TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

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

Featured Restaurant News

• Get ready Durham! Eater Carolinas shared the fabulous news this week that Preeti Waas, 2023 James Beard semifinalist for Best Chef in the Southeast for her popular Cheeni Indian Food Emporium in North Raleigh, will open a second location in downtown Durham. Simply called Cheeni, it will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday through Saturday and brunch only on Sunday. It will take over the space formerly occupied by Jack Tar and The Colonel’s Daughter at 202 Corcoran Street, Suite 100. The larger kitchen and space will allow her to really expand her offerings. She is aiming for a November 1 open. Get familiar with her current offerings here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• The Downtown Raleigh Alliance shared the news that Hot Box Pizza opened in Morgan Street Food Hall. They were founded in 2022 by Wyatt Bare and serve Neapolitan wood-fired pizza with an American twist. Get to know them here.

• Axios reported this week that Quarter Note Coffee, a mobile espresso bar that set up shop in Raleigh last year, will be getting a permanent space at Glenwood Place, an office building at 3700 Glenwood Avenue near Crabtree Valley Mall (think Lady Fingers Market & Eatery, The Iron Oaks Taproom and Lounge and Sushi Mon). They are expected to open sometime this fall. Visit them on Instagram here.

• And out near the airport just off Glenwood, Royal Cheesecake and Varieties had their Grand Opening last Friday at their new brick-and-mortar space at 6104 Westgate Rd. Who doesn’t need a slice of cheesecake?!? Visit them here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• In Durham, Axios reported this week that The Common Market will open its doors at 1821 Green St. on Tuesday, September 26. If you are not familiar with them, they are a Charlotte-born institution known as a ‘community living room’ featuring a restaurant, bar, bottle shop, cafe, convenience store and ice cream shop combined into one. This will be the first location outside of Charlotte. Congrats to Graham Worth, a fellow Raleigh native. Get to know them here.

• Also in Durham, Glenn Gillen shared that Dssolvr, an Asheville based brewery known for its lagers, sours and IPAs, had their soft opening last Friday night and are ‘officially’ open now at 630 Riggsbee Avenue. They are open Monday through Thursday from noon to 10 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Visit them here.

• Over in Chapel Hill, Carrie Brogren of Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook group shared yesterday that the much-anticipated and long-awaited Ay Por Dios! Mexican Bistro at 431 W. Franklin Street will open next Thursday, September 28th. She noted that their online reservation system should go live mid-week next week. They tout that their menu is inspired by authentic Oaxacan food and culture. They are locally owned and operated by the folks behind Kahlovera Mexican Restaurant and Taqueria. Visit their site here.

• In Carrboro, Chapel Hill Magazine reported that La Montaña is slated to open in October at 370 E Main Street, Suite 170. The concept was created by Yung Nay, Chuan Tsay and Samantha Garcia as a dedication to each of their fathers who died within a year of one another. “La Montaña,” which translates to “the mountain,” is a nod to the mountains their fathers climbed to give them better lives. With a range of breakfast, lunch and dinner options, their menu will feature a pho rice porridge, seafood diablo and an extensive selection of curated cocktails. Start getting familiar with them here.

• Over in Chatham County, the Chatham Journal Newspaper shared that Dunkin’ and Zaxby’s will be two of the tenants at Northwood Landing joining the recently opened Lowe’s Grocery. Looks like both are shooting for an early- to mid-December opening. They did note that Dunkin’ will have a drive-thru.

• And a reminder that the West End Kitchen has scheduled their grand opening for Thursday, October 12. They are moving into the former Angelina’s Kitchen space on Rectory Street in Pittsboro and are describing their eatery as a chef-driven gastropub where they plan to offer breakfast and lunch. Get to know them here.

Closings

• Sad to report that Coronato Pizza, located in the South Green shopping center in Carrboro, will be closing on October 15th according to a post on the restaurant’s Instagram page (there is still time to order take-out!)

Food Trucks

• On Sunday, October 1st from 4 to 6 p.m. Durham Central Park will host one of their fundraisers called Trucks for the Park at Durham Central Park Pavilion, a private food truck rodeo for a lucky 150 people. Attendees will be able to enjoy food from 15+ local trucks and a couple of drinks from Durham craft breweries (cash bar is also available). Just think, a food truck rodeo with no lines! Tickets are just $50 (1 ticket can typically feed 1–2 people, depending on appetite). The event is hosted by Becky and Mike Hacker of Pie Pushers and Brian Bottger of Only Burger. Get tickets and all the details here.

• The final Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo of the year is October 29th from 12-4 p.m. 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 5th Annual Festa Italiana Raleigh takes place this Saturday, September 23rd on downtown Raleigh’s Fayetteville Street. The event is the Triangle’s largest, most diverse annual celebration of Italian and American Italian culture featuring culturally relevant chefs, vendors, musicians, merchants, dancers, genealogists and food trucks. Visit their site here for all the details.

• An update to the Bull City Burger and Brewery’s OctoBullFest scheduled for this Saturday, September 23rd: Our friends at Bull City Burger have made the difficult decision to cancel the outdoor portion of Octobullfest this Saturday due to the forecast of heavy rain and strong wind. However, anyone still looking to celebrate can stop by Bull City Burger for their food specials on Saturday! In addition, they will be donating to Durham Habitat $1 for every pint of their Octoberfest beer sold over the next month or so. Visit Bull City here.

• On Sunday, October 1, The Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill hosts its signature tasting event at The Barn of Chapel Hill at Wild Flora Farm, complete with a silent auction, live entertainment, a raffle and local food and beverage samples throughout the afternoon. Get all the details here.

• Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week is scheduled this year from October 2nd through the 8th. Throughout the week, participating restaurants downtown will offer 3-course prix-fixe meals or limited-time lunch, dinner, and drink specials. Support your favorite spots or try somewhere new. Restaurant Week is your excuse to skip the grocery lines and go out to eat instead. Get all the details here.

• On Tuesday, October 3rd, Ruckus Pizza & Pasta will host an Upscale Chef’s Exclusive – Five Course Paired Wine Dinner & Experience. Your evening kicks off with a comfortable cocktail reception until the program gets underway. For each of five courses, theirr team of experts bring to life the story, the approach, and the why, behind each pairing. Get tickets and all the details here.

• On October 4th, in celebration of O-Ku’s 5-Year Anniversary in downtown Raleigh, chef Cuong Le is offering a sake-paired “Osusume” menu – a “greatest hits” or “guided tour” of O-Ku’s menu. This 5-course menu for $100 enables guests able to choose from a selection of time-honored O-Ku dishes in each category. On this night only, the beverage pairings will be complimentary with the “Osusume” experience. Visit them here.

• The 11th Annual Empty Bowls fundraiser will take place on Sunday, October 8 at Carrboro Town Commons. At the event, attendees will receive a handcrafted bowl donated by a local artist, and fill it with soups from several restaurants, all to support TABLE’s ongoing efforts to feed local kids. Get all the details and buy tickets 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

• Yoga Night at the Food Bank! Join them for a relaxing evening of beginner yoga at their Raleigh warehouse hosted by Arrichion East Raleigh on Thursday, September 28th from 6 to 7 p.m. at 1924 Capital Blvd. Raleigh. Make sure to bring a mat and wear clothes you are comfortable in. Hope to see you all there! Suggested $10 donation will go directly to the Food Bank. Visit their Instagram page for all the details.

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

Featured Restaurant News

• We learned this week of two new dining options joining the Smoky Hollow district in downtown Raleigh. First up is Alaksha’s Indian Bistro, which is being brought to us by Alaksha Surti who is the executive chef and owner of Curry in a Hurry, the popular Indian food truck which has been featured on the Food Network and the Cooking Channel. She also has two quick-service restaurants inside the Morgan Street Food Hall in downtown Raleigh and the Old North State Food Hall in Selma. The second is Morelia Gourmet Paletas offering handcrafted gourmet popsicles and gourmet ice cream bars (aka paletas) made in small batches with fresh, high-quality, natural ingredients. They have 10 locations nationwide in North Carolina, Florida and Texas. No word yet on an open date for either. For now, follow Curry in a Hurry for updates and visit Morelia here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Village District shared an update last week announcing that the much-anticipated Shake Shack is expected to open in October. They will be located next to The Flying Biscuit and just down from Cape Fear Seafood Company (corner of Woodburn and Clark). If you are not familiar with them, they are a fast food American restaurant chain, specializing in hot dogs, burgers, fries, and milkshakes. They currently have locations in Cary, Chapel Hill and at PNC Arena in Raleigh. Get to know them here.

• Over on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh, blogger EatRaleigh shared that they saw a sign for CaliBurger up on the old Arby’s on Hillsborough at 3415 Hillsborough Street. Visit CaiBurger here.

• Out in Brier Creek, Jennifer Buchholz shared a couple of updates. First up, Estampa Goucha will be opening in the next few months inside the Westin Hotel near Brier Creek. Also, Buchholz shared that Epic Chophouse will move into the former Brasa location in 2024. Visit Estampa here and Epic here.

• A quick update thanks to reader Barbara Calise….coming soon sign in Towne North shopping center on Creedmoor Road for Feng Cha Tea Dessert and Slush (we had the incorrect name last week). It will be where the T-Mobile was, between Chow and Duck Donuts, right next to Creedmoor Cafe. We were unable to find an online presence or opening date. Stay tuned!

• Over in Apex, David McCreary shared with me that Mi Cancun Taqueria has opened at 809 E. Williams Street in Apex serving up authentic tacos, tortas, ceviches and more. You can visit them here.

• McCreary also shared that over in Holly Springs, Ashley’s Harvest Moon Bakery-Cafe at 128 Bass Lake Rd. in Holly Springs Crossing will close its doors on Saturday (Sept. 16). But the good news is she has sold the business to “an amazing entrepreneur and chef.” Follow along on their Facebook page for updates during the transition.

• And congratulations to Soul-Full Sisters, Paten Carlton and Quinn Bostic, who took home the first place prize at Sassool’s fifth annual Hummus Mix Off. As such, Carlton and Bostic’s Garden Tomato Hummus with Fresh Basil Olive Oil will be featured in Sassool’s fresh case for the entire month of September (both the Raleigh and Cary locations). Stop by Sassool today!

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• The Daily Tar Heel reported this week that Franklin Street’s Cosmic Cantina is relocating to a new storefront two buildings away from its current location into the former Asia Cafe spot at 118 E Franklin Street. DTH reported that Initial estimates place the timing of the move late this year or early next year. The move is prompted by by UNC’s Porthole Alley Redevelopment Project. Visit Cosmic here.

• Saw on Facebook that Beau Catering has moved into their new kitchen space, the former Deli Edison spot in the Cedar Falls Courtyard at 630 Weaver Dairy Road in Chapel Hill. With the move, they will resume their Marketplace Meals next week! Also check them out for catering, both drop-off and full-service. Get all the details here.

• Rick Gutlon shared on the Chapel Hill Carrboro Facebook Foodies group that Tasu Express (Tasu Noodle Bar) is now open on 15-501 across from the New Hope Commons shopping area. Hollie Lewis also shared that it looks like there is one opening in Mosaic at Chatham Park. Visit them on Facebook here.

• Down in Chatham County, Neha Shah, director of the Pittsboro-Siler City Convention and Visitors Bureau, shared with me that the West End Kitchen has scheduled their grand opening for Thursday, October 12. They are moving into the former Angelina’s Kitchen space on Rectory Street in Pittsboro and are describing their eatery as a chef-driven gastropub where they plan to offer breakfast and lunch. Keep up with their progress on their Facebook page here.

Closings

• None to report. Keep eating local, folks!

Food Trucks

• Saw on Facebook this week that Durham is soon to be home to a food truck park – The Can Opener Durham. Work is well underway at 205 South Gregson St. and anticipating an opening date in late fall of 2023.

• The final Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo of the year is October 29th from 12-4 p.m. 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

• Hillsborough’s Hog Day is this weekend – Friday, September 15th and Saturday, September 16th. The two-day event features a BBQ contest, arts and craft vendors, car show, children’s area and much more in historic downtown Hillsborough. Things kick-off at 6 p.m. on Friday and again on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. Visit their site here.

• Heights House Hotel, in Raleigh’s historic Boylan Heights neighborhood, announced its newest hospitality driven amenity geared towards both the Raleigh resident and the visiting overnight guest. Afternoon Tea will be available at The Parlor at Heights House, beginning September 15th on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Get all the details here. All the ones for September have sold out (told you!). Best to join their mailing list and you can register an hour early! Trust me this time?

• The 10th annual Sola Hot Mini 5K race is this Saturday, September 16 at Sola Coffee in North Raleigh. Thus far, the race has raised over $450,000 in the fight to end ALS with a goal to raise $200,000 more this year. Get details and register here.

• The USA TODAY Wine & Food Experience is coming to Raleigh on Saturday, September 16th and will be held at Dorothea Dix Park (Flowers Field). Attendees will explore a Raleigh culinary adventure that celebrates the best local food and drink, enjoy endless food and drink samples, attend demonstrations and interact with exhibitors in a beautiful outdoor setting for a single admission price. Get tickets and all the details here.

• Sunday, September 17th from 12 noon until 6 p.m. on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh is La Fiesta del Pueblo — the Triangle’s largest and most diverse festival of Latin American culture, featuring live music and dance performances, artisanal vendors, food trucks, educational booths, and activities for the whole family! Get all the details and schedule of events here.

• Saturday, September 23 is Bull City Burger and Brewery’s OctoBullFest, guaranteed to be the ​best WURST day of the year. It’s an annual street festival including live music, food, beer, games, and a kids’ area ​featuring a bounce house, bubbles, Balloon Man Mike, and more. Did we mention the food? We ​sell ​our​ ​100%​ ​pasture-raised​ ​beef​ ​burgers,​ ​house-made​ ​veggie​ ​burgers​ ​and​ ​ ​feature our​ ​authentic​ ​bratwurst​ ​for​ ​the​ ​event,​ ​all​ ​served​ ​on​ ​house-baked​ ​buns.​ Not to mention soft pretzels, and OctoBullfest Mustard/Mushroom Fries. There is always wine and beer available, including our​ ​Octoberfest​ ​lager​ ​aptly named​ ​“Stierstadt” (German​ ​for​ ​Bull​ ​City) which is brewed once yearly​ ​for​ ​the​ ​event.​ We welcome kids, adults, families, dogs, and smiles to East Parrish Street. Proceeds support Durham Habitat. The website should be updated soon with this year’s details, but last year’s info still gives a general sense.

• Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week is scheduled this year from October 2nd through the 8th. Throughout the week, participating restaurants downtown will offer 3-course prix-fixe meals or limited-time lunch, dinner, and drink specials. Support your favorite spots or try somewhere new. Restaurant Week is your excuse to skip the grocery lines and go out to eat instead. Get 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

• RESCHEDULED!! This Saturday, September 16th from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina (1924 Capital Blvd., Raleigh) is hosting a Tailgate Party that is free and open to the public. While there, you’ll be able to enjoy free hotdogs and hamburgers, food trucks, a dunking booth, an inflatable obstacle course, Touch-a-Truck, face painting, lawn games, and more while watching the NC State v. VMI game. Get all the details on their Facebook events page here.