Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news…that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.
Featured Restaurant News
- We are continuing our path to some sort of normalcy, but please realize that our restaurants and caterers need our continued support. 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 in a previous post here. Thanks for all the love and support that we are seeing throughout all of our communities!
- As we get closer to NC’s Phase 2 and eventually Phase 3, kudos to the NC Restaurant and Lodging Association for their “Count on Me NC” restaurant promise initiative. When customers see this endorsement, they can be certain that the restaurant is taking all necessary steps to protect their employees and customers and is committed to playing a leadership role in protecting our communities. Read about it here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- Chubby’s Tacos is enjoying a bit of revitalization and growth even amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic! Sales are up at their Raleigh/Lake Boone and Durham/Woodcroft locations and they are expanding into Wake Forest, taking over the space formerly occupied by Chronic Tacos at 1000 Forestville Rd. in the Shoppes of Heritage. In speaking to the Chubby’s folks they were so grateful and appreciative of the support they have received from the community during this time. Look for that location to open on June 3rd. Visit Chubby’s Tacos here.
- According to information from Mike DePersia at National Restaurant Properties, Saffron in Morrisville is being replaced by Chutney’s, a breakfast/lunch/dinner concept serving Indian fare brought you you by the group from Curry Point Express in RTP and on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. They will undergo a slight remodel beginning June 1 and hope to be open by late summer. In the meantime, check out Curry Point here.
- Every Monday in May at any Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken location, healthcare workers get a free 1/4 Chicken Combo with any 2 sides complimentary. Just show your work badge…and enjoy! Check out all the area Alpaca locations here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- In Durham, a couple of tidbits from the Giorgios Hospitality and Lifestyle Group, Parizade has temporarily closed for a deep cleaning as they prepare to re-open once NC begins to “re-open.” Also, Vin Rouge reopened yesterday (Thursday) for takeout orders Thursday through Sunday. Orders are taken between 11am – 4pm those days, and scheduled pickups offered between 4pm – 8pm. Visit Vin Rouge here.
- We got word this week from the good folks over at Taste Carolina that the Durham Food Hall (or is it ‘Haul’ with the current conditions – thanks Dana McCall for that funny!) is slowly opening – bringing on a vendor or two at a time – for takeout. Right now just The Auctioneer Bar and Small Maker Retail are open. Order online and get all the details here.
- Over in Chapel Hill, Moises Rosales posted on the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Group Facebook page that a concept called Crab House Company (with a location in Raleigh) has opened in the former Monterrey Tacos and Burritos location on S. Elliott Road (237 S. Elliott Road). Visit their Facebook page here to get all the details.
- Got word through this week that Panda Garden Chinese Restaurant on 15-501 just south of Chapel Hill in Chatham County will re-open for takeout on this coming Monday, May 18th! Visit them here.
Closings / Cancellations
- Jon Seel of Local Icon N. Carolina Hospitality shared that Linus & Pepper’s and Virgil’s Taco, both at 126 S. Salisbury St., won’t re-open when COVID-19 restrictions lift. Their other concepts will become their focus as they consider delivery and takeout. Visit Local Icon’s other concepts here.
- Got word this week that all three Triangle locations of Chronic Tacos are making changes. The Wake Forest location has closed (but a Chubby’s Tacos will move into that location in early June); the North Raleigh location has closed; and the Chapel Hill location is temporarily closed as they consider options for moving forward post Covid-19.
- Also in Chapel Hill, we learned from the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies group that Kipos Greek Taverna on W. Franklin Street is looking for a new home. In the meantime, that location has closed. Expect that location announcement sometime late summer/early fall.
- CBS17 reported that the Golden Corral on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh is closing.
Food Trucks
Events
- WRAL shared the news about a ‘Brew-Thru’ of sorts starting this weekend. The popular downtown Raleigh beer festival, Brewagloo, might be postponed, but organizers are still doing pop-up events to help support local breweries. On Saturday, Drive Through Brewgaloo will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. at Hi-Wire Brewing in Durham. The pop-up event will offer curbside pickup for prepaid orders. Guests can purchase six-packs or a Taste of the Triangle Mix with 24 different beers online. When guests arrive on Saturday, order information and IDs will be checked through car windows. Orders will be placed in trunks or backseats to ensure a contact-free transaction. The annual Brewagaloo Festival has been postponed from its normal April date to Aug. 14 and 15. The event, which has been voted the Best Beer Festival by USA Today’s 10 Best, attracts thousands to downtown Raleigh each year. More details on Saturday’s drive-thru can be found on the Facebook event page here.
- Save the date to pick up your favorite Jewish foods from the South’s most beloved Jewish Food Festival! All proceeds from food and raffle ticket sales go to the Jewish Federation’s initiatives to address food insecurity in our local community. The more you buy, the more you help! This year, the Food Festival will be a pre-order and drive-thru pickup only! We hope to nosh alongside y’all in person in 2021! Make sure you’re able to pick up your order on May 31, 11am-2pm. Orders that are not picked up within the pickup window will be donated to their Food Pantry. Order by May 17 for your Jewish favorites including potato latkes, cheese blintzes, brisket on challah, Israeli couscous, spinach and feta bourekas and more. While you enter to win amazing raffle prizes including an all-expenses-paid 3-night trip to Boston, a Brew Tour with Taste Carolina, a stay at The Durham Hotel, and so much more to look forward to when this pandemic is over! All proceeds from food and raffle ticket sales go to the Jewish Federation’s initiatives to address food insecurity in our local community. The more you buy, the more you help! Plus, when you pick up your food order, you can also drop off donations of non-perishable food and hygiene products for our Food Pantry without even getting out of your car! Want to be part of the fun? Sign up for a volunteer shift! To order, visit their site here.
- The 5th Annual Raleigh International Food Festival has decided to move their event to Saturday, August 8th 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 April the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina distributed a record-breaking 7.68 million lbs of food – the largest single-month distribution in its 40-year history! Thanks for the added support from donors, partner agencies, and the work that went into ensuring people got this food! Kudos all! But let’s keep the donations coming in May as the need is still great! Find out more here and donate! #noonegoeshungry
