Featured Restaurant News
- The news broke this week that The Common Market will open its second Triangle location at Seaboard Station in early 2026. Located at 807 Halifax Street in Raleigh, this expansion marks the first Raleigh outpost for the Charlotte-born concept known for its eclectic vibe, inclusive atmosphere, and commitment to local flavor. They will offer all the staples that have made The Common Market a neighborhood favorite, including a full-service bar, made-to-order sandwiches, coffee, grab-and-go meals, craft beers, wine, and a curated selection of grocery items and local goods. Their first Triangle-area location is in Durham. Follow along on Instagram here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- Joe drinkers rejoice! Thanks to his regular visits to Cup A Joe on Hillsborough Street, my boy Marshall Lennard shared with his old man that Cup A Joe will soon re-open their second location in Mission Valley shopping center. They will begin with tentative pop-up hours from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. beginning on June 23rd and continuing for the next several weeks as they get their “sea legs” under them in the former space. Expect them to open full-time there again shortly after this pop-up period. Of course, the Hillsborough Street location remains open. Visit Cup A Joe here.
- Raleigh Magazine gave us the scoop that Wake Forest’s favorite bagel shop, Jeff’s Bagel Run, is coming to Raleigh. They will be located just up the hill from Crabtree Valley Mall at 4251 Parklake Avenue. While the lease has been signed, an opening date has not been set. Stay tuned and keep up with their progress on Instagram here.
- Timed perfectly with the beginning of summer, Peregrine owners Patrick Shanahan and chef Saif Rahman have opened their outdoor covered patio (seats 24). Only open since April at The Exchange in Raleigh’s Midtown, they have already been named one of Infatuation’s “Best Restaurants in Raleigh.” Peregrine boasts dramatic floor-to-ceiling glass walls and a sweeping front patio, seamlessly connecting the dining areas and emphasizing the restaurant’s signature indoor-outdoor dining setting. Visit them here.
- Triangle Business Journal shared the news that Northeast Raleigh could soon be getting a taste of a Charlotte-based Latin American restaurant. According to TBJ, plans filed with the City of Raleigh indicate that Lempira Restaurant, a Latin American eatery with three locations in Charlotte, is looking to convert a former SunTrust Bank branch at 5135 N. New Hope Road into a restaurant. Start getting familiar with them here.
- RALtoday reported this week that Village Juice & Kitchen will open its first Raleigh location TODAY Friday, June 20 at Glenwood Place (3701 Exchange Glenwood Place). Known for plant-based meals and juices, the menu includes salads, bowls, wraps, and smoothies. This will be the 7th location for the North Carolina chain, and the first in the Triangle-area. Visit them here.
- In Olde Raleigh, specifically Olde Raleigh Village, Triangle Business Journal noted that Chipotle Mexican Grill is replacing Qdoba Mexican Eats, which closed that location recently. It will be located at the corner of Duraleigh and Edwards Mill roads next to sports bar Rudino’s. Visit Chipotle here.
- Over in Cary’s Fenton development, chef Michael Lee’s M Test Kitchen has completed their transition into M Izakaya. This newest concept in the M Restaurant Group blends timeless flavors with contemporary flair, creating a dining experience that’s both refined and approachable. It is their take on Japanese tapas style cuisine in an upscale environment. And if you get by soon, they are celebrating their opening with 1/2 off beers, wines (by the glass) and sake ALL week as part of grand opening celebration! Follow them on Instagram here.
- Also in Cary, reader Larry Rosen shared the news that Meche Cocina Mexicana has opened in Millpond Village where Frida’s Patio used to be (3470 Kildaire Farm Road). Get familiar with Meche here.
- Holly Springs has landed the 5th location of Diced – a locally-owned, woman-owned restaurant specializing in made-to-order salads, wraps and grain bowls. The new location is at 321 N. Main St., Holly Springs, between downtown and Ting Park. This is their first standalone location with more than 30 seats inside. An outdoor patio is coming soon. This location also will be home to the chain’s prep kitchen. Visit Diced here.
- Up in Rolesville, saw on the Rolesville NC Real Community Facebook page that they will soon be home to a Five Guys. It is under construction now in Wallbrook Place and is expected to open in August. It looks like this will be their 48th location in North Carolina. Check out Five Guys here.
- And down in Garner, saw on the Garner, NC: A Great Place to Be! Facebook page that it looks like White Oak Crossing will soon be home to a Qdoba (according to newly released site plans). No word yet on a timeline of when they expect to open. In the meantime, visit Qdoba here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- On a recent stroll down Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, I saw that a spot called White Sauce Grill & Bar has opened at 104 W Franklin Street in the former home of Trolly Stop Hot Dogs. Their Instagram boasts that they are serving chicken, gyro and falafel over rice, pita or fries with array of housemade sauces! It’s Halal. Pay them a visit on Instagram.
- As a follow-up to a recent closure announcement (Neo-China in Durham), the News & Observer reported that third-generation owner Jordan Wang will remain in the space, partnering with Raleigh’s Asia Pot for a new hot pot restaurant in Durham. Look for them to open this fall after renovations. Get to know Asia Pot here.
- The News & Observer also reported this week that Ashleigh Bakes Daily will open in downtown Durham at 307 W. Main Street. This popular sweets shop and bakery will hold a grand opening today, June 20th from 6 to 9 p.m. Visit her on Instagram here.
- My Durham guru, Glenn Gillen, shared with me that one of his favorite coffee shops in Durham, Everlou, is being sold to an employee and will be closed next week for renovation. After that it will re-open as Vessel Coffee House and Art Cafe. He noted that they are having a grand opening the evening of June 29. Follow their progress and announcements on their Instagram.
Closings
- Chapel Hill is taking two big blows this week with the closing of both Elements in East 54 (their last day of service is Saturday, June 21) and Market & Moss in Southern Village (their last day of service is today, June 20). The good news is that Elements still has their sister restaurant, MC, in downtown Cary (324 S. Academy Street). Visit them here. Thanks to Chapelboro for the tip about Market & Moss.
- And Chris Creighton sent along a note that the Chili’s in Apex is closing on June 25.
Food Trucks
- Great news as the Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo returns to downtown Raleigh on Saturday, June 28th from noon until 6 p.m. along Fayetteville Street. From savory flavors to sweet treats, there’s something to satisfy every craving and cuisine curiosity. Whether you’re a fan of gourmet burgers, delicious tacos, or decadent desserts, our food truck rodeo promises to have something for everyone! Visit their Facebook event page here.
- The final Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo of 2025 will be on Sunday, November 2. It will run from 12 noon until 4 p.m. featuring over 50+ food trucks with cuisine from all over the world making it the ultimate Sunday Funday in Durham Central Park (501 Foster Street)! 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
- Starting June 1st, and running the entire month of June, Little Rey’s charity guest chef series features a creation by Cheetie Kumar of Ajja. Her taco creation, a Honey Harissa Fried Chicken Taco with sumac onion, lime crema, her just launched Spicewalla rose harissa, pomegranate molasses, radish and cilantro, hits Little Rey’s menu this past weekend and will be available throughout the month of June. All proceeds benefit Southern Smoke Foundation. Visit Little Rey’s on Instagram here. And visit Southern Smoke here.
- And thanks to a note from my buddy Kitty Kinnin, she reminded me of the upcoming Angus Barn 65th Anniversary Celebration out at the Pavilion at the Angus Barn – it’s going to be huge! Join them Friday, June 27th as The Angus Barn celebrates 65 incredible years of unforgettable meals, memories, and milestones. Enjoy fabulous food stations featuring AB classics—past and present—plus live entertainment featuring music over the decades from “Mid-Life Crisis” and DJ Joe Bunn. The event runs from 6 to 10 p.m and is $175. It’s a night you won’t want to miss! Get all the details and tickets here.
- Left Hook Coffee, which operates a little coffee shop out of the front of Gussie’s at 927 W Morgan Street, is working towards making their East Raleigh roasting space into a new shop, and they need your help. To that end, they will host a fundraising party on June 28 at Wolfe & Porter. You can attend that or donate directly to their Kickstarter campaign here.
- The inaugural Salt & Smoke & Sound Festival will be held Saturday, October 18th at Blackwood Farm Park between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. The exciting new community event merges together two beloved festivals–Acme’s Salt & Smoke and Sonark Media’s Harvest Festival–into a celebration of food, culture, and music in a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere. Food will be provided by Acme’s Kevin Callaghan and a team of local chefs and food trucks offering a wide variety of dishes and dining options. The festival will feature craft beers, curated beverages, and other interesting spirit-free options. All food and drink will be available for purchase and is not included in the price of festival entry. Tickets are on sale now.
- Lakeside Kitchen, located on NCSU’s Centennial Campus has added Whiskey Flights to their lineup of some 70 whiskey offerings. Every Whiskey Wednesday, a featured whiskey is offered at a reduced price for your enjoyment. And now they have added 6 Flights with different themes of a pairing of 4 whiskeys such as “Around the World”, “West of the Mississippi”, “A Mixed Bag” and more as well as a Build Your Own” Flight. Check out the entire list on their website. And as a reminder, their next First Sunday Brunch will be July 6th.
Food Bank Corner
- Let kids be kids this summer. The carefree days of summer should be filled with play and growth, not hunger. Yet, for vulnerable children across central and eastern North Carolina, the end of the school year triggers a stark reality: the loss of consistent, reliable meals. Consider this: 173,710 children in our region are currently facing food insecurity. Parents must come up with at least 10 additional meals per child for every week that school is out. Without immediate intervention, their well-being and development are at serious risk. We cannot allow these young lives to be defined by hunger! Until July 31, generous corporate and individual donors are matching every gift made to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina up to $100,000. Every $1 you donate provides 10 meals – nourishing one child for a full week.
