Featured Restaurant News
- And Triangle Business Journal has shared an open date (ish) for Matt Fern’s (ish) delicatessen and that is mid-July. It will open in the former Pharmacy Café location at the Person Street Pharmacy at 702 N. Person St. It will be a blend of sort of Jewish, sort of Italian and sort of from the South, according to Fern. Initially it will just be open three days a week, before expanding on that, as well as eventually adding breakfast and dinner service. When? Soon (ish). Congrats to Matt and his team! Best to follow them on Instagram here for any announcements including pop-ups and an official open date.
Wake County Restaurant News
- Raleigh Magazine shared the news this week that the trio that operates Richmond’s two Soul Taco locations (featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) will bring that concept to Raleigh along with a new concept, JewFro. The trio that includes Trey Owens, Ari Augenbaum and Nar Hovnanian will be bringing Soul Taco along with JewFro to Morgan Street’s former Remedy Diner location by Goodnights Comedy Club and Irregardless Café. For Owens, a Black Southerner, and Augenbaum, a Jewish chef, JewFro is a chance to explore the commonalities and corollaries between various Jewish and African cuisines and how two very different cultures can come together in an unexpectedly harmonious way according to the magazine. Soul Taco is known for its oxtail al pastor and buttermilk-battered fried chicken tacos, among other fusion recipes. Look for Soul Taco to open first, a late summer or early fall opening, followed by JewFro. Get to know Soul Taco here and follow JewFro on Instagram here.
- Ashton Mae Smith shared in her weekly email last week that Glenwood Avenue is getting another watering hole. The new establishment, called The Avenue, will be located in the recently renovated space right next to the former Snoopy’s, just off the intersection with Hillsborough Street. No word on an open date, and not much yet on their website here.
- Over in West Raleigh, Michael DePersia of DePersia & Associates shared with me a recent change in ownership. Honest Abe’s Kitchen & Bar has been sold to the folks from RallyPoint Sport Grill in Cary (on Bass Pro Lane just off Harrison Avenue). There will be a light remodel and rebranding period. Visit RallyPoint Sport Grill here.
- And down in Holly Springs, reader Chris Creighton let us know that Momma Mia! Italian Bistro has opened their new location on Main Street (300 S Main Street to be exact). The original location is on Laura Duncan Road in Apex. They are currently doing a soft opening this week. Get all the details here.
- Looking for all the outdoor dining options in Downtown Raleigh? The Downtown Raleigh Alliance has put together a great list of those options, and they even divided it up by district. Check out that list here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- The students at UNC-Chapel Hill are in for a treat when they return to campus next month – as the newest location of Dame’s Chicken & Waffles has opened on Franklin Street in the former location of [B]SKI’s. This is their fourth location, with locations in Durham, Greensboro and Cary. They are slowly ramping up hours as they get ready for the return of the students and it will fill a void left by the closing of long-time favorite Ye Olde Waffle Shop. Congrats to owners Damion “Dame” Moore and Randy Wadsworth. Alright Ursula, let me know when we are going! Visit Dame’s here.
- And a congratulations to Jamil and Angels Kadoura as they celebrate the 30th anniversary of Chapel Hill’s Mediterranean Deli Bakery and Catering. And they just completed the purchase of West End Wine Bar, which they have re-opened as The Story, in honor of the Chapel Hill Nine – nine Black teenagers from Lincoln High School who sat at a booth in Colonial Drug Store (a former occupant of the building) for equal rights on Feb. 28, 1960. Thanks to the Chapel Hill Magazine for highlighting this success story (which you can read here) – even as they continue to grow and expand today. Visit Med Deli here and The Story here.
- And here are a couple of wonderful resources for those looking to dine in downtown Durham or downtown Chapel Hill – Downtown Durham Inc. has an up-to-date listing of the status of each restaurant in downtown Durham. Check out the list here. And the Downtown Chapel Hill Partnership has put together a similar list for Chapel Hill here.
Closings / Cancellations
- None to report! Keep eating local, folks!
Food Trucks
- There is muc(n)h to love about the newest food truck to hit the Triangle. Durham-based Munch I Love food truck features, get this, fillable, ready-to-eat brownies!! Stop reading my diary! A perfect round brownie (i.e. edges all the way around!) and a center pocket ready to fill with whatever toppings your heart desires! Check them out here. Thanks RalToday for bringing this yumminess to our attention!
- 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
- For the month of July, Capital City Clauses is hosting Give Back Days leading up to their Jingle in July event on July 29th at the Raleigh Beer Garden. During the month of July you can enjoy great specials from the following establishments: Goodberry’s Frozen Custard, PDQ, DeMo’s Pizzeria & Deli, Two Roosters, Raleigh Beer Garden, Neuse River Brewing & Brasserie, and Barrel Culture Brewing and Blending. Get all the details on Give Back Days and each establishments deal here. Proceeds from both events go towards Capital City Clauses’ mission of enriching children’s lives with hope, cheer and joy.
- Downtown Durham Inc. announced that The Streetery will return Saturday, July 10 at Central Park with added outdoor seating and buskers. Join them from 1 – 9 p.m. to shop, carry out, dine in or dine out. The Streetery happens on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month. Get all the details here.
- Durham Summer Wine & Food Festival, a 4-day wine and food festival, is happening right now through July 4th. The event will showcase the contemporary cuisine, music, and independent arts in Durham. Tickets grant you 20% off participating restaurants, access to exclusive tasting and pairing events and all the entertainment. Visit their website to see a list of participating resturants and other activities here.
- RalToday shared that Raleigh’s International Food Festival is returning to City Plaza on Sat., August 28 from 12 noon -10 p.m. The festival features a variety of international food, beer and wine, as well as international performers. Admission is free. Get all the details here.
- You might want to go ahead and plan on spending your Labor Day weekend in Pinehurst for the inaugural Pinehurst Barbecue Festival – a three-day event, staged in and around the historic Village of Pinehurst from September 3-5, 2021. The event will offer a unique culinary sampling experience of various barbecue meats and traditional sides. Choose to experience the entire three-day festival, or attend just one signature event. A multi-ticket VIP package, as well as individual tickets for each event are available. The pitmaster lineup includes: Ed Mitchell, The Preserve (Raleigh); Christopher Prieto, Prime Barbecue (Knightdale); Adam Hughes, Old Colony Smokehouse (Edenton); Joe Lumbrazo, Backyard Bistro (Raleigh); and Ashley Sheppard, Pik N Pig (Carthage). Get tickets, schedule and all the details here.
- Our friends over at RalToday pointed out a few events you might want to go ahead and get on your calendar. So exciting to think of some of our favorite events actually happening in 2021! First up, Raleigh Veg Fest 2021 originally scheduled for April 4 has moved to October 31 in downtown Raleigh’s Moore Square. Details here. And Brewgaloo is now scheduled for September 17 & 18 in downtown Raleigh. Details here.
Food Bank Corner
- When school is out, the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina knows families struggle to keep food on the table. Budgets for so many families are already stretched thin from the pandemic, with job losses and hours being cut. Thankfully, our generous corporate and individual donors are matching gifts up to $132,000! Every $10 you give can help provide 100 meals… feeding twice as many kids, teens, and families in need. Can you chip in? Click here if you can!
