Featured Restaurant News
- We first told you about this at the beginning of last month, but downtown Raleigh’s newest watering hole – Low Bar Lounge (in the former IMURJ space beneath Whiskey Kitchen) is now open. It is brought to us by Whiskey Kitchen co-owners Jeff Mickel and Michael Thor. The space is a throwback to a particular kind of bar—and a particular kind of bar night—low on pretense and high on life according to Raleigh Magazine. Where you’ll meet up with friends, or make friends. A place to hang out and be community. Check it out here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- It is always exciting to share when someone is enjoying great success and growing! Such is the case with Annabelle Comisar, who opened Michael’s English Muffins in 2018. This week the Triangle Business Journal shared that she has signed a new lease at 3611 Spring Forest Road, going from 1,616 square feet to 4,848 square feet in a neighboring suite. She plans to open in the larger space a year from now. Kudos to Annabelle! Make time to stop by soon where you’ll find yourself saying, “Those are some good muffs!” Check them out here.
- Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, a brand of Orlando-based Darden Restaurants, is eyeing space at Kane Realty’s The Strand, a 20-story mixed-use residential tower that broke ground in May 2025 adjacent to the Advance Auto Parts tower. This will be the first Triangle location for the chain and joins one other North Carolina location in Charlotte. Get familiar with Eddie’s here.
- Triangle Business Journal also noted that another Darden chain, LongHorn Steakhouse, is taking over the former Bahama Breeze on Wake Forest Road down the street from the North Hills Innovation District. The new LongHorn will open in late 2027 or 2028 at 3309 Wake Forest Road, after a complete tear down and rebuild. Visit them here.
- We first told you about this back in June, but learned this week that up in Raleigh’s Brennan Station (corner of Creedmoor and Strickland) Topsail Steamer is holding their grand opening party this Saturday. Not a sit-down joint, but a take home and steam concept – fresh seafood steam pots packed with the freshest seafood, meats, veggies, and homemade seasonings. Here’s how it works – choose from their signature Bay Buckets (or create your own) and place your order. Next, head home (or wherever you have a burner) with your pot/bucket and follow the simple steaming instructions. (Hint: Just add liquid!). And finally, enjoy! Check them out here.
- Up in Rolesville, learned this week that Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar is in soft open mode in their newest Triangle-area location at 110 Bluestone Xing Road. Get ready to enjoy the bold flavors of Indian cuisine, your favorite Lime & Lemon dishes, and the warm hospitality you’ve come to know and love. This is their 5th Triangle-area location. Visit them here.
- It is here – the North Carolina State Fair (through October 25) and all this year’s yumminess. Check out the map (plan accordingly) and see all the new offerings here. And don’t forget the Weekday Lunch Pass Program where you can visit the fair on weekdays between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. without paying a permanent admission fee.
- Kudos to Figulina, the acclaimed Italian-inspired restaurant in downtown Raleigh’s Warehouse District, which was just named Southern Living’s Restaurant of the Month. The feature spotlights “a standout restaurant from across the South. These editor-picked establishments reflect exceptional dining, thoughtful design, and a distinctive influence on community.” Book a night at Figulina here.
- And on a sad note, the Raleigh food scene lost a beautiful soul last week – Michelle Bender – who had a far-reaching impact – well beyond the walls of Wicked Smile and Five Star. Michelle was also a classmate of mine at Broughton High School. Our heart goes out to her brother Chris and all that knew and loved her.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- The wait is over Pittsboro. Next week a Tavolo Italian Eatery opens in a soft-open mode with reservation only seating. Located in MOSAIC at Chatham Park, a Tavolo is owned by the same folks that brought us The Sycamore, 39 West Catering, and Forest Hall Wedding and Event Venue. The new spot will offer a warm, elevated-casual approach to Italian dining. Go ahead and visit their website to get on their mailing list so you can receive notification when reservations go live. Congratulations to Greg Lewis and his team.
- Staying in Pittsboro, Pittsboro Eats shared the news that MOSAIC at Chatham Park will also soon be home to Pecan Jacks which features unique homemade ice cream, including delightful liquor-infused flavors, and handcrafted Southern treats. They will be next to People’s Coffee and this will be their first location in North Carolina. Get to know them here.
- We first told you about this back in early August, but learned this week that the new Colombian bistro, Melao has opened, taking over the former Little Bull space at 810 N. Mangum Street in Durham. The concept is inspired by Colombia’s incredible diversity, expect vibrant flavors, thoughtful cocktails and dishes rooted in tradition. Think tropical fruits like lulo and maracuyá, fresh seafood inspired by Colombia’s coasts, comforting classics like bandeja paisa, and so much more. Every dish and cocktail showcases the bold, soulful flavors that make Colombian cuisine unforgettable. Whether you grew up with these flavors or you’re discovering them for the very first time, get by soon. Check them out on Instagram here.
- Staying in Durham, Glenn Gillen notified us that the newest location of LongHorn Steakhouse has opened at 6917 Fayetteville Road. It moved into the former Chili’s building across from The Streets at Southpoint in the Renaissance Center (6917 Fayetteville Road). Visit them here.
- Over in Hillsborough, The News of Orange reported that Al’s Burger Shack plans to expand its chain of restaurants to 115 Oakdale Drive in the former Pizza Hut. This will be their 6th location here in the Triangle. Check out Al’s here.
- After a series of back-and-forth texts I had with Carrie Brogren, founder of Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies, she finally got word that Pocha, a Korean Pub & BBQ located just behind Chapel Hill’s Wegmans at 116 Old Durham Road, is opening this Saturday, October 17. The space looks amazing and the menu makes one’s mouth water. See for yourself.
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 inaugural Chapel Hill Biscuit Festival will celebrate Southern culinary heritage on Sunday, October 25, with a Chefs’ Tasting Event featuring food and drink from some of the South’s premier chefs, bakers and local purveyors. All proceeds will benefit SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals. Led by founding chair Spring Council, daughter of Mama Dip, the festival will bring together culinary talent from across North Carolina and beyond. Guests will enjoy sweet and savory takes on the biscuit, and a variety of beverages. The participating chef lineup includes: Sam Suchoff — Lady Edison Pork / The Pig; Brian Wiles — Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken; Oscar Johnson — Jimmy Pearls; Sera Cuni — The Root Cellar Cafe/ Feedwell Fridges; Tie Whittaker — Buttermilk Boutique; Tonya Council — Tonya’s Cafe & Bake Shop; Britny Stephenson — AC Restaurants, Ashley Christensen’s Restaurant Group; Marvin Ross — Peculiar Pig Farm; Lynn Well — Thyme Spent Personal Chef; Nancie McDermott — Cookbook author; Chris McLaurin — Lutra Cafe & Bakery. Beverage sponsors and booths include: Durham Distillery; Sarah Newman — Bubble Tea; James Creek Cider House; End of Days Distillery; Steel String Brewery; Carrboro Coffee Roasters; Kill Devils Rum; Sutler’s Gin; and Vino Wine. The Chefs’ Tasting Event takes place at American Legion Post 6, 3700 NC-54 in Chapel Hill. VIP entry begins at 2 p.m., and general admission begins at 3 p.m. Tickets and additional event information.
- Chef Sera Cuni and her team over at The Root Cellar in Chapel Hill are taking part in 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.
- 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. Get your tickets here.
- Tickets are now on sale for the third Rawleigh Oyster Fest, presented by Earp’s Seafood Market, returning Saturday, Nov. 7th. 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.
- The Trophy Trot 5K returns for its 10th year on Thanksgiving morning (November 26) to Dorothea Dix Park, benefiting Healing Transitions, a Raleigh nonprofit that provides recovery services for people struggling with addiction. The race has grown into a beloved holiday tradition, and 2025 was its biggest year yet: nearly 3,000 runners and walkers signed up, and the race donated about $60,000 to Healing Transitions, up from $42,000 the year before. Since 2016, the annual race, hosted by nOG Run Club and Trophy Brewing Co., has raised more than $210,000 for the nonprofit. Register here.
Food Bank Corner
- It’s Tackling Hunger Month, and calling all football fans to team up with the Food Bank by making a gift of any size! Why is it so important to go on the offense against hunger? Because right now, more than 600,000 of our neighbors aren’t always sure where their next meal will come from—or if it will come at all. That’s enough people to fill NC State’s Carter-Finley Stadium over 10 times. But because every $25 is enough to provide 75 nourishing meals, every gift goes a long way right here in your community. When we’re tackling hunger together, we help kids, families, and seniors live healthier, better lives. Please give today!
