Featured Restaurant News
- And then there were 5. That’s right, Jubala Coffee revealed this week that they will open a fifth location, and their second in North Hills. The newest location will be in the Main District at the base of 4114 Center (between Alo Yoga and Gorjana) on the opposite side from their current location in the Park District (200 Park at N Hills St.). Congrats to Andrew Cash on his continued success. No word on an exact opening date, so stay tuned. Visit Jubala here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- Get ready for the opening of the new location of Arepa Culture in Raleigh, an award-winning local family-owned Venezuelan restaurant. Originally located in the Pleasant Valley shopping center, they will have their Grand Opening for their new location from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. on September 26th in the Six Forks Station shopping center (9320 Forum Dr.), next to Target. Pro tip: their “soft opening” is planned for next week. Visit Arepa here.
- Not far from there, my friends over at SOLA Coffe have released their fall menu and it will have your mouth watering. Things like: Apple & Espresso Mascarpone Toast, Cranberry & Goat Toast, Jammy Egg & Whipped Feta Toast, Cranberry Turkey, Harvest Salad, and last but definitely not least, Maple Apple Scones and Pumpkins Hot Mini Donuts. As well as drinks: Pumpkin Honey, Sweet Potato Flat White, Autumn Expresso Tonic, Passion Fruit Agua Fresca, and Cinnamon Plum Cider. Yes please and thank you! Visit Sola here.
- An update on something we first told you about back in March – we have an open date thanks to the sharp eyes of reader Tim Decker. Looks like November 9th is the date we will see Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant opening their first Triangle-area location in the Parkside Town Commons shopping center next to Five Guys. Founded in 2005, now boasting over 60 locations, Cooper’s blends a modern American restaurant, a full-service bar, a Napa-style tasting room, and a massive wine club. Check it out here.
- And staying with Tim Decker, he also shared that Abbey Road will soon open a third location – this one in Morrisville, joining their locations in Cary and Apex. They will open in Park West Village (we will share the exact location toward the end of September). In the meantime, visit their two locations here.
- Down in Fuquay-Varina, we got word that Early Bird Cafe has closed their current location (736 N Main St. – shared space with Little Portugal) but will soon open in a new, independent space with extended hours and an expanded menu in 2027. They also suggested that it will be close to this location. Keep up with them on Facebook here.
- In Holly Springs, David McCreary shared with us that barbecue chain Jim N’ Nick’s BBQ is being built at Holly Springs Towne Center. Based out of Alabama, this would be their 64th location as they have already three locations in North Carolina – Hickory, Charlotte and Concord. No word on an open date. Check them out here.
- Little Caesars opened its newest restaurant in Garner at 4458 Fayetteville Road. The new location will serve guests Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. with extended hours until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Visit Little Caesars here.
- Over in North Raleigh we received an interesting update to the Whataburger on Falls of Neuse Road. According to sources familiar with the development in our market, it is now on hold until at least June. In fact, it may not open as there are considerations to use it solely as a training site. Until we know more, visit their locations in Raleigh and Wake Forest. Visit them here.
- And a huge congratulations to Cheetie Kumar, Paul Siler, Angela Salamanca, Marshall Davis and Justin Pasfield, owners of Big Cat, which just opened six months ago, has already gained national recognition as it was named one of the country’s best places to eat by The New York Times, a snapshot of eating in America in 2026 through the lens of 50 restaurants. Visit Big Cat here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- Things are moving in the SoCo District of downtown Pittsboro with the news yesterday that Nonna’s Cafe (the initial phase of the soon-to-open concept La Cucina della Nonna) is in soft open mode, with the grand opening tomorrow (Saturday, September 19th). They have taken over the former Havoc space with an Italian coffee shop in the morning, transitioning into an Italian wine bar in the afternoon/evening. They continue to work to complete the kitchen build-out, which will allow them to open their authentic Italian restaurant in early 2027. Congratulations to Dana and Jim Rumbold. Keep up with the progress on Instagram here.
- Saw on Triangle Table Talk on Facebook that there is a new restaurant in Carrboro called California Burrito. It’s located on Jones Ferry Road in the shopping center with Food Lion. It is described as a local Chipotle-like concept where you build your dish as you go–but with more options. Please note that it is takeout only. Find them on Facebook here.
Closings
- A reminder that Lula & Sadie’s in Durham will serve up their last meal this weekend, September 20th to be exact. That leaves you just a few days to get by (2202 Chapel Hill Road).
- The News & Observer shared the news that Panera is closing its location in North Hills.
Food Trucks
- Like my buddy Tim Coynesmith likes to say, “Somebody has been reading my diary.” Two Roosters is hosting an Ice Cream Truck Rodeo on Friday, September 25th from 5-9 p.m. with five of their catering vehicles and carts! They’ll be serving off-the-menu specialty items and Longleaf Swine (which is moving into the former Sawmill Taproom space) will be there with barbecue. It will be held in the Greystone Baptist Church (7509 Leadmine Road) parking lot, directly next to their Greystone Village shop and kitchen in N Raleigh. You can get all the details on their Facebook page here.
- The final Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on September 27. You’ll find food and drink at over 30 food trucks as well as inflatables and family fun for all ages. It will be hosted at Durham Central Park (500 Foster Street, Durham). Go ahead and mark your calendar. 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
- The Crunkleton Chapel Hill (320 West Franklin Street) is hosting a series of special Office Hours tastings with Gary Crunkleton throughout September. These curated tasting events feature bourbons from their vast collection including antiques, barrel picks, and some unsung heroes that deserve recognition. Tickets are $125 per person with a maximum of 15 guests for each session. To reserve a spot on the night of your choice, and for additional details, please visit them here.
- Chef Sera Cuni and her team over at The Root Cellar in Chapel Hill and Pittsboro are taking part in three dinners coming up that you are going to want to check out. First up is a Fish Pickin’ on September 20th where she is teaming up with chef Bill Hartley at Chatham Oaks Farm in Pittsboro. Next up is the Annual Pay-What-You-Can Community Feast benefitting chef Sera’s nonprofit Feed-Well Fridges to build Feed-Well’s first permanent home and commissary kitchen. This event takes place on September 27th also at Chatham Oaks Farm. And finally, a Yellowstone Dinner on October 29th where four incredible chefs are taking over Holl & Stone Farm in Garner. Chefs Sera Cuni of The Root Cellar, Bill Hartley of Postal Fish Company and JDub’s Po’Boys, Ryan Butler of Smoke Ropers, and Lynn Wells of Thyme Well Spent and Our State Magazine will each helm their own station, giving guests the chance to wander the farm, fill their plates and experience a menu built around smoke, fire, Southern ingredients and a little Wild West inspiration. Get your tickets for any of these events and all the details here.
- On Saturday, September 26, Shop Local Raleigh will host NC Oktoberfest – Prost Y’all, a brand-new Oktoberfest-inspired street festival transforming Fayetteville Street into a celebration of North Carolina craft beer, local food, small businesses, live music and fall fun. The event will feature more than 35 breweries and cideries, approximately 50 food trucks and 40 local businesses and makers. Best of all, admission is free and open to the public. Get all the details here.
- On Sunday, September 27, from 12 to 6 p.m., the inaugural Carolina Culture Food Fest will transform Moore Square into an exciting celebration of food, culture, and community. With the tagline “Where Food, Family & Fun Come Together,” the free, family-friendly festival will bring together food trucks, chefs, dessert vendors, local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders from across North and South Carolina. One of the festival’s most anticipated attractions will be a live food competition, where participating chefs and food vendors will put their signature dishes, creativity, and culinary skills to the test. Get all the details here.
- Tickets are officially on sale for the 2026 Chefs for Change Annual Gala & Auction to benefit Families Moving Forward. Reserve your spot now to join them on Thursday, November 5th, as they gather at The Cookery for an unforgettable evening of exquisite food, inspiring stories, and abundant opportunities to make a meaningful difference for families and children experiencing homelessness in Durham! And because it’s Chefs for Change, they’ve invited an exceptional lineup of friends—the crème de la crème of the Durham culinary scene—to share their passion for food and Families Moving Forward: Matt Kelly of Nanas Rockwood; Chris Garrett of Seraphine; Aaron Benjamin of Gocciolina; Alex Catotti and Erin Kobler of Restaurant Cornelia and The Vinter and the Baker; and, Chris McLaurin of Lutra Cafe and Bakery. Early Bird pricing ends soon! Get your tickets here.
- Tickets are now on sale for the third Rawleigh Oyster Fest, presented by Earp’s Seafood Market, returning Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. This year’s event, themed “Smoke & Shuck,” expands the festival’s signature chef-and-oyster-farm pairings to include North Carolina pitmasters for the first time, bringing barbecue into the mix alongside raw oysters. It will be held at Raleigh Iron Works. Rawleigh Oyster Fest has sold out both of its previous events — its launch in November 2025, which sold all 550 tickets, and a spring 2026 edition that sold out in just five days. The event is organized by Eduardo Mera of Mera Brothers Oysters, Katie Dombrowski, communications administrator for the City of Raleigh, and Max Trujillo of the NC F&B Podcast. Together, the two previous events raised approximately $12,500 for the Frankie Lemmon School and Development Center and the N.C. Coastal Federation. Get tickets and all the details here.
Food Bank Corner
- The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina is launching the Plate It Forward campaign to address the rising hunger crisis in the region. During Hunger Action Month this September, Food Bank supporters can dine out at partnering restaurants to purchase #PlateItForward dishes. A portion of the proceeds from each order directly benefits the Food Bank and our network of over 700 partner agencies and meal sites. At a time when more than 1 in 7 of our neighbors don’t know where their next meal might come from, it’s never been more important to #PlateItForward. Our community can get involved by visiting them here to find a roster of participating restaurants and their #PlateItForward dishes. Diners are encouraged to share their #PlateItForward meal on social media to invite others to get involved.
