TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

Featured Restaurant News

• Oakwood Pizza Box opened its new carry-out only location on Wednesday at 1842 Wake Forest Road in the former home of Capital Creations Gourmet Pizza. Called Capital Pizza Box, it is an expansion of the devoted following of Oakwood Pizza Box and their New York-style pizza. The expansion is in response to the soaring demand at the beloved pizzeria’s flagship Person Street location in downtown Raleigh where parking can be limited at times. The Guerras stock an eclectic wine selection at the original Oakwood Pizza location and plan to open a wine bar, St. Pierre, in Raleigh Iron Works later this summer. They also are co-owners of Tutti Pizza in Charleston, S.C., which they opened earlier this year in partnership with the owners of Graft, also in Charleston, S.C. Hours for Capital are 4-9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday (but may expand in the coming months). Visit them here. Better yet, order some za here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Triangle Business Journal shared the exciting news this week that the former David’s Dumplings & Noodle Bar location at 1900 Hillsborough Street (which closed July 13th) already has a new tenant. Barley and Burger, a regional smashburger restaurant and bar, is planning to open its fourth location in October. They opened their first location in 2018 in Rocky Mount as a movie-themed restaurant serving smashburgers with two 4–ounce smash patties. The business expanded to Charlotte nearly two years ago and opened a spot in Smithfield last year. Get to know them here.

• Also in downtown Raleigh, a romance bookstore and wine bar is coming soon. Susannah Baird is planning to open Bright Side Books & Wine in the Platform development (600 W. Cabarrus St.) just down from Boulted Bread this fall. Follow along on Instagram.

• Thanks to the sharp eyes of my good buddy Jen Willis, we now know the rumors of an Al’s Burger Shack coming to Apex are completely true. Jen sent me a photo of the signage already up on a building in the Sweetwater Town Center (2832 Teachey Place) development out off Highway 64 near the Harris Teeter. No word on an open date. Visit Al’s here.

• On a recent drive up in the Wakefield area, signage went up this week indicating the the Triangle’s fourth location of BurgerFi at 10831 Wakefield Commons Drive (just around the corner from Milton’s and Pickled Onion). The location is beautiful and features a drive-thru. Check them out here.

• Also up in Wake Forest, Triangle Business Journal confirmed that Firebirds Wood Fired Grill has a signed lease and plans to start construction on a new restaurant in mid-September at the southeast corner of Highway 98 and Ligon Mill Road in the Wegmans-anchored Grove 98 development. The restaurant plans to be open for guests next summer. Visit Firebirds here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• One of the Triangle’s most popular vegetarian/vegan restaurants has returned! Once residing in Chapel Hill’s Timberlyne Shopping Center, Sage has returned, but this time in Durham in Erwin Terrace at 2812 Erwin Road. The return is brought to us by the same folks from the former Sage and the former owner of Rasa Indian Chinese Restaurant in Chapel Hill. They opened yesterday and their opening hours are 12 noon – 6 p.m. (they are closed on Monday).

• We first told you about this several week’s ago, but Al’s Burger Shack has opened Puddin’s Beer Shack, a new bar and dining area with TVs for sports fans and a fresh vibe. They are located directly behind Al’s on Franklin Street. You can enjoy burgers from Al’s at Puddin’s or beer from Puddin’s at Al’s. Visit them on Instagram here.

• And if you haven’t made it out to Preeti Waas’ latest venture, Nanny Goat (a boutique bodega), you now have an extra day of the week to make it by. Originally they were just open Monday through Friday, but they are now also open on Saturdays (3151 Ellion Drive) from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Check them out here on Instagram.

Closings

• I truly dislike this portion of my blog….except when it says “nothing to report….” However, that is not the case this week. We lost a couple of big ones. First up, after 14 years, farm-to-table concept Mandolin (and their related farm) announced their immediate closure. And in downtown Raleigh, after an 8-year run, Mofu Shoppe will serve their last guests on August 30th. Good luck getting a reservation between now and the end of the month.

Food Trucks

• Jennifer Martin posted on Facebook that the Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo will take place on August 24, 2025 from 12 – 7 p.m. in downtown Raleigh. Expect over 50 of your favorite food trucks. It is being put on by Shop Local Raleigh.

• 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

• Carolina Brewery is closing out the summer with two Shrimp Boil events at both of its locations. Guests are invited to enjoy a classic lowcountry-style boil, live music, and the release of a limited-edition beer brewed specially for the occasion. The Pittsboro location will host their boil this Saturday, August 9 from 4 to 7 p.m. celebrating 18 years in the community. Two weeks later, the Chapel Hill location will host their boil on Saturday, August 23 from 4 to 7 p.m. For additional details or to make reservations, visit them here.

• Whiskey Kitchen in downtown Raleigh will celebrate its 9th Anniversary this Sunday, August 10th. The anniversary celebration is a thank-you to the loyal patrons who’ve made the past nine years unforgettable – including live music, all whiskeys on the back bar offered at half price, and a complimentary slice of celebratory cake. The event will take place during regular business hours. Get all the details here.

• The Town of Cary’s Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival will be held on Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. It is a great way to wrap up the summer and explore the work of over 250 artists from across the nation, great food, live music and performances, as well as a kids section. Get all the details 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.

Food Bank Corner

• New data reveals a worsening hunger crisis in North Carolina and nationwide — as food insecurity reaches its highest level in nearly 20 years. More than 607,000 people are now food insecure across the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina’s 34-county area service area — nearly 47,000 more than the prior year. The analysis underscores the serious impact of cuts to federal support as the cost of housing, food and other essentials continue to rise here in North Carolina. The hunger crisis has continued to worsen each year in the wake of the pandemic, as government has stepped back from investments in emergency food purchases and direct support for affected families. Yet despite deepening challenges, federal officials have gone even further by eliminating food purchase funding and forcing significant cuts to SNAP grocery support. As a result, 1 in 7 people across our region are now unsure where their next meal might come from, including nearly 1 in 5 children and teenagers. The Food Bank is moving mountains to make food available to all who need it. They’re still here, no matter what. They need your help now more than ever. Read their full statement here and get involved in the fight to end hunger.

Featured Restaurant News

• Triangle Business Journal reported this week that acclaimed Asheville chef Meherwan Irani will soon open Botiwalla under his Chai Pani Restaurant Group at Raleigh Iron Works. Expect a wide-ranging menu that celebrates late-night Indian street food. The menu includes chicken tikka, lamb, paneer and steak kebabs served with naan or in a salad or rice bowl with herbs and chutneys. Other items include chaat (or street snacks), lamb burgers and an array of beverages, including chai, alcoholic slushies and lassis. Botiwalla has two locations in Asheville, one in Charlotte and one in Atlanta. Irani operates Chai Pani in Asheville and near Atlanta, the four Botiwalla locations and the spice brand Spicewalla. Chai Pani won a James Beard award for Outstanding Restaurant in 2022, the location in Decatur received Michelin Guide recommendations in 2023 and 2024, and Irani has been a James Beard Awards semifinalist for Best Chef Southeast five times. Look for them to open next spring. Visit Botiwalla here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• The London Bridge is not exactly falling down. The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that The London Bridge Pub in downtown Raleigh (110 E. Hargett St.) is under new ownership. Jon Seelbinder with Local Icon Hospitality is the pub’s new owner. He temporarily closed the bar last week but will reopen next week at the latest. With that will come a new name, a glow up and an “English pub-inspired” menu.

• The News & Observer reported this week that Raleigh will soon get its first location of Dave’s Hot Chicken. They will open in the former home of BB’s Chicken in the Midtown East shopping center near Wegmans and Trader Joe’s. They also have locations in Wake Forest and Holly Springs. Expect them to open by Friday, Aug. 22. Get familiar with them here.

• Thanks to reader Wesley Mays we learned that Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant at 6611 Falls of Neuse Road is temporarily closed as they are in the process of moving to Wheatfield Plaza in Wake Forest at 3612 Rogers Branch Road. Visit their site here.

• Also in North Raleigh, reader Bryan Kay notified us that a new Cookout has opened at 9500 Strickland Road in the former Boston Market spot. Looks like it has only been open a few weeks. Visit Cookout here.

• Up in Wake Forest, Triangle Business Journal reported that Grove 98, a Wegmans-anchored mixed-use development at Highway 98 and Ligon Mill Road, will soon be home to Whataburger, Chopt Creative Salad Co. (fourth Triangle location) and Summer Moon Coffee (the franchise’s second Wake Forest location). The Whataburger location will also have a drive-thru. Whataburger is opening its first North Carolina locations in Charlotte and the Triad this year, with Triangle locations opening most likely in 2026 – in the former Applebee’s at 501 E. Six Forks Road and in the  former PDQ at 6305 Falls of Neuse Road.

• Starting Tuesday, Aug. 5, La Terrazza—known for its elevated Southern Italian and Mediterranean cuisine with sweeping skyline views—invites you to savor a new midday experience with the launch of its To-Go Lunch Menu, available exclusively for carryout. Their to-go lunch service will run Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering an enticing lineup of freshly made salads, Roman-style sandwiches, handmade pasta dishes, and artisan pizzas. View the to-go lunch menu here.

• Birdie’s Barroom & Kitchen on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh is expanding its brunch experience beyond the weekend. Beginning Monday, August 4, Birdie’s will open its dining room for weekday breakfast service from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Monday through Friday, offering a full menu of its most popular brunch dishes. Check out Birdie’s here.

• And one more note of extended menu offerings/times, Boatman Spirits Co. located in Seaboard Station has expanded their hours to include weekend lunch. So they are now open from 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday. They will be offering a lunch version of their regular menu and adding new menu items in the coming weeks. Visit Boatman here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• In Durham, thanks to a tip from Burgeoning Baker, we learned that Baker’s Dozen Donuts is moving into a space at 3825 S. Roxboro Street (same shopping center as DMV) near Tacos Number Juan. No word on an open date. Stay tuned.

• Over in Hillsborough, the News & Observer reported that Serratore’s, the second full-service restaurant from Mothers & Sons chef and owner Josh DeCarolis, will soon open in the former Radius Pizza space. While Serratore’s will specialize in pasta, they will also serve up 12-inch Neapolitan-style pizzas. Look for them to open next month. Might be best to follow along on Instagram.

Closings

• None to report. Keep eating local, folks!

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

• Head downtown this weekend! The Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week has returned…now through Sunday, August 3rd. This beloved tradition is your invitation to discover the unique, locally-owned restaurants and bars that make downtown Raleigh a true dining destination. Savor exclusive deals, prix fixe menus, and chef-driven specials at your favorite spots across our community. Now in its 17th year, the celebration has a fresh new look. Get all the details here.

• Boatman Spirits Co.’s first Departure Party will be this Saturday, Aug. 2. Deejay Nick Neptune and friends Chico Scott, Mike Forno and Torin Rea will be your guides starting at 8 p.m. Plus, Boatman is hosting a night market in the distillery featuring Thirsty Pigeon Records. They are located at 713 Seaboard Station Dr. Visit them here.

• Carolina Brewery is closing out the summer with two Shrimp Boil events at both of its locations. Guests are invited to enjoy a classic lowcountry-style boil, live music, and the release of a limited-edition beer brewed specially for the occasion. The Pittsboro location will host their boil on Saturday, August 9 from 4 to 7 p.m. celebrating 18 years in the community. Two weeks later, the Chapel Hill location will host their boil on Saturday, August 23 from 4 to 7 p.m. For additional details or to make reservations, visit them here.

• Whiskey Kitchen in downtown Raleigh will celebrate its 9th Anniversary on August 10th. The anniversary celebration is a thank-you to the loyal patrons who’ve made the past nine years unforgettable – including live music, all whiskeys on the back bar offered at half price, and a complimentary slice of celebratory cake. The event will take place during regular business hours on Sunday, August 10th. Get all the details 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.

Food Bank Corner

• Recently, Congress voted for devastating cuts to SNAP and Medicaid. Amy Beros, President & CEO of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, shared what this will mean for North Carolina. “No one should go hungry—no matter where we live, where we’re from, who we love, or the color of our skin. Yet with this vote by Congress and a stroke of the President’s pen, millions more people will soon face hunger here in North Carolina and across the country.” The Food Bank is moving mountains to make food available to all who need it. They’re still here, no matter what. They need your help now more than ever. Read their full statement here and get involved in the fight to end hunger.