Featured Restaurant News
- Here he grows again! Giorgios Bakatsias’ Giorgios Hospitality Group is opening Géos Tavern & Oyster Bar this spring at 1118 Environ Way in the East 54 center off Highway 54. Formerly the home of Tobacco Road Sports Cafe, Old East Tavern and NoDa Brewing Company Tapas, the gastropub will focus on a tavern menu with beer, cocktails and wine. Daniel Jackson, of Osteria Georgi fame, will be chef and partner at the new restaurant. The restaurant will include two private dining rooms, a covered outdoor patio with a garden and a lounge salon. This will be Bakatsias’ 21st concept spanning from the Triangle to the coast. Follow along on Instagram here. See all their restaurants here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- January 27th will bring the opening of the newest location of Raising Canes Chicken Fingers (weather permitting I guess) here in the Triangle. Directly across from the NC State campus on Hillsborough Street (2420 Hillsborough Street). They are kicking things off at 8 a.m. with giveaways, including free Cane’s for a year for 20 lucky customers, music and plenty of celebrations. Expect lines down the street for weeks. Of note, the exterior preserves the historic marquee as a nod to the Varsity Theatre, which originally opened in 1941. Visit them here.
- And just down the street, we learned this week that Roots Natural Kitchen, which also has a location on Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street, will open next month across from NC State’s campus at 2712 Hillsborough Street (think former Gumby’s spot). If you are not familiar with Roots, they were founded in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2015 serving up natural food in a fast-casual setting and now have just over 20 locations, mostly in the mid-Atlantic. Get to know them here.
- Over in downtown Cary, the Herald-Sun reported this week that a new, all-day cafe called The Refreshery is now open in the Meridian East Chatham development, a new luxury residential community along East Chatham Street. Owners Stephen and Jessica McNulty noted that they are serving up cold-pressed juices, coffee and tea as well as light snack options. Later in the day, they transition to mocktails, or what they call “social tonics:” beverages with adaptogenics, nootropics and drinks infused with CBD or hemp. Follow along on Instagram here.
- Also in Cary, David McCreary shared with us that after a long time coming, Pastrami Tom’s Deli & Grill is now welcoming customers at 312 West Chatham St., Suite 103 in downtown. Serving up everything from Cubans and Reubens to burgers and Philly cheese sandwiches, check them out here. Congrats to Tom Scheidler.
- In Apex, the News & Observer reported this week that Raleigh’s Groovy Duck Bakery is expanding to a second location. Known for its dozens of muffin flavors and custom cakes, they will open at 101 N. Salem St., formerly home to The Cranky Yankee. They are expected to open in April or May, depending on construction. In the meantime, join them in Raleigh here.
- The James Beard Foundation announced the semifinalists for the prestigious James Beard Awards, recognizing the top food talent in the US, and three Triangle chefs and restaurants were named. Much deserved kudos to: Peregrine, Best New Restaurant; Steven Devereaux Greene, Herons, Best Chef: Southeast; and Cheetie Kumar, Ajja, Best Chef: Southeast.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- Got word that Hops & Flower, from the folks behind Luna Rotisserie & Empanadas, opened in Durham this week. Think of them as a modern twist on the classic bodega, serving up sandwiches, beer and THC drinks at 2014 Hillsborough Road in the old Moes Barbeque space. They are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week. Get familiar with them here.
- Also in Durham, saw on the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook page a post noting that Kahlovera Street Tacos, with a location in Chapel Hill’s Meadowmont development, has opened at
2812 Erwin Road near Duke’s campus and Duke Hospital. Visit them here.
- And over in Chapel Hill, we got word that a couple more concepts in Eastgate Crossing shopping center are very close to reopening following severe flooding from Tropical Storm Chantal in July 2025. Both Clean Juice and Kipos have recently shared updates that they are very close to reopening – both are hiring. And not too far behind will be Snooze A.M. Eatery, also planning to reopen soon.
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
- The annual Triangle Restaurant Week event is set to run the week of January 26- February 1, 2026. During the event, participating restaurants within Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham and surrounding areas will offer a special 2 or 3-course prix fixe menu ($20, $25, $30,$35, $40, $45, $50) each day they are open. Get a full list of restaurants, hours, days and all the details here.
- Vidrio, downtown Raleigh’s destination for Mediterranean cuisine and hospitality, is launching a new Chef’s Table Dinner Series on January 28th. The dinner series, which will be held every other month, will offer refined, chef-driven tasting menus exploring the cuisines of the Mediterranean region from France to Morocco. Each dinner will be rooted in executive chef Roberto Barth’s modern seasonal cooking and N.C. ingredients. Starting at 6 p.m., the Jan. 28th dinner will be a five-course tasting menu highlighting dishes from Southern France. The cost is $99 per person and includes wine pairings. See the menu and all the details here.
- Rocky Top Catering announced this week the dates for the eighth annual Cooking for the Kids, a multi-night culinary competition uniting the Triangle’s vibrant chef community in support of an impactful local nonprofit, Overflowing Hands. Overflowing Hands is a 100% volunteer-led 501c3 organization serving the most vulnerable children in our neighborhoods, across the United States and around the world. Hosted at the elegant Millbrook Manor (located at 1705 E. Millbrook Road in Raleigh), Cooking for the Kids offers guests an immersive dining experience where philanthropy and culinary creativity take center stage. The first round is scheduled for Monday, January 26 with the finale on Tuesday, February 10. Get all the details, including competing chefs as well as tickets, here.
- Tickets have gone on sale for the 2026 version of the Triangle Food & Wine Experience which will take place February 5-7, 2026. From its humble inception over 30 years ago, the Triangle Wine & Food Experience has grown to become one of the leading charity wine auctions in the nation with all proceeds benefiting the Frankie Lemmon School & Development Center. And let me tell you, the lineup of culinary talent (from all corners of the United States) is absolutely incredible – see the list here. If you call yourself a foodie, these are the not-to-miss events of the year. A weekend of the most incredible food and wine. Get details on the weekend of events here.
Food Bank Corner
- The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina is looking for caring friends to become Monthly Sustainers of the Food Bank to help respond to the ever-increasing demand for food assistance. When you partner with them monthly, you help ensure that healthy, nutritious food can reach people in need all year long. In fact, your monthly gift of: $25 can provide 75 meals per month; $35 can provide 105 meals per month; $50 can provide 150 meals per month; $100 can provide 300 meals per month. Plus, with your monthly commitment of $25 or more, they’ll send a special tote bag your way. And when you carry it, you are reminded of all you make possible for your neighbors through your consistent generosity! Become a Monthly Sustainer here.
