Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news…that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.
Featured Restaurant News
- Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday – one of my favorites. A time to be thankful for all that we have in this great country of ours. Unless you are the one stuck in the kitchen at 4 a.m. Ok, I’m just kidding, but don’t feel bad about not wanting to cook all day. You should enjoy it too! And Greg Cox from the News & Observer is your hero again this year with his compilation of restaurants open on Thanksgiving day. Check it out here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- And if you still want to celebrate Thanksgiving in your home, but don’t want to cook the turkey (or the sides), you’ll be glad to know that the Q Shack is firing up their annual tradition of providing you with turkeys, sides and desserts for your Thanksgiving Day feast. Folks, I don’t endorse many things, but I can speak from personal experience that this is a fantastic (and delicious) way to feed your guests. Seriously, who (besides Tom and his team) want to be in the kitchen cooking up a turkey? Get your orders in before November 22nd and get all the details here.
- Saw on their Facebook page that Night Kitchen Bakehouse and Café is holding a series of soft openings today and tomorrow prior to their full opening next week. They feature breads, pastries and savory foods and are located in the Seaboard Station complex in downtown Raleigh. Check out their Facebook page for all the details.
- The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Sardi’s Den Restaurant & Lounge, a rib house staple for the past 20 years in Clemson, SC, will be opening its first franchise location in the former Oliver Twist location in the Brennan Station shopping center on Creedmoor Road in north Raleigh. No word yet on an open date. In the meantime, check them out here.
- A quick update. As we told you months ago, the Posta Tuscan Grille is transitioning into a Southern eatery & gastropub called Rye Bar and Southern Kitchen in the Raleigh Marriott City Center. We just got word that they are on schedule to open the middle of next month. Check them out here.
- Back in October, we told you that both WRAL and Raleigh Public Record were reporting that the former Lucky 32 spot in Raleigh had been sold to a restaurant group called Kamado Grille and would open a concept called Bistro 832. Turns out it will in fact open as Kamado Grille in January. Keep up with them on their Facebook page here.
- And not far from there in Falls Village we learned from Rebecca Calhoun that the former spot of Fork & Barrel is poised to become El Cerro Mexican Grill & Restaurant. They already have a location on Avent Ferry Road in Raleigh. Check them out here.
- The News & Observer is reporting that Greek Garden has opened in the former Yummy Yogurt space in downtown Apex at 124 N. Salem Street. While the website is not live yet, it should go live any day now. They are open Tuesday through Saturday.
- Last week WRAL reported that the folks over at Tropical Picken Chicken have plans to open a new concept devoted to empanadas called El Guapo Empanadas Y Mas. We learned on their Facebook this week that they have secured a space in Raleigh at the corner of Six Forks and Wake Forest Road where Pronto Pasta used to be. No word yet on an open date. In the meantime, keep up with updates on their Facebook page here.
- The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that the Triangle is on the verge of getting their 2nd and 3rd Steak ‘n Shake locations. One will be in Fuquay-Varina at 8012 Fayetteville Road (U.S. 401) near the Kings Grant Common shopping center and the other at 5900 Duraleigh Road in Raleigh.
Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News
- Wake up Chapel Hill! Have I got good news for you. Al’s Burger Shack on West Franklin Street announced this week that they will begin breakfast service next Monday, November 17th! Breakfast will be available from 7-11 a.m., Monday through Saturday. Get all the details here.
- Saw in the Triangle Business Journal that Counter Culture Coffee is hosting a regional coffee competition in Durham that will feature top barista and brewer talent from the Southeast and Northeast. The three-day event will be at the Durham Convention Center on Nov. 21 and 22 from 8:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Nov. 23 from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. The competition is part of the U.S. Coffee Championships that culminate with a final contest in February 2015. Get all the details here.
- Ohio-based City Barbecue, which recently opened a location in Cary, is apparently eyeing a second Triangle-area location in Durham at 208 W. Highway 54, according to the Herald-Sun. The articles did note, however, that it may not be open for another year or two. Check out City Barbecue here.
- According to the Herald-Sun, Dewey’s Bakery will open up a shop in Northgate starting Nov. 15 and will last until Dec. 31. The bakery offers Moravian cookies, Moravian sugar cake, cheese straws and gift baskets. Founded in 1930 in Winston-Salem, learn more about Dewey’s here.
Closings
- Drove through downtown Chapel Hill earlier this week and saw that Qdoba has closed at the corner of Franklin and Columbia streets. The Herald-Sun reported that their lease was up and the owners opted not to renew.
Food Trucks
- Looks like this could be the last multiple food truck event of the year. It is Saturday, November 22 from 2-6 at Raleigh Brewing Company and will feature GOUGE Wrestling, five food trucks and plenty of brews. Food trucks will feature lunch and dinner and include: All American Food Truck, Bulkogi Korean BBQ, Captain Ponchos Tacos, Cajun Persuasion, and Dump Pho King Truck. Get all the details on their Facebook event page here.
Events
- So, long story short. The Raleigh Times recently won a national contest by Draft Magazine. The winner was deemed to have the best craft beer list, most knowledgeable staff, etc. (pretty cool, right?). How does that help you? Well, they “won” a 170-liter oak cask of unfiltered, unpreserved pilsner from Urquell in the Czech Rebublic (this is a big deal). And they are holding a huge party to celebrate on November 15th from noon to 9 p.m. (they are closing down the street). The event is free, but $10 buys you a 1/4 -liter pour from the cask and all proceeds benefit SAFEchild. Buy tickets and get all the details here.
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Our friends over at Acme Restaurant in Carrboro reminded us of the 2nd annual Salt & Smoke event on Sunday, November 16th from 3 to 6 p.m at Rock Quarry Farm. The event is a celebration of fall in the south and will feature oysters and pork barbecue, collards and cornbread, slaw, smoked mullet and sweet potatoes. It’s beer and wine. It’s bands and bonfires and, above all, it’s a damn good time. The cost is $40 for food, or $48 with a couple of drinks. Check it out on Facebook here and get your tickets here.
- Urban Ministries of Wake County is hosting their 10th Annual Stone Soup Supper on Wednesday, November 19th from 5-7:30 p.m at White Memorial Presbyterian Church on Oberlin Road in Raleigh. The event raises money to end homelessness and hunger and provide healthcare to those in need. You can enjoy the soup creations of chefs from 12 area restaurants and organizations on site, or take some home with you. Get all the details here.
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Thanks to Kathleen Donnelly, I was reminded that the 12th annual Gingerbread Benefit for Triangle Family Services will take place on Sunday, December 7th at the Umstead Hotel & Spa in Cary. The day begins with a Gingerbread Sneak Preview (at 11:30) and culminates with the Evening Gingerbread Benefit at 6:30, and lots in between for children and the entire family. Get all the details here.
Food Bank Corner
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The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina just launched their Holiday Meals Drive and they need your help to reach their goal of raising $435,000 online before December 31, which would be enough to provide 2.17 million meals! Folks can donate, sexe24 make a gift in honor of a friend or family member or host a holiday fundraiser. Perhaps your company can join in on this extremely worthy cause. Get all the details here.
