Coats, NC Food & Drink and More

One of Raleigh's most influential restaurants will close after 13 years

One of Raleigh’s most distinct and influential restaurants will close this month after more than a decade of championing and celebrating vegetarian cuisine. Fiction Kitchen plans to close its doors for good on Saturday, Nov. 14, and will serve its final Sunday brunch on Nov. 8. “This was a very difficult decision and one full of tears, but we feel the time has come for us to sunset Fiction Kitchen,” owners Caroline Morrison and Siobhan Southern said in an Instagram post. Fiction Kitchen opened in 2013 on Davie Street in Downtown Raleigh. Serving an entirely vegan menu of comforting and seasonal favorites, Fiction Kitchen became a destination for vegetarians and omnivores alike, solidifying its spot as one of the city’s signature restaurants for a time. Its vegan pulled “pork” has been a sensation for years, collecting national write-ups from outlets like The Washington Post . View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Fiction Kitchen (@thefictionkitchen) In 2024, Fiction Kitchen closed its original location in Downtown Raleigh and relocated to the redeveloping Gateway Plaza shopping center, first as a pop-up and then in a new permanent space in 2025. The owners hoped the move would offer a fresh

Raleigh, NC · 2d

takemetotn.com

This North Carolina Amish Bulk Store Sends You Home With Way More Than You Came For

Plenty of people walk into a small country store planning to grab one thing. Most of them walk out with two bags and a new favorite errand. In the tiny Chatham County town of Moncure, just off US 1, a family-run shop has quietly turned quick stops into full pantry hauls. It stocks bulk baking staples, Amish-made goods, fresh pies, and a candy wall that can derail even the most disciplined shopping list.

Moncure, NC · 12d

Raleigh News & Observer

A Raleigh bar, beloved for 40 years, will return after more than a decade away

A revival is in the works for a Raleigh icon that closed more than a decade ago. The sandwich shop and dive bar Sadlack’s will return in a few months in a new location and under new ownership. Jack-of-all-trades Henry Goodall is reopening Sadlack’s in a century-old building at 913 W. Morgan St. in Raleigh. The name is the same, but the new Sadlack’s will open for drinks only to start, with food to follow if all goes well, Goodall told The News & Observer. But more than a menu, Goodall said the new Sadlack’s hopes to conjure a sense of community. “We’re not trying to be the old Sadlack’s, you can’t go back in time and do that,” Goodell said. “But whether you miss the old Sadlack’s or you never had the opportunity to go and always felt like you missed something, this will be here to fill whatever it is they’re trying to find. The world is lacking community and that’s what we’re trying to create here.” The Sadlack’s return was first reported by Raleigh Magazine . Sadlack’s stood for 40 years on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh, serving sandwiches and drawing fans from all walks of life. Goodell

Raleigh, NC · 3d

familydestinationsguide.com

partner publisher · 141.7K followers

You’ll Feel Like You’ve Traveled Back In Time At These 10 Old-Fashioned North Carolina Diners

Looking for old-fashioned North Carolina diners that’ll make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time?. These 10 diners deliver classic eats and a genuine 1950s atmosphere that’s totally worth the trip!. 1. Snappy Lunch (Mount Airy) Snappy Lunch in Mount Airy is the kind of place...

Raleigh, NC · 12d

ABC11 Eyewitness News

Barbecue staple shuts down after eight years in Fayetteville

Bruce Yeomans is closing his well-known Fayetteville food truck. The announcement drew thousands of reactions and a wave of support online.

Fayetteville, NC · 4d

The Fayetteville Observer

partner publisher · 27.6K followers

11 Fayetteville spots offering Thanksgiving meals to take home

For those who want to celebrate Thanksgiving from the comfort of their home without the hassle of meal planning or cleanup, there are plenty of options. Several Fayetteville restaurants and grocery stores have begun preparing for the holiday with premade meal offers. Here are 11 places serving ready-to-eat or heat-and-serve Thanksgiving dinners for even the biggest crowds. Barbara Ann's Southern Fried Chicken Barbara Ann's Southern Fried Chicken is again offering Thanksgiving takeout options. The Gather Around, for $260, serves 20; the Family Feast, for $418.50, serves 30; and the Full House Feast, for $650, serves 50. All options feature fried chicken, a choice of side dishes, bread and drinks. A la carte options are also offered. The deadline to order and pay is Nov. 16. Pickup is available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, at Barbara Ann's, 2800 Gillespie St. in Fayetteville. View the full Thanksgiving menu and place an order at barbaraanns.us or by emailing gillespiebarbarannsnc@gmail.com . Include your name, contact information, complete order and preferred pickup time. Big Erv BBQ & 910 Sweets Big Erv BBQ & 910 Sweets is offering various entrees, sides and desserts for customers to order this Thanksgiving. For

Fayetteville, NC · 2d

travelmag.com

Fried Chicken, Ham Biscuits And A Line Out The Door Make This Raleigh, North Carolina Diner A Saturday Ritual

Old farm tools hang over the tables, and the smell of country ham reaches you before the door does. That was my first clue that a plain little brick diner in North Carolina was going to feed me better than I expected. The line outside looked long, but it moved...

Raleigh, NC · 3d

morningsonmacedonia.com

Angus Barn Chocolate Chess Pie Recipe & Christmas At The Angus Barn

If you’ve never visited The Angus Barn in Raleigh, North Carolina, during Christmas, you are seriously missing out! Between the incredible Christmas decorations, thousands of twinkling lights, delicious food, and cozy holiday atmosphere, it’s truly a Christmas lover’s dream come true!. And as someone who is absolutely...

travelmag.com

8 North Carolina Diners Where The Chili Cheeseburger Plate Comes With Onion Rings

Onion rings were supposed to be the side, but the first crunchy, golden bite made the burger fight for attention. That small surprise happens all over North Carolina, in plain little diners with paper napkins and squeaky booths. The chili cheeseburger here is a proud local tradition, piled with chili,...

North Carolina · 4d

Raleigh News & Observer

The best Carolina-style BBQ joints in the US, says USA Today. 2 are in Raleigh

In barbecue, Carolina-style usually means one of two things: vinegar or tomato. In bridging the barbecue divide, there’s a new ranking of Carolina-style joints that puts a Raleigh icon in the top spot. Raleigh’s influential smokehouse The Pit Authentic Barbecue was named the country’s best Carolina-style barbecue, according to USA Today’s 10Best. In compiling its rankings 10Best barbecue experts nominated top spots and readers voted for their favorites. The Pit helped brighten the spotlight on North Carolina’s most famous culinary tradition when it opened in downtown Raleigh. Co-founded by legendary pitmaster Ed Mitchell and now solely owned by Greg Hatem, The Pit serves up whole hog and Lexington-style barbecue, covering all the Carolina-style bases. The 10Best writers praised The Pit’s ability to cater to all tastes. “Whole-hog barbecue is the main event at The Pit, a Raleigh favorite housed inside a restored 1930s-era warehouse,” the story said. “In addition to pork, the venue offers a diverse range of other proteins including beef brisket, chopped barbecue turkey, and Southern fried chicken — and there are even barbecue soy nuggets for the meat-averse.” Though Carolina-style could mean either state, the rankings show a clear superiority. Of the top 10 Carolina-style spots, seven

Raleigh, NC · 3d

Raleigh News & Observer

Beyond Buc-ee's: Restaurants with Texas ties keep heading to NC

North Carolina is getting a taste of the Lone Star State. Texas-based Buc-ee’s, already building one store in the state, is now eyeing a second location along Interstate 95. The travel center could join Texas-inspired restaurants setting up shop in the Raleigh area. From a barbecue joint to a beloved burger chain, here are openings The News & Observer has covered this year: Buc-ee’s could build a second North Carolina travel center near I-95 and Halifax Road in Rocky Mount. Its first NC location is already under construction off I-85/40 in Alamance County, and there’s no official opening date. East of Texas , a Texas-style barbecue restaurant from owner Claire Calvin, opened at Durham’s American Tobacco Campus . The restaurant serves brisket, burnt ends, pork belly and housemade sausage. It’s an expansion of a Winston-Salem spot that opened in 2023. Shipley Donuts , founded in Houston in 1936, plans to open two Raleigh shops over the next two years, with the first expected in 2027. The chain is known for handcrafted doughnuts and savory kolaches stuffed with fillings like sausage and jalapeños. Whataburger opened its first Triangle locations : in Wake Forest at 489 Calvin Jones Highway and in Raleigh

North Carolina · 3d

Raleigh News & Observer

Multiple coffee shops across Triangle will close or change in the coming months

On Monday, Nov. 2, a fire was reported at Village Coffeehouse in North Raleigh, prompting the business’ closure for until further notice, according to a post on the business’ social media . It’s the latest in a number of setbacks for coffee shops across the Triangle, which are experiencing struggles for a variety of reasons. In addition to the Village Coffeehouse fire, The Optimist Raleigh announced chapter 11 bankruptcy, Bad Brain Coffee Co. faces relocation and Parallax Coffee will close its Wendell location at the end of the year. On Monday, Oct. 26, Andrew Ward, owner of Optimist Raleigh, took to social media to share the news of the bankruptcy filing. “We will continue to operate normally going forward,” The Optimist said in a social media post. “Staff will be paid. Coffee and food will be served and nothing will change, especially in the interim. This process is just beginning, but the idea will always be to be here and protect this place and our staff.” In January 2025, The Optimist opened WRK by The Optimist on the first floor of North Hills’ The Exchange Raleigh before closing. Then Café Royale , a Parisian-inspired café and bar took over the

Raleigh, NC · 2d

jocoreport.com

Raleigh Market At State Fairgrounds Reopens Saturday

RALEIGH — After a monthlong break for the N.C. State Fair, the Raleigh Market will reopen Saturday, Nov. 7. The market is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays except during October, when the annual State Fair is held. The Raleigh Market is one of...

Raleigh News & Observer

Insects in rice, floating black growth: 3 Triangle restaurants get ‘B' grades

The News & Observer publishes a weekly roundup of restaurant sanitation scores to keep you up-to-date on the health grades at Triangle dining spots. Sanitation scores and their corresponding letter grades are used in North Carolina to assess restaurants’ adherence to rules and standards intended to mitigate and prevent the spread of food-borne illnesses. You’ve likely seen sanitation grade cards at restaurants you’ve visited, and The N&O previously explained what those scores mean and how they’re calculated . Here are sanitation scores in Triangle counties from Oct. 20-26. Wake County sanitation scores The Wake County inspection management system shows 85 restaurant inspections were completed Oct. 20-26. One restaurant received a B grade (a score of at least 80 but lower than 90): Acacia Tree Asian Cuisine (101 Keybridge Drive, Suite 100, Morrisville) received a score of 87.5 on Tuesday, Oct. 20. The restaurant was in violation of 11 standards. Violations include a metal bowl of standing water with black growth floating inside, encrusted buildup of debris on several dishes stored as clean and flying insects inside bulk bins of rice, among other violations. The restaurant previously scored an A grade in January 2026. Durham County sanitation scores The Durham County

Wake County, NC · 10d

raleighweekend.com

Enjoy Sunday’s Rooftop Drag Brunch with a Canned Food Drive and Legendary Queens

Nothing beats starting the day with dazzling costumes, powerhouse lip-syncs, and a side of bacon overlooking North Hills. On Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, Raleigh’s original drag brunch returns to the Level 7 rooftop for an afternoon of unmatched entertainment and community impact. The Crape Myrtle Festival team is bringing out a stellar lineup featuring Chloe Cassidy, Kayla LaShay, Alexandra Vittz, Portia Foxx, and Portia Dupree XL.

raleighweekend.com

Smoke and Shuck NC Oysters with Star Pitmasters at Raleigh Iron Works on Saturday

Few pairings capture North Carolina fall quite like briny half shells and rich, wood-fired barbecue. On Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, the Rawleigh Oyster Fest takes over Raleigh Iron Works from 1–5 p.m. for its annual Smoke & Shuck showdown. The lineup brings together six chef-and-grower duos—pairing Triangle favorites like Figulina, Seraphine, and Cucciolo Terrazza with coastal N.C. farms like Kinnakeet and Hold Fast—alongside four heavy-hitting pitmasters, including Nick Dampf and Katsuji Tanabe, plus plant-based dishes from Cuya Cocina’s Kevin Ruiz.

midtownmag.com

publisher · 100.6K followers

Cooper’s Hawk Brings Its Wine-and-Dining Playbook to Cary

An Illinois-born restaurant-and-winery concept is coming to Parkside Town Commons. In an exclusive conversation, general manager Heidi Williams explains why the wine is only part of the attraction. Cary isn’t exactly short on places to eat or enjoy a glass of wine. So when Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants announced...

Cary, NC · 2d

WRAL News

Foodie News: New BBQ spot coming to Raleigh Iron Works, Diwali party and Oyster Fest this weekend

Raleigh Magazine shared the exciting news this week that Michelin-recommended Lewis Barbecue is beginning construction on its Salvage Yard at Raleigh Iron Works location in Raleigh this week. Owner and pitmaster John Lewis, who got his start in Austin (where he helped open Franklin Barbecue and the much-beloved La Barbecue), currently has locations in Charleston, Atlanta and Greenville (SC). Barbecue enthusiasts have flocked to his pits for years, waiting in long lines to get a taste of his expertly smoked pork spareribs, beef ribs, “Texas hot guts” sausage, oxtail, and his legendary beef brisket. Expect them to open in the second quarter of 2027. Take a moment to get familiar with them here.

Raleigh, NC · 19h

whatnow.com