Foodie News: Fullsteam opens new Durham location, Cup a Joe adds a third spot in Raleigh

Featured restaurant news

The wait is over, and early indications are that it was well worth the nearly two-year wait. Fullsteam Brewery, instrumental in establishing the Triangle’s craft beer scene going back to their days on Rigsbee Avenue, swung open the doors to their new location in Durham’s American Tobacco Campus this week. Located at the base of the Lucky Strike smokestack, the space is absolutely beautiful and welcoming, featuring a stunning new taproom, a restaurant and a great event space. It is already being touted as the unofficial front porch for the city of Durham, and fittingly so. And if the beer was not enough to welcome you in, they also shared that there is a new food menu developed by the infamous Phoebe Lawless. Stop by today, or take a peek at their Instagram here. A huge congratulations to Sean Lilly Wilson and his team!

Wake County restaurant news

Great news broke this week for coffee lovers in Raleigh. Triangle Business Journal shared the news that soon there will be three locations of the popular Raleigh icon – Cup A Joe. The third location will be just down Hillsborough Street from the original location at the intersection with Gorman Street, in the building that most recently housed the Crafty Crab, Applebee’s before that, and the legendary Crazy Zack’s back in the day. Nothing will change with their original location on Hillsborough Street near NC State’s campus, nor with the location over in Mission Valley. Congrats to Andi Macko who co-owns Cup A Joe with her father, Jeff Gold. Visit Cup a Joe here.

We first told you about this at the beginning of last month, but Raleigh Magazine shared the opening date, October 15, for downtown Raleigh’s newest watering hole – Low Bar Lounge – in the former IMURJ space beneath Whiskey Kitchen. It is brought to us by Whiskey Kitchen co-owners Jeff Mickel and Michael Thor. The space is a throwback to a particular kind of bar—and a particular kind of bar night—low on pretense and high on life, according to the magazine. Where you’ll meet up with friends, or make friends. A place to hang out and be with community. Nothing up on their social media feeds as of yet, so visit their site here.

The Triangle Business Journal reported that Paris Baguette, a fast-growing franchise specializing in French pastries, cakes, savory dishes and coffee, is taking over the former Zest Cafe space at 8831 Six Forks Road in the Six Forks Station Shopping Center. They are aiming for a summer 2027 opening. This will be their second Raleigh location, and they have a location in Cary. Visit them here.

Over in Smoky Hollow in downtown Raleigh, Raleigh Magazine shared that a wine bar called The Deb will open later this fall. It is being brought to us from the folks behind Cuya Cafe, and it will open in the Hone Sharpen space, replacing the sandwich counter. The Deb, an all-day wine bar and lounge offering vino, spritzes and non-alcoholic cocktails, will also feature a fusion tapas-style menu leaning Italian, French and Asian. Pro tip: they are hosting a pop-up preview during First Friday (Oct. 2) from 6 – 8 p.m.

Reader Lucille Auteri notified us that Shinjuku Station, a revolving sushi bar concept, is coming to Raleigh at 6310 Plantation Center Drive. This will be their fourth North Carolina location and the first in the Triangle. Visit them here.

And if that is not enough sushi news for you, reader Tim Decker informed us that a sign is up for Magic Sushi on the old Chili’s location in Apex at Beaver Creek Commons. The concept features all-you-can-eat sushi and hibachi or a-la-cart ordering. Their original location is in Charlotte. No word on a timeline. Visit that location here.

Decker has informed us that Qdoba has opened at the Parkside Town Commons (7119 O’Kelly Chapel Road) in Cary. Visit Qdoba here.

And staying in Cary, we first told you about this back in July, but The Cary Report shared this week that La Pause Parisienne is now open at 160 NE Maynard Road in the former Aroma location. The bakery serves freshly baked croissants, pastries, breads, coffee and other café items. Get a closer look here.

Covering all things Garner, Choose Local & Small Y’all shared the news this week that a family-friendly, community-focused craft brewery called Rabid Axolotl Brewing will soon open in the old Aristotle Spirits building (105 Rand Mill Road). Best to follow along on Instagram here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham restaurant news

This week also brought the great news that Carrburritos, the popular Carrboro burrito restaurant, has opened in their new space at 200 N. Greensboro St. in Carr Mill Mall in the space formerly occupied by Grata Diner and, before that, Elmo’s. Get by and check them out here.

Just over in Chapel Hill, we got word this week that Geo’s Tavern & Oyster Bar has started serving lunch, Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The lunch menu features a fried chicken biscuit with hot honey; the Franklin St. Smash; shrimp & grits; classic Moules Frites; and a wild mushroom grilled cheese with a tomato soup dipper. Check out their lunch menu here.

Well, this is fun. The News & Observer reported that The Pudding Man, a dessert restaurant, will celebrate its opening at Boxyard RTP on Friday, Oct. 2 from 4-7 p.m. Their tagline is, “Not yo granny’s puddin’…reimagined banana pudding.” Sign me up! Visit them on Instagram here.

Closings

Reader Joe Mustian shared the news that the Meadowmont location of Kahlovera Mexican Bar & Grill at 504 Meadowmont Village Circle has closed. They still have the location on Franklin Street (their newest location) as well as locations in Durham and Cary. Visit them here.

Carrie Brogren, founder of Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies, shared that the Growler Grlz location in Chapel Hill’s Southern Village is closing with their last day being October 9. Their flagship location is in South Durham at 4810 Hope Valley Road.

Reader Chuck Till shared that the Fresko Greek Kitchen location in Brennan Station on Creedmoor Road in north Raleigh has closed and will be replaced by a Hummus Republic. The Fresko location on Bale Street remains open.

Till also shared that Crumbl at Six Forks Station on Six Forks Road in Raleigh has closed. They still have three locations here in the Triangle.

Food trucks

Looking to find your favorite food truck (or stalking them and simply don’t want to have to admit it)? We understand. Find them on Street Food Finder here.

Events

We are just a day away from National Cinnamon Bun Day, celebrated annually on October 4. Be sure to plan a visit to see my buddy Darryl Fuller, the owner of Morning Rolls, at 1322A E Millbrook Road in Raleigh. Visit Morning Rolls here.

Centro, downtown Raleigh’s beloved Mexican restaurant, is celebrating its 19th anniversary with a special five-part dinner series beginning Thursday, Oct. 8. The opening dinner brings together Centro owner Angela Salamanca and guest chef Bill Smith for a four-course meal and welcome cocktail. Ten percent of proceeds from the entire series will be donated to local nonprofit organizations. Seating is limited, and tickets are available now. Smith is the former longtime chef of Crook’s Corner in Chapel Hill, which the James Beard Foundation honored with an America’s Classics award before the restaurant closed in 2021. A two-time James Beard award nominee for Best Chef: Southeast, Smith is known for Southern cooking rooted in North Carolina traditions and beyond. Centro, which opened in 2007, is Salamanca’s flagship restaurant. She is also a co-owner of Mala Pata, Ex-Voto, Patty Boy and Big Cat, which The New York Times named earlier this month to its 2026 list of the 50 best restaurants in America. The anniversary dinner’s menu pairs Mexican technique with Carolina ingredients and classics. Sign up today!

Flour & Barrel is planning an October 8 anniversary party that includes 10 courses, aerialists, fire dancers and a sneak peek at the High Horse menu, which will open in Durham at the Horseshoe at Hub RTP this fall. It will feature dishes and cocktails from Flour & Barrel and High Horse. Expect to see the favorites from each concept, including cornbread, grouper with deviled ham, bone marrow with crab meat and more from High Horse, as well as table-side pastas and dessert from Flour & Barrel, and of course — flambé. Tickets are $90, and you can secure your spot here.

On Thursday, October 15, from 4:30-6:45 p.m., the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club is hosting “An Evening in Seoul” — a one-night-only immersive dining event inspired by the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Maybe Happy Ending, appearing at Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) from Oct. 13–18. The dinner experience includes a Korean fusion menu, jazz tunes from Hunky Dory Durham and more. Seating is limited for this exclusive event. Tickets are $225, plus tax and service charge, and may be purchased via OpenTable here.

Chef Sera Cuni and her team over at The Root Cellar in Chapel Hill are taking part in a Yellowstone Dinner on October 29 where four incredible chefs are taking over Holl & Stone Farm in Garner. Chefs Sera Cuni of The Root Cellar, Bill Hartley of Postal Fish Company and JDub’s Po’Boys, Ryan Butler of Smoke Ropers, and Lynn Wells of Thyme Well Spent and Our State Magazine will each helm their own station, giving guests the chance to wander the farm, fill their plates and experience a menu built around smoke, fire, Southern ingredients and a little Wild West inspiration. Get your tickets for any of these events and all the details here.

Tickets are officially on sale for the 2026 Chefs for Change Annual Gala & Auction to benefit Families Moving Forward. Reserve your spot now to join them on Thursday, November 5, as they gather at The Cookery for an unforgettable evening of exquisite food, inspiring stories, and abundant opportunities to make a meaningful difference for families and children experiencing homelessness in Durham! And because it’s Chefs for Change, they’ve invited an exceptional lineup of friends—the crème de la crème of the Durham culinary scene—to share their passion for food and Families Moving Forward: Matt Kelly of Nanas Rockwood; Chris Garrett of Seraphine; Aaron Benjamin of Gocciolina; Alex Catotti and Erin Kobler of Restaurant Cornelia and The Vinter and the Baker; and, Chris McLaurin of Lutra Cafe and Bakery. Get your tickets here.

Tickets are now on sale for the third Rawleigh Oyster Fest, presented by Earp’s Seafood Market, returning Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. This year’s event, themed “Smoke & Shuck,” expands the festival’s signature chef-and-oyster-farm pairings to include North Carolina pitmasters for the first time, bringing barbecue into the mix alongside raw oysters. It will be held at Raleigh Iron Works. Rawleigh Oyster Fest has sold out both of its previous events — its launch in November 2025, which sold all 550 tickets, and a spring 2026 edition that sold out in just five days. The event is organized by Eduardo Mera of Mera Brothers Oysters, Katie Dombrowski, communications administrator for the City of Raleigh, and Max Trujillo of the NC F&B Podcast. Together, the two previous events raised approximately $12,500 for the Frankie Lemmon School and Development Center and the N.C. Coastal Federation. Get tickets and all the details here.

The Trophy Trot 5K returns for its 10th year on Thanksgiving morning (November 26) to Dorothea Dix Park, benefiting Healing Transitions, a Raleigh nonprofit that provides recovery services for people struggling with addiction. The race has grown into a beloved holiday tradition, and 2025 was its biggest year yet: nearly 3,000 runners and walkers signed up, and the race donated about $60,000 to Healing Transitions, up from $42,000 the year before. Since 2016, the annual race, hosted by nOG Run Club and Trophy Brewing Co., has raised more than $210,000 for the nonprofit. Register here.

Food Bank Corner

Help your neighbor. Yes, your neighbor. Did you know that right now, one in seven people in central and eastern North Carolina don’t have enough to eat. That’s where the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina comes in. Your tax-deductible gift helps provide food and hope to families, children, and seniors right here in our community. Together, we can help people in our community during their greatest time of need. Give here.