Enter Prime STQ, opening spring 2025 in the Horseshoe development at Hub RTP. The author, TV personality, champion pitmaster, BBQ preacher and teacher’s second restaurant blends Prieto’s award-winning barbecue with a high-end steakhouse experience that nods to his Puerto Rican heritage, Texas roots and NC home.
By day, the eatery will serve those beloved chopped-to-order smoked meats and scratch sides, and by night, transition into tableside service with an elevated menu of grilled meatcentric entrees prepared on a custom wood-fired grill from Mesquite, Texas-based J&R Manufacturing.
The shining star of that dinnertime menu will, of course, be an aged-in-house custom cut of steak from Creekstone Farms, smoked with a blend of oak, pecan and fast-burning mesquite wood, then served with chimichurri. It’s a masterful meat Prieto honed via hours spent at steakhouses with other chefs and participating in professional steak cooks.
“I learned a lot about how to push flavor into a steak,” recalls Prieto, who also led a winning professional barbecue team at the Kansas City Barbecue Society competitions and appeared on Food Network’s BBQ Brawl andBBQ Pitmasters. “I started seeing this other side of the world of how people consume steaks, which I found fascinating.”
In addition to steak, the burger also promises to be a hit—and the beer, bourbon and wine list will offer a curated selection of ops to pair. The atmosphere will likewise blend old and new, replicating that longtime tradition of barbecue while introducing fresh and bright elements to ensure a welcoming vibe for all, with ample outdoor seating and a separate room dedicated to to-go orders to boot.
The takeout portion will cater to the professionals frequenting the RTP area, which Prieto has a fondness for and familiarity of, thanks to a nine-year tenure at Quintiles (now IQVIA). During his time there, he was writing cookbooks, doing TV shows and hosting his popular BBQ Club before opening his first restaurant.
And the rest, as they say, is history. … “If you think Prime’s good, just wait—[STQ will] literally knock people’s socks off,” Prieto maintains. “We’re going to drive the best experience that side of the city has ever seen.”
Taking inspiration from his experiences and the many cultures, ingredients and traditions that define present-day U.S., the menu will not only encompass his own journey, but an American story. Think signature dishes like a fragrant fish curry, a traditional Bengali dish Rahman will modernize with French techniques; and crispy lentil fritters, or Piyagi—a nostalgic recreation of the street-food snack Rahman’s grandfather made for him during Ramadan.
“America is such a melting pot,” notes the NCRLA 2021 Chef of the Year, who previously served as executive chef of Vidrio. “The food we’re going to serve is going to be pulled from around the world—I don’t want to be tied to one type of cuisine.” Essentially, ingredients locally and ideas globally, he adds.
That inspired exploration of the chef’s culinary journey will also be mirrored in the concept’s beverage menu and ambiance. “Peregrine has such an emphasis on Saif and his story and his cooking,” emphasizes business partner Shanahan—“and we really want people to see that and be a part of that.”
For his own part, artist/filmmaker and Watts & Ward co-owner Shanahan partnered with Mauer Architecture to design the 4,000-square-foot space. “They’re the first people I’ve ever met professionally who actually trust me and my vision,” he muses. As part of that conceptualization, the interior will incorporate a juxtaposition of ancient and modern materials—like clay, Moroccan plaster, stonework and black steel—and likewise mirroring Rahman’s menu.
And in line with The Exchange’s already bold features, three massive arches serve as focal points, with the above-bar middle arch creating a sort of chef’s table that will allow bar patrons to watch Rahman at work in the kitchen.
“[Dewitt] keeps saying they want this to set the tone for the future of hospitality and thoughtful and mindful cuisine and design,” says Shanahan of the development’s flagship restaurant. “Finally developers are considering that what they’re making isn’t just a structure for commerce, it’s actually a structure that is a piece of art. And I feel like that’s why we’ve really felt this is the right place.”
It’s a project that’s felt “right place, right time” from the jump. “We were both seeking something and just happened to find each other at the right time,” recalls Shanahan of his serendipitous partnership with Rahman. “We have a very special friendship. I wish I would’ve met him 10 years ago, but I’m glad we met now for this project—and I’m sure it’ll be the first of many to come.” peregrineraleigh.com
Prepare to tap in, Raleigh. Highly anticipated sports hub The Brass Tap is opening its first NC location on the ground floor of 400H in Nov. 11. Not your typical sports bar or college bar, owner Niraj Bidari sees it as a mod community-based watering hole catering to all walks of life—a “one-stop shop for all groups of people,” he maintains. And adding yet another true DTR sports and sips destination serving TVs both inside on the patio.
To wit, ahem, tapping into the local beer scene (NC recently ranked No. 1 in the nation for loving craft beer), The Brass Tap will feature 45 taps of local, national and global craft brews, not to mention a full bar boasting wine, spirits, mocktails and classic ’tails—think martinis, margaritas and old-fashioneds.
Add to that ample food ops sure to sate any hankering, from burgers (including an Impossible Burger), handbreaded chicken tenders and wings to pizzas to tacos, quesadillas and wraps. And perf for noon kickoffs and weekend brunch.
“Based on our location [and offerings], we’re very confident in having a variety of people coming to the bar,” emphasizes Bidari. “Raleigh is big right now in terms of growth, and the beer scene is pretty big here.”
Emphasizing community even further—and leaning into that one-stop shop—The Brass Tap will also be very big on activities. Think live music, trivia, cornhole tourneys, DJ nights and watch parties. Bidari says they’ll also aim to go big on celebrating holidays like Cinco de Mayo, Halloween and the Fourth of July with special drinks and decor. And despite NC’s ban on happy hour, expect various specials for teachers, hospitality industry folks and the like.
“We want to support local businesses as well,” adds Bidari, “and focus on helping the community. I’m a big-time local guy.” Cheers to that! brasstapbeerbar.com
Delivering an all-day affair ideal for a to-go coffee and pastry, leisurely brekky or lunch, evening happy hour meeting, date night, or anything in between, the new hot spot promises to percolate an otherwise sleepy section of DTR.
“We’re excited,” says co-owner Kevin Frazier, who came from the bar world (think Charlie Goodnights and City Limits Saloon—to name but a couple) up until he “got tired of the 3am” and hoped to get some of his “Starbucks coffee money back” in 2016. “We feel really good about it and we love the location. We’ve [already] seen a lot of traffic down here.”
And, not shocking because, in short, it’s a vibe. Intentionally counter to everything the typical coffeehouse is, SWC swaps the standard “white subway tiles, crappy furniture, and either phenomenal or a little pretentious baristas” for its intentional “coffee, craft, comfort” MO, says Frazier.
To wit, an exterior patio alive with uplighting, massive orange underlit umbrellas (“because orange is such a warm color,” he says) and tunes welcomes people to stay and play—or even work. Patio tables and Adirondack chairs surrounding a repurposed firepit border accordion doors and windows for that indoor-outdoor alfresco feel. “Highwoods wanted a Sir Walter Coffee but elevated, so we’re a Sir Walter Coffee but elevated,” says Frazier.
Inside, find a thoughtfully crafted concept with ample cozy nooks and seating ops, from church pews and a UK-flag adorned leather couch (a nod to Sir Walter Raleigh’s British roots—though, fun fact, the cafe/barroom’s moniker is actually dubbed for Sir Walter Raleigh Tobacco, a nod to what Frazier’s father smoked, not to the English statesman) to custom-made booths and coffee trays, classy bar stools and beautiful finishings.
Building further on Sir Walter’s OG Davie Street locale, the core menu, served till 4pm, features elevated food options across breakfast and lunch. Think bagels shipped directly from New York, sandwiches, breakfast tacos, avocado toast, salads and more—transitioning to such late-night bar bites (from 4–10pm) as bruschetta, potato skins, deviled eggs and spicy sausage cheese balls, not to mention daily blue plate specials like meatloaf Mondays and fish taco Fridays.
On the bar side, aka Sir Walter’s “alter ego,” dubs Frazier, find five coffee cocktails (hello, espresso martinis!), five specialty cocktails and five classic cocktails—plus three cocktails, four beers and prosecco on tap. Rounding out the bar program, there’s mimosa flights, Tiki drinks, and a “funky G&T” feat. St-Germain and served for four via an Oscar Award-esque vessel that will promise to make you a regular.
And, of course, at its very core, there’s coffee. The Charter Square spot will keep churning out the coffee and espresso drinks for which it’s known, complete with eight specialty blends of its own branded Cardinal Sin espresso and abundant housemade syrups. “We’re not reinventing the wheel, but we’re definitely doing coffee a little differently,” maintains Frazier. And Raleigh is here for it. sirwaltercoffee.com
Fun fact: Sir Walter Coffee is not actually named after Sir Walter Raleigh, but the cans of Sir Walter Raleigh Tobacco Frazier’s dad used to smoke.
If you pref dashing through the ice versus the snow, prepare to lace up—because The Rink is returning to Red Hat Amphitheater for its fourth consecutive year Nov. 23.
A fan-fave for those looking to shake—er, skate—it off in the heart of the city, the “holiday event has become a tradition for Raleigh residents and visitors,” says Kerry Painter, executive director of The Complex, which includes Red Hat Amp. “Seeing our beloved amphitheater transform into a winter wonderland is truly magical and something we look forward to all year long.”
Rounding out the festivities, skaters and spectators can savor the moment via photo ops and games (think giant Jenga and cornhole), not to mention a snack bar complete with hot cocoa, beer, wine, sweet treats and more—best enjoyed cozied up by firepits with views of the tree. And back by popular demand, private igloo lounges—with more to boot—will feat. room for groups of eight, with food, beverage and special holiday merch ops on offer. Ice, ice, baby! Through Jan. 20, redhatamphitheater.com
