by Anna Beth Adcock | Sep 14, 2023 | Eat, September 2023
Six top-notch spots for a morning meeting
The antidote to an early-morning business meeting? Breakfast, naturally. After all, it’s the most important meal of the day—brunch is reserved for weekends!—so why not double down on productivity and add a meeting to your weekday wake-up menu. Dubbed by some as “power breakfast,” morning meals are now being leveraged by business professionals for meaningful corporate convos in a more casual setting (read: in a restaurant over a cuppa and a side of bacon!). Here, six savvy spots for a post-sunrise sit-down.
A Place at the Table
Tuck into feel-good food with a purpose via a BYO breakfast platter or sandwich (NTM rotating selections of pastries for those with a sweet tooth) at this delectable do-good DTR pay-what-you-can cafe. After all, good business favors the benevolent.
Big Ed’s Restaurant
Make big biz moves at Big Ed’s City Market spot over breakfast fare served all day long (best enjoyed before noon though). We’ll have an order of networking: over easy.
Plates Neighborhood Kitchen
All the professionals can be found at Plates—most likely munching on French toast, a sweet potato hash bowl, or Greek yogurt and granola. Pair it with your coffee of choice from the resto’s on-site coffee trailer out on the patio or opt for an indoor atmosphere (dealer’s choice!) for a mega delish meeting.
Mecca Restaurant
A, ahem, mecca for breakfast meetings, the long-standing DTR dining haven (as recently tested by RM’s publisher and editor-in-chief!) is a great place to toast to business beginnings with a breakfast sammie, pancakes or an omelet. Pro tip: the grits are 10/10.
Pam’s Farmhouse
Well done! Connect with a colleague at Western Boulevard’s ~30-year-old diner serving up satisfying Southern comfort classics—think hotcakes, biscuits, country breakfasts, etc.—for family-oriented cooking and professional collaboration.
State Farmers Market Restaurant
There’s no better spot for a business breakfast than this beloved NC fare-focused restaurant evoking comfort in both cuisine and atmosphere. “Y’all come!” … And bring your coworkers!
by Anna Beth Adcock | Sep 7, 2023 | Eat, September 2023
Raleigh Iron Works’ tasty new tenant
Ford Fry is at it again. He first hinted at his just-announced ATL standout concept Little Rey dropping in Raleigh last year on our podcast—and now this aspiration is finally coming to fruition.
After first dipping his toes into the Triangle food scene via successful Fenton spot Superica, the celeb chef is expanding his reach to Raleigh Iron Works and once again blessing us—this time with his already-thriving Tex-Mex concept. Centered around “al carbon” wood-roasted cooking, the highly anticipated spot will serve an array of droolworthy staples such as al carbon—naturally—plus traditional street-style tacos, fresh salsas and handmade tortillas to boot.
Ford says RIW is the perfect home for the popular restaurant, slated to bow in 2024. “The property is fresh, innovative and visionary—and well-positioned between several growing parts of the city,” he said in an exclusive chat with Raleigh Magazine this week. “Plus, we’re thrilled to be neighbors with talented friends like Brodeto, Eastcut Sandwiches and Andia’s Ice Cream, to name a few. We can’t wait for Little Rey to become part of the Triangle community.”
To complement the fiery menu, a variety of soft-serve ice cream flavors (tres leches! salty cajeta and fried peanuts!) await—or diners looking to sweeten the experience can also tuck into the concept’s cult-fave pancakes with buttermilk syrup.
Thirsty? Enter the impressive beverage program. Masterminded by beverage VP Eduardo Porto Carreiro, the drinks will pair perfectly with the flavors of the fare. Toast to the tantalizing Tex-Mex morsels with an on-the-rocks marg or crack open a Mexican beer from the scad of handselected local and regional craft ales a la the convenient reach-in cooler.
Impressive in both scope and scale, the expansive counter-service taco spot sprawls across 3,100 square feet via indoor and patio seating, with a walk-up to-go window affectionately dubbed Uno Mas. More casual than its Cary-based cousin, the resto exudes relaxation and zest via its rose pink, deep blue and sage color palette; old-fashioned handpainted signs; and Waylon & Willie songs on the queue. And be sure to peep vintage Mexican mementos and standout art compliments of a curated collection decorating the dining room.
“I’m excited about [Little Rey] because I eat it all the time,” said Ford on that prophetic podcast episode, hinting it would one day come to Raleigh. He adds now: “I love the Raleigh area and have wanted to introduce Little Rey here since we opened its big sis Superica in Cary last year. I think the city will enjoy our casual vibe, friendly service, street-style al carbon tacos and cold margs—and we can’t wait to serve them soon.” … We love a full-circle moment. Give us mas!
by Anna Beth Adcock | Aug 31, 2023 | Eat, July/August 2023
RM’s most-loved lunch locales
Why do dinner and brunch get all the hype? We’re all about a midday pick-me-up—and it’s about time lunch gets some of the recognition it deserves. So, we sought the opinions of the RM team for their standout selects among the lineup of loveable lunch spots spanning the city. … At noon, we lunch!
“In Midtown, I love the patio at Vivace. In Downtown, Capital Club 16—love the windows and watching busy people on the street.”
—Gina Stephens, Publisher, @ginasdawgs
“Sola: good coffee, good sandwiches and close to work. The perfect spot.”
—Liz Comella, Creative Director, @liz.comella.design
“Cantina 18 will always have my heart for lunch—paired with perf patio weather and a marg, and if I’m lucky, my mom as my date.”
—Melissa Howsam, Editor-in-Chief, @mahowsam
“I don’t usually go out to lunch but when I do I’ll go for Happy + Hale. It’s light + delicious!”
—Lauren Kruchten, Associate Editor, @laurenn_nicol
“I am all about a lunch spot with fab flavors and a good outdoor ambiance, so I love a daytime date at Anise Pho or Gringo A Go Go. And a good friend to share my meal with is always a plus!
—Anna Beth Adcock, Editorial Assistant, @_annabethadcock
“Morgan Street Food Hall is already so cool, and Cowbar has a truffle burger to die for (hence its nod on our 2023 Best Burgers list 😉).”
—Cameron Rhinehardt, Account Executive, @camrht
“Coquette Brasserie for the consistently good lunch menu and the atmosphere.”
—Debby Serena, Account Executive
“David’s Dumpling and Noodle Bar is a criminally underrated lunch stop—the crispy spicy wontons are immaculate.”
—Heidi Reid, Contributing Writer, @heidi.laurel
“Coquette for their French onion soup!”
—Emily O’Brien, Contributing Writer
“I like Longleaf Swine for lunch!”
—Forrest Mason, Contributing Photographer, @fmasonmedia
“My favorite local lunch spot is Raleigh Times. The fried pickles are a must.”
—Sean Junqueira, Contributing Photographer, @seanjunqueira
by Anna Beth Adcock | Aug 29, 2023 | Eat, September 2023
Bloc[83] brings three fresh sup spots to DTR
Downtown Raleigh, it’s time to welcome a few new neighbors to the block. Relative newcomer Bloc[83]—comprising One Glenwood and Tower Two at the south end of Glenwood—is continuing to amp up its urban appeal by adding a trio of sip and sup spots to its already impressive scad of ubercool amenities. Think a sky terrace (also the venue of our exclusive best restaurants soiree!), Raleigh’s largest urban courtyard, myriad retail/fitness ops, a 126-room boutique hotel and more—NTM local palatable powerhouses Dram & Draught and 321 Coffee. Here, the rundown on what’s coming. bloc83raleigh.com
First Watch
The early bird gets the million-dollar bacon (!). Famed for its fab breakfast + daytime delights (think droolworthy omelets, stacked pancakes, hearty salads and more), First Watch first rolled into its latest DTR locale this spring to keep us sated with a breakfast of champions whenever we feel like rolling out of bed.
“We consider our Hillsborough Street location to be our crown jewel,” says VIM Holdings President and owner of multiple First Watch NC cafes Bob Frame of the new location. “Combining the energy that comes from being in the Downtown area along with our stylish patio, beautiful interior decor and amazing staff will certainly make it a destination restaurant.” And clearly Raleigh agrees, as the brekky spot has filled a much-needed DTR void and drawn a crowd since the day it bowed. firstwatch.com
Vic’s Pizzeria
Ciao, bella. You can soon grab a slice of ’za in Vic’s third local iteration, slated to bow by early next year with a new spin. Rather than sit-down service, the pizzeria is zoning in on quick bites for nearby desk jockeys (think Citrix, Pendo) and on-the-go locals with a grab-and-go cooler and counter-style service feat. a condensed menu—think pizzas, calzones, stromboli, wings, sandwiches, salads and desserts. Bonus: Patio dining is also on deck. And big news for hungry Dram & Draught fans, you’ll be able to fuel your drink sesh with fare from this neighboring nosh spot.
“I’m very excited to bring Vic’s Pizzeria to the WeWork building and surrounding neighborhood,” says owner Michael Longo, who also co-owns Vic’s other two uberpopular Italian restaurants. “We can’t wait to open and invite guests to enjoy our delicious food and welcoming hospitality.” vicsitalianrestaurant.com
Incendiary Brewing Company
How you brewin’? Founded by two Winston-Salem locals whose homebrewing hobby blossomed into a business, Incendiary Brewing Company is slated to open its third uberpopular taproom—joining Winston-Salem and Lewisville locales—in the Bloc by September (fingers crossed!), complete with private patio.
“We decided over a year ago we wanted to be in the Raleigh market,” says co-founder/operator Brandon Branscome. “So much change and growth is happening there right now, and we wanted to be part of it. It took us a while to find a location we felt would let us showcase our brand, but we believe we have done just that in Bloc[83].” And keeping its City of Oaks offerings stout, the new brewery will boast 24 rotating draft selects—from IPAs to pilsners, stouts and lagers. incendiarybrewing.com
by Anna Beth Adcock | Aug 29, 2023 | Arts & Culture, September 2023
Raleigh-based production company behind new survival-at-sea thriller
“On a blustery day, four friends embarked on a fishing trip. A harrowing two days later, only one man returned. This is his story.” … In 2009, Nick Schuyler’s life changed forever when he became the sole survivor of a boating trip gone wrong in the Gulf of Mexico, which claimed the lives of his best friend Will Bleakley, along with NFL players Marquis Cooper and Corey Smith (the latter of whom was also a former NC State football star).
In the wake of the tragedy, Schuyler worked with Rick French, chairman & CEO of Raleigh-based agency French/West/Vaughan, to document his story while honoring his late friends via his inspiring yet heartwrenching nonfiction survival tale Not Without Hope—which went on to earn a spot on The New York Times bestselling list and resulted in Schuyler’s appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show and HBO’s Real Sports. And while the book debuted in 2010, the upcoming film has been 13 years in the making—due to delays caused by unforeseen circumstances and the pandemic.
“Making a film like this, especially a water-based tragedy, is about as difficult as you can imagine,” explains French. “The water was cold. It was a very immersive experience, and that’s what people in the theater are going to experience—they are going to be thrust into that environment with the guys who are trying to survive. … We will be pulling that theatergoer into the water.”
French’s film production company, Prix Productions, is behind creation efforts for the film, which recently wrapped shooting on-location in Malta and is targeted for an early fall 2024 debut (also coinciding with the start of the NFL season). An array of acclaimed Hollywood actors are involved in the project, including Zachary Levi (you might know him from Shazam!) starring as Nick, plus Quentin Plair (a former UNC football player from the Butch Davis era), Marshall Cook, Josh Duhamel (of Safe Haven fame), Terrence Terrell and JoBeth Williams—with critically acclaimed director Joe Carnahan at the helm.
“They gave us everything they had,” says French of the principal actors. “It was a grueling experience—to be in that tank in the middle of the night in cold water with no bodysuits. They were facing the elements for weeks on end recreating these sequences. I cannot imagine the physical toll it took on all of them.”
An edge-of-your-seat thriller, Not Without Hope is a film for everyone—from sports fans to those who enjoy buddy movies, says French. “And in a story like this, Mother Nature is always going to win… but these guys fought heroically to try and stay alive against the worst storm to hit the Gulf of Mexico in 25 years,” he adds.
In addition to the feature film, keep your eyes on the horizon for a documentary based on the same story, Four Down, set for release in 2024. The filmmakers are shooting to premiere the docu—directed by Oscar-nominated Steven Cantor and produced by French and Dwayne Johnson and his production company, Seven Bucks Productions—at Sundance Film Festival.
“Our intent is to honor the memory of Nick’s friends,” says French of the in-the-works major motion picture. “We want the last thing for people to know about them not to be how they died—but how they lived and worked together to try and keep each other alive.” Indeed, hope is not lost.
