From Neapolitan pizzas to award-winning whole hog barbecue, Raleigh’s restaurant scene is growing in 2019—be sure to add these seven soon-to-open restaurants to your must-try list for your next visit to the Raleigh area!
Jolie
Scott Crawford—a five-time James Beard Foundation semifinalist for Best Chef: Southeast—has more than made his mark on Raleigh's booming food scene. A chic neighborhood eatery, Crawford and Son opened in fall of 2016 in downtown Raleigh—it's since been named "restaurant of the year" by both Raleigh's The News & Observer (in 2018) and Indy Week (2019) publications.
Now, Crawford is ready to open his next restaurant. Jolie, a French bistro named for his daughter, is set to open this summer directly next to his flagship restaurant. It will include a rooftop dining space and a menu that features French classics and modern interpretations from Crawford and chef de cuisine Madison Tessener. For Tessener, it's a return to her hometown of Raleigh after spending the better part of a decade working in some of the best restaurants in Charleston (Fig, Husk, Charleston Grill, McCrady’s and Chez Nous).
Poole'side Pies
Just named America's best chef (seriously—America's. Best. Chef!) Ashley Christensen is ready to add yet another restaurant to her empire of eating an drinking spots in downtown Raleigh. After spending last summer on a pizza tasting tour of Italy, Christensen is opening Poole'side Pies, expected to be a Neapolitan-style pizza joint located directly next to Poole's Diner, her original downtown eatery.
Currently under construction, two standout features of the restaurant have already been installed—a 6,000-pound wood-burning oven and a 50-foot-long skylight that should show off what's expected to be an interior full of fun design details.
- Anticipated opening: Second half of 2019
- Follow on Instagram: @poolesidepies
Sam Jones BBQ
Sam Jones, renowned fourth-generation pitmaster and James Beard Award semifinalist, plans to open a second Sam Jones BBQ restaurant on Lenoir St. in downtown Raleigh. Jones, known for whole hog barbecue that's served with sweet coleslaw and a generous portion of cornbread, comes from a long line of family that knows Eastern-style barbecue. His family opened the famed Skylight Inn in Ayden, N.C., in 1947, and Jones opened his own restaurant just down the road in Winterville in 2015.
The Raleigh restaurant will sit just a few blocks from the Raleigh Convention Center, Dorothea Dix Park, Raleigh Union Station and other attractions near the heart of the city.
- Anticipated opening: Second half of 2019
- Follow on Instagram: @samjonesbbq
Longleaf Swine at Transfer
At Transfer Co. Food Hall—Raleigh's massive new foodie attraction—Longleaf Swine is bringing all the smoked meat eats to their first brick-and-mortar location. First started as a food trailer in 2016, the locally-loved 'cue truck—named for the state's signature pine—is a partnership between Adam Cunningham and Marc Russell. The menu plans to showcase smoked pork, ribs, brisket, sausages, homemade sides and more.
PRIME Barbecue
PRIME Barbecue brings together the flavors of Texas, North Carolina and Kansas City barbecue. Christopher Prieto, a champion pitmaster, self-proclaimed "barbecue nerd" and the mastermind behind PRIME Barbecue, broke ground on his first restaurant in Knightdale in May of 2018. Expect to find Prieto’s award-winning brisket, ribs, pulled pork, sausages, banana pudding and more dotting the menu at this trip-worthy dining stop.
- Anticipated opening: Second half of 2019
- Follow on Instagram: @primebbq
Wye Hill Kitchen + Brewing
A brand-new concept in a familiar spot, Wye Hill Kitchen + Brewing is taking over a restaurant space, first built in the 1950s, that many believe to have one of the best views and outdoor patios in Raleigh. Husband and wife Chris Borreson and Sara Abernethy are the owners of the new concept and have put together a team of chefs and brewers that are no strangers to the City of Oaks. A first look reveals an elevated grastropub menu with a careful emphasis on vegetarian and vegan options (in addition to plenty of options for meat eaters) that should pair perfectly with rotating house-made brews.
- Anticipated opening: June 12, 2019
- Follow on Instagram: @wyehill
STIR
Partly known for their artisanal ice that has been hand-cut to complement each one of their imaginative craft cocktails, STIR is bringing a new feel to North Hills’ cocktail and dining scene. Partnering with local farmers and bakers in the Raleigh area to support a made-from-scratch cocktail and food menu, expect to find an array of offerings like an oyster bar serving many local N.C. oysters, delicious ceviches, waffle-crusted chicken and $1 mimosas during weekend brunch. The restaurant will be located across from the AC Hotel by Marriott Raleigh North Hills.
- Anticipated opening: Mid-to-late June 2019
- Follow on Instagram: @stirraleighnc
Check out these foodie events in June!
- Triangle Restaurant Week (6/3-9)
- 4th Annual Raleigh's International Food Festival (6/8)
- Town of Cary's Pimento Cheese Festival (6/8)
- Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo (6/9)
- Eighth Annual Peak City Pig Fest (6/14-15)
