Mandolin operated out of a corner spot on Fairview + Oberlin Road. | Photo courtesy of Mandolin
After nearly 14 years of farm-to-table eats, Hayes Barton’s Mandolin is shutting its doors, chef + owner Sean Fowler announced via Instagram on Monday. Fowler, a Raleigh native, opened Mandolin in 2011 with a focus on Southern cooking, seasonal dishes, and North Carolina-sourced ingredients.
In the Instagram announcement, Fowler wrote, “This may be the end of one chapter, but it’s not goodbye. We look forward to what’s next and will be sharing updates in the months to come.” Allie here — I hope I can savor the famous chicken and waffles with collards and mushrooms again someday soon.
In 2013, Fowler and his team opened Mandolin Farm where the restaurant’s eggs, tomatoes, peppers, and more are sourced from, and according to Raleigh Magazine, the farm will be closing as well. Read about RALtoday’s visit to Mandolin Farm back in 2022 with Fowler.
Asked
Asked
Share your memories from Mandolin.
Maybe it’s a special dinner, a trip to the farm, or a memory from when this space was Johnson’s Pharmacy or another eatery.
“Waitress: The Musical” | Wednesday, Aug. 6-Sunday Aug. 24 | 7:30-10:30 p.m. | Theatre Raleigh | $45+ | This sweet musical is based on the 2007 film with lyrics by Sara Bareilles — and pies will be for purchase from Slice.
Emotion for Passion: An Italian Wine Showcase | 5-7 p.m. | Home for Entertaining, Cary | $20 | Sample 12 thoughtfully selected wines from four distinct Italian regions with recommendations from a true vino pro.
Dierks Bentley | 7 p.m. | Walnut Creek Amphitheatre | $75+ | Rock out to “What Was I Thinkin’” and “Somewhere on a Beach” live.
Houseplant Garden Workshop | 6-7 p.m. | Urban Pothos Houseplant Shop | $82 | Learn how to group multiple plants together in a thriving indoor garden.
Last week’s First Friday event was postponed to Friday, Oct. 26 because of weather — but don’t fret — the whole fam can still come out in October for a screening of “Inside Out 2.” The next event will be on September’s second Friday, Sept. 12, with “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and more live music and food trucks.
Coming Soon
Maeve, an in-house label from clothing + lifestyle brand Anthropologie, is coming to Raleigh with its first standalone store in the former Coastal Urge spot near Barnes & Noble. The new store will open this fall with preppy skirts, sweaters, and more.
Weather
While this week’s weather is milder, July was a record-setting scorcher for the Triangle. Last month was the hottest month on record at Raleigh-Durham International Airport with an average temperature of 84, which is 3.5 degrees warmer than usual for July in RAL. Cool off with a sweet treat.(The News & Observer)
Eat
Garden & Gun magazine named Cheetie Kumar and Paul Siler’s Ajja as one of the South’s best new restaurants, just adding to their list of accolades. Get yourself a table and get a taste for yourself. (The News & Observer)
Open
Glenwood South’s Cornerstone Tavern already has two successors after the nightlife hub closed its doors last month. Arcadia takes up half the space with arcade games, air hockey, and large TVs, and The Row takes up the other half with the patio and country music-inspired decor.
Watch
Comedian + actor John Leguizamo paid a visit to Oak City as part of his MSNBC TV show “Leguizamo Does America” and hit up some local faves and celebrated Latin American culture in the Triangle. If you want to do as Leguizamo did, visit Arepa Culture for a bite — watch online.
Traffic
The countdown to the state fair is on, and so is Blue Ridge Road’s construction. According to NCDOT, the Blue Ridge Underpass project has been delayed, and if it keeps facing delays, Beryl Road might not be clear by the time the NC State Fair comes to town. Read more.
Arts
The stage is calling from Raleigh Little Theatre’s award-winning educational theatre classes, open now for the 2025-26 season. Weekly classes for ages two through high school, plus special six-week sessions for adults looking to learn, grow, or try something new. Explore all 9 unique programs.*
20%. That’s how much you can save on our self-service ad portal thanks to our Countdown to Q4 special. Hurry — it only runs until the end of the month. Use code AUGUST20 at checkout to secure your discount.
Platform apartments is attracting small businesses to Raleigh’s growing West End neighborhood. | Photo provided by Kane Realty
Downtown Raleigh is gaining a spot for romance readers + wine lovers with a cozy space in a burgeoning neighborhood. Bright Side Books & Wine, owned and operated by Susannah Baird, promises a community space in addition to a space for local + independent authors to thrive. Bright Side will open at Platform apartments this fall, according to Kane Realty.
In addition to romance reads and vino, expect trivia nights, themed book clubs, author gatherings, and more community events for NC’s creative community. Bright Side was also funded by the community, with a recent Kickstarter receiving $51,400 from the community.
Bright Side will join The Bike Library, Homebody Yoga & Wellness, and Mood Raleigh nail salon at Platform + The West End, and Kane’s nearby Oldham & Worth project is now under construction, too. Learn more about Bright Side from their Instagram.
The Buy
A go-to pair of running shorts to get you through hot summer workouts. This pair is under $20, has a built-in liner, and stays secure around hips thanks to a thick elastic waistband.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
My team recently held a virtual pizza party, and it was the perfect opportunity for me to finally try Oakwood Pizza Box. I went simple with a cheese + pepperoni pizza, but next time, I need to get a bite of the square pizza and the gluten-free pizza I’ve heard so much about. Pro tip: Don’t skip the Caesar salad.
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