Featured Restaurant News
- A second State of Beer opened yesterday in downtown Raleigh. The bottle shop and restaurant occupies a second transformed bungalow in the curve of West Morgan Street (851 W. Morgan St.) next door to The Bend Bar, a cozy neighborhood spot serving local craft beers, wine and craft cocktails, which opened last month. The original State of Beer at 401 Hillsborough St. will continue to operate through at least late 2026. The new location features a full kitchen allowing them to introduce new items like harissa dry rubbed wings, homemade mozzarella sticks and chicken cutlet sandwiches. The dining space features a seven-seat bar, two dozen indoor seats, a deck connecting the bungalows and a spacious backyard with fire pits and seating areas nestled among the trees. Plans for the third bungalow are still to be determined. Might be best to check them out on Instagram.
Wake County Restaurant News
- The folks over at North Hills shared the news that Foxcroft Wine Co. opened their sixth location (and first in the Triangle) in the former Midtown Grille spot in the Lassiter District. Their concept offers a full-service restaurant offering sharable plates and entrees designed to be paired with an extensive selection of wines (40+ wines by the glass). Get familiar with them here. Thanks to reader Jack Tookey for the heads up!
- Toastique, a gourmet toast, juice, and coffee bar franchise, will debut its first Raleigh location in a 1,415-square-foot retail space on the ground floor of 1000 Social in The Exchange Raleigh. The franchise is owned by Jessalyn Abril and Kristi Kaltenbach and will open in the third quarter of 2025. They will offer a unique menu featuring gourmet toast, smoothies, cold-pressed juices, smoothie bowls, coffee, espresso, and more. The only other North Carolina location is in Charlotte. Get to know them here.
- WRAL reported this week that Corbett’s Burger and Soda Bar, a family-run burger and soda bar, will bring gourmet burgers and unique sodas to the Holly Springs area, their fifth location (four in the Triangle and one at the coast). It looks like the location will open today or tomorrow (check their social media posts before heading out) at 7224 GB Alford Highway. Check out Corbett’s here.
- Two new concepts are on the way over at 1601 New Bern Avenue in Raleigh. First up, Ruth Guerra, co-owner of Que Pashoo Mariscos Bar and Grill, along with her sister-in-law, Vanesa Paz, will open Que Pashoo Tacos & Bar where guests can expect a variety of tacos made with high-quality, fresh ingredients, alongside craft cocktails. Next up, Wes Woody, a Raleigh native, will introduce his first solo venture, Squeeze, a juice bar and café focused on health and wellness. Look to enjoy fresh juices, acai bowls, customizable smoothies, and clean, nutritious meals such as salads, sandwiches, and flatbreads. Both will open as early as March. Visit Que Pashoo here and Squeeze here.
- Michael DePersia of DePersia & Associates shared that he sold Thaiphoon Bistro at 301 Glenwood Avenue in Downtown Raleigh (next to Sushi Blues and The Hibernian). After a brief remodel the new owners will open up as an Indian restaurant and bar serving lunch and dinner. The last remaining Thaiphoon Bistro is still open on Creedmoor Road in the Stonehenge Shopping Center.
- My buddy David McCreary shared that Farmside Kitchen is coming soon to 316 Colonades Way, Suite 212 in Cary’s Waverly Place. They will serve up hearty, wholesome and nutritious grain bowls, salads and grilled protein. This will be the second Farmside spot in the Triangle, which already has a location in Durham. Get familiar with them here.
- And David McCreary (clearly my eastern Wake County correspondent) shared that Tiny House Treats, a family owned and operated drive-thru-only frozen custard and dessert shop, has opened at 1013 E. Broad Street Fuquay-Varina in the Walmart parking lot. Discover more on Instagram here.
- And finally, kudos to the latest round of Triangle area chefs and restaurants securing spots as semi-finalists in the prestigious James Beard Awards, often dubbed the “Oscars of Food.” Chef Scott Crawford and his company Crawford Hospitality are semifinalists for outstanding restaurateur, a national honor. In the outstanding chef category, Ricky Moore of Saltbox Seafood in Durham was given the nod as a semi-finalist. Moore won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southeast in 2022. In the emerging chef category, Bhavin Chhatwani of Tamasha Modern Indian in Raleigh was announced as a semifinalist. Figulina in Raleigh is a semifinalist in the best new restaurant category. Durham’s The Bar Beej is competing in the best new bar category. Christopher Prieto of Prime Barbecue in Knightdale is a semi-finalist for the Best Chef in the Southeast award. Finalists for the 2025 James Beard Awards will be announced on Wednesday, April 2, and winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 16 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- Zweli’s Ekhaya in Durham at 406 Blackwell Street will begin offering Sunday brunch on February 2nd (and every Sunday) from 10 a.m until 3 p.m. Look for creations like Caramel Rum Bread Pudding and Banana Foster’s French Toast with Caramelized Pistachios and Honey Ricotta Cream. Make your reservation now!
Closings
- None to report. Keep eating local, folks!
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.
Food Bank Corner
- With over 560,000 community members facing food insecurity and hunger at its highest in over 15 years, the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina is working overtime to ensure no one goes hungry. Your generous support is making a positive impact for people who are fighting to stay afloat. Monthly giving is a great way to increase your impact for our neighbors. Just $10 a month could provide 50 meals to families experiencing hunger. A monthly pledge is a steadfast commitment to providing nourishment across our community. Join a caring group of donors by becoming a Sustainer today!
