Wake Forest, 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 · 3d

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 · 4d

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...

allamericanatlas.com

5 Best Restaurants in Durham, North Carolina You Need to Try Before Everyone Else Finds Them

Durham, North Carolina — a city where tobacco warehouses stand shoulder to shoulder with glassy new towers, where the laughter of Duke students mingles with the wisdom of old-timers, where every street corner pulses with the energy of makers, dreamers, and families who’ve called this place home for generations. Here, the city’s soul is stitched together by the legacy of Black Wall Street, the rhythm of jazz and gospel, and the promise of new beginnings. It’s a place where barbecue smoke drifts through neighborhoods, where the scent of biscuits and collards mingles with the spice of new arrivals, and where every meal is a gathering — a celebration of memory and hope, of resilience and reinvention.

Durham, NC · 10h

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 · 3d

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...

familydestinationsguide.com

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

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.

Raleigh News & Observer

Best Indian food? These 4 Triangle restaurants rank among the nation's favorites

Eight North Carolina restaurants rank among the nation’s best places to eat Indian food. And half of those fan-favorite dining destinations are in the Triangle, a new report finds. FULL STORY: 4 Triangle restaurants rank among the nation’s best for Indian food Here are key takeaways: To create the list of the top 100 Indian restaurants in the country, Yelp studied customer feedback. The restaurant review website said the results published Oct. 29 highlight the “most-loved spots in the U.S. for classic and trending Indian flavors.” Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar in Chapel Hill’s Meadowmont Village shopping center ranked highest among the Triangle spots at No. 18 on Yelp’s list. Three Raleigh restaurants also made the cut: Bombay Curry on Strickland Road at No. 41, Masala House on East Millbrook Road at No. 65 and Mustang House on Fayetteville Street at No. 72. Bombay Curry was named the nation’s favorite place for Indian takeout on DoorDash in 2024. Restaurants in Durham also have received recent nods for Indian cuisine. Four other North Carolina restaurants made the latest list from Yelp: Curry Gate in Charlotte (No. 32), Curry Palace in Burlington (No. 67), Mehfil in Asheville (No. 76) and

North Carolina · 10h

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.

Raleigh News & Observer

Popular Pittsburgh-based ice cream franchise opens first NC location in Raleigh

Pittsburgh-based ice cream franchise, Millie’s Homemade, announced on Monday, Nov. 2 an upcoming location in Downtown Raleigh. Originally launched in 2014, Millie’s was co-founded by Chad and Lauren Townsend. Raleigh will be the franchise’s first North Carolina location. The opening date has yet to be announced. “Get READY, Raleigh: we’re on our way to becoming besties!,” the company said in the post . “...we’ll have scoops and scoops of tasty stuff to announce.” The creamery company has locations in Pennsylvania, Florida, New York, Maryland, Texas and a mobile truck in Tennessee, according to its website . In addition to store locations and food trucks, the business packages their ice cream at Millie’s Ice Cream Works and sells pints in nearby grocery stores. “We’re on a mission to #spreadLove in our community through the simple joy of scratch-made ice cream,” the company said on his website. “That means real relationships and real ingredients – always sourced from farmers & artisans and proudly spun into super premium ice cream...” Triangle Business Journal reported that the site is scheduled to be at 325 Blake St. near Moore Square in Downtown Raleigh’s City Market before the end of the year. Millie’s sells classic, seasonal

Raleigh News & Observer

publisher · 100.7K followers

Triangle restaurants and cafés face closures and changes. Here's what to know

Several beloved Triangle eateries are closing or relocating as owners cite post-pandemic struggles, oversaturated markets and shifting business conditions. From a longtime vegan standout in Raleigh to a national cookie chain, the local food scene is changing. Here are key takeaways: A fire at Village Coffeehouse in North Raleigh has shuttered the shop indefinitely, joining a wave of Triangle coffee shop setbacks that include The Optimist Raleigh ’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, Bad Brain Coffee Co .’s forced move from Raleigh Iron Works to make way for Drift Coffee + Kitchen, Village Coffeehouse ’s fire and the year-end closure of Parallax Coffee ’s Wendell location. ( Note: Parallax announced on Nov. 5 that they found a temporary space as a pop-up inside Daughters Soft Serve on N. Main Street in Wendell, starting mid-December.) Crumbl Cookies has closed multiple Triangle locations in 2026, including stores in Raleigh’s Six Forks Station, Chapel Hill and Cary’s Parkside, as the national chain reports a 70% drop in sales and its founders search for replacements to take over day-to-day operations. Fiction Kitchen , the influential Raleigh vegan restaurant , will close for good on Nov. 14 after 13 years, with owners Caroline Morrison and Siobhan

Raleigh, NC · 12h

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 · 1d

Raleigh News & Observer

A new artisan ice cream shop has opened in Raleigh. Here's where to try it

The small-batch artisan ice cream shop Ladybug Creamery has officially opened at North Raleigh’s Glenwood Place. The creamery emphasizes quality ingredients without artificial flavors or colors. Their dairy, fruit and honey are sourced from North Carolina farms, as well as toppings that are “baked, boiled or roasted” in their own kitchen, according to their website . “First taste, first impression is everything,” the business said in a social media post. “We have been perfecting our recipes and tracking down the perfect local produce to bring a real farm-to-cone experience to the neighborhood.” Ladybug Creamery maintains a rotation of 12 flavors made daily in their location, each categorized under signatures, classics, international or seasonal. These tastes are subject to change, but their signatures — milk & honey, Turkish coffee, and pistachio — are always available, per the website . “Ladybug means: luck, hope, and new beginnings — the courage to move forward and make something meaningful in a new place,” the business said on its website . “That is the whole idea behind our Ladybug Creamery.” It’s led by Onur Yilmaz, a student of gastronomy and culinary arts. Yilmaz had years of experience in professional kitchens before “ice cream became the

Raleigh, NC · 1d

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 · 4d

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 · 4d

whatnow.com

Five Guys Burgers & Fries Could Bring Its Made-to-Order Burgers to Downtown Raleigh

Five Guys Burgers & Fries could be bringing its made-to-order burger concept to downtown Raleigh, with preliminary development plans identifying 442 Fayetteville St. as the site of a potential new restaurant. The News & Observer reported October 28 that plans submitted to the city on October 19 outline renovations to prepare the space for the Virginia-founded chain.

midtownmag.com

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 · 3d

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