Foodie News: Veteran-owned restaurant opens in downtown Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C. — Triangle Business Journal reported the news that Flavor Hills, a concept out of Jacksonville, North Carolina, has opened in the former Wahlburgers/Flying Mayan spot in downtown Raleigh at 319 Fayetteville St. Flavor Hills is owned by Marine Corps veterans and the menu features classic Southern dishes and a dose of Cajun flair. TBJ shared that the restaurant’s brunch menu features fried devil eggs, salmon croquettes, a waffle burger and catfish and grits. The dinner menu includes bang bang shrimp, crab fries, rattlesnake pasta and steak frites. They are operating on a walk-in only basis from Jan. 4-7. Reservation options will resume after Jan. 8. Get familiar with them here.

OK, here is the follow-up to my post last week about the concept moving into the former Leli’s Italian Eatery, Market And Bakery spot at 3325 Rogers Road in Wake Forest. Thanks to “Linda” who posted a comment on my blog (sorry, it didn’t have her full name), we now know it is Milazzo’s Ristorante, featuring a variety of authentic Italian dishes. A quick back story…Grandpa Milazzo dreamed of opening a restaurant with his first grandson, Christopher. With this opening, Christopher continued with that dream even after Grandpa Milazzo passed. Looks like they are already open. Check them out here.

Staying in Wake Forest, got word from an anonymous tip that there is another new restaurant coming to Wake Forest called The Cha House, which already has locations in Cary, Raleigh and Chapel Hill (operates as Tea Hill in Chapel Hill). If you are not familiar with them, they are an Asian-inspired tea house, influenced by the tastes and traditions of Taiwan. They will be located at 1009 Forestville Road. No word on an open date. Get to know them here.

Steve Abbott was the first to share the news that the parent company of the Carolina Hurricanes, Gale Force Sports & Entertainment, has purchased the Backyard Bistro restaurant adjacent to the PNC Arena and Carter-Finley Stadium. Triangle Business Journal shared in further detail that plans call for the restaurant to continue operating, but will use the space to host a sportsbook, once that becomes legal. Might be best to keep up with this development on Facebook here.

We shared this with you back in early December, but down in Zebulon, Norse Brewing Longhouse has opened for normal hours (daily lunch and dinner) at 120 N. Arendell Ave. They are serving up Norse beer, cider and seltzer, wine, a full liquor bar with craft cocktails and Scandinavian-Southern style food. Their original location is in Wake Forest. Visit them on Facebook here.

Speaking of sports, reader Christine Marshall Goebel shared with us that Epic Wings sports bar is coming to the corner of Creedmoor and Strickland Roads in Raleigh in the Brennan Station shopping center between Fresko and Five Guys. No word yet on an open date. Get familiar with them here.

Over in Cary, if you are looking for a new lunch spot, we got word this week that lunch reservations are now available at SAAP, a Laotian restaurant next to the new downtown Cary Park (which, if you haven’t been…it is a park like none other in the Triangle…just sayin’). Visit SAAP here.

Also in Cary, reader Chris Creighton shared that Boba-N-Chai has opened in the Harris Teeter shopping center at 3460 Ten-Ten Road. According to their website, they are a proud minority women-owned business. Their journey began with three ambitious women who shared a vision of infusing world-famous Indian flavors into the heart of traditional boba tea. Their mission was to create unique and harmonious flavors that perfectly complement Indian snacks. Check them out here.

Continuing in Cary, got word this week from owner Anson Fernandes that his restaurant, Biryani Maxx (serving up Indian cuisine), has undergone extensive renovations taking it from a small, mostly take-out concept, into a warm and inviting space featuring seating for 50 inside, and 20 more outside. It really is beautiful! Stop by soon and pay them a visit at 590 E. Chatham St. Check them out on Instagram here.

On a recent drive down Raleigh’s Hillsborough Street noticed a coming soon banner that just went up announcing that Chex Grill & Wings out of Charlotte would open in the Uncommon building at 3020 Hillsborough Street, just down from Cup A Joe. The banner indicated they will be slinging 35 different flavors of wings as well as hot oven subs, salads and more. Looks like this will be their thirteenth location, the first in the Triangle. Start getting familiar with them here.

Over in Garner, saw on the Choose Local & Small Y’all Facebook page that Shady’s bar is closing for a few weeks for some much needed renovations. According to their post, the new Shady’s will be sleeker, more sophisticated and more comfortable. Follow along on Facebook here to see when they reopen.

In Pittsboro, The Mod shared on the Pittsboro Eats! Facebook page that they are under new ownership and they have reopened. According to additional posts on social media, ownership has changed to the same folks that own Smoke & Barrel in Sanford. Great news for downtown Pittsboro! Visit them here.

Back in early December we shared that that signage was up for Kiichi Ramen Izakaya right next to Durham Pack and Ship at 730 Ninth Street. Axios noted this week that they have opened. They shared that they offer eight ramen bowls as well as a collection of bento boxes and rice dishes, fried appetizers and mochi ice cream. Open daily, visit them here.

And this is a bit of a teaser. But Morrisville’s Chaat Mandi posted this past week that they are bringing their concept to Chapel Hill. That is it. No timeline nor hints as to where. Thanks to Carrie Brogren for sharing this teaser with the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook group. So…stay tuned. In the meantime, start getting familiar with them and their chef here.

Chapelboro was the first to share that after a nearly 50-year run, Franklin Street’s Linda’s Bar and Grill in downtown Chapel Hill is closing at the end of service today (Friday, Jan. 5). Sad to see this one go.

Reader Hunter Butler was the first to share that Cary’s Totopos closed on Dec. 23. They first opened in January 2015.

Reader Chris Creighton shared that the Arby’s on Harrison Avenue in Cary has closed its doors.

Creighton also shared that the Papa Murphy’s in the Mill Pond shopping center at 3434 Kildaire Farm Road has closed.

Reader Rose Hiebert shared the news that Koi Grill & Sushi on Millbrook Road in Raleigh has closed.

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.

They are doing it again. Our friends over at Cape Fear Seafood Company (with three locations here in the Triangle) are bringing back their wildly successful wine pairing events. The first time they did this, all three locations sold out, and I’m already hearing that the Wake Forest location is sold out for the next one. So, it will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 9, at each of the Triangle locations (Wake Forest (sold out), Raleigh’s Village District and north Raleigh). This French Culinary Voyage will feature seafood and wine delights for $65 per person (+ tax and tip). They limit it to just 24 people per location, so call today to reserve your spot. Visit their site here for phone numbers of each location.

Hard to believe, but tickets went on sale this week for the 9th Annual Dinner in the Meadow which will take place on September 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.

This holiday season, families all over our community will be sitting down for delicious meals with their loved ones, enjoying good company, good food, and a good time. But for some, these meals may not be a given. Many of our friends and neighbors are having to decide between stocking their refrigerator and pantry or paying their bills. You can help bring comfort, joy, and hope by making a generous gift now to provide more holiday meals this year. Give $10 now and have double the impact, providing 100 meals.