Village District ups its game as day-to-night destination district.
Fun fact: Postino is Italian for postman—which is fitting, given upcoming Postino WineCafé promises to absolutely deliver. If your mind goes to brunching and lunching around some intermittent retail therapy when you think of Village District—think again. Beyond the uproarious addition of Goodnights that catapulted the destination for shoppers and diners into a good-night-out spot, the DTR-adjacent district continues to elevate its nighttime appeal.
Now, the Arizona-born dynamic, market-first “industrial winecafé” we first teased last spring is set to uncork in the former Cafe Carolina space this spring—and promises to serve as a welcoming respite for Raleighites frequenting the neighborhood, which is celebrating 75 years of “tradition and taste” this month.
“We take a lot of pride in this property,” says Regency VP/Market Office Nate Smith, “and being able to bring fresh experiences to the market reflects our team’s passion. Postino is one of the most sought-after restaurant concepts in the country, and we’re thrilled they’ll be joining our fantastic tenant mix at Village District”—NTM bringing VD to 99% leased.
With an MO of “making people feel good” and intentionally built as a space for connection, the WineCafé’s iterations serve as odes to the communities that house them—its welcoming vibes synonymous with thego-to spot for happy hour, date night, GNO and beyond.
Midcentury-mod furnishings sourced from local vintage shops and alluring art installations invite, while custom walnut wine walls, rollup garage doors and vibey playlists serve up a kicked-back spot to sip back and relax. Meanwhile, palate-pleasing potables and pairings promise to keep you sated across an ever-changing cast of boutique wines, craft brews and specialty cocktails, alongside a decked-out menu of bruschetta, panini, salads and a lineup of craveworthy charcuterie boards and shareables. Sharing is caring, after all.
Ultimately answering the call for innumerable requests to pull Postino to NC, “when we found this location in Village District that’s been somewhat of a historic landmark in the community, we had to jump,” says Lauren Bailey, CEO and co-founder of Upward Projects. “We can’t wait to join the Raleigh community.”
Echoes Village District GM Brooke Conn: “Postino is in the perfect location to accommodate our community’s desire for a brunch and daytime spot that effortlessly becomes a nighttime destination.” So, clearly, the whole package.
WEB EXCLUSIVEDowntown Raleigh Alliance just announced a new incentive to eat lunch at a restaurant in Downtown–as if there weren’t already enough incentives already! And, this time, your lunch loyalty just might pay off.
From Feb. 19 to March 5, participate in the Downtown Raleigh Loyal lunch contest and you could win a $25 gift card (or a grand prize of a $100 gift card!) for a participating restaurant of your choice.
Here’s how it works: Post your Downtown Raleigh lunch pic to the ’Gram using hashtag #DowntownRaleighLoyal; tag the restaurant; and follow and tag @DowntownRaleighAlliance. Posting pics of lunch to get more lunch (for free!)? Now that’s a contest we can get behind.
That, and it’s for a good cause—DRA is all about advancing the vitality of Downtown Raleigh for everyone, and restaurants who specialize in lunch could really use some extra love right now. “DRA’s Downtown Raleigh Loyal lunch campaign is specifically targeted to restaurants serving lunch, which have been hit particularly hard by a year of fewer employees and visitors in downtown,” says Kathleen Louis, DRA’s vice president of engagement and business development.
The campaign is also the perfect opp to support local businesses while upgrading your average everyday lunch to, say, tigelles (looking at you, Alimentari at Left Bank!); pho (Anise Pho has a killer lunch special); or one of Ashley Christensen’s amazing fried chicken sandwiches (you already know to order online from Beasley’s).
WEB EXCLUSIVE The standard sandwich lunch can get really repetitive and boring when that’s the only thing you pack for the office every day (trust us, we know). For National Sandwich Day, we encourage you to spice things up and add some excitement to your lunch hour with some unique and tasty sandwich options around Raleigh. Read on for the most delicious excuses to try something new—satisfaction guaranteed.
The Raleigh Times is best known for their craft and Belgian beer and rooftop patio in the heart of downtown Raleigh, not to mention their news-worthy sandwich lineup, including this Bangin’ Shrimp Po-Boy.
Wilson’s Eatery offers a variety of sandwiches, flatbreads and salads made with locally sourced ingredients. Carry out or dine-in in a laidback warehouse space or on their patio alongside the beer garden shared by their partner Lynwood Brewing Concern.
Located inside of Transfer Co. Food Hall, Benchwarmers offers breakfast sandwiches on their freshly baked bagels, and, yes, they do taste as good as they look.
For an authentic New York Deli-style experience, hop on over to Mookie’s in Cary. We recommend the Reuben, and for any vegetarians, they offer a version made with roasted Fox Farm mushrooms.
If you ever find yourself in North Raleigh, you have to swing by Sola and grab one of their lunch or breakfast sandwiches. We recommend the Sola Turkey on Boulted Bread Sourdough—add avocado if you’re feeling wild.
Whiskey Kitchen is known for their whiskey, craft cocktails and inventive Southern fare, but this fried chicken sandwich threatens to steal the show. Enjoy on their spacious patio in the heart of downtown.
Beasley’s is best known for their fried chicken on waffles, sandwiches or by the piece. Try their classic chicken sandwich with special sauce or their chicken biscuit with pickled green tomato.
Union Special Bread has made a name for itself since opening in 2019 as an all-day bakery and café. Using locally sourced ingredients when they can’t make them from scratch, they serve breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner with a variety of delectable sandwich options.
This September, dine out and raise money to support school
meals.
A five dollar lunch is a pretty good deal but chipping in five
dollars to support students eating lunch at Wake County schools is a great one.
Through the month of September, around 100 restaurants across
Raleigh and Wake County will offer the option for customers to add five dollars
to their bills in order to raise money for the North Carolina Partnership for
Child Nutrition (NCPCN), a nonprofit with the goal of ensuring every child in
the county chooses to eat a nutritious meal at school. Look for “Support School
Meals” cards in participating restaurants explaining NCPCN’s mission or special
menu items that add five dollars to the cause.
“Every restaurant might do it a little differently,” explains
NCPCN president and founder Steve Mangano, a Raleigh resident, foodie and
entrepreneur whose two children attend Wake County public schools.
Mangano started NCPCN with a group of local partners around a
shared vision of students (and teachers, administrators and other staff) opting
to buy lunches from their school’s cafeterias during the school day.
Accomplishing that goal, Mangano says, would create other positive outcomes for
students including, potentially, universal free breakfast, innovative meal
programs and opportunities to engage with each other through food.
“If eating lunch at school becomes the default, you start to
break down cultural barriers around that,” Mangano says. “So now, it’s not only
some kids who are eating lunch at school, but everyone is. You have more
opportunities for interactions, you have opportunities for kids not to feel
stigmatized. A lot of times kids who are on free or reduced lunch choose not to
eat because they’re embarrassed. It also puts more money back into the school
system.”
As North Carolina doesn’t allocate money for school meals in its
state budget, advocacy nonprofits such as No Kid Hungry and others have worked
for decades to ensure students aren’t going hungry in schools. And while No Kid
Hungry and other private sector and nonprofit organizations, including Blue
Cross Blue Shield and the North Carolina Alliance for Health, are important
partners in what NCPCN hopes to accomplish, Mangano says he saw a need for
on-the-ground ways to educate parents and other stakeholders about the
importance of strong school nutrition programs
Currently, school lunch participation rates in Wake County are
below 50 percent; NCPCN wants to bring those rates to above 70 percent. To
reach this goal, the nonprofit hopes to raise enough money in September to hire
an executive director, complete a study from a food insight group outlining
national best practices for school lunch participation and, finally, launch a
pilot program in one school in Wake that would implement changes to increase
school lunch participation that, potentially, could be replicated on the county
and state levels in the future.
The nonprofit also plans to work with WCPSS Child Nutrition
Services director Paula De Lucca to help her achieve the goal of making Wake
County’s child nutrition program one of the top in the country.
“A pilot project in one of our schools would be a way of
proving the practicality of this great idea,” says Christine Kushner, a Wake
County school board member and advisor to the NCPCN board of directors. “If
more students participated in school meals, that’s a benefit to
active parents, giving them one less thing to worry about, as their
student gets breakfast and/or lunch with their classmates at school.”
So, how can you chip in?
Simply check out NCPCN’s website for a list of participating
local restaurants, cafés,
breweries, confectionaries and other businesses. In September, whenever you
dine or make a purchase in one, you’ll have the option of adding five dollars
to your bill—and that’s it—that’s all you have to do!
“We’re focused on Wake County first, and whatever we accomplish
in Wake, we can replicate in other areas,” Mangano says. “It’s hopefully this
incremental thing where, if we have enough people contributing five dollars,
we’ll get to an amount that will allow us to make a change.”
Oh, the weekday lunch; does anything spark more joy? Whether it’s a solo escape from the confines of your cubicle, a quick get-together with an old friend, a meeting with a client or a trip out with your coworkers to boost morale, nothing says “escape” quite like leaving the office for a few to refuel. In Raleigh, there are plenty of options for that lunchtime satiation that you seek. On your own and need something fast? Grab a sandwich from Sola or a healthy salad from Happy + Hale. Need to impress out-of-town visitors? Take them to a classic Oak City spot, like Mecca or Clyde Cooper’s, or show your support for a worthy cause at A Place at the Table. Celebrating a co-worker’s birthday or just feeling indulgent? Bask in your sunnies on Vivace’s patio, soak in the atmosphere at Hummingbird or Bida Manda, or try a new treat from one of the city’s many top chefs. That work? It’ll still be waiting for you on your desk for when you get back. Remember, lunch time is your time, so soak it in! You only lunch once…once a day, that is.
Best “Lunch for One”
Chuck’s
In all honesty, you’re probably better off enjoying one of Chuck’s hefty burgers on your own, as we all know how messy that can get. Choose from one of AC’s signatures or build your own with all the dribbling sauces your heart desires. 237 S. Wilmington St.; ac-restaurants.com/chucks
Chuck’s
Sola Coffee Cafe
With Sola’s sizable cafe and patio, it’s easy to tuck yourself away at a table for one and enjoy a cozy lunch of freshly made sandwiches, salads and smoothies. 7705 Lead Mine Rd.; solacoffee.com
Morgan Street Food Hall
No arguing over what to eat or where to sit here; going solo at Morgan Street Food Hall means you can choose freely between lots of lunch and dessert options, with no one judging if you opt for more than one. 411 W Morgan St.; morganfoodhall.com
Heirloom Brewshop
Curl up in one of Heirloom’s signature pink chairs and enjoy Laotian, Taiwanese, and Japanese-inspired bites paired with sake, tea or coffee for a delightful afternoon pick-me-up. 219 S. West St.; heirloombrewshop.com
Raleigh Times Bar
With its large, open windows, bar top seating and front patio, Raleigh Times is the perfect place to people watch while enjoying a quick and reliable lunch. 14 E. Hargett St.; raleightimesbar.com
Best Outdoor Lunch Spots
The Station at Person Street
The Station’s patio offers an outdoor bar, cozy fireplaces and picnic tables with umbrellas surrounded by lush plant life, ensuring a comfortable outdoor dining experience. 701 N. Person St.; stationraleigh.com
The Station at Person Street
Vivace
Take in the sights and sounds of North Hills on Vivace’s spacious patio, centered around a gorgeous fountain, while dining on exquisite Italian cuisine. 4209 Lassiter Mill Rd.; vivaceraleigh.com
Whiskey Kitchen
Whiskey Kitchen’s outdoor patio is enough to make you want to check out of work for the rest of the day, with its large picnic tables, twinkling lights and ample foliage situated across the street from Nash Square. 201 W. Martin St.; whiskey.kitchen
Taverna Agora
In addition to the great Mediterranean food, Taverna Agora’s rustic rooftop patio transports diners to a Greek oasis. 326 Hillsborough St.; tavernaagora.com
Taverna Agora
Winston’s Grille
Reminiscent of a swanky resort, the concealed outdoor patio at Winston’s is perfect to enjoy a sophisticated lunch on a beautiful day, with umbrellas and a roof to shade against humidity in the dead of summer. 6401 Falls of Neuse Rd.; winstonsgrille.com
Best Kept Secret
Lonnie Poole Golf Course
NC State’s esteemed golf course also boasts an excellent restaurant. Terrace Dining Room features upscale dining options, served alongside gorgeous views of the course and downtown Raleigh’s skyline. 1509 Main Campus Dr.; lonniepoolegolfcourse.com
Lonnie Poole Golf Course
Seaboard Cafe
Located inside Logan’s Trading Company at Seaboard Station, this pleasant cafe serves signature scratch-made dishes, including soups, salads and daily grill and deli options, to be enjoyed on the patio surrounded by garden shop greenery. 707 Semart Dr.; seaboardcafe.com
Lucettegrace
In addition to the exquisite pastries and desserts lucettegrace offers, the lunch options are not to be missed either. Choose from fresh sandwiches, salads and soups, or try the signature box lunch, which includes a sandwich, salad or soup and a treat. 235 S. Salisbury St.; lucettegrace.com
Oakwood Cafe
Though easy to miss, this Cuban and Argentine restaurant serves an array of authentic dishes from the two countries for a lunch that’s unlike any other you can get in Raleigh. 300 E. Edenton St.; oakwoodcafenc.com
Zest Cafe & Home Art
After browsing the store’s unique decorations and gifts, grab a seat in the café for diverse offerings of “zestwiches,” salads, soups and main dishes, all made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. 8831 Six Forks Rd.; zestcafehomeart.com
Best For Business
The Capital Grille
Impress a client or co-worker with lunch at Capital Grille, an elegant fine dining restaurant featuring sophisticated dishes guaranteed to leave a great impression. 4242 Six Forks Rd.; thecapitalgrille.com
The Capital Grille
18 Seaboard
A favorite spot for business meetings and special occasions, 18 Seaboard offers an impressive menu of contemporary Southern-inspired dishes made up of locally-sourced ingredients. 18 Seaboard Ave.; 18restaurantgroup.com
O-Ku Sushi
At O-Ku, chef Richard Fong sources fresh fish from some of the world’s premier markets for the restaurant’s sushi and sashimi, as well as for chef specialties that go beyond impressive. 411 W. Hargett St.; okuraleigh.com
Midtown Grille
An intimate, upscale restaurant in North Hills, Midtown Grille’s no-frills, contemporary American menu takes some of the pressure off during an important business meeting. 4421 Six Forks Rd.; themidtowngrille.com
A Place at the Table
A Place at the Table’s unique pay-what-you-can mission will impress any client or business partner, not to mention the friendly staff of volunteers and delicious, fresh-to-order lunch options. 300 W. Hargett St.; tableraleigh.com
A Place at the Table
Best Veggie & Vegan
Sassool Mediterranean Cafe
Sassool offers a variety of vegan and vegetarian options, including pita sandwiches, salads and pizzettes, along with a signature four-item sampler where you can build your own platter of fresh sides, dips and salads. 9850 Strickland Rd.; sassool.com
Irregardless Café
Irregardless Café’s farm-to-table concept sources ingredients from its own Well Fed Community Garden, in a variety of freshly-made dishes that range from cauliflower curry to zoodle bolognese to a black bean and quinoa burger. 901 W. Morgan St.; irregardless.com
Neomonde
Neomonde’s Meditteranean offerings feature plenty of vegan and vegetarian options, including build-your-own plates, pita pockets, man’ousheh (a flatbread pizza) and an array of satisfying sides and dips. 3817 Beryl Rd.; neomonde.com
Neomonde
Happy + Hale
At Happy + Hale, fresh, healthy salads and build-your-own bowls reign supreme during lunch time, with vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free options and other allergies clearly marked on the menu for easy decision making, no matter your dietary restrictions. 443 Fayetteville St., 200 Park @ North Hills St.; happyandhale.com
Living Kitchen
Vegans and vegetarians rejoice over Living Kitchen’s 100-percent organic and plant-based menu. Try a range of favorite cuisines made without meat, eggs or dairy. 555 Fayetteville St.; livingkitchen.com
Best Grab-and-Go
Carroll’s Kitchen
Carroll’s Martin Street location is the ideal spot to grab a seasonal sandwich, salad or soup on the go, while supporting the nonprofit whose mission is to provide gainful employment for women leaving crisis situations. 19 E. Martin St.; carrollskitchen.com
Sosta Cafe
Sosta offers an eclectic mix of homemade paninis and sandwiches, as well as soups and salads, that feature high-quality ingredients sourced from the local farmer’s market. 1806 E. Davie St.; sostacafe.com
Whole Foods
We can all agree that Whole Foods’ salad and hot bars are the next best thing after your favorite sit-down lunch spot. Or, pick up a fresh pizza or grab-and-go sandwich for a lunch that’s so good, you’ll forget you got it at a grocery store. 3540 Wade Ave.; 8710 Six Forks Rd.; wholefoodsmarket.com
Whole Foods
Chargrill or Snoopy’s
Depending on where you are, both Snoopy’s and Chargrill are ideal options for celebrated hot dogs, burgers, fries, shakes and more in Raleigh. 4621 Atlantic Ave., 618 Hillsborough St., 3211 Edwards Mill Rd., 9601 Strickland Rd; chargrillusa.com; 600 Hillsborough St., 1931 Wake Forest Rd., 3600 Hillsborough St., 2431 Spring Forest Rd.; snoopys.com
Pizza Times
Every day, Pizza Times offers a special pizza featuring a unique mix of toppings. Or, you can build your own as a slice, 12-inch pie or 18-inch pie. 210 S. Wilmington St.; raleightimespizza.com
Pizza Times
Spots We Wish Served Lunch
Poole’s Diner
We don’t know about you, but we long for Poole’s comforting, seasonal dishes well before it opens for dinner, especially the to-die-for mac and cheese. 426 S. McDowell St.; ac-restaurants.com
Crawford and Son
Scott Crawford’s creative menu of classic and modern dishes, offered in a casual, welcoming environment, would certainly impress at lunch time. 618 N. Person St.; crawfordandsonrestaurant.com
Oak Steakhouse
While Oak exclusively serves dinner, some might appreciate the Certified Angus Beef or the oyster deviled eggs during lunch, for a little extra indulgence during the day. 417 W. Hargett St.; oakraleigh.com
42nd Street Oyster Bar
Unfortunately, 42nd Street’s impressive menu of fresh, local seafood dishes can only be enjoyed in the evening, otherwise we’d be camping out all day long. 503 W. Jones St.; 42ndoysterbar.com
Angus Barn
A mecca for celebrating birthdays, promotions and other special events, Angus Barn’s beloved menu of steak, seafood and other dishes is only available for dinner. 9401 Glenwood Ave.; angusbarn.com
Atmospheric Lunch Spots
Iris
Located in the North Carolina Museum of Art, Iris offers an elegant dining experience of modern American cuisine among beautiful works of art. 2110 Blue Ridge Rd.; ncartmuseum.org
Iris at NCMA
Coquette Brasserie
Coquette’s sophisticated patio, adorned with black and white laminate floors and potted flowers, transports guests to a lovely Parisian café, Eiffel Tower views not included. 4351 The Circle at North Hills St.; coquetteraleigh.com
Brewery Bhavana
As breathtaking as the food is delicious, Brewery Bhavana’s ethereal interior, composed of elegant wooden tables, ample foliage, intimate lighting and an impressive marble bar top creates an awe-inspiring backdrop to enjoying traditional Asian cuisine. 218 S. Blount St.; brewerybhavana.com
Gonza Tacos y Tequila
The lively, colorful interior decor of Gonza, including its brightly lit stars, painted floors and vibrant artwork, makes for a fun spot to grab a bite and escape the hustle and bustle of a weekday. 7713 Lead Mind Rd., 2100 Hillsborough St.; gonzatacosytequila.com
Bida Manda
Bida Manda’s alluring reclaimed wooden furniture and stick-lined walls, harvested from North Carolina mountains, perfectly channels the Laotian affinity for nature, providing a beautiful space to enjoy the unique food of the region. 222 S. Blount St.; bidamanda.com
Bida Manda
Best Build-Your-Own
Chopt
At Chopt, the world, or bowl, is your oyster. Choose a base of greens, then add from a list of superb veggies, and finish with your choice of cheeses, grains, meats and crunchy toppings for a colorful, satisfying chopped salad that’s all your own. 420 Daniels St., 6004 Falls of Neuse Rd.; choptsalad.com
CAVA
Similar to Chipotle but for Mediterranean cuisine, at CAVA you can build your own salad, grain bowl or pita with fresh toppings, proteins, dips, spreads and dressings to your heart’s content. 403 Daniels St.; cava.com
Raleigh Raw
Raleigh Raw’s customizable poké bowls are a downtown cult favorite. Choose your base of sticky rice or greens, protein and one of three signature styles, made up of either spicy, sweet or savory refreshing ingredients. 7 W. Hargett St.; raleighraw.com
Gusto Farm to Street
Go light or indulgent with Gusto’s customer-crafted salads and pizzas, where it’s up to you to choose from a substantial list of greens, grains, sauces, cheeses, proteins, dressings and other toppings, as well as type of crust; cauliflower is the favorite. 3088 Wake Forest Rd.; 2512 Hillsborough St.; eatgusto.com
Guasaca Arepa & Salsa Grill
This South American-inspired restaurant specializes in build-your-own arepas, featuring an authentic list of fillings, ranging from avocado, chicken, braised tilapia to shredded beef, plus traditional toppings and sauces. 4025 Lake Boone Tr.; guasaca.com
Best Deals & Combos
BarTaco
The BarTaco lunch tray lets you live every day like it’s Taco Tuesday, with the option of three tacos or one rice bowl and a chopped salad or cup of soup for $11. 4121 Main at North Hills St.; bartaco.com
BarTaco
The Cardinal
There aren’t too many spots where you can get an amazing $3 lunch in Raleigh, but The Cardinal is one of them. For just three bucks, get a signature local beer-steamed dog in a New England-style bun, then load up on gourmet toppings for 25 cents each. 713 N. West St.; facebook.com/TheCardinalBar/
Pizza La Stella
Get your own personal, one-topping pizza with a drink for only $9.95 at this beloved Neapolitan-style pizzeria in the heart of downtown. 219 Fayetteville St.; pizzalastella.com
Sono
Craving sushi? For $15, try Sono’s lunch sushi combo, which includes miso soup, house salad and your choice of a specialty roll. 319 Fayetteville St.; sonoraleigh.com
Tazza Kitchen
Tazza’s bowl of soup and half salad combo for $8.50 is perfect for those who like to stay on the lighter side during lunch. 432 Woodburn Rd.; tazzakitchen.com
Tazza Kitchen
Most Iconic
Mecca
This old timey, diner-esque restaurant has been serving Raleighites since 1930, with a traditional Southern comfort menu and daily house specials that utilize local, seasonal ingredients. 12 E. Martin St.; mecca-restaurant.com
The Player’s Retreat
Since 1951, Player’s Retreat has been a beloved lunch spot for all walks of life in Raleigh, no matter the age or financial status. Elevated bar food and made-to-order entrees comprise the beloved menu. 105 Oberlin Rd.; playersretreat.net
Clyde Cooper’s Barbecue
For great barbecue around these parts, most Raleighites opt for Clyde Cooper’s, a long-cherished establishment featuring award-winning slow-cooked pork barbecue dishes and fried chicken. 327 S. Wilmington St.; clydecooperbbq.com
Clyde Cooper’s Barbeque
Hayes Barton Cafe & Dessertery
Located in the heart of historic Five Points, Hayes Barton’s signature deli and grill selections have been a Raleigh favorite since 1998, along with housemade desserts. 2000 Fairview Rd.; hayesbartoncafeanddessertery.com
The Roast Grill
This diner has solely been serving hot dogs, glass bottle Cokes and Greek desserts since 1940. The dogs are made from 90 percent beef with a touch of lean pork flavor, cooked on a grill until crisp and charred, and served without ketchup—the owners don’t believe it belongs on a hot dog. 7 S. West St.; roastgrill.com
