Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news…that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.
Featured Restaurant News
- There is a new dog in town and they open today at 121 Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh in the former Spize Café location. Tasty 8’s Gourmet Hot Dog Company will feature 8 gourmet dogs, 8 dipping sauces, 8 delicious shakes and 8 beers on tap. The impressive renovations to the space include a take-out window and a very fun and welcoming space to enjoy the sites and sounds of downtown Raleigh. Check them out here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- Got a tip from reader Lauren Landis that Duck Donuts, with a wildly popular location on the Outer Banks, is planning to open a location in Cary. According to their website, they will be coming to Wrenn Plaza this fall. Check them out here and keep up with all their progress on their Facebook page here.
- Cary as we know it is about to change. Beginning at 11 a.m. on September 1st, World of Beer is opening their second Triangle area location at the corner of Harrison Avenue and Westin Parkway. Here are the numbers: 55 taps; 500 bottled beers; 19 flat screens. And that does not include the pretty yummy pub food that will be offered. Check them out here.
- Also in Cary, got a posting on my blog last week that a Mexican restaurant called Totopos is getting ready to open in the old Chili’s space on Kildaire Farm Road opposite Trader Joes (1388 Kildaire Farm Road to be exact). No word yet on an open date, but they tout themselves as chef-driven menu focused on the diverse street foods accompanied by an amazing tequila bar. We’ll be keeping an eye on this one for sure!
- Got word from several sources this week that Blackfinn Ameripub is set to open September 3rd (as with any opening, that is subject to change) in Morrisville’s Park West Village at 3201 Village Market Place. With other locations throughout the country, this marks the first Triangle area location. It looks pretty cool. Check it out here.
- Also in Morrisville, the Triangle Business Journal is reporting that Cafe Anar, a Mediterranean and central Asian restaurant, has opened in the Factory Shops in Morrisville in the former Moustache Café spot. Check out their Facebook page here.
- The Triangle Business Journal reported that the owners of the Cleveland Drafthouse at I-40 and Highway 42 in Cleveland (between Garner and Clayton) are opening a second location in Clayton at the intersection of US 70 and Shotwell Road behind the CVS Pharmacy. According to their Facebook page, they are targeting a mid-September opening. Check them out here.
- The Carolina Ale House continues to grow, this time into Garner. The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that the Carolina Ale House restaurant group has been named as the first tenant to commit to the expansion of the White Oak Crossing shopping center in Garner that will be anchored by Cabela’s outdoor retail store. Look for an opening in the first quarter of 2015.
- And also in Garner, my friends Melissa and Alvin Cotto have opened up Big Al’s Pizza and Wings at 5176 NC 42 West. A scratch made kitchen, they make their own dough, pizza sauce, wing sauces, and even sausage in house. Get by and check them out here.
- Chipotle Mexican Grill continues to grow its presence in the Triangle with two new locations on the way in North Raleigh. The first is along with the new Gander Mountain outdoor store at the Triangle Plaza shopping center on Capital Boulevard. Look for it to open in the next month. The other is at the Harvest Plaza shopping center at Strickland and Six Forks roads at the spot of the leveled Burger King.
Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News
- G Patel is extending his Eschelon Experiences empire over into Durham with the report this week by the Herald Sun that Basan, a modern Japanese restaurant, is coming to downtown Durham’s American Tobacco Campus in the Diamond View III building adjacent to the DPAC and overlooking the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The menu is inspired by the West Coast style of Japanese cuisine and focuses on specialty sushi rolls, seafood, appetizers and a sake selection. They hope to have it open by the end of the year. Check them out here.
- Got a little bit more information this week on Heavenly Buffaloes in Durham. It is the creation of Dain Phelan, owner of Dain’s Place, and is on course to open next week. It is located just off Ninth Street on Markham Avenue in what was formerly Sam’s Grill. Check them out here.
- And the Herald Sun also reported this week that a restaurant chain Pholicious is coming to the Streets at Southpoint. This will be their first venture into North Carolina. The restaurant specializes in Pho, a Vietnamese noodle soup. Our guess is that it will be in the food court. Check them out here.
Closings
- None to report. Keep eating local, folks!
Food Trucks
- The next food truck rodeo in Durham’s Central Park is scheduled for noon-4 p.m. on August 31. Bring a blanket and a lawn chair and gather at the farmers’ market pavilion at Durham Central Park. Get all the details here.
- And if you like to run and you like food trucks (or if you run because you love food trucks) you won’t want to miss the 2nd Annual Bull City Race Fest and Food Truck Rodeo scheduled for Sunday, October 19th. Register for the race and get all the details here.
Events
- The word is out! Mark your calendars for one of the Triangle’s annual “can’t miss” foodie events – Terra Vita 2014. It will be held October 9 – 11 and tickets are on sale now! Lots of great folks involved this year. Follow @terravitafoodie twitter and Instagram for more updates. The website is here.
- Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week wraps up this weekend with more than 41 downtown restaurants participating. The venues will offer different packages, including a three-course prix fixe dinner and, at some places, beer or wine pairings. Reservations are recommended. For more information about the participating restaurants and available food packages, click here.
- Little Hen Restaurant in Holly Springs will host a Western Wake Farmers’ Market dinner on Monday, September 8, 2014, during which a portion of the proceeds will benefit the market. Get all the details here.
- Picture this. Downtown Apex. 6 food trucks. 7 restaurants. A giant wine and beer garden. And wall to wall Jazz music. Does that “peak” your interest? (I know it is pique, but Apex is known as the Peak of Good Living!) Then mark your calendar for the 4th Annual Apex Jazz and Music Festival on Saturday, September 20th. Get all the details here.
- Derrick Minor turned me onto an event in September that you’ll want to get on your calendar. Mark your calendars now for September 27 for Beericana. What is Beericana? 50 breweries + 10 food trucks + 4 Americana bands + Awesome People = Beericana! The event will be held at Sugg Farm Park in Holly Springs. More details to follow. Keep up with details here.
- For the 19th year in a row, The World Beer Festival will be held in Durham on Oct. 11 in the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The festival, produced by All About Beer Magazine, has reduced tickets available by 35 percent and raised the price to relieve crowding. General admission tickets are $55 and include a tasting glass to sample from over 200 international beers. VIP tickets are $70 and offer a private air-conditioned hospitality area with private bathrooms and a bonus selection of beers. Get all the details here.
- And hold the date for an annual event held by The Ronald McDonald House over in Chapel Hill that features over two dozen of the triangle’s finest restaurants – A Tasteful Affair will be held on Sunday, October 26th in The Blue Zone at UNC’s Kenan Stadium. Get all the details here.
Food Bank Corner
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The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina is proud to announce that they will hold their 3rd Annual FoodBank24 New Media Telethon on September 26-27, 2014. The 24-hour event begins at noon on September 26th and continues for 24 straight hours of entertaining and enlightening activities as part of Hunger Action Month. Put it on your calendar and get all the details here. There are lots of ways to participate.
