Featured Restaurant News
- Big news this week out of Durham! The Pit in Durham reopened yesterday for takeout! Right now they are just operating Thursdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m; and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Call 919-282-3748 or order here. Curbside pickup / takeout only (delivery available). Look for dine-in to open soon!
Wake County Restaurant News
- The folks over at Raleigh Convergence shared the news this week that Heyday Brewing opened Wednesday in Northeast Raleigh at 5301 Tin Roof Way. It’s a joint effort between William McGeehee, founder of Tin Roof Brewery, in Baton Rouge, La., and Kevin Callaghan, owner/chef of Acme in Carrboro. Get familiar with them and see their menu here.
- We got the news this week that Cheeni owner Preeti Waas has opened a second location of her popular coffee shop, this one inside the Alexander Family YMCA at 1603 Hillsborough St. This location features a full kitchen and new menu items, as they will continue serving up classic Indian tiffin, coffee and tea. The original location is just inside the Poyner YMCA downtown Raleigh on Fayetteville Street. Visit Cheeni here.
- And more proof that we are slowly returning to some sort of ‘normalcy,’ blogger EatRaleigh shared the news this week that Raleigh’s Players Retreat is making plans to reopen in May (middle to end)! Visit them online here.
- Raleigh Convergence also shared the update that Sushi Mon is now open for dine in at its new location at 3700 Glenwood Ave. They also noted that they will open for takeout on Monday, March 8. Reservations are required. They are open for lunch Monday through Saturday, and dinner seven days a week. Check them out on Instagram here.
- On a recent drive down Raleigh’s Hillsborough Street, I noticed a banner up for a concept called Wok Haus, a Korean Kitchen and Pub. It is located at 2526 Hillsborough Street next to Guasaca. Look for them to open this month. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find an online presence for them. Stay tuned.
- Over in Cary, my Twitter buddy BurgeoningBaker shared the news that Masa Sushi & Ramen, a new Japanese restaurant, will be opening for dine-in next week at 2757 NC Highway 55. Part of their “soft-opening” mode, they have just opened online ordering for takeout only. Follow them on Instagram for the latest.
- In Morrisville, reader Jennifer Buchholz shared that CAVA has opened at 1017 Market Center Drive. Visit Cava here.
- Down in Fuquay-Varina things are getting ready to really take off. The Triangle Business Journal reported that Aviator Brewing Company will transform the old Gold Leaf Tobacco warehouse site (approximately 5-acres) at 609 North St., into five bars, three restaurants, a custom-designed, fully-automated brewery, a distillery with to-go liquor sales and a full bar. The site will also feature sales offices, co-working space, indoor and outdoor concert venues, a coffee shop and a retail shop. Construction is expected to start next month. Visit Aviator here.
- Over in Holly Springs, David McCreary shared the news that Nothing Bundt Cakes is coming soon to Holly Springs Towne Center. Nothing more to report at this time, but you can dream about their cakes on their site 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.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- Got word this week that Tesoro, a pasta-focused neighborhood restaurant, will open at 100 E. Weaver Street in downtown Carrboro this spring. Chef-owner David Peretin’s menu will feature house-made pasta, seasonal plates, and classic sweets with Italian, French and Croatian influences. Can’t wait! Start getting familiar with them here.
- Over in Durham,the Indy reported that Rofhiwa Book Café will open later this month at the corner of Angier Ave. and S. Driver St., and will feature a carefully curated selection of books by Black authors and serve coffee made by Black roasters. The name means “we have been given” in Tshivenda, a language of South Africa. Last month they launched the bookshop side of the business – you can shop/visit it here.
- Also in Durham, the folks over at Bites of Bull City shared with us that Farmstand Kitchen, a new fast-casual restaurant, will be opening this spring on Page Road (5431 Page Rd to be exact) in Durham. The menu will focus on locally sourced, grain and green bowls. Look for them to open this Spring. You can keep up with them and pending announcements on their Instagram page here.
- 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
- Not to cause too much of a panic, but this week we saw the closing of JUST ONE location of Snoopy’s Hot Dogs and More – the location at the intersection of Hillsborough Street and Glenwood Avenue (600 Hillsborough Street). Apparently an offer to develop that corner was too good to pass up – we don’t blame them. Thankfully FOUR locations remain. See where here.
- WRAL reported that the 2021 Got to Be NC Festival, originally scheduled for May 15–17 at the NC State Fairgrounds, has been cancelled for the second year in a row due to COVID-19.
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
- Not exactly an event, but certainly no one wants to pass up on a free taco….Our friends over at Chubby’s Tacos will give you a free taco if you sign up for their Chubby Chaser Loyalty Program by this Sunday, March 7. For signing up , they will give you a free char-grilled or tinga chicken taco, ground beef taco or veggie taco. If you are a member already, just stop by, tell them you are a member, add a taco to your order and…free taco. If you aren’t a member, sign up here, stop by, add a taco to your order and…free taco.
- 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 scheduled for Sunday, April 4 in downtown Raleigh’s Moore Square. Details here. The North Carolina Wine Festival is scheduled for May 22 at the Streets at Southpoint. Details here. And Brewgaloo scheduled for June 11 & 12 in downtown Raleigh. Details here.
- Looking to spice up your Tuesday nights? Well Bites of Bull City has one last Tuesday Night Bites next week. These are special deals offered by some of the best local restaurants in Durham. Not only will these offers give you a sweet, delicious deal and help you fulfill the #durhamtakeoutpledge (to dine/take out at least twice a week to support our local restaurants), but it will also help these establishments thrive on a slower night and survive the winter during a pandemic. Get all the details here. What are you doing next Tuesday night?
Food Bank Corner
- Thanks to generous friends of the Food Bank, your gift to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina can be matched – dollar for dollar – up to $340,000. That’s right, through March 31 your donation can provide twice as many balanced meals to neighbors experiencing hunger right now. This 2X Matching Gift Challenge couldn’t have come at a more meaningful time. This month marks one year since the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted our daily lives and caused food insecurity in our service area to soar higher than the Great Recession. After a year of missing paychecks due to layoffs, furloughs, or reduced hours, we know families are wondering how they will continue to afford rent and utilities — and food. Double your gift today here! But because of you, there’s hope. #noonegoeshungry
