Featured Restaurant News
- Early Bird Night Owl, the hospitality company known for boutique hotels The Durham and The Mayton, will open Lloyd’s Full Service, a refined neighborhood dining spot in the heart of downtown Cary. Located at 107 E. Chatham St., it will occupy the historic 1950s filling station that currently houses Gurkan’s Downtown Auto Repair shop at the corner of Chatham and Academy streets. They aim to open by the end of 2025. The space will seat approximately 100 diners inside and up to 95 on its outdoor patio, which will feature a fire pit, a stage for live music and a retrofitted 1940s-style delivery van serving food and drinks. Best to follow on Instagram on their progress.
Wake County Restaurant News
- There is no sitting on the bench at Benchwarmers Bagels. They announced this week that this beloved local eatery known for its artisanal bagels and wood-fired pizzas, will open a third location at the North Hills Innovation District (at the base of Tower 5—North Hills’ newest office tower). Currently operating out of Transfer Co. Food Hall, Benchwarmers’ expansion to North Hills follows the recent announcement of their upcoming location at Rockway, near downtown Raleigh’s Dix Park. Both new locations will offer an expanded menu featuring bagels, sandwiches, and nightly pizzas, along with an enhanced beverage program and extended operating hours. Look for Rockway to open in 2025, followed a few months later by the North Hills location. Best to follow along on Instagram here.
- Our opening date for Scott Crawford’s newest concept – Crawford Brothers Steakhouse – moved slightly. It will now open the week of December 22nd in Fenton and reservations are currently open. 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.
- Speaking of Fenton, Triangle Business Journal reported this week that The Salty, a Miami-based doughnut shop that’s growing around the country, will open in late 2025. This will be their first Triangle-area location, with a location already open in Charlotte and a second on the way. The concept has 22 locations open or on the way stretching from Florida north to Washington, D.C. and west to Colorado. Get to know them here.
- Jason Mace shared the news with me that downtown Raleigh’s Morgan Street Food Hall will soon be home to Fresco Veloce, a new concept serving up handcrafted pasta and classic Italian dishes. The food hall is located in the warehouse district of downtown Raleigh at 411 W Morgan Street. No word yet on an exact opening date. Follow along on Instagram for their pending announcement.
- Down in Fuquay-Varina, we saw on the Today in the Quay Facebook page that JT’s Creamery has opened their second location (original location is in Holly Springs) at 2128 Gathering Square Court in the new Bengal Towne Center. The new location not only features their beloved handcrafted ice cream, but they’ve introduced coffee (Black & White) and pastries as well as expanded hours (7 a.m. until 9 p.m.). Get to know them here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- Got word from my man on the street in Durham, Glenn Gillen, that Afters Dessert Bar has successfully transitioned from the Durham Food Hall (their space there is now occupied by Little Barb’s Bakery) to their new spot in historic Brightleaf Square (905 W. Main Street). Looks like they are in soft-open mode with hours daily except Mondays. Visit them on Instagram here.
- Just south of Chapel Hill in Chatham County, there is a new place to swing into to get a great cup of coffee and even a bite to eat. SaBeans, a dream of owner Sabine Farer (get it….SaBeans…) is a new drive-up coffee “hut” right on 15-501 South in the parking lot of the Dockside Restaurant. Their location makes for an “easy in and out” for your coffee and even pastries and bagels. You can even order ahead to speed up the process even more. Check them out and/or place your order here.
- One of our very own needs our help. Chef Vimala Rajendran, who has a heart bigger than life, and her Curryblossom Cafe, an award-winning gem in Chapel Hill, are struggling to make rent. She is reaching out to the community that she has helped time and time again for an assist. While donations would be phenomenal, going to eat at the restaurant or buying gift cards would also help tremendously. Visit Curryblossom here.
Closings
- The News & Observer shared this week that after 15 years, the owners of Trophy Brewing are closing their original downtown Raleigh spot, Young Hearts Distilling, at the end of the year. This marks the end of a run of varied and popular restaurant and bar projects. that started with Busy Bee Cafe in 2009.
Food Trucks
- 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
- Tickets went on sale last week for An Evening To Ignite, the annual fundraiser by the teams at The Merrimon-Wynne House, Band Together and La Fête Planning & Design. The nonprofit beneficiary of this year’s event will be Ripe for Revival, which operates a fleet of pay-what-you-can mobile markets in central and eastern North Carolina. They will use the proceeds to expand the mobile markets’ presence in Raleigh. This year’s An Evening To Ignite will be March 14, 2025 in downtown Raleigh. Get tickets here and get information on Ripe for Revival here.
- On December 16th Zweli’s in Durham is hosting a Vegan Community Dinner Buffet beginning at 6 p.m. at Zweli’s Brightleaf District (905 W. Main Street). Enjoy a delicious array of plant-based dishes, great company and holiday cheer. Ticket are $44 (adult) and $20 (kids under 10). Get your tickets and all the details here.
- This is kind of cool…a traveling Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy cocktail event that will be in Pittsboro next January 23 and 24. It is a chilling cocktail experience that brings four of his stories off the page and onto the stage as told through the Poe historians while you sip on delicious themed cocktails that are paired with each story. Tickets are $45 and will take place at The Plant (220 Lorax Lane). Get tickets and all the details here.
Food Bank Corner
- The holiday season is the perfect opportunity to spend time with family and friends over delicious festive meals. Unfortunately for many of our friends and neighbors, holiday meals may not be an option. The rising cost of living is putting a strain on our community. By donating a holiday gift, you can help bring comfort and relief to local families fighting food insecurity. It’s a perfect time to give! Until December 31, compassionate friends are matching all gifts to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina up to $503,100. Give $10 now and have double the impact, providing 100 meals.
