TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

Featured Restaurant News

• Here he grows again! Giorgios Bakatsias’ Giorgios Hospitality Group is opening Géos Tavern & Oyster Bar this spring at 1118 Environ Way in the East 54 center off Highway 54. Formerly the home of Tobacco Road Sports Cafe, Old East Tavern and NoDa Brewing Company Tapas, the gastropub will focus on a tavern menu with beer, cocktails and wine. Daniel Jackson, of Osteria Georgi fame, will be chef and partner at the new restaurant. The restaurant will include two private dining rooms, a covered outdoor patio with a garden and a lounge salon. This will be Bakatsias’ 21st concept spanning from the Triangle to the coast. Follow along on Instagram here. See all their restaurants here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• January 27th will bring the opening of the newest location of Raising Canes Chicken Fingers (weather permitting I guess) here in the Triangle. Directly across from the NC State campus on Hillsborough Street (2420 Hillsborough Street). They are kicking things off at 8 a.m. with giveaways, including free Cane’s for a year for 20 lucky customers, music and plenty of celebrations. Expect lines down the street for weeks. Of note, the exterior preserves the historic marquee as a nod to the Varsity Theatre, which originally opened in 1941. Visit them here.

• And just down the street, we learned this week that Roots Natural Kitchen, which also has a location on Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street, will open next month across from NC State’s campus at 2712 Hillsborough Street (think former Gumby’s spot). If you are not familiar with Roots, they were founded in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2015 serving up natural food in a fast-casual setting and now have just over 20 locations, mostly in the mid-Atlantic. Get to know them here.

• Over in downtown Cary, the Herald-Sun reported this week that a new, all-day cafe called The Refreshery is now open in the Meridian East Chatham development, a new luxury residential community along East Chatham Street. Owners Stephen and Jessica McNulty noted that they are serving up cold-pressed juices, coffee and tea as well as light snack options. Later in the day, they transition to mocktails, or what they call “social tonics:” beverages with adaptogenics, nootropics and drinks infused with CBD or hemp. Follow along on Instagram here.

• Also in Cary, David McCreary shared with us that after a long time coming, Pastrami Tom’s Deli & Grill is now welcoming customers at 312 West Chatham St., Suite 103 in downtown. Serving up everything from Cubans and Reubens to burgers and Philly cheese sandwiches, check them out here. Congrats to Tom Scheidler.

• In Apex, the News & Observer reported this week that Raleigh’s Groovy Duck Bakery is expanding to a second location. Known for its dozens of muffin flavors and custom cakes, they will open at 101 N. Salem St., formerly home to The Cranky Yankee. They are expected to open in April or May, depending on construction. In the meantime, join them in Raleigh here.

• The James Beard Foundation announced the semifinalists for the prestigious James Beard Awards, recognizing the top food talent in the US, and three Triangle chefs and restaurants were named. Much deserved kudos to: Peregrine, Best New Restaurant; Steven Devereaux Greene, Herons, Best Chef: Southeast; and Cheetie Kumar, Ajja, Best Chef: Southeast.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Got word that Hops & Flower, from the folks behind Luna Rotisserie & Empanadas, opened in Durham this week. Think of them as a modern twist on the classic bodega, serving up sandwiches, beer and THC drinks at 2014 Hillsborough Road in the old Moes Barbeque space. They are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week. Get familiar with them here.

• Also in Durham, saw on the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook page a post noting that Kahlovera Street Tacos, with a location in Chapel Hill’s Meadowmont development, has opened at
  2812 Erwin Road near Duke’s campus and Duke Hospital. Visit them here.

• And over in Chapel Hill, we got word that a couple more concepts in Eastgate Crossing shopping center are very close to reopening following severe flooding from Tropical Storm Chantal in July 2025. Both Clean Juice and Kipos have recently shared updates that they are very close to reopening – both are hiring. And not too far behind will be Snooze A.M. Eatery, also planning to reopen soon.

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 annual Triangle Restaurant Week event is set to run the week of January 26- February 1, 2026. During the event, participating restaurants within Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham and surrounding areas will offer a special 2 or 3-course prix fixe menu ($20, $25, $30,$35, $40, $45, $50) each day they are open. Get a full list of restaurants, hours, days and all the details here.

• Vidrio, downtown Raleigh’s destination for Mediterranean cuisine and hospitality, is launching a new Chef’s Table Dinner Series on January 28th. The dinner series, which will be held every other month, will offer refined, chef-driven tasting menus exploring the cuisines of the Mediterranean region from France to Morocco. Each dinner will be rooted in executive chef Roberto Barth’s modern seasonal cooking and N.C. ingredients. Starting at 6 p.m., the Jan. 28th dinner will be a five-course tasting menu highlighting dishes from Southern France. The cost is $99 per person and includes wine pairings. See the menu and all the details here.

• Rocky Top Catering announced this week the dates for the eighth annual Cooking for the Kids, a multi-night culinary competition uniting the Triangle’s vibrant chef community in support of  an impactful local nonprofit, Overflowing Hands. Overflowing Hands is a 100% volunteer-led 501c3 organization serving the most vulnerable children in our neighborhoods, across the United States and around the world. Hosted at the elegant Millbrook Manor (located at 1705 E. Millbrook Road in Raleigh), Cooking for the Kids offers guests an immersive dining experience where philanthropy and culinary creativity take center stage. The first round is scheduled for Monday, January 26 with the finale on Tuesday, February 10. Get all the details, including competing chefs as well as tickets, here.

• Tickets have gone on sale for the 2026 version of the Triangle Food & Wine Experience which will take place February 5-7, 2026. From its humble inception over 30 years ago, the Triangle Wine & Food Experience has grown to become one of the leading charity wine auctions in the nation with all proceeds benefiting the Frankie Lemmon School & Development Center. And let me tell you, the lineup of culinary talent (from all corners of the United States) is absolutely incredible – see the list here. If you call yourself a foodie, these are the not-to-miss events of the year. A weekend of the most incredible food and wine. Get details on the weekend of events here.

Food Bank Corner

• The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina is looking for caring friends to become Monthly Sustainers of the Food Bank to help respond to the ever-increasing demand for food assistance. When you partner with them monthly, you help ensure that healthy, nutritious food can reach people in need all year long. In fact, your monthly gift of: $25 can provide 75 meals per month; $35 can provide 105 meals per month; $50 can provide 150 meals per month; $100 can provide 300 meals per month. Plus, with your monthly commitment of $25 or more, they’ll send a special tote bag your way. And when you carry it, you are reminded of all you make possible for your neighbors through your consistent generosity! Become a Monthly Sustainer here.

Featured Restaurant News

• Not exactly a new restaurant, but Figulina’s in downtown Raleigh is definitely not resting on all the awards they have already received. They proved again this week that they are eager to stay on top of the list of hottest restaurants in the Triangle with a $20k kitchen revamp (including fryer and grill) and new artwork (great job Sam!). This is in addition to their recently added grab-and-go lunch, new Monday hours, special dinners, weekend brunch, a warm and inviting patio and their expanded provisions store. All combine into a recipe for evolving from something really, really great into something absolutely amazing! The new kitchen gives Chef David the chance to expand appetizer and entree options that he’s always wanted – like nduja Scotch egg, picanha steak, and pan-seared scallops. If you’ve never been before, you now have no excuse not to. And I promise you, it won’t disappoint. Check them out.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Campo Taco has officially opened on the ground floor of The Row apartment building in Rockway, next to Benchwarmer’s Bagels at 1001 S Saunders Street. This new local, family-owned spot is serving up a mix of authentic Mexican favorites — from street tacos, Arroz con Pollo, burritos and bowls, to creative house specialties. Get by today.

• And we have an official open date for the latest location of Raising Canes Chicken Fingers here in the Triangle. Directly across from the NC State campus on Hillsborough Street (2420 Hillsborough Street), they will open their doors (and expect lines down the street for weeks) on January 27th. Of note, the exterior preserves the historic marquee as a nod to the Varsity Theatre, which originally opened in 1941. Visit them here.

• Also in downtown Raleigh, Raleigh Magazine shared the news this week that Chipotle will open a downtown location at the southern end of Glenwood South in Bloc[83] near Vic’s Pizzeria and Dram & Draught on May 28th. Visit the fast-casual Mexican spot here.

• And one final note from downtown Raleigh, reader Vanessa Guirguis notified us that Garlic Bay, a take out sandwich place, has opened in the Hone Sharpen location in the Smoky Hollow development. They are serving up sammys like an Italian with spicy capicola, a beef sandwich with London broil meat, a tuna salad wrap, and other lunch options. Get by soon.

• Tyler Glover shared with us that national chain Mission BBQ is now under construction in the Stonehenge Market Shopping Center (7400 Creedmoor Rd) in Raleigh next to Outback Steakhouse. This will be their fifth location in North Carolina, and the first in the Triangle. Start getting familiar with them here.

• RALToday reported this week that Tsaōcaa + NanXiang Express are now open on Hillsborough Street next door to Chex Grill & Wings. Expect piping hot soup dumplings and chilled bubble teas at this Asian spot. Visit them here.

• Down in Holly Springs, reader Chris Creighton shared that there is a new Shake Shack coming to Holly Springs Towne Center (244 Grand Hill Place) next to Tijuana Flats. The sign is up, but no word yet on an open date. Visit Shake Shack here.  

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• It was announced this week that Winston-Salem-based restaurant East of Texas, celebrated for its Tex-Mex house-smoked BBQ and outdoor dining experience, will open a new location at American Tobacco Campus this summer. Located in the historic Reed Building, it will feature a private event area, garage doors opening to outdoor seating near the Lucky Strike water tower, and a market with grab-and-go meals and retail offerings. Get familiar with them here. Congrats and welcome to the Triangle to founder Claire Calvin.

• The News & Observer reported this week that the owners of local Indian chain Lime & Lemon are partnering with chef Sujan Sarkar, known for the Michelin-starred Indienne in Chicago, to open
  a fine-dining Indian restaurant in Chapel Hill called Ayra. Expect a tasting menu, and a la carte menu, and Indian-inspired cocktails when it opens this spring in the former Elements space at 2110 Environ Way.

• In Chapel Hill’s University Place, H&H Bagels’ first North Carolina location opened yesterday on National Bagel Day. They have been a New York City institution since 1972 where their dough remains kettle-boiled in New York City water, then baked locally on-site all day, every day. You’d be wise to start getting familiar with them now.

Closings

• Mac’s Speed Shop has closed its Raleigh Five Points location after being in business a little under two years.

• Tyler Glover shared that the Smashburger in the Falls Village Shopping Center in Raleigh (Falls of the Neuse Road) has closed. They still have a location in Durham.

• Over in Cary, got word from Mike DePersia that Spirits Pub & Grub at 701 E. Chatham Street has closed.

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

• Vidrio, downtown Raleigh’s destination for Mediterranean cuisine and hospitality, is launching a new Chef’s Table Dinner Series on January 28th. The dinner series, which will be held every other month, will offer refined, chef-driven tasting menus exploring the cuisines of the Mediterranean region from France to Morocco. Each dinner will be rooted in executive chef Roberto Barth’s modern seasonal cooking and N.C. ingredients. Starting at 6 p.m., the Jan. 28th dinner will be a five-course tasting menu highlighting dishes from Southern France. The cost is $99 per person and includes wine pairings. See the menu and all the details here.

• Rocky Top Catering announced this week the dates for the eighth annual Cooking for the Kids, a multi-night culinary competition uniting the Triangle’s vibrant chef community in support of  an impactful local nonprofit, Overflowing Hands. Overflowing Hands is a 100% volunteer-led 501c3 organization serving the most vulnerable children in our neighborhoods, across the United States and around the world. Hosted at the elegant Millbrook Manor (located at 1705 E. Millbrook Road in Raleigh), Cooking for the Kids offers guests an immersive dining experience where philanthropy and culinary creativity take center stage. The first round is scheduled for Monday, January 26 with the finale on Tuesday, February 10. Get all the details, including competing chefs as well as tickets, here.

• Tickets have gone on sale for the 2026 version of the Triangle Food & Wine Experience which will take place February 5-7, 2026. From its humble inception over 30 years ago, the Triangle Wine & Food Experience has grown to become one of the leading charity wine auctions in the nation with all proceeds benefiting the Frankie Lemmon School & Development Center. And let me tell you, the lineup of culinary talent (from all corners of the United States) is absolutely incredible – see the list here. If you call yourself a foodie, these are the not-to-miss events of the year. A weekend of the most incredible food and wine. Get details on the weekend of events here.

Food Bank Corner

• The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina is looking for caring friends to become Monthly Sustainers of the Food Bank to help respond to the ever-increasing demand for food assistance. When you partner with them monthly, you help ensure that healthy, nutritious food can reach people in need all year long. In fact, your monthly gift of: $25 can provide 75 meals per month; $35 can provide 105 meals per month; $50 can provide 150 meals per month; $100 can provide 300 meals per month. Plus, with your monthly commitment of $25 or more, they’ll send a special tote bag your way. And when you carry it, you are reminded of all you make possible for your neighbors through your consistent generosity! Become a Monthly Sustainer here.