Friday Fun Food Facts - July 27, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

Triangle restaurant news...that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler. 

•  BurgerFi opened its first location outside of Florida in Cary this past Tuesday. And this isn’t the last you’ll see. They have plans for 20 locations in North & South Carolina with the next one set to open in September in Raleigh in the Trader Joe’s shopping center on Wake Forest Road. The Cary store is located in the Arboretum at the intersection of Harrison Avenue and Weston Parkway. Check it out here.

• The newest Another Broken Egg Café opened a week or so ago at Park West Village at the intersection of Chapel Hill Road (Hwy. 54) and Cary Parkway in Morrisville. This marks the second Triangle area location, with the other being on Erwin Road in Durham. Get more information here. 

• Got word this week from reader Ashley Mills that the former location of The Loop at 2734 Hwy. 55 in Cary is now home to West Park Tavern. West Park opened at the end of last month. Get more details on their Facebook page here.  

• So we have an open date set for the Pittsboro Road House and General Store in Pittsboro. If they get all of their approvals and inspections, they’ll open on Friday, August 19th. Keep up with the details here.

• We told you about this back on June 15th, but now we know the name of the concept taking over the former Mint location on downtown Raleigh’s Fayetteville Street. It will be called Bolt Bistro & Bar. We also know now that they are looking at a late August / early September opening. Bolt is owned by David Sadeghi and Adalius Thomas.

• And speaking of Sadeghi, we learned this week that earlier this year he took over ownership of Chapel Hill’s Town Hall Grill, located in Southern Village. Welcome to the Triangle David!

• Thanks to the Triangle Business Journal we learned this week that the very popular Refectory Café on Duke’s campus (at the divinity school) has closed. However, the good news is that they will continue to operate their location at Duke’s Law School and will open another location in September at 2726 Chapel Hill Boulevard in Durham. Keep up with it all here on their Facebook page.  

• The News & Observer is reporting this morning that the Port City Java location at the intersection of Fayetteville and Martin streets in downtown Raleigh will close their doors this coming Saturday. We have heard rumors of what is going into that location, but we’ll keep an eye on it and get a little bit more information before reporting on that.

• Thanks to a tip from reader Cameron Randol we learned that the Qdoba Mexican Grill location at Brier Creek shopping center in Raleigh has closed. They still have six Triangle area locations. Check them out here.

• And I got word this week from John over at Triangle Explorer, that Tejano’s Grill in Wakefield has closed. However, a note on the door indicates that a new restaurant called Tortillas Mexican Grill will open in that location. We will continue to keep an eye on this for you.  Thanks John! 

• A couple of dinners this weekend to tell you about. L’Uva at the American Tobacco Complex is hosting an Aviator Brewing Company beer brunch at noon this Saturday. For $35 you’ll get to enjoy a three-course meal with beer pairings followed by a special barrel-aged brew and cigars on the patio. To make a reservation, call 919-688-8181.

• And downtown Raleigh's Capital Club 16 is hosting its regular Sunday Supper this Sunday at 7 p.m. Many of the meal's ingredients will come from Commonplace Cooperative Farm, formerly New Grass Gardens. The wine pairings will be chosen by The Raleigh Wine Shop. A vegetarian option is available upon request. The meal costs $55 per person. To make a reservation, call 919-747-9345. Thanks to Andrea Weigl at the N&O for turning us on to these two events.

• And speaking of the N&O, they are hosting another of their Food Truck Fridays on August 3rd from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Look for Only Burger, Klausie's Pizza and The Parlour, which will be dishing out scoops of ice cream. The trucks will be parked in the front lot of the N&O at 215 S. McDowell St. And while you’re at it, mark your calendar for the last N&O Food Truck Friday of the year on Oct. 5.

• If you can’t make that food truck event, perhaps you can make the United Way’s next Food Truck Rodeo which will be held on Wednesday, August 8th from 11:30 to 1:30 pm at 2400 Perimeter Park Drive. Look for Klausie’s, Will & Pops, NY Style Hot Dogs, Monuts, The Parlour and possibly a few more. Get more information on the United Way here.  

• Mark your calendars now for Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week which will be the week of August 20-26. The annual event features restaurants offering three-course prix fixe meals for $20 or $30. You can add a beer or wine pairing at some restaurants for an additional $10. For more information, go here.

• So next Monday is the day that tickets go on sale for one of the Triangle’s most sought-after foodie events - TerraVITA’s Grand Tasting on the Green in Chapel Hill’s Southern Village. The event itself will be held on November 3rd. Check out all the details here.  

• Mark your calendars for the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival featuring over 60 beers, 40 bourbon and tons of barbecue. The event will be held August 3rd and 4th at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary. Get all the details here.   

• The Strickland Road location of Neomonde Mediterranean Cafe & Market will be having a live music night featuring Greek music by musical ensemble Parea on Saturday, August 4 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. There will be lots of dinner and drink specials including $2 Almaza Lebanese Beer. Like them on their Facebook page to keep up with all the details.

• And finally, I’m afraid the beach is calling me once again. My family and I will be “ocean side” next week and therefore there will be no Friday Fun Food Facts next Friday. See you in August!