Sparking curiosity is new Hillsborough Street bar The Rabbit Hole.
The White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland called—and he wants you to venture down The Rabbit Hole for a drink—literally. Less a mysterious fantasy world and more cozy escape—but with all the character of a friendly tea time—the new bar by co-owners Jonny Ennis and Voltaire Council will open late summer in the former Green Monkey space on Hillsborough Street.
“For us, it’s more than a place to go drinking—we want to be kind of like a home away from home [for patrons].”
Voltaire Council
Lounge seating and a fresh coat’ll give the space a vibey refresh, while dartboards and TVs promise to foster an all-around friendly neighborhood bar that intentionally leans into camaraderie. “There’s some bars where there’s a very clear disconnect between the customers and bartenders,” says Council. “Then you have ones where the owner comes in and drinks; the customers are best friends with the bartenders; and everybody’s like a family”—which is precisely what you’ll find down The Rabbit Hole.
That approachable MO will be mirrored in the drinks—think beer and a small, simplified cocktail menu.
Two new concepts opening in place of Rainbow Luncheonette and Pink Boot
“I want to create a restaurant that actually represents the diner of Raleigh and not a chef-driven ego—a restaurant truly for the people of Raleigh.” So says chef Alex Ricci, most recently of Cucciolo Terrazza, who is set to open his first independent duo of concepts alongside partners Jonny Ennis (aka Jonny Rocket) and Justin Tatnell this fall.
The concepts will open in now-defunct Pink Boot and Rainbow Luncheonette, both of which shuttered in July. And while the duo of West Street joints will certainly be missed, former owner Jason Howard sees the shift as an op to usher in the next era of budding talent.
“This is not a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination,” says Howard. “It’s a tough business. Let them have a crack at it.” Rest assured, Ricci certainly has the chops. Not to mention a cutting-edge vision that will deliver a whole new brand of dining and drinking to the area—and one that will very much be in collaboration with guests.
In Rainbow Luncheonette’s place, Ricci and his partners will be opening Prospects, a diner-esque eatery serving food till 3:30am (!) that Ricci has cultivated with, by and for Raleighites. To create the core menu, he tapped various friends, writers, chefs and other Raleighites for their favorite dishes—either from now or their youth. Think mac and cheeses, kabobs, sandwiches, even a spin on the Lunch Lady pizza as an ode to Pink Boot, plus twists on classic brunch dishes like eggs Benedict, shakshuka, and chicken and waffles (s/o Raleigh Mag!)—NTM desserts from Layered Croissanterie pastry chef Suzanne Downs.
Furthering the intention to truly design the concept as a representation of Raleigh, Prospects will also tout a massive chalkboard on which Ricci will chalk a question (like, say: What is a dish that reminds you of home?) and then feature his interpretation of those guest selects on the rotating seasonal menu.
“I decided since I’ve built the first core menu off of people who impact my life and, in my opinion, the [local] food scene, the entire concept should be cultivated like that for the public as well,” Ricci explains. “This is something that’s not necessarily about me. I’m just at the helm of it.”
As for the Pink Boot side, the trio will open The Devereux in its place, an inviting neighborhood bar that’s “not a dive bar, but not a cocktail bar,” explains Tatnell. And—spoiler alert—there will be boozy slushies.
“I’m doing the spaces a disservice,” says Howard, who is steering his focus on expanding his thriving concepts The Cardinal and Lil Hombre. “It’s time for a change—time to let somebody do it who’s young, hungry and passionate. I’m excited for those guys.” And, so, enter the next gen of dining in Raleigh. Excited yet?
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