Foodie News: 15+ bars and restaurants opening across the Triangle

RALEIGH, N.C. — Durham Downtown shared on a Facebook post that Fonda Lupita has opened in downtown Durham’s Brightleaf Square at 905 W Main St. As you will recall, Fonda Lupita (original location in Sanford) was named one of Eater’s best new restaurants in the United States. Expect the exact same quality from the new location featuring homemade stews, gorditas, tacos, quesadillas, tortas, burritos and more alongside unique Mexican hot and cold beverages. Get familiar with them and order online here.

So today is the day. Raleigh Magazine shared that the much-anticipated Tamasha – Modern Indian Kitchen will officially open in North Hills today, Friday, Feb. 9. This highly-anticipated upscale progressive and modern Indian concept is the brainchild of restaurateurs Mike Kathrani and Tina Vora and executed by renowned executive chef Bhavin Chhatwani, boasting Michelin Star experience. Learn more about them and get your reservations in here.

The Triangle Business Journal shared the news this week that a Charlotte restaurant group (Conway Restaurant Group) is bringing its latest concept to Raleigh. Napa at Glenwood will be an upscale wine bar and restaurant in Glenwood Place, located just inside the Beltline off Glenwood Avenue. They will join Sushi Mon, The Iron Oaks and Ladyfingers Market and Eatery and Quarter Note Coffee as Glenwood Place’s food and beverage tenants. Expect them to open in late 2024 with a Napa Valley-inspired food menu and a California-focused wine list according to TBJ. Start getting familiar with them here.

Up in north Raleigh, reader Tyler Glover shared that he saw a “coming soon” sign for Epic Wings at Brennan Station. The actual address is 8107 Creedmoor Road, Suite 105 (beside Five Guys). It looks to be their first Triangle-area location, and the first in North Carolina. Epic Wings started in Southern California in 1982 and currently has 26 locations throughout Southern California and Arizona. Get to know them here.

Also in north Raleigh, saw on the Triangle Foodies Facebook page that Mon Macaron has opened their third Triangle-area location at 5249 Capital Blvd. with naturally gluten-free macarons made fresh every day, delicious espresso drinks and more. They also have locations in downtown Raleigh’s Seaboard Station and in Cary. Visit them here.

Further up in north Raleigh, got word this week that Zaxby’s opened a new restaurant off Louisburg Road (at 7400 Louisburg Road) a mile or so up from Interstate 540 (just across from the Wendy’s). And to celebrate their opening, they are offering a special “Buy One, Get One Free” offer on 10 Boneless Wings tossed in one of Zaxby’s eight signature sauces. It’s the chain’s fourth location in Raleigh. Visit Zaxby’s here.

Back in downtown Raleigh, RALtoday shared that downtown bar Kings, owned by Cheetie Kumar and Paul Siler, will be open every night of the week (starting Feb.26), even when there are no shows. They’ll have a packed calendar of events (movie nights, game nights, open mics, community talks, markets, team-ups with local pals like Nice Price Books and much more. Keep up on Instagram here.

Out on New Bern Avenue, Triangle Business Journal shared that one of the last Ruby Tuesday locations (there is still on in Garner) has been demolished and will be replaced by the Triangle’s 40th location of Chick-fil-A. If you are not familiar with Chick-fil-A….just kidding. No word on a timeline.

Over in Apex, reader Gary Brown shared via Twitter (or X) that Fratelli’s Delicatessen is coming to Apex’s Sweetwater Town Center (about 1 mile west of Interstate 540 off Hwy. 64) in May 2024. Get to know them and view their menu here. Follow along on Instagram here.

And in Fuquay-Varina, the folks over at Today in the Quay (a great way to keep up with everything going on in Fuquay-Varina) shared that a steak house called The Library will be opening in the old (you guessed it) library at 133 South Fuquay Ave. No word on a timeline. Keep up with them here.

Durham Downtown also broke the news this week that newest Thai restaurant, Thaiangle, opened this week in the former Dos Perros spot at 200 N Mangum St. They noted on their Facebook post that Jack U, chef and owner, followed his mother’s craft of cooking from a young age. From his homeland of Thailand, to Los Angeles, to Billings, Montana, and most recently Carrboro. Jack and his family are thrilled to settle in the heart of Durham. Get familiar with them here.

Szechuan Village, which opened in the former Moon Asian Bistro spot (111 Knox Way) just south of the Orange County line on 15-501, is holding their ribbon cutting and grand opening today, Friday, Feb. 9, at 11:30 a.m. followed by an open house. Visit them here.

Further down into Chatham County, reader Jay Beaton noticed that Ni Armors Hawaiian & Polynesian BBQ “Coming Soon” sign was down. After speaking with the manager, he learned that they had their soft opening Thursday and will be holding their grand opening this Saturday (Feb. 10). Keep up with everything on Facebook here.

Back over in Durham, we learned this week that Alley Twenty Six, the nationally recognized craft cocktail bar, is bringing back its late night menu starting Feb. 16. Guests will soon be able to enjoy the Alley Burger, Caviar and Tots, Deviled Eggs and more until closing. Visit them 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.

Get ready Durham…here it comes again! Geer Street’s annual Chinese Week (Feb. 5-11) when they dedicate their whole specials menu to Chinese cuisine. They are predicting that this year is going to be the best, most expansive one yet, and they’ll be doing an all-dim sum brunch on Sunday, Feb. 11. Get the menu and all the details on their Facebook page here.

Don’t have Valentine’s plans just yet? Well, good news. The folks over at Taste Carolina have special Valentine’s Tours lined up for you – both in Raleigh and Durham. Imagine strolling along historic city streets with your sweetie – or your friends or family – on a guided walking tour. Guests are treated like VIPs at several locally owned restaurants per tour while enjoying delicious food and drink. The Raleigh dinner tours will include a combination of the following locations: Beasley’s, Bittersweet, Longleaf Swine, Che Empanadas, and Raleigh Wine Shop. The Durham lunch tour will include visits to: Bull City Burger & Brewery, Pie Pushers, Toast, Boricua Soul, and The Parlour. Get tickets and all the details here.

CORA’s 12th Empty Bowls charitable fundraiser will be held on Saturday, March 2, at its new venue, Pittsboro United Methodist Church, from 5 to 8 p.m. The evening will feature amazing soups from favorite local restaurants, live music from the Popcorn Blue Band, local pottery and homemade bread and desserts. 100% of the proceeds go to helping neighbors facing food insecurity in Chatham County! Get all the details here.

Downtown Raleigh’s Whiskey Kitchen and Videri Chocolate Factory have teamed up to craft decadent chocolate and spirit pairings just in time for Valentine’s Day. Throughout February, Whiskey Kitchen will feature signature pairings of six of Videri’s chocolate bars alongside a selection of different spirits. Guests can look forward to sipping each spirit presented with mini bars of the corresponding chocolate. Special Valentine pairings will run February 12 through February 18. Follow along on Instagram here.

My buddy Neha M. Shah, director of the Pittsboro-Siler City Convention & Visitors Bureau, shared that the annual Farm to Fork Picnic, celebrating local food and local farms, will take place Sunday, June 2, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., again at Fearrington Village. Get details and tickets here.

Tickets are on sale now for the 9th Annual Dinner in the Meadow which will take place on Sept. 15, 2024 on a grassy knoll at Meadow Lane Farm, in bucolic Franklin County, offering beautiful pastoral views and clear, starry skies. Some of the region’s most sought-after chefs will be preparing delicious dishes using ingredients from local farms and food artisans. It is an annual fundraiser for the Leonard-Mobley Small Farm Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 2014 to support and cultivate small farms in our region of North Carolina. Get tickets and all the details here.

No doubt we live in a wonderful corner of the world. But here are some things to remember and not forget. Right now, one in five people in central and eastern North Carolina don’t have enough to eat. The Food Bank provided over 88 million meals to families and individuals last year. The Food Bank’s partner agency network has reported up to a 60% increase in neighbors visiting for food assistance. The need is real and right here in our backyard. Consider helping in 2024. See how here.