Drew Jackson

Raleigh

Food Writer at The News & Observer

Food writer @newsobserver | failed fortune cookie writer

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Articles

You've got 1 day in the Triangle. We've got tips for what to do and where to eat

5 days ago | charlotteobserver.com | Drew Jackson |Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska

When out-of-towners visit Triangle cities - whether for graduations, concerts, business trips or family gatherings - they need recommendations for where to eat, drink and soak up some culture. We asked our very own staff members, who range from working at The News & Observer (and living in the Triangle) from a few short months to 45+ years, to share the best parts of where we live.
You’ve got 1 day in the Triangle. We’ve got tips for what to do and where to eat

5 days ago | heraldsun.com | Drew Jackson |Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska

Bottles of Cheerwine chill in a cooler of ice at Sam Jones Barbecue in Raleigh. [email protected] When out-of-towners visit Triangle cities — whether for graduations, concerts, business trips or family gatherings — they need recommendations for where to eat, drink and soak up some culture. We asked our very own staff members, who range from working at The News & Observer (and living in the Triangle) from a few short months to 45+ years, to share the best parts of where we live.
8 stories on openings & closures transforming downtown Raleigh

1 week ago | newsobserver.com | Renee Umsted |Drew Jackson

Downtown Raleigh is undergoing dynamic transformations with a mix of closures, relocations, and openings. Iconic fixtures like the 42nd Street Oyster Bar have closed, citing challenges with adapting to the city's rapid urban development, while businesses at Seaboard Station have struggled with the impacts of construction and shifting retail dynamics.
2 Triangle food festivals show off the finer side of BBQ. Here's why you should go

2 weeks ago | newsobserver.com | Drew Jackson

A luscious beef brisket is sliced to order at Dampf Good Barbecue in Morrisivlle. Dampf Good will be at two upcoming Triangle barbecue festivals. [email protected] When you're toasting barbecue, you're usually thinking sweet tea or lowercase beer. But Triangle food festivals are here to make the case for the bubbles. In showing off the finer side of barbecue, two upcoming barbecue fests urge diners to try pairing North Carolina's most treasured tradition with sparkling wine.
Southern Living named this barbecue joint the best in NC. Do you agree?

2 weeks ago | newsobserver.com | Drew Jackson

At Lexington Barbecue, a plate of coarse chopped barbecue is prepared in the kitchen on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 in Lexington, N.C. [email protected] In the never-ending debate over North Carolina barbecue, the west wins this round. Earlier this spring, Southern Living named the best barbecue in every state, and a Lexington-style icon earned North Carolina's top spot.
It's always a party at this Raleigh restaurant. Now it's heading to Durham.

2 weeks ago | newsobserver.com | Drew Jackson

A mural from the patio at La Buena Vida in North Raleigh. The restaurant is from Salvador Alvarez, of Chido Taco. This will be an authentic Mexican restaurant with more seafood, higher spice levels and a few dishes from Fonda Lupita in Sanford. [email protected] When the tomahawk steak lands at the table, it's lit on fire and carved into slices whiles sparklers shoot into the air. It's a steak, yes, but it's also an event.
10 updates on the Triangle's local entertainment, dining and retail scene

2 weeks ago | newsobserver.com | Renee Umsted |Drew Jackson |Tammy Grubb

The Triangle's entertainment and retail landscape continues to experience dynamic shifts with closures, relocations, and new openings reflecting broader cultural and economic trends. Iconic venues like Legends Nightclub are moving to preserve their legacy amidst changing real estate developments, while newer concepts, such as Smash, a ping pong bar replacing a Carolina Ale House, indicate the growing appeal of experiential entertainment.
7 Triangle venue updates on the horizon

2 weeks ago | newsobserver.com | Kristen Johnson |Drew Jackson |Tammy Grubb |Anna Roman |Renee Umsted

Communities across the Triangle are bracing for sweeping changes as beloved venues shutter, new concepts spring up, and fresh ideas reshape local culture. This list of stories outlines the closing of institutions like 42nd Street Oyster Bar, the end of The Cortez on Glenwood South, and new opportunities like ParTee Shack's upcoming mini golf and arcade expansions.
Raleigh's evolving dining and event spaces

3 weeks ago | newsobserver.com | Renee Umsted |Anna Roman |Drew Jackson

Raleigh's dining and event scene reveals a city in transition, where closures, reinventions, and ambitious development projects shape the urban fabric. Longtime establishments such as 42nd Street Oyster Bar have shuttered, reflecting both personal losses and broader cultural shifts. Meanwhile, projects like the Midway Event Center food hall at the NC State Fair illustrate an appetite for innovation and community gathering spaces.
The old Capital Creations will be revived by one of Raleigh's best pizzas spots

3 weeks ago | newsobserver.com | Drew Jackson

For more than 30 years, Capital Creations was one of Raleigh's most beloved spots for carryout pizza. This summer, one of the Triangle's very best pizzerias will give it a new life. The old Capital Creations at 1842 Wake Forest Road in Raleighwill become a carryout-only version of Oakwood Pizza Box, the wildly popular Person Street pizzeria owned by Anthony Guerra. Capital Creations closed in 2023 after more than 30 years in business as one of Raleigh's most cherished pizza traditions.