Featured Restaurant News
- And now there are four locations of The Pickled Onion. The extremely popular neighborhood restaurant and sports bar opened this week in the North Raleigh’s Lafayette Village. The fun, open and bright environment of their newest spot has a tv on what appears to be every square inch of wall space, and at each booth! It is truly a beautiful space, and also features a cozy outdoor patio overlooking Lafayette’s green space (currently under turf renovation). They are open Sunday thru Thursday, 11 a.m. until midnight; and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. And they are not done yet – a fifth location will open soon in Youngsville. Visit Pickled Onion here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- Raleigh Magazine shared that Red, Hot & Blue returns to Raleigh this coming Monday, June 23rd at the Quail Corners Shopping Center (1326 E. Millbrook Rd.). If you are not familiar with them, they are a full-service, blues-themed group of restaurants serving up signature hickory smoked BBQ favorites, and regional specialties. They also have a location in Morrisville. Visit them here.
- Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Jeff’s Bagel Run, which opened in Wake Forest last September and will open a second Triangle-area location in Rolesville in the coming months, has signed a lease for a third location — this one in Raleigh at 4251 Parklake Ave. in GlenLake Office Park (just up from Crabtree Valley Mall). Look for a fall opening for the Raleigh location. Get familiar with the franchise here.
- The News & Observer reported that Eggs Up Grill is opening a new location at 10501 Shadowlawn Drive in Raleigh (think Bedford community off Durant Road near Nantucket) on Monday, June 30. This is the third for franchise owners Tahir Kakar and Pankaj Parmar. Expect to find the usual breakfast fare including omelets, breakfast sandwiches, bowls and mimosas. Visit Eggs Up Grill here.
- Up in Wake Forest, Flying Biscuit Cafe will soon open their fifth Triangle-area location of the all-day breakfast, brunch, and lunch concept. They will be located in the space previously occupied by East Coast Wings at Wake Forest Crossing (12646 Capital Boulevard). Look for them to open in November. In the meantime, visit one of the other Triangle-area locations here.
- David McCreary shared with me that Lucci Blue’s Social Cafe & Deli at 209 Fayetteville Street in the Varina business district of Fuquay is now in soft-open mode. The Italian-inspired spot is easing into business with coffee and pastries from 8-11 a.m. and then wine and small bites from 4-9 p.m. Eventually artisan sandwiches and gourmet charcuterie will be available. Discover more here.
- Saw on the Downtown Clayton, NC Facebook page that Triangle Coffee Shop, located at the corner of Second and Fayetteville streets, is now open. They are open Monday thru Sunday, 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. Visit them on Facebook here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- Preeti Waas has done it again! Nanny Goat, the latest endeavor from the Jame Beard semifinalist for Best Chef Southeast in 2023 and 2024, is now open at the Horseshoe at HUB RTP. Located at 3151 Elion Drive (at the intersection of Davis Drive and Hwy. 54), walk into a new little corner store, grab-and-go boutique bodega where you will find plenty of beautiful flowers, lots of little goodies, featured baked goods from Lutra Cafe and Bakery and Preeti Waas, fresh produce, a fridge full of dairy and meat, and an assortment of other provisions. They are open Monday – Friday, 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Visit them on Instagram here.
- My friends over at Tabletop Media shared the news that Barsa New Indian is officially open (105 W. Morgan Street) and already making waves in the heart of downtown Durham! With a delicious chef-driven menu, dramatic plating, and a modern take on traditional Indian flavors, Barsa is redefining the local dining scene one vibrant dish at a time. Make it a point to experience Barsa’s bold flavors and beautiful presentation for yourself soon. Visit them here.
- My Durham guru, Glenn Gillen, shared with me that one of his favorite coffee shops in Durham, Everlou, has been sold to an employee and will re-open as Vessel Coffee House and Art Cafe. They will open tomorrow, Saturday June 28th from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. and they will hold a grand opening event from 5-7 p.m. on the evening of June 29. Follow their progress and announcements on their Instagram.
- And over in Chapel Hill, Carrie Brogren shared that One40 Social, located in the heart of downtown Chapel Hill at 140 W. Franklin Street (Old Chicago spot), will be a modern, bold high-energy bar and restaurant designed for connection, play, and flavor. A highlight of their full bar is a dedicated milkshake bar stand serving both classic and spiked milkshakes. Yes, please! No word yet on an open date, but it looks like they’ll definitely be open before the students return in August. Visit them on Instagram here.
- And thanks to the keen eyes of reader Joe Mustian, we learned that Paris Banh Mi is coming soon to Chapel Hill’s Meadowmont in the former Meet Fresh space (and before that, Five Guys; and before that, O’Neil’s). If you are not familiar with them, they have a location over in Cary (712 SE Maynard Rd.) offering authentic French breads, pastries, desserts, coffee and boba tea. No word on an open date. Get familiar with them here.
Closings
- None to report. Keep eating local, folks!
Food Trucks
- Great news as the Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo returns to downtown Raleigh THIS Saturday, June 28th from noon until 6 p.m. along Fayetteville Street. From savory flavors to sweet treats, there’s something to satisfy every craving and cuisine curiosity. Whether you’re a fan of gourmet burgers, delicious tacos, or decadent desserts, our food truck rodeo promises to have something for everyone! Visit their Facebook event page here.
- The final Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo of 2025 will be on Sunday, November 2. It will run from 12 noon until 4 p.m. featuring over 50+ food trucks with cuisine from all over the world making it the ultimate Sunday Funday in Durham Central Park (501 Foster Street)! 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
- Starting June 1st, and running the entire month of June, Little Rey’s charity guest chef series features a creation by Cheetie Kumar of Ajja. Her taco creation, a Honey Harissa Fried Chicken Taco with sumac onion, lime crema, her just launched Spicewalla rose harissa, pomegranate molasses, radish and cilantro, hits Little Rey’s menu this past weekend and will be available throughout the month of June. All proceeds benefit Southern Smoke Foundation. Visit Little Rey’s on Instagram here. And visit Southern Smoke here.
- Left Hook Coffee, which operates a little coffee shop out of the front of Gussie’s at 927 W Morgan Street, is working towards making their East Raleigh roasting space into a new shop, and they need your help. To that end, they will host a launch party on June 28 at Wolfe & Porter (905 W. Morgan St.) from from 4 p.m. to midnight. The free event will feature live music, a DJ, karaoke, oysters, barbecue, and food by chef Marc Russell. You can attend that or donate directly to their Kickstarter campaign here.
- Lakeside Kitchen, located on NCSU’s Centennial Campus has added Whiskey Flights to their lineup of some 70 whiskey offerings. Every Whiskey Wednesday, a featured whiskey is offered at a reduced price for your enjoyment. And now they have added six flights with different themes of a pairing of four whiskeys such as “Around the World”, “West of the Mississippi”, “A Mixed Bag” and more as well as a “Build Your Own” Flight. Check out the entire list on their website. And as a reminder, their next First Sunday Brunch will be July 6th.
- Get tickets now! The Grand Finale of NCRLA’s Chef Showdown will take place on Monday, August 4th at Bay 7 in Durham. Presented by Got To Be NC, this one-of-a-kind event showcases the state’s top chefs, pastry chefs, mixologists, and distilleries as they compete for the coveted titles of Chef of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year, Mixologist & Distillery of the Year, and Best Mocktail of the Year. Guests will savor sweet and savory bites, sip creative cocktails and mocktails, and cast their vote in The People’s Choice Awards—all while celebrating North Carolina’s rich culinary culture. Plus, for the first time ever, the Grand Finale will feature a North Carolina Wine Bar, highlighting some of the state’s top vineyards. Tickets are $150 per person and include all food and beverage tastings. Attendance is limited—don’t miss this unforgettable night of flavor, competition, and local pride. Get tickets and all the details here.
- The inaugural Salt & Smoke & Sound Festival will be held Saturday, October 18th at Blackwood Farm Park between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. The exciting new community event merges together two beloved festivals–Acme’s Salt & Smoke and Sonark Media’s Harvest Festival–into a celebration of food, culture, and music in a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere. Food will be provided by Acme’s Kevin Callaghan and a team of local chefs and food trucks offering a wide variety of dishes and dining options. The festival will feature craft beers, curated beverages, and other interesting spirit-free options. All food and drink will be available for purchase and is not included in the price of festival entry. Tickets are on sale now.
Food Bank Corner
- Let kids be kids this summer. The carefree days of summer should be filled with play and growth, not hunger. Yet, for vulnerable children across central and eastern North Carolina, the end of the school year triggers a stark reality: the loss of consistent, reliable meals. Consider this: 173,710 children in our region are currently facing food insecurity. Parents must come up with at least 10 additional meals per child for every week that school is out. Without immediate intervention, their well-being and development are at serious risk. We cannot allow these young lives to be defined by hunger! Until July 31, generous corporate and individual donors are matching every gift made to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina up to $100,000. Every $1 you donate provides 10 meals – nourishing one child for a full week.
