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Raleigh Restaurant News—What’s Opening + Closing

Raleigh Restaurant News—What’s Opening + Closing

by | Jun 30, 2026 | Eat, July/August 2026

Birds of a feather flock to… Village District. Wren Rooftop plans to debut this fall atop the new Oberlin Hotel, promising cocktails, skyline views and a little extra possibility after dark.

Adding to the mix in West Raleigh, permits for a new pizzeria and bar have been filed to take over TheMixx space at Duraleigh Corners, near Glenwood Avenue, joining go-to’s Che Empanadas and Sharky’s.

Botiwalla | Photo by Tim Robinson

Taste—and believe. Botiwalla has officially landed at Raleigh Iron Works. The fast-casual concept from Chai Pani founder Meherwan Irani serves up a fresh take on Indian street food, from chaat and rice bowls to skewers and housemade drinks. Consider it your next Iron Works lunch run.

To market we go! Casa Nama is assuming the former Giorgios Epicurean Market (GEM) space at East End Market, delivering sushi and Asian comfort food and a warm, social aesthetic from the team behind Yatai Market, Chido Taco and La Buena Vida, among others.

Airport cocktails? Cleared for takeoff. RDU has voted to permanently allow post-security to-go drinks, letting travelers sip beer, wine and cocktails all the way to their gate. Just don’t try bringing them onto the plane.

On cloud nine—Clouds Brewing is taking over Tobacco Road’s longtime Glenwood South home, returning the brewery to its original DTR stomping grounds, slated for an early July reopening under the Clouds banner.

The wait is almost over. Dix Park’s refreshed Flowers Cottage debuts this summer with Cottage Coffee and Park Bar—both operated by the Raleigh hospitality duo behind Person Street Bar and Locals Seafood. 

Pour one out for Mordecai Beverage Co. After more than six years, Raleigh’s beloved brewery, taproom and bottle shop announced its closure, marking the end of an era for Oakwood brew lovers.

Sing us a song. Songbird is officially open on Whitaker Mill at East End Market, bringing a daylight-to-dusk concept built around seasonality, locality and rhythm to Raleigh’s dining scene.

The former Mandolin space is getting new life. Also from the Chido team, a second La Victoria is headed to Five Points, dishing tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, margaritas and more to one of Raleigh’s most-watched restaurant addresses.

Bagel lovers, this one’s for you. Jeff’s Bagel Run is officially open at Glenlake, while New York institution H&H Bagels appears to be eyeing Waverly Place for its second NC effort.

Curtain up, cocktails out. Theatre Raleigh’s Green Room is shaking things up with a refreshed beverage program, giving Northeast Raleigh diners another reason to stop by before—or after—the show.

Drift Coffee + Kitchen

Drift Coffee + Kitchen is, ahem, drifting into Raleigh Iron Works with yet another Triangle location, joining its Ridgewood Shopping Center and RTP locales—plus another upcoming spot at The Weld.

Shift happens. Athletic Brewing has brought back Aftershift. Created in collaboration with culinary stars Chris Cosentino, Chris Shepherd, David Chang, Ashley Christensen and Sarah Grueneberg, the nonalcoholic brew is designed for post-work hangs without tomorrow morning’s regrets.

What a burger, indeed. Cult Texas classic Whataburger is eyeing another Triangle outpost, this time in North Raleigh, as the chain continues its local burger blitz.

Peru, meet Japan. IKÁ Nikkei Kitchen + Bar is now open in Glenwood South in the former Wonderland space, introducing Raleigh to Nikkei cuisine—the wildly delicious marriage of Japanese technique and Peruvian flavor. 

Daughter’s Soft Serve

Randy’s is rolling into Cary. According to ELM Partners, the longtime local pizza chain is preparing a new joint at Parkside Town Commons, expanding its footprint in western Wake County.

From butcher to butter pecan. The couple behind Bellow Butcher Co. is getting into the dessert game with new concept Daughter’s Soft Serve, now serving traditional and dairy-free soft serve with creative dips, cores and toppings in downtown Wendell.

JoCo’s chicken wars continue. Slim Chickens has opened a new Clayton locale, adding another chick to one of the Triangle’s fastest-growing fast-casual categories.

The Triangle is dining among the stars. Forbes Travel Guide recently recognized Herons, Fearrington House Restaurant and Fairview Dining Room. Cheers to another round of accolades for three local standouts.

The Buc starts here. Buc-ee’s officially broke ground on its first North Carolina location in June, putting Beaver Nuggets, brisket sandwiches and famously spotless bathrooms one step closer to reality.

Find us pie-eyed. Winston-Salem’s Mission Pizza Napoletana was recently named among the top 20 best pizzerias in the U.S. by Italian Top 50 Pizza, while Durham’s Pizzeria Toro landed on a new national list highlighting excellent pizza destinations across the country.

The Buc-ee’s Bonanza

The Buc-ee’s Bonanza

by | Jan 15, 2024 | Buzz, December 2023/January 2024

What’s the big deal with the new gas station coming to Mebane?

NC’er’s tend to fall into two distinct categories: they either love Buc-ee’s or they despise it. (Save those who have never heard of it… and, to them, well, brace yourselves.) The Texas-founded gas station chain with a cult following has been itching to set roots in-state for a while now—and, as of January, Mebane is set to get its first one by ~2025 (!).

But the news didn’t come without its difficulties. See: the eight-hour Mebane City Council meeting that inched into the wee hours of the night in early Jan, ultimately resulting in a unanimous vote in favor of NC’s first Buc-ee’s location. The Alamance County pit stop at Exit 152 on Interstates 85/40 will boast a 74,000-square-foot convenience store situated on 32 acres, complete with 120 gas pumps, 24 electric vehicle charging stations and 652 parking spaces.

And so comes the fanfare. While those unfamiliar with (or who even dislike) Buc-ee’s cult-like following quickly dismissed the news, those who get it know the beloved beaver-mascotted store is more than just a gas station.

Fans love it for the cheap gas, clean private bathrooms and freshly made food options—think breakfast burritos, brisket sandwiches and other barbecue selects, tacos, kolaches, and beyond. NTM the pastries (think muffins, scones, cookies, cinnamon rolls) and snack selection, aka enough to fuel a monthlong road trip. Choose from ample flavors of jerky; fudge and candies; chips; and—a crowd favorite—Bucee’s Nuggets, aka brown sugar caramel corn puffs (or, my personal pick, the White Cheddar Buc-ee’s Nugg-ees).

Beyond that, let’s be honest, the beaver mascot is adorable (you can sometimes catch him walking around the store to snap pics with eager patrons!), and the merch is fire. Seriously, almost everything you could think of—T-shirts, sweatshirts and other apparel; lunch boxes; beach chairs; even Christmas decorations—is splashed in bright red, yellow and the Buc-ee’s logo and laid out for sale. And these are just some of the attractions that contribute to the passion.


And precisely why Buc-ee’s is more than just another gas station. It’s essentially a tourist attraction. So, fair warning: We predict soon after Mebane’s location opens it will be packed (like, to the point where it may block the interstate—seriously). And as someone who ventured into South Carolina’s first outpost the weekend after it opened in Florence in May 2022, I cannot stress enough how annoying a crowded gas station is. But give it a couple months or so and I guarantee it’ll be your new fave stop.