Featured Restaurant News
- Raleigh Downtown shared with us that JP’s Pastry, North Carolina’s first certified gluten-free pastry company, is now open seven days a week in Midtown Raleigh at 2310 Bale Street. If the name sounds familiar, you’ve likely spotted their treats at Whole Foods, Neomonde, and recently Beasley’s Chicken + Honey, just to name a few. Expect decadent cakes, cupcakes, brownies, cinnamon rolls, cookies, and whoopie pies to savory favorites like fresh breads, Hawaiian rolls, challah, biscuits, pot pies, pastas, pizza and so much more. Congrats to founder Joe Parker! Visit them here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- And speaking of Midtown, the News & Observer reported that Dave’s Hot Chicken opens TODAY, Friday, September 5th in the former home of BB’s Chicken near Wegman’s and Trader Joe’s. Your chicken can be prepared with seven different heat levels. How hot? The hottest, Reaper, comes with its own waiver because it’s just that spicy. Bring it! They also have locations in Wake Forest and Holly Springs. Visit them here.
- In downtown Raleigh, Raleigh Magazine informed us this week that the long-empty former Royale space in City Market will soon be home to Kokoro Ramen & Izakaya from the folks behind Pinehurst/Southern Pines’ beloved Neko Thai & Sushi. Kokoro will bring izakaya vibes and ramen bowls to the east end of downtown. Look for them to open next Spring. Not much up on the web at this point, best to check in with their sister concept here.
- Staying in downtown, the Triangle Business Journal revealed this week that the Omni Hotel planned for Downtown Raleigh will include Bob’s Steak & Chop House, a fixture at a number of Omni hotels across the country. Founded in Dallas in 1993, they now have multiple locations in Texas, as well as locations in Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Arizona. Look for them to open in 2028. Go ahead and start getting familiar with them here.
- One more exciting update in downtown Raleigh. We first told you about this in August, 2024 – but Raleigh Magazine shared a few more details this week about Jubala’s fourth location which will open soon in the Pendo building at 301 Hillsborough Street. The owners announced that they will be opening a cocktail bar dubbed Bar Marigold inside this location. The bar program, led by longtime bev director Kylen Hamlin, will feature both classic and new cocktails, coffee-infused drinks (including espresso martinis, natch), and mocktails—plus evening food and desserts according to the magazine. Until we have an open date, visit Jubala here.
- Just outside of downtown Raleigh in the Iron Works development, Raleigh Magazine shared a high-profile collaboration currently unfolding. Renowned chef, TV host, author and restaurateur Vivian Howard will be providing the food for Anthony Guerra’s (owner of beloved Oakwood Pizza Box and Capital Pizza Box) soon-to-open St. Pierre Wine Shop + Bar. Howard and her team will deliver the food, then train them on how to plate it. Stay tuned for the menu and St. Pierre’s official opening date. She also hinted that this is a way to “tip her toe” into the Triangle market…are you thinking that means what I hope it means?!?
- Over in Cary, Triangle Business Journal reported that the former Red Lobster in Cary will undergo a renovation as it transitions to Umi Sushi. The building is at 1801 Walnut Street next to Olive Garden and Chick-fil-A near the busy Crossroads Plaza shopping center. This joins a “trend” of older concepts giving way to newer concepts – La Buena Vida took over the former Red Lobster in Durham; Tacos Number Juan moving into a former Wendy’s; Mezcalito moving into the former On the Border also in Cary; and Azami Ramen & Sushi going into the former PDQ in Cary.
- Down in Fuquay-Varina, the Fuquay-Varina Chamber of Commerce shared the news that Nil’s Mediterranean Cuisine opened their second location this week in downtown Angier at 16 North Broad Street East. Visit Nil’s here.
- Also in Fuquay-Varina, Brus on Main is officially rebranding to Truman’s Smokehouse & Kitchen. If you were/are a huge fan of Brus, don’t worry—their same amazing food and drinks you know and love aren’t going anywhere. In fact, they’re expanding the menu with even more homemade favorites that’ll have you coming back for more. Might be best to follow their progress on their Facebook page here.
- My buddy Bates Battaglia shared with me the news that his bar, Lucky B’s, is celebrating 20 years as Glenwood South’s favorite Dive Bar! Looks like they will have an anniversary party on Saturday, September 13th. Stay tuned for details. Visit B’s here.
- And equally impressive, my friends over at Fratelli’s Deli in the Sweetwater Town Center Apex off of Hwy. 64 is turning one! Join them on Wednesday, September 10th as they celebrate with all their customers that stop by. Visit Fratelli’s here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- Chapelboro.com reported on Wednesday that two years and two months after a fire destroyed the interior of Med Deli in Chapel Hill, the business will welcome back customers to in-person dining next week. Despite a litany of delays and missed target dates, the 410 West Franklin Street business, which has been serving the Chapel Hill community for over 30 years, will reopen for dinner hours starting on Tuesday, September 9th. In anticipation of next week, visit Med Deli here.
- I’m trying to remember what I was doing as a senior in college, but it certainly wasn’t as exciting nor as adventurous as UNC basketball stud Seth Trimble. The senior announced this week that he has purchased the Chapel Hill location of Ben & Jerry’s located at 102 West Franklin Street right in the heart of downtown Chapel Hill. He purchased it from long-time owner (who started scooping ice cream while an undergrad at UNC) Antonio McBroom. Visit Ben & Jerry’s here.
- In Durham, the Indy reported that Lutra Cafe and Bakery, the popular Durham-based bakery known for its sweet and savory buns, will host a weekly Sunday brunch at Durham’s Cheeni restaurant. The brunch pop-up will give diners a chance to taste Lutra’s expanded cafe menu months before chef-owner Chris McLaurin opens Lutra’s counter-service restaurant at American Tobacco Campus by the end of 2025. Sunday brunch will be offered from 8-11 a.m. The brunch menu includes the sweet and savory buns, breakfast sandwich, biscuits and gravy, bread pudding, granola bowl, 100-layer hash browns and more. Get more info here.
- Over in Carrboro, Autostrada Pizza & Pannini, a pizza and panini restaurant and neighboring gelato and coffee shop in Carr Mill Mall, announced they will celebrate their grand opening THIS WEEKEND, September 6-7. Saturday, September 6th festivities include a free gelato with any 16″ pizza purchase and they will donate 10% of that day’s sales to the Carrboro Elementary School PTA. On Sunday, September 7th they will introduce their new Sunday Supper special featuring family-style pasta and salad while airing the Italian Grand Prix. Customers can also enter to win Autostrada gift cards and more during the weekend and online. Do so here.
- And in Hillsborough, The News of Orange County has reported that Serratore’s Pasta & Pizza, from chef and owner Josh DeCarolis (also a partner in Alimentari Italian Deli in Raleigh), has opened in the former Radius Pizza space. DeCarolis is joined by partners Phil Bey and Pietro Costanza. They will focus on Italian-American dishes featuring fresh pasta, homemade sauces, and wood-fired pizzas, along with a well-curated wine list and specialty cocktails. Best to check them out on Instagram.
Closings
- Thanks to a tip from reader Jan Delory, we learned that there is only one remaining location of Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls in the Triangle as both the North Hills and Wake Forest locations have closed. A single Triangle-area location remains in Cary at Waverly Place.
- Also in Raleigh, Chris Creighton notified us that the Subway at Western Blvd. and Method Rd. has closed.
Food Trucks
- The final Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo of 2025 will be on Sunday, November 2. It will run from 12 noon until 4 p.m. featuring over 50+ food trucks with cuisine from all over the world making it the ultimate Sunday Funday in Durham Central Park (501 Foster Street)! Get all the details here.
- 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
- For the month of September, Little Rey’s latest taco collaboration is with Dave Ellis from Figulina. Available just in September, stop by to try a braised chuck taco with onion sugo, ramp salsa verde and crispy shallots. All proceeds benefit Now Serving NC. Visit Little Rey’s here.
- Speaking of Dave Ellis, his Figulina restaurant is hosting a Hopscotch Day Party called Sunday Aperitivo Sessions after its Sunday brunch service this Sunday, September 7. Brunch is from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Music starts at 12:45 p.m and goes until 4 p.m. with Kate Rhudy, Matt Southern & The Lost Gold, Kit McKay and Thank You Partner. Enjoy drinks and snacks from the restaurants’ Aperitivo menu! Figulina is located at 317 S. Harrington Street in downtown Raleigh. Visit them here.
- The inaugural Salt & Smoke & Sound Festival will be held Saturday, October 18th at Blackwood Farm Park between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. The exciting new community event merges together two beloved festivals–Acme’s Salt & Smoke and Sonark Media’s Harvest Festival–into a celebration of food, culture, and music in a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere. Food will be provided by Acme’s Kevin Callaghan and a team of local chefs and food trucks offering a wide variety of dishes and dining options. The festival will feature craft beers, curated beverages, and other interesting spirit-free options. All food and drink will be available for purchase and is not included in the price of festival entry. Tickets are on sale now.
- Tickets are now on sale for 2025 Chefs for Change Gala & Live Auction, the annual fundraiser for Families Moving Forward, Durham’s primary emergency shelter for families with children. The event will take place on Nov. 6, 2025 at The Cookery in Durham. This unparallelled culinary event will feature a multi-course culinary experience prepared by some of North Carolina’s most acclaimed chefs, including Matt Kelly of Nanas Rockwood, Vin Rouge, Mateo, Mothers & Sons and Dino’s Pizza; Gray Brooks of Pizzeria Toro; Aaron Benjamin of Gocciolina; and Michael Lee of M Sushi, M Tempura, M Kokko, M Pocha and M Izakaya. Chef Chris McLaurin of Lutra Cafe and Bakery will be providing dessert. Secure your tickets now.
Food Bank Corner
- It’s no exaggeration to say that North Carolina is in the grip of a hunger crisis. More than 1.6 million of our neighbors — 1 out of every 5 children — don’t know where their next meal might come from. That’s what makes the news of federal funding cuts such a blow, and why it’s more important than ever for our community to pull together. Existing federal funding changes: The elimination of LFPA, a program that let food banks like us buy fresh produce from local small farms; Reductions to TEFAP, a program to provide emergency food for families; Funding loss equivalent to 11.8 million meals that children, families, and seniors in our community need. Upcoming federal funding changes to SNAP: 375,000 North Carolinians could lose food assistance, including 46,000 veterans; “Cost-sharing” shift of $280 million from federal government to North Carolina state and local governments; Increased paperwork requirements to qualify. But a gift to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina at Raleigh Branch is a simple, effective way for you to help meet the immediate need. Every $10 is enough for 50 meals, so your gift quickly adds up to a big impact!
