Category Archives: Uncategorized

Featured Restaurant News

• The News & Observer reported this week that Delancey Tavern, the third restaurant from the owners of popular downtown Durham staples Bull McCabes and the pizzeria Hutchins Garage, has opened in the former Weeks Motor Company building at 408 W. Geer Street in Durham. Taking its name from a New York City street in the Lower East Side, the menu features elevated American with burgers and fries, steak frites, rainbow trout with pomegranate-soy glaze and a throwback to a beloved Durham dish from long ago, the “Chicken Cooked Under a Brick” from the former downtown Mediterranean restaurant Pop’s according to the paper. The space also features an upstairs lounge with velvet couches to enjoy drinks. They are open for walk-in business Wednesday through Monday. Look for expanded hours and brunch service in the coming months. Visit them here. See some pictures (it is beautiful!) and the menu on Instagram here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Just a reminder that Velvet Taco, the nationally acclaimed taco restaurant known for its imaginative, globally inspired tacos, will be opening its first Raleigh location at North Hills next Monday, February 16th. The restaurant will occupy the former World of Beer space at the base of Captrust Tower in the Park District. With quite an eclectic menu, look for everything from Korean Fried Rice and Nashville Hot Tofu to Spicy Tikka Chicken and Fish N’ Chips. And don’t miss their signature Red Velvet Cake for dessert! Get familiar with them here.

• Over on Hillsborough Street, Roots Natural Kitchen, which also has a location on Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street, will “officially” open having its Grand Opening on Saturday, February 21st (hint: 40% off all bowls and free Roots sweatshirts) across from NC State’s campus at 2712 Hillsborough Street (think former Gumby’s spot). But if you just happen to stop by next week…their “Welcome Week”…you might find them in soft-open mode. If you are not familiar with Roots, they were founded in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2015 serving up natural food in a fast-casual setting and now have just over 20 locations, mostly in the mid-Atlantic. Get to know them here.

• Raleigh Downtown shared that coastal North Carolina favorite Drift Coffee & Kitchen is
  opening a second Raleigh location (fourth in the Triangle) on the first floor of the The Weld (1001 Hammell Drive) near Dix Park. They will offer a full-service coffee and brunch experience with an all-day menu featuring breakfast, brunch, and lunch favorites. Stay tuned for an opening date. Visit Drift here.

• In North Raleigh, Raleigh Magazine shared that UglyFish, serving up modern sushi and seasonal plates in a New York-style atmosphere, has opened at 4701 Atlantic Ave, Suite 129. And let me just say, from looking at interior pictures and food shots, this place is anything but ugly. Get by and see for yourself! Visit them on Instagram here.

• Also up in North Raleigh, the Triangle Business Journal reported that franchisees Harsh and Varsha Kandakur are opening Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken & Wings at 5011 Falls of Neuse Road, Suite E, in the Quail Corners Shopping Center. They plan to open in June or July in the former I Heart Mac & Cheese between Juicekeys and Swagger Boutique. This will be the chain’s first location in the Triangle. Start getting familiar with them here.

• Over in Holly Springs, my buddy David McCreary notified me that locally owned Bricks ‘N Brews, a Lego-themed cafe, will open for business THIS Saturday, February 14, at 1118 Kentworth Drive in Holly Springs in the original Thanks A Latte space. The cafe will serve coffee and beer and guests can build their own minifigures or other Lego creations. The spot also will sell rare minifigures, Lego sets and loose bricks. Visit them here and follow them on Instagram here.

• And down in Johnston County, the News & Observer shared that Eggs Up Grill, a South Carolina-based chain, just opened its newest location in Benson. Located at 12524 NC Highway 210, it joins locations in Apex, Clayton, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Holly Springs and Raleigh. Check them out here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• It is official Chapel Hill! The long-awaited re-opening of Kipos Greek Tavern is just a week away now….with a re-opening date of February 21. They will begin with just dinner service, and will release plans to re-open for lunch and brunch after they get their doors back open. You’ll remember Kipos was devastated after the Tropical Storm Chantal flooding. Reseverations are now open for you to enjoy the same flavors, energy, and hospitality you expect from the Kipos staff! Make your reservations here.

• Big news for sports fans over in Durham as Glenn Gillen shared with me this week that sports bar E.O.’s Athletic Club, from the folks behind Queenie’s, Kingfisher and Queenburger, opened at 341 W. Main Street (former Beyu’s) this past weekend. Check them out on Instagram here.

• Also in Durham, reader Holly Deng shared that she spotted that there is a new Asian-fusion and sushi restaurant called Tang that has opened at 4015 University Drive. It looks to be in the former Neo-China space (but at least in the same shopping center). Visit them here.

• We first told you about this in June of last year, but we are inching closer to a June opening according to an update in the News & Observer. Red Phone Booth, an exclusive Prohibition-esque cocktail and cigar lounge, is now hiring and will soon open at 125 Orange St. They will deliver their renowned 400+ premium spirits, a curated selection of 200+ cigars, and Italian-inspired small plates and pizzas—plus a sophisticated intimate atmosphere and speakeasy-style entry through a restored London red phone booth. It will be the seventh location in the country and first in North Carolina. Check out the other locations here.

• Down in Pittsboro we noticed this week that The Place To Be Bar is going into the former Red Moose Brewing Company at 90 East Street, just off the circle in downtown. They posted an image of their temporary permit from ABC…so they are very close! Follow along on Instagram here.

Closings

• A closing isn’t the correct term….perhaps rebirth? At any rate, something new that has been in the works for months is coming to Giorgios Epicurean Market (GEM) in Raleigh. The Giorgios Hospitality Group concept has temporarily closed in anticipation of the upcoming transformation. Stay tuned for sure.

• We also learned that PLUS Dueling Piano Bar, located just off Glenwood in the Glenwood South district, will close in March.

Food Trucks

• Alright Philly fans, perhaps your Eagles didn’t deliver the season you had hoped for, but this truck definitely is. Check out the newest food truck rolling around the streets of the Triangle – George’s Authentic South Philly Steaks. Check this out – they hand-shave prime ribeye daily (for real), import aged provolone cheese and use Cooper Sharp brand cheese, have a proprietary recipe from a South Philadelphia bakery that LaFarm uses to make their bread fresh, and they use beef tallow fries. Alright Tim and Tina CoyneSmith, I need you to weigh in. Track down their truck 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

• Rocky Top Catering announced new dates for the eighth annual Cooking for the Kids, a multi-night culinary competition uniting the Triangle’s vibrant chef community in support of  an impactful local nonprofit, Overflowing Hands. Overflowing Hands is a 100% volunteer-led 501c3 organization serving the most vulnerable children in our neighborhoods, across the United States and around the world. Hosted at the elegant Millbrook Manor (located at 1705 E. Millbrook Road in Raleigh), Cooking for the Kids offers guests an immersive dining experience where philanthropy and culinary creativity take center stage. The finale is now scheduled for Tuesday, February 24. Check out who the winners were in week 1 and see what the next round entails. Get all the details, including competing chefs as well as tickets, here.

Food Bank Corner

• The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina is looking for caring friends to become Monthly Sustainers of the Food Bank to help respond to the ever-increasing demand for food assistance. When you partner with them monthly, you help ensure that healthy, nutritious food can reach people in need all year long. In fact, your monthly gift of: $25 can provide 75 meals per month; $35 can provide 105 meals per month; $50 can provide 150 meals per month; $100 can provide 300 meals per month. Plus, with your monthly commitment of $25 or more, they’ll send a special tote bag your way. And when you carry it, you are reminded of all you make possible for your neighbors through your consistent generosity! Become a Monthly Sustainer here.

Featured Restaurant News

• Got word this week that Velvet Taco, the nationally acclaimed taco restaurant known for its imaginative, globally inspired tacos, will be opening its first Raleigh location at North Hills on February 16th. The restaurant will occupy the former World of Beer space at the base of Captrust Tower in the Park District. With quite an eclectic menu, look for everything from Korean Fried Rice and Nashville Hot Tofu to Spicy Tikka Chicken and Fish N’ Chips. And don’t miss their signature Red Velvet Cake for dessert! Get familiar with them here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Over in Glenwood South, The Dirty V, a plant-based restaurant, with additional locations opening soon in Myrtle Beach and Miami, is now in soft-open mode (just working out a few cosmetic changes). They took over the former Marian Cocktails & Kitchen spot at 301 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 100. Visit Dirty V here.

• Mother Nature had a different plan for the opening of Jubala’s new late-night spot, Bar Marigold. Originally planning to open this past Wednesday at 301 Hillsborough Street (corner of Hillsborough and Dawson) in the Pendo building, they will now hold their grand opening tonight, February 6th. A coffee shop in the morning and throughout the day, it changes up gears and becomes your newest evening lounge to grab a curated menu of classic, new, and coffee-infused cocktails (including espresso martinis), mocktails, and evening bites. Follow along on Instagram.

• Over on Hillsborough Street, Roots Natural Kitchen, which also has a location on Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street, will open on Saturday, February 21st across from NC State’s campus at 2712 Hillsborough Street (think former Gumby’s spot). If you are not familiar with Roots, they were founded in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2015 serving up natural food in a fast-casual setting and now have just over 20 locations, mostly in the mid-Atlantic. Get to know them here.

• Over in Apex, Adam Orentlicher sent us a note letting us know that Taki Sushi opened in Sweetwater Town Center (just off Hwy. 64 at 2701 Lawnview Lane, Suite 103) kind of across from Southern Peak Brewery Taproom and Pizzeria and behind Fratelli’s Delicatessen. This area is quickly becoming a “food court” of sorts for Apex! Check out Taki Sushi here.

• A little out of our “normal” coverage area, but this might be worth the hour drive down to Southern Pines where Wisco Taco Foxtrot, a casual yet elevated taco restaurant with touches of Midwestern flavor and hospitality, will open on February 12th. Expect a fun, vibrant gathering place offering scratch-made tacos, creative cocktails and a relaxed atmosphere. Take a peek here and then jump in your car and head on down.

• And kudos to brothers Casey and Mick Vorbeck as Manhattan Cafe was picked by Chowhound as North Carolina’s best hole-in-the-wall sandwich shop joining 49 others, one in each state. The downtown location (320 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh) got the nod for being the hole-in-the wall, but they also have a location in RTP (1004 Lower Shiloh Way, Morrisville). Stop by and see for yourself here. See the article in Chowhoud here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• The News & Observer shared that a location of Paris Banh Mi, known for banh mi, baked goods and drinks such as boba tea, will have their soft opening on Thursday, Feb. 12th in Chapel Hill’s Meadowmont development at 407 Meadowmont Village Circle (formerly Meet Fresh and before that, Five Guys). There is already a location in Cary. Congrats to owner Thai Doan. Start getting familiar with them here.

• And another re-opening at Chapel Hill’s Eastgate Crossing shopping center following the devastating flooding from Tropical Storm Chantal. Clean Juice opened this week simply announcing, “We are back!” Visit them here.

Closings

• Reader Bridget Lambusko notified us that Giorgios Bakatsias has closed his recently opened sushi spot in Raleigh called Tomi Sushi (they opened last October). It was in the East End Market development (off East Whitaker Mill Road between Wake Forest Road and Atlantic Avenue).

• Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Bahama Breeze is closing its tropical-themed Raleigh restaurant on Wake Forest Road on April 5th. Owned by Darden Restaurants, it will become one of its other concepts. Stay tuned.

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

• Due to the weather, the dates for the annual Triangle Restaurant Week have been extended through February 8th (but check with each restaurant before heading out). During the event, participating restaurants within Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham and surrounding areas will offer a special 2 or 3-course prix fixe menu ($20, $25, $30,$35, $40, $45, $50) each day they are open. Get a full list of restaurants, hours, days and all the details here.

• Rocky Top Catering announced new dates for the eighth annual Cooking for the Kids, a multi-night culinary competition uniting the Triangle’s vibrant chef community in support of  an impactful local nonprofit, Overflowing Hands. Overflowing Hands is a 100% volunteer-led 501c3 organization serving the most vulnerable children in our neighborhoods, across the United States and around the world. Hosted at the elegant Millbrook Manor (located at 1705 E. Millbrook Road in Raleigh), Cooking for the Kids offers guests an immersive dining experience where philanthropy and culinary creativity take center stage. The first round was last Monday, and the finale is now scheduled for Tuesday, February 24. Check out who the winners were in week 1 and see what the next round entails. Get all the details, including competing chefs as well as tickets, here.

Food Bank Corner

• The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina is looking for caring friends to become Monthly Sustainers of the Food Bank to help respond to the ever-increasing demand for food assistance. When you partner with them monthly, you help ensure that healthy, nutritious food can reach people in need all year long. In fact, your monthly gift of: $25 can provide 75 meals per month; $35 can provide 105 meals per month; $50 can provide 150 meals per month; $100 can provide 300 meals per month. Plus, with your monthly commitment of $25 or more, they’ll send a special tote bag your way. And when you carry it, you are reminded of all you make possible for your neighbors through your consistent generosity! Become a Monthly Sustainer here.