Featured Restaurant News
- We now have an opening date for Scott Crawford’s newest concept – Crawford Brothers Steakhouse. It will open the week of December 16th in Fenton, the 92-acre mixed use development in Cary. It will be the largest Crawford Hospitality restaurant to-date with seating for 120. It will celebrate the nostalgia of an old school steakhouse, but with a lighter and edgier twist. They will specialize in house dry-aged beef, and boast an extensive wine program, a vibrant cocktail bar, two private rooms. A prominent feature of the design will be a floor-to-ceiling “glass curtain” on one side of the restaurant, visible from the street, giving passersby a full view into both the warm, inviting cocktail bar. Keep up with announcements on their Instagram page here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- The eagerly anticipated fast casual Northern Mexican concept from chef Ford Fry, Little Rey, will open at Raleigh’s Iron Works next Monday, December 9 (they are holding a “sneak peek” event this Saturday, December 7th open to the public – see details below under Events). Located at 1101 E. Whitaker Mill Road, Suite 102, the 4,200+ square-foot space will feature ample indoor seating, a spacious patio and a walk-up to-go window. Their Northern Mexican inspired menu created by Fry will boast wood-roasted “chicken al carbon” at its core plus staples like al carbon tacos, traditional street style tacos, salads and fresh salsas, all on hand-made tortillas – and all to balance out those refreshing margaritas. This will be their first location in North Carolina. Get to know them here.
- Raleigh Magazine shared the exciting news this week that Raleigh’s getting a new hippo obsession in the form of revamped Hippo Wine Bar (123 E. Martin Street). They shared that Hippo was recently acquired by North South Hospitality (think Gussie’s). While they are currently closed for renovations, the magazine shared that ‘Hippo 2.0’ will feature updated safari-inspired interiors, great food options and a new lower-ABV spritz menu (plus beer, beer cocktails and shandies). It is always fun to see great people doing great things – this is fantastic for Downtown Raleigh! Follow along on Instagram here.
- Diced, a locally-owned, woman-owned restaurant specializing in fresh, made-to-order salads, wraps and grain bowls, announced this week that they will expand to Holly Springs in the spring of 2025. This will be the fifth location of Diced, which started in Cary in 2015. The new location will open at 321 N. Main St. Holly Springs, near Ting Park. This falls pretty quickly on the heels of their fourth location which just opened in Downtown Raleigh this past October. Visit Diced here.
- The Downtown Raleigh Alliance shared the news this week that Uno Mas has opened at 211 S. Wilmington Street in the heart of Downtown Raleigh (former Tonbo Ramen spot). Expect a healthy dose of burrito and tequila offerings! Get to know them here.
- Over in Cary, Triangle Business Journal shared that Downtown Cary has added another bar to its retail scene. The Beach House by Tiki Brewing opened November 22 at 232 E. Chatham St. serving craft beer and cocktails. While they are not actually brewing onsite, they are collaborating with Vicious Fishes Brewery according to an Instagram post. Get to know them here.
- Also in Cary, Brunches Cary opened this week at 200 Crossroads Boulevard. This is their sixth location and first in the Triangle where they offer up breakfast, mimosas, cocktails, burritos, burgers, bowls and more. Get familiar with them here.
- Up in Wake Forest, we got word that Romeo’s Pizza will celebrate its grand re-opening in early December in Wake Forest. While a specific date hasn’t been set just yet, they will be located at 3612 Rogers Branch Road and will be open seven days a week. Start to get re-acquainted with them here.
- And a huge kudos to two of the coolest guys I know in the restaurant business – Casey and Mick Vorbeck. Their Manhattan Cafe, with two locations, celebrates 10 years next week. If you have worked in Downtown Raleigh or RTP you have probably had the opportunity to have Manhattan for lunch! These guys found the niche in the lunch game and have been going strong for a decade now! They are celebrating by offering their famous paninis for $6 all week long. Check them out at either their DTR or RTP locations.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- Next week knuckleheads and meatheads everywhere will head to Mebane on December 11th to welcome Tom Meyer and his team back into the BBQ game. For those that have been around a while, you’ll remember Tom as one of the original founders of The Q Shack. And now his Southern Harvest Hospitality Group (think Sprout Cafe at NC Museum of Life & Science; Legal Grounds Cafe at Duke Law School and Southern Harvest Catering) is opening a new BBQ joint in Mebane called Knucklehead BBQ at 401 East Center Street. And trust me, it’s stupid good and well worth the drive (great time to hit the outlet mall and grab a little Q)! It will feature a number of smoked BBQ meats (brisket, pork shoulder, turkey, chicken and brisket sausage) along with a range of delicious sides like hoppin’ john, succotash, collard greens and intensely delicious mac and cheese. They are committing 5% of their sales towards supporting local and state wide charities, with the first 120 days of charitable proceeds going to fund relief and rebuilding efforts in Western NC. Start getting familiar with them on Instagram here.
- Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Drift Coffee & Kitchen will be opening their third Triangle-area store (ninth total) in 2025 in Horseshoe at Hub in Research Triangle Park (3151 Elion Drive). They will join restaurants Cheeni and Prime STQ. This location will serve coffee beverages and breakfast and lunch dishes. Unlike Drift’s table service at its Raleigh and Chapel Hill locations, customers will order beverages and food at the counter. Visit Drift here.
- One of our very own needs our help. Chef Vimala Rajendran, who has a heart bigger than life, and her Curryblossom Cafe, an award-winning gem in Chapel Hill, are struggling to make rent. She is reaching out to the community that she has helped time and time again for an assist. While donations would be phenomenal, going to eat at the restaurant or buying gift cards would also help tremendously. Visit Curryblossom here.
- We first told you about this back in August, but Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies group founder Carrie Brogren just updated us that Xolo Tacos + Tlayudas in Chapel Hill’s Southern Village is now in soft open mode (please be patient and expect slower than normal service). The concept is Mexican with a Oaxacan touch, according to their Instagram page. Might be best to visit their Instagram page here.
Closings
- This week Radius Pizzeria & Pub, located at 112 North Churton Street in downtown Hillsborough, announced their closure after over 11 years. Their last day of operation will be December 29th. So there is still time to get by for one last pie! Visit them here.
- Over in Chapel Hill, Carrie Brogren was the first to share with me that after operating for more than a year on West Franklin Street, Ay Por Dios! Mexican Bistro has closed. Chapelboro did report that a new restaurant concept could soon use the building.
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
- Tickets went on sale Wednesday for An Evening To Ignite, the annual fundraiser by the teams at The Merrimon-Wynne House, Band Together and La Fête Planning & Design. The nonprofit beneficiary of this year’s event will be Ripe for Revival, which operates a fleet of pay-what-you-can mobile markets in central and eastern North Carolina. They will use the proceeds to expand the mobile markets’ presence in Raleigh. This year’s An Evening To Ignite will be March 14, 2025 in downtown Raleigh. Get tickets here and get information on Ripe for Revival here.
- The tenth-annual WRAL Voters’ Choice Awards are back! Vote for your top 5 local favorites in over 100 categories (including Food & Drink) now through December 11th. Winners will be announced in January, 2025. Vote now!
- Little Rey, which is opening on December 9th, will hold one more “sneak peek” event for you to start getting familiar with their concept. Fry and his team will host a pre-opening party open to the public on Saturday, December 7, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the new Little Rey location. A selection of the restaurant’s beloved bites will be free for all attendees, plus drinks will be available to purchase. Visit Little Rey here.
- On December 16th Zweli’s in Durham is hosting a Vegan Community Dinner Buffet beginning at 6 p.m. at Zweli’s Brightleaf District (905 W. Main Street). Enjoy a delicious array of plant-based dishes, great company and holiday cheer. Ticket are $44 (adult) and $20 (kids under 10). Get your tickets and all the details here.
- This is kind of cool…a traveling Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy cocktail event that will be in Pittsboro next January 23 and 24. It is a chilling cocktail experience that brings four of his stories off the page and onto the stage as told through the Poe historians while you sip on delicious themed cocktails that are paired with each story. Tickets are $45 and will take place at The Plant (220 Lorax Lane). Get tickets and all the details here.
Food Bank Corner
- Give 2X the meals this holiday season to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina! Your gift today can be double matched to provide food and hope in our community this holiday season. Every $10 you give now can be doubled to help provide 100 meals to families in central and eastern North Carolina. Give here now.
