A long-vacant ground-floor retail space at Bloc[83] is finally getting a tenant. Set to fill just over 6,000 square feet of the development that now houses Dram & Draught, Incendiary Brewing Co., and First Watch is 83 SOUTH, a brand-new “night on the town” experience from locals G. Brooks Splawn, Banks Sinclair and Luke Hanson.
The trio came together in 2023 with the idea of curating the reimagined restaurant and bar—since tapping local restaurateur Anthony Rapillo and Top Chef alum Katsuji Tanabe to consult on the concept after spending many a business meeting at the duo’s DTR restaurant Flour & Barrel.
So dubbed for its location at Bloc[83], 83 SOUTH technically combines two commercial properties into one—setting the stage of a “thought-provoking, grown and sexy atmosphere,” says Rapillo, with varying elevated spaces upping the cool factor. He teases two huge bars, private dining and a wine room.
A bona fide day-to-night destination, the hot spot will feature lunch, a vibey DJ weekend brunch, and an upscale dinner menu dishing American-inspired small plates—plus craft cocktails, beer and wine. Come 10:30/11pm, tables and chairs will give way to a sophisticated adults-centric lit (literally) late-night lounge till 2am.
“83 SOUTH hopes to bring an elevated environment and atmosphere—the likes of which Raleigh has been craving,” muses Rapillo, “where burgeoning ideas can manifest, grow and build.” Fitting for the new kid on the “bloc.”
Breakfast is serious business. With many professionals electing to morph their first meal of the day into a meeting, we tapped the RM team for their go-to brekkie spot boasting tasty cuisine and an ideal ambiance for connections with colleagues and clients around the city. … A toast, indeed!
“I’m not a big breakfast person (brunch, please!)—but if I must dine before 10am, you’ll find me at Plates every time. That Breadbox Coffee cart is a vibe. … Order the BEC breakfast sandwich and prove me wrong.” —Melissa Howsam, Editor-in-Chief, @mahowsam
“The outdoor seating at The Morning Times with a bagel and iced latte in hand is the best place for a meetup—especially during the crisp fall season!” —Anna Beth Adcock, Editorial Assistant, @_annabethadcock
“The Morning Times—the coffee and bagels are so good, and the environment is so cozy.” —Cameron Rhinehardt, Account Executive, @camrht
“Jubala in North Hills” —Debby Serena, Account Executive
“Waffles are my fave, so First Watch is always my go-to spot for breakfast.” —Heidi Reid, Contributing Writer, @heidi.laurel
“It’s hard to beat Big Ed’s for a business brekkie, but I also like Sir Walter Coffee for a quick work meeting. The staff is friendly, the atmosphere is bustling, and the avocado toast with everything bagel seasoning always hits the spot.” —Kelsie Barton, Contributing Writer, @kelsie_barton
“Go-to breakfast meeting would have to be Jubala on Hillsborough Street. Bacon, eggs and coffee on the patio… what’s not to love?” —Sean Junqueira, Contributing Photographer, @seanjunqueira
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
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
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
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
![Restaurant, Bar, Nightlife Coming to Bloc[83]](https://raleighmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/83-south-bloc83.png)
