Featured Restaurant News
- Big news out of Cary this week as the Triangle Business Journal shared that prolific restaurateur Giorgios Bakatsias, owner of Giorgios Hospitality Group, will open Naos Hellenic Cuisine in the former Kō•än space (and before that An Asian Cuisine) on Harrison Avenue. According to TBJ, Naos will emphasize seafood and fish, large cuts of lamb and beef and a variety of slow-braised dishes cooked in clay pots. The restaurant will also serve a variety of vegetable dishes and mezethes, or small plates. Look for them to open this October. Keep up with Bakatsias (if you can) here!
Wake County Restaurant News
- The News & Observer shared this week that Epic Chophouse will open this year in Raleigh’s Brier Creek Commons Shopping Center (8551 Brier Creek Pkwy.). This will be the fourth location for the concept that was founded in Mooresville, North Carolina, in 2010. While they are known for their steaks (which are aged for at least 35 days), there are other meat options, including the Lowcountry pork chop, a breaded and pan-fried, 14-ounce, bone-in chop with red eye gravy, served with grits. Epic also serves chicken and seafood dishes. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention an offering nicknamed by customers as “crack toast” — it is a toasted baguette topped with a four-cheese spread. Start getting familiar with them here.
- You have no doubt heard about all the changes coming to the area around the Lenovo Center (formerly PNC Arena) – very, very exciting. But the most immediate change that will take place was shared this week in the Triangle Business Journal. Gale Force Sports & Entertainment is readying the former Backyard Bistro to reopen as The Local at 1235 Hurricane Alley Way across Trinity Road from the arena and Carter-Finley Stadium. The new restaurant is aiming to open in time for the Canes’ home opener on Oct. 11th. They hinted that it will still feature the barbecue that people enjoyed at Backyard Bistro but will have a “more elevated menu for fans to enjoy.”
- Good news this week in Apex as my Twitter (X) buddy @Burgeoningbaker shared with me that Utica Bakery is returning to their old home. If you are not familiar with them, they are an authentic artisan bakery specializing in hand-crafted European/Italian pastries and baked goods…both savory and sweet! Looks like they are aiming for a November return to 430 Upchurch Street. Might be best to follow along on Instagram here.
- We got word this week that restaurateurs Luke Simmons and David Harris are opening a location of Slim Chickens next Monday, September 16th in Smithfield at 1311 N Brightleaf Blvd. Slim Chickens opened in 2003 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with a focus on fresh, delicious food with a southern flair in a fast-casual setting. The franchise has over 250 locations across the United States and the United Kingdom. Get to know them here.
- Up in Wake Forest, reader Chris Trude shared with us that the newest location of the popular burger and fries joint, Five Guys, opened this week. They are located at 535 Doctor Calvin Jones Highway. Visit them here.
- Really sad to share this, but you will want to make plans to get by one last time. Seaboard Cafe, which opened in the back of Logan’s Trading Company at Seaboard Station in 1991, will officially close on September 28th. Word has it that owner Rick Perales is working on a commemorative t-shirt that you can purchase as a keepsake. They are open 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday thru Saturday (closed on Sunday). Visit them here. (Pro tip: they will be extremely busy for the final month, so get by early)
- And a huge congratulations to Angie Mikus as her restaurant, Angie’s Restaurant in Garner, celebrated 13 years this week. If you’ve never been to enjoy their Southern cooking (Monday thru Saturday 5:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.), stop by and wish Angie and her team a happy 13th birthday! Visit them here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- Big news out of Chapel Hill thanks to our friends over at Chapelboro. They shared that The Purple Bowl, an açai bowl eatery and café, has completed their relocation a couple of blocks further down Franklin Street to 505 West Franklin Street. They first opened in 2017 at 306 W. Franklin, but development plans forced them to look for a new home. The move gives them a larger space and an outdoor space they are calling The Patio which will serve as an outdoor programming space and handle customers walking up to a service window. Look for a similar menu for now, but The Patio could add foods like pastries, salads, and more. Check them out here.
- Carrie Brogren shared with the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook group that starting in October, 401 Main will no longer be offering/serving food. However their drink menu/spirits/bar and weekly drink specials/ offerings will remain (along with a renewed focus on hosting live music). They are inviting local food trucks to contact them and collaborate for on site food offerings. Visit 401 here.
- The Wine Feed in Durham (307 S. Roxboro Street) announced this week that they are evolving into a full-service restaurant pairing its impressive wine list with a freshly prepared, seasonal menu featuring small plates, hand-cut pasta dishes, entreés, and decadent, house-made desserts. Visit them here.
- Also in Durham, reader “Christina” shared with us that the former Harvest 18 space in Renaissance Village (8128 Renaissance Pkwy.) will soon be home to the newest location of Cava. No word on a timeline. Visit Cava here.
Closings
- Reader Jan Delory shared with us the news that 9.19 Island Cuisine up on Capital Blvd. in Wake Forest in the in the Harris Road Shopping Plaza has closed.
Food Trucks
- Jennifer Martin let us know that the last Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo of 2024 will take place on Saturday, September 21st from noon until 6 p.m. on Fayetteville Street in the heart of Downtown Raleigh. Whether you’re a fan of gourmet burgers, delicious tacos, or decadent desserts, this food truck rodeo promises to have something for everyone! Visit their Facebook event page 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
- The tenth-annual WRAL Voters’ Choice Awards will be back this fall. The new and improved ballot will make it easier than ever to nominate and vote for the best. With over 100 categories, this is your chance to help businesses, people and services in central North Carolina get the recognition they deserve. From now through October 9 you can submit nominations here.
- The 6th Annual Sola Hot Mini 5k, dedicated to ending ALS, is this Saturday, September 14th at 8:30 a.m. featuring a 5k (walk or run), a 1-mile fun run and a virtual runner option (that sounds about my speed!). To date, the Sola community has raised over $600,000 to go directly to this severely underfunded disease. Kudos to the Sola community that has rallied around the fight to end ALS. Sign up and get all the details here.
- La Fiesta del Pueblo is the Triangle’s largest and most diverse festival of Latin American culture is this Sunday, September 15th from noon until 6 p.m. on downtown Raleigh’s Fayetteville Street. The event features live music and dance performances, artisanal vendors, food trucks, educational booths, and activities for the whole family! Get all the details here.
- The Restaurant at The Durham is launching a series of monthly Sunday Suppers starting Sept. 15 with a Southern family-style feast. The menu includes Crispy Fried Chicken with Candied Jalapeño Hot Sauce, Creamy Mac and Cheese, Gus’s Slow-Cooked Beans, Summer Elote Salad and more. The dinner costs $45 for adults and $15 for children under 12. Other upcoming events include an Italian Sunday Supper in October, Friendsgiving in November and a Holiday Feast in December. The Durham is located at 315 E. Chapel Hill St. Get all the details and tickets here.
- Every September, restaurants and bars around the world celebrate Negroni Week. The Willard Rooftop Lounge is one of 17 Triangle restaurants and bars participating from Sept. 16-22. Negroni Week raises money for Slow Food, a global movement of local communities and activists across more than 160 countries seeking to change the world through food and beverage. The Willard is located at the AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown at 9 Glenwood Ave. Get all the details here.
- Lakeside Kitchen will have their next Whiskey Wednesday on Wednesday, September 25th from 4-8:30 p.m. featuring High West Double Rye. They are located in the Park Alumni Center on NC State’s Centennial Campus. Drinks are just $8. Get all the details here.
- On Sunday, September 29th, peppers are returning to Pittsboro at the 17th Annual PepperFest at The Plant (220 Lorax Lane). There will be pepper dishes, pepper cocktails, a pepper sauce competition, a chili cookoff, and more. The event runs from noon until 6 p.m. Get all the details on their Facebook events page here.
- Turn up the heat because Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week is back October 5th–13th! Throughout the week, participating restaurants downtown will offer 3-course prix-fixe meals or limited-time lunch, dinner, & drinks specials. Support your favorite spots or try somewhere new, Restaurant Week is your excuse to skip the grocery lines and go out to eat instead. Look for the list of participating restaurants to be released soon. Get all the details here.
- Scott Crawford, a renowned chef, five-time semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation, will hold an exclusive seated, family-style dinner on October 20 at Healing Transitions called Freedom Harvest: an Evening with Scott Crawford. Healing Transitions is a nonprofit organization in Raleigh dedicated to providing long-term recovery services and overnight shelter for individuals who are homeless, underserved and uninsured. This event holds special significance as it marks Crawford’s 20th year of recovery. Attendees can look forward to experiencing Crawford’s culinary expertise while supporting a vital cause. Get 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!
