TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

Featured Restaurant News

• The News & Observer reported that Café Royale, Raleigh’s newest all-day restaurant, opened this week in Raleigh’s The Exchange. Patrick Shanahan and Robby Opperman are joined in this venture with Frederique Leonard, whose French perspective helps guide this new all-day restaurant into the punk rock café that it is. The pink-walled café is filled with light and surrounded by windows where pastries and lattes seamlessly transition to salads, wine, evening cocktails and charcuterie. Visit them here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• The much anticipated Gallicchio’s Market & Eatery opened yesterday in the former (ish) Delicatessen spot at 702 N. Person Street. At the helm is chef Stacy Murphy, who you may know from the Pounded Pig Food Truck, but her background includes extensive experience in New Orleans’ kitchens as well as the Italian markets and food she grew up around in the Northeast. Check them out on Instagram here.

• Now that Hotel Indigo Raleigh (the round hotel in Downtown Raleigh) is open, it is important to note that at the top of the hotel, High Ground Lounge becomes the newest destination for drinks and nightlife. Located on the 20th floor, the bar and restaurant pair panoramic views of the city skyline with elevated Southern cuisine and the warm, welcoming hospitality synonymous with the region. The menu offers a contemporary take on familiar Southern flavors, with dishes inspired by North Carolina and the broader South, complemented by craft cocktails and a curated beverage program. Check it out here.

• Anna and Chuan Tsay of Heirloom Brewshop announced this week that they have acquired Bida Manda, the highly acclaimed Laotian restaurant and bar located at 222 S Blount Street in the heart of downtown Raleigh. They thanked Vanvisa Nolintha for creating such an unforgettable part of Raleigh for the past fourteen years as they plan to maintain business continuity while listening and learning from the Bida Manda team without disturbing the things people have grown to love over fourteen years. Visit Bida Manda here and Heirloom Brewshop here.

• Over in North Hills, got word this week that Standard Beer + Food NHID is now open for lunch seven days a week. Additionally, Standard NHID is offering happy hour specials from 4-6pm every weekday. Visit Standard NHID here.

• Up in North Raleigh, got word from reader Barb LeBlanc that signage is up for the newest location of the Flying Biscuit in the Falls Village shopping center next to the Anchor Bar – at 6609 Falls of the Neuse Road. They are scheduled to open in early 2027. Visit Flying Biscuit here.

• David McCreary shared with us that Limra Mediterranean Restaurant is now open at 3109 McChesney Hill Loop at Peterson Station in Holly Springs. The eatery serves 100% halal cuisine, featuring flame-grilled kabobs, wraps, bowls, platters, salad and more. Check them out on Instagram here.

• And if that is not enough international cuisine news for Holly Springs, we learned this week that a new Indian dining experience will open this fall. Malli — Indian Reimagined (131 Oakview Commons Drive) will bring an elevated yet welcoming approach to Indian cuisine centered around food, hospitality, connection and celebration. Founded by Arunkumar Vijayakumar, Rajesh Arumugam and Bharath Pepaala, it was created to bring the authentic, full flavors of India into a refined, contemporary dining experience while remaining warm, generous and approachable. Look for them to open this fall. Follow along on Instagram here.

• Meat & Bite, a casual, halal-friendly fast-casual restaurant located at 2908 Hillsborough Street in Raleigh right across from NC State’s main campus, announced this week that they are opening a second location at 3608 Davis Drive in Morrisville. If you haven’t dined there before, it is a unique blend where they fuse the flavors of the Mediterranean, American, and Tex-Mex cuisines into one mouthwatering menu. No word on the opening date of the second location, but you can visit them on Hillsborough street and online here.

• We first told you about this at the beginning of last month, but Raleigh Magazine shared the opening date, October 15, for downtown Raleigh’s newest watering hole – Low Bar Lounge – in the former IMURJ space beneath Whiskey Kitchen. It is brought to us by Whiskey Kitchen co-owners Jeff Mickel and Michael Thor. The space is a throwback to a particular kind of bar—and a particular kind of bar night—low on pretense and high on life according to the magazine. Where you’ll meet up with friends, or make friends. A place to hang out and be community. Nothing up on their social media feeds as of yet, so visit their site here.

• And we would be remiss if we didn’t direct you to the North Carolina State Fair (October 15-25) and all this year’s yumminess. Check out the map (plan accordingly) and see all the new offerings here. And don’t forget the Weekday Lunch Pass Program where you can visit the fair on weekdays between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. without paying a permanent admission fee.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Compa Pizza & Pasta and Bull City Burger Outpost will soon join the new Latta Park development in North Durham. Compa is a new Italian concept created exclusively for Latta Park by Pomodoro Italian Kitchen owners Carlo and Josephine Finazzo, featuring handmade pasta and pizza. Bull City Burger Outpost is an expansion of Seth Gross’s Bull City Burger and Brewery, with beer-garden-style outdoor seating, a yard-game lawn and soft serve. They will also expand into breakfast, adding biscuit sandwiches and a coffee bar. Look for openings in early 2027. Follow Bull City on Instagram here and follow Pomodoro on Instagram here.

• Out in RTP, Triangle Business Journal shared the news that a new restaurant focused on “comfort-food bowls” is coming to Hub RTP. They confirmed that Little Barrow is moving into the space across from Cheeni Indian Food Emporium. The menu features build-your-own grain bowls with bases such as brown rice and sweet potato noodles and protein options such as baked chicken fingers and sirloin steak. Sides include Brussels sprouts, charred broccoli and gluten free mac and cheese. Top it off with a variety of sauces. Congrats to Bruce Kramer, founder of Little Barrow. Look for them to open in 2027.

• Brothers Nick and Bryce Dampf of Dampf Good BBQ — the Michelin-recommended Texas-style barbecue food truck — made the decision this week not to open their first brick-and-mortar spot in Durham. We will keep an eye on where they look next, but in the meantime, you can visit their truck over at Phillips Farm in Cary at 6800 Good Hope Church Road. Visit them here.

• Over in Chapel Hill, got word that Mr. Dumpling had their grand opening yesterday (October 8) at 239 S. Elliott Road. They are a modern Chinese restaurant specializing in handmade dumplings and authentic Sichuan cuisine where they focus on fresh ingredients, traditional recipes, and bold flavors to bring a true taste of China to your table. They also have a location in Apex. Get to know them here.

Closings

• Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Ziggi’s Coffee will close its Clayton location on Oct. 31.

• The News & Observer reported that health smoothie store The Bomb Bar in Raleigh’s Gateway Plaza closed last Friday, right before their two-year mark.

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

• On Thursday, October 15 from 4:30-6:45 p.m., the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club is hosting “An Evening in Seoul” — a one-night-only immersive dining event inspired by the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Maybe Happy Ending, appearing at Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) from Oct. 13–18. The dinner experience includes a Korean fusion menu, jazz tunes from Hunky Dory Durham and more. Seating is limited for this exclusive event. Tickets are $225, plus tax and service charge, and may be purchased via OpenTable here.

• Chef Sera Cuni and her team over at The Root Cellar in Chapel Hill are taking part in a Yellowstone Dinner on October 29th where four incredible chefs are taking over Holl & Stone Farm in Garner. Chefs Sera Cuni of The Root Cellar, Bill Hartley of Postal Fish Company and JDub’s Po’Boys, Ryan Butler of Smoke Ropers, and Lynn Wells of Thyme Well Spent and Our State Magazine will each helm their own station, giving guests the chance to wander the farm, fill their plates and experience a menu built around smoke, fire, Southern ingredients and a little Wild West inspiration. Get your tickets for any of these events and all the details here.

• Tickets are officially on sale for the 2026 Chefs for Change Annual Gala & Auction to benefit Families Moving Forward. Reserve your spot now to join them on Thursday, November 5th, as they gather at The Cookery for an unforgettable evening of exquisite food, inspiring stories, and abundant opportunities to make a meaningful difference for families and children experiencing homelessness in Durham! And because it’s Chefs for Change, they’ve invited an exceptional lineup of friends—the crème de la crème of the Durham culinary scene—to share their passion for food and Families Moving Forward: Matt Kelly of Nanas Rockwood; Chris Garrett of Seraphine; Aaron Benjamin of Gocciolina; Alex Catotti and Erin Kobler of Restaurant Cornelia and The Vinter and the Baker; and, Chris McLaurin of Lutra Cafe and Bakery. Get your tickets here.

• Tickets are now on sale for the third Rawleigh Oyster Fest, presented by Earp’s Seafood Market, returning Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. This year’s event, themed “Smoke & Shuck,” expands the festival’s signature chef-and-oyster-farm pairings to include North Carolina pitmasters for the first time, bringing barbecue into the mix alongside raw oysters. It will be held at Raleigh Iron Works. Rawleigh Oyster Fest has sold out both of its previous events — its launch in November 2025, which sold all 550 tickets, and a spring 2026 edition that sold out in just five days. The event is organized by Eduardo Mera of Mera Brothers Oysters, Katie Dombrowski, communications administrator for the City of Raleigh, and Max Trujillo of the NC F&B Podcast. Together, the two previous events raised approximately $12,500 for the Frankie Lemmon School and Development Center and the N.C. Coastal Federation. Get tickets and all the details here.

• The Trophy Trot 5K returns for its 10th year on Thanksgiving morning (November 26) to Dorothea Dix Park, benefiting Healing Transitions, a Raleigh nonprofit that provides recovery services for people struggling with addiction. The race has grown into a beloved holiday tradition, and 2025 was its biggest year yet: nearly 3,000 runners and walkers signed up, and the race donated about $60,000 to Healing Transitions, up from $42,000 the year before. Since 2016, the annual race, hosted by nOG Run Club and Trophy Brewing Co., has raised more than $210,000 for the nonprofit. Register here.

Food Bank Corner

• Help your neighbor. Yes, your neighbor. Did you know that right now, one in seven people in central and eastern North Carolina don’t have enough to eat. That’s where the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina comes in. Your tax-deductible gift helps provide food and hope to families, children, and seniors right here in our community. Together, we can help people in our community during their greatest time of need. Give here.

Featured Restaurant News

• The wait is over…and early indications are that it was well worth the nearly two-year wait. Fullsteam Brewery, instrumental in establishing the Triangle’s craft beer scene going back to their days on Rigsbee Avenue, swung open the doors to their new location in Durham’s American Tobacco Campus this week. Located at the base of the Lucky Strike smokestack, the space is absolutely beautiful and welcoming featuring a stunning new taproom, a restaurant and a great event space. It is already being touted as the unofficial front porch for the city of Durham, and fittingly so. And if the beer was not enough to welcome you in, they also shared that there is a new food menu developed by the infamous Phoebe Lawless. Stop by today, or take a peek at their Instagram here. A huge congratulations to Sean Lilly Wilson and his team!

Wake County Restaurant News

• Great news broke this week for coffee lovers in Raleigh. Triangle Business Journal shared the news that soon there will be three locations of the popular Raleigh icon – Cup A Joe. The third location will be just down Hillsborough Street from the original location at the intersection with Gorman Street, in the building that most recently housed the Crafty Crab, Applebee’s before that, and the legendary Crazy Zack’s back in the day. Nothing will change with their original location on Hillsborough Street near NC State’s campus, nor with the location over in Mission Valley. Congrats to Andi Macko who co-owns Cup A Joe with her father, Jeff Gold. Visit Cup a Joe here.

• We first told you about this at the beginning of last month, but Raleigh Magazine shared the opening date, October 15, for downtown Raleigh’s newest watering hole – Low Bar Lounge – in the former IMURJ space beneath Whiskey Kitchen. It is brought to us by Whiskey Kitchen co-owners Jeff Mickel and Michael Thor. The space is a throwback to a particular kind of bar—and a particular kind of bar night—low on pretense and high on life according to the magazine. Where you’ll meet up with friends, or make friends. A place to hang out and be community. Nothing up on their social media feeds as of yet, so visit their site here.

• The Triangle Business Journal reported that Paris Baguette, a fast-growing franchise specializing in French pastries, cakes, savory dishes and coffee, is taking over the former Zest Cafe space at 8831 Six Forks Road in the Six Forks Station Shopping Center. They are aiming for a summer 2027 opening. This will be their second Raleigh location, and they have a location in Cary. Visit them here.

• Over in Smoky Hollow in downtown Raleigh, Raleigh Magazine shared that a wine bar called The Deb will open later this fall. It is being brought to us from the folks behind Cuya Cafe and it will open in the Hone Sharpen space replacing the sandwich counter. The Deb, an all-day wine bar and lounge offering vino, spritzes and non-alcholic cocktails, will also feature a fusion tapas-style menu leaning Italian, French and Asian. Pro tip: they are hosting a pop-up preview during First Friday (TODAY, Oct. 2) from 6 – 8 p.m.

• Reader Lucille Auteri notified us that Shinjuku Station, a revolving sushi bar concept, is coming to Raleigh at 6310 Plantation Center Drive. This will be their fourth North Carolina location and the first in the Triangle. Visit them here.

• And if that is not enough sushi news for you, reader Tim Decker informed us that a sign is up for Magic Sushi on the old Chili’s location in Apex at Beaver Creek Commons. The concept features all-you-can-eat sushi and hibachi or a-la-cart ordering. Their original location is in Charlotte. No word on a timeline. Visit that location here.

• Decker has informed us that Qdoba has opened at the Parkside Town Commons (7119 O’Kelly Chapel Road) in Cary. Visit Qdoba here.

• And staying in Cary, we first told you about this back in July, but The Cary Report shared this week that La Pause Parisienne is now open at 160 NE Maynard Road in the former Aroma location. The bakery serves freshly baked croissants, pastries, breads, coffee and other café items. Get a closer look here.

• Covering all things Garner, Choose Local & Small Y’all shared the news this week that a family-friendly, community focused craft brewery called Rabid Axolotl Brewing will soon open in the old Aristotle Spirits building (105 Rand Mill Road). Best to follow along on Instagram here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• This week also brought the great news that Carrburritos, the popular Carrboro burrito restaurant, has opened in their new space at 200 N. Greensboro St. in Carr Mill Mall in the space formerly occupied by Grata Diner and before that Elmo’s. Get by and check them out here.

• Just over in Chapel Hill, got word this week that Geo’s Tavern & Oyster Bar has started serving lunch, Thursday thru Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The lunch menu features – Fried Chicken Biscuit with hot honey; the Franklin St. Smash; Shrimp & Grits; Classic Moules Frites; and a Wild Mushroom Grilled Cheese with a tomato soup dipper. Check out their lunch menu here.

• Well, this is fun. The News & Observer reported that The Pudding Man, a dessert restaurant, will celebrate its opening at Boxyard RTP on Friday, Oct. 2 (TODAY) from 4-7 p.m. Their tagline is, “Not yo granny’s puddin’…reimagined banana pudding.” Sign me up! Visit them on Instagram here.

Closings

• Reader Joe Mustian shared the news that the Meadowmont location of Kahlovera Mexican Bar & Grill at 504 Meadowmont Village Circle has closed. They still have the location on Franklin Street (their newest location) as well as locations in Durham and Cary. Visit them here.

• Carrie Brogren, founder of Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies, shared that the Growler Grlz location in Chapel Hill’s Southern Village is closing with their last day being October 9th. Their flagship location is in South Durham at 4810 Hope Valley Road.

• Reader Chuck Till shared that the Fresko Greek Kitchen location in Brennan Station on Creedmoor Road in North Raleigh has closed and will be replaced by a Hummus Republic. The Fresko location on Bale Street remains open.

• Till also shared that Crumbl at Six Forks Station on Six Forks Road in Raleigh has closed. They still have three locations here in the Triangle.

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

• And we are just a day away from National Cinnamon Bun Day celebrated annually on October 4th. Be sure to plan a visit to see my buddy Darryl Fuller, owner of Morning Rolls at 1322A E Millbrook Road in Raleigh. Visit Morning Rolls here.

• Centro, downtown Raleigh’s beloved Mexican restaurant, is celebrating its 19th Anniversary with a special five-part dinner series beginning Thursday, Oct. 8. The opening dinner brings together Centro owner Angela Salamanca and guest chef Bill Smith for a four-course meal and welcome cocktail. Ten percent of proceeds from the entire series will be donated to local nonprofit organizations. Seating is limited, and tickets are available now. Smith is the former longtime chef of Crook’s Corner in Chapel Hill, which the James Beard Foundation honored with an America’s Classics award before the restaurant closed in 2021. A two-time James Beard award nominee for Best Chef: Southeast, Smith is known for Southern cooking rooted in North Carolina traditions and beyond. Centro, which opened in 2007, is Salamanca’s flagship restaurant. She is also a co-owner of Mala Pata, Ex-Voto, Patty Boy and Big Cat, which The New York Times named earlier this month to its 2026 list of the 50 best restaurants in America. The anniversary dinner’s menu pairs Mexican technique with Carolina ingredients and classics. Sign up today!

• Flour & Barrel is planning an October 8 anniversary party that includes ten courses, aerialists, fire dancers and a sneak peek at the High Horse menu which will open in Durham at the Horseshoe at Hub RTP this fall. It will feature dishes and cocktails from Flour & Barrel and High Horse. Expect to see the favorites from each concept including cornbread, grouper with deviled ham, bone marrow with crab meat and more from High Horse, as well as table-side pastas and dessert from Flour & Barrel, and of course — flambé. Tickets are $90 and you can secure your spot here.

• On Thursday, October 15 from 4:30-6:45 p.m., the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club is hosting “An Evening in Seoul” — a one-night-only immersive dining event inspired by the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Maybe Happy Ending, appearing at Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) from Oct. 13–18. The dinner experience includes a Korean fusion menu, jazz tunes from Hunky Dory Durham and more. Seating is limited for this exclusive event. Tickets are $225, plus tax and service charge, and may be purchased via OpenTable here.

• Chef Sera Cuni and her team over at The Root Cellar in Chapel Hill are taking part in a Yellowstone Dinner on October 29th where four incredible chefs are taking over Holl & Stone Farm in Garner. Chefs Sera Cuni of The Root Cellar, Bill Hartley of Postal Fish Company and JDub’s Po’Boys, Ryan Butler of Smoke Ropers, and Lynn Wells of Thyme Well Spent and Our State Magazine will each helm their own station, giving guests the chance to wander the farm, fill their plates and experience a menu built around smoke, fire, Southern ingredients and a little Wild West inspiration. Get your tickets for any of these events and all the details here.

• Tickets are officially on sale for the 2026 Chefs for Change Annual Gala & Auction to benefit Families Moving Forward. Reserve your spot now to join them on Thursday, November 5th, as they gather at The Cookery for an unforgettable evening of exquisite food, inspiring stories, and abundant opportunities to make a meaningful difference for families and children experiencing homelessness in Durham! And because it’s Chefs for Change, they’ve invited an exceptional lineup of friends—the crème de la crème of the Durham culinary scene—to share their passion for food and Families Moving Forward: Matt Kelly of Nanas Rockwood; Chris Garrett of Seraphine; Aaron Benjamin of Gocciolina; Alex Catotti and Erin Kobler of Restaurant Cornelia and The Vinter and the Baker; and, Chris McLaurin of Lutra Cafe and Bakery. Get your tickets here.

• Tickets are now on sale for the third Rawleigh Oyster Fest, presented by Earp’s Seafood Market, returning Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. This year’s event, themed “Smoke & Shuck,” expands the festival’s signature chef-and-oyster-farm pairings to include North Carolina pitmasters for the first time, bringing barbecue into the mix alongside raw oysters. It will be held at Raleigh Iron Works. Rawleigh Oyster Fest has sold out both of its previous events — its launch in November 2025, which sold all 550 tickets, and a spring 2026 edition that sold out in just five days. The event is organized by Eduardo Mera of Mera Brothers Oysters, Katie Dombrowski, communications administrator for the City of Raleigh, and Max Trujillo of the NC F&B Podcast. Together, the two previous events raised approximately $12,500 for the Frankie Lemmon School and Development Center and the N.C. Coastal Federation. Get tickets and all the details here.

• The Trophy Trot 5K returns for its 10th year on Thanksgiving morning (November 26) to Dorothea Dix Park, benefiting Healing Transitions, a Raleigh nonprofit that provides recovery services for people struggling with addiction. The race has grown into a beloved holiday tradition, and 2025 was its biggest year yet: nearly 3,000 runners and walkers signed up, and the race donated about $60,000 to Healing Transitions, up from $42,000 the year before. Since 2016, the annual race, hosted by nOG Run Club and Trophy Brewing Co., has raised more than $210,000 for the nonprofit. Register here.

Food Bank Corner

• Help your neighbor. Yes, your neighbor. Did you know that right now, one in seven people in central and eastern North Carolina don’t have enough to eat. That’s where the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina comes in. Your tax-deductible gift helps provide food and hope to families, children, and seniors right here in our community. Together, we can help people in our community during their greatest time of need. Give here.