Triangle Foodie News: Sola Coffee undergoing renovations

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

Sola Coffee will be undergoing $112,000 in renovations that will include a new seating area to the popular north Raleigh shop, according to Raleigh Public Record.

Royale, an American bistro with French and European influences, will open this fall in the former Battistella's space at 200 East Martin St. in the City Market area of downtown Raleigh. Royale is a joint effort of Will Jeffers (Stanbury, Cafe Lucarne) Jeff Seizer, joining as the executive chef, and Jesse Bardyn, baker extraordinaire.

The other big news in downtown Raleigh is that Standard Foods (2.0) opened back up yesterday under the guidance of chef Eric Montagne and master sommelier Fred Dexheimer. The well regarded restaurant closed this past June with the departure of Scott Crawford.

A new underground craft cocktail bar is headed to downtown Raleigh. Niall Hanley, who also owns Hibernian Co. and Raleigh Beer Garden, said Watts and Ward will be located in a 6,000 square-foot space on East Hargett Street in the basement of Caffe Luna. The project is currently seeking a craft cocktail bar manager. Look for it to be open by the end of the year.

London Bridge Pub, located at 110 E. Hargett St., is adding a kitchen, Raleigh Public Record reports.

Bittersweet owner Kim Hammer is opening a new specialty grocery inside The Edison at 107 E. Davie St. Raleighwood Provisions is hoping to open between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Also in downtown Raleigh, the former location of the former Mo's Diner, then Holly's on Hargett and then Notte Urbana, will become The Outpost in two weeks, according to the Raleigh Agenda. Owner Claudia Frady says it will be a Tiki bar, but also offer coffee, juices, smoothies and other drinks, in addition to a limited food menu.

The Triangle Business Journal reported that Giardino Gourmet Salads, well known in Florida, is coming to Harrison Square in Cary later this month near the Bass Pro Shop on Harrison Avenue.

Also in Cary, the Triangle Business Journal reported that the local franchise partners for Built Custom Burgers have signed a deal to open a second Triangle location at the new Whole Foods-anchored retail center on N.C. 55. In June, Built Burgers confirmed plans to open the first North Carolina location at the Streets of Southpoint Mall in Durham by early 2017.

The latest dinner/movie concept has opened in Holly Springs. Ovation Cinema Grill 9 will have its grand opening on Oct. 13, but now through Oct. 11 they will show recently released films for $3 with proceeds going to the Meg's Smile Foundation.

A quick shout out to Charles Winston and Wil O'Neal and the celebration of the 30th year of a Raleigh landmark, Winston's Grille. If you've never been before, do yourself a favor. Check them out here.

We hinted at some rumors surrounding Heavenly Buffaloes last week, but WRAL filled us in on the details this week. Bull Durham Beer Co. is teaming up with Heavenly Buffaloes for a new beer garden called The Bullpen. It will be located in a 2,000-square-foot space on the ground floor of the American Tobacco Campus' Diamond View III building. The Bullpen will operate year round and feature an outdoor patio. Lunch and dinner will feature selections from Heavenly Buffaloes and they will have eight rotating taps featuring Bull Durham Beer and other North Carolina beers. Look for them to open later this month.

An update on the offerings coming to Eastgate in Chapel Hill. Reader Jason Klaitman notified me that Chipotle is also coming to Eastgate joining Chopt, Babalu's and Zoe's. Chipotle already has a location in downtown Chapel Hill, and just down 15-501 in Durham. No word yet on an official open date.

The Cup-A-Joe at 120 West King St. in downtown Hillsborough has moved...but just down the street to larger digs at 112 West King St. They made the successful move earlier this week. Check them out in their new expanded space! Congrats to Brooke Erceg and Ryan Creery.

Got word from reader Chris Creighton that San Remo Italian Grill on Kildaire Farm Road in Cary has closed.

Chris also informed us that Off Kilter Pub & Grille on Center Street in Apex has closed.

The final Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo of the year is this Sunday, Oct. 9 from 1-6 p.m. Hopefully all of the rain will be out of here, and all can enjoy some good eats!

If you are a golf nut you're probably pretty excited about the SAS Championship golf tournament the weekend of October 11-16 at Prestonwood Country Club. But if you are more into food trucks (or perhaps both!), then don't miss the free food truck rodeo taking place on Friday, Oct. 14 featuring Cousins Maine Lobster, Chirba Chirba Dumpling, American Meltdown and Spanglish.

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.

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.

The 12th Annual Garner Rotary Club OysterFest will be held the evening of October 20 at the Fidelity Business Park in Garner. Monies raised at the event are used to fund college scholarships for area high school seniors. The menu includes "all you can eat" oysters, seafood bisque and clam chowder, catfish fingers, chicken fingers, popcorn shrimp, pulled BBQ, coleslaw, potato salad, French fries, dessert and drinks. A cash bar is also available. Tickets are $30 in advance from a Rotarian and $35 at the door.

On Oct. 9, Raleigh City Farm (RCF) will be hosting its 4th annual Harvest Dinner at 6 p.m. with a special VIP reception beginning at 5 p.m. Chef Teddy Klopf of Provenance will be the featured chef. Both the dinner and VIP hour will take place on the farm property at 800 North Blount Street, located adjacent to Person Street Plaza. All proceeds from the dinner will benefit RCF and support its mission to grow new urban farms and farm entrepreneurs to strengthen sustainable, healthy food systems.