Raleigh, N.C. — Triangle Business Journal reported a lot of changes out in Morrisville at the Grace Park mixed-use development at the corner of Morrisville-Carpenter and Davis Drive – see if you can keep up. Thai’s Noodles will move into a bigger space that will feature a larger bar, sushi bar and dining area on March 25 when it fully reopens (they are in soft open mode now) in the former Buffalo Wings and Rings location. The Thai’s Noodles move means their former spot will make way for a new home for Acme Pizza Co. later this summer. Next up, Woody’s Tavern will open a third location this spring in the former Trali Irish Pub spot. Woody’s also has restaurants in Cary and Raleigh’s City Market. And finally, Empanadas and More will take over the former Peppers Market & Sandwich Shop on the very corner of the development.
Wake County Restaurant News
The folks over at RalToday notified us that Arepa Culture, known for their food trucks, now has a brick and mortar location that opened this past week at Pleasant Valley Promenade (6274 Glenwood Avenue). This just gives you another way to indulge in the Venezuelan-style arepas. The truck was the 2018 WRAL Voters’ Choice Award winner for best local food truck. Check out their new location or find their trucks here.
Saw over on Raleigh Convergence that Mon Macaron will have their grand opening this Saturday, March 20 at 2 p.m. They tout themselves as a macaron shop, coffee and wine bar located in downtown Raleigh at 111 Seaboard Station. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Get by Saturday to check them out and welcome them to downtown! Visit them here.
Raleigh Convergence also noted that wine bar Vita Vite is re-opened the downtown Raleigh location this week for the first time since closing in March, 2020. Yes, it has been a year! The temporary hours at 313 W. Hargett St. will be 4-10 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 4-11 p.m. Friday, 12-11 p.m. Saturday and 1-7 p.m. Sunday. They also have a second location in midtown Raleigh. Check them out here.
If you are looking for a new dinner spot down in Holly Springs, reader Candi Morton notified us that the Pimento Tea Room is now open for dinner service. For now, it looks like it is Thursday through Saturday (but looks like they might update that). Check them out here.
And David McCreary notified us that renovations have begun for a Fuquay-Varina location of Cleveland Drafthouse, which will be situated at 1420 E. Broad St. in the former Hibachi Buffet. The original Cleveland Drafthouse is based in Garner near Interstate 40 on NC Highway 42. A second location is in Clayton. Target date for opening the Fuquay location is June 1. Keep up with them here.
Looking for all the outdoor dining options in Downtown Raleigh? Raleigh Alliance has put together a great list of those options, and they even divided it up by district. Check out that list here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
The Durham Food Hall has a new tenant that honors the culinary traditions of both the Italian and Asian noodle culture. Marco’s 530 Italian and Asian Noodle House features the best of both worlds, from classic Italian dishes like spaghetti and meatballs, to Asian favorites like dumplings and ramen. To put it simply, Marco’s 530 specializes in everyone’s favorite comfort food – pasta! Get familiar with them here.
And across the street from the Durham Food Hall and adjacent to Durham Central Park, we have an open date for The Glass Jug Beer Lab at 545 Foster St. According to The Triangle Business Journal they will open on Monday, March 29, and will feature a taproom where you’ll be able to get exclusive Glass Jug beers on draft, plus draft wine and cider. The new space will accommodate nearly 120 people once it hits full capacity. Their original location is in South Durham at 5410 Hwy. 55. Check them out here.
And here are a couple of wonderful resources for those looking to dine in downtown Durham or downtown Chapel Hill – Downtown Durham Inc. has an up-to-date listing of the status of each restaurant in downtown Durham. Check out the list here. And the Downtown Chapel Hill Partnership has put together a similar list for Chapel Hill here.
Food Trucks
Here are a couple of sites to find and stalk your favorite food trucks here and here.
Events
Our friends over at RalToday pointed out a few events you might want to go ahead and get on your calendar. So exciting to think of some of our favorite events actually happening in 2021! First up, Raleigh Veg Fest 2021 scheduled for Sunday, April 4 in downtown Raleigh’s Moore Square. The North Carolina Wine Festival is scheduled for May 22 at the Streets at Southpoint. And Brewgaloo scheduled for June 11 and 12 in downtown Raleigh.
Food Bank corner
Thanks to generous friends of the Food Bank, your gift to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina can be matched – dollar for dollar – up to $340,000. That’s right, through March 31 your donation can provide twice as many balanced meals to neighbors experiencing hunger right now. This 2X Matching Gift Challenge couldn’t have come at a more meaningful time. This month marks one year since the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted our daily lives and caused food insecurity in our service area to soar higher than the Great Recession. After a year of missing paychecks due to layoffs, furloughs, or reduced hours, we know families are wondering how they will continue to afford rent and utilities — and food. Double your gift today here! But because of you, there’s hope. #noonegoeshungry
Sean Lennard, a Raleigh native, has been around the Triangle food scene for…well, a long time, but professionally since 2002 with the the Triangle Food Blog, formerly known as Friday Fun Food Facts, in 2008. You can find his blog here. And you don’t have to wait until Friday for updates as you can follow Sean throughout the week on Facebook and Twitter.