Friday Fun Food Facts – January 9, 2015

• Did you miss me? It is good to be back and already loving 2015! We’ve got a ton of news, so let’s get to it!

• The newest member of the Carolina Ale House family is scheduled to open their doors for lunch on January 12th. This is a beautiful location in the middle of Raleigh’s Glenwood South district (500 Glenwood Avenue to be exact). The restaurant is located on the third floor of the new building and features a rooftop patio. Check them out on Facebook here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• I begin the new year with a suggestion of a great article to read. If you are sensing that the food scene in Raleigh has experienced a bit of a resurgence over the last couple of years, you would be correct. And in this article, the News & Observer’s Andrea Weigl does a great job of capturing that momentum. Take a few minutes to read it – you’ll be glad you did (and hungry!).

• And if you want to read/see something else pretty cool – Triangle Business Journal tapped Ashley Christensen as their Businessperson of the Year for 2014! Check it out here.

• WRAL reported that The Medlin, a new neighborhood bar at 3037 Medlin Drive in Raleigh, opened its doors on Christmas Day. It is located in a small shopping area off of Dixie Trail, and is owned by the same folks who own The Goat bar. You can check them out on Facebook here.

• Saw on Yelp that a 4th Triangle location of Mami Nora’s, a Peruvian style chicken rotisserie restaurant, will open in early 2015 on Capital Boulevard in the MiniCity Market Place shopping center in the former Polla a la Brasa location. Should be opening any day now, but we’ll keep an eye on it. In the meantime, check out one of their other locations.

• According to their Facebook page, popular food truck/barn Big Mike’s BBQ is opening their brick and mortar location this weekend with a soft opening for dinner tonight (Friday) and Saturday. The new location is at 1222 NW Maynard Road in Cary. Check them out here.

• And speaking of food trucks transitioning into brick and mortar locations, I saw in the News & Observer that Chick-N-Que is slated to open in Rolesville today (January 9th). The restaurant is a brick-and-mortar location of a popular food truck that has been on the road since 2009. It is located at 420 S. Main St. in Rolesville. Check them out here.

• After 17 years, downtown Raleigh’s Mo’s Diner transitioned quickly just after the new year into Holly’s on Hargett. A new interior look and an added bar are some of the changes, while many of the menu favorites remain the same according to owner Holly Mohajer. Check her out on Facebook here.

• Downtown Raleigh’s La Volta is no more. The owners are transitioning the space into a new Caribbean concept called The Twisted Mango. It will remain under the ownership of Michael Longo. No word yet on an open date. Thank you to New Raleigh, Derrick Minor and Triangle Business Journal for filling in the details on this change. Keep up with them and their progress on their Facebook page here.

• Saw on Yelp that Drink Drank Drunk, a new beer, wine, and coffee shop has opened at 905 West Morgan Street in downtown Raleigh next to Atomic Salon & Irregardless Cafe. Check them out here.

• Saw on New Raleigh’s Twitter feed that a new fun spot called The Level Up, Kitchen and Barcadium will open very soon at the corner of Salisbury and Hargett in downtown Raleigh across from Wells Fargo. It will feature 25-30 restored classic arcade games and pinball machines, upscale pub food, craft/domestic beer and hand made craft cocktails. No word yet on an official open date.

• Hey Morrisville, do you remember Vino? Which then became Mare…which then become Cucina De Milano. Well now that space is taking a turn as Mi Cancun Mexican Restaurant. It opened earlier this month and is located in Morrisville’s Grace Park at the corner of Davis Drive and Morrisville Carpenter Road. Check out their Facebook page here.

• After the closing of its sister store in Chapel Hill, Top This! Café in Raleigh’s Atrium building has sold to new owners who will reopen the space on January 19th as The Atrium Grille. Best of luck to Stephen and Jeff.

• The newest location of Smashburger opened in Raleigh over the holidays in Falls Village (6679 Falls of Neuse Road). It joins the Durham location, which is in the Pavilion East near Duke Medical Campus. Check them out here.

• Saw on Yelp that Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint will be opening in Parkside Town Commons in Cary in mid-January. No official open date yet, but you can check them out here.

• Out in Holly Springs things are a bit chillier, and I’m not talking about the weather. A Dairy Queen Grill & Chill has just opened in the South Park Village Center off of GB Alford Highway according to the Triangle Business Journal. You can check out their Facebook page here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

• Over in Durham Eschelon Experiences will open their newest concept, a new Japanese/sushi restaurant called Basan, on January 20th. It is located in the new Diamond View III building at American Tobacco Campus. Our best to G Patel on his latest venture. Check them out here.

• Also in Durham, we got word that Smallcakes, A Cupcakery, is now baking in southern Durham, opening at 4711 Hope Valley Road in the Woodcroft Shopping Center. They will hold a grand opening on Saturday, January 24th. Check them out on Facebook here.

• On a recent drive through Carrboro, I noticed that Monterrey Mexican restaurant is moving in with their newest location. It will be in Carrboro Plaza. They are currently upfitting the space, and no word yet on an open date. Check out one of their other locations here.

• Also in Carrboro, national chain Tom+Chee (which gained some national awareness after grabbing some “Shark Tank” cash) has announced a March opening. It will be located at 370 E. Main St. in Carrboro according to Triangle Business Journal. As you might guess, they specialize in tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Check them out here.

• And in Chapel Hill, the wife and I stopped by for lunch last week at JuJube only to learn that they are currently closed for renovations. Sign on the door says they will reopen in early 2015. No word yet on an exact date. Guess this is a good “excuse” (like I need an excuse!) to go try out their new sister restaurant in Durham – JuJu. Keep up with JuJuBe here and check out JuJu here.

Closings 

• In one of the biggest surprises I can remember, Glenwood South’s Cafe Helios coffee shop closed their doors after a 12 year run. Sorry to see them go. And in a very cool move, downtown’s Brew Coffee Bar, a coffee shop in Raleigh’s Seaboard Station, is offering two free drinks in exchange for any Cafe Helios gift cards you may be stuck holding.

• And my friend Dana McCall (aka GoGo Raleigh) reported that Mantra Indian Cuisine and Bar has closed.

Food Trucks 

Food Bank Corner   

• A huge kudos to The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina and to all of you that contributed to their Holiday Meals Drive. Their goal was to raise $435,000 by midnight on December 31st in order to provide 2.17 million meals. And with less than an hour to go, they hit their goal! A huge thank you to everyone at the food bank for all they do and to all of you that continue to support them in so many ways. Learn more about the food bank here and get involved in 2015!