Featured Restaurant News
- According to Raleigh Magazine, Anthony Rapillo (the man behind other concepts like V Pizza, Flour & Barrel, La Taqueria and The Side Door) is soon opening Veloce Italian Market in the former Happy & Hale “pod” in City Plaza in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Rapillo is teaming up with Ryan Parker and William Yagasits to bring pizza to the center of downtown. Veloce will specialize in 10- and 13-inch pizzas, crafted from V Pizza’s recipe and fired from the same oven—plus paninis, wings, provisions, and a grab-and-go section of sandos and salads according to the magazine. No word on an open date. Visit them and sign-up for updates here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- Escazu Chocolates has completed the move from its home of nearly 16 years over on Blount Street to their new location in Gateway Plaza (2409 Crabtree Blvd.). Their soft opening is this Saturday (11 a.m. until 9 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m. until 6 p.m.). Plan a visit this weekend and get one free scoop of ice cream with purchase! Best to check them out on Instagram here.
- Raleigh Magazine shared that Crooked Hammock Brewery will open in 2026 at GlenLake. Touted as “living life in full swing,” expect a vibrant eat, drink, lounge, play destination including, of course, hammocks in the “backyard.” For founder Rich Garrahan, when he envisioned this concept, he wanted a big backyard with tons of yard games, plenty of homemade craft beer, and a never-ending cookout where the burgers are as good as the conversation. With two locations in Delaware and one in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, this will be their 4th location. Start getting familiar with them here.
- News broke this week thanks to the Triangle Business Journal that Don McClaren is grabbing a slice of Glenwood Avenue restaurant space by bringing back Godfather’s Pizza (last here in 1986) in the former Pizza Hut at 6429 Glenwood Ave. (where it intersects with Pleasant Valley Road). Look for them to open this fall. Refamiliarize yourself with Godfather’s here.
- The News & Observer shared the news that East Raleigh’s newest bar, from the folks behind Neuse River Brewing Company, has opened. Blotto is a new “diver spot” serving beer, wine, and cocktails in the former New Bern Mini Mart. Check it out at 1601 New Bern Ave. Or visit them here.
- Triangle Business Journal also reported that artist Taylor White will open a cafe and dog park called The Yard in the Boylan Heights neighborhood at 1115 W. Lenoir Street. The property will feature a 10,000-square-foot membership dog park. The cafe and coffee bar will feature local and organic ingredients on its menu and an outdoor deck. Might be best to keep up with their progress on Instagram.
- In Cary, the Triangle Business Journal reported that Delia Kloefkorn has opened Meche Cocina Mexicana at 3470 Kildaire Farm Road next to the Publix grocery store in the Millpond Village shopping center south of the Koka Booth Amphitheatre and in the former Frida’s Patio spot. Visit them on Instagram here.
- In Cary’s Fenton development, Raleigh Magazine noted that Sweet Paris Crêperie will soon be opening. The first Sweet Paris opened in Houston over a decade ago; this will be their 28th location and the first in North Carolina. In addition to crepes, they serve up waffles, soups, salads, and paninis as well as mimosas, beer, wine, cider, coffee, tea and milkshakes. No word on an open date. Get familiar with them here.
- Down in Holly Springs, Triangle Business Journal reported that Sami Taweel and Jon Allen will open the fourth location of Doherty’s Irish Pub & Restaurant at 3149 McChesney Hill Loop in Peterson Station. They already have locations in Cary, Apex and Pittsboro. Look for them to open in October. Visit Doherty’s here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- Baekho Coffee and Ice Cream Co., from the team behind Boxyard’s Bulkogi restaurant, is the newest addition to Boxyard RTP. It is brought to us by the team of Charlie Ji, Joe Choi, Bo Kwon and Jin Song (also behind the Boxyard location of Bulgogi, Durham food truck park Can Opener and Namu, a beer hall, coffee shop and Korean restaurant). Grand opening is July 8th where they will be officially open and scooping ice cream! Visit them on Instagram here.
- Over in Chapel Hill I stumbled upon an upcoming gem in an unusual way. I found a blog of sorts called This Is Raleigh which does a great job of featuring things in Raleigh by an Australian couple that decided to make Raleigh their forever home. They use their platform to share all the things they love about the area and why they love Raleigh. Recently they visited Chapel Hill, and in that feature they “broke” the news that the folks behind Al’s Burger Shack will soon open The Pudding Shack, a new bar and dining area with TVs for sports fans and a fresh vibe right behind the Al’s on Franklin Street. They also hinted that Al’s Burger Shack may be bringing a location to Apex! Stay tuned. Thanks to Caroline and Craig Makepeace! Check out their full post on their visit to Chapel Hill.
- Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies founder Carrie Brogen shared that a new place called Growler Grlz is coming soon to Southern Village in Chapel Hill. This will be their second location, with the original location in Durham on Hope Valley Road. Visit Growler here.
- Reader Phil Jakes shared that the former Dog House on Guess Road (near Broad St) in Durham has been repainted and now sports a sign saying LRB Provisions. There’s a sparse Facebook profile that suggests that they will soon be slinging seasonal sandwiches, soups, house-made potato chips, smoked/cured meat, seafood and sides. Stay tuned.
- Triangle NC Foodies shared the news that Del Taco’s first location in North Carolina will open on Monday, July 7th at 4716 NC-55 Highway in Durham. Del Taco touts fresh high-quality ingredients and homemade guac/queso with a menu spanning not only tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and other Mexican favs but also burgers, crispy chicken, and fries. And don’t think this will be the last Triangle-area location of the chain. Take a peek here.
Closings
- Got word that Mi Barrio in Durham has closed. They left open the door for it to continue….at some point.
Food Trucks
- The final Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo of 2025 will be on Sunday, November 2. It will run from 12 noon until 4 p.m. featuring over 50+ food trucks with cuisine from all over the world making it the ultimate Sunday Funday in Durham Central Park (501 Foster Street)! 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
- Starting June 1st, and running the entire month of June, Little Rey’s charity guest chef series features a creation by Cheetie Kumar of Ajja. Her taco creation, a Honey Harissa Fried Chicken Taco with sumac onion, lime crema, her just launched Spicewalla rose harissa, pomegranate molasses, radish and cilantro, hits Little Rey’s menu this past weekend and will be available throughout the month of June. All proceeds benefit Southern Smoke Foundation. Visit Little Rey’s on Instagram here. And visit Southern Smoke here.
- Left Hook Coffee‘s fundraising event last weekend brought in a good amount of money toward their overall goal – but still leaves about $19k to raise towards making their East Raleigh roasting space into a new shop. So they still need your help. Donate directly to their Kickstarter campaign here.
- Lakeside Kitchen, located on NCSU’s Centennial Campus has added Whiskey Flights to their lineup of some 70 whiskey offerings. Every Whiskey Wednesday, a featured whiskey is offered at a reduced price for your enjoyment. And now they have added six flights with different themes of a pairing of four whiskeys such as “Around the World”, “West of the Mississippi”, “A Mixed Bag” and more as well as a “Build Your Own” Flight. Check out the entire list on their website. And as a reminder, their next First Sunday Brunch will be July 6th.
- Mark your calendars. The Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week returns July 24th – August 3rd. This beloved tradition is your invitation to discover the unique, locally-owned restaurants and bars that make downtown Raleigh a true dining destination. Savor exclusive deals, prix fixe menus, and chef-driven specials at your favorite spots across our community. Now in its 17th year, the celebration returns with a fresh new look. Get all the details here.
- Get tickets now! The Grand Finale of NCRLA’s Chef Showdown will take place on Monday, August 4th at Bay 7 in Durham. Presented by Got To Be NC, this one-of-a-kind event showcases the state’s top chefs, pastry chefs, mixologists, and distilleries as they compete for the coveted titles of Chef of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year, Mixologist & Distillery of the Year, and Best Mocktail of the Year. Guests will savor sweet and savory bites, sip creative cocktails and mocktails, and cast their vote in The People’s Choice Awards—all while celebrating North Carolina’s rich culinary culture. Plus, for the first time ever, the Grand Finale will feature a North Carolina Wine Bar, highlighting some of the state’s top vineyards. Tickets are $150 per person and include all food and beverage tastings. Attendance is limited—don’t miss this unforgettable night of flavor, competition, and local pride. Get tickets and all the details here.
- The inaugural Salt & Smoke & Sound Festival will be held Saturday, October 18th at Blackwood Farm Park between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. The exciting new community event merges together two beloved festivals–Acme’s Salt & Smoke and Sonark Media’s Harvest Festival–into a celebration of food, culture, and music in a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere. Food will be provided by Acme’s Kevin Callaghan and a team of local chefs and food trucks offering a wide variety of dishes and dining options. The festival will feature craft beers, curated beverages, and other interesting spirit-free options. All food and drink will be available for purchase and is not included in the price of festival entry. Tickets are on sale now.
Food Bank Corner
- Yesterday, Congress voted for devastating cuts to SNAP and Medicaid. Amy Beros, President & CEO of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, shared what this will mean for North Carolina. “No one should go hungry—no matter where we live, where we’re from, who we love, or the color of our skin. Yet with this vote by Congress and a stroke of the President’s pen, millions more people will soon face hunger here in North Carolina and across the country.” The Food Bank is moving mountains to make food available to all who need it. They’re still here, no matter what. They need your help now more than ever. Read their full statement here and get involved in the fight to end hunger.
