TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

Featured Restaurant News

• The eagerly anticipated fast casual Northern Mexican concept from chef Ford Fry, Little Rey will open at Raleigh’s Iron Works on Monday, December 9. Located at 1101 E. Whitaker Mill Road, Suite 102, the 4,200+ square-foot space will feature ample indoor seating, a spacious patio and a walk-up to-go window. Their Northern Mexican inspired menu created by Fry will boast wood-roasted “chicken al carbon” at its core plus staples like al carbon tacos, traditional street style tacos, salads and fresh salsas, all on hand-made tortillas – and all to balance out those refreshing margaritas. This will be their first location in North Carolina. See “Events” section below for a couple of events to get a sneak peek at Little Rey. Get to know them here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Got word this week that health-food chain True Food Kitchen, based out of Scottsdale, Arizona, is opening their first North Carolina location next Monday, November 11th at 4104 Main at North Hills St. The 5,798-square-foot space is part of the North Hills Main District and also has 1,241 square feet of outdoor dining. In addition to a wide array of appetizers, menu items include sourdough pizzas, salads and bowls, burgers and more. Get familiar with them here.

• The Brass Tap is opening their downtown Raleigh taproom to the public on November 11th at 16 N. West St. in the new 400H building joining joins Press Coffee, Cocktails & Crepes which opened in the same building just a few weeks ago. Congrats to franchisees Roshan Baral and Niraj Bidari. Don’t expect this to be the only location they open in the Triangle. Stay tuned. Visit The Brass Tap here.

• Raleigh Magazine shared the news this week that The Bomb Bar out of South Carolina is opening its first North Carolina location at Gateway Plaza (2409 Crabtree Blvd.) just outside of downtown Raleigh on November 16. Think of it as a superfood ball (superfood balls packed with nuts, seeds and nutrients) that transforms your regular smoothie into a satisfying and nutritious meal. They will also feature Jubala Coffee and healthy eats like acai bowls and avocado toast made with Boulted Bread. Start getting familiar with them here.

• The folks down at Carroll’s Kitchen shared the news this week that thanks to Highwoods Properties, they have been given the opportunity to expand where they will be able to double the number of women they serve every year, as well as increase their impact and involvement in the community. If you are not familiar with CK, they are a nonprofit social enterprise restaurant creating healthy employment for women overcoming crisis. Get to know them and support them here.

• Triangle Business Journal shared the news this week that Church Spirits & Cocktails, located in Goldsboro, is opening a second space at 213 W. Main St. in downtown Clayton in the former home of Epic Axe. Check them out here.
  
  

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Reader Kim Garcia shared with me that Coupe & Stein Champagne Bar officially opened at the first of this month in the Golden Belt complex (800 Taylor Street). She noted that it’s a great new cocktail spot to unwind with a glass of champagne, crafted cocktail, or one of their exclusive selections. Get to know them here.

• My buddy Burgeoning Baker shared that Durham will be home to the latest edition of drive-thru coffee concept Scooter’s Coffee. This looks to be their 5th North Carolina location (they also have one in Clayton). They will be located at 1051 MLK Jr. Blvd. No word on a timeline. Start getting familiar with them here.

• The News & Observer reported that Honeygirl Meadery will hold their grand opening in their new Tasting Room at Durham’s American Tobacco campus on Saturday, November 16th. The new digs will feature a tasting room, two bars, and an outdoor patio. Enjoy samples and special dishes from James Beard Award-winning chef Ricky Moore from Saltbox. Get all the details on the tasting room here.

Closings

• Sad to share that Indian Monsoon Restaurant & Bar located at 105 W. Morgan Street in Durham just announced that it will be closing on November 13th. Triangle Business Journal added that the restaurant will be transitioning to new ownership and hinted at a new iteration of Indian Monsoon.

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 tenth-annual WRAL Voters’ Choice Awards are back! Vote for your top 5 local favorites in over 100 categories (including Food & Drink) now through December 11th. Winners will be announced in January, 2025. Vote now!

• Southwestern Wake County’s biggest BBQ, Blues and Brews Festival of the year is coming to downtown Fuquay-Varina tomorrow, November 9th, from noon until 4 p.m. Sample and judge BBQ from the region’s top pitmasters, enjoy live blues music, and sip on locally brewed craft beverages. You’ll also have the chance to explore local businesses, meet talented artisans at their vendor’s market, and connect with community groups. This family-friendly event has something for everyone. Get all the details here.

• The 2nd Farm To Table Dinner celebrating Transplanting Traditions is this Saturday, November 9th. You’ll be able to meet leadership at the farm, tour the farm, enjoy cultural music, drinks and snacks, participate in their raffle and silent auction, and dine with them for a farm to table meal with traditional Karen and Burmese dishes and spirits. It takes place at Transplanting Traditions Community Farm, 2912B Jones Ferry Road in Chapel Hill with the social hour from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and the dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. Register and get all the details here.

• One of the newest kids on the block in downtown Raleigh, Figulina announced via Instagram that they are starting Sunday Brunch THIS Sunday, November 10th! Brunch will be served every Sunday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. — and while reservations are recommended, they’ll have plenty of space for walk-ins on their patio and community table as well. Make your reservations here.

• Little Rey, which is opening on December 9th, will hold a couple of “sneak peek” events for you to start getting familiar with their concept. First up, check out Raleigh Underground Market at Midtown Park in North Hills on Sunday, November 10, where they’ll be making breakfast tacos. Fry and his team will also be hosting a pre-opening party open to the public on Saturday, December 7, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the new Little Rey location. A selection of the restaurant’s beloved bites will be free for all attendees, plus drinks will be available to purchase. Visit Little Rey here.

• Sassool’s 6th Annual Humus Mix Off is just around the corner so whip out your recipe box and submit your best dish the weekend of November 15th-17th. The top three winners will compete for the final vote at their holiday event at FigMint Farms on December 7th. Get all the details here.

• Seabird’s (Wilmington) Chef/Owner Dean Neff will team up with Preeti Waas from Cheeni in Durham for a dinner on Wednesday, November 20th specifically earmarked to benefit industry peers in Western North Carolina, in the wake of Hurricane Helene. (They are also doing a dinner in Wilmington on October 15th). Tickets are $150. Tickets for the Durham event can be purchased here.

Food Bank Corner

• The countdown to Thanksgiving is on! For community members facing food insecurity, sharing meals over the holidays can be especially challenging. We’re exactly a month away from Thanksgiving, yet unemployment numbers are on the rise and expensive grocery prices won’t budge. Right now, more than 560,000 people are facing food insecurity in our 34-county service area — nearly 111,000 more than last year! And as a result, 1 in 7 people across our region are unsure where their next meal will come from. Your support this holiday season can make a meaningful difference during the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina’s busiest time of year! Every $10 you give can provide 50 meals and help more children, families, and seniors in food-insecure households.

Featured Restaurant News

• BBQ lovers rejoice as we get ready to welcome Tom Meyer’s latest venture. For those that have been around a while, you’ll know Tom as one of the original founders of The Q Shack. And now his Southern Harvest Hospitality Group (think Sprout Cafe at NC Museum of Life & Science; Legal Grounds Cafe at Duke Law School and Southern Harvest Catering) is opening a new BBQ joint in Mebane called Knucklehead BBQ. Celebrating Knuckleheads and Meatheads everywhere, they will open at 401 East Center Street in Mebane in late November. And trust me, it’s stupid good and well worth the drive! It will feature a number of smoked BBQ meats (brisket, pork shoulder, turkey, chicken and brisket sausage) along with a range of delicious sides like hoppin’ john, succotash, collard greens and intensely delicious mac and cheese. They are committing 5% of their sales towards supporting local and state wide charities, with the first 120 days of charitable proceeds going to fund relief and rebuilding efforts in Western NC. Might be best to follow along with their progress and pending announcement on Instagram here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• You go Raleigh! Triangle Business Journal reported this week that RH Raleigh, The Gallery at North Hills, is opening this morning (November 1st at 11 a.m.). RH (formerly Restoration Hardware) boasts a 3-story, 60,000-square-foot store featuring the company’s contemporary design collections, with a third-story restaurant and bar. Ascending the grand staircase to the third level, the rooftop restaurant features a wine bar and outdoor terraces including live heritage olive trees, a glass roof and retractable doors. The European-style restaurant can seat 140 people for dining and will serve brunch, lunch and dinner in addition to an extensive wine list featuring wines from Europe and the Americas. Take a peek at their website here and you’ll definitely want to experience this and work it into your rotation!

• Raleigh Magazine shared the news this week that The Bomb Bar out of South Carolina is opening its first North Carolina location at Gateway Plaza (2409 Crabtree Blvd.) just outside of downtown Raleigh on November 16. Think of it as a superfood ball (superfood balls packed with nuts, seeds and nutrients) that transforms your regular smoothie into a satisfying and nutritious meal. They will also feature Jubala Coffee and healthy eats like acai bowls and avocado toast made with Boulted Bread. Start getting familiar with them here.

• Got word this week that Eggs Up Grill is opening next Monday (November 4th) in Raleigh at 6820 Davis Circle (near the intersection of Glenwood Avenue and Millbrook Road). To celebrate the opening, the first 20 people who dine at the restaurant on Monday will receive free breakfast for a year (one meal each month for the first year). Franchisees Pankaj Parmar and Tahir Kakar plan to open 10 locations in this market, with the second one on schedule to open in the Falls River area next year. Visit them here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• The News & Observer reported that Honeygirl Meadery will hold their grand opening in their new Tasting Room at Durham’s American Tobacco campus on Saturday, November 16th. The new digs will feature a tasting room, two bars, and an outdoor patio. Enjoy samples and special dishes from James Beard Award-winning chef Ricky Moore from Saltbox. Get all the details on the tasting room here.

• My buddy (and quickly becoming my Chapel Hill/Durham correspondent) Glenn Gillen spotted a sign up for Giu-Kaku Japanese BBQ at the corner of Foster and Hunt Streets, right next to Durham Central Park (in the building with The Vega condos). It is not even listed on their website yet, but the signage is up on the building. This will be their third location in North Carolina, and the first in the Triangle. Get familiar with them here.

• Glenn Gillen also passed along that folks on the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook page are reporting that A Little Gelato is now open in Durham near La Racette Bakery (4823 Meadow Dr.). They are serving up artisan gelato, sorbetto, handcrafted chocolates and fresh baked breads. Check them out here.

• And we are moving to the next chapter in the life of Fullsteam Brewery. A pioneer in Durham’s craft beer scene, Fullsteam has closed their Rigsbee Avenue location (last day was Oct. 31) as part of the move to the new taproom at the American Tobacco Campus, which will occupy approximately 9,000 square feet on the first floor of the historic Boiler Room (located between ATC’s iconic water tower and smokestack). The spot will boast a welcoming entrance, with a restaurant on one side and a casual bar on the other, creating both indoor and outdoor spaces. They will also introduce a new food concept, with more details to be announced soon. The new taproom is expected to take about a year to build out. They will continue brewing beer and serving customers at their Boxyard RTP location and production will shift to Fortnight Brewing Company in Cary, enabling Fullsteam to scale its operations and meet growing demand. Follow along here.

Closings

• None to report. Keep eating local, folks!

Food Trucks

• The final Durham Food Truck Rodeo of the season will be THIS Sunday, November 3rd from noon until 4 p.m. at Durham Central Park. 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’s Seventh Annual Oyster Roast is TOMORROW – Saturday, November 2nd from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. at their Pittsboro Brewery Restaurant. This highly anticipated event will benefit the North Carolina Coastal Federation and Outer Banks Forever. Admission is free and freshly steamed or raw oysters will be available for purchase by the half-dozen or dozen. The oysters, sourced from North Carolina’s own Ghost Fleet Oyster Co., will be served by the oyster farmers themselves, offering a true farm-to-table experience. Get all the details here.

• Also on Saturday, November 2nd, the Chinese American Friendship Association – CAFA NC will host the 4th Annual Taste of China – Chinese Food and Culture Festival in downtown Cary at 410 S. Academy Street. Stop by to experience a day filled with the rich flavors and vibrant traditions of Chinese culture. The event lasts from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Visit their Facebook events page for all the details.

• Sassool’s 6th Annual Humus Mix Off is just around the corner so whip out your recipe box and submit your best dish the weekend of November 15th-17th. The top three winners will compete for the final vote at their holiday event at FigMint Farms on December 7th. Get all the details here.

• Seabird’s (Wilmington) Chef/Owner Dean Neff will team up with Preeti Waas from Cheeni in Durham for a dinner on Wednesday, November 20th specifically earmarked to benefit industry peers in Western North Carolina, in the wake of Hurricane Helene. (They are also doing a dinner in Wilmington on October 15th). Tickets are $150. Tickets for the Durham event can be purchased here.

Food Bank Corner

• The countdown to Thanksgiving is on! For community members facing food insecurity, sharing meals over the holidays can be especially challenging. We’re exactly a month away from Thanksgiving, yet unemployment numbers are on the rise and expensive grocery prices won’t budge. Right now, more than 560,000 people are facing food insecurity in our 34-county service area — nearly 111,000 more than last year! And as a result, 1 in 7 people across our region are unsure where their next meal will come from. Your support this holiday season can make a meaningful difference during the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina’s busiest time of year! Every $10 you give can provide 50 meals and help more children, families, and seniors in food-insecure households.