TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

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

Featured Restaurant News

•  Raleigh fell in love with Jake Wood as chef de cuisine at 18 Seaboard (and before that with stints at 42nd Street Oyster Bar and The Cowfish). And so you likely heard a collective deep breath when it was announced he was leaving for a new venture. We can all breathe easy now as it was announced this week that he would stay here locally, taking over as the head chef at Plates Neighborhood Kitchen on Glenwood South. cliquez simplement sur le pilemeds.com message à venir Not only does Wood bring his newly designed menu to Plates, but a new dining atmosphere with fresh paint, new lighting fixtures, shiplap walls and a new decor setting the tone for his new menu. Check out the new Plates here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Burial Beer Company opened “The Exhibit” next to Transfer Co. Food Hall at 500 E. Davie Street on January 5. It’s an exhibit space, a cafe for craft beer. On most days it’s a get off work, stop and sample a beer, take a 4 pack for home type vibe. On release days it’s a communal marketplace to access limited beers. Stop by or check it out here.

• Also in downtown Raleigh, Jason Howard’s Atlantic Lounge opened at 620 North Person Street (below Crawford and Son) in downtown Raleigh. Keys, which are required for entrance, were offered to locals in surrounding neighborhoods first. Those interested in an invitation are encouraged to inquire with friends who are members or contact The Atlantic Lounge. You can keep up with them on Instagram.

• Got word from Derek Wilkins that they opened their third installment of The Butcher’s Market this past Saturday at 4200 Lassiter Rd in Holly Springs in the Holly Lakes Center. They also have locations in Raleigh’s Quail Corners and Cary’s Saltbox Village. Stop in and check them out. Get all the details on their website here.

• Over in Cary, got word from reader Michael Janni that Alex & Teresa’s Pizzeria & Trattoria has opened, transforming the old Randy’s Pizza place at the Northwoods Shopping Center at 941 N. Harrison Avenue. The restaurant is owned and operated by two former employees of Enrigo Italian Restaurant, along with a chef from Naples, Italy. Check them out here. Get to know them here.

• Back over in Raleigh, got word from Jeanette Hauser that a Jersey Mike’s is coming to the Corners at Brier Creek shopping center (think Harris Teeter) in northwest Raleigh

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

•  Over in Chapel Hill, the Triangle Business Journal was the first to report that after years of sitting empty, the once-beloved Ramshead Rathskeller restaurant space in a Franklin Street alley will soon be home to Gizmo Brew Works’ 4,500-square-foot taproom. Get familiar with Gizmo here.

• Saw on their Twitter feed that Boxcar Bar + Arcade opened their third location, this one in downtown Durham at 621 Foster Street overlooking the historic Durham Athletic Park, at the corner of Foster and Geer streets. The new hangout offers over 70 arcade games, a full bar including 24 craft American drafts, private event space and a Neapolitan-style pizza kitchen. They also have locations in Raleigh and Greensboro. Get to know them here.

• Glenn Gillen happened upon a Mr. Shark Fish & Chicken on S. Roxboro Street where Amante Pizza used to be. Like Glenn, I’m not certain what “Chicago style” fish and chicken exactly means. Here is their Facebook page.

Closings

• Got word from multiple readers that both Freddy’s and Wendy’s on High House at Davis Drive in Cary.

Events

• The annual Triangle Restaurant Week returns January 21-27, 2019. Triangle Restaurant Week is a week-long celebration of culinary excellence designed to incorporate the premier Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and surrounding area restaurants. During TRW, participating restaurants offer special three-course menu options and fixed pricing, a great opportunity for residents and visitors alike to indulge in the area’s finest cuisine! No reservations, tickets or passes required. Pricing for the event is $15 for a 3-course lunch, and $20,$25, $30 or $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.

• An annual favorite – Cooking for a Classic 2019 – is just around the corner. The prize for 2019  is restored 1982 JEEP Scrambler. The First Round is Monday-Thursday, Feb. 25-28; Second Round is March 4 and 5; and the Finale is March 11. Tickets start at $75 for the First Round, $100 for the Second Round and $125 for the Finale.Venue is 1705 East in Raleigh. You can get all the details here and tickets here. Each evening features six plated courses. Round One features Teddy Diggs from Coronado vs. Ryan Grimm from Watersview; Matt Hannon from Ashton’s vs. Bo Peterson from Primal Food & Spirits; Jake Wood from 18 Seaboard vs. Jonathan Blackley form Prestonwood Country Club; and Andrew Smith from buku vs. Orlando Jinzo from The Leadmine. All proceeds benefit the Lucy Daniels Center’s mental-health programs for children in the Triangle.

• Shop Local Raleigh’s annual craft beer festival, Brewgaloo, will take place April 26-27, 2019 Brewgaloo features craft breweries from North Carolina and partners with local food trucks, local vendors and local bands. Get tickets now and all the details on their website here.

• And this week was the announcement of the return of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina’s Thrive NC, scheduled for May 9 -10 at City Market in downtown Raleigh. The inaugural event attracted thousands of members of the community to celebrate North Carolina’s culinary roots, while also initiating critical conversations about food insecurity in our state. The highlight of the two-day event is the festival which will feature more than 60 of the area’s best restaurants serving food and drink samples as well as live entertainment, including chef demonstrations and music. Get all the details, including when tickets will go on sale (February 28), here.

Food Bank Corner

• Start a virtual food drive at your office! Forget the hassle of a trip to the grocery store for your next food drive… “Shop” with the Food Bank through our Virtual Food Drive and maximize your donation times ten! For every dollar donated, the Food Bank can provide $10.00 worth of food or five meals. Starting a food drive is easy! Get all the details here.

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

Featured Restaurant News

•  While we first reported this in October of last year, Big Ed’s officially announced on January 3, 2019 that they are indeed opening a third location, this one in Garner at 231 Timber Drive (near intersection with Hwy. 50) in the former Just Cookin’ location (Food Lion shopping center). No exact date, just “early 2019” according to their Facebook page. And they announced a new website here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Got word from reader Mark Ginsberg that Jaipur Indian Cuisine has opened at 1520 Blue Ridge Rd in Raleigh inside of the Ramada Inn. They are the sister restaurant of Sitar India in Durham. Get to know them here.

• First got word from one of our readers (“Patrick”) that Brookside Pizza & Market at the corner of Brookside Drive and Glascock Street near downtown Raleigh closed. And we have confirmed what Patrick had heard – that Falafel and Company will be opening in the Brookside spot. You can get to know Falafel and Company on their Facebook page here.

• Over off Hillsborough Street, got word from Katherine W. that Sushi Mon, a new sushi restaurant located on Friendly Dr, has opened. And during the month of January they are celebrating their opening by offering complimentary nigiri to all their dinner dine-in customers. Get to know them and see their grand opening offer on their Facebook page here.

• Up in North Raleigh, John Huisman, aka Triangle Explorer, was the first to point out that 13 Tacos and Taps is moving into the old Chubby Tacos location in the plaza on Durant Road adjacent to Nantucket Grill. It is being brought to us by the same folks behind the very popular food truck , the 13th Taco. According to a Facebook page they are looking to open on January 17th, but stay tuned and keep up with any announcements on their Facebook page here.

• Over in Morrisville, reader Wesley Mays informed us that Pho X.O., serving up traditional Vietnamese cuisine, has opened at at 10290 Chapel Hill Rd. Check them out here.

• And in Cary, saw on their Facebook page that Dean’s Kitchen + Bar (which changed ownership last year) is transitioning the concept into a Biergarten at the end of this month. They will continue to have the Sunday brunch and they will keep many guest favorites, but the new menu will focus on locally sourced fresh ingredients including some German influenced items. No indication as of yet as to what the new name might be. Keep up with the transition on their Facebook page here.

• And down in Holly Springs, I noticed a sign for Eggs Up Grill at 4200 Lassiter Road in the same complex as the next location of The Butcher’s Market. This will be their second Triangle area location (one in Fuquay-Varina). Get to know them here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

•  The lovely and talented Lori Bowers-Lennard was the first to inform me that chef Brandon Sharp will open Hawthorne & Wood in 2019 in former Raaga spot in Chapel Hill’s East 54. You can visit their website here and keep up on their progress on Instagram here.

• Also in Chapel Hill, next to the new Monterrey Mexican restaurant location in Chapel Hill’s Rams Plaza, Mr. Tokyo Japanese Restaurant has opened. Most notably on their website is that they offer an unlimited sushi and hibachi menu for lunch and dinner. Check them out here.

• Over in Hillsborough reader Cathy Wells provided me with a quick update on a couple of happenings in that corner of Orange County. First up, J&F Kitchen opened back in the spring at 155 Mayo Street and is a family-run restaurant serving up a homestyle mix of American, Italian, and Balkan cuisine. Check them out.

• And Cathy shared that House at Gatewood opened in December where chef Ron and team are building a complex where innovation meets Southern comfort on the Gatewood Estate at 300 Route 70. Check out this latest addition to the Triangle line-up here.

• Just over the Durham County line we got word from Bites of Bull City’s Amber Watson that over the holidays Namu Durham expanded by adding/opening a new beer hall adjacent to their restaurant/cafe. Now it is a great place to enjoy drinks along with their flavorful Korean food adjacent to their cozy restaurant and outdoor garden. Get to know all about them here.

• And on more somber note, we were saddened to learn the news that Lowell Thomas “Tommy” Bullock, who owned and operated Bullock’s Bar-B-Cue restaurant and catering business after his father opened the restaurant in 1952,  died over the holidays. Our prayers and thoughts are with the entire Bullock family. Bullock’s is a Durham institution.

Closings

• Got word from reader Jeanette Hauser that it looks like Toppers Pizza has retreated from the area – with all Triangle area locations now closed (once had three locations).

• Got a tweet from Jane Bell that the Pharaoh’s at the Museum (Museum of History) on Edenton Street has closed.

• And unless you were under a rock over the holidays, the seven-month-old Wahlburger’s in downtown Raleigh closed.

Events

•  An annual favorite – Cooking for a Classic 2019 – is just around the corner. The prize for 2019  is restored 1982 JEEP Scrambler. The First Round is Monday-Thursday, Feb. 25-28; Second Round is March 4 and 5; and the Finale is March 11. Tickets start at $75 for the First Round, $100 for the Second Round and $125 for the Finale.Venue is 1705 East in Raleigh. You can get all the details here and tickets here. Each evening features six plated courses. Round One features Teddy Diggs from Coronado vs. Ryan Grimm from Watersview; Matt Hannon from Ashton’s vs. Bo Peterson from Primal Food & Spirits; Jake Wood from 18 Seaboard vs. Jonathan Blackley form Prestonwood Country Club; and Andrew Smith from buku vs. Orlando Jinzo from The Leadmine. All proceeds benefit the Lucy Daniels Center’s mental-health programs for children in the Triangle.

• Shop Local Raleigh’s annual craft beer festival, Brewgaloo, will take place April 26-27, 2019 Brewgaloo features craft breweries from North Carolina and partners with local food trucks, local vendors and local bands. Get tickets now and all the details on their website here.

Food Bank Corner

• Start a virtual food drive at your office! Forget the hassle of a trip to the grocery store for your next food drive… “Shop” with the Food Bank through our Virtual Food Drive and maximize your donation times ten! For every dollar donated, the Food Bank can provide $10.00 worth of food or five meals. Starting a food drive is easy! Get all the details here.