TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

Featured Restaurant News

• Beginning tonight at 5 p.m., Giorgios Bakatsias and chef/partner Daniel Jackson open the doors to Osteria Georgi on Elliott Road in Chapel Hill! This marks the first new restaurant for Giorgios Hospitality Group to open since Rosewater in Raleigh’s North Hills 2019, and the third addition to GHG’s Chapel Hill repertoire of restaurants – including Bin 54 Steakhouse and Cellar and Kipos Greek Taverna. Look for simple, fresh Italian food made by hand, using exquisite local and Italian cheeses, braised meats and North Carolina seafood, and a wide variety of pastas made in house to serve alongside Italian wines and riffs on classic Italian cocktails. The Osteria is named in honor of Giorgios Bakatsias’ friend, the late, great George Tarantini, who was born in Italy and was beloved as NC State’s soccer coach for over 25 years. Get familiar with them here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• More big names have announced re-opening plans, or have resumed operations – be sure to check with your social media channels for exact details. But some of those include: Stanbury on N. Blount Street in Raleigh opened yesterday inside and out. No reservations, walk-in only; Raleigh Convergence shared the news that Garland is now open for dining room and bar reservations; over in Chapel Hill the Triangle Business Journal reported that Perennial Cafe will return to serving its crafted coffee beverages and baked goods beginning in mid-May, according to owner Scott Conary; Relish Craft Kitchen & Bourbon Bar on Creedmoor Road in Raleigh has officially reopened its indoor dining. The Southern-comfort restaurant will still offer patio seating + curbside takeout; and back over in Chapel Hill, Southern Village’s Town Hall Grill has set a target date of May 12 for re-opening. All very exciting!

• WRAL shared the news that the space previously home to Busy Bee Cafe / Trophy Tap & Table (225 S. Wilmington Street), is being renovated and turned into a restaurant and distillery called Young Hearts. It will be operated by the same team as Busy Bee, Trophy Tap & Table, State of Beer and Trophy Brewing Company. The space is undergoing renovations, including the destruction of the downstairs bar. Instead, pedestrians will be able to look into the windows from the street and see the distiller working. Upstairs will feature a 20-foot opening for sliding barn doors to a rooftop patio where diners will enjoy a large outdoor awning that will have heaters and fans. Look for them to open sometime this summer.

• It looks like next week on May 5 is the opening day of Torchy’s Tacos Raleigh – Midtown East (located in front of the Wegman’s location on Wake Forest Road). Keep up with any announcements on their website here.

• And speaking of openings at Midtown East, RalToday shared that Ashley Christensen’s new restaurant concept, BB’s Crispy Chicken, is slated to open in June. That will be followed by two additional locations, one in Durham and the other in Cary, marking Christensen’s first ventures outside of Raleigh. Get familiar with them here.

• Our friends over at RalToday informed us that Clean Juice is opening a location in North Hills later this summer in the Lassiter District, between Sur La Table and MADISON. The Charlotte-based juice bar has Triangle-area locations in Chapel Hill and Durham but this will be its first Raleigh location – finally! They are projected to open late summer 2021. Check them out here.

• Raleigh Convergence shared the news that ItsAWrap Eatery, a Vietnamese restaurant, opened last week in Morrisville at 10970 Chapel Hill Road. The menu includes pho, Bahn Mi sandwiches and vermicelli noodle bowls. You can get to know them here. They also shared that Meat & Graze will open a cheese and charcuterie bar at Boxyard RTP in summer or fall of this year. Get to know them and follow their progress on Instagram here.

• We shared with you back in March that Wok Haus, Korean cuisine and bar, was opening on Raleigh’s Hillsborough Street adjacent to Guasaca. Well, reader Herman Huang shared with us the news that they have now opened. Get to know them here.

• And speaking of Hillsborough Street, Italian Kitchen of Raleigh is in soft-opening mode further down the street in the former Sub Conscious Subs spot at 3209 Hillsborough Street. Right now they are offering a limited menu as the finalize everything including the patio out front, as well as a new patio out back. Still waiting on an official opening date.

• Looking for all the outdoor dining options in Downtown Raleigh? The Downtown Raleigh Alliance has put together a great list of those options, and they even divided it up by district. Check out that list here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook founder Carrie Brogren shared a couple of nuggets this week. First up was the news that Lime and Lemon Indian Grill and Bar – with locations in Durham and Raleigh – will be opening a third Triangle-area location as they prepare to move into the old Fusion Fish space in Chapel Hill’s Meadowmont. No word yet on an open date. Visit them here.

• Carrie also shared the news that beginning today, Friday, April 30th, The Pizza Press is rebranding. They will no longer be a part of The Pizza Press franchise. They will be reopening as Sôst, which is the phonetic spelling of the word “sauced”. With this change, you can expect the same great food and service, but they will be adding some ingredients to the build-your-own pizza concept, as well as adding some new menu items like pasta, sandwiches, wraps, and bar bites. Not much on their website, but you can visit them here.

• Over in Durham, RalToday shared that national sensation Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream is coming to Brightleaf Square later this year. No word yet on an exact date. This will be their first Triangle-area location and only the second North Carolina location (Charlotte). Get to know them here.

• And down in Chatham County, a new taco house called Sabroso has taken up residence in the former Burger King (same building as the Eagles gas station) on 15-501 just south of Chapel Hill. A taco house with a drive-thru? Sign me up! We can’t find an online presence, so you’ll just have to trek over and check it out!

• And here are a couple of wonderful resources for those looking to dine in downtown Durham or downtown Chapel Hill – Downtown Durham Inc. has an up-to-date listing of the status of each restaurant in downtown Durham. Check out the list here. And the Downtown Chapel Hill Partnership has put together a similar list for Chapel Hill here.

Closings / Cancellations

• None to report. Keep dining out (inside or out), ordering take-out and/or purchasing gift certificates at local restaurants!

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 brought back their extremely successful Dine Out Downtown program that they began last year. It continues every Saturday through June and highlights a different district in downtown. This Saturday (May 1) from 5-9 p.m. This weekend’s focus will be on Warehouse District – Morgan Street Food Hall. Complimentary parking is available throughout downtown. Get all the details and see which restaurants will be participating this Saturday here.

• Downtown Durham Inc. announced that The Streetery will return on Saturday, May 8 when they’re taking it to the MotorSteam area on Rigsbee Avenue with added outdoor seating and buskers. Join them from 12 – 9 p.m. to shop, carry out, dine in or dine out. The Streetery will happen on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month and they will announce the location for each Saturday. Get all the details here.

• On May 21, you can enjoy a special Mediterranean dinner featuring an exclusive cocktail hour with four different cooking stations, wine, beer and a belly dancer! That’s right, this special evening is a collaboration between Sassool and Cheeni and will take place at Spice Route Kitchens. The evening begins at 5 p.m. with dinner served at 6:30. Tickets are limited and available for purchase online for $100. The event will also be held virtually, streaming from 6:30pm-8:30pm. Get tickets and all the details here.

• As if you need another reason to get your Covid 19 vaccine, here’s a very sweet reason. At Krispy Kreme, anyone who shows their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card receives a free Original Glazed® doughnut. And you can do this every day for the duration of the promotion. One donut a day sounds pretty good to me! Available in the shop or drive-thru. Here are all the details.

• You might want to go ahead and plan on spending your Labor Day weekend in Pinehurst for the inaugural Pinehurst Barbecue Festival – a three-day event, staged in and around the historic Village of Pinehurst from September 3-5, 2021. The event will offer a unique culinary sampling experience of various barbecue meats and traditional sides. Choose to experience the entire three-day festival, or attend just one signature event. A multi-ticket VIP package, as well as individual tickets for each event are available. The pitmaster lineup includes: Ed Mitchell, The Preserve (Raleigh); Christopher Prieto, Prime Barbecue (Knightdale); Adam Hughes, Old Colony Smokehouse (Edenton); Joe Lumbrazo, Backyard Bistro (Raleigh); and Ashley Sheppard, Pik N Pig (Carthage). Get tickets, schedule and all the details here.

• Our friends over at RalToday pointed out a few events you might want to go ahead and get on your calendar. So exciting to think of some of our favorite events actually happening in 2021! First up, Raleigh Veg Fest 2021 originally scheduled for April 4 has moved to October 31 in downtown Raleigh’s Moore Square. Details here. And Brewgaloo is now scheduled for September 17 & 18 in downtown Raleigh. Details here.

Food Bank Corner

• May is Bytes for Bites Month at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Over the past year, the ways we have used technology to connect with one another has exponentially grown, and while so much of our lives seem to have moved to a virtual platform, our basic household needs remain ever present. source: https://www.uldiving.com/ live roulette online With the loss of jobs, income, and in-person schooling, there are 38% more individuals and families struggling to keep food on the table. For the month of May, technology companies and organizations across the Food Bank’s 34- county service area are invited to raise meals in a friendly competition to fight hunger for bragging rights, an exclusive volunteer opportunity and a trophy! Think your company has what it takes to win? Here is what you need to know.

Featured Restaurant News

• More big names have announced re-opening plans, or have resumed operations – be sure to check with your social media channels for exact details. But some of those include: NanaSteak in Durham is now open (thanks for the tip Kitty Kinnin!); ACME in downtown Carrboro opens tonight (Friday, April 23); Mateo Tapas on Chapel Hill Street in downtown Durham re-opened for indoor dining this week; and Ken Yowell’s Oak City Meatball (which is currently doing take-out and delivery Wednesday-Saturday evenings) has hinted they will re-open around the first of May. All very exciting!

Wake County Restaurant News

• Bates Battaglia and his brother Anthony are close to opening Raleigh’s newest night life destination in the heart of the Glenwood South district in the former NOIR space (425 Glenwood Ave.). The new venue will be called Teets, a nod to their grandfather who was a prominent member of the Chicago Outfit with Johnny Torrio and Al Capone. The venue will feature massive front and back patios outside while the inside will feature an over 40-ft long main bar, multiple TVs, a giant projection screen (perfect for watching your favorite hockey games!), a pool table, corn hole and darts. A great addition to Glenwood South. Learn more about the bar, its namesake and when they will open on their website here.

• According to a Facebook post by NC Triangle Dining is looks like we are about two weeks (possibly May 5) from the opening of Torchy’s Tacos Raleigh – Midtown East (located in front of the Wegman’s location on Wake Forest Road). Keep up with any announcements on their website here.

• Eastern Wake County could be getting a few more burger options according to my friend David McCreary who shared the news that Cary-based Corbett’s Burgers & Soda Bar is now franchising and looking to open new locations in Apex, Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs. For more info, check out the “franchise” tab on their website here.

• Looking for all the outdoor dining options in Downtown Raleigh? The Downtown Raleigh Alliance has put together a great list of those options, and they even divided it up by district. Check out that list here.

• And finally, not exactly Wake County, but from something that began in Wake County — Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Monarch Property Co., the creators of Raleigh’s Transfer Co. Food Hall, will open Seaboard Social Hall, a new multi-venue gathering space in Wilmington in the old National Linen Service building. The facility will include a food hall, music hall, maker’s market, commissary kitchen and ghost kitchens and is set to open in late 2022 or early 2023. Get all the details on their site here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Tipsy Bull, a sports bar and grill, is set to open by the end of the summer on the ground level at the Durham County Administration II Building at 201 E. Main St. According to TBJ, it will have an open concept and a contemporary design with TVs, a central dining area, bar and patio that will seat over 150 people. Congrats to owners John Orlando and Nick Pettiford.

• Our friends at Bites of Bull City shared the news this week that YaYa Tea on the Golden Belt campus at 807 E. Main Street is now in soft open mode. You can view their menu and get directions on their website here. They also have a location in Chapel Hill on Franklin Street.

• And here are a couple of wonderful resources for those looking to dine in downtown Durham or downtown Chapel Hill – Downtown Durham Inc. has an up-to-date listing of the status of each restaurant in downtown Durham. Check out the list here. And the Downtown Chapel Hill Partnership has put together a similar list for Chapel Hill here.

Closings / Cancellations

• None to report. Keep dining out (inside or out), ordering take-out and/or purchasing gift certificates at local restaurants!

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 folks at RalToday reminded us that Black Restaurant Week Carolinas kicks off today (April 23) at participating restaurants in the Triangle. Black Restaurant Week celebrates the flavors of African American, African, and Caribbean cuisine by showcasing black-owned culinary businesses where restaurants will offer fixed-price brunch, lunch and dinner menus. See a full list of participating restaurants and all the details here.

• The Downtown Raleigh Alliance has brought back their extremely successful Dine Out Downtown program that they began last year. It continues every Saturday through June and highlights a different district in downtown. This Saturday (April 24th) from 5-9 p.m. This weekend’s focus will be on Fayetteville Street. Complimentary parking is available throughout downtown. Get all the details and see which restaurants will be participating this Saturday here.

• Downtown Durham Inc. announced that The Streetery is back and on Saturday, April 24 they’re taking it to Brightleaf with added outdoor seating and buskers. Join them from 12 – 9 p.m. to shop, carry out, dine in or dine out. The Streetery will happen on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month and they will announce the location for each Saturday. Get all the details here.

• The Durham Bulls are taking “eating at the ballpark” to a whole new level with their Dining at the DBAP where guests will have three nights (April 27-29) to literally dine on the field! The Bulls and Bull City Hospitality will be hosting the special dinners — each night will feature two seatings, giving attendees the chance to dine in front of the iconic Snorting Bull for an hour and a half. Get all the details and make your reservation here.

• On May 21, you can enjoy a special Mediterranean dinner featuring an exclusive cocktail hour with four different cooking stations, wine, beer and a belly dancer! That’s right, this special evening is a collaboration between Sassool and Cheeni and will take place at Spice Route Kitchens. The evening begins at 5 p.m. with dinner served at 6:30. Tickets are limited and available for purchase online for $100. The event will also be held virtually, streaming from 6:30pm-8:30pm. Get tickets and all the details here.

• As if you need another reason to get your Covid 19 vaccine, here’s a very sweet reason. At Krispy Kreme, anyone who shows their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card receives a free Original Glazed® doughnut. And you can do this every day for the duration of the promotion. One donut a day sounds pretty good to me! Available in the shop or drive-thru. Here are all the details.

• You might want to go ahead and plan on spending your Labor Day weekend in Pinehurst for the inaugural Pinehurst Barbecue Festival – a three-day event, staged in and around the historic Village of Pinehurst from September 3-5, 2021. The event will offer a unique culinary sampling experience of various barbecue meats and traditional sides. Choose to experience the entire three-day festival, or attend just one signature event. A multi-ticket VIP package, as well as individual tickets for each event are available. The pitmaster lineup includes: Ed Mitchell, The Preserve (Raleigh); Christopher Prieto, Prime Barbecue (Knightdale); Adam Hughes, Old Colony Smokehouse (Edenton); Joe Lumbrazo, Backyard Bistro (Raleigh); and Ashley Sheppard, Pik N Pig (Carthage). Get tickets, schedule and all the details here.

• Our friends over at RalToday pointed out a few events you might want to go ahead and get on your calendar. So exciting to think of some of our favorite events actually happening in 2021! First up, Raleigh Veg Fest 2021 originally scheduled for April 4 has moved to October 31 in downtown Raleigh’s Moore Square. Details here. And Brewgaloo is scheduled for June 11 & 12 in downtown Raleigh. Details here.

Food Bank Corner

• May is Bytes for Bites Month at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Over the past year, the ways we have used technology to connect with one another has exponentially grown, and while so much of our lives seem to have moved to a virtual platform, our basic household needs remain ever present. With the loss of jobs, income, and in-person schooling, there are 38% more individuals and families struggling to keep food on the table. For the month of May, technology companies and organizations across the Food Bank’s 34- county service area are invited to raise meals in a friendly competition to fight hunger for bragging rights, an exclusive volunteer opportunity and a trophy! Think your company has what it takes to win? Here is what you need to know.