Triangle Restaurant News: Rye Bar and Southern Kitchen opens in downtown Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Rye Bar & Southern Kitchen has opened in the Raleigh Marriott City Center. The restaurant serves an upscale take on classic Southern cuisine with an emphasis on local products and ingredients. The space also has tap wall for craft beer and a nice fireplace area. Craft beer is also used in the menu, including a Sweet Josie Beer float with a half-pint of Sweet Josie Brown Ale served over vanilla or caramel ice cream.

Tupelo Honey Cafe has unveiled its new menu this week starting at the Raleigh location in Cameron Village. New items include Root Vegetable Pot Pie, Roasted Duck Breast with Cherry Port Wine Sauce and a series of shareable small plates. 

Restauranteurs Vincent Barresi and Christopher Bender are planning to open the restaurant, BigBoom, in the former Red Room tapas space at 510 Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh. A spokesperson said the restaurant is targeting a Feb. 5 soft opening. The menu is said to include Italian classics with some modern, edgy decor. It will be in the same building as Shucker's Oyster Bar and the newly opened Carolina Ale House. The noodle bar, Pho Pho Pho Noodle Kitchen Bar, is also on tap for the building.

Mami Nora's Peruvian chicken restaurant has opened its fourth Triangle location on Capital Boulevard in Raleigh. The restaurant is located at 4614 Capital Blvd. - the former home of Polla a la Brasa.

Durham-based food truck Capitain Poncho's Tacos is opening a brick-and-mortar location, TBJ reports. The restaurant, which is hoping to open by Feb. 15, will be located in the South Village off of Highway 15/501 in Chapel Hill. 

Indian restaurant Peacock has opened at 2250 Gathering Park Circle in Cary, Triangle Food Guy reports. It is in the former location of Cafe Capistrano. 

Eschelon Experiences will open its sushi and modern Japanese restaurant Basan on Jan. 20.

Smallcakes, a cupcake shop at 4711 Hope Valley Road in Durham, will hold its grand opening party Jan. 24. It will feature face painting and other family-friendly activities. 

Blackjack Brewing Co. is hoping to open its brewery and taproom in late February/early March at 1053 E. Whitaker Mill Road in Raleigh. Owner Edward Wenda tells me the brewer is a former head brewer at Abita Brewing in Louisiana. He said the pirate-themed brewery will operate out of a 10,000 square-foot facility with a taproom and covered and uncovered outdoor seating. Blackjack makes a variety of ales and lagers. 

The Anchor Bar is planning to open later this month at 207 Fayetteville St., according to the bar's Facebook page.

Pharmacy Bottle + Beverage is also planning to open later this month at 120 E. Chatham St. in downtown Cary.