Friday Fun Food Facts – June 26, 2015

Wake County Restaurant News

•  Ashley Christensen announced this week that she has no plans to slow down. The News & Observer reported that she will open a Neapolitan-style, wood-fired pizza joint called PooleSide Pie and it will be adjacent to her Poole’s Diner (see what she did there?) on South McDowell Street in downtown Raleigh. No open date was given. Keep up with all of Ashley’s restaurants here.

• The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that City Barbeque, the Ohio-based chain that entered the Triangle market last year with a location in Cary, has opened a new restaurant in Garner next to the new Cabela’s along U.S. 70 at 110 Cabela Drive. They also announced that they have plans to open a location in southwest Durham this November in the Kroger shopping center at the corner of Fayetteville Road and Highway 54. Check them out here.

• The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Brixx Wood Fired Pizza opened its second Cary restaurant. The new restaurant is in the Bradford apartment and retail complex at Davis Drive and High House Road. In addition to the two Cary locations, Brixx has locations in Cameron Village and Brier Creek in Raleigh and Meadowmont Village in Chapel Hill. Visit Brixx here.

• Also in Cary, the News & Observer’s Andrea Weigl reported this week that the long-anticipated Ruckus Pizza, Pasta & Spirits opened yesterday in the Arboretum at the corner of Harrison Avenue and Weston Parkway in the former Bella Mia space. This marks the 4th Ruckus location. Check them out here.

•  Last week we reported that Diced Gourmet Salads & Wraps, a new locally owned, quick-service restaurant, was open at 1377 Kildaire Farm Road in Cary. That is not true and we apologize for any inconvenience and false expectations we created. But, we have learned from Diced directly that they are opening “sometime in July” – so stay tuned. Here is another sneak peek.

•  Thanks to reader Ashley Mills we learned that Nazara Indian Bistro is coming to Cary in the old Lowe’s Food shopping center near the intersection of Davis Drive and High House. No word yet on an open date, and not much up on their Facebook page yet, but we’ll keep an eye on it. Thanks Ashley!

• Got word this week from New Raleigh that Person Street Pharmacy and Cafe is now serving breakfast. Yum! Check them out here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

• This is some exciting news. Durham’s Pulcinella’s Italian Restaurant (in the Woodcroft Shopping Center) is opening up a second location next month over in Chapel Hill. Here’s the twist. It will be a bit smaller and won’t carry the same menu (due to space limitations) and it will be called Magone Italian Grill & Pizza. It will be in the Timberlyne Shopping Center in the space previously occupied by PizzaVito. Check them out on Facebook here.

• And speaking of the Woodcroft Shopping Center, I noticed the other day that Guacamaya (formerly known and loved as Chubby’s Tacos) is moving into a larger space in the same shopping center (over next to West 94th St. Pub). No word yet on the move date. Check them out here.

• Also in Durham, the Triangle Business Journal reported that Gregoria’s Cuban Steakhouse in Durham will close July 3, to be reopened two weeks later as a new restaurant featuring Latin American tapas, entrees, desserts and cocktails. Chef Douglas Rodriguez, in partnership with restaurateur Fares Hanna, will open Mesa Latin Kitchen at 2701 Hillsborough Road on July 17. Not much yet on their website. But you have until July 3rd to eat one more time at Gregoria’s!

• On Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, the Burgeoning Baker sent me a photo via Twitter that there is a “Noodle House” coming soon in the former location of Mei Asian. No further information is available at this time, but we’ll keep an eye on it.

• Over in Carrboro, I was given the heads up that we are just about 3 weeks away from the opening of Café Symmetry in Carrboro’s Carr Mill Mall. It is owned by the same folks at Elmo’s and will go into the space formerly occupied by Panzanella’s. Check out some of their updates on Facebook here.

• The folks over at ChickenWireNC announced this week their next “pop-up” event on July 19 will be a Glazed & Confused Tasting Picnic in Pittsboro. The festival-like event will feature 20 chefs, over 20 artisans, 5 local brewers, 3 distillers, 3 wine distributors, a kids’ tent, silent auction, and live music by the Onyx Club Boys! Tickets will go fast (VIP tickets are already sold out). Get tickets and all the details here.

Closings 

• WRAL broke the news this week that Natty Greene’s is closing its Jones Street restaurant location effective Aug. 1 and will be going out with a big party. A change in landlords and an increase in rent prompted the decision. No word on what will happen with the space, but rumors are swirling. Too early to comment at this point.

• Got word this week, and confirmed on their Facebook page, that Triangle Brewing Company Pint & Plate on Main Street in downtown Durham has made the decision to close. Please note, this is just the Pint & Plate that is closing, the brewery continues!

Food Trucks 

Food Bank Corner   

• West 94th St. Pub in southwest Durham will host the 2nd Annual Grill Master Cook Off Competition to benefit the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. They are calling all local “Grill Masters” to show off their “grillin” skills on Saturday, July 11, 2015 from 9am- 4pm. The food will be donated by West 94th St Pub and the secret ingredient will be provided by TOPO. Each contestant will be required to cook onsite, 2-3 whole chickens with TOPO’s secret Ingredient. The registration deadline to cook is July 6th. For more information or to get involved contact Kerry Bryant at 919-403-0025 or email [email protected].