Notable Durham restaurant openings are few and far between. Last year, when Chapel Hill got the standout steakhouse Bin 54, Durham got the mediocre Mt. Fuji and the largely forgettable restaurants of the American Tobacco Historic District. Now, however, the tables have turned-somewhat.
This fall, three highly-anticipated restaurants will open in Durham, and one local favorite will be preparing for expansion into Chapel Hill. The former trio offer fresh and accessible takes on classic cuisine, and the latter serves distinctive frozen treats that will now reach far beyond the eatery's original Hillsborough Road location.
Metro 8
An American steakhouse with Argentinean flair, the newly opened Metro 8 steps into the competitive world of Ninth Street restaurants. Expect classics like filet mignon au poivre and lamb chops, but don't be surprised to see more distinctive items like churrasco, skirt steak and grilled chorizo sausage. Owners Cassandra Ramos and Francisco Pirillo hail from Miami's Coconut Grove, home of a swanky restaurant scene. It will be interesting to see just how Metro 8 stands up to Vin Rouge, just across the street, and Chamas, the area's other South American meat haven.
Metro 8 Steakhouse
746 Ninth St.
919-416-1700
Open: Now
Rue Cler
The young restauranteurs that introduced Pop's Trattoria will open Rue Cler in downtown Durham. Rue Cler will combine a full-service French bistro with an adjoining bakery cafe. The affordable menu will feature French classics seen from a North Carolina perspective. It also will include a nightly three-course prix fixe menu for $25 based on the availability of local produce. Organic and open-barrel fermented wines will round out the restaurant's unique French wine list.
Rue Cler
401 E. Chapel Hill St.
919-682-8844
Open: Oct. 12
Piedmont
Owners Drew Brown, Andy Magowan and Abby Pearce have worked in some of the area's best-known eateries. After stints at Magnolia Grill, Four Square, Pop's and Fowler's, the trio is opening Piedmont, a restaurant serving rustic Italian and French cuisine. The dinner menu will change nightly and incorporate welcome local additions like North Carolina monkfish and grass-fed ribeye steaks. What sets this restaurant apart, however, will be its fare made on-sight. The speciality cocktails-bitters and grenadine will be homemade-and the charcuterie-hams, pates and terrines will all be made on premises.
Piedmont
401 Foster St.
919-430-0261
Open: late Oct.
Locopops
Popsicle purveyor Locopops, first discovered by recess last year, will be expanding to Chapel Hill in the near future. Co-owner Connie Semans was reluctant to provide details, but with the expansion will come the purchase of a centralized popsicle production facility from which the popsicles will be shipped to all future retail locations.
Locopops
Chapel Hill
Open: Unknown
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.