Friday Fun Food Facts – January 10, 2025

Featured Restaurant News

• Big news out of Cary this week as the Triangle Business Journal shared that prolific restaurateur Giorgios Bakatsias, owner of Giorgios Hospitality Group, has opened his latest concept, Naōs Hellenic Cuisine in the former Kō•än space (and before that An Asian Cuisine) on Harrison Avenue. The emphasis is on seafood and fish, large cuts of lamb and beef and a variety of slow-braised dishes cooked in clay pots, along with a variety of vegetable dishes and mezethes, or small plates. Of note, this is Bakatsias’ 20th concept. Visit Naōs here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Staying in Cary, got the exciting news last week that Cape Fear Seafood Company will soon open their fourth Triangle-area location – this one in Cary. The new spot will be located in MacGregor Square at 1885 Lake Pine Drive in the former Brewster’s Pub space (which closed in November after a twelve-year run). Word has it that they are looking to open sometime in April. In the meantime, visit one of their other three locations in the Triangle.

• Also in Cary, Triangle Business Journal reported that a soul food concept out of Charlotte called Nana Morrison’s Soul Food will open next month in the Arboretum (Harrison Avenue and Weston Parkway) in the former BurgerFi spot. It is operated by Gabriella Morrison and her three brothers (Aaron, Hank and Shawn). Their concept (which opened a second location in Charlotte as well as a location in Florida and one soon to open in South Carolina) is described as “grandmother’s cooking” and “comfort food.” The restaurant serves fried chicken, barbecue chicken, black-eyed peas, green beans, collard greens, fish, banana pudding and other Southern-style cuisine. They will continue with their success with plans calling for them to open two additional locations per year. Get familiar with them here.

• Back in Raleigh, the News & Observer reported that Raleigh’s Oakwood Pizza Box owner Anthony Guerra will open a new wine bar called St. Pierre in Raleigh Iron Works this summer. Plans call for a cozy 1,300 square foot wine bar and retail shop featuring a 15-seat bar and outdoor patio. It will be next door to Hunky Dory record shop and the plant store Urban Pothos. St. Pierre is named after a centuries-old wine producer in France’s Bordeaux region and the Guerra’s family dog. The News & Observer reported that Guerra said of St. Pierre – “I would like it to feel like a house party and wine is there.” In the meantime, visit Oakwood Pizza on Instagram here.

• We also learned this week that Lionel and Missy Vatinet will open today (Friday, January 10) the eighth La Farm Bakery location at 404 E. Six Forks Road in the Creekside Crossing Shopping Center (intersection of Six Forks and Wake Forest roads). In addition to offering the full selection of European breads and pastries baked on-site, and signature Counter Culture Coffee program, this location will boast a pizza oven and will introduce a bar program in early 2025 for an enhanced dinner experience with wine, beer and cocktails. Visit La Farm here.

• In the heart of downtown Raleigh, Raleigh Magazine shared that the former Garland space (14 W. Martin Street) is now home to downtown’s newest dive bar — Le Dive Bar. It is owned by the same duo behind Neptunes Parlour, Erin and Martin Wheeler, who took over the downstairs space in 2022. In addition to drinks, the bar will also host food pop-ups on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays with plans to eventually introduce their own food program in March. Visit them on Instagram here.

• Axios shared that one of Raleigh’s newest coffee shops, WRK by The Optimist, opened in early December at 1000 Social Street on the first floor of The Exchange just east of North Hills. This is the third location for The Optimist – with the original location in Raleigh’s Oakwood neighborhood and a second location near Crabtree Valley Mall (as well as a cart at the Lenovo Center). Visit their Instagram page here.

• We’ve known about the pending move of Wake Forest Road’s Mami’s Latin Style Rotisserie Chicken for quite some time now (the property sold in 2023). Now, thanks to the Triangle Business Journal, we know exactly where…and it is not far from their current spot. It will move to the Salvage Yard development, part of the Raleigh Iron Works redevelopment, at 2300 Atlantic Avenue. Look for them to open there in late 2025. Visit Mami’s here.

• For the second time in as many months, Downtown Raleigh’s Morgan Street Food Hall announced another new tenant. The Crispy Cod, your go-to spot for classic fish and chips, will open very soon. They will specialize in perfectly golden, hand-battered fish paired with crispy, seasoned fries. Visit them here.

• Up in Brier Creek, reader Eric vonHaam shared with us that Sushi Suyu will soon open at the intersection of Hwy. 70 and TW Alexander in the space that used to be Your Pie Pizza. This will be Sushi Suyu’s second location with the original being in the heart of downtown Apex. Look for them to open this location later this year. In the meantime, visit them in Apex here.

• Eric vonHaam also shared that up in North Raleigh in the Pinecrest Point Shopping Center (intersection of Leesville Road and Fairbanks Drive), the former Arby’s near Manchester’s Grill has been renovated into a Taco Bell. Signs say they are now open according to vonHaam.

• Over in Morrisville, Triangle Business Journal reported that coffee chain Dutch Bros Coffee (based in Oregon) will open a two-lane drive-thru spot as part of the expansion of the Park West Village shopping center off Chapel Hill Road in Morrisville. It will be adjacent to the Fifth Third Bank branch off Morrisville Parkway near Trader Joe’s. No word on an open date. Get familiar with Dutch Bros here.

• And in Wake Forest, we got word this week that BIBIBOP Asian Grill, the fast-casual restaurant known for its customizable bowls, opened its newest restaurant at the Grove 98 Shopping Center at 535 Dr. Calvin Jones Highway. This is the chain’s 73rd location, and second locally with the first being the location in Cary that opened in 2022. Visit them here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Out in RTP, Raleigh Magazine shared the news that there’s a new taco shop moving in. Anthony Rapillo and Katsuji Tanabe, the team behind downtown Raleigh’s Flour & Barrel, are bringing their brand-new taco concept La Taqueria at Boxyard RTP into the taco space helmed by Jake Wood (Leroy’s, closing next month). Raleigh Magazine noted that we should expect tacos (naturally) featuring handmade tortillas, tender meat, fresh garnishes and homemade salsas—plus tequila- and mezcal-based cocktails. Follow their progress on Instagram here.

• In Hillsborough, Chapelboro reported that the bar The Rookery officially opened last week at 115 West Margaret Lane in the former Hot Tin Roof space. The business is the latest venture of B.J. Patel, who is also behind the restaurant Nomad just one block north in Hillsborough and the Indian cuisine restaurant Viceroy in Durham. Visit The Rookery on Instagram here.

• Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant CAVA is opening its first Durham location next Friday, January 17, in Southpoint’s Renaissance Village retail center (8128 Renaissance Parkway). They are opening in the former Harvest 18 spot near the Streets at Southpoint Mall. Visit Cava here.

Closings

• James Cory Quick shared on the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook page that the BulBox on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill has closed.

• Triangle Business Journal reported that Apex is losing two vegan concepts. Bonafide Bakeshop & Cafe has closed. They also shared that The Dirty V is relocating from Apex to Raleigh.

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

• Triangle Restaurant Week returns Monday, Jan. 27 through Sunday, Feb. 2, featuring over 50 restaurants in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and beyond offering special two-to-three-course menus with fixed prices. This is a great chance to check out restaurants you’ve been meaning to try. Get all the details and a list of participating restaurants on their site here.

• Downtown Raleigh’s Whiskey Kitchen (201 W. Martin Street), popular among whiskey and culinary enthusiasts, is hosting an exclusive Paired Whiskey Dinner featuring Glenmorangie Scotch on January 29th. Guests will indulge in a specially crafted multi-course menu, each dish expertly paired with Glenmorangie’s iconic Scotch whiskies. The complete menu and pairing details are available on the Whiskey Kitchen event page.

• 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 Forest Hall at Chatham Mills (new location). Get tickets and all the details here.

Food Bank Corner

• A MESSAGE OF THANKS:
  
  On behalf of the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude for the kindness and compassion you’ve shared with our friends and neighbors in 2024.
  As economic hardship and rising prices pushed people’s basic needs further and further out of reach — you were there making sure everyone in our community had access to their most vital resources: good food and steady meals. With hunger still at an all-time high in over 15 years, we’re committed to taking actionable steps to create long-term solutions. If you’re interested in learning about other ways you can partner with us in 2025, consider hosting a Virtual Food Drive or ask your employer about employee matching to double your donation’s impact! We’d like to wish you and your loved ones a strong start to the new year with health and happiness in the months ahead. Thank you again for paving the way to a future free from hunger.