Food & Drink

9 trends redefining dining in Raleigh, Durham, Cary and beyond

Stories by News & Observer journalists, with AI summarization

Dining trends in the Raleigh area and beyond illustrate a dynamic culinary evolution marked by creativity, reinvention, and growth. New restaurants and redeveloped venues highlight a return to fine dining, international inspirations, and versatile neighborhood concepts. Establishments like Próximo in Chapel Hill, which transforms nostalgic spaces into modern tapas experiences, and Birdie’s Barroom in Raleigh, offering all-day service, meld tradition with innovation.

Expansions such as Poole’s Diner moving into larger spaces or Lime & Lemon adding locations showcase the resilience of the industry post-pandemic, while the elevation of barbecue and regional cuisine captures the diversity in consumer tastes. The Triangle’s restaurant boom repositions the region as a flourishing nexus for both niche and mainstream dining.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Hazelnut tiramisu is photographed at Nanas on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, in Durham, N.C.

NO. 1: THE 21 BEST NEW RESTAURANTS THAT OPENED IN THE TRIANGLE IN 2023. SOME ARE FUTURE LEGENDS

From fine dining revivals to neighborhood bars, here are the Triangle’s best new restaurants of 2023. | Published January 2, 2024 | Read Full Story by Drew Jackson

Brewery Bhavana's menu is divided into two roughly equal categories, labeled “A Little Something” (dumplings, buns and other small plates); and “A Bit Larger” (entree portions, for the most part).

NO. 2: RALEIGH’S BREWERY BHAVANA IS OPENING A SECOND RESTAURANT. HERE’S WHERE TO FIND IT.

The downtown Raleigh staple is joining a new glitzy shopping district. | Published January 11, 2024 | Read Full Story by Drew Jackson

James Beard award winning chef Ashley Christensen.

NO. 3: ACCLAIMED RALEIGH RESTAURANT POOLE’S DINER IS EXPANDING. HERE ARE THE DETAILS.

“This is a dream come true for me as a chef.” Big changes are coming to Raleigh’s most famous restaurant. | Published January 26, 2024 | Read Full Story by Drew Jackson

Tasty 8's is closing on Fayetteville Street in Raleigh. Calavera Empanadas, which closed earlier this year, will move to the space. By jmgiglio@newsobserver.com

NO. 4: DOWNTOWN RALEIGH ADDS FIVE NEW RESTAURANTS ALONG FAYETTEVILLE STREET

New options include sandwiches, salads and “rattlesnake pasta.” | Published June 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by Drew Jackson

Lawrence BBQ is relocating to a new restaurant space of its own in downtown Cary. By Juli Leonard

NO. 5: ONE OF THE TRIANGLE’S TOP BARBECUE JOINTS IS MOVING OPERATIONS TO DOWNTOWN CARY

Cary is about to become a major barbecue destination. | Published August 27, 2024 | Read Full Story by Drew Jackson

A classic Spanish tapas dish, boquerones or cured Spanish anchovies, is served with potato chips at the new Franklin Street restaurant Proximo. By Anna Routh Barzin

NO. 6: CHAPEL HILL’S YE OLDE WAFFLE SHOPPE IS REBORN AS ACCLAIMED CHEF’S TAPAS BAR: AN INSIDE LOOK

“There’s some good restaurant juju here,” says chef Brandon Sharp. | Published September 20, 2024 | Read Full Story by jdjackson@newsobserver.comDrew Jackson

Tandoori salmon from Lime & Lemon includes spicy marinated salmon cooked in a tandoor.

NO. 7: INDIAN RESTAURANT WITH 3 TRIANGLE LOCATIONS WILL OPEN 2 MORE NEXT YEAR. HERE’S WHERE

The restaurant first opened in Durham in 2019 and has since expanded to four locations in North Carolina, with two more on the horizon. | Published November 12, 2024 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted

The dining area of Tamasha Modern Indian is photographed on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Raleigh, N.C.

NO. 8: HERE ARE THE TRIANGLE’S 20 BIGGEST RESTAURANT OPENINGS OF 2024

These are the new Triangle restaurants we can’t stop thinking about | Published December 30, 2024 | Read Full Story by Drew Jackson

Boxyard RTP has a variety of restaurants and vendors as well as ample outdoor patio seating. By Juli Leonard

NO. 9: NEW RESTAURANTS & RETAIL ARE COMING TO RTP THIS YEAR. HERE’S WHEN THEY’LL OPEN

A makers space founded by the team behind Kidzu Children’s Museum is among the new tenants. | Published February 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted Drew Jackson

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.