New restaurants open in the Triangle, including a big name in deep dish pizza

The Triangle’s culinary scene has gotten richer in just a couple of months.

In downtown Durham, a “Brasserie-style” eatery opened on the 11th floor of downtown Durham building. Cary has a new chain restaurant specializing in halal food. Apex houses a new location of a major name in deep-dish pizza. And in Raleigh, a long-awaited project from a team of Triangle hospitality stars is finally open.

Here’s a roundup of what’s new.

New restaurants in Durham

• The Lenny: Located on the 11th floor of the 555 Mangum building (555 S. Mangum St.) in downtown Durham, brothers Charlie and Joel Ibarra (of Jose & Sons and The Cortez) have opened The Lenny. The menu offers elements of Mexican cuisine and flavors but also features French influences.
• La Buena Vida: One of the Triangle’s most popular Mexican restaurants took over a former Red Lobster at 4416 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. Early dinner service at the restaurant is pretty traditional, but after 9 p.m., the vibe changes: lights are dimmed, music is turned up, tequila shots are served in airplanes and cocktails arrive in bathtubs.

New restaurants in Raleigh

• Mala Pata and Peyote: A new bar and restaurant from the teams behind Locals Seafood and Gallo Pelón recently debuted in Gateway Plaza at 2431 Crabtree Blvd. Diners can try dishes such as a whole fish served with tortillas made in house from heirloom masa, flautas and enchiladas. The bar, Peyote, has its own atmosphere and will offer an extensive selection of agave spirits and cocktails highlighting ingredients such as tequila and mezcal.
  
  
• Potbelly Sandwich Works: The Triangle’s fourth Potbelly opens Tuesday, June 3 at Falls Village Shopping Center in Raleigh (6605 Falls of Neuse Road). Franchise owners Mohit Kishore and Tulshi Bhakar plan to open eight additional Triangle Potbelly shops over the next seven years. The first 50 customers in line at the opening of the restaurant known for toasted sandwiches will receive a coupon good for one free sandwich every week for a year. It will be open 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. daily starting June 3.

New restaurants in Cary

• Brewery Bhavana: Fenton is now home to a brand once named by Bon Appetit as one of the best new restaurants in America. The restaurant, which also has a location in downtown Raleigh, serves Peking duck, soup dumplings, egg rolls and a version of General Tso’s chicken. Open for lunch and dinner daily, Brewery Bhavana is located at 850 Lower Garden Lane.
• The Halal Guys: Offering sandwiches and platters available with beef gyro, chicken, falafel or other proteins, North Carolina’s second The Halal Guys restaurant is open at 2000 Boulderstone Way in the Stone Creek Village shopping center.
• Cape Fear Seafood Co.: Open at 1885 Lake Pine Drive, the North Carolina seafood chain offers Calabash-style plates, shrimp and grits, pastas, steaks and other dishes. The Cary restaurant is owned by franchise partners Eddie Elliott and Matthew Wivell, who also own the Raleigh and Wake Forest locations.

New restaurant in Fuquay-Varina

• Famous Toastery: The Charlotte-based chain offering breakfast, lunch and brunch opened at 612 Lakestone Commons Ave. There is one other Famous Toastery in the Triangle, in Cary. Customers will find morning favorites including omelets, flapjacks, waffles, stuffed French toast and eggs Benedict, along with specialty coffees and cocktails.

New restaurant in Apex

• Rosati’s Pizza: While the location at 76 Hunter St. has been serving the public for a while, its grand opening events are scheduled for this week. That includes “Family Day” on Saturday, May 31, when customers can get a chance to win raffles and prizes, and kids will be able to make their own pizza. To enter for a chance to win a free, 16-inch cheese pizza every month for a year, follow or like the restaurant’s Instagram or Facebook page, and comment on or share the contest post. The contest post will be published Wednesday, May 28. The contest ends Saturday, June 28, and a winner will be announced Monday, June 30.

New restaurant in Carrboro

• Wedgewood Cheese Bar: Owned by Stevie and Michelle Webb, Wedgewood Cheese Bar at 100B Brewer Lane will offer nearly 100 varieties of cheese, butters and specialty meats. Seating is available downstairs around the horseshoe-shaped bar and upstairs, overlooking the 2,000-square-foot shop. It opens Wednesday, May 28.

This story was originally published May 27, 2025 at 4:23 PM with the headline "New restaurants open in the Triangle, including a big name in deep dish pizza."

Renee Umsted

The News & Observer

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Renee Umsted is a service journalism reporter for The News & Observer. She has a degree in journalism from the Bob Schieffer College of Communication at TCU.