May. 17, 2013 - Triangle restaurant news...that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.



Friday Fun Food Facts

Featured Restaurant News

The Bull City is about to become The Q City. It was announced this week by multiple media outlets that former partners Greg Hatem and Ed Mitchell would be opening two new, but separate, barbecue restaurants in downtown Durham within weeks and within a mile of each other. Mitchell is opening ‘Que at Durham’s American Tobacco Campus in the new Diamond View III complex that is under construction past the left outfield of the Durham Bulls baseball park. Meanwhile Empire Eats owner Greg Hatem is going to open a second location of The Pit on Geer Street and Rigsbee Avenue. Both restaurants are looking to open in the August/September time frame.

Wake County Restaurant News

• This could very well be the longest “opening soon” restaurant story in recent memory...but it appears as if the wait is over...sort of. Back in October 2011 I wrote that it “looks like things are starting to move forward with The Garland at 14 W. Martin Street in downtown Raleigh. While it is too early to talk about an opening date for Raleigh's next Indian cuisine, we can tell you that the initial phase will feature a walk-up window, with the final phase adding a dining room and outdoor seating. The Garland will be in the former location of Martin Street Pizza.” It looks like that walk-up window is now open...at least temporarily. But we’ll continue to keep an eye on it.

• And speaking of downtown, the blog The Raleigh Connoisseur is reporting that this fall a doughnut shop called Donut Theory is planning to open in a space near the intersection of Saunders and South Street. Now that is a theory we can get behind! We’ll keep an eye on it.

• The news blog New Raleigh is reporting that a new concept called Stanbury is moving into the former location of The Market Restaurant (938 N Blount St). Word is that the chef is from Admiral in Asheville and is looking to open June 15th. We’ll keep an eye on it too.

• And with the warm weather,craft brewery Trophy has already expanded and opened their outdoor patio area. Trophy is located at 827 W. Morgan Street in the former Hamburger Hut location. It is owned by Chris Powers and David Lockwood (think Busy Bee Bar & Restaurant).

• WRAL reported last week that a new Planet Smoothie has opened up in the Mission Valley shopping center off of Avent Ferry Road in Raleigh. Check them out.

• And over in Cary, reader Diane Pisano turned us on to the fact that downtown Cary’s Academy Street Bistro has noted on their Facebook page that they are opening today. We haven’t 100% confirmed that (so call before you go), but it looks like everything is in place for this concept that is in the old Klara’s location at 200 S. Academy Street. Check out their Facebook page.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News

• Saw on a Yelp message board this week that Al's Burger Shack is opening in what was formerly the Chocolate Door on the very western end of Franklin Street in Chapel HIll. No word yet on an opening date, but we’ll keep an eye on it.

• My Twitter buddy @burgeoningbaker tipped me off to the fact that the Denny’s over in Durham (corner of Hwy. 54 and 751) has opened. That is all.

Closings

• Got word from reader Joe Roney that Bulkogi over in Wake Forest has been locked and darkened for the past couple of weeks and the food truck is parked in front with a "For Sale" sign.

• We also got word from follower Carole Walker that she saw a Facebook posting that the Amante Pizza on Falls of Neuse in Raleigh was closing.

• The News & Observer reported this week that the Berkeley Cafe at 217 W. Martin St. is staying open, but that it is losing the big 200-capacity music room on June 30 and that it will be converted into a retail store called Island Tobacco.

Food Trucks

• One down and three to go. The first of four Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeos is in the books and the feedback was generally very strong. In fact, they’ve already announced that the truck count will climb from 42 to somewhere in the mid 50s for the next one on June 9th. That is when they will again start lining them up at the State Capital on Fayetteville Street (single file) and stretch out...forever! And, with electricity provided, no generators!

• If you run so you can eat, here is the event for you. The Bull City Race Fest & Food Truck Rodeo. Set for October 20th, over 700 runners have already signed up. They'll have a half-marathon, a five-mile run and a 1-miler. But the best part, they are all followed by a Food Truck Rodeo, Beer Garden, Kids Zone Experience and tons of fun. Register today.

Events

• The Morrisville Chamber of Commerce food and arts festival called East Meets West is this Saturday along Town Hall Drive in Morrisville from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. It will feature Morrisville-area restaurants, music, performances and a variety of visual arts. Get all the details.   More »