Out and About

Triangle Foodie News: Beer Garden opening at Crabtree Valley Mall

The new business will be located in the old Tomato Pie space.

Posted Updated
Crabtree Beer Garden
RALEIGH, N.C. — The latest on restaurant openings, closings, food trucks, foodie events and more in the Triangle and beyond.

Featured Restaurant News

The folks behind Crabtree’s Red Monkey Tavern and Brier Creek Beer Garden are bringing Crabtree Beer Garden to Crabtree Valley Mall, Triangle Business Journal first reported. It will occupy the former Tomato Pie space which recently closed (and is owned by the same folks). According to Raleigh Agenda, they also hinted at the fact that they are looking to open similar concepts in north Raleigh and Cary. The tentative open date for Crabtree Beer Garden is Oct. 15.

Wake County Restaurant News

Oak & Dagger Public House is now open at downtown Raleigh's Seaboard Station, the venue announced via social media last weekend.
Downtown Raleigh restaurateur and bar owner Jon Seelbinder has opened the first phase of Little City Brewing and Provisions Co. in Raleigh’s Glenwood South neighborhood. The project is the latest offering from Seelbinder’s Local Icon Hospitality, which also owns Architect Bar, Green Light, Virgil's Original Taqueria Taco Bar, Level Up and Linus & Pepper's.
Metro Diner, a popular Florida restaurant chain that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, is having their “soft opening” this weekend with the official open date of Oct. 4 at the Sutton Square shopping center in North Raleigh (former Aladdin’s Eatery location).
Also this week in Raleigh, the first Triangle-area location of Grabbagreen opened in North Hills. This is the first of two planned Triangle locations, with a second slated to open in Cary next year.
Got word from readers Michael Pocinki and Kathy Olson that Rock Harbor Grill, formerly of Apex, has just reopened in Fuquay-Varina at 132 S. Fuquay Avenue.
And down in Benson, the News & Observer reported that Jerry Stephenson Jr., the pit master for the Redneck Scientific team, announced that he is opening a new barbecue restaurant, The Redneck BBQ Lab. It will be located at the intersection of Highway 210 and Interstate 40. They hope to open the restaurant by late fall.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

Pie Pushers has finally opened their brick and mortar location above The Pinhook at 117 W. Main Street. The truck will obviously continue to roam the streets!
Rumors are “flying” over in Durham surrounding Heavenly Buffaloes. Most of those rumors are suggesting a second location over on Blackwell Street near the Durham Bulls Stadium. We can’t 100% confirm it, but Heavenly Buffaloes sent out a tweet this week confirming rumors about “#growth.” We will keep an eye on it. Thanks Gabe Macaluso for the heads up.
Amber Watson over at Bites of Bull City tipped me off to the fact that Michael Lee at M Sushi has opened his newest concept (adjacent to M Sushi) called M Kokko, which offers quick-service Korean chicken dishes.
Clouds Brewing, which just celebrated their 2nd anniversary of their location in Raleigh, announced that they plan to open their newest location in Durham’s Brightleaf Square next week. They will hold a grand opening celebration later in October.
The opening last week of Alberello Cafe & Market in Chatham County’s Briar Chapel is being quickly followed by the next concept at the 15-501 entrance to Briar Chapel - Capp’s Pizzeria. The signage went up this week, with hopes of opening in the next few weeks.

Closings

Other than Tomato Pie mentioned above, nothing else to report. Keep eating local, folks!

Food Trucks

The final Chatham Street Chowdown of the year is in downtown Cary on Oct. 2 from 4-8:30 p.m. with more than 20 food trucks and a slew of wine and beer vendors. The event is held rain or shine.
The Raleigh Durham Mobile Food Association (RDUMFA) will hold a food truck rodeo in Carrboro on Oct. 16 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Carrboro Town Hall grounds.
For a listing of all food truck events, head over to Art’s page, The Wandering Sheppard, for all things food truck related.

Events

You don’t want to miss this event (because yours truly will be one of the judges). The event? It is Relish Cafe & Bar’s charity Mac and Cheese Throwdown and Bartender Showdown benefiting the Hope Center at Pullen on Oct. 1 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Also on Oct. 1, NC Fresh Catch resurfaces for a homecoming “pop-up” seafood/music fest from 5-10 p.m. at Durham Central Park. Get fresh cooked seafood, BBQ, beer and great live music. Oh, and don’t miss my neighbor Matt Phillips and the Philharmonic as they take the stage as part of the entertainment.
The 9th Annual Pepperfest takes place Oct. 2 from 2-7 p.m. at Briar Chapel in Chatham County. The event features super delicious pepper-themed dishes and beverages, live music and children’s activities. It's a great outdoor event for this time of the year.
The folks over at TROSA are holding a BBQ & Friends Fundraiser on Oct. 9 from 1 to 4 p.m. at 1820 James Street in Durham. Participating restaurants include Nana’s, Nanataco, Saltbox Seafood Joint, Foster’s Market, Rise and The Original Q Shack. Tickets are $25 and $10 for kids.
And we can’t help but remind you about the upcoming State Fair - October 13-23 and their “Eat Lunch at the Fair” deal. Here’s how it works. Come to Gate 9 (only) after 11:30 a.m. on weekdays, pay $10 cash for a lunch card to get in, get your grub on at any fair vendor and exit out the same gate by 1:30 p.m., and you get your $10 cash back. Sign me up!
The Root Cellar Cafe & Catering in Chapel Hill is holding its fifth annual Porkapalooza on Friday, Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m. The event will feature 12 small plate courses celebrating local pork, including roasted suckling pigs; beer cheese fondue with local sausages; fried green tomatoes topped with pimento cheese, beer-braised crispy pork belly and tomato jam; poutine with sweet potato fries, Seven Springs country gravy and Ashe County cheese; and bacon marshmallow s’mores. The dinner also includes Fullsteam beer pairings. Save $10 by ordering tickets by Aug. 31.
Oct. 15 and Oct. 16 are the dates for 3rd Annual Triangle VegFest this year in Raleigh. Saturday’s events will be at Nash Square in downtown Raleigh from 1-5 p.m., and Sunday’s events will be held at the McKimmon Center from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
On Oct. 16 in Carrboro, grab a locally-made pottery bowl, enjoy a hearty meal of soup, sandwiches and dessert and help TABLE provide food aid to area children all while enjoying live music and a silent auction at Weaver Street Market in Carrboro. Tickets are $15-$50.
Also on Oct. 16 in Chapel Hill, A Tasteful Affair will take place at the Blue Zone at Kenan Stadium to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill. There will be food and beverage purveyors like Chirba Chirba, elements and others competing for awards with judges like UNC’s Sean May and Miss North Carolina McKenzie Faggart crowning their favorites. Tickets are $75-$125.
Jennifer Noble Kelly sent me information about PICNIC, North Carolina’s newest whole hog barbecue joint, and its’ farm partner, Green Button Farm, hosting their inaugural NC Barbecue Revival at the farm this fall, Oct. 28-30.The three-day weekend will be chock full of classes, discussions, feasts and pig pickins’.
On Nov. 6, the folks over at Acme will bring back the fourth edition of Salt & Smoke Festival to beautiful Rock Quarry Farm on Highway 54 just outside of Carrboro. This is becoming quite the event, as over 500 people attended last year.
Also on Nov. 6, the folks over at Chickenwire announced their latest pop-up dinner, which will be held at an secret outdoor venue to be revealed later, and will feature eight area chefs with offerings utilizing “fire, grill and smoke.” VIP tickets get you in an hour early.

 Credits 

Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.