Village in Raleigh has closed. Gordon is taking the news pretty hard. If anyone knows where else he can get Pesto Cavatappi, please let me know.

Just down from there on Hillsborough Street, Yelp is reporting that Bocci Trattoria & Pizzeria has closed that location. They still have locations in Durham and Cary.

Also in Raleigh, it was announced this week that Oak & Dagger Public House, a downtown Raleigh Irish brewpub, is set to close at Seaboard Station at the end of the week. All operations will move to a new location, with more details coming in the next few weeks.

Mystery Brewing Company in Hillsborough announced Thursday that it’s closing its doors at the end of the month. The brewery, at 437 Dimmocks Mill Road, is celebrating its nearly seven-year run over the next week.

Back in August, Sugarland Bakery in Raleigh’s Cameron Village closed. Now the original location in Chapel Hill has closed as well.

And in Carrobro, The Shoppe Bar and Meatball Kitchen at 370 E. Main Street has closed but is being replaced by Spike’s Hot Chicken and Dogs (same owners).

Food Trucks

This Sunday, October 28, the RDU Mobile Food Association and Tabletop Media Group will host Pumpkin Palooza food truck rodeo at 214 Hunt Street in Durham. At least 8 trucks are confirmed at this point and you’ll have an opportunity to try their special pumpkin dishes and vote for your favorites! Additionally there will be crafts, art and music to enjoy as well. Visit their Facebook event page here.

The final date for the Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo is Sunday, November 4^th from noon until 4 p.m. Check out Durham here.

Events

In the wake of Hurricane Florence, North Carolina’s culinary and hospitality community has raised hundreds of thousands of relief dollars through a series of meals and events. The latest aims to help North Carolina’s fishermen and shellfish growers impacted by the storm. This Saturday from 12-3 p.m., “Gone Fishing” will feature more than a dozen North Carolina chefs – including several James Beard nominees and winners – from Wilmington to Pittsboro at the new Junction West in Raleigh’s Warehouse District. The cost is $75. The event is organized by chefs Ashley Christensen of Poole’s, Jake Wood of 18 Seaboard and Locals Seafood, with proceeds going to the state’s fishermen and oyster and clam farmers affected by Hurricane Florence. Many of the participating chefs and restaurants focus on North Carolina seafood, including 18 Seaboard, Postmaster and The Cortez. Get tickets and all the details here.

ACME’s 6th Annual Salt & Smoke Festival is coming up on Saturday, November 3rd at beautiful Rock Quarry Farm from 3-8 pm. This is one of the fall “can’t miss” events here in the Triangle. In just five short weeks, they’ll be smoking whole-hog BBQ, drinking beer, shucking thousands of just-out-of-the-water oysters, drinking wine, roasting clams over a fire, sipping whiskey, being wowed by a magician, tapping our feet and dancing the night away. You know, a par-tay. The kind you don’t want to miss. Get your tickets here.

Have you ever met Angelo and Vinnie at Chapel Hill’s infamous IPIII restaurant? How about Al and wife Melody of Al’s Burger Shack fame? What if you could hang out with all of them for a night of fantastic food, fun and entertainment. Well, you can! The next edition of Caffe Marrone will take place on Wednesday, November 14^th at Mel’s Commissary in Carrboro where $75 will get you 6 courses of Italian favorites, wine and entertainment. Did I mention Angelo and Vinnie will be there? Folks, go! Here are the details.

Come celebrate with us at the 2018 Brewer’s Ball: A Celebration of Triangle’s Finest on Friday, November 16, 2018, at Oak and Dagger Public House at Seaboard Station in Raleigh from 7 to 10 p.m. (VIP Honoree and Sponsors Reception at 6:30 p.m.). The Brewer’s Ball is an evening featuring the finest in brews, cocktails, food, music, and difference makers in the community. Guests are treated to a variety of hand-crafted brews and beverages from around town, creative and delicious food pairings from the city’s top restaurants, live music, expansive live and silent auctions, and a chance to mix and mingle with the best and brightest in the Triangle, all while being a part of a great cause: helping move us closer to a cure for CF. Get tickets and all the details here.

And this is kind of fun. A new foodie program is launching on PBS nationally in October featuring the work of Cat Neville called tasteMAKERS. But what makes it even more special, is the initial episode will feature Left Bank Butchery in Saxapahaw. You can see the behind the scenes making of that episode here. More information on tasteMakers can be found here.

Food Bank Corner

James Taylor is pitching in on hurricane relief here in his former home state of North Carolina. The singer, who spent his formative years in Chapel Hill, announced the James Taylor Million Meals Challenge and wants to raise money to help people affected by Hurricanes Florence and Michael, particularly in New Bern and in Eastern North Carolina. He will match donations dollar for dollar through Oct. 31, seeking to raise enough money to provide 1 million meals – about $100,000 – through the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. For every $10, the food bank can provide 100 meals. The money from Taylor’s challenge is earmarked for the 22 North Carolina counties that were declared federal disaster areas from Hurricane Florence. All gifts are tax-deductible. For details, go here.

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

Today and tomorrow feature the final two days of the 9th annual TerraVita Festival over in Chapel Hill. Go. Get to something! You can still get tickets! The “grand finale” is on Saturday, October 20 with the Fall Fête on The Green in Southern Village – which features 40 chefs and food artisans from across the state of North Carolina – representing the coast, the mountains and everything in between – as well as about two dozen beverage producers. Check out this video that give you a great look at all the events that make up TerraVita. Or visit their website here to get your tickets.

Wake County Restaurant News

Today through Sunday are your last few days to visit all the culinary creations at the NC State Fair in Raleigh. And WRAL has a “food map” for you to study prior to arriving – check it out here. Here’s a look at some of the new menu items. And visit the official fair website here.

And this is really fun news. Empire Eats, who took over ownership of Raleigh’s Mecca restaurant a few months ago, announced this week that they will now be open for dinner as well as featuring a full bar and beer and wine. Catching dinner and a show in downtown Raleigh – that sounds like a great night! Check out their dinner menu here.

And more fun news shared by the folks over at Triangle Business Journal – A Place at the Table will be featured on NBC’s “Today” show in November and will run the week of Thanksgiving, according to the restaurant’s executive director, Maggie Kane. The restaurant, located at 300 W. Hargett St., is open for breakfast and lunch from Tuesday to Sunday. Diners can pay the suggested price, pay at least half the suggested price or pay for the meal by volunteering. Check them out here.

The new Village Square at Amberly in Cary at the intersection of McCrimmon Parkway and Yates Store Road released their preliminary list of tenants this week. The lineup includes Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea, HighCraft Beer Market, Domino’s Pizza and Pure Juicery Bar. If that doesn’t sound like Cary, I don’t know what does. Check out Amberly on Facebook here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

WRAL reported that Pokeworks is now open in downtown Durham on the ground floor of One City Center at 122 W. Main Street. Pokéworks serves build-your-own poké bowls, poké burritos and poké salads with a variety of proteins, sauces and toppings to choose from. This is their first North Carolina location with another on the way in Raleigh. Check them out here.

And we told you about this last week, but Saint & Co. did in fact open this past Tuesday in the space formerly occupied by The Pie Hole at the intersection of Ninth and Green streets in Durham. The bakery/cafe menu features fresh baked artisan pastries and breads, salads, sandwiches, and amazing brick hearth Neapolitan style pizza. Check them out on Facebook here.

Following a pretty good rumor over in Durham (goodness, we hope it is true). The folks over at Building Bull City are tweeting that chef Sidney Coves, owner/chef of True Flavors Diner and food truck, is opening up a new diner (keeping the bar and rooftop) at the former The Lakewood/Scratch Baking (Baby Scratch) place at 2022 Chapel Hill Road. We will keep an eye on this one. In the meantime, you can still enjoy True Flavors. Check them out here.

Closings

Got word from numerous readers that Patrick Jane’s Bar & Bistro at The Shoppes of Kildaire in Cary will close today (Friday, October 19) at the close of business. Super nice people. A great five-year run. All the best to them!

Food Trucks

Trick or Eat Food Truck Rodeo is coming to downtown Garner on Sunday, Oct 21 from 12-5pm on Main Street. Bring your family and friends and take in 15 food trucks, 3 craft breweries, street music, and local artisans. Get all the details and a full list of trucks here.

On Sunday, October 28, the RDU Mobile Food Association and Tabletop Media Group will host Pumpkin Palooza food truck rodeo at 214 Hunt Street in Durham. At least 8 trucks are confirmed at this point and you’ll have an opportunity to try their special pumpkin dishes and vote for your favorites! Additionally there will be crafts, art and music to enjoy as well. Visit their Facebook event page here.

The final date for the Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo is Sunday, November 4^th from noon until 4 p.m. Check out Durham here.

Events

One of my daughter’s favorite events, the Mac and Cheese Throwdown, has been rescheduled for Sunday, October 21 from 5 until 8 p.m. at 214 Martin in downtown Raleigh. The current lineup is Relish, The Butcher’s Market, Oak and Dagger, Wandering Moose, Dram and Draught, US Foods, The Mac House, Southern Charred, NOFO and the chef from 214 Martin. My daughter and I will be judges again this year! All proceeds benefit The Hope Center at Pullen. Get all the details here.

The 6th Annual Bull City Race Fest and Food Truck Rodeo is taking place on October 21 winding through Durham as it starts and ends at Diamond View Park in the American Tobacco Campus. Choose from a half marathon, five miler or a one miler. And the true reward is not just the joy of finishing the race, but a bevy of food trucks awaiting you at the finish line. Get all the details here.

ACME’s 6th Annual Salt & Smoke Festival is coming up on Saturday, November 3rd at beautiful Rock Quarry Farm from 3-8 pm. This is one of the fall “can’t miss” events here in the Triangle. In just five short weeks, they’ll be smoking whole-hog BBQ, drinking beer, shucking thousands of just-out-of-the-water oysters, drinking wine, roasting clams over a fire, sipping whiskey, being wowed by a magician, tapping our feet and dancing the night away. You know, a par-tay. The kind you don’t want to miss. Get your tickets here.

Have you ever met Angelo and Vinnie at Chapel Hill’s infamous IPIII restaurant? How about Al and wife Melody of Al’s Burger Shack fame? What if you could hang out with all of them for a night of fantastic food, fun and entertainment. Well, you can! The next edition of Caffe Marrone will take place on Wednesday, November 14^th at Mel’s Commissary in Carrboro where $75 will get you 6 courses of Italian favorites, wine and entertainment. Did I mention Angelo and Vinnie will be there? Folks, go! Here are the details.

Come celebrate with us at the 2018 Brewer’s Ball: A Celebration of Triangle’s Finest on Friday, November 16, 2018, at Oak and Dagger Public House at Seaboard Station in Raleigh from 7 to 10 p.m. (VIP Honoree and Sponsors Reception at 6:30 p.m.). The Brewer’s Ball is an evening featuring the finest in brews, cocktails, food, music, and difference makers in the community. Guests are treated to a variety of hand-crafted brews and beverages from around town, creative and delicious food pairings from the city’s top restaurants, live music, expansive live and silent auctions, and a chance to mix and mingle with the best and brightest in the Triangle, all while being a part of a great cause: helping move us closer to a cure for CF. Get tickets and all the details here.

And this is kind of fun. A new foodie program is launching on PBS nationally in October featuring the work of Cat Neville called tasteMAKERS. But what makes it even more special, is the initial episode will feature Left Bank Butchery in Saxapahaw. You can see the behind the scenes making of that episode here. More information on tasteMakers can be found here.

Food Bank Corner

James Taylor is pitching in on hurricane relief here in his former home state of North Carolina. The singer, who spent his formative years in Chapel Hill, announced the James Taylor Million Meals Challenge and wants to raise money to help people affected by Hurricanes Florence and Michael, particularly in New Bern and in Eastern North Carolina. He will match donations dollar for dollar through Oct. 31, seeking to raise enough money to provide 1 million meals – about $100,000 – through the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. For every $10, the food bank can provide 100 meals. The money from Taylor’s challenge is earmarked for the 22 North Carolina counties that were declared federal disaster areas from Hurricane Florence. All gifts are tax-deductible. For details, go here.