TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

Featured Restaurant News

• Big news out of Pittsboro this week. The family-owned concept La Cucina della Nonna will take over the former Havoc space in the SoCo district – the restaurant and entertainment district just off the courthouse circle spearheaded by Greg and Paula Brown Stafford which has truly transformed the circle in downtown Pittsboro. The space will initially house Nonna’s Cafe, a coffee shop and wine bar, which will open soon – before the end of September. As they work to complete the kitchen build-out, they hope to open their authentic Italian restaurant in early 2027. They also plan to incorporate the large outdoor space for community events and gatherings. A huge congratulations to Dana and Jim Rumbold. Best to follow along on Instagram here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Brian Wojick will soon open Pizzeria di Territorio and the connected speakeasy Stoccaggio at 301 W. Cabarrus St. across from Red Hat Amphitheater. No word on an exact opening date. Look for them to serve up Neapolitan-style pizza baked inside a 900-degree brick oven imported from Italy, in addition to pasta and other Italian dishes. Guests can find the entrance to Stoccaggio (the Italian word for storage), down the restaurant’s hallway and through the storage closet. There will also be a door from the outside. The speakeasy will serve cocktails, wine and small plates. 

• Reader Christina Coffey alerted us to the fact that La Sultana Kitchen has opened beside the new Nash & Smashed at Shoppes at Poyner Place (5821 Poyner Village Parkway) in Raleigh. The authentic Venezuelan restaurant also offers Arabian, Mediterranean, and Mexican dishes as well halal food. Check them out on Instagram here.

• In Apex, the News & Observer reported that father-son duo, Jerry and Justin Canada are expanding their Spring Lake-based fast-casual restaurant Legacy Rolls to Apex. It will be located at 700 East Williams St., off of N.C. 55. The Triangle location is still under construction, but the business plans to host a soft opening by the end of October. Like the original location, the new spot will feature the restaurant’s signature cinnamon rolls with blueberry, cookies ‘n cream and caramel apple flavors. Follow their progress on Instagram here.

• Over in Cary, we first told you about this back in June, but we learned this week that Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café, which has locations across Texas, Florida, Minnesota and Arizona, has opened in Fenton. This is their first North Carolina location. They specialize in handcrafted crêpes, specialty coffee, matcha lattes, and a Parisian dining experience — open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Get familiar with them here.

• Also in Cary, the Triangle Business Journal reported this week that after making its debut in Chapel Hill, H&H Bagels plans to open soon at Cary’s Waverly Place shopping center at 316 Colonades Way. No open date has been announced yet, but their website lists Cary as “coming soon.” Visit H&H here.

• Jacob Wunsch of Today in the Quay shared on Facebook that Fuquay-Varina will soon be the newest location of Guthrie’s when it opens at 1960 Cinema Drive. They tout themselves as the pioneers of the chicken finger only restaurant..who knew? No word on an open date, but get familiar with them here.

• Over in Wake Forest, we saw that Shine & Dine Cafe officially held its grand opening on August 25th at 1318 S Main Street. They serve classic breakfast dishes, breakfast bowls, and traditional plates. Popular items include the “Rise and Shine” vegan burrito and fresh coffee. They also offer lunch options alongside morning breakfast and brunch favorites. Visit them on Instagram.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• We first told you about this back in August, but it is now confirmed that chef Alex Catotti is coming home. After building a career in some of the country’s most celebrated kitchens, the Durham native will return to his hometown with his wife and business partner pastry chef Erin Kobler to open Restaurant Cornelia, the fine dining destination he has dreamed of for years. The pair will also open a sister concept, The Vintner and The Baker, to serve as the backbone of the chefs’ sustainable mission. Together, Restaurant Cornelia and The Vintner and The Baker will place Durham at the forefront of the culinary scene in the American South. The restaurants will share the same downtown Durham address at 949 Washington Street and are slated to open in the spring of 2027. Follow along on Instagram here and here. You can visit their website here.

• The move is on. After 30 years, Carrburritos is saying goodbye to their original location at 711 W. Rosemary Street as they move just down the street to the former Grata Diner / Elmo’s Diner spot in Carr Mill Mall. The move gives them an expanded space, a much larger kitchen (i.e. think catering!), easier parking, and a full bar. Their last day in the original location is this Saturday, September 5th and expect the transition to take about 2 weeks before they open in the new spot. Keep up with their progress on Instagram here.

• According to the News & Observer, over in Chapel Hill local restauranteur Baljeet Singh is teaming up with acclaimed chef Roberto Mendoza to bring us Tikka Tequila which will open soon in the former Latin Effect spot at 504 W. Franklin Street. The concept will fuse Mexican and Indian flavors, with a Salvadoran twist – possibly the first of its kind in North Carolina, but part of a growing trend across the country. Look for them to open later this month.

Closings

• Café Root Cellar in Pittsboro will close on September 19th. Until then, they are serving dinner Thursday-Saturday (5-9 p.m.) and for brunch on Sunday (9 a.m. – 2 p.m.). That’s the bad news. The good/great news is the Chapel Hill location remains open. Visit them here. Additionally, the closure allows chef Sera and Susan to begin a new chapter focused on their nonprofit Feed-Well Fridges. Read about the non-profit’s efforts to address food insecurity and commercial food waste with the dual goal of improving community health and environmental sustainability. Feed-Well fridges.

• Cali Burger, which opened in 2024 in the former Arby’s location at 3415 Hillsborough Street, announced it would close at the end of month. They are working on securing a new location.

• Over in Raleigh’s North Hills, Foxcroft Food & Wine Raleigh announced their closure. Through tomorrow (September 5) they will offer 50% off their wines. After September 5, any outstanding gift cards can be redeemed at any other Foxcroft location.

• Over in Durham, the News & Observer shared the news that Nzinga’s Kitchen at 826 Fayetteville St. has closed its doors after 12 years of operation.

Food Trucks

• The final Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on September 27. You’ll find food and drink at over 30 food trucks as well as inflatables and family fun for all ages. It will be hosted at Durham Central Park (500 Foster Street, Durham). Go ahead and mark your calendar. 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

• The 17th Annual African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh & Wake County is this Labor Day Weekend, September 5th – September 6th, in the heart of downtown Raleigh. The festival is not just an event, it’s an experience! This family friendly, interactive event is free and accessible to all and has become a destination event for visitors from all over the country. The festival features local and national talent in visual arts, music, theatre and dance, and showcases a host of art, merchant, and food vendors. Get all of the details here.

• The Sola Hot Mini 5K will be held on Saturday, September 12th. Join the community and Sola’s fight to find a cure to end ALS. Any and everyone is encouraged to come out – runners, walkers, volunteers, donors, cheerleaders, kids, strollers, moms, dads, friends, family…just be there. Get all the details here. 

• Chef Sera Cuni and her team over at The Root Cellar in Chapel Hill and Pittsboro are taking part in three dinners coming up that you are going to want to check out. First up is a Fish Pickin’ on September 20th where she is teaming up with chef Bill Hartley at Chatham Oaks Farm in Pittsboro. Next up is the Annual Pay-What-You-Can Community Feast benefitting chef Sera’s nonprofit Feed-Well Fridges to build Feed-Well’s first permanent home and commissary kitchen. This event takes place on September 27th also at Chatham Oaks Farm. And finally, 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 on sale now for the 2026 Dinner in the Meadow event on September 13th for a fundraiser that supports the Leonard-Mobley Small Farm Fund, a non-profit organization that helps small farms in North Carolina. Get tickets and all the details here.

• On Sunday, September 27, from 12 to 6 p.m., the inaugural Carolina Culture Food Fest will transform Moore Square into an exciting celebration of food, culture, and community. With the tagline “Where Food, Family & Fun Come Together,” the free, family-friendly festival will bring together food trucks, chefs, dessert vendors, local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders from across North and South Carolina. One of the festival’s most anticipated attractions will be a live food competition, where participating chefs and food vendors will put their signature dishes, creativity, and culinary skills to the test. Get all the details here.

Food Bank Corner

• The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina is launching the Plate It Forward campaign to address the rising hunger crisis in the region. During Hunger Action Month this September, Food Bank supporters can dine out at partnering restaurants to purchase #PlateItForward dishes. A portion of the proceeds from each order directly benefits the Food Bank and our network of over 700 partner agencies and meal sites. At a time when more than 1 in 7 of our neighbors don’t know where their next meal might come from, it’s never been more important to #PlateItForward. Our community can get involved by visiting them here to find a roster of participating restaurants and their #PlateItForward dishes. Diners are encouraged to share their #PlateItForward meal on social media to invite others to get involved.

Featured Restaurant News

• Lloyd’s Full Service is finally here! After a test run during Lazy Daze and months of anticipation, their doors are open. If you haven’t driven by in the last few months, Lloyd’s is in a restored 1950s service station at the corner of Chatham and Academy in the absolute heart of downtown Cary. It features a great atmosphere (including an expansive patio), great food, and a tasteful homage that breathes in new life to this historical corner of Downtown Cary. Run by the group behind The Durham, The Mayton and the soon to open The Gables hotels, Lloyd’s adds a new option to the growing culinary scene in downtown Cary. The menu features linguine and clams, a signature cheeseburger, garlic lemon roasted chicken thighs, a grilled sirloin with chimichurri sauce and a rotating cast of seasonal dishes. Open for dinner Wednesday through Friday, and lunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday. There are plans to expand dinner service, add weekday lunch and add a weekend brunch menu.  Check out the cheerful looking place on the corner!

Wake County Restaurant News

• Over at Crabtree Valley Mall, Torii Noodle Bar by Kanki is preparing for an exciting new chapter opening September 1st. The beloved concept reopens with a refreshed brand identity, updated interior feel and an elevated culinary experience centered around bold noodle dishes, comforting ramen and premium Japanese beverages. Follow along on Instagram here.

• In downtown Raleigh, Raleigh Magazine reported that fast-casual Asian restaurant Hibachi 88 is finishing up the take over the former Clyde Cooper’s Barbecue space on Wilmington Street. The transition included an interior renovation and updated equipment and finishes. Look for them to open as soon as September 1. And don’t forget, they have seven other locations in Raleigh, Cary and Durham – with a menu featuring hibachi entrees as well as fried rice/noodle dishes, wings, gyoza and more. Get to know them here.

• Cora Kitchen + Bar, a new Spanish and Latin tapas spot, is officially open in the former Station space on Person Street. This all-day eatery is led by Chef Sarah Frey of the popular breakfast and coffee truck Mr.Burro — so yes, amazing breakfast burritos are on the menu! Cora will serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks, with a newly renovated, cozy outdoor patio. Cora is part of the team behind downtown favorites including Hibernian Pub, Watts & Ward, Raleigh Beer Garden, and Morgan Street Food Hall. Thanks to Raleigh Downtown for sharing additional details. Get your mouth watering here.

• Raleigh Magazine reported that Turning Stone Bar & Pizzeria will be opening soon in the former TheMixx space in Duraleigh Corners shopping center. The concept will feature Neapolitan-style pizza, craft cocktails and cold beer, music, and good vibes. Follow along on Instagram for the pending opening announcement.

• K38 has opened their second Triangle-area location – this one in downtown Cary at 147 E. Chatham Street. This is their seventh location and follows the most recent opening in downtown Raleigh’s Seaboard Station. What does the K38 represent? The “K” stands for kilometer, denoting the 38th-kilometer mark on the coastal highway in Baja. Founder Josh Vach was inspired by surf trips down the Baja Peninsula, roadside taco shacks, and the specific surf break at that location when opening the original restaurant in 1993. Now you know. Pay them a visit.

• Also in Cary, The Cary Report shared this week that Doherty’s Irish Pub & Restaurant has officially leased the former Spirits Pub & Grub location at 701 E. Chatham Street, just outside downtown Cary. The space, which features a 100+ seat patio, will be Doherty’s fifth location, with other locations in Cary, Apex, Holly Springs and Pittsboro. No opening date has been announced yet. Thanks to The Cary Report for breaking this news. Visit Doherty’s here.

• The Cary Report also informed us that Insomnia Cookies is holding its grand opening this Saturday, August 29th, at MacGregor Village (107 Edinburgh South Dr, Suite 141). The late-night cookie shop is open until 1 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. This looks to be their sixth location in the Triangle. Visit them here.

• Pineapple Sol, the family-owned halal café at Waverly Place in Cary, is opening a second location in Rolesville. They signed a 10-year lease at Wallbrook, a Publix-anchored development at the corner of South Main Street and Jonesville Road. Open for breakfast, brunch, and lunch, Pineapple Sol serves halal breakfast bowls, wraps, sandwiches, and salads alongside smoothies and specialty coffee. No word yet on an open date. In the meantime, you can visit the one in Cary here.

• Staying in Rolesville, The Pub Hub is in soft-open mode featuring a rotating showcase of North Carolina’s finest craft beer – with the tag line of, “We don’t brew…we celebrate the ones that do!” They are located at 811 S. Main Street. While they don’t serve food, you are welcome to visit any of their many food-related neighbors. They will stay in soft-open mode heading into their grand opening Labor Day weekend. Visit them here and check out their Facebook page here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• East of Texas Durham has officially opened its doors at American Tobacco Campus, bringing its signature combination of Texas-style BBQ and Tex-Mex to Durham. The new location marks the brand’s second North Carolina location following its debut in Winston-Salem and introduces North Carolina’s first Tex-Mex BBQ concept to the Bull City. Located at 318 Blackwell St., Suite 100, East of Texas brings together two beloved food traditions deeply rooted in Texas culture: Central Texas-style smoked meats and the bold, fresh flavors of Tex-Mex. The menu blends slow-smoked barbecue with scratch-made Tex-Mex favorites, from chicken enchiladas and fresh tortillas to salsa, guacamole and queso, creating a dining experience that celebrates the best of both traditions. East of Texas will celebrate its Durham opening with a four-day Grand Opening Labor Day Weekend, featuring food and drink specials, live music, family-friendly activities and events from Thursday, September 3rd, through Sunday, September 6th. Check them out here and get all their Grand Opening details.

• Out in RTP, KatSushi, the latest concept from restaurateur Anthony Rapillo and Katsuji Tanabe, opened this week at Boxyard RTP. KatSushi centers on a traditional hand roll — or temaki in Japanese — a type of sushi that wraps the ingredients in nori (crispy seaweed). Visit them here.

• Just over the county line from Chapel Hill in Chatham County, learned this week that MunchiLove at Governor’s Village has closed as they begin their transformation into Eluent Coffee. Same owner. Same team. They also shared that MunchiLove isn’t going anywhere as you’ll still be able to find them popping up around the Triangle. Look for Eluent to open in early September. Follow along on Instagram here.

, Closings

• Glenn Gillen shared the news that Nzinga’s Kitchen is closing in Durham after 12 years. I wasn’t able to confirm their actual last day.

Food Trucks

• The final Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on September 27. You’ll find food and drink at over 30 food trucks as well as inflatables and family fun for all ages. It will be hosted at Durham Central Park (500 Foster Street, Durham). Go ahead and mark your calendar. 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

• The Sola Hot Mini 5K will be held on Saturday, September 12th. Join the community and Sola’s fight to find a cure to end ALS. Any and everyone is encouraged to come out – runners, walkers, volunteers, donors, cheerleaders, kids, strollers, moms, dads, friends, family…just be there. And don’t forget, if you register before August 30th (that is in TWO days!) you get a race shirt included with registration. Get all the details here. 

• Chef Sera Cuni and her team over at The Root Cellar in Chapel Hill and Pittsboro are taking part in three dinners coming up that you are going to want to check out. First up is a Fish Pickin’ on September 20th where she is teaming up with chef Bill Hartley at Chatham Oaks Farm in Pittsboro. Next up is the Annual Pay-What-You-Can Community Feast benefitting chef Sera’s nonprofit Feed-Well Fridges to build Feed-Well’s first permanent home and commissary kitchen. This event takes place on September 27th also at Chatham Oaks Farm. And finally, 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 on sale now for the 2026 Dinner in the Meadow event on September 13th for a fundraiser that supports the Leonard-Mobley Small Farm Fund, a non-profit organization that helps small farms in North Carolina. Get tickets and all the details here.

• On Sunday, September 27, from 12 to 6 p.m., the inaugural Carolina Culture Food Fest will transform Moore Square into an exciting celebration of food, culture, and community. With the tagline “Where Food, Family & Fun Come Together,” the free, family-friendly festival will bring together food trucks, chefs, dessert vendors, local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders from across North and South Carolina. One of the festival’s most anticipated attractions will be a live food competition, where participating chefs and food vendors will put their signature dishes, creativity, and culinary skills to the test. Get all the details here.

Food Bank Corner

• As we move into Hunger Action Month, we want to celebrate the way our community is coming together at a time when there’s so much uncertainty surrounding government assistance programs. Your generosity enables the Food Bank to be a stabilizing influence for our neighbors. Community support matters more than ever right now. Your generous gift in honor of Hunger Action Month will help the Food Bank and our 700+ partner agencies respond to the growing need in our community. You’ll stock pantry shelves and provide healthy produce, dairy, and meat to neighbors whose income isn’t keeping pace with the increasing cost of living. Thank you for taking action! Thank you for your caring partnership, and if you can, please make a gift today to help the Food Bank continue to provide the good food our neighbors need. Give today if you can!