Category Archives: Uncategorized

Featured Restaurant News

• The fun continues for Seaboard Station in downtown Raleigh. This week we learned that Pins Mechanical Co. will join the dynamic mix at Seaboard Station with its first location in the Triangle. Pins is a unique twist on a night out by bringing old-school entertainment to life featuring duckpin bowling, pinball, classic arcade games, ping pong, patio pong and more. Guests will also be able to indulge in nostalgic beverages with an extensive drink menu offering cocktails, craft beers, mocktails and kid-friendly sips. Boasting 27,0000-square-feet, it will be located on the ground floor of The Miles at 10 W. Franklin Street. This will be their third location in North Carolina. Get to know them here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• 321 Coffee will open their newest location on NC State’s Centennial Campus this coming Monday at 930 Main Campus Dr. Suite 151 (Venture Place Building). They will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit 321 here.

• The Downtown Raleigh Alliance shared this week that Vic’s Pizza has opened on the ground floor of Bloc[83] in the Glenwood South district (1 Glenwood Avenue). They’ll be slinging New York-styled pizza (both whole pies and slices) plus apps, salads, subs, calzones, stromboli and wings (with late-night hours until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays). They have two other concepts – one in City Market and one on Lake Boone Trail. Check them out here.

• One more change in the opening date on a brand new concept called Union Station Deli & Catering from Rocky Top Catering. They have delayed the opening due to a couple of small additional delays. Trust me, it will be worth the wait. They will be located inside the iconic Raleigh Union Station at 510 W Martin Street in downtown Raleigh. Touted as a true New York-style deli, they will be serving up breakfast bagels, deli sandwiches, and hot pressed sammies – with toppings like house-smoked pastrami, corned beef and chicken cutlets — as well as black-and-white cookies. Look for weekday service (6 a.m. until 3 p.m.) initially, with weekend service to start in January. The concept will be managed by Sean Degnan, known for his outstanding restaurant portfolio including bu•ku, so•ca and kō•än. Follow along on Instagram here.

• Thanks to reader Jim Canaday, we learned that we missed two concepts last week that will also be opening in the Sweetwater Town Center development (40 acres at U.S. Highway 64 and Richardson Road). Those two are: Fratelli’s Deli which should be open by the end of the month. And Southern Peak Brewery, which is moving right along and will serve pizza when fully operational. Thanks Jim!

• Over in Cary, David McCreary shared that the latest fried chicken joint, Chunky Boss, has opened at 1969 High House Road. This is their first North Carolina location. They are known for Taiwanese crispy chicken cutlets. Get to know them here.

• The folks over at the Choose Local & Small Ya’ll Facebook page shared the news that the newest location of Moonrunners in Garner (21 Technology Dr.) is open and operating under limited hours (Friday and Saturday: 4-11; and Sunday: 12-8pm) with more hours being added next week (dinner hours). Follow along for additional details and announcements here.

• On a recent visit out to Wendell, noticed that the newest version of City Barbecue is now open at 2140 Treelight Way. The concept already has locations in Durham, Raleigh, Cary and Garner. Visit them here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• On Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street there is a changing of the guard of sorts. Gizmo’s Chapel Hill taproom will be transitioning to Clouds Brewing at the end of this week with Saturday, August 17 being the last day operating as Gizmo. The entire staff has been hired over to Clouds, so expect familiar faces. Stop by Amber Alley at 157 E Franklin Street one more time this weekend. Visit Gizmo Chapel Hill Facebook page here.

• Also on Franklin Street, Chapelboro reported that the new Playa Bowls (104 East Franklin Street, next to the new Starbucks location) held its grand opening last Saturday, August 10. Check them out here.

• In Durham, got word this week that Nan Xiang Express, the acclaimed fast-casual sister brand of Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, is opening its newest location in Durham this Friday, August 16 (they also have locations New York and Boston). This expansion marks an exciting chapter for the brand, bringing its famous Shanghai-style dim sum to Durham. They are located at 1605 Erwin Road, Suite 50, in the Blue Light Living Apartment Building and are currently in soft-open mode. Get to know them here.

• Out at the airport, Raleigh Magazine shared the latest on Scott Crawford’s latest venture. The magazine shared that Crawford’s Genuine will open later this month in the former 42nd Street Oyster Bar location in Terminal 2 (just beyond the security checkpoints). The menu is designed with travelers in mind, catering both to those who have time to waste between layovers and those hurrying to their gate. Might be best to follow Crawford on Instagram here.

• Over in Pittsboro, we caught wind that Root Cellar will begin opening for lunch (starting with Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays) on August 21 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Look for power bowls, salads, pasta, sandwiches and more. Visit Root Cellar here.

• A reminder that on August 17th (this Saturday), Mama Dip’s, a 48-year tradition in Chapel Hill, will shift gears and move to a new chapter in their storied history, ending their traditional service model and shifting to selling family-style take-home meals. But, they will continue serving in the restaurant as normal for the next two weeks. Let’s just say the restaurant has been slammed since their announcement, so plan your visit accordingly. Visit Mama Dip’s here.

Closings

• None to report. Keep eating local, folks.

Food Trucks

• The next edition of Durham Foodie Fare, a monthly foodie and art markets featuring a food truck rodeo, 30+ local vendors, drinks, and more, is tonight, August 16th, from 5:30 to 9:30 at Durham Central Park. 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

• Raleigh Magazine shared that The Parlor at Heights House is debuting Sunday Sauce, a fresh dining experience featuring a rotating pasta paired with Boulted Bread and a suggested Italian wine pairings. The fun begins this Sunday, Aug. 18 at 5 p.m. You can find all the details on Instagram here.

• Wine enthusiasts, join Mandolin in Raleigh on Saturday August 31st from 1:30 to 4 p.m. for a wine tasting event that you will not soon forget. They have invited eight of their top wine purveyors to pour some of their favorite wines – offering over 24 different wine selections with light hors d’oeuvres, fruit, and cheese. The wines will be available for purchase at deep discounts. This is the perfect way for any wine lover to spend a Saturday afternoon! Tickets are $45 and can be purchased here.

• Tickets are on sale now for the 9th Annual Dinner in the Meadow which will take place on September 15, 2024 on a grassy knoll atMeadow Lane Farm, in bucolic Franklin County, offering beautiful pastoral views and clear, starry skies. Some of the region’s most sought-after chefs will be preparing delicious dishes using ingredients from local farms and food artisans. It is an annual fundraiser for the Leonard-Mobley Small Farm Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 2014 to support and cultivate small farms in our region of North Carolina. Get tickets and all the details here.

• USA Today Food & Wine Experience is coming back again to Raleigh on Saturday October 26th at the Big Field at Dix Park. Chef Jared Bobkin coordinates this event visiting approximately 12 U.S. cities annually. Get all the details here.

Food Bank Corner

• Kids are heading back to school. And with that, the effects of hunger reach well beyond the classroom — influencing health, well-being and earning potential well into adulthood. The Food Bank operates programs like Weekend Power Pack, Youth Pantries and Kids Cafés. With the support you provide, the Food Bank is able to connect more kids and teens with the resources they need to succeed and thrive. Help kids get the nutritious support they need to be successful by donating today!

Featured Restaurant News

• Raleigh Magazine shared this week that Boatman Spirits Company, a combined craft distillery, taproom, bar and restaurant, will be opening on the ground floor of The Miles apartment building at Seaboard Station next spring. Founded by a Raleigh-based group (owner/CEO George Ghneim and managing partners Geremy Prichard, Zack Thomas and Aaron Lambert), they’ll make their own whiskey, brandy, vodka and gin. Plus it’ll have a cocktail bar and restaurant serving Mediterranean-inspired street food. Keep up with their progress on Instagram here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• And speaking of Seaboard Station, they are also adding a bakery to their lineup. They shared this week that Tous les Jours, a Korean-Frensh bakery offering a wide range of bakery items – from freshly baked breads to decadent cakes and pastries – will join the lineup. They have locations in Cary (1961 High House Road) and Charlotte (three locations). Look for them to open next Spring. Get to know them here.

• A slight change in opening date. A brand new concept called Union Station Deli & Catering from Rocky Top Catering is now shooting to open on August 22 inside the iconic Raleigh Union Station at 510 W Martin Street in downtown Raleigh. Touted as a true New York-style deli, they will be serving up breakfast bagels, deli sandwiches, and hot pressed sammies – with toppings like house-smoked pastrami, corned beef and chicken cutlets — as well as black-and-white cookies. Look for weekday service (6 a.m. until 3 p.m.) initially, with weekend service to start in January. The concept will be managed by Sean Degnan, known for his outstanding restaurant portfolio including bu•ku, so•ca and kō•än. Follow along on Instagram here.

• Up in North Raleigh at Celebration Station on Six Forks, my buddy Julie Barnes let me know that Peri Brothers Pizza is expanding into the space next door and adding a new outdoor patio area. Looks like a few more weeks until the patio is done, and just a few more months on the expanded indoor space. In the meantime, they are still slinging pizzas and such for pick up and delivery. Keep up with their progress on Instagram here.

• Over in Apex, the Triangle Business Journal shared that the Sweetwater Town Center development (40 acres at U.S. Highway 64 and Richardson Road) has pulled together a pretty impressive list of dining options joining the development – they include Chapel Hill’ Al’s Burger Shack, Pittsboro’s Greek Kouzina, Karra Modern Indian Bistro, Mamabirds Ice Cream, Mi Cancun Mexican Cantina, SoBol, Burney’s Sweets and More, Peace, Love and Little Doughnuts, Opal Coffee and Cocktails, Aqua Vitea, Potbelly Sandwich Shop, Boba Tea and Taco Bell.

• And a Happy Birthday/Anniversary to two of my favorite downtown establishments. Whiskey Kitchen is 8 years old and going stronger than ever! And my friends over at Boulted Bread are commemorating 10 years with their annual $3 day TODAY (Friday, August 9) where everything (bread, pastry, coffee) is just $3. Visit Whiskey here and Boulted Bread here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• My friends over at Bites of Bull City shared this week that Cary’s Anjappar, specializing in South Indian cuisine, will open later this summer inside the new admin building in downtown Durham (201 E. Main Street). They noted that they have the classics, but they specialize in South Indian cuisine, such as dosa (with over 20 varieties!) and Parotta (Tawa breads). The Cary location is in Stone Creek Village. Look for a late summer opening. Visit them here.

• Got word this week from Carrie Brogren (founder of the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook group) that Heel and Horn Craft Kitchen & Bar will take over the space formerly occupied by Piero’s Pasta & Wine. Look for them to offer handcrafted, made-from-scratch burgers, salads, sandwiches, handmade pastas, pizzas, calzones, and strombolis, along with steaks and ribs. They will also offer a wide selection of draft beers, handcrafted cocktails/mocktails, as well as weekly specials and deals! Look for them to open before the end of summer. I was unable to locate an online presence for them.

• Over in Durham, reader Phil Jakes  shared with us that the former Vine restaurant has transitioned to Koi Sushi & Hibachi. It’s not clear if this is an ownership change or rebranding. They are located at 607 Broad Street, just down from Mad Hatter Cafe. Visit them online here.

• In Chapel Hill, due to inclement weather, Brandwein’s Bagels will now be celebrating their 4th Birthday on Saturday, August 10. Please join them for Taylor Ham, Kaiser Rolls, Lemonade samples and prize giveaways all day this Saturday. Visit Brandwein’s here.

• Down in Pittsboro, there is a new place to get pizza. Locally owned Hoops Pizzeria had their soft opening this week and has their grand opening today (Friday, August 9). They are located at 697 Hillsboro St. Suite 400 and feature artisanal pizza. Visit them here.

• Also in Pittsboro, we caught wind this week that Root Cellar will begin opening for lunch (starting with Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays) on August 21 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Look for power bowls, salads, pasta, sandwiches and more. Visit Root Cellar here.

• A reminder that on August 17th, Mama Dip’s, a 48-year tradition in Chapel Hill, will shift gears and move to a new chapter in their storied history, ending their traditional service model and shifting to selling family-style take-home meals. But, they will continue serving in the restaurant as normal for the next two weeks. Let’s just say the restaurant has been slammed since their announcement, so plan your visit accordingly. Visit Mama Dip’s here.

Closings

• Reader David Larson shared the sad news that Groucho’s on Horne St, just off Hillsborough Street, has closed after a ten year run.

• And over in Chapel Hill, we heard from multiple sources that Piero’s Pasta & Wine closed. News of what is coming into that space can be found above.

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

• Wine enthusiasts, join Mandolin in Raleigh on Saturday August 31st from 1:30 to 4 p.m. for a wine tasting event that you will not soon forget. They have invited eight of their top wine purveyors to pour some of their favorite wines – offering over 24 different wine selections with light hors d’oeuvres, fruit, and cheese. The wines will be available for purchase at deep discounts. This is the perfect way for any wine lover to spend a Saturday afternoon! Tickets are $45 and can be purchased here.

• Tickets are on sale now for the 9th Annual Dinner in the Meadow which will take place on September 15, 2024 on a grassy knoll atMeadow Lane Farm, in bucolic Franklin County, offering beautiful pastoral views and clear, starry skies. Some of the region’s most sought-after chefs will be preparing delicious dishes using ingredients from local farms and food artisans. It is an annual fundraiser for the Leonard-Mobley Small Farm Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 2014 to support and cultivate small farms in our region of North Carolina. Get tickets and all the details here.

• USA Today Food & Wine Experience is coming back again to Raleigh on Saturday October 26th at the Big Field at Dix Park. Chef Jared Bobkin coordinates this event visiting approximately 12 U.S. cities annually. Get all the details here.

Food Bank Corner

• Picture this scenario: you have enough money to purchase food for the week, but not enough to cover your utility bills or transportation costs to work. Many of our neighbors in our own communities who face food insecurity struggle silently and have to make the difficult choice to go without meals to make ends meet. Every day at the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, they hear stories from grateful children, families, and seniors about the impacts of having access to nutritious food and especially fresh produce. Your generous gift, no matter the size, has the power to nourish countless lives, ignite hope, and pave the way for a brighter future. Give today if you can.