Featured Restaurant News
- The Gables, a restored historic roadside lodge reimagined as an intimate 18-room boutique retreat in Raleigh’s Mordecai neighborhood, is officially open and welcoming guests. The property has been thoughtfully revived by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Tift Merritt alongside co-owner and developer Daniel Robinson, known for his work on The Durham Hotel, and Sarah Yarborough of Heyday Productions. Located at 1217 Wake Forest Road in the Mordecai neighborhood, the property also features a cafe and bar called Alcove inside the hotel’s former stone garage. Check it out yourself on Instagram here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- You have waited an entire year for this…Boulted Bread’s Thanksgiving Pre-orders are live on their site. Items like Honey Miso Crunch Pie, Vanilla Buttermilk Pie and Yeast Rolls to name a few. But you better move fast as a few of the items are already sold out (I won’t mention the Malted Cream Pie being one of those). The pre-order form will close on Saturday, November 21st at noon. All preordered items will be available for pick-up on Wednesday, November 25th between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Get your order in here. (Hurry!)
- The News & Observer reported this week that an award-winning Southern barbecue chain, Jim N’ Nick’s Community Bar-B-Q, opened a new quick-casual dining experience in Holly Springs. The restaurant, located at 115 Grand Hill Place, serves up classic pulled pork offerings. Customers can also select between fried catfish, beef brisket, chicken tenders, loaded mac & cheese, smoked wings, nacho platter, onion rings, ribs, sandwiches, burgers, desserts and more. Get to know them here.
- Over at Glenwood Place (just inside the beltline) and next to Ladyfinger’s, Ladybug Creamery is holding their grand opening on Saturday, Nov. 21. Everyone that day gets a Lucky Ladybug card with a prize inside, and one of them is a plated chef’s ice cream tasting for the winner and five friends. A little background, the concept is being brought to us by Onur Yilmaz and Simge Tekgul, the couple behind Ice Creamonology in Toronto. They looked at cities for six months and picked Raleigh because of the dairy farms. Onur makes every flavor, cone and topping in-house. Twelve flavors to start with two dairy-free sorbets, and a scoop is $6. He placed second in Canada at World Gelato Masters in 2025. They’re open Thursday through Sunday afternoons now. Visit them on Instagram here.
- And if that is not enough to satisfy your sweet tooth, the News & Observer reported this week that Pittsburgh-based ice cream franchise, Millie’s Homemade, will open a location in Downtown Raleigh’s City Market at 325 Blake Street. Originally launched in 2014, Millie’s was co-founded by Chad and Lauren Townsend. Raleigh will be the franchise’s first North Carolina location. Expect them to open before the end of the year. Start getting familiar with them here.
- And for those that can’t get enough
- Over in Cary, following a three-month closure, Urban Angeethi, a family-owned Indian restaurant, reopened last week after completing their expansion into the neighboring space at 5033 Arco Street. The expansion makes room for the corporate lunches, family dinners and celebrations its owners have long wanted to accommodate. Take a peek at their Instagram here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- Tonya’s Cafe Bakeshop, which recently suffered a fire at their location in Chapel Hill on Elliott Road, has opened a holiday pop-up at University Place. Located in the 900 Willow building by Silverspot Theater, they have cookies and desserts available as well as gift boxes and Southern gourmet foods for the holiday season. It also serves as a pick-up location for Take & Bake meals, including Thanksgiving dinners. Hours are Monday – Saturday 10 am – 6 pm. Get all the details here.
Closings
- Bandido’s Mexican Cafe, a Chapel Hill Mexican restaurant which first opened in 1995, announced it will close on Friday, December 11. The news comes via Carrie Brogren founder of the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies group on Facebook. Their two locations on UNC’s campus will also close.
- Two spots on Raleigh’s Hillsborough Street across from the NC State campus have closed – Guasaca South American Grill and BulBox Grill. That’s the bad news. The good news is both concepts have other locations around the Triangle that remain open.
- Over in Durham, after five years of serving the community, Mr. Fries Man Durham announced via Instagram that their last day of service would be Saturday, November 21.
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
- Join my friends over at Biddy Thomas in Raleigh for their next Whiskey Wednesday on Wednesday, November 18th. If you haven’t been before, it is a relaxed evening of whiskey sampling and creative chef pairings. Their Thanksgiving inspired Whiskey Wednesday will start off by letting you settle in with the New Orleans classic cocktail, the Sazerac. Their delightful and knowledgable Captain of the House, Sally Cameron will then walk you through a flight of 3 whiskey pours, paired with Ramon’s signature porchetta, a black eyed pea risotto, and a vegan root vegetable cassoulet with corn meal crust. They’ll finish it off with an apple hand pie for dessert. Comfort food, good whiskey, education, camaraderie, in a relaxed setting. What else could you want on a Wednesday? $60/person. ($30 deposit at time of purchase). Secure your seat here.
- In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, the Town of Apex is hosting a Native American Tasting Experience on Thursday, November 19th, from 6–8 p.m. at the Apex Senior Center. The experience will be led by Chef Lorrie Dial, an educator and member of the Lumbee Tribe, and will feature a curated tasting menu highlighting Native American food traditions. It’s a unique opportunity for food lovers throughout the Triangle to try something new while learning more about Native American culture and culinary heritage. Cost is just $15. Get all the details and register 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
- With the holidays just around the corner, the Food Bank is asking for your help to fill every plate for neighbors who need a hand. Continuing policy changes and cuts to federal food assistance, on top of high prices, have made it very difficult for many people to stock the pantry and fridge at home. Families who have always worked hard to make ends meet are coming up short. More of our friends and neighbors are discovering that their paychecks can’t cover everything their family needs this month. Many are turning to their local food pantry for the first time. During our Meal Drive, every $10 you give is enough fresh produce, protein, dairy, and pantry staples for 30 meals. And with 600,000 people facing food insecurity across the 34 counties we serve, every meal matters. That’s family dinners, after-school snacks for the kids, and holiday meals with all the trimmings so nobody has to sacrifice a beloved family tradition this year. You’ll help families who have had some setbacks and need help to get by this month. You’ll also help seniors who see their retirement income buying fewer and fewer groceries at today’s prices. Everybody deserves to gather around the table for a special meal with loved ones at the holidays. Together, let’s make that possible. Please make your gift of any amount to ensure every plate is full during one of our busiest seasons of the year!
