Foodie News: Hillsborough Street restaurant on the move

RALEIGH, N.C. —

Featured Restaurant News

A popular dining spot on Raleigh’s Hillsborough Street is going dormant, but just temporarily, after the Super Bowl. Got word from reader Jordan Kab that East Village Grill will be closing after Super Bowl Sunday on February 3 as the land between Daisy Street and Dixie Trail will be redeveloped into an apartment complex. That’s the bad news for EVG fans. The good news is they will reopen in the brand new space on the ground floor when it opens in 2020. Get there before Feb. 3.

Also along Hillsborough Street, noticed in Ashton Mae Smith’s newsletter that Sushi Mon has opened at 105 Friendly Drive offering up sushi and Japanese small plates.

Over at North Hills it was announced this week that Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, a seafood restaurant offering Maine lobster and shrimp rolls, will be opening in the Main District at North Hills. Located between Bartaco and the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel, the restaurant is projected to open in 2019. This will be their first restaurant in North Carolina but they have other locations in Maryland, South Carolina, Delaware and Virginia.

Got word via a Facebook chat group that Boondini’s at Celebrations at Six Forks is closing that location before the end of the year. Apparently they are unable to renew their lease and Billy has decided to retire. Unless you know someone that is willing to take over. Boondini’s began in Buies Creek before moving to Tryon Hills and eventually to its current location on Six Forks Road in 1986.

And this is terrible news. Just last Friday, after months of wondering when they would ever open, Mami’s opened on Glenwood Avenue on the way to the airport near the intersection with Duraleigh. That’s the good news. The bad news is the very next day they suffered an electrical fire that leaves it closed indefinitely. Keep up with any news on their Facebook page.

And in other “Glenwood” news, a reader shared with us that the Sawasdee Thai restaurant has been converted into the Cajun Crab House. The restaurant is under the same ownership and will keep a few popular dishes from the Sawasdee menu but they now come with seafood options only and most other dishes will be served at Tamarind Asian Fusion Bistro, which is their sister restaurant in Brier Creek Commons.

The folks over at ITB Insider reported this week that The Melting Pot on Wake Forest Road is about to expand into the vacant space in the rear of the building that was once an Enterprise Rent-a-Car. No exact word on the timeline.

Got word this week that Coleen Speaks is beginning brunch service at her Hummingbird restaurant on Whitaker Mill Road this weekend. Brunch service will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Also, be on the lookout for new additions to the regular breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, including large plates in the evening.

Also in Raleigh, we are getting closer to the opening of the Mellow Mushroom at Brier Creek according to my friend Neha Shah. It is located at 9600 Brier Creek Parkway across from the Duke Medical Center and Walgreens complex. They are in the middle of their job fair, so we are getting closer!

Over in Cary, Hugh Autry brought it to my attention that Havana Grill on Chatham Street has closed and been “replaced” by a concept called Tacos Estilo Hidalgo #3. I haven’t had a chance to go by yet, but a Yelp posting noted that the Havana Grill menu is still posted on the wall inside, so might be more of a rebranding. Stop by and check it out.

The Daily Tar Heel reported over in Chapel Hill that there is a new sign in the window at the closed Asia Cafe indicating that Curry Point Express, an Indian fast food restaurant located in Durham, has bought the establishment. The space will be renovated and upgraded, and the menu will retain some of Asia Cafe’sfavorites. Mike DePersia of National Restaurant Properties oversaw the sale of Asia Cafe.

Got a note from Keri Owen that The Twisted Fork at Triangle Town Center is closed and all their equipment is being auctioned off next week.

This Saturday, Jan. 26, Bull City Ciderworks on Roxboro Street in Durham is hosting their first Mini Food Truck Rodeo of the year. The last Saturday of each month they will host four (4) trucks serving up delicious treats from 2 – 7 p.m. This month will feature Will & Pop’s, Mr. Wingz & Mrs. Thingz, Saigon Lily and Holy Moly Cannoli.

And this Sunday, Jan. 27 Durham Central Park will host the Winter Food Truck Rodeo from noon to 4 p.m. and the weather looks fantastic – sunny and in the 50s! And while you are adding this to your calendar, go ahead and mark down the rest of the dates for 2019 – they are: March 24, June 16, Sept. 1 and Nov. 3!

On Friday, Feb. 1, the Cary Rotary Club will raise money to fight hunger around the world and in our community with its 16th Annual Chili Dinner. The meals, consisting of chili, pasta salad and cornbread, are available for $8 each and will be prepared by Whole Foods Market. Lunch will be served from noon to 2 p.m. and dinner will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church, 200 High Meadow Dr. in Cary. Tickets are available at the door or from members of the Cary Rotary Club. Get all the details here.

An annual favorite — Cooking for a Classic 2019 — is just around the corner. The prize for 2019 is restored 1982 JEEP Scrambler. The First Round is Monday-Thursday, Feb. 25-28; Second Round is March 4 and 5; and the Finale is March 11. Tickets start at $75 for the First Round, $100 for the Second Round and $125 for the Finale.Venue is 1705 East in Raleigh. You can get all the details here and tickets here. Each evening features six plated courses. Round One features Teddy Diggs from Coronado vs. Ryan Grimm from Watersview; Matt Hannon from Ashton's vs. Bo Peterson from Primal Food & Spirits; Jake Wood from 18 Seaboard vs. Jonathan Blackley form Prestonwood Country Club; and Andrew Smith from buku vs. Orlando Jinzo from The Leadmine. All proceeds benefit the Lucy Daniels Center's mental-health programs for children in the Triangle.

Shop Local Raleigh’s annual craft beer festival, Brewgaloo, will take place April 26-27, 2019. Brewgaloo features craft breweries from North Carolina and partners with local food trucks, local vendors and local bands. Get tickets now and all the details on their website here.

The return of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina's Thrive NC, is scheduled for May 9 -10 at City Market in downtown Raleigh. The inaugural event attracted thousands of members of the community to celebrate North Carolina's culinary roots, while also initiating critical conversations about food insecurity in our state. The highlight of the two-day event is the festival which will feature more than 60 of the area's best restaurants serving food and drink samples as well as live entertainment, including chef demonstrations and music. Tickets will go on sale Feb. 28.

Start a virtual food drive at your office! Forget the hassle of a trip to the grocery store for your next food drive… “Shop” with the Food Bank through our Virtual Food Drive and maximize your donation times ten! For every dollar donated, the Food Bank can provide $10.00 worth of food or five meals. Starting a food drive is easy! Get all the details here.

Sean Lennard covers the Triangle food scene on his site Triangle Food Blog.