by Lauren Kruchten | Aug 23, 2024 | Eat, September 2024
Burgers are so back. While the 2020 permanent closure of Ashley Christensen’s Chuck’s left a burger-size hole in the Raleigh market (save for casual spots like MoJoe’s and Bad Daddy’s), a brand-new concept promises to fill it—and then some. Enter LaGana, a boujee burger joint from local chef Luis Zouain, opening in the former Prospects space this fall.
“I don’t think Raleigh was ready [for a place like Chuck’s], but I think it’s ready now,” maintains Zouain, who also consults for restaurants in Miami and New York City. And the apropos-named spot (a variation of the Spanish colloquial phrase that means “do whatever you want”) won’t just churn out your basic beef and buns.
“I’ve never been a fan of being stuck inside a square—like this is what I want to do and that’s it,” he explains. “I’m always mixing stuff, taking cultures from everywhere and putting it together. [And burgers] are a beautiful vehicle for that.”
To wit, LaGana’s menu will boast five-ish elevated burgers with “beautiful blends of meat”—including wagyu from Wilders farm and one rotating each month—served up on buns by Layered Croissanterie’s Suzanne Downs and paired with bubbles and beer. Also expect one “big-ass fry” topped with Parm, truffles and chives; tostones paired with pimento cheese and cheddar foam; caviar and oyster shots; and Matilda-like cakes (you know the ones) courtesy of a LaGana investor who’s been making cakes for 40+ years.
“When you have a cake in front of you, you become a child,” jokes Zouain. “It doesn’t matter how strict you are, you’ll eat your cake and be happy as a kiddo.”
Further playing with the concept, Zouain will bring in fellow chef friends monthly or bimonthly for a sort of restaurant takeover where they can “do their own thing” for the night. And, eventually, he will start doing his own omakase pop-up dinners with 14–16 courses of light bites paired with cocktails.
High-end burgers will be complemented by a high-end yet comfortable and relaxed vibe, a pairing not before seen at other Raleigh burger spots—while maintaining the approachability of a counter service-style setup.
Taking inspo from classy-meets-casual Amsterdam restaurant Maijard Dutch Smashburgers, he plans to give the entire space a face-lift, curating a splashy olive, white, gold and black color scheme and fresh branding. And while the rainbow floor will be no more (RIP), the open kitchen will remain, booths will give way to high-top tables sans chairs, and a front window will be added so passersby can peek in. The city has already approved a parklet for out front as well.
“Eating a burger standing up is so common,” he says, setting the scene for what customers can expect when dining within the space: “eating a burger, just talking, drinking with the beautiful music we’re gonna have.”
Ultimately, Zouain promises the concept will be an all-around good time. “I love simplicity in the things I do,” he emphasizes. “Burgers are an institution in America. Everyone loves a burger—and to have fun.”
by Lauren Kruchten | Jan 19, 2024 | Eat, February 2024
The Devereux is your new go-to third place.
A bar can be more than just a place to pop in for a drink. It can serve as a second home—and partners Alex Ricci and Justin Tatnell hope their newly bowed watering hole, the Devereux, is just that. Think of it as a spirited “third place,” aka your home away from home and work.
“Everybody has their bar and that’s their place… and that’s the whole point,” emphasizes Ricci. “That’s actually why they call it bartending—because you’re tending to people’s needs.”
Situated in the now-defunct Pink Boot space on North West Street and trading the tiny weird honky-tonk aesthetic for inspo from the Rainforest Cafe (a vibe, honestly), the duo stripped the space of its kitschy decor, Raleigh relics and pink disco ball-lit bathroom (RIP) and replaced them with red tiles, teal walls, greenery and various pop art.
Nevertheless, Ricci maintains Pink Boot was “our go-to bar,” adding… “One could say we loved Pink Boot and Rainbow Luncheonette so much we bought them,” he says with a laugh. Now, the duo see the newfound space as a chill neighborhood drinking den driven by community. A place that’s “comfortable for everybody,” says Ricci, where regulars can repeatedly return no matter the occasion, and where the bartenders know your name and order. (It’s giving Cheers—and we’re here for it.)
Beyond approachable ’tails, Devereux drinkers can sample fare from adjacent sister restaurant Prospects, NTM a late-night menu—starting at 10pm—of mac and cheeses, burgers, sandwiches, and the like.
“Every single one of our friends and peers has shown up and given influence and helped cultivate this thing along the way,” maintains Ricci. “Justin and I weren’t the only ones who helped create this vision.” And, now, Raleighites can see that vision through. @devereuxbarnc
by Lauren Kruchten | Oct 30, 2023 | Eat, November 2023
Alex Ricci’s Prospects restaurant to serve up good eats and drinks for Raleighites—by Raleighites.
When the opportunity arrived for Alex Ricci to open his own restaurant in Raleigh, he naturally tapped residents to help him build the menu—think friends, influencers, fellow chefs and other “people who have really impacted both me and the food scene here,” he says.
That concept, Prospects Craft Kitchen & Cocktail Bar, is opening in the former Rainbow Luncheonette space on North West Street in December, but will evolve as Ricci continues to query guests for featured rotating dishes.
“I’ve written tons of menus, but I’ve never really thought about what my guests want and what dishes mean something to them,” elaborates Ricci. “So instead of having a chef-driven concept, it’ll be a guest-driven concept.”
The menu features Ricci’s elevated takes of those inspired, nostalgic dishes, like a Puerto Rican-inspired pork dish—a nod to his mom; and a steak dinner as an ode to Rainbow Luncheonette, with $5 from every one sold going to late Rainbow employee Tyler McDavid’s daughter’s college fund. Meanwhile, the bev menu features cocktails, boozy milkshakes and beer.
Adding a super-late-night option to the city relatively lacking one, Prospects will serve food until 3am Thursday through Saturday. NTM the longest (and latest) brunch in the city (!)—11am to 6pm on Sundays—to ensure industry folk can still get a hearty weekend breakfast in, even if they worked a brunch shift elsewhere that day.
To further encourage communication and relationships between Ricci and guests, an open layout ensures patrons will feel like they’re eating at his own home kitchen. And while the signature rainbow floors remain, Ricci enlivened the space with hydroponic gardens, spice racks and cool commissioned pieces from local artist Cassie Ott. … Peep the black-and-white painting of Anthony Bourdain that looks down at the chef as he prepares food in the kitchen. And look out for an alfresco parklet to connect Prospects to sister bar The Devereux, opening by the end of the year. @prospectsnc
by Lauren Kruchten | Jul 23, 2023 | Eat, July/August 2023
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?
Editors note: This news was exclusively revealed on our Instagram—give us a follow if you don’t already to stay up to date on all things Raleigh.
