Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news…that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.
Featured Restaurant News
- This week the Heights House Hotel, North Carolina’s newest small luxury hotel in Raleigh’s historic Boylan Heights neighborhood, announced it will open its intimate cocktail bar, The Parlor at Heights House, on Wednesday, June 1. This will mark the first opportunity for non-hotel guests to explore the pre-Civil War property, and National Historic Landmark, that was restored by owners Sarah and Jeff Shepherd. The Parlor will be open by reservation only on Sundays from 2 to 7 p.m. and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 9 p.m. Seating is limited, and available for groups up to six only. Learn more here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- Bright Spot Donuts, a donut and coffee shop from the same team behind Jubala Coffee, Boulted Bread and Benchwarmers Bagels recently opened in Raleigh’s Five Points neighborhood. Located at The Junction at 1501 Sunrise Avenue, they are open Thursday through Saturday 7 a.m. to 12 noon. And I can vouch that a visit is WELL worth the time and calories….you can thank me later! Check them out here.
- Following on the footsteps of the reopening of Mitch’s Tavern last week, another Raleigh institution is inching closer to re-opening, but first they need to hire some employees. Downtown Raleigh’s Mecca Restaurant, founded in 1930, is welcoming prospective employees today (Friday, May 20) from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the restaurant at 13 E. Martin Street. Stop by and fill out an application if interested. After getting the right staff on board, hopefully they will be making an announcement soon about re-opening! Visit them here. See their job postings here.
- The Triangle Business Journal shared the news this week that the owner of the popular Irregardless Café in Raleigh has purchased Falafel & Co., a Mediterranean restaurant and market, with plans to rebrand it as Brookside Bogega. Located in the Shoppes at Brookside retail plaza at 1000 Brookside Drive, Lee Robinson is joined by his wife Michelle Robinson along with Darrell Brown and Jacob Paramo to transition the space into a “neighborhood hangout spot” with handheld food items, wine and retail offerings. The spot is currently open and continuing to operate as Falafel & Co. (though under the new ownership) and will transition to the new concept by June 10. Best to follow them on Facebook here and Instagram here as they make the transition.
- Blogger EatRaleigh shared that Raleigh will be the next location for KPOT, Korean BBQ and Hot Pot, taking over the former Outback space in Capital Boulevard Shoppe at 3105 Capital Boulevard. KPOT is a unique, hands-on, all-you-can-eat experience that merges traditional Asian hot pot with Korean BBQ flavors. Raleigh joins Charlotte, Greensboro and Matthews with locations on the way. Get familiar with the concept here.
- Blogger NC Triangle Dining shared the news that Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls will be opening up their newest location in Waverly Place in Cary on May 26th. The Triangle’s original location is in North Hills. Get to know Mason’s here.
- Also in Raleigh, RalToday shared an update. Warm cookie delivery company Tiff’s Treats is set to open June 4 in the Village District. To celebrate its grand opening, the shop is giving away one dozen cookies to all new subscribers. Sign up for free cookies here.
- Also on June 4th, reader Jennifer Buchholz reminded us that out in Park West Village in Morrisville, Red, Hot & Blue will hold their grand opening event from 1pm – 7pm with live music and of course, great BBQ. Get to know them here.
- Reader Burke Williams shared that there is signage at Colony Shopping Center at the corner of Six Forks and Millbrook for a location of Biggby Coffee. The chain already has locations in Winston-Salem and Burlington. No word on an open date. Get to know them here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- The folks over at Bites of Bull City shared the news that Durham will soon be home to a new coffee shop. While Caballo Rojo Coffee has been roasting coffee for several years, they are taking the next big step, and will be opening their own brick and mortar café at 2300 N. Roxboro St. by the end of this month. Congrats to Gabriela (Gabi) Kavanaugh and Addie Yarborough. Get to know them here.
- And NC Triangle Dining brought it to our attention that the timing is nearly perfect with the warmer weather — Jeni’s Ice Cream is now open at 908 W Main Street in the Brightleaf Square area. Get by soon and check out their unique flavors! Get to know them here.
Closings / Cancellations
- Multiple readers shared the sad news that after nearly 50 years (1974) of serving hot dogs, hamburgers and shakes, the Circus Family Restaurant, located at 1600 Wake Forest Road on the outskirts of downtown Raleigh, is closing up shop due to continued labor shortages.
Food Trucks
- OK, pay attention. Some changes to the Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo 2022 schedule. The are just two dates for 2022 rodeos and they are as follows – June 12th and Sept 25th. The rodeo is set up on downtown Raleigh’s Fayetteville Street featuring a half mile of food trucks and restaurants spread out over 10 city blocks. Details here.
- The remaining Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo 2022 schedule is as follows: June 5, September 4 and October 30. Mark your calendars. 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 annual Got To Be NC Festival takes place this weekend, May 20-22, at the NC State Fairgrounds. It is a free admission family-friendly event highlighting all the great things from North Carolina. Enjoy carnival games and rides, live music, food, animal and agricultural displays, antique tractors, and more. Get all the details here.
- WRAL reminded us that the Durham Blues and Brews Festival is this Saturday, May 21 from 5-10 p.m. at Durham Central Park. It is an annual fundraising event hosted by the Exchange Club of Greater Durham offering an evening of fun with unlimited 12 oz. pours from some of NC’s finest breweries (wine and ciders also offered) while enjoying 3 great blues bands; the best part being ALL proceeds go to local charities and Non-profit programs. Get all the details and tickets here.
- The folks at Bites of Bull City shared the great news that The Glass Jug’s third annual Hops & Blues Fest returns this Saturday, May 21st from 4-8pm at Glass Jug Beer Lab’s RTP location (5410 NC-55). Note: the event is capped at 250 people, so get your tickets early. The $45 ticket price gets attendees unlimited samples from the best IPA and hop-forward beer makers in the area along with live music from some of the best local blues musicians: Brett Chambers & The Usual Suspects and The Pheobees. Along with The Glass Jug, other brewery reps on site include Aslin, Resident Culture, New Anthem, Wilmington, Commonwealth, Triple Crossing, Funguys, Durty Bull, Wooden Robot, Grimm, Equilibrium, and Southern Grist. Get tickets here.
- The second annual Bubbles and Brisket is scheduled for Saturday, June 4th from 2-6 p.m. at Smoky Hollow in downtown Raleigh. The event is a collaboration of chefs, pit-masters, wine producers, sommeliers and brewers, pairing sparkling bubbles with a variety of cooking techniques and side dishes that feature everyone’s favorite: brisket. Early Bird Tickets on sale for the month of April are $65/person. On May 1st, tickets are $75/person. Get all the details and tickets here.
- After a 2-year hiatus, Dinner in the Meadow will return as attendees will be gathering in the meadow again on Sunday, September 11th from 5:30-8:30 in the evening. The dinner sells out each year, so you are encouraged to get your tickets early. Get all the details here.
- Like beer? Excellent. Visit Raleigh has established a Raleigh Beer Trail that gives you a passport to get stamped at the 30+ breweries in the Raleigh area, from Wake Forest to Raleigh to Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina. Once you’ve filled up your passport with stamps, you send it in to receive prizes. Nothing like being rewarded for drinking! But as always, please drink responsibly. Get the details here.
- Last week Crave Hot Dogs & Barbecue on Oberlin Road a very successful “sip and paint” event with another planned for July. But coming up on May 24 they begin hosting Trivia Tuesdays (which will occur every other week). Best to tune into their social media for dates and times of all their events. Facebook here and Instagram here.
Food Bank Corner
- With your support over the last year, the Food Bank distributed food to approximately 200,000 youth facing hunger in the 34 counties we serve. Unfortunately, we continue to see a devastating impact from COVID-19 for young people, who are left vulnerable to family and school changes. No child should have to worry when he or she will eat again, and no parent should have to skip a meal, so they can put food on the table for their children. Through agency distributions, targeted nutrition programs, education, and public policy work, the Food Bank is reaching young people with healthy and fun food options. Learn more here. #NoOneGoesHungry
