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Featured Restaurant News

• Triangle Business Journal shared that Northside Bistro & Cocktails owners chef John Scarangella and his wife Carol have “officially” opened their second restaurant in Raleigh, this one with an Italian theme. Encore Ristorante is located in the Shoppes at Wakefield Park in Northeast Raleigh near Wake Forest in the former Bruno Seafood & Steaks (11211 Galleria Ave.). The menu features a variety of homemade pastas, Italian desserts, steaks and Scarangella’s take on lasagna bolognese he learned how to make in Bologna. Get familiar with them here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• And speaking of great dining options in North Raleigh…breakfast lovers will delight with the news that Sunday AM Eatery is now open in the former Pickled Pub spot (14460 Falls of Neuse Road) in the Wakefield Commons shopping center (think Pickled Onion and Milton’s). It is brought to us by the same folks behind their extremely popular Pickled Onion concept (three locations..with more on the way). Enjoy breakfast and brunch every day of the week from 6:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Get all the details on their Instagram page here and Facebook page here.

• The News & Observer reported this week that French bakery La Farm will open a new restaurant at 202 S. Salem Street in Apex. The building is a former SunTrust bank branch. Now the bakery has its main location at Preston Corners in Cary, plus four satellite stores around Wake County. La Farm is nearing completion on its latest bakery and cafe in North Raleigh’s Creekside Crossings Shopping Center. Visit LaFarm here.

• Raleigh Magazine shared the news that Stella’s, Raleigh’s newest “trailer-park chic” dive bar, is officially opening on Saturday, October 26th in the former Devereux location on North West Street (911 N. West Street to be exact). Congratulations to owner Lena Ali and the team around her! Keep up with them on Instagram here.

• RALtoday shared that Sweetgreen, the mission-driven restaurant brand serving healthy food at scale, will open next Tuesday, October 29th in Raleigh’s North Hills in the Commons in North Hills at 4158 Main at North Hills Street. While the concept has over 200 locations across the United States, this will be their second location in North Carolina (they have a location in Charlotte). Founded in 2007, they believe real food should be convenient and accessible to everyone – meals from fresh ingredients and produce that prioritizes organic, regenerative, and local sourcing. Get to know them here.

• The News & Observer reported that  Rosati’s Authentic Chicago Pizza has opened their newest location in Raleigh at Falls Village Shopping Center (6615 Falls of Neuse Rd.) across from North Ridge Country Club. Another location is set to open in Apex in November (76 Hunter St.). Visit Roast’s here.

• A quick correction from last week….Despite showing that they are “open” on their website (with hours posted and all) you will have to wait a little longer for the newest location of Chipotle in Cary. But soon you will find the newest location at 3402 Kildaire Farm Road, in the old First Citizens Bank in the Millpond Village shopping center (think Publix). Visit Chipotle here.

• This is the last weekend to attend arguably one of the biggest food events of the year – the NC State Fair at the NC State Fairgrounds located at 4285 Trinity Road in Raleigh. The fair runs until this Sunday, Oct. 27. And most importantly, here is a listing of all the new foods at this year’s fair! (Warning: simply reading this list will add inches to your waistline!)

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• In Durham, got word this week that James Beard Award-nominated chef Oscar Diaz’s new all-day cafe Aaktun Coffee + Bar is now open at 704 Ramseur Street. It is brought to us by Diaz and the folks behind Mezcalito Group. Aaktun will join Little Bull and the soon-to-open Tataco on the Durham drink/food scene. The eatery offers a diverse menu, blending Mexican-American cuisine with global influences. The concept will feature a late-night menu and extended hours until 2 a.m. starting in November. Get to know them here.

• Natalie Dolgireff shared on the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook page that Pizza Cornicione in Hillsborough has officially opened its dine-in part of the restaurant, full bar service as well as its outdoor patio (230 South Nash Street). She noted that they make wonderful pizzas, salads and more as well as a fabulous chocolate budino for dessert. They are open 4-9 p.m., Wednesday – Sunday. Get familiar with them here.

Closings

• None to report. Keep eating local, folks!

Food Trucks

• Just across the Chatham County line just outside of Chapel Hill is a new “food truck hangout” for three very popular food trucks. Located at 60 Andrews Store Rd. (intersection with 15-501) at America’s Best Storage you’ll now find Lucas Tacos & Burgers, Tacos Zona and Three Waters Café.

• The final Durham Food Truck Rodeo of the season will be Sunday, November 3rd from noon until 4 p.m. 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

• Chapel Hill’s Market and Moss will hold their final event to celebrate their anniversary this Sunday, October 27: Benefit Brunch for Compass Center – 20% of all brunch sales will be donated to Compass Center, which helps people navigate their journey to stability, safety, and health with services that include domestic violence crisis and prevention programs, education, assistance with legal resources, and youth health programs.  Get details and reservations/tickets on all their events here.

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

• The Pay-What-You-Can Community Feast will take place at The Plant (220 Lorax Lane) in Pittsboro on Sunday, October 27th at 5 p.m. dinner will benefit Feed-Well Fridges and its mission to transform food waste into vital meals for our community. It is being organized by incredible community partners, including: Café Root Cellar, Postal Fish Company, The Local Church, Kingston 99 Kitchen, JDub’s PoBoys, The Plant, Buttermilk Boutique, BMC Brewing, Heart Song Farm, The Sycamore, 39 West Catering, In Good Heart Farm, Lilly Den Farm, Drip Culture Farm, Carolina Cravings…and many more still to come! The meal will be served family-style and include kid-friendly options. Registration is requested (for food count). Get all the details here.

• Here is a great option for the adults that still love to get dressed up for Halloween! The Deep Creeps Halloween Party at Kingfisher + Queeny’s is on Thursday, October 31 from 8 pm – midnight at 321 E. Chapel Hill Street. Attendees will party from 8 pm ‘til midnight with spooky beverage specials and music by DJ Zac Lor (Kingfisher) and DJ Lolo (Queeny’s). There will be a $400 cash prize for the best costume – entrants must arrive at either spot by 10 pm, and the costume must be original and handmade! Entry is $10 at the door and free for service industry friends. Entry fee gets you into both parties. Best to get details on their Instagram here.

• Carolina Brewery announced their Seventh Annual Oyster Roast on Saturday, Nov. 2nd from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. at their Pittsboro Brewery Restaurant. This highly anticipated event will benefit the North Carolina Coastal Federation and Outer Banks Forever. Admission is free and freshly steamed or raw oysters will be available for purchase by the half-dozen or dozen. The oysters, sourced from North Carolina’s own Ghost Fleet Oyster Co., will be served by the oyster farmers themselves, offering a true farm-to-table experience. Get all the details here.

• Chef David Ellis of Raleigh’s Figulina is launching an exclusive series of wine dinners, beginning with a Sicilian-inspired five-course feast on Nov 4. Each course will be thoughtfully paired with a selection of Sicilian wines curated by Figulina’s wine director, Jeff Bramwell. A seasoned expert in Italian wines, he has nearly two decades of experience in the Triangle’s wine industry, and has spent extensive time traveling across Italy, learning directly from local winemakers, farmers and chefs about each region’s wine and foodways. The evening will begin with a mini aperitivo hour at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Guests will enjoy community-style seating for an immersive, family-style Sicilian experience. The $240 ticket includes all food, wine and gratuity (excluding tax). Get tickets and all the details here.

• Seabird’s (Wilmington) Chef/Owner Dean Neff will team up with Preeti Waas from Cheeni in Durham for a dinner on Wednesday, November 20th specifically earmarked to benefit industry peers in Western North Carolina, in the wake of Hurricane Helene. (They are also doing a dinner in Wilmington on October 15th). Tickets are $150. Tickets for the Durham event can be purchased here.

Food Bank Corner

• Kids are back in 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

• Diced, a locally-owned, woman-owned restaurant specializing in fresh, made-to-order salads, wraps and grain bowls, has opened its newest location in the heart of downtown Raleigh at 121 Fayetteville Street (directly across the street from the recently opened Birdie’s Barroom & Kitchen). The concept was started in Cary in 2015 with their first store on Kildaire Farm Road, and this marks their fourth location. The other two locations are on Oberlin Road in Raleigh and in West Cary. Visit Diced here. Congratulations to Michelle Woodward and her team on their continued success.

Wake County Restaurant News

• And speaking of downtown Raleigh, it was shared this week that Barrio Tacos + Tequila + Whiskey will come to Smoky Hollow, marking another exciting addition to downtown Raleigh’s vibrant food scene. Known for its build-your-own tacos, creative cocktails, and bold flavors, they are set to open in early 2025 with their first Raleigh location and first in North Carolina. They have expanded across the country, offering customers the opportunity to customize their tacos with a wide range of fresh, unique ingredients, with an emphasis on fun, flavor, and a community-focused vibe. Start getting familiar with them here.

• And if that is not enough great news coming out of downtown Raleigh, Raleigh Magazine shared that the second location of  Sir Walter Coffee will open Monday, October 21st on Fayetteville Street in the former B.Good spot in Charter Square. In the morning and throughout the day, look for them to serve up the coffee and food menu you have come to love in their current location. In the evening, they will transition with the city into evening mode switching to Sir Walter Cocktail – and your favorite adult beverages. Visit them here.

• OK, one more. The Downtown Raleigh Alliance shared this week that Strada Ristobar, a restaurant that specializes in combining food and drink pairings in the style of popular European “restobars,” has opened at 301 Glenwood Avenue in the former location of Plates next to Sushi Blues. You can get familiar with them here.

• Over in West Raleigh, WRAL reported last week that The Local, the Carolina Hurricanes-owned elevated sports bar and restaurant at the old Backyard Bistro site, has opened just across Trinity Road from the Lenovo Center (1235 Hurricane Alley Way) and just in time for the NC State Fair and the Hurricanes’ hockey season. Please note that at this time, reservations are required. You can also purchase tailgate packages for events at Lenovo Center and NC State football games and the restaurant’s food truck will be at all Hurricanes’ games. Take a peek here.

• Over at North Hills, Raleigh Magazine shared that news that the newest location of Village Tavern, a scratch kitchen and cocktail bar, will open next Monday, October 21st. They are located at 4140 Lassiter Mill Road, Suite 140. This will mark the fifth North Carolina location (the original location was in Winston-Salem), and the first in the Triangle. Check them out here.

• Down in Fuquay-Varina, my buddy David McCreary notified me that My Way Tavern opened this week at 2136 Gathering Square Court at Bengal Towne Centre. He noted that his marks the third location for the popular restaurant, which also has locations in Holly Springs and Raleigh. Get to know them here.

• Over in Cary, reader Larry Rosen passed along the news that the newest location of Chipotle has opened. They are located at 3402 Kildaire Farm Road, in the old First Citizens Bank location in the Millpond Village shopping center (think Publix). Visit Chipotle here.

• And we would be remiss if we didn’t mention arguably one of the biggest food events of the year – the NC State Fair opened yesterday at the NC State Fairgrounds located at 4285 Trinity Road in Raleigh. The fair runs until Oct. 27. And most importantly, here is a listing of all the new foods at this year’s fair! (Warning: simply reading this list will add inches to your waistline!)

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Over in Durham, a program note. Lela Leggett shared on the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook page that the El Rodeo at 3404 Westgate Drive near Sam’s is now a Mi Cancun. Visit them here.

• Carrie Brogren, founder of the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook page, shared the yummy news that Chapel Chill, an ice cream shop, will open in early 2025 on Weaver Dairy Road in Cedar Falls Courtyard, the same shopping center as The Pig and PiggyBack. They will offer premium ice cream made in the store. Might be best to follow along on Instagram for updates and announcements.

Closings

• Reader Katie Page shared with us that Smiths Smokehouse and Smoothies up in Wake Forest posted on their Instagram that their last day open will be October 27th. So, you’ve got some time to get by before they close. And they hinted, this is not the end…so stay tuned!

Food Trucks

• The Durham Foodie Fare returns to Durham’s Central Park tonight (October 18) from 5:30 until 8:30. The monthly foodie and art markets feature a food truck rodeo, 30+ local vendors, drinks, and more. Get all the details here.

• The final Durham Food Truck Rodeo of the season will be Sunday, November 3rd from noon until 4 p.m. 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

• Now Serving Food + Wine, a celebration benefiting community meals will be held this Saturday, October 19th at Smoky Hollow in downtown Raleigh from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. The events includes 30 participants, presenting leading area chefs alongside California vintners, nearby breweries and distilleries, and community partners. Your ticket purchase supports meals for The Women’s Center, New Bethel Food Pantry, Lincoln Park Pantry, Solid Rock Ministry, Wake Relief, Durham Children’s Initiative, and more. Food collaborations: Amitie Macaron, Colletta, Figulina, Flour and Barrel, Hummingbird, Julep Contemporary Kitchen, La Buena VIda, Lawrence Barbecue, Locals Seafood, Madre, Mandolin, Midwood Smokehouse, Mr. Burro, Native Fine Diner, Oak Steakhouse, O-Ku, Oro, Sweet Things and Dough Rings, St. Roch, Stanbury, Standard Beer + Food, Tepuy Donuts, The Merchant NC, Trophy on Morgan, Virgil’s, and more. Wine: Chappellet, Donelan, Rarecat, Sangiacomo, and Sojourn Cellars. Spirits: Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Beer: R&D Brewing. Coffee: Blackology and Pine State. Get all the details and purchase tickets here.

• Everybody knows what October 19th is…right? Yep, National Whole Hog Day. Yes, The Pit in Downtown Raleigh will be celebrating by serving up $5 barbecue sandwiches and $5 Clouds Brewing Baltic Porters for National Whole Hog Barbecue Day, Saturday, Oct. 19 (11am – 11pm)! They’ll be cookin’ up whole hogs on the pit and making their signature Eastern N.C. barbecue sandwiches for you to dig into. Go hang and celebrate the tradition and history of authentic whole hog barbecue. Best to visit their Facebook events page here for all the details.

• Chapel Hill’s Market and Moss will host an event each week in October to celebrate their anniversary: Wednesday, October 23: Free Gift Bags – All dinner guests will receive a free bag of goodies from the kitchen. Sunday, October 27: Benefit Brunch for Compass Center – 20% of all brunch sales will be donated to Compass Center, which helps people navigate their journey to stability, safety, and health with services that include domestic violence crisis and prevention programs, education, assistance with legal resources, and youth health programs.  Get details and reservations/tickets on all their events 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.

• Seabird’s (Wilmington) Chef/Owner Dean Neff will team up with Preeti Waas from Cheeni in Durham for a dinner on Wednesday, November 20th specifically earmarked to benefit industry peers in Western North Carolina, in the wake of Hurricane Helene. (They are also doing a dinner in Wilmington on October 15th). Tickets are $150. Tickets for the Durham event can be purchased here.

Food Bank Corner

• Kids are back in 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!