A rendering of Hazel and Apple, coming to King Street in Charleston. | Hazel and Apple Expect buttery biscuits in Asheville, a grand steakhouse in Cary, a cheese bar in Carrboro, and cutting-edge cocktails in Charleston Chefs, restaurateurs, and investors in North and South Carolina continue to open restaurants and bars at an increasing pace. As always, Eater is obsessively tracking the progression of all the premiers — from menu releases to newly installed signage, come here for the latest updates. This list encapsulates the places garnering excitement this upcoming season. ASHEVILLE, NORTH C ..read more

Vice President Kamala Harris and Georgia Congresswoman Nikema Williams visited Dotties Market, and it went viral. | Bri Salley Dottie’s Market has sold out of the viral chocolate salted caramel cake every day since the vice president’s visit Ever since the viral moment when Vice President Kamala Harris wanted “something sweet” while in Savannah for a campaign rally, curious consumers across the country have contacted Dottie’s Market (207 West Broughton Street) to see if they could get their hands on the chocolate salted caramel cake that tempted Harris. Co-owner Ericka Phillips says the cake h ..read more

The owners of Sommba decided to close after a year and a half in business. | Mike Ledford The Spanish restaurant Sommba closes on Saturday, September 7 Mount Pleasant restaurant Sommba Cocina & Cellar (1710 Shoremeade Road) opened in early 2023 with flavors of Spain. After a year and a half, owner Ty Raju announced on Facebook that Sommba will shut down this week. Raju wrote: As the world continues to evolve, so must we. With mixed emotions, we are announcing that our beloved second passion project, Sommba, will be pausing its service operations after our dinner service on Saturday, Septe ..read more

Colectivo will close at the end of the month. | Mike Ledford The Mexican restaurant is a few days away from its first anniversary The team from Colectivo (2901 Maybank Highway) announced its closure on Instagram today. The post reads, “It is with profound sadness that we announce the closing of our doors on August 31st. Maintaining the quality of food and service that you deserve has become unsustainable for our staff and families. We are incredibly grateful for the support you have shown us over the past year. Join us this week as we celebrate the incredible memories we’ve built together befo ..read more

Chef Preeti Waas inside Cheeni. | The Plaid Penguin A new Cheeni will offer Indian flavors to Research Triangle Park in 2025 Two-time James Beard Award Best Chef Southeast semifinalist Preeti Waas will expand her Cheeni empire to Research Triangle Park next year. Located in multi-use development Horseshoe at Hub RTP, the newest Cheeni will continue Waas’s exploration of Indian cuisine through her lens of growing up in South India and American culture. There have been several versions of Cheeni restaurants over the years, starting as shops in two YMCA locations in downtown Raleigh, then an all ..read more

Eric Rivera was arrested on August 17 in Wake Country. | Suzi Pratt The Raleigh chef was held on $7,000 bond in the Wake County Detention Center Raleigh chef Eric Rivera was arrested on August 17, 2024, on charges of misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, assault on a female, and assault by strangulation. He was released from the Wake County Detention Center on August 20 after paying a bond of $7,000. Rivera moved to Raleigh in 2023 after gaining acclaim for his Seattle restaurant Addo. He planned to open a Puerto Rican izakaya named Coqui and a private dining experience named Sapi — neither ..read more

Attendees at the 2023 Southern Foodways Alliance. | Vault Entertainment The event will explore the question, “Who serves the restaurant and whom does the restaurant serve?” For the first time ever, the Southern Foodways Alliance (SFA) Fall Symposium will be held in Raleigh, North Carolina. Typically hosted in Oxford, Mississippi, the organization is headed to the Carolinas this year. Tickets are now on sale for the event, which will take place on Sunday, October 27, and Monday, October 28. Over the two days, attendees and presenters will contemplate the question of “Who serves the restaurant a ..read more

Brunch in the Lowcountry includes egg white frittatas, giant cinnamon rolls, and indulgent breakfast sandwiches If you've made your way through the essential brunch restaurants in Charleston and still yearn for another mimosa in a different setting, we present this list of the new spots servicing the early crowds. To be on the Brunch Heatmap, these establishments must be less than a year old (with some consideration for those barely over the mark or changes in the kitchen ..read more

Yakitori topped with caviar at Yakitori Omakase by Prime Fish. | Timothy DePeugh Chef Leo Zheng offers caviar, scallops, wagyu, and even a chicken wing at the small counter hidden in Nusa When the Prime Fish brand debuted in Charlotte in 2020, yakitori — let alone an omakase experience built around yakitori — was nowhere on anyone’s bingo card. With the flagship Prime Fish branch, Charlotte diners were at last treated to high-quality Edomae-style sushi that, for once in the 704 area code, didn’t need cream cheese, avocado, or jalapeño slices thrown haphazardly about. This was special sushi — r ..read more

Find shrimp and grits on the brunch menu at Husk. | Bill Addison With the rush of non-Southern restaurants in the Lowcountry, does the iconic dish still capture the attention of visitors? In the past decade, Charleston has seen an astronomical rise in visitors, residents, luxury apartments, and restaurants. The Holy City is a culinary destination, with tourists flocking for reservations at newcomers like Vern’s, Marbled & Fin, and Kultura. Many new spots don’t serve Southern food — recently, the city gained restaurants with flavors from Malaysia, Puerto Rico, and Sichuan. When I moved to ..read more