Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news…that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.
Featured Restaurant News
- It has arrived. Shake Shack will open its first Triangle-area location on Wednesday, August 21st at 11 a.m. The Shack is located in Waverly Place at 310 Colonades Way. Shake Shack is a modern day “roadside” burger stand known for its 100% all-natural Angus beef burgers, chicken sandwiches and griddled flat-top dogs (no hormones or antibiotics – ever), fresh-made frozen custard, crispy crinkle cut fries and more. Since the original Shack opened in 2004 in NYC’s Madison Square Park, the company has expanded to more than 230 locations in 26 U.S. States and the District of Columbia, including more than 70 international locations across London, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Dubai, Philippines, Singapore, Mexico, Tokyo, Moscow, Seoul and more. The first 100 people in line when doors open at 11 a.m. will receive custom Shake Shack swag. Get all the details here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- The opening of Scott Crawford’s newest restaurant, Jolie, a French bistro located in historic Oakwood, will happen “any day now.” They have hosted some private events and they shared that they were just issued their certificate of occupancy. Check out their website here or keep up with their Instagram page for the pending announcement.
- Brew Coffee Shop provided some building updates on their Facebook page this week on their two new locations. They have plumbing going in both locations and hope to have some walls in the next few weeks! The location at McNeill Pointe is looking to open in early October; and the Gateway Plaza location is looking to open in early November. Best way to keep up with their progress is through their Facebook page here.
- Got word this week that Locals Oyster Bar at Transfer Company Food Hall recently launched their full service dinner menu. Beyond their existing food hall offerings, guests can enjoy an intimate dining experience with seafood-driven dishes on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Guests can dine at the restaurant between 5-10pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Check it out here.
- Back in July we shared the news that Raleigh’s first Growler USA had closed. But we have now learned that they have reopened as Riddle Raleigh at 314 S. Blount Street, a trivia-focused bar and restaurant. A soft opening was held earlier this month, with plans for a grand opening on August 30. Get to know them here and get details on their grand opening.
- Over in Wake Forest, a loyal reader pointed out to us that we are getting close to the opening of Anthony Bowman’s Smoky Tony’s BBQ at 101 S. White Street. Anthony learned his craft in the art of Mexican Pit Barbacoa and his restaurant will feature baby back ribs, pork loin, pulled pork, smoked chicken, beef brisket, beef ribs, cornish game hens, fried chicken, banana pudding and cobblers. Yummmmm! After a six-week construction delay, they are pushing to be open late September or early October. Keep up with their progress here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- The Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership spread the glorious news that the legendary Ye Olde Waffle Shop has re-opened after being closed, due to a water leak discovered in the almost 100-year-old building during town construction work in Post Office Alley. Stop by and say hi to Melissa and Linda Chris, and support a Chapel Hill institution that has been a gathering place since 1972! Visit them here.
- Also on Franklin Street, noticed that Peno Mediterranean Grill has opened just in time for the students at 105 E. Franklin Street, right next door to Sup Dogs in the former Tama Cafe spot. The new Chapel Hill location will be the seventh for the franchise. Their menu includes gyrö sandwiches, wraps and bowls. Their site also indicates a location is coming to Raleigh. Get to know them here.
- Here is what we know. Chef Teddy Diggs’ Carrboro-based Coronato Pizza has shared that the new establishment will open in August. Folks, there are just two weeks left in August. We are getting close! It will feature the only Roman-style pizza in North Carolina; a crispy, thin, almost cracker-like crust pizza that Diggs embellishes with good quality extra virgin olive oil and a diverse range of ingredients inspired by both local farmers and Roman traditions. Pies are served with a selection of local craft beers and ciders, prosecco and spritz on tap, and noteworthy Italian wines. We ready! The website is here, but you might want to follow the social media sites for the pending announcement.
Closings
- Learned from reader Kristin Stewart that the Pei Wei in Apex closed at the end of July. Looks like there are still 3 locations here in the Triangle.
Food Trucks
- The RDU Mobile Food Association (RDUMFA) is holding their third annual Tacopalooza food truck rodeo and competition this Sunday, August 18 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Knightdale Station located at 810 N First Ave. in Knightdale. The taco-filled day will feature 13 food trucks highlighting the best tacos in the Triangle. The following trucks will be in attendance: Poblanos Tacos; Sweet Escape by Plabanos; Succotash Durham; La Repùblica; Bruster’s Ice Cream Truck; Bandido’s ; Kono Raleigh; Tacos Las Gringas; Jam Ice Cream; El Jefecito; The 13th Taco; Qspresso; and Gonza Tacos y Tequila. Visit their Facebook event page here for all the details.
- Thanks to a note from Mark Ginsberg, I learned that the Knightdale Food Truck Thursdays is back up for the season. The event is held the third Thursday of the month from April through October at Knightdale Station Park for lunch AND dinner. Get all the details, truck schedule and more here.
- The remaining two dates for the 2019 Durham Food Truck rodeos are September 1 and November 3! Get all the details here.
- And the remaining two dates for the 2019 edition of the Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo are: Sunday Oct 6th – 12-6pm; and the make-up date on November 10th. All are held along Fayetteville Street. Get all the details here.
Events
- The annual two-day Triangle Vegfest is this weekend, August 17 -18 in downtown Durham at the Durham Armory and at the Durham Arts Council PSI Theater. It is a fully vegan event embracing a plant-based lifestyle and features speakers, 70+ vendors, cooking demos, food trucks, live music, a kids zone and more. Admission is free. Get all the details on the two-day event on their website here.
- Underground Kitchen, the popular Richmond, Va.-based experiential dinner series, returns to Raleigh August 24 to debut its new food tour, “The New Americana.” Raleigh-based Lemar Farrington will be the featured chef for the evening. If you are not familiar with UGK, it is a one-night-only event, held at an undisclosed location (location is shared a few days before), featuring up-and-coming chefs and creative, multi-course dinners with wine pairings. The menu is kept secret until the night of. Oh, and it ALWAYS sells out, so act quickly. Get tickets here.
- Mandolin Restaurant will host their next Mandolin Wine Mixer on Saturday, September 7 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at 2519 Fairview Rd. in Raleigh. There you will be able to taste over 60 fine wines, savor a variety of hors d’oeuvres, support the through raffled wine and gift certificates and purchase select wines at exclusive discounts. Tickets are $25. Get tickets and all the details here.
- Heard on NPR about the 6th Annual Dinner in the Meadow coming up on Sunday, September 8th from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event benefits the Leonard-Mobley Small Farm Fund, which provides grants to encourage and support small farms. The Dinner setting sits atop a grassy knoll in the meadow of Meadow Lane Farm at 571 Leonard Farm Road in Louisburg. Get tickets and all the details on their website here.
- The third annual Savor the Triangle Food Festival produced by Mix 101.5 will again be held at the Kerr Scott building at the NC State Fairgrounds this year on Wednesday, September 18th from 6-9 p.m. Savor the Triangle Food Festival is a culinary event with the opportunity to sample many of the Triangle’s most delicious foods and drinks all in one place. Get all the details and early bird discounted tickets here.
- It was recently announced that one of Chatham County’s largest food festivals, the 12th Annual Pittsboro Pepperfest, is returning to main street in downtown Pittsboro. The date for this year’s event is Sunday, September 22 from 3 – 6 p.m. So go ahead and mark your calendar to spend your afternoon in historic, downtown Pittsboro. Get all the details here.
- This is it. Your last chance. I’ve been touting this amazing event that Colleen Minton dreamed up 10 years ago and now we are at the 10th and FINAL Terra Vita Food & Drink Festival in Chapel Hill October 16-19, 2019. Yep, you read that right. This is the grand finale. There will be no more. And heed my last (and final) warning – tickets will not last. If you’ve never been – GO! If you’ve been, don’t miss the last one. If you don’t know, it is a multi-day celebration that brings together top chefs, food artisans, sommeliers, baristas, brewers, educators, distillers, cookbook authors and industry luminaries from across the Southeast to celebrate culinary excellence and sustainability in food and drink. Get tickets and details here on all the events that week.
- On Sunday, November 3rd, more than 30 of the Triangle’s finest restaurants will be paired with world-class wines at the third annual Sip + Savor – A Wine, Food and Music Experience. Sip + Savor will showcase 30+ culinary all-stars, sommeliers, on-stage experience with live music, VIP lounge, and more. Get all the details and tickets here.
Food Bank Corner
- Looking for a way your office can make a direct difference in people’s lives? But time is limited? We’ve got the perfect answer for you – coordinate an office-wide Virtual Food Drive! Forget the hassle of a trip to the grocery store for your next food drive… “Shop” with the Food Bank through our Virtual Food Drive and maximize your donation times ten! For every dollar donated, the Food Bank can provide $10.00 worth of food or five meals. Over half a million people in the 34 counties we serve struggle with food insecurity. You can make a difference in your community by hosting a Virtual Food Drive for your friends, family members or coworkers. It is simple! Get all the details here.
