Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news…that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.
Featured Restaurant News
- It is time to get your grub on – really get your grub on. Grub Durham, the latest project from Durham-born restaurateur Wendy Woods, who co-owns Piper’s in the Park, Nosh and Jo Rae Cafe, is now open. Grub’s home is in a 61-year-old renovated service station on West Chapel Hill Street complete with a rooftop bar. This space is super cool and the menu looks amazing. Check it out here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- Downtown Raleigh is a couple of weeks away from getting another cool rooftop space atop the new 10-story Residence Inn Raleigh Downtown. 10th & Terrace will have a spectacular view overlooking the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts and will have lots of comfortable seating, a small plates menu that changes seasonally and a local beer and craft cocktail list that should make this an immediate hit for hotel guests and other visitors to downtown Raleigh. It will be accompanied by The Overlook, the indoor restaurant. Check it out here.
- The News & Observer reported this week that Andia’s Homemade Ice Cream opened its first brick and mortar location this past week in Cary after starting as The Freezing Pointe, an ice cream catering business. It is located at Cary Park Town Center at 10120 Green Level Church Rd. Check them out here.
- Had a couple of folks inform me that the next location of Nothing Bundt Cakes is coming to Falls Village (6643 Falls of Neuse Road) in Raleigh. Many thanks to Katie Page and Rebecca Calhoun. Sign in the window says it will open in the fall of 2017. Also noticed on their website that they have another location coming to Hope Valley Commons shopping center in Durham. Check them out here.
- Also in Raleigh, reader Jeanette Hauser got word to us that a new Vietnamese restaurant called Pho Sure is coming to the Celebrations at Six Forks shopping center next to Tokyo House (corner of Six Forks and Saw Mill). Unfortunately, we don’t have any additional information on it at this time. But we will keep an eye on it…for sure (sorry, couldn’t resist).
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- Amber Watson over at Bites of Bull City tipped me off to the fact that Durham is now home to a new Ethiopian restaurant called Goorsha. They moved into and renovated the former Rainbow Chinese restaurant on W. Main Street (910 W. Main Street). I tried Ethiopian food for the first time a few weeks ago with friend Aziz Carrell and his family and look forward to getting over there soon with him. Check them out here.
- Last week we told you about the closing of Old Chicago Pizza. Not long after that news broke, the News & Observer reported that Hops Burger Bar, which TripAdvisor called the best burger spot in the nation in 2015, is opening in the former Lime Fresh Mexican Grill space on West Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. They currently have two locations in Greensboro and are slated to open the Chapel Hill location in January, 2018. Check them out here.
- Also in Chapel Hill, Carolina Brewery will be celebrating their 22nd anniversary with lots of changes – following renovations to the physical space at their W. Franklin Street brewpub, they will unveil a number of menu changes. All offer a new, refreshing feel that reflect the community that surrounds them. The new menu will be unveiled next Monday, July 31. Keep up with the latest on their website here.
Closings
- Two Golden Corral closings – 1420 E. Broad Street in Fuquay Varina and 7224 Alford Hwy in Holly Springs. Surprisingly, there are still 40 locations sprinkled throughout North Carolina. Thanks to Chris Creighton for the tip.
- Over in Cary at the Shoppes of Kildaire, reader Jeanette Hauser notified us that Hurricane Grill has closed.
- Also in Cary, reader Donnie Darr informed us that Ledo Pizza on High House Road closed.
Food Trucks
- And the food truck rodeos in Durham and Raleigh are back in full swing. Raleigh’s next date is next Sunday, August 6th and Durham’s next one will be in early September. Check out the Durham dates here and the Raleigh dates here.
Events
- This is my annual shout-out/reminder to my good buddy Tim CoyneSmith – this weekend is the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival being held again this year at Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheater on July 28 and 29. Basically it is two days of beer sippin’, bourbon tastin’, music listenin’, and barbeque eatin’. Get ticket information and all the details here.
- Also this weekend in Raleigh, is the 12th Annual NC Japan Summer Festival which has expanded and will be held at the State Fairgrounds! This Saturday, July 29th from 1-8 p.m. you can experience delicious traditional Japanese food, interesting cultural displays and activities, and lots of music, dancing and other entertainment and games for families and couples. Get all the details on their website here.
- Catering Works will hold their next “Foodcation” at their event space, The Laurelbrook, on Thursday, August 3rd with the “destination” being Asia! “Travel” through the Southeastern territories for their signature spin on authentic Asian street fare and onward to inspired Indochina fusion delicacies! Tickets are $45 for the seven-course meal/trip. Get all the details here.
- This summer, chef John May is partnering with local purveyors to create exciting themed evenings at Piedmont. Each dinner will consist of four courses with optional beverage pairings, and chef May will welcome guest distillers, cheesemakers, and farmers to the restaurant to educate diners about their products. The last one is August 10 with the theme Lost Dishes of the Midatlantic and Punches. The cost is $40 for four courses and an additional $15 for beverage pairings. Get all the details here.
- The 6th annual Raleigh Gluten and Allergen Free Wellness Event will be held this year at NC State Fairgrounds in the Kerr Scott building on Saturday, August 12 from 10 am – 4 pm. Get all the details and ticket information here.
- Join North Carolina brewers at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences for their fourth annual Natural Selections event on Friday, August 18. Enjoy this one-of-a-kind evening of beer and science among the museum’s dioramas. Sample unique creations fitting the museum’s natural science focus from more than 20 North Carolina breweries. Enjoy hands-on science of beer activities, a panel discussion, games and live music by Handsome Al and the Lookers. Vote for your favorite beer during the event and award the second annual Natural Selections People’s Choice Award to one lucky brewery. $65 VIP; $40; $25 for Friends of the Museum members. Price includes beer samples, activities, tasting guide, and collectible Natural Selections tasting glass. You must be 21 years or older to attend. Get all the details here.
- The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association will hold the second annual NC Chef Showdown on August 21 in Raleigh’s historic downtown City Market. Participating chefs will present a dish to a distinguished panel of six judges and will prepare sample-sized offerings for approximately 200 attendees. Attendees will determine the recipients of the “People’s’ Choice” awards, while the judges will select the 2017 NCRLA Chef of the Year and the 2017 NCRLA Pastry Chef of the Year. Get all the details here.
- How does beer and fresh produce sound? Count me in! The Chapel Hill Farmers’ Market at University Place will hold their annual Brewfest on Saturday, August 26 from 8 a.m. until noon. The event will feature brews from 11 different breweries. Check out their Facebook event page here for all the details.
- The News & Observer brought it to our attention that tickets for Beericana Craft Beer and Music Festival are on sale now. Beericana will take place again in Holly Springs on September 9th and will feature 70 breweries, 16 food trucks and thousands of beer lovers. Get ticket information and all the details here.
- Join host chef Teddy Diggs of Il Palio at the Siena Hotel in Chapel Hill on Thursday, September 14th for Festa Italiana, a Friends of the James Beard Benefit Dinner. Cocktail hour begins at 6:00pm on the terrace with hors d’oeuvres, games of bocce and a silent auction. Dinner begins at 7:30pm in the Il Palio dining room and is followed by a live auction. Tickets are $185. Get your tickets and all the details here – including the stellar lineup of chefs.
- Pittsboro’s annual PepperFest will be held on Sunday, September 24th this year at the Great Meadow in Briar Chapel. PepperFest is a celebration of local food made by local chefs and food artisans featuring 40 different kinds of locally grown peppers prepared in hundreds of creative ways. Get all the details here.
- Folks, listen up. I try to make it a habit not to tell people what to do (mainly because I don’t want them to tell me what to do, but I digress). Here is an exception. Go to this event! Trust me. And get your tickets EARLY! Speaking of which, tickets to the eighth annual TerraVita Food & Drink Festival (@TerraVitaFest), scheduled for Oct. 18-21 in and around Chapel Hill, are now on sale here. It will sell out. Trust me!
Food Bank Corner
- Go ahead and mark your calendar for Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week August 21-27. Participating restaurants will offer three-course prix fixe dinners for either $21 or $31 per person, depending on the venue (tax and tip not included). As a special amenity to downtown employees and other daytime downtown visitors, some restaurants will be offering $5 and $10 lunch specials during Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week only! And NEW THIS YEAR, they are partnering with the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina to donate $1 from each Restaurant Week dinner sold to those in need! Get all the details here!
