Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news…that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.
Featured Restaurant News
- One of my most reliable sources, Kenan Barnes, shared some insider information this week. He got word that The BBQ Lab at North Hills will open their doors next Wednesday, October 26th in the space formerly occupied by Tom Meyer’s Q Shack. Best to follow along on Facebook for the official announcement. The BBQ Lab is brought to us by the same folks behind Johnston County’s Redneck BBQ Lab. Find them here.
UPDATE: Please check with their social media for an opening date announcement. Hiring adequate staff has been an issue. Jerry will officially announce their opening.
Wake County Restaurant News
- And arguably more reliable than Kenan, Julie Barnes shared that Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company, located at 7449 Six Forks Rd., is in soft-open mode through tonight (6-9 p.m.) with guest taps. Their own stuff, and regular hours, start next week on Tuesday, October 25th. Visit their site for all the details.
- Five years after opening the doors to their first retail shop in West Cary, Andia’s Ice Cream has announced its third location in the brand new Raleigh Iron Works – a mixed-use development connecting Raleigh’s history to its future through innovative, curated, and dynamic spaces. They plan to open their doors to their Raleigh location in early spring of 2023. Visit them here.
- Over in Morrisville, Piada Italian Street Food opened this week. It is a fast-casual Italian restaurant, featuring custom-rolled Italian-style street wraps, as well as salads, pastas, and street sides. This is their third location in North Carolina, with the other two in the Charlotte area. Get to know them here.
- The Triangle Business Journal shared this week that Kimchi, offering Korean cuisine in a casual setting, will be opening soon at The Arboretum at Weston in Cary (2025 Renaissance Park Place at the corner of Harrison and Weston). Look for them to open in early 2023. They also noted that Cary’s third location of First Watch and Sanford’s offshoot of Fonda Lupita, La Victoria Cocina Mexicana, are also slated to open in the same shopping center.
- Up in Wake Forest, John Huisman, aka Triangle Explorer, shared that he spotted Summer Moon, a new coffee shop coming into the Heritage area at 3600 Rogers Branch Rd. The shop features wood fired coffee over Texas oak. Their grand opening (including free swag to the first 50 folks) will be next Saturday, October 29th. This will be their first location in North Carolina. Get familiar with them here.
- Want to support a local success story. Between now and October 24th (that’s next Monday), you can vote for Brewgaloo, NC’s largest craft beer festival, for USA Today’s Best Beer Festival Readers’ Choice award. Vote for them here. You can vote once a day. (Editor’s Note: At last check, they were in 4th place….let’s go!)
- Here is one more local success story that could use your support/vote. Funguys Brewing in Raleigh has been nominated for USA Today’s 10 Best New Breweries in competition with breweries younger than 4 years old around the country!!! Voting is active now until October 24th! Give them a vote (or two) here!
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- In Durham, Mezcalito Durham opened this week at 706 Ramseur Street. They are self-described as a unique take on Mexican cuisine with a Tex-Mex heart. This marks their fifth location, with a sixth location planned for Apex. Check them out here.
- Also in Durham, La Recette Patisserie will hold their grand opening on Saturday, October 22nd at 9 a.m. offering specialty pastries, savory items, espresso drinks, Algerian mint tea. There will be complimentary cupcakes for all the kids and the first 20 people will receive a house coffee and linzer cookie! They are located near the intersection of 54 and 55, behind the Cookout (4823 Meadow Dr., Suite 115). Get all the details on their Facebook event page here.
- Over in Chapel Hill, Downtown Chapel Hill shared the news that Beer Study is moving across the street into the former Mint location at 504 W. Franklin St. The time frame is not set in stone, just “hopefully mid-November.” Follow along on Facebook for updates.
Closing / Cancellations
- Lesley Stracks-Mullem from Taste Carolina shared the unfortunate news that The Honeysuckle Tea House will no longer have regular open hours for the public. They will shift to focusing on farming and providing unique experiences at the farm.
Food Trucks
- Pure Soul is hosting a Food Truck Rally featuring all your favorite vegan food trucks this Sunday, October 23rd from noon until 4 p.m. at their location at 4125 Durham Chapel Hill Boulevard in Durham. The event will feature the following trucks: Epic Vegan; Soul Cocina; Alkaline Bites; Meatless Grease; The Vegan Ice Cream Man; The Vegan Spot; and Natural High Smoothies. The food trucks will also be joined by local breweries Glass Jug and Ponysaurus. Expect music and local artists as well. Get all the details on their Facebook events page here.
- The final Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo is Sunday, October 30. Mark your calendars. 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 eighth-annual WRAL Voters’ Choice Awards presented by M&F Bank is here! Nominate your favorite local businesses today and help them make it to the voting round in October. Nominations close this Sunday, October 9th. The top five finalists in each category will go on to the voting round October 17 through November 20. Winners will be announced in January 2023 at an event in downtown Raleigh. Vote here.
- After a two year hiatus, the 30th annual A Tasteful Affair, the tasting event of the season and fundraising event for the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill, returns. This year’s event will feature samples from some of the area’s very best from the food and beverage industry, exciting silent auction, incredible live entertainment, and more! The event will take place at at The Carolina Club from 5:30-8 pm on Sunday, October 23. Pro tip: Use code: SOCIAL for a discount on your tickets! Get all the details here.
- On October 27th, from 5-8pm, the Ardbeg Smoker will be rolling up to Whiskey Kitchen in downtown Raleigh for the first annual Ardbeg Wee Beastie “Sauce Boss” contest! The very talented team at Whiskey Kitchen will be mixing up specialty cocktails featuring Ardbeg Wee Beastie, as well as some unique Ardbeque sauces — and you get to vote for which one you like best! Come sample and enjoy some delicious Ardbeg Wee Beastie cocktails and BBQ. Admission is FREE, however sign up will help ensure space. Get all the details and register here.
- The Bull City will be celebrating Oktoberfest in Durham Central Park on Friday, October 28 this year, thanks to The Glass Jug Beer Lab. The event is scheduled for 4 until 10 p.m. and includes a live interactive performance by The Little German Band & Dancers, as well as a “kids zone” hosted by Bull City Inflatables. And, of course, there will be beer. The Glass Jug will be serving several German-style lagers both from their taproom and from a rolling mobile beer trailer inside the park. Food will be available from several food trucks on site as well as in the Durham Food Hall. Get all the details here on their Facebook event page.
- On Saturday, October 29 beginning at 5 p.m., Durham’s Vin Rouge will throw a 20th Anniversary Fête celebrating two decades! Trays of hors d’oeuvres, tabletops filled with oysters, house pâté, beautiful cheeses, and so much more. Bars inside and out for Champagne, a glass of Muscadet, or a cold martini! And… live Gypsy Jazz throughout the night from the ONYX CLUB BOYS!!! Ticket covers admission and food – cash bars upon entry. Cost is $60 per person. Get all the details on their Facebook events page here.
- Also on October 29th, The Optimist and Brookside Bodega will be hosting their first ever Fall Fest from 2-6 p.m. featuring plenty of family fun, including food trucks, music, trick-or-treating, and games. Vendors interested in setting up a booth can still apply. Get all the details on The Optimist Instagram page here.
- On Thursday, November 3rd at 7 p.m., the NC Museum of Art, Vitis House, and Catering Works present “The Art Inside the Bottle” – a very special evening to explore the history, tradition, and process of winemaking.As you foster new insights that await you in the galleries, be immersed in a sensory experience of fabulous wines, specially curated food pairings and eye-opening works of art! Tickets are $150. Get tickets and all the details here.
Food Bank Corner
- Looking for an easy way for you and/or your office to make a HUGE DIFFERENCE in people’s lives this Holiday season? Host a VIRTUAL Food Drive! Forget the hassle of a trip to the grocery store for your next food drive… create a food drive without the heavy lifting using our Virtual Food Drive, and maximize your donation times five! For every $1 donated, the Food Bank can provide FIVE meals! You can make a difference in your community by hosting a Virtual Food Drive for your friends, family members, or coworkers. It is easy! Start here. #noonegoeshungry
