TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

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

Featured Restaurant News

• We got word this week that chef Michael Lee will venture outside of Durham for the first time opening a second location of M Sushi in Cary’s Fenton development, a 69-acre mixed-use destination opening next fall. He will join Scott Crawford’s Crawford Brothers Steakhouse, Ford Fry’s Superica and Steve Palmer’s Colletta. Visit M Sushi here and keep up with the Fenton development here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• This past Tuesday, Zambrero, Australia’s largest Mexican franchise, opened  its first location in the Southeast at One Glenwood in Raleigh (currently in soft-open mode). The restaurant’s menu features fresh ingredients, superfood options and customizable dishes, such as burritos, bowls, tacos, nachos, dos capas and quesadillas. Fueled by a mission to help end world hunger, Zambrero participates in the Plate 4 Plate initiative in partnership with Rise Against Hunger where each burrito, bowl or bottle of water purchased provides a meal to someone in need. They will also be opening a store in Durham’s University Hill. No word on the timeline for that. Get familiar with them here.

• The folks over at Brew Coffee Bar shared yesterday that their new location in Gateway Plaza (2409 Crabtree Blvd.) is in ‘soft open’ mode which means – right now they are open for coffee service only. But be patient, food and liquor come next week! Visit them on their Facebook page to keep up with the latest!

• Not sure what, but something is changing at Calavera on Morgan Street in Raleigh – in the meantime, they are closed. Their Facebook post stated, “We have some big things coming in the next month or so….. and that’s when we will tell you! We appreciate your patience and we can’t wait to share our next phase with you all!” So, follow them on Facebook and stay tuned.

• The good people at ITB Insider tipped us off to the fact that Raleigh is soon to land their fourth location of First Watch. They noted that the upscale breakfast-chain is coming to the Marketplace Shopping Center on Lake Boone Trail. Raleigh already has locations on Glenwood north of the mall; Triangle Town Center on Capital; and Brier Creek). Check them out here.

• Stepping over into Cary, I got the opportunity yesterday to pay a visit to V Pizza – the concept that is entering this market later this month – and met with owner Anthony Rapillo. V Pizza is the Jacksonville, Florida based pizza concept that is extending outside of Florida for the first time coming to Cary in the  former La Stella Pizzeria location in the Shoppes of Kildaire. They are targeting a January 21 opening (of course that is all pending health inspections). Stay tuned and dial-in to their Facebook page to keep up-to-date on any announcements.

• Also in the Shoppes at Kildaire, we told you back in December that Szechuan Mansion Hotpot was coming to the old Patrick Jane’s Gourmet Pizza Bar spot. Well reader Matt Christ notified us that they just opened and he noted that early reviews and posts indicate that it looks amazing and authentic! Get familiar with them here.

• Also in Cary, Cinnaholic at 1209 Parkside Main Street in the Parkside Town Commons shopping center opens this morning (January 10th) at 10 a.m. Although they are open all day, if you get there between 10 and 2 today, they are selling their cinnamon rolls for just $1! They serve create-your-own cinnamon rolls and other sweet treats like made from scratch brownies, cookies, and edible cookie dough. Select from over 20 unique frosting flavors and a variety of fresh and decadent toppings for your cinnamon roll. Mix and match flavors to create a new experience every visit! I went last night for a preview and it is WELL worth a visit (and I can highly recommend the Cookie Monster!!!)! Congrats to Vishal Shah and his team! Take a peek at their yumminess here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• The News & Observer reported that Blake’s Grill opened this past Monday to long lines in the former Wimpy’s Grill space in Durham, serving a similar breakfast and lunch menu and keeping the same 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. hours. Wimpy’s closed last year after more than three decades of serving hamburgers and hot dogs on Hillsborough Road. Blake’s Grill is named for its owner, Blake Hawthorne, who is best known for serving popular hot dogs and concessions in the parking lot of the Durham Lowe’s. You can see the menu and all the details on their Facebook page here.

• And over in Chapel Hill, the watch continues for the opening of First Watch at Chapel Hill’s East 54 in the former Egg & I location (First Watch owns Egg & I and this is part of the process as they transition those stores). Visit First Watch here.

Closings

• None to report! Keep eating local, folks!

Food Trucks 

• If you are missing the food truck rodeos, my friend the BurgeoningBaker shared with me that we are are not far from the next one. The Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo is an all-ages Sunday afternoon gathering of dozens of the Triangle’s most popular food trucks, five times each year. And the first one in 2020 is on January 25! Get more details and updates here.

• As things get cold, here are a  couple of sites to find and stalk your favorite food trucks here and here.

Events

• What does it mean to have a celebrity chef in our midst? Well, for starters, how about a dinner series at Katsuji Tanabe’s High Horse restaurant beginning on Monday, January 13th where he will be bringing in Silvia Barban from Brooklyn’s LaRina Pastificio & Vino for a ticketed dinner. And if that is not enough, the menu items from that night will begin on the menu on January 14th in addition to the regular High Horse menu. Follow them on Instagram for any announcements.

• On January 16th, the fine folks over at Sassool Cafe in Cary will team up with Steven Ashton, a holistic nutritionist from Earth to Fork Nutrition, to bring you a 5-course Mediterranean Spice of Life Dinner focused on highlighting spices that not only add great flavor, but bring tremendous health benefits. Get all the details and tickets here.

• Triangle Restaurant Week is right around the corner happening January 20-26, 2020. During TRW participating restaurants offer special three-course menu options and fixed pricing, a great opportunity to check out places you’ve never been. No reservations, tickets or passes required. Pricing for the event is $15 for a 3-course lunch, and $20-$35 for a 3-course dinner. Price is for each person and does not include beverages, tax or gratuity. Get all the details and a listing of participating restaurants here.

• The 8th Annual Bull City Food and Beer Experience will take place on Sunday, February 23, 2020 at the DPAC. The event pairs delicious local restaurants, with breweries from across the nation. Unlimited food and beer samplings will be spread throughout all three floors at DPAC, plus the On Stage Experience will bring guests up onto the performing arts stage to showcase even more food, beverages and live music. Get all the details here.

Food Bank Corner

• Check it out! The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina has a new logo and a new look – “New Look. New Chapter. Same Food Bank.” Their new logo represents the innovative ways the Food Bank is developing programs addressing root causes of hunger, building new partnerships, and most importantly, nourishing people. Until no one goes hungry. When you volunteer, donate, or see them working in the community, we hope it reminds you of how the Food Bank is evolving in order to have a true impact on hunger, and working to create an environment where North Carolinians thrive. In 2020, get involved. Donate. Make a difference. Visit their website here to see what you can do!

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

Featured Restaurant News

• We told you about this back in December, but it is now official thanks to confirmation from WRAL and INDY. Arthur Gordon and his wife Anya have sold the 45-year-old institution that is Irregardless Cafe to Trophy Brewing co-owner David Meeker and Lee Robinson, who was a manager at Player’s Retreat. And the plan is to pretty much keep things the same. Other than a few cosmetic facelifts, the biggest change to the menu will be the introduction of Trophy beers. The INDY noted some of the things that made Irregardless so iconic – it was the city’s first vegetarian restaurant before it started serving meat in the 1980s; they championed farm-to-table before it was cool; and it was one of the first in the state to ban smoking in 1985. Congrats to Arthur and Anya on a job very well done. Enjoy your retirement! In the meantime, visit them here.

• Did you miss our end-of-the-year wrap-up for 2019? And look at what is to come in 2020? Did we mention 11 BBQ restaurants are in the “que” for 2020? Check it out here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• In Raleigh’s Cameron Village, I saw on Village Deli’s Facebook page the announcement that they are expanding – taking over about 1/4 of the Moe’s space next door and adding 25 more seats to the restaurant. The expansion should be complete by mid-January. Keep up with their progress on their Facebook page here.

• Over at North Hills, Rosewater Kitchen & Bar announced on their Facebook page that they will begin lunch service on Monday, Jan. 6th at 11am. Keep up with any additional announcements on their Facebook page here.

• And this is a fun collaboration in Raleigh’s Morgan Street Food Hall – Raleigh Rolls has begun a monthly collaboration series with Triangle area chefs and artisan food makers. To kick the year off, Raleigh Rolls and Sassool Select have perfected a recipe for specialty Baklava Ice Cream Rolls. These delicious rolls have a creamy base with orange blossom water and crushed pistachios. Each order includes a piece of Sassool baklava on top, along with a Hershey’s chocolate syrup drizzle and crushed pistachios for the perfect bite. The cost per serving is $8. Check it out here on their Facebook page.

• And keeping an eye on all that Ashley Christensen does, reader Jake Weir-Gertzog gets the award for the most keen eye to date. He noticed on the University Hill website (one of three locations for Christensen’s upcoming fast-casual chicken sandwich concept – an unnamed to this point) is listed as BB’s Chicken Coop. We will see if that name sticks. The three locations are early spring 2020 at Midtown East in Raleigh; Spring/Summer 2020 at University Hill in Durham and late 2020 in Parkside Town Commons in Cary. Keep up with any more news here.

• Up in Wake Forest, looks like the Triangle is getting ready to get another Chick-fil-A location. Located in Heritage Village at 1010 Forestville Rd., the store will open on Wednesday, January 8th with all the usual opening day activities including a camp-out where 100 participants will earn a year’s supply of Chick-fil-A. Visit Chick-fil-A here.

• Back in October we told you that a new restaurant was coming to the old Sweet Tomatoes location at 2310 Walnut Street called Seol Grille, an all-you-can-eat Korean steak house.Well, reader Matt Christ just informed us that It looks like they had a soft opening Christmas Eve and continue to be in soft-open mode through this week. Matt also noted that the banner out front indicates Korean Tabletop Barbeque. Check them out on Facebook here.

• Staying in Cary, got word from Ibanca Anand that they have opened a new Indian street food restaurant in Cary called Nukkad. It is near the intersection of Davis Drive and High House Road (1710 High House Road) in the former Wendy’s location. They opened November 8th and will be having a launch ceremony on January 9th. Get familiar with them here.

• Also in Cary, Vishal Shah notified us that Cinnaholic (located at 1209 Parkside Main Street) in the Parkside Town Commons shopping center will have their grand opening on January 10th at 10 a.m. Once open, they will serve create-your-own cinnamon rolls and other sweet treats like made from scratch brownies, cookies, and edible cookie dough. Select from over 20 unique frosting flavors and a variety of fresh and decadent toppings for your cinnamon roll. Mix and match flavors to create a new experience every visit! Get familiar with them here.

• David McCreary sent us a note to let us know that the delightful couple of George and Andia Xouris are opening a second Andia’s Homemade Ice Cream location in Cary. Opening this month, the new shop will be located at 1008 Ryan Road near Cary High School. If you are not already familiar with Andia’s, do so here.

• McCreary also informed us that the good folks at Crosstown Pub & Grill in downtown Cary plan to open a breakfast spot called Daybreak in early 2020. The restaurant will be located in a building adjacent to Crosstown at 154 E. Chatham St. Go ahead and get familiar with them here.

• And one last note from Cary, reader Chris Creighton informed us that a new Bojangles is coming to Cary at the intersection of Walnut Street and Tryon Road. Visit Bojangles here.

• And for those flying in and out of RDU, the Triangle Business Journal just provided a quick update on the restaurant additions and changes happening at the airport. In summary, Cary’s Bond Brothers Beer Company is making their debut this weekend replacing Gordon Biersch with local beer and spirits as well as a menu with what RDU calls “local flair.” Cantina Grill is replacing Carolina Ale House at Gate C17 and will feature a slew of offerings from tacos to burgers to local beers and spirits – and it will have vegan and gluten-free options. Raleigh Brewing collaboration Raleigh Taproom is replacing Carolina Vintages at Gate D3, offering its beers along with a full bar and menu. In addition to the Taproom, Raleigh Brewing will open the flagship Raleigh Brewing Tavern in Terminal 1 later this year. Further down the road, Deli & Co replaces Brookwood Farms at Gate C9 and will feature locally-sourced, healthy, organic and made-to-order food options. Rush Bowls replaces Flavours at Gate D9 and will feature smoothies and bowls with fruit, granola, honey and other “nutritious ingredients.” Wow Bao replaces A&W All American Food at Gate C18 and brings a fast casual Asian concept to the terminal, with steamed dumplings, rice bowls and bao – steamed hot Asian buns with a variety of savory and sweet fillings. Keep up with all the dining at RDU on their site here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Reader Mike Bamford notified us that Al’s Burgers is expanding their reach over into Durham as they join with Beer Study’s expansion into the former Boot space next door on University Drive. Beer Study’s expansion makes room for Al’s, a private event space and a separate soccer-focused pub with with a full bar called The Boot Room. They expect to complete the expansion in March, but stay tuned to their Facebook page for updates and announcements.

• Over in Carrboro, reader Jeremy Simon sent us word that a Jersey Mike’s sign is now up in the Carrboro 54 Plaza just down from Monterrey. I was able to confirm this is another location under the umbrella of Charlie Farris and Clint Winslow and their growing Jersey Mike’s empire. The boys indicated that this location should open in March and provided an update on the Eastgate location which should open in April. Visit Jersey Mike’s here.

• In Chapel Hill, Carrie Brogren with the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook Group notified us that Chimney Indian Kitchen & Bar opened on January 1st. They are located at 306 W Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. They are open for lunch and dinner. Get to know them here.

Closings

• Got word from reader Lisa Sonntag that the Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar location at the corner of High House Road and Cary Parkway has closed. It is no longer listed on the company website. However, there are still locations in Cary’s Tryon Village as well as locations in Raleigh and Durham.

• Chris Creighton informed us that the Little Cesar’s Pizza in the Harris Teeter shopping center at Ten Ten and Kildaire Farm Rd. has closed.

Food Trucks 

• If you are missing the food truck rodeos, my friend the BurgeoningBaker shared with me that we are are not far from the next one. The Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo is an all-ages Sunday afternoon gathering of dozens of the Triangle’s most popular food trucks, five times each year. And the first one in 2020 is on January 25! Get more details and updates here.

• As things get cold, here are a  couple of sites to find and stalk your favorite food trucks here and here.

Events

• Chef Matt Kelly will be bringing a taste of Saint James Seafood to Raleigh on Jan. 9 at St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar. Kelly is an old friend of St. Roch’s chef-owner Sunny Gerhart. This is a fun opportunity for the two chefs to cook together and get the word out about Saint James’ reopening. It’s very informal: No reservations or set menus. Just a specials menu featuring some Saint James favorites. If you have been eagerly awaiting Saint James reopening in mid-January, this is your chance. Here is the event page on Facebook with all the details.

• What does it mean to have a celebrity chef in our midst? Well, for starters, how about a dinner series at Katsuji Tanabe’s High Horse restaurant beginning on Monday, January 13th where he will be bringing in Silvia Barban from Brooklyn’s LaRina Pastificio & Vino for a ticketed dinner. And if that is not enough, the menu items from that night will begin on the menu on January 14th in addition to the regular High Horse menu. Follow them on Instagram for any announcements.

• On January 16th, the fine folks over at Sassool Cafe in Cary will team up with Steven Ashton, a holistic nutritionist from Earth to Fork Nutrition, to bring you a 5-course Mediterranean Spice of Life Dinner focused on highlighting spices that not only add great flavor, but bring tremendous health benefits. Get all the details and tickets here.

• The 8th Annual Bull City Food and Beer Experience will take place on Sunday, February 23, 2020 at the DPAC. The event pairs delicious local restaurants, with breweries from across the nation. Unlimited food and beer samplings will be spread throughout all three floors at DPAC, plus the On Stage Experience will bring guests up onto the performing arts stage to showcase even more food, beverages and live music. Get all the details here.

Food Bank Corner

• Check it out! The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina has a new logo and a new look – “New Look. New Chapter. Same Food Bank.” Their new logo represents the innovative ways the Food Bank is developing programs addressing root causes of hunger, building new partnerships, and most importantly, nourishing people. Until no one goes hungry. When you volunteer, donate, or see them working in the community, we hope it reminds you of how the Food Bank is evolving in order to have a true impact on hunger, and working to create an environment where North Carolinians thrive. In 2020, get involved. Donate. Make a difference. Visit their website here to see what you can do!