Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news…that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.
Featured Restaurant News
- OK, we are going to try and return to a bit of normalcy here – but fully realizing our restaurants and caterers need our continued support – now more than ever. The two biggest things you can do are: One, continue supporting our amazing local restaurants and their curbside pick-up and deliveries. You know you are tired of cooking at home! And, two, continue to support all those efforts to support hospitality workers, frontline workers and those serving our communities. You can review all of those on my post from last week here. Thanks for all the love and support that we are seeing throughout all of our communities!
Wake County Restaurant News
- In Raleigh, Brew to Brew Cafe is now open at 8369 Creedmoor Road. It is a locally owned and operated cafe bakery, with their full menu available all day every day featuring locally sourced ingredients, specialty baked goods and handcrafted beverages. Online ordering and pickup is available 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. A second location in Clayton (50 Neuse River Parkway) is scheduled to open later in May. Get to know them here.
- Over in Cary, got word from Chase Riker that he will be bringing Burrito Shak (founded in Hamstead, NC) to Cary late summer/early fall. It will be opening at 2982 Kildaire Farm Road in the former Cozzolino Pizza/Protojava spot in Hemlock Plaza at the corner with Penny Road. Riker said to expect a coastal, beachy, relaxed vibe featuring high-quality, local infusion of ingredients and freshly prepared food. Look for them to open mid-August. Get familiar with them here and keep up with their progress on their Facebook page here.
- Down in Wendell, folks have something very exciting to look forward to. Got word from Lindy Shoaf of Allure Interior Design that Farmers & Merchants, a craft brewery and pub/restaurant, will be opening soon. Located at 1 North Main Street, they are in a historic building built in the early 1900’s and currently being renovated. They will offer a comfortable setting with a large bourbon selection, draft beer, bottled beer, wine by the glass and a small light fare menu with flatbreads and appetizers. No word on their opening date just yet. Get all the details and see their menu on their website here. Follow any announcements on their Facebook page here.
- Both Wake Forest and Garner are on schedule to open locations of Eggs Up Grill. The one in Wake Forest will be at 1009 Forestville Road, while the Garner location will be at 1563 Hwy. 70. Eggs Up Grill originated in the coastal community of Pawleys Island, South Carolina and now has locations all over the Southeast. Get to know them here.
- A Place at the Table as been able to help feed so many locals in need during this pandemic — and they are asking for your help again this Friday for their #FeedRaleighFriday pledge. One meal is a $10 donation, and you can donate by texting “feed” to 919-299-2033 or donating on their website here. White Memorial Presbyterian has already pledged to donate 100 meals this week, so help share good food with our city and community.
- Chef Ashley Christensen is co-creating her own apéritif with Sonoma based spirits brand, Haus, through an initiative called The Restaurant Project. 100% of the profits from the Haus x Poole’s Diner spirit go directly to Ashley’s Raleigh-area restaurants, helping them stay afloat and relaunch their restaurants post-COVID. The Haus x Poole’s Diner apéritif is inspired by some of Ashley’s favorite ingredients, including grapefruit, earthy thyme, fragrant Tellicherry pepper, and honey, and it’s great on the rocks or with simple mixers. The Poole’s apéritif is currently available for pre-order in a 2-pack for $80. Haus pays out 100% of the profits to each restaurant weekly, so every purchase has an immediate impact. Get all the details and order here.
- Got word that the good folks over at Sassool, with locations in Raleigh (2) and Cary, in appreciation of National Nurses Week (May 6-12) are offering a 15% discount to ALL individuals that order from Sassool and show their medical badge at checkout during the week of May 6-12th. This is at both Sassool Cary and Raleigh. Visit Sassool here.
- And finally, Vivian Howard’s new TV series, Somewhere South, premiers a new show tonight, May 1 at 8 p.m. on PBS. This episode is entitled “How Do You Cue?” where you’ll follow Howard on a journey to learn how other Southerners cook and eat barbecue. She travels to Florida for smoked mullet and Texas for barbecue with Japanese and Mexican twists. Get all the details here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- Got word from friend Andrea Weigl that Torero’s Mexican Restaurant re-opened this week for takeout and delivery. The restaurant was one of the eateries affected by the Durham gas explosion last year. They are located next door to St. James Seafood in the Brightleaf Square district. Swing by and pick-up your takeout to welcome them back to Durham! Check them out here. Congratulations to owners Jose Arias, Emmanuel Martinez and Francisco Equihua.
- And in Chapel Hill, residents continue to wait patiently for the opening of Que Chula (craft tacos and tequilla bar) which will be opening in Hops Burger Bar’s old location on 104 W. Franklin Street. No official date has been announced, but the pictures on their Facebook page seem to indicate it is not far from opening for take-out/delivery.
Closings
- Saw this week that Liquid State in downtown Raleigh closed their brick and mortar location last Sunday, April 26. They will still offer artwork, merchandise and drinks, but they will no longer have their brick and mortar location on Hillsborough Street. Visit their site here.
- And over in Chapel Hill, Chapelboro.com reported that Lotsa Stone Fired Pizza permanently closed on Franklin Street citing the pandemic as the cause.
Food Trucks
Events
- As of now, the 5th Annual Raleigh International Food Festival will be held on Saturday, June 6 from noon until 10 p.m. in the 100-200 block of Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. While there you will be able to try authentic international food, desserts as well as imported beer and wine! There will also be lots of music and entertainment at this child and pet friendly event. Admission is free and parking on the street is as well. Obviously, keep up with their Facebook event page for any announcements and/or rescheduling. Get all the details on their Facebook event page here.
- This event is in Asheville, but who wouldn’t be down for a road trip come August? So, the Buxton Hall Barbecue’s Smokeshow Festival has been rescheduled to August 23, 2020. The wood-fired-hog-centric event is set to overflow with the biggest names in BBQ along with some of the nation’s most notable chefs, all coming together under one roof. Alongside endless soul-warming ‘cue from your favorite joints from across the southeast & beyond, guests can also expect to get down to live music, nosh on some equally as show-stopping non-BBQ bites and taste test Asheville’s best local brews from Highland Brewery. Get all the details here and tickets can be purchased here.
- The Fest in the West is back for its fifth year on Saturday, November 7 from 11 am- 5 pm at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary. The event features food & beer, music, arts & crafts, a KidZone, contests and a petting zoo. A great way to spend time with 7,000 of your closest friends. Admission is free! Get all the details here.
Food Bank Corner
- This is a fun and delicious way to support the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Through the end of May, D’Nardys Cheesecakes will be donating $1 for every jar sold via local delivery to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, a nonprofit organization that has provided food for our friends and neighbors facing hunger in 34 counties. So order a four or six pack or however many you would like of their cheesecakes – you can select from chocolate cream, chocolate chip, snicker-doodle or peanut butter. Jars are $5.95 and include free delivery! Contact them here or at 919-481-3381 and they’ll bring their jars right to your door or place of business. Stay safe, keep eating cheesecake and don’t forget to support your local businesses.
