\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFeatured restaurant news<\/p>\n
Chef\u00a0Michael Bongiorno\u00a0is officially bringing a taste of the Italian lifestyle to Midtown Raleigh. Building on the success of\u00a0Bongiorno & Son\u00a0\u2014the popular Italian deli and market founded in\u00a0Lafayette Village\u00a0in 2020\u2014he celebrates the grand opening of his newest concept,\u00a0Pranzo, on August 14. Located on the ground floor of\u00a01000 Social\u00a0at\u00a0The Exchange Raleigh,\u00a0Pranzo\u00a0offers a traditional yet stylish dining experience designed around relaxed socializing, ingredient-driven dishes, and premium imported Italian goods. While the venue includes a select market for specialty items, the focus is a vibrant, casual dining atmosphere that transitions seamlessly from lunch into evening gatherings. Central to the\u00a0Pranzo\u00a0experience is the authentic Italian tradition of aperitivo\u2014a pre-dinner ritual featuring light bites and drinks crafted to awaken the appetite and savor the moment. Complementing the menu is a highly unique, hand-picked wine program prioritizing small vineyards, organic producers, and women-owned wineries, featuring labels not found elsewhere in the region.\u00a0Get familiar with Pranzo here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tWake County restaurant news<\/p>\n We are getting closer and closer to the opening of the historic\u00a0Flowers Cottage, which will house two concepts in one spot:\u00a0Cottage Coffee\u00a0and\u00a0Park Bar\u00a0in\u00a0Dix Park. The renovated 100-year-old cottage will boast a cozy cafe inside as well as a covered outdoor bar. The upstairs cafe opens to an expansive deck featuring terraced seating that gives you a jaw-dropping view of the fields in\u00a0Dix Park\u00a0as well as Raleigh\u2019s expansive skyline in the distance. And the team behind it?\u00a0Justin Pasfield,\u00a0Jeff Clarke,\u00a0Dillon Myrick\u00a0and\u00a0Sarah Sugg\u00a0whose combined experience has ties to Raleigh favorites like\u00a0Person Street Bar,\u00a0Big Cat,\u00a0Locals Seafood,\u00a0Natural Science Bar\u00a0and\u00a0Boulted Bread. Look for them to open later this month.\u00a0Follow along on Instagram here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Triangle Business Journal\u00a0is reporting that the breakfast spot\u00a0PopUp Bagels\u00a0is coming to\u00a0Village District\u00a0in Raleigh, taking over the former\u00a0Kale Me Crazy\u00a0space. The fast-growing chain is known for a simple menu of fresh hot bagels, schmears and coffee.\u00a0Check them out here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Raleigh Magazine\u00a0reported this week that\u00a0Cora Kitchen + Bar, a new Spanish and Latin tapas spot, is set to soft open in the former\u00a0Station\u00a0space on Person Street late next week. This all-day eatery is led by Chef\u00a0Sarah Frey\u00a0of the popular breakfast and coffee truck\u00a0Mr.Burro\u00a0\u2014 so yes, amazing breakfast burritos are on the menu!\u00a0Cora\u00a0will serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks, with a newly renovated, cozy outdoor patio.\u00a0Cora\u00a0is part of the team behind downtown favorites including\u00a0Hibernian Pub,\u00a0Watts & Ward,\u00a0Raleigh Beer Garden and\u00a0Morgan Street Food Hall. Thanks to\u00a0Raleigh Downtown\u00a0for sharing additional details.\u00a0Get your mouth watering here<\/a>.<\/p>\n RalToday\u00a0shared that\u00a0Drift Coffee & Kitchen\u00a0is opening its newest Raleigh location at Dix Park this\u00a0Saturday, Aug. 15. The new shop at\u00a0The Weld\u00a0will celebrate with community bike rides, a scavenger hunt and free totes for the first 50 guests. All opening-day sales will benefit\u00a0Oaks & Spokes.\u00a0Drift\u00a0also has plans to open another location in\u00a0Raleigh\u2019s Iron Works.\u00a0Visit Drift here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Reader\u00a0Lucille Auteri\u00a0tipped us off to the fact that North Carolina, specifically Raleigh, is getting ready to get their first location of\u00a0Nash & Smashed\u00a0at 5821 Poyner Village Parkway. Their menu features fried chicken, Nashville-style sandwiches, smashed burgers and more.\u00a0Get to know them here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Reader\u00a0Frank Rhodes\u00a0shared with us the news that\u00a0K38\u00a0in downtown Cary is set to open\u00a0August 29th\u00a0at\u00a0147 E. Chatham St. This will be their seventh location and follows the most recent opening in downtown Raleigh\u2019s\u00a0Seaboard Station. What does the\u00a0K38\u00a0represent? The \u201cK\u201d stands for kilometer, denoting the 38th-kilometer mark on the coastal highway in Baja. Founder\u00a0Josh Vach\u00a0was inspired by surf trips down the Baja Peninsula, roadside taco shacks, and the specific surf break at that location when opening the original restaurant in 1993. Now you know.\u00a0Pay them a visit<\/a>.<\/p>\n Reader\u00a0Chris Creighton\u00a0noted that Cary is also getting a\u00a0Little Caesars Pizza\u00a0at 100 Wrenn Drive in between\u00a0Duck Doughnuts\u00a0and\u00a0Chipotle. No opening date as of yet.\u00a0Visit Little Caesars here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tDurham, Orange & Chatham restaurant news<\/p>\n Little Bull\u00a0opened in their new space this week, completing a year-long renovation of a historic building dating to the 1910s in downtown Durham\u2019s National Register historic district (301 East Chapel Hill St.). The work preserved a lot of the building\u2019s history with wood from the original interior walls and repurposed the salvaged beams into a staircase that now connects the main dining room to the upstairs bar.\u00a0Little Bull\u00a0will serve dinner nightly beginning at 5 pm, with weekend brunch continuing on Saturdays and Sundays. The team plans to introduce weekday lunch service this fall, marking the restaurant\u2019s first lunch offering. Congrats to\u00a0Oscar Diaz\u00a0and\u00a0Juan Camilo Espada\u00a0and the entire\u00a0Mezcalito Group.\u00a0Visit them on Instagram here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Triangle Business Journal\u00a0shared the news that\u00a0Oakwood Deli, which operates in downtown Raleigh, appears to be taking its signature sandwiches to Durham after filing plans with the city for a new location at 702 and 706 E. Main St. on the corner of Main and Fayetteville streets.\u00a0\u00a0The site was formerly home to longtime soul food restaurant\u00a0JC\u2019s Kitchen, which has closed. The deli serves premium meats from New York-based Boar\u2019s Head and offers breakfast all day, as well as salads, tacos and specialty sides.\u00a0Visit Oakwood here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Durham Downtown\u00a0shared that Durham is getting a new Colombian bistro, with the news that a concept called\u00a0Melao\u00a0is taking over the former\u00a0Little Bull\u00a0space at 810 N. Mangum St. Inspired by Colombia\u2019s incredible diversity, expect vibrant flavors, thoughtful cocktails and dishes rooted in tradition. Think tropical fruits like lulo and maracuy\u00e1, fresh seafood inspired by Colombia\u2019s coasts, comforting classics like bandeja paisa, and so much more. Every dish and cocktail will showcase the bold, soulful flavors that make Colombian cuisine unforgettable. Whether you grew up with these flavors or you\u2019re discovering them for the very first time, get excited about\u00a0Melao\u00a0opening in September.\u00a0Follow their progress on Instagram here<\/a>.<\/p>\n In Chapel Hill,\u00a0Chapelboro\u00a0reported that another business has opened in the\u00a0Eastgate Crossing\u00a0shopping center. The\u00a0Einstein Bros. Bagels\u00a0chain opened its first-ever Chapel Hill location this week at the former\u00a0Bruegger\u2019s Bagels\u00a0space.\u00a0Bruegger\u2019s\u00a0was forced to permanently close its location in\u00a0Eastgate\u00a0after taking extensive flood damage during Tropical Depression Chantal in the summer of 2025.\u00a0Visit Einstein Bros. Bagels here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Up in Mebane,\u00a0Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies\u00a0founder\u00a0Carrie Brogren\u00a0shared the news that\u00a0Fratelli Italian Kitchen\u00a0is opening soon in downtown Mebane. She indicated that the menu will feature chef-inspired Italian dishes, house-made pastas, fresh steaks, delicious desserts, craft cocktails, an exceptional wine list, and more. They will be located at 119 West Clay St. and hope to open in September.\u00a0Visit them on Facebook here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Down in Chatham County, get a first taste of the upcoming a\u00a0Tavolo Italian Eatery\u00a0during a special menu takeover at\u00a0The Sycamore at Chatham Mills through\u00a0Aug. 16. Guests can enjoy a select collection of dishes from the upcoming\u00a0a Tavolo\u00a0menu alongside many of\u00a0The Sycamore\u2019s\u00a0signature cuts and sides. The lounge menu will feature\u00a0a Tavolo\u00a0items as well. The week will conclude with a special brunch on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Opening this September in\u00a0MOSAIC at Chatham Park,\u00a0a Tavolo\u00a0is the sister restaurant to\u00a0The Sycamore\u00a0and will offer a warm, elevated-casual approach to Italian dining. This takeover is a chance to try some of the dishes that will be featured at the new location. Preview the\u00a0menu here<\/a>\u00a0and make\u00a0a reservation here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Also in Pittsboro,\u00a0Pittsboro Eats\u00a0shared via Facebook that\u00a0Sippers Cafe & Bakery\u00a0has opened in\u00a0The Alpha Center\u00a0located at 697 Hillsboro St. Their goal is to offer a welcoming space for friends and families to enjoy delicious coffee, exquisite espressos, and delectable desserts. The caf\u00e9 provides a unique opportunity for transitional aged youth (ages 15-23) who face challenges such as mental illness, physical or intellectual disabilities, or socioeconomic hardship.\u00a0Visit them here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tClosings<\/p>\n Triangle Business Journal\u00a0reported that\u00a0Smash Social Club, which Raleigh restaurant group\u00a0LM Restaurants\u00a0opened late last year\u00a0in the former\u00a0Carolina Ale House\u00a0space on Glenwood South, has closed temporarily. Stay tuned.<\/p>\n The\u00a0News & Observer\u00a0reported that\u00a0CO\u00a0closed its Raleigh location in June, ending an eight-year run in\u00a0North Hills. The Durham location remains open.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tFood trucks<\/p>\n The final\u00a0Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo\u00a0will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on\u00a0Sept. 27. You\u2019ll find food and drink at over 30 food trucks as well as inflatables and family fun for all ages. It will be hosted at\u00a0Durham Central Park\u00a0(500 Foster St., Durham). Go ahead and mark your calendar.\u00a0Get all the details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Looking to find your favorite food truck (or stalking them and simply don\u2019t want to have to admit it)? We understand. Find them on\u00a0Street Food Finder here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tEvents<\/p>\n Foodies! Head to your local\u00a0Wake County Library … why you ask? On\u00a0Saturday, Aug. 22\u00a0at 2 p.m.,\u00a0Oberlin Regional Library\u00a0will host an author talk with\u00a0Brigid Washington, who will be discussing her culinary memoir\u00a0Salt, Sweat, & Steam: The Fiery Education of an Accidental Chef.\u00a0Folks can register here<\/a>. In addition, several of the Wake County branches offer\u00a0Cookbook Clubs, a fun twist on the traditional book club. Participants all check out a copy of the same cookbook, meet to discuss it, and often share something they enjoyed making from it. They\u2019re always a great time and a wonderful way for food lovers to connect.\u00a0Details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The\u00a050th annual\u00a0Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival, a beloved Cary tradition celebrating creativity, community, and the \u201cLazy Daze\u201d of summer, will take place the weekend of\u00a0August 22-23, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. both days. Explore the work of more than 250 exceptional artists from across the country, enjoy live entertainment on four stages, and savor delicious bites and drinks from\u00a025+ food and beverage vendors. Experience hands-on art activities, professional artisan demonstrations, and plenty of kid-friendly fun in\u00a0Kid Daze, including the fan-favorite Kid Collectors Market, where young festival-goers can purchase pint-sized pieces created by Lazy Daze artists. Don\u2019t forget to relax in the beer garden or the new Lazy Lounge as they celebrate 50 years of art, music, food, and summer memories.\u00a0Check out the food vendors here<\/a>, and\u00a0get all the event details here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The\u00a0Sola Hot Mini 5K\u00a0will be held on\u00a0Saturday, Sept. 12. Join the community and\u00a0Sola\u2019s\u00a0fight to find a cure to end\u00a0ALS. Any and everyone is encouraged to come out \u2013 runners, walkers, volunteers, donors, cheerleaders, kids, strollers, moms, dads, friends, family\u2026just be there. And don\u2019t forget, if you\u00a0register before Aug. 30, you get a race shirt included with registration.\u00a0Get all the details here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tickets are on sale now for the\u00a02026 Dinner in the Meadow\u00a0event on\u00a0Sept. 13 for a fundraiser that supports the\u00a0Leonard-Mobley Small Farm Fund, a nonprofit organization that helps small farms in North Carolina.\u00a0Get tickets and all the details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n On Sunday,\u00a0Sept. 27, from 12 to 6 p.m., the inaugural\u00a0Carolina Culture Food Fest\u00a0will transform\u00a0Moore Square\u00a0into an exciting celebration of food, culture, and community. With the tagline\u00a0\u201cWhere Food, Family & Fun Come Together,\u201d\u00a0the free, family-friendly festival will bring together food trucks, chefs, dessert vendors, local businesses, nonprofit organizations and community leaders from across North and South Carolina. One of the festival\u2019s most anticipated attractions will be a live food competition, where participating chefs and food vendors will put their signature dishes, creativity, and culinary skills to the test.\u00a0Get all the details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tFood Bank corner<\/p>\n Help kids today! If you looked at a classroom of 30 third graders, you probably couldn\u2019t pick out the five who are secretly worrying about going to bed hungry. But that\u2019s the sad reality in central and eastern North Carolina today, where\u00a01 in 5 kids are receiving discounted or free school meals. It\u2019s usually the best nutrition they get all day, as their parents try to balance paying all the bills with keeping everybody fed.\u00a0This Back-to-School season, please consider\u00a0supporting programs that let kids go to bed after a full and\u00a0healthy\u00a0meal each night.<\/a>\u00a0Every $30 we receive becomes 90 nutritious meals delivered through backpack programs, food pantries and other local services.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t