TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

Wake County Restaurant News

• This is really cool. Raleigh is getting its first “pay-what-you-can” café called A Place at The Table. It is coming to Hillsborough Street in the former location of Two Guys Pizza. The concept has been highly successful in other parts of the country and I can’t wait to see it here. Check them out here. Thanks to New Raleigh for pointing this out.

• We’ve been following this since July, 2014, but just saw on their Facebook page that Kamado Grille (going into the former Lucky 32 location in North Raleigh) is shooting for an April 27th open. Check out their website here.

• The News & Observer reported this week that Sardi’s Den, a popular rib joint in Clemson, S.C., is opening their first franchise location in North Raleigh in the old Oliver Twist space in Brennan Station. Look for a late April opening. Get all the details about Sardi’s Den here.

• The Triangle Business Journal broke the news this week that it appears as if the old Steak & Ale and Pizza Hut location along Creedmoor Road overlooking Crabtree Valley Mall is getting a new dining option. Apparently plans have been submitted for a concept out of Nashville called J. Alexander’s. There are a couple of more hoops to jump through, but it appears as if it is a done deal. J. Alexander’s is a contemporary American-style restaurant, known for its wood-fired cuisine. It currently has 31 other restaurant locations in 12 states, but none so far in the Carolinas. Get a sneak peak at them here.

• Got word from my friends over at New Raleigh that Dos Taquitos is moving their Creedmoor Road location to the Taverna Agora building at 6101 Glenwood Avenue when Taverna moves to its new digs at 326 Hillsborough Street. No timeline yet on either the move or opening.

• And with things warming up outside, apparently it is time to open a couple of new yogurt shops. According to the Triangle Business Journal, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt is doing just that. The Durham shop opens today in Patterson Place at 3604 Witherspoon Blvd. The grand opening celebration is April 18, with free frozen yogurt from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. And the Cary shop opens April 20 in Parkside Town Commons at 7169 O’Kelly Chapel Road. The grand opening is April 25, with free frozen yogurt from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Check Menchie’s out here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

• Congratulations to Durham’s very own Counter Culture Coffee, which just turned 20! They will hold a 20th anniversary celebration with music, activities for kids, food, and of course, lots of coffee tomorrow (April 18th) from 3 to 7 p.m. in Durham’s Central Park. It is free to the public. Get all the details here.

Closings 

• Got a note from one of our readers that KoMo KoMo on NW Maynard Road in Cary had closed as of April 9, 2015.

Food Trucks 

Food Bank Corner   

• Did you know that the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina plans to distribute between 50 and 52 million pounds of food this year? That’s more than 140,000 meals a day! They expect their fleet of 19 trucks to travel over 500,000 miles to serve their 800 partner agencies and maximize their food donor partnerships. To do that, they are aiming to raise over $8 million in revenue and work with over 15,000 volunteers to keep the Food Bank running and expand service where possible. Want to see a list of upcoming “foodie” events that you can attend AND help the Food Bank? Check it out here.

Wake County Restaurant News

•  We’ve been following this since July, 2014, but just saw on their Facebook page that Kamado Grille (going into the former Lucky 32 location in North Raleigh) is shooting for an April 27th open. Check out their website here.

• The Triangle Business Journal reported that Soprano’s Grill, an independent Italian restaurant named after the classic HBO series “The Sopranos,” is coming to 1030 N. Rogers Lane in the Edgewater Place shopping center off New Bern Ave./Business 64 on Raleigh’s east side. They should be open in about two weeks. Keep up with them on their Facebook page here.

• Triangle Business Journal has confirmed that Hillsborough Street is getting a new coffee, wine and beer shop called Liquid State, located at 1908 Hillsborough St. in the former Locopops shop. Look for them to open in late spring, early summer. Keep up with their progress on their Facebook page here.

• Also in downtown Raleigh, New Raleigh confirmed that Lucettegrace will begin offering brunch this Sunday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Check them out here.

• First Watch Cafe announced on their Facebook page yesterday that they are now open in North Raleigh. They are located in Plantation Square shopping center near the intersection of Capital Boulevard and Old Wake Forest Road, next to Triangle Town Center. This is the 2nd (of an expected 5) location in the Triangle. Check out their Facebook page here.

• The not so old Quail Creamery on Falls of Neuse and Millbrook is about to reopen as Rocket Fizz, a soda pop and candy shop. This will be the Triangle’s second location (the other location is in Cary). Thanks to Jay McGee for the tip on this. Check them out here.

• Over in Cary, the Triangle Business Journal reported that Red Hot & Blue, a Memphis-style barbecue restaurant, is targeting an April 20 opening date for its “return” to Waverly Place in Cary (same location as before). Check them out here.

• The News & Observer reported that Ashley Christensen’s latest restaurant venture, the soon-to-open Death & Taxes, has started a series of pop-up dinners to be held on Thursdays and Fridays through May 2. The Firestarters events will feature five chefs from around the South. Get tickets and a full list of the “guest” chefs here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

•  It is time for baseball and hot dogs…or maybe donuts! Rise Biscuits & Donuts, which features both sweet and savory breakfast and lunch options, will have a place at Durham Bulls games with a new Donut Kiosk located on the DBAP’s main concourse.

• John Huisman, aka Triangle Explorer, reminded me (note, he didn’t invite me!) that The Parlour over in Durham had reopened (he went, he had pictures and everything). They had been closed as they expanded their ice cream shop at 117 Market Street in downtown Durham. Check out the changes here.

• Got word that Primal Food & Spirits over on Highway 54 in Durham is now serving lunch during the week! Get all the details here.

• Reader Jen Kelley pointed out that I had overlooked an opening in Carrboro Plaza. Somehow the opening of Sushi Nikko missed my radar screen. Will have to work it into the rotation. I can’t find a website on it, but you can check them out on Yelp here.

• And a congratulations to Durham’s very own Counter Culture Coffee, which just turned 20! They will hold a 20th anniversary celebration with music, activities for kids, food, and of course, lots of coffee on April 18th from 3 to 7 p.m. in Durham’s Central Park. It is free to the public. Get all the details here.

Closings 

•  Got a note from Rebecca Calhoun (and confirmed by John Huisman) that Butcher Block American Grill on Durant Road in North Raleigh has closed.

Food Trucks 

Food Bank Corner   

• Did you know that the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina plans to distribute between 50 and 52 million pounds of food this year? That’s more than 140,000 meals a day! They expect their fleet of 19 trucks to travel over 500,000 miles to serve their 800 partner agencies and maximize their food donor partnerships. To do that, they are aiming to raise over $8 million in revenue and work with over 15,000 volunteers to keep the Food Bank running and expand service where possible. Want to see a list of upcoming “foodie” events that you can attend AND help the Food Bank? Check it out here.