Tag: out and about

Featured Restaurant News

• Not exactly a new restaurant, but Figulina’s in downtown Raleigh is definitely not resting on all the awards they have already received. They proved again this week that they are eager to stay on top of the list of hottest restaurants in the Triangle with a $20k kitchen revamp (including fryer and grill) and new artwork (great job Sam!). This is in addition to their recently added grab-and-go lunch, new Monday hours, special dinners, weekend brunch, a warm and inviting patio and their expanded provisions store. All combine into a recipe for evolving from something really, really great into something absolutely amazing! The new kitchen gives Chef David the chance to expand appetizer and entree options that he’s always wanted – like nduja Scotch egg, picanha steak, and pan-seared scallops. Check them out.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Campo Taco has officially opened on the ground floor of The Row apartment building in Rockway, next to Benchwarmer’s Bagels at 1001 S Saunders Street. This new local, family-owned spot is serving up a mix of authentic Mexican favorites — from street tacos, Arroz con Pollo, burritos and bowls, to creative house specialties. Get by today.

• And we have an official open date for the latest location of Raising Canes Chicken Fingers here in the Triangle. Directly across from the NC State campus on Hillsborough Street (2420 Hillsborough Street), they will open their doors (and expect lines down the street for weeks) on Jan. 27. Of note, the exterior preserves the historic marquee as a nod to the Varsity Theatre, which originally opened in 1941. Visit them here.

• Also in downtown Raleigh, Raleigh Magazine shared the news this week that Chipotle will open a downtown location at the southern end of Glenwood South in Bloc[83] near Vic’s Pizzeria and Dram & Draught on May 28. Visit the fast-casual Mexican spot here.

• And one final note from downtown Raleigh, reader Vanessa Guirguis notified us that Garlic Bay, a take out sandwich place, has opened in the Hone Sharpen location in the Smoky Hollow development. They are serving up sammys like an Italian with spicy capicola, a beef sandwich with London broil meat, a tuna salad wrap, and other lunch options. Get by soon.

• Tyler Glover shared with us that national chain Mission BBQ is now under construction in the Stonehenge Market Shopping Center (7400 Creedmoor Rd) in Raleigh next to Outback Steakhouse. This will be their fifth location in North Carolina, and the first in the Triangle. Start getting familiar with them here.

• RALToday reported this week that Tsaōcaa + NanXiang Express are now open on Hillsborough Street next door to Chex Grill & Wings. Expect piping hot soup dumplings and chilled bubble teas at this Asian spot. Visit them here.

• Down in Holly Springs, reader Chris Creighton shared that there is a new Shake Shack coming to Holly Springs Towne Center (244 Grand Hill Place) next to Tijuana Flats. The sign is up, but no word yet on an open date. Visit Shake Shack here.  

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• It was announced this week that Winston-Salem-based restaurant East of Texas, celebrated for its Tex-Mex house-smoked BBQ and outdoor dining experience, will open a new location at American Tobacco Campus this summer. Located in the historic Reed Building, it will feature a private event area, garage doors opening to outdoor seating near the Lucky Strike water tower, and a market with grab-and-go meals and retail offerings. Get familiar with them here. Congrats and welcome to the Triangle to founder Claire Calvin.

• The News & Observer reported this week that the owners of local Indian chain Lime & Lemon are partnering with chef Sujan Sarkar, known for the Michelin-starred Indienne in Chicago, to opena fine-dining Indian restaurant in Chapel Hill called Ayra. Expect a tasting menu, and a la carte menu, and Indian-inspired cocktails when it opens this spring in the former Elements space at 2110 Environ Way.

• In Chapel Hill’s University Place, H&H Bagels’ first North Carolina location opened yesterday on National Bagel Day. They have been a New York City institution since 1972 where their dough remains kettle-boiled in New York City water, then baked locally on-site all day, every day. You’d be wise to start getting familiar with them now.

Closings

• Mac’s Speed Shop has closed its Raleigh Five Points location after being in business a little under two years.

• Tyler Glover shared that the Smashburger in the Falls Village Shopping Center in Raleigh (Falls of the Neuse Road) has closed. They still have a location in Durham.

• Over in Cary, got word from Mike DePersia that Spirits Pub & Grub at 701 E. Chatham Street has closed.

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

• Vidrio, downtown Raleigh’s destination for Mediterranean cuisine and hospitality, is launching a new Chef’s Table Dinner Series on Jan. 28. The dinner series, which will be held every other month, will offer refined, chef-driven tasting menus exploring the cuisines of the Mediterranean region from France to Morocco. Each dinner will be rooted in executive chef Roberto Barth’s modern seasonal cooking and N.C. ingredients. Starting at 6 p.m., the Jan. 28 dinner will be a five-course tasting menu highlighting dishes from Southern France. The cost is $99 per person and includes wine pairings. See the menu and all the details here.

• Rocky Top Catering announced this week the dates for the eighth annual Cooking for the Kids, a multi-night culinary competition uniting the Triangle’s vibrant chef community in support of  an impactful local nonprofit, Overflowing Hands. Overflowing Hands is a 100% volunteer-led 501c3 organization serving the most vulnerable children in our neighborhoods, across the United States and around the world. Hosted at the elegant Millbrook Manor (located at 1705 E. Millbrook Road in Raleigh), Cooking for the Kids offers guests an immersive dining experience where philanthropy and culinary creativity take center stage. The first round is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 26 with the finale on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Get all the details, including competing chefs as well as tickets, here.

• Tickets have gone on sale for the 2026 version of the Triangle Food & Wine Experience which will take place Feb. 5-7, 2026. From its humble inception over 30 years ago, the Triangle Wine & Food Experience has grown to become one of the leading charity wine auctions in the nation with all proceeds benefiting the Frankie Lemmon School & Development Center. And let me tell you, the lineup of culinary talent (from all corners of the United States) is absolutely incredible – see the list here. If you call yourself a foodie, these are the not-to-miss events of the year. A weekend of the most incredible food and wine. Get details on the weekend of events here.

Food Bank Corner

• The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina is looking for caring friends to become Monthly Sustainers of the Food Bank to help respond to the ever-increasing demand for food assistance. When you partner with them monthly, you help ensure that healthy, nutritious food can reach people in need all year long. In fact, your monthly gift of: $25 can provide 75 meals per month; $35 can provide 105 meals per month; $50 can provide 150 meals per month; $100 can provide 300 meals per month. Plus, with your monthly commitment of $25 or more, they’ll send a special tote bag your way. And when you carry it, you are reminded of all you make possible for your neighbors through your consistent generosity! Become a Monthly Sustainer here.

Follow Sean’s updates throughout the week at Triangle Food Blog and on all social media platforms @trianglefoodguy.

Featured Restaurant News

• LRB Provisions, a takeout sandwich spot in Durham, opened this week. The restaurant is the brainchild of chef Amanda Orser, former chef de cuisine at the legendary Magnolia Grill. They opened at 2009 Guess Road, in the former location of The Dog House hot dog stand. The cozy counter-service spot will focus on takeout lunch to start, with hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Monday. Orser also had stints at Lantern with James Beard award-winning chef Andrea Reusing; Littler, the downtown Durham restaurant from Gray Brooks, owner of Pizzeria Toro; as well as a series of pop-up dinners at The Durham Filling Station and Gocciolina. Check LRB out here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Sixty Vines officially opened in Raleigh this week, introducing their wine-country approach to dining at 4000 Center at North Hills Street. The restaurant offers 60 wines on tap paired with a vineyard-inspired menu designed for sharing, along with a relaxed atmosphere built for gatherings of all kinds. They have locations in Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., with this marking the second location in North Carolina. They are open for lunch and dinner. Get familiar with them.

• The News & Observer noted this week that Tous Les Jours, a new French-Asian bakery and cafe, is now open at Seaboard Station with pastries, cakes, espresso drinks, and plenty more for your sweet tooth. They also have locations in Cary and Holly Springs, as well as one on the way in Durham. Take a look here.

• Also in downtown Raleigh, Raleigh Downtown shared the exciting news that The Merchant reopened in their new spot at 108 ½ E Hargett St (upstairs). They had their grand opening this past weekend in a swanky cool setting with a brand new and expanded cocktail menu. Visit them on Instagram here.

• The News & Observer also reported this week that Dix Park Conservancy is remodeling one of the park’s buildings to make way for a new food and beverage destination. Justin Pasfield and Jeff Clarke will operate Cottage Coffee and Park Bar in The Flowers Cottage, located at 2105 Umstead Drive on the northwest side of Dix Park. Pasfield and Clarke operate other venues in Raleigh, including Person Street Bar, Locals Seafood and Natural Science.

• We first told you about this in August, but north Raleigh is now home to the newest location of BurgerFi at 10831 Wakefield Commons, around the corner from Milton’s and Pickled Onion – Wakefield. This one comes complete with a drive-thru and an all-new breakfast menu to fuel your day. This is their fourth location in North Carolina, all right here in the Triangle. Visit them here.

• The Triangle Business Journal is reporting that fresh off their opening last week in Morrisville, Dutch Bros Coffee is quickly moving to open an additional location off New Bern Avenue in the Edgewater Commons development at 2908 Sunrise Valley Place. No open date is known at this point. Visit Dutch Bros Coffee here. The TBJ also reported that Dutch Bros is eyeing a location in Clayton.

• Speaking of Morrisville, reader Jennifer Buchholz let us know that Pokeworks in Park West Village opened on Dec. 16. They serve up fresh, sashimi-grade Ahi Tuna, hand-cut Salmon, all-natural chicken, and tofu in a poke bowl or a wrap. Visit Pokeworks here.

• Buchholz also let us know that Everbowl, an acai bowl restaurant, opened recently in Alexander Promenade off Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh. Get by and check them out.

• Down in Fuquay Varina, my friend David McCreary shared the news that Mi Cancun Mexican Restaurant has opened its latest location at 711 North Main St. in the former Abbey Road Tavern spot. Pro tip: the tableside guacamole is on point, according to McCreary. Visit them here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Out in RTP, learned from my buddy Glenn Gillen that Preeti Waas’ Cheeni RTP is in soft open mode in the Horseshoe at Hub RTP development (and right next to her RTP location of Nanny Goat). They are open from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Expect all your old favorites from Waas’ North Raleigh location like dosa waffle, rice bowls, veg puff, street style toast…the works, with more added throughout the week. Look for expanded hours in 2026. Give it a peek at their Instagram page and we sure to visit soon!

• Triangle Business Journal reported this week that a Brazilian steakhouse is eyeing The Streets at Southpoint for its Triangle debut. Dallas-based Fogo de Chão plans to open at 8030 Renaissance Parkway, in the space previously occupied by Mexican restaurant Uncle Julio’s. In true Brazilian steakhouse fashion, servers carve cuts of meat tableside for guests, while guests can also find salads, charcuterie and more at the Market Table. This will be the chain’s first North Carolina location. Get familiar with them here.

• And speaking of RTP, we learned this week from the News & Observer that the popular downtown Raleigh bar Raleigh Beer Garden has opened a new location at RDU Airport. It is the latest concept from Niall Hanley and his Hibernian Hospitality Group. This concept joins their other ones – Raleigh Beer Garden, Hopshots Mini Golf (located behind Raleigh Beer Garden), the Hibernian Pubs, and another recently opened concept, a speakeasy called The Dry Cleaners. The airport location doesn’t have the 350+ draft beers, but it does have a full bar and 20 beers on tap, along with serving “approachable pub food.”

• In Chapel Hill at University Place, we are days away from the opening of H&H Bagels’ first North Carolina location. Earlier reports suggested that opening will happen next week, but definitely by the end of 2025. The new shop will offer authentic New York-style bagels that are kettle-boiled and baked to order. You’d be wise to start getting familiar with them now.

Closings

• Reader Joe McGarry notified us that Full Moon Oyster Bar has closed in Parkwest Shopping Center in Morrisville.

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

• Looking for something fun to do on New Year’s Eve? Ring in 2026 with a memorable and delicious evening at Figulina where chef David Ellis has created a special 4-course menu showcasing seasonal and luxurious ingredients, a complimentary toast, plus some other surprises – while their wine director, Jeff Bramwell, has curated optional luxe wine pairings to complement each dish! $145 per person (pre tax and service fee). Reserve your spot now.

• Tickets have gone on sale for the 2026 version of the Triangle Food & Wine Experience which will take place Feb. 5-7, 2026. From its humble inception over 30 years ago, the Triangle Wine & Food Experience has grown to become one of the leading charity wine auctions in the nation with all proceeds benefiting the Frankie Lemmon School & Development Center. And let me tell you, the lineup of culinary talent (from all corners of the United States) is absolutely incredible – see the list here. If you call yourself a foodie, these are the not-to-miss events of the year. A weekend of the most incredible food and wine. Get details on the weekend of events here.

Food Bank Corner

• The high cost of healthy foods is putting a huge strain on families in central and eastern North Carolina this holiday season. As colder weather sets in, heating bills start to compete with the grocery budget, leaving many people at risk of an empty holiday table. Let’s lift that burden of worry for families, seniors, and veterans in our community. At more than 700 local food assistance sites supported by the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, every meal you help provide will be delivered with kindness, often alongside other critical services that address the root causes of hunger. Thanks to a match from some generous friends, your gift today can DOUBLE — but only until December 31.