The top story
Social media blew up this week once
word got out that The Capital Grille is coming to Raleigh, and more specifically to the Bank of America Tower at North Hills. The Capital Grille is is an elegant steakhouse known for their dry-aged steaks, seafood, freshest ingredients and award-winning wines. Each location has an on-site butcher for the 18- to 24-day dry-aging process. Look for them to open the 8,000-square-foot concept next summer. This will be their second North Carolina location (behind Charlotte).
Wake County restaurant news
Over in Raleigh’s Cameron Village, Jason Smith recently re-opened
Cantina 18 after a 2,000-square-foot expansion with upstairs dining, an upstairs bar and an al fresco dining area. For the most part, the menu remains the same. They are now open for lunch and dinner.
Also in Cameron Village, the
latest edition of Rise will have their grand opening Saturday, from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m, just in time for the holidays! This one is located at at 530 Daniels St. at the corner of Daniels and Smallwood (a former Best Buy mobile shop).
Out in Morrisville, thanks to the keen eyes of reader Lee Langston, we learned that construction has started on a building at the corner of Chapel Hill Road and Carrington Mill Blvd. According to permits, it looks like 35 Chinese Restaurant is behind the new activity. No word yet if it is the same owners that used to be on Kildaire Farm Road. We'll keep an eye on it. Thanks Lee!
In downtown Raleigh, restaurateur and bar operator Jon Seelbinder will soon be opening Virgil's Original Taqueria at 126 S. Salisbury Street. The restaurant will be located in the same building as Linus and Pepper's and The Level Up Kitchen and Barcadium. Virgil's will be providing a variety of tacos with a southern twist. Look for them to open sometime this month. Stay tuned!
So I checked in one more time with
Vita Vite (Italian for "life" and "vine"), a new wine bar that doubles as a gallery for local and regional artists, coming to downtown Raleigh's Warehouse District. They were hoping to open before Thanksgiving, but it appears they are still waiting on their alcohol permit. Best I can tell you now is to check out their Facebook page to get the latest. They will be opening in the remodeled space at 313 W. Hargett St. that was formerly a nightclub.
According to a couple of sources, the Camos Brothers Pizza location on Six Forks Road in Raleigh is now Peri Brothers Pizza.
Durham, Orange & Chatham County restaurant news
Sometimes you can't rush good coffee. And apparently that is the case with the newest edition of
Joe Van Gogh Coffee that opened this week (finally!) in the Woodcroft Shopping Center in south Durham. This is the fourth coffee house for Joe Van Gogh. Congratulations to owner Robbie Roberts!
We reported back in May about an Asian bistro coming to the northern end of Chatham County in the Polk Landing shopping center. At the time it was listed as Vine Asian Bistro, but the buildout is nearly complete and the sign on the building now reads Moon Asian Bistro. No other information is available at this time.
And the News & Observer gave us a bit of an update on the much anticipated Pizzeria Mercato that is coming to Carrboro (408 W. Weaver Street). If all goes according to plans, they will be open before year's end. Mercato is being brought to us by Gabe Barker, son of Ben and Karen Barker formerly of Magnolia Grill in Durham.
Over in Durham, we got word from the folks at The Durham that they are now open for Sunday Brunch 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekly. They're serving brunch classics with a few twists inspired by NC ingredients, along with an expanded cocktail menu.
Closings
Our friends over in Carrboro took two big blows just before Thanksgiving. Both Tom + Chee and Cafe Symmetry both closed their doors. Tom + Chee for good, and Cafe Symmetry owners list them as "closed for reinvention." Stay tuned on that one.
Got word first from my friend Gregory Ng that Durham's Fishmonger's Restaurant & Oyster Bar has closed after 20+ years. Looks like the tax man came knocking.
It looks like we can finally stick a fork in the "former" PieBird location. Our friends over at EatRaleigh blog noted that the space has been completely emptied. Oh well, we held out hope as long as we could.
And finally, my friend David McCreary (aka Lunch Boy Says) has confirmed that the Fuquay-Varina location of Beef O'Brady's has closed.
Food trucks
Who else is missing food truck rodeos? Well, Knightdale ain't scared of a little cold, especially when it is for a good cause. Rudolph's Holiday Rodeo will be held on Sunday, Dec. 13 from 12 - 4 p.m. at the Knightdale Station Park Amphitheater and will feature 15 food trucks! 20% of sales will go to Meals on Wheels just in time for the holidays! There will also be a truck decorating contest and rumor has it a big ol' bellied fella in a red suit might show up! .
The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Heavenly Smoke, a Triangle-based food truck that features smoked beef brisket, pork and turkey, has opened a shop in Durham's Northgate Mall. .
Foodie Events
Triangle Family Services will host its 13th annual Gingerbread Benefit on Sunday, Dec. 6, at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary. The day-long fundraiser features more than 20 elaborate handmade gingerbread houses created by area celebrity chefs. The "Sneak Preview" will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and tickets are $25. Santa's Gingerbread Workshop will take place from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. but tickets are sold out! The evening Gingerbread Benefit, for adults only, will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The good folks over at Oval Park Grille and Fullsteam Brewery are teaming up for a five-course beer dinner on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. I've seen the menu and it is off the hook! To reserve a spot (or two, or eight) call 919-401-6566. Cost is $45 per person.
Things are gearing up for the 2016 version of Triangle Restaurant Week. It will be here before we know it. The next rendition will take place Jan. 25 through 31. Start planning your week now.
The 4th Annual Bull City Food & Beer Experience will be held next year on April 10, but tickets are already on sale. Visit the DPAC ticket center to avoid service charges.
Food bank corner
No child or family should go hungry during the holidays, and with your help, they won't! That's the power of your giving when you contribute to the Food Bank's Online Holiday Meals Drive. $35 will feed a child for two months. $120 will provide enough food to sustain a family through the winter months. $210 will provide more than 1,000 piping hot holiday meals to local families. Every dollar donated provides five meals! Help them reach the goal of providing 2.4 million meals before December 31 and ensure that no one goes hungry this holiday season.
