The Triangle's food scene is bursting with reliable and familiar fixtures alongside a steady stream of bold and fresh new concepts that can make deciding where to eat a tough task.

Why it matters: Having an abundance of great options is a good problem to have, of course. Our vibrant culinary landscape is one of our strongest assets, providing rich experiences for locals and shining a spotlight on the Triangle as our chefs rack up national awards.

Driving the news: With excellent options already swirling and countless new spots always popping up, our mission is to help you keep up with our ever-evolving restaurant scene and help you find great new places to eat.

How it works: We dined across the Triangle, consulted industry leaders and got feedback from hundreds of readers to bring you a ranking of the area's best restaurants.

🍽️ Here are our top five local restaurants:

1. Stanbury — A creative neighborhood joint where the menu could take you for a flavor-packed left turn at any moment.
2. Ajja — A journey across the Near East and Mediterranean that brings new discoveries with every season.
3. Brodeto — A deep-dive excursion by chef Scott Crawford into the bright, olive oil-soaked world of Adriatic cuisine.
4. M Sushi — A pillar of excellence and consistency, it's clear how M Sushi's paved the way for one of the region's most exciting families of restaurants.
5. Nanas — A fine-dining institution that continues to enmesh itself into the lives of Triangle residents nearly two years into its resurrection.

View the full list to find out if your favorite restaurant made our top 30

Did we miss any of your favorite restaurants? Hit reply or send us a note at [email protected].

Lara Trump, the president's daughter-in-law and former co-chair of the Republican National Committee, will not be pursuing a run for retiring North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis' seat.

Why it matters: The announcement comes after multiple outlets reported RNC chair — and former North Carolina GOP chair — Michael Whatley will join the race.

• Lara Trump's connection to the president would have made her a highly competitive candidate in this swing state, potentially giving Republicans a boost in a race that could be a potential pickup opportunity for Democrats in 2026.
• Senate Democrats are expecting former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper to announce his run for the seat in the coming days, launching a well-known candidate with a competitive statewide profile into the race.

What they're saying: "After much consideration and heartfelt discussions with my family, friends, and supporters, I have decided not to pursue the United States Senate seat in North Carolina at this time," Lara wrote in a post on X.

• "While I am not running in this election, my passion for Making America Great Again burns brightly, and I look forward to the future, wherever that leads."
• Neither Whatley nor the RNC immediately responded to Axios' request for comment.

What's next: Whatley is expected to announce his candidacy for the seat "in the next week to 10 days," according to Politico.

• Whatley previously led the state's Republican Party prior to becoming the RNC co-chair with Lara Trump.
• President Trump is expected to pick a replacement for RNC chair around the same time that Whatley formally announces his campaign.

Share this story

🏗️ Sprouts Farmers Market, Shake Shack and Ulta Beauty have signed onto a new $200 million mixed-use project on the site of a former Coca-Cola bottling warehouse at 3200 Hillsborough Road in Durham. (Triangle Business Journal 🔒)

🚍 North Carolina's Department of Transportation granted Rocky Mount $3 million to launch a commuter bus to Raleigh. (WRAL)

The family of a UNC-Chapel Hill professor who was killed in an on-campus shooting will receive a $750,000 settlement from the state. (News & Observer 🔒)

🦟 This summer's storms and floods are creating ideal breeding grounds for mosquitos in North Carolina. (WUNC)

If you're trying to find a deal on a home around Raleigh, it might be worth considering a ranch-style home.

Why it matters: The median list price for a ranch-style house is — by far — the lowest of any house style in the Raleigh metro area, according to new data from Realtor.com.

• Around 22% homes for sale in the market were ranches, a style that is typically smaller, a factor leading to its affordability.

Zoom in: The most plentiful style of home for sale in Raleigh was colonial or traditional-style homes, which make up 58% of the market.

Go deeper: What home styles are seeing prices increase the most

It's Axios Raleigh's last newsletter helmed by Zach and me (is it just me or are we a dream team?), and this really feels like the end of an era.

• I hate change — like, I really hate it — but this next chapter for Axios Raleigh is going to be fun to watch.
• Zach will have a new partner in crime soon, and I can't wait to join our readers in cheering the new Axios Raleigh team on from the stands.

❤️‍🩹 See y'all soon (probably at Standard or Left Hook or Delafia), and don't forget to say hi.