Featured Restaurant News
- On a recent drive down Hillsborough Street, I noticed signs flying announcing that Lobera Tacos & Tequila is now open at 2100 Hillsborough Street in the former Gonza Tacos spot across from the Memorial Belltower. They tout that they are a family-owned establishment inspired by the warmth of their own gatherings where you can expect to taste dishes inspired by generations-old family recipes along with creative culinary twists that keep things fresh and exciting. Open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week, check them out here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- It was shared this week that we are getting ever closer to the opening of Scott Crawford’s newest concept – Crawford Brothers Steakhouse – which will open this fall at Fenton, the 92-acre mixed use development in Cary. When it opens, it will be the largest Crawford Hospitality restaurant to-date with seating for 120. It will celebrate the nostalgia of an old school steakhouse, but with a lighter and edgier twist. They will specialize in house dry-aged beef, and boast an extensive wine program, a vibrant cocktail bar, two private rooms. A prominent feature of the design will be a floor-to-ceiling “glass curtain” on one side of the restaurant, visible from the street, giving passersby a full view into both the warm, inviting cocktail bar. Keep up with announcements on their Instagram page here.
- And we have the official opening date for Union Station Deli & Catering from Rocky Top Catering. Located inside the iconic Raleigh Union Station at 510 W Martin Street in downtown Raleigh. They will swing open their doors on Thursday, August 29th. Touted as a true New York-style deli, they will be serving up breakfast bagels, deli sandwiches, and hot pressed sammies – with toppings like house-smoked pastrami, corned beef and chicken cutlets — as well as black-and-white cookies. Look for weekday service (6 a.m. until 3 p.m.) initially, with weekend service to start in January. The concept will be managed by Sean Degnan, known for his outstanding restaurant portfolio including bu•ku, so•ca and kō•än. Follow along on Instagram here.
- Raleigh Magazine shared the news this week that Ruckus Pizza, Pasta and Spirits is spreading its wings again with the announcement that they will open two additional locations in Raleigh. First up, they will move into the former Leesville Taproom in Leesville Towne Center at 13200 Strickland Road. Following on the footsteps of that, they will open a location in the new part of the Quail Corners shopping center at the intersection of Falls of the Neuse and Millbrook roads in North Raleigh. These will be their fifth and sixth locations. Visit Ruckus here.
- Also in the North Raleigh / Wakefield area, reader Katie Page shared a couple of nuggets with us. First up, St. Honore Artisanal Bakery has opened at 14460 Falls of the Neuse Road in the Wakefield Commons shopping center. Page noted that it is a husband and wife team using quality ingredients in all their pastries, desserts, croissants, quiches, breads and coffee. They also have some gluten free macaroons. Get to know St. Honore here.
- Page also noted that Canto Brasil, authentic Brazilian cuisine, has opened at 13600 Falls of the Neuse Road. Their website notes that you can enjoy everything from savory feijoada to succulent churrasco, pointing out that their menu celebrates the diverse regional cuisines that make Brazilian food so unique and irresistible. See for yourself here.
- Reader Thomas Porter shared with us that he saw a coming soon sign at Hillsborough Plaza at Hillsborough and Jones Franklin (5619 Hillsborough St.) for a Jabal Premium Yemeni Coffee. They look to be out of Michigan, but opening up multiple locations across the country. This is their first venture into North Carolina. Visit them here.
- Porter also pointed out that a concept called Milonga Argentinian Bakery has opened in the same shopping center (5619 Hillsborough Street). A quick perusal of their Instagram page will leave your mouth watering!
- And down in Cary, David McCreary informed us that a place called Tiger Sugar, which calls itself “original brown sugar bubble tea with fresh cream and a unique tiger stripe design” has opened at 1969 High House Road in Cary beside H Mart. They are under the same roof as Chunky Boss (Taiwanese-style fried chicken joint). This is their first North Carolina location. Get to know them here.
- And congratulations to Longleaf Swine and Lechón Latin BBQ & Bar for being included in Southern Living’s list of “The South’s Best New Barbecue Joints.” The magazine’s contributing barbecue editor Robert Moss traveled all over the South to put together the list based on factors like overall experience, setting, food presentation, sauces and authenticity to the region for restaurants that have opened since their last list (September, 2021).
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- Triangle Business Journal shared that news that Preeti Waas will open a new Cheeni restaurant in 2025 in the Horseshoe at Hub RTP (3151 Elion Drive), a mixed-use development along Highway 54 at Davis Drive in Research Triangle Park. The menu will feature regional Indian and American cuisine with a homemade feel and the lunch options will be similar to what Waas served at her former Raleigh restaurant. Waas also has a restaurant in Downtown Durham. Visit her there until her new restaurant opens.
Closings
- Reader Mel Montano shared the news that the Durham Filling Station, formerly Wimpy’s Grill, has closed. She noted that there is a “For Lease” sign on the building at 617 Hicks Street in Durham.
Food Trucks
- The Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo presented by Shop Local Raleigh is this Sunday, August 25th from noon until 6 p.m. in Downtown Raleigh on Fayetteville Street. It will feature over 50 locally owned food trucks and beverages. Whether you’re a fan of gourmet burgers, delicious tacos, or decadent desserts, this food truck rodeo promises to have something for everyone! The weather looks perfect, so make plans to attend! 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
- This Saturday and Sunday (August 24 & 25th) is the annual Lazy Daze Arts & Craft Festival in downtown Cary. This festival features nearly 300 artists from 16 states, plus a beer garden, interactive art activities, a children’s area and more. The event is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. Get all the details here.
- Lakeside Kitchen, located in the Park Alumni Center on NC State’s Centennial Campus, has cranked back up their Whiskey Wednesdays where they feature a special bourbon, whiskey, or scotch at a featured price from 4 – 8:30 p.m. The next one is on August 28th. Complimentary snacks await at the bar, perfect for nibbling while soaking up the beautiful weather on their gorgeous patio overlooking Lake Raleigh. It is truly one of Raleigh’s gems under the direction of chef James Eason. Get to know them here.
- And speaking of Lakeside Kitchen, they will have a Kentucky Bourbon Dinner on Thursday, September 12th at 6:30 p.m. featuring Bardstown Origin Series KSBW, Woodford Reserve Wheat, Willett Family Estate Rye, Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey and Willett Pot Still Reserve. Tickets are $125. Get all the details here.
- Carrie Heinonen, CEO of the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, informed me that they are launching a new culinary series “Dine and Discover” on August 29th from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. This “after hours” experience is 21+ (so get a baby sitter!) and come prepared to enjoy a chef-curated dining experience under the stars celebrating the birth of their Red Wolf pups where (in addition to enjoying great food and an adult beverage…or two) you’ll learn more about the conservation of this critically endangered species. Your ticket gets you a four-course meal, one complimentary adult beverage and an after-hours museum experience. Get all the details here.
- Wine enthusiasts, join Mandolin in Raleigh on Saturday August 31st from 1:30 to 4 p.m. for a wine tasting event that you will not soon forget. They have invited eight of their top wine purveyors to pour some of their favorite wines – offering over 24 different wine selections with light hors d’oeuvres, fruit, and cheese. The wines will be available for purchase at deep discounts. This is the perfect way for any wine lover to spend a Saturday afternoon! Tickets are $45 and can be purchased here.
- Alley Twenty Six and Night School Bar, two of Durham’s most cutting-edge cocktail destinations, are excited to announce their collaboration on a four-part monthly series titled Cocktails 101. Starting Tuesday, Sept. 3, Shannon Healy, owner of Alley Twenty Six, a 2022 James Beard Award finalist for Outstanding Bar Program, will lead the class. Participants can join either online or in person at Night School Bar, a venue known for blending academics with an unforgettable bar experience, having gained national recognition for offering college-level humanities courses in a bar environment. Get all the details and purchase tickets here. Individual class tickets can also be purchased, but are subject to availability.
- Tickets are on sale now for the 9th Annual Dinner in the Meadow which will take place on September 15, 2024 on a grassy knoll atMeadow Lane Farm, in bucolic Franklin County, offering beautiful pastoral views and clear, starry skies. Some of the region’s most sought-after chefs will be preparing delicious dishes using ingredients from local farms and food artisans. It is an annual fundraiser for the Leonard-Mobley Small Farm Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 2014 to support and cultivate small farms in our region of North Carolina. Get tickets and all the details here.
- USA Today Food & Wine Experience is coming back again to Raleigh on Saturday October 26th at the Big Field at Dix Park. Chef Jared Bobkin coordinates this event visiting approximately 12 U.S. cities annually. Get all the details here.
Food Bank Corner
- Kids are heading back to school. And with that, the effects of hunger reach well beyond the classroom — influencing health, well-being and earning potential well into adulthood. The Food Bank operates programs like Weekend Power Pack, Youth Pantries and Kids Cafés. With the support you provide, the Food Bank is able to connect more kids and teens with the resources they need to succeed and thrive. Help kids get the nutritious support they need to be successful by donating today!
