Featured Restaurant News
- Italian cuisine with a fresh twist is arriving to The Exchange Raleigh in Raleigh’s Midtown (1000 Social Street) and being brought to us by Michael Bongiorno renowned for Bongiorno & Son in Raleigh’s Lafayette Village. While the name is yet to be finalized, the restaurant is expected to open in the third quarter of 2025 and will be located in the flagship 12-story office tower. Chef Bongiorno brings decades of global culinary expertise to the table. He led Hyatt International’s Southeast Asia operations for 15 years, served as a private chef in Beverly Hills, and later became Corporate Chef for United Therapeutics in Raleigh. Following that chapter, he pursued entrepreneurship by opening Zanyu, a noodle shop he has since sold. The Exchange is a 40-acre mixed-use development, who also recently announced the landing of Peregrine from the team of chef Saif Rahman and artist Patrick Shanahan. Might be best to follow them on Instagram here for updates and announcements.
Wake County Restaurant News
- The Bend Bar, a welcoming neighborhood spot crafted by the team behind Trophy Brewing, State of Beer and Young Hearts Distilling will officially open its doors at 4 p.m. Saturday in downtown Raleigh. Situated on a distinctive curve along West Morgan Street, it draws its name from its unique location. The centerpiece of its interior is a curved, 16-seat bar designed to resemble a stereo speaker. Patrons can choose from 10 taps featuring local craft beers, alongside wine, craft cocktails and an assortment of carefully curated beverages. This opening marks the first phase of development for the Morgan Street property. By early 2025, a new location of State of Beer, the Trophy team’s beloved bottle and sandwich shop, will open next door in another renovated bungalow. Plans for the third bungalow on Morgan Street are still under development. Best to follow along on Instagram.
- Tonight is the night (December 20) for Scott Crawford’s newest concept – Crawford Brothers Steakhouse officially opens their doors. Located in Cary’s Fenton development, reservations are open – but I can tell you that they received 3,000 reservations in the first fifteen minutes they opened – so might be a minute now before you can get in (they do take walk-ups). 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.
- Reader Rebekka Mastin tipped us off to the news that Uptown Pho, literally a sister restaurant of Midtown Pho (424 E. Six Forks Road), has opened on Spring Forest Road next to Saints & Scholars Irish Pub. They are self described as a fast, casual, authentic Vietnamese restaurant. Get familiar with them here.
- We first told you back in April about a new sushi/hotpot concept called Umiya coming soon to the old Tuesday Morning space at the corner of Six Forks and Wake Forest roads (404 E Six Forks Road) next to the Dollar Tree. We learned this week that they are now open and in “soft open mode.” Of note, they have a sushi buffet. Get to know them here.
- And down in Fuquay Varina, David McCreary dialed us into the fact that Angadi, an Indian grocery store and cafe, opened this week at Quaint Plaza at 405 Broad Street in Fuquay-Varina. The store offers a wide selection of Indian produce, spices, lentils, rice and much more. Check them out on Facebook here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- Thanks to a tip from my buddy Glenn Gillen, I learned that the new Durham location of Crank Arm Brewing (620 Fernway Drive) opens to the public today (December 20) at 4 p.m. Their original location is in Downtown Raleigh at 319 W Davie Street. Check them out on Instagram here.
- Thanks to a post on the Discover Durham Instagram page, we learned that Fare & Fellow Coffee + Table has opened a second location in downtown Durham’s NC Mutual building (411 W. Chapel Hill Street). They also have a location in RTP at Park Point. Looks like they are serving up Jubala Coffee and a pretty expansive menu. Start getting acquainted here. Thanks to Glenn Gillen to giving us the heads up on this.
- 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
- Triangle Business Journal shared the sad news that after 27 years, Blue Corn Cafe on Durham’s Ninth Street will close their doors on December 21. Two bits of good news. It looks like Danielle and Antonio will continue their personal chef and catering offerings. The other good news is that their space on Ninth Street will soon be home to a new concept of Nepalese fusion. Stay tuned on that. Keep up with them on Instagram here.
- RALtoday reported that Amitie Macaron will close its three Triangle-area locations. The Crabtree store will close on Wednesday, Dec. 25. The downtown locations on Wilmington and Morgan streets will close on Wednesday, Jan. 1.
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 earlier this month 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.
- 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.
