Foodie News: New downtown Raleigh cocktail bar, Indian restaurant in North Hills
Raleigh Magazine shared the news this week that the much-anticipated Tamasha Modern Indian Kitchen will officially open in North Hills on Friday, Feb. 9. That’s a week away, but reservations online have already gone live! 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. Best to move quickly to get your reservations in. Get a peek here.
Wake County Restaurant News
Downtown Raleigh Alliance shared the news that Wolfe and Porter, formerly known as Drink Drank Drunk, is a homey, neighborhood bar that recently underwent expansion renovations at 905 W. Morgan St. In addition to the new name, the space downstairs is new and is now a speakeasy called Cellar Liquor Bar that just opened yesterday! As they pointed out on their Instagram page, no better way to celebrate the end of dry January! Visit them on Instagram here.
And this news broke last Friday, but we learned that downtown Raleigh’s Poole’s Diner will expand into the space next door which up until last month housed their sister restaurant, Poole’side Pies at 428 S. McDowell St. In the same announcement, Ashley Christensen also shared the news that they are bringing back Poole’s Diner Weekend Brunch. No word on an exact date on either of those, just later in 2024. Stay tuned. Visit Poole’s here.
RALToday shared the news that Little Native Coffee, from the team behind Cloche Coffee in Durham, is in soft-open mode at 426 S Person St. near Moore Square. Their temporary hours through Saturday are from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. They will begin normal hours next week. Might be best to follow along on Instagram.
Over in Apex, my buddy David McCreary shared that Fusion Cafe is now open at 1305 E. Williams St. The eatery serves mostly South Asian inspired cuisine like biryani, samosa and panipuri, a popular Indian street food.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
In Carrboro, Carrie Brogren shared that Even Dough Bakery announced this week that they will be opening a retail location at 203 W Weaver Street (former home of Provence and Mosaic). Their new space will allow you to enjoy their freshly baked goodies in a serene garden setting, enjoy a cup of coffee in their cozy cafe, and even to join them for fun and educational workshops. No word yet on a timeline. Might be best to follow their progress on Instagram here.
Over in Pittsboro, last week we told you about the soft-opening of Big Mike’s BBQ at 440 East St. in the former Michoacán Mexican Grill and Los Charros Mexican Grill building. Sharing this week that they are now fully open! Might be best to follow along on Instagram or you can visit Big Mike’s here.
And more good news and yumminess coming out of Pittsboro this week. Neha Shah, director of Pittsboro-Siler City Convention & Visitors Bureau, shared that a concept called Hoops Pizzeria will be opening at 697 Hillsboro St. in the same shopping center as Aromatic and Cackalacky. They are working towards an April opening and will be offering dine-in and takeout as well as wine and beer. Stay tuned!
And one more final note out of Chatham County, Szechuan Village, which opened in the former Moon Asian Bistro spot (111 Knox Way) just south of the Orange County line on 15-501, will hold their ribbon cutting and grand opening on Friday, Feb. 9, at 11:30 a.m. followed by an open house. Visit them 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.
Also in Durham, Axios Raleigh reported that Missy Lane’s Assembly Room, a new jazz venue in downtown Durham, is now open at 310 E. Main St. and serving coffee by day (Brooklyn Barista Coffee) and at night becoming a preshow bar (Front Room Bar) with cocktails and live music. Get familiar with them here.
Closings
The Leesville Tap Room at the corner of Leesville and Strickland roads in Raleigh announced on Facebook that they are closed ‘until further notice.’
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
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.
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.
Food Bank Corner
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.
