Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news…that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.
Featured Restaurant News
- In the biggest news of the week, my buddy John Huisman (aka Triangle Explorer) threw out a tweet announcing that Jubala Coffee is planning to open their second Raleigh location in the soon to open Aloft Hotel on Hillsborough Street directly across from the NC State bell tower. Joining Jubala in that building will be the previously announced Gonza Tacos y Tequilla. Learn more about Jubala here.
Wake County Restaurant News
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The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that chef Nunzio Scordo at Driftwood Southern Kitchen in North Raleigh’s Lafayette Village is launching a new “neighborhood Italian” restaurant called Farina, in the Paparazzi Ristorante Italiano space next door. Scordo is targeting a late June opening. Learn more about Driftwood here.
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Over in West Raleigh the long wait for the Chick-fil-A at the Lake Boone Trail Shopping Center is getting closer to an end. One of my anonymous roving reporters tipped me off to the fact that a Chick-fil-A sign went up on the site this week. It is going in in the space where the Wendy’s used to be located, next to Starbucks. Talk about traffic!
Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News
- On Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street, the News & Observer reported this week that Ms. Mong, a self-described “next generation of Mongolian barbecue” concept, will open in June. It is owned by Alex Kim and Isaac Park. Get a little more information here.
- Over in Durham, it was announced this week that Counting House, the new restaurant located in the 21c Museum Hotel Durham, is now offering lunch every Monday – Friday. Get all the details here.
- Noticed on a recent drive that just south of Chapel Hill in Chatham County on 15-501 in the Polk Landing shopping center, a new restaurant is on its way called Vine Asian Bistro. We have no further details at this point but I’ll keep an eye on it.
- Also in Chatham County, big changes are coming to Cole Park Plaza, located about halfway between Chapel Hill and Pittsboro. The Subway is closing this Sunday in preparation for its move back into the shopping center. Look for it to reopen this fall. In its place, look for a fast-food burger joint to take over the corner.
Closings
- I was sorry to learn this week that the Atrium Grille, on the ground floor of the Dixon Hughes Goodman building across from Rex Hospital, has closed their doors. My best to Stephen and Jeff.
- Rebecca Calhoun noted on Twitter that Fire Pit BBQ in Wake Forest has closed.
- Also got word from Joseph Wells that Raleigh’s China Court Restaurant in Brennan Station closed their doors this past Monday.
Food Trucks
- A couple of upcoming food truck events to highlight. The next Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo is coming up on Sunday, June 14th from 1-6 p.m. Get all the details here.
- The next Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo is the extremely popular (aren’t they all popular?) Father’s Day edition on Sunday, June 21 from 12-4 p.m. Get all the details here.
- For a listing of ALL food truck events, head over to Art’s page, The Wandering Sheppard on all things food truck related here.
Events
- Driftwood Southern Kitchen is hosting “Shagging with our Veterans” on Tuesday, June 2 from 5 -9 p.m. raising money for Military Missions in Action. Food, fun and dancing will be had by all. Cost is a minimum donation of $25. RSVP to [email protected]. More information available here.
- Next Thursday, June 4th, downtown Raleigh’s Carolina Ale House will partner up with Lonerider Brewery for a Beer Dinner featuring a 4 course dinner and beer pairing. The fun begins at 6:30 and the all-inclusive price is $40. Get all the details here.
- Please note that next Friday, June 5, is National Doughnut Day. Look for all the regulars to offer free doughnuts next Friday so plan your morning commute accordingly.
- Tickets went on sale recently for one of my favorite events of the year (a weekend of events really) – Farm to Fork – which will take place this year Friday, June 5th through Sunday, June 7th. Get tickets and all the details here.
- June 20th is the date for the 3rd annual Fresh Catch Festival that will be held in downtown Raleigh’s Moore Square from 1-9pm. Enjoy fresh cooked seafood, BBQ and more from local chefs and restaurants from 1-6 in the park and food trucks from 5-9 in the street. Tickets are $8 in advance, and $10 at the door (food and drinks are separate). Get all the details here.
- Also on June 20th, Village Lanes, one of the oldest bowling alleys in Durham, is holding their Spring Fling featuring live music, cold beer, an art fair/craft market, and a diverse lineup of food trucks. The event runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Get all the details on Facebook here.
- As a part of the Raleigh Food and Wine Festival, Raleigh’s Mandolin restaurant will host a “Get Your Goat Dinner” on Thursday, June 25, with Prodigal Farm. This “head to tail” feast will feature six courses of goat and Prodigal’s remarkable cheeses. Executive chef and owner Sean Fowler will showcase every useable piece of goat, from the cheese its’ milk produces to the bones that are used for stocks and broths. Get more information on Mandolin here.
- June 26th and 27th are the dates for the next Snap Pea Underground dinners, this time in downtown Durham. These dinners sell out in a matter of hours, so be ready when tickets go on sale next week (June 2nd at 12 noon). If you want more information, or want to get on their mailing list, go here.
- The dates are set for one of my other favorite food events of the year – the TerraVita Food & Drink Festival held in Chapel Hill every year. It simply can’t be missed. Go ahead and start setting aside your money for the tickets – they go on sale soon. Take a look at all the initial details here.
Food Bank Corner
Part of a letter from Peter Werbicki, President & CEO of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina:
In just a few short weeks, school will be ending. Most kids will be headed to camp or going on family vacations. Unfortunately, over 300,000 children will not be focused on activities of fun and relaxation. These kids will be focused on one thing: an empty stomach.
When schools close for summer break, cafeterias close. Children who have relied on free and reduced-cost breakfast and lunch go without these meals during the summer. The loss of this vital resource puts an additional strain on family food budgets that are already tight.
But together, we can help.
The Food Bank’s Stop Summer Hunger Campaign aims to provide meals and groceries to children and their families over the summer months. Through July 31, we are committed to providing 3.2 million meals.
Click the link above to see how you can help!
