Featured Restaurant News
- Raleigh Magazine shared the news this week that following the March closure of The Station at Person Street, Cora (meaning “heart” in Spanish) will open soon and is being brought to us by Sarah Frey—the brains behind local breakfast and coffee truck Mr. Burro. Look for the new breakfast-to-dinner concept to open in May. The magazine noted that Cora will pay homage to Frey’s Honduran and Thai roots through heavily influenced breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner selects, layered with global influences from her travels—especially Spain. Think chilaquiles, chicken tortilla soup, sandwiches, croquetas, ceviche, mussels, tostadas and other tapas-style small plates. Until then, follow Mr. Burro here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- This is exciting. Michael Longo of Vic’s fame announced on Facebook this week that he has signed a lease for a new concept he will open in the former Pizza & Pints spot next to Chido Taco and near Mami Nora’s at 2320 Bale Street at the intersection with Wake Forest Road. In a surprising twist, it will not be a Vic’s, but rather Mikey’s Pizzeria, the first one (hopefully of many). The focus will be very kid friendly where kids (and adults too) can make their own pizza and eat it right there! No word on an open date, but it shouldn’t be too long.
- Raleigh Magazine also shared the news that the newest edition of Drift Coffee Shop + Kitchen is coming to Raleigh near Dix Park as they have been announced as the first retail tenant at Ray at The Weld (1001 Hammell Drive). This is their second Raleigh location. Stay tuned for an opening date. Visit Drift here.
- Down in Clayton, got word that Home Frite, the Brooklyn-born fast-casual concept known for their thick-cut fries and gourmet comfort food, announced the grand opening of their sixth location at 126 Pritchard Road. The official grand opening celebration will take place on Sunday, May 10th, at 11 a.m. where the first 50 customers in line will receive free fries for an entire year. This is their first North Carolina location. Get familiar with them here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- Over in Saxapahaw (technically Alamance County I know), tomorrow (May 2) is the grand opening of 1928 Mill House Coffee inside Grit & Grace Collective right along the Haw River (100 Cone Drive, Haw River). Things kick-off at 8 a.m. at The Mill District where swag bags will be handed out to the first 20 people through the door and two people will win FREE coffee for a year. Follow along on Instagram here.
- And a quick note from my buddy Alex Brandwein of Brandwein’s Bagels in Chapel Hill. There is a lot of street construction going on in front of their store, but they wanted to let you know their parking lot is still open, there is plenty of parking along Graham Street and they are offering FREE Lemonade with every purchase starting today! So get by and show them a little love during this stretch of “street improvement.” Check them out on Facebook here.
, Closings
- None to report. Keep eating local, folks!
Food Trucks
- The Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo continues in 2026 on these remaining dates from noon to 4 p.m. – May 31 and September 27. At each event, you’ll find food and drink at over 30 food trucks as well as inflatables and family fun for all ages. The rodeos are hosted at Durham Central Park (500 Foster Street, Durham). Go ahead and mark your calendar for them. 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
- A bunch of really fun family events this Saturday, May 2 here in the Triangle. First up is the 45th Annual Apex PeakFest at the Apex Town Hall Campus from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Get details here. And the 40th Annual Ham & Yam Festival on Front Street in downtown Smithfield. The fun starts at 8 a.m. Get all the details here. And Meet in the Street up in Wake Forest from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. in downtown Wake Forest. Details here.
- Christopher Prieto, founder and pitmaster of Prime Barbecue, in partnership with the Town of Knightdale, announced the inaugural Pickin’ in the Park on Saturday, May 16, from 4 pm-7 pm at Knightdale Station Park. The event is a new annual BBQ festival celebrating the rich traditions of North Carolina barbecue and live music, all while giving back to the community. Expect good eats from Prime Barbecue, Sam Jones BBQ, Old Colony Smokehouse and Dampf Good BBQ. Proceeds will benefit the Raleigh Rescue Mission’s “The Garden,” which offers an immersive, holistic residential community for mothers, their children, and single women focusing on personal growth and job training to achieve self-sufficient, independent living. Get all the details here.
- The fourth annual Gettin’ Piggy With It returns to downtown Raleigh on May 17, bringing award-winning chefs and pitmasters from across the country together for a day of barbecue, community and philanthropy benefiting the Frankie Lemmon School. Tickets go on sale at noon Friday, March 20. The family-friendly event will take place from noon to 5 p.m. at Maywood Hall and Gardens (622 Maywood Ave., Raleigh) and will feature barbecue and other chef-driven bites, along with local beer and spirits, live music, games and more. The event is hosted by the Frankie Lemmon Foundation in partnership with Jake Wood of Lawrence Barbecue and Chris Powers of Trophy Brewing Co. VIP tickets are $200 per adult and includes early entry at noon. General admission tickets are $150 per adult with entry beginning at 1 p.m. Children ages 11 and under are admitted for free. Proceeds benefit Raleigh’s Frankie Lemmon School and Developmental Center, which provides accessible education and therapies to children with and without disabilities, often at little to no cost to families. Get tickets and all the details here.
- The third annual A Taste of Chatham will be held May 17th at 3 p.m. at the Historic Chatham Mills in Forest Hall. This event will offer tastes from numerous local restaurants and beverage vendors, music, and activities. This is a fundraiser to support the county Welcome Center, located across from the courthouse in downtown Pittsboro. It’s an event like no other, and you’ll want to be there! Get all the details (including tickets) on their event Facebook page here.
- Tickets are on sale now for the 2026 Dinner in the Meadow event on September 13th in Louisburg. The biennial event will be held at the beautiful and bucolic Meadow Lane Farm and is 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.
Food Bank Corner
- Did you know that in North Carolina, 1 in 4 households led by single women live below the poverty line? That’s nearly twice as many as the households led by single men with children. Hunger hits different for women. Economic challenges — from pay disparity to the rising cost of childcare — make it harder to keep growing kids fed. Our heart goes out to the moms of North Carolina who are wondering what to do as SNAP cuts loom. It’s a terrific chance to stretch every dollar of your support while helping parents, seniors, and veterans stretch their budgets. In fact, if you’re able, this is a good time to make an especially generous gift, perhaps to honor a mom, grandma, auntie, or another woman who’s stood in a mother’s place in your life. It’s simple to do when you donate.
