Our Newest Location

We are pleased to announce the upcoming opening of or newest restaurant in Chapel Hill! The new Tobacco Road location will open in late October (or possibly early November) in the East 54 residential and retail center in Chapel Hill, minutes from the heart of downtown.

Our Chapel Hill restaurant will have the same local, made-from-scratch food found at both the Durham and Raleigh locations. In addition, we will have 25 beers on tap, including numerous local brews, and the signature sports viewing room featuring a wall of HDTVs. Just like in Durham and Raleigh, all the available sports packages can be found on the TVs.

Inspired by the unique sports climate of North Carolina and the “Tobacco Road” schools, the newest restaurant will be a great opportunity to become a part of Carolina-blue country. With our flagship location located blocks away from the NC State campus, our second minutes away from the Duke campus, the opening of the Chapel Hill Tobacco Road could not come at a better time or in a better place.

The Chapel Hill location will feature five different private dining rooms, with the capability to host private and semi-private events for parties of ten to 300. The restaurant is also capable of catering any event, both on- and off-site. 

Our newest space will feature two patios, where guests can lounge and enjoy their favorite dishes crafted to order by the Tobacco Road chef. One patio, with special indoor/outdoor capabilities, will overlook the Glen Lennox community and capture the hustle and bustle of the nearby college town. The other patio will be immersed in the East 54 community, adjacent to the amphitheatre and market square. For the biggest television events of the season, there will be a 100 inch projection screen on this patio. 

Tobacco Road’s goal is to bring something different to the town of Chapel Hill: a family restaurant using the best local ingredients, offering exemplary service in a comfortable and unique atmosphere. Each dish will be made to order, from fresh foods, and can meet all dietary needs. Open for lunch and dinner; our newest restaurant is going to be a great go-to spot for families, students, businesspeople and sports-fans alike.

A word from Chef Patrick

July is here and the North Carolina produce is in full swing. Zucchini, yellow squash, snap beans, sweet corn and many other items are plentiful this time of year. One of my favorites is tomatoes. German Johnsons, Mr. Stripeys, Yellow Teardrops, and other Heirloom tomatoes help define summer for me. Don’t let their odd shapes distract you. These tomatoes are packed with a whollup of flavor. “Heirloom” refers to the fact that the tomato has not been cross-bred with other types or genetically altered; this sacrifices the uniform sizing and color, but intensifies the flavor profile. I have always liked to keep dishes using these tomatoes very simple so their natural flavor shines through. Look for them being highlighted in upcoming features at both locations.

Soup on a hot summer day? Why not! But who says it has to be hot? I can’t begin to tell you how refreshing a nice chilled soup is during the summertime. Sweet Potato Vichysoisse, Chilled Green Apple Bisque, Blueberry-Mint-Yogurt, and Yellow Tomato Gazpacho are just a few that we will be featuring at Tobacco Road Sports Café in the near future. These all score a home run when paired with a salad or sandwich.

Gluten Free Menu

We are proud to bring our customers a 100% gluten-free menu offering delicious entrees and starters. Here at Tobacco Road there is always something for everyone no matter what your eating habit and diet is. When you come visit us, please ask your server to see our gluten-free menu. Enjoy a satisfying meal from our selection below.

STARTERS

Hummus Sampler Platter

Black eyed-pea hummus, lima bean hummus and traditional hummus with squash, and cucumbers. $7

Wolfpack Wings

Smothered in one of our house-made sauces and served with your choice of ranch or blue cheese dressing. Available sauces include: Spicy Thai, Teriyaki, Original Buffalo and BBQ. All sauces available in “extremely hot.” $8

Pub Fries

House-made french fries and sweet potato chips served with cinnamon dipping sauce, black currant Kerala Curry aioli, and chipotle ketchup. $6

Tobacco Road House Salad 

Mixed greens, sliced cucumbers, red onions, grape tomatoes, and balsamic basil vinaigrette. $5

Strawberry and Pecan Salad 

Mixed field greens, candied pecans, blueberries, strawberries and blueberry-mint-white

balsamic vinaigrette. $7

Tomato Basil Soup

Garnished with parmesan cheese. Bowl $5 Cup $3

MAIN PLATES

Cobb Salad
Grilled chicken, eggs, tomatoes, bacon, avocado, bleu cheese and balsamic basil vinaigrette. $13
Down East Shrimp Salad Plate
Served on mixed greens and accompanied with local tomatoes and cucumbers. $12
Four Corners Salad Plate
Tomato-Basil Salad, Southern Caviar and Potato Salad served with your choice of Down East Shrimp Salad or Apple Pecan Chicken Salad. $11
BBQ Baby Back Ribs
Dry rubbed, cooked slowly and basted with a sweet & spicy BBQ sauce. Your choice of side. $12 Full Rack: $19
Jambalaya
Tasso ham, andouille sausage, shrimp, chicken, peppers, onions, tomato, and rice. $13
Georgia Peach BBQ Chicken
Grilled chicken brushed with our peach BBQ sauce. Served with sweet potato mash and green beans. $12
Fish or Lamb Southwest Lettuce Wrap
Chilled Iceberg lettuce filled with your choice of chili rubbed fish or pulled braised lamb, roasted ancho corn slaw, avocado lime sauce & pico de gallo. Served with black beans & rice. $13
Grilled NY Strip
12 oz. Certified Angus Beef® NY Strip accompanied by garlic mashed potatoes, green beans and tomato-balsamic chutney. $18
Shrimp and Grits
Sautéed shrimp and country ham on white cheddar cheese grits with chipotle gravy. $14
Greek Lemon Chicken
Grilled chicken served with garlic mashed potatoes, spinach, feta cheese, sun dried tomatoes, and lemon caper beurre blanc. $12
Pan Seared Catfish
Carolina Meadows Catfish served with hoppin’ john, cole slaw and remoulade. $12


*Most all of our sandwiches and burgers are a wonderful gluten-free option when served without the bread.


To view our full menu, click here. 

New Menu in Raleigh and Durham

Fried Green Tomatoes Appetizer

We've just launched a new menu, featuring all of your old favorites plus a few more yummy options, including:

• Fried Green Tomatoes
• Hummus Sampler Platter
• Strawberry and Candied Pecan Salad
• Down East Shrimp Salad Plate
• Four Corners Salad Plate
• Fried Green Tomato Sandwich
• Wake Forest Grinder
• Cornmeal Crusted Fried Catfish
• Grilled NY Strip
• Orrechiette Pasta
• Turkey Burger
• NC Bison Burger

Click here to view the new menu. 

Local Vendor Spotlight: Aviator Brewing Company

We are excited to feature Aviator Brewing Company as our first local vendor spotlight. We feature Aviator beers at our Raleigh and Durham locations. Aviator Brewing Company brings us delicious beers from right down the road, in Fuquay Varina.

Aviator Brewing Company has been flowing great local beers since opening their doors in November 2008. The original brewery located in an old airplane hangar (hence “Aviator”) housed the brewery, which at the time was brewing into two used dairy tanks. These 300 gallon tanks would soon not be able to hold the demand for Aviator, who began distributing to Triangle area bars within the first two months of existence. In fact neither would the hanger.

In April 2010 the brewery uprooted from its hanger at Triple W airport to a location four miles away. The past year has been a busy one for Aviator as they have moved distribution throughout the state as far west as Asheville, which boasts a big Aviator following at the local bars. They added three new fermentation tanks and a 22 oz. bottling system, making Aviator even that more attainable for the folks of the Triangle.

Through this change, one thing has remained the same, Aviator’s commitment to brewing delicious high quality beers. This commitment has won them the title of Triangle Arts & Entertainments Readers Choice Award for Best Brewery in the Triangle, as well as gold, silver, and two bronze medals in the NC Championship of beers in 2011; gold for their Saison, silver for their Belgian Tripel, and bronze for their Red and California Common Beers.

Look for Aviator’s beer selections at both our Raleigh and Durham stores, as they remain staples on our draft selection! Interested in having an Aviator beer, perhaps for the first time? Think about pairing it with these amazing dishes…

Saison de Aviator: 6.4% ABV- Spring Seasonal, A Belgian beer style with pilsner malts, mis-kilned malts, coriander and sweet orange peel. Unfiltered and golden in color this beer is slightly higher in carbonation and tastes of fruity Trappist yeast.
Suggested Menu Pairing: Tar Heel Lamb Wrap OR the Strawberry and Candied Pecan Salad

Devil’s Trampling Ground Tripel: 9.2 % ABV- A hearty Tripel Belgian ale. Golden in color with a fruity spicy flavor that finishes sweet. The Trampling Ground is light tasting from the addition of candy sugar, but don’t worry just the right amount of hops to balance out that sweetness.
Suggested Menu Pairing: Tuscan Chicken Sandwich or Greek Lemon Chicken

Check out the Aviator Brewing Company website for more info. Have a favorite local beer you'd like to see featured at Tobacco Road, just email us to let us know.

Entertainment Book Coupons Not Accepted

FYI we no longer accept Entertainment Book coupons. This marks the second year that Entertainment has issued them without our consent. Last year, we accepted them as a courtesy to our guests. Unfortunately, we will not be able to do that again, this year.

We encourage you to contact them with any questions or concerns: (888)-231-7283. Thank you for your understanding!

Table Tennis Media Tournament

In case you didn't know, Cary, NC is kind of a big deal in the competitive table tennis world. In fact, Cary will host the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials for table tennis from February 8-12 at Bond Park Community Center. These trials will feature the top 40 players in the US vying for a spot on the 2012 US Olympic Team.

That is pretty cool, but what does that have to do with Tobacco Road Sports Cafe, you might ask. Well, in anticipation for the event, 11 members of the local media (radio, tv, web and print) will be playing in their own table tennis tournament on January 13th. This media tournament will take place at our Raleigh location on Glenwood Ave. It begins at 7 pm and the public is invited to come out as spectators to this unique event.

Here's the list of the fierce competitors:

• Mark Armstrong, WTVD TV 11
• J. Mike Blake, Cary News
• Page Crawford, WNCN NBC 17
• Luke DeCock, News & Observer
• Penn Holderness, WNCN NBC 17
• Chuck Kaiton, Carolina Hurricanes
• Mike Maniscalco, 99.9 The Fan
• Derek Medlin, WRAL.com
• Joe Ovies, 99.9 The Fan
• Tisha Powell, WTVD TV 11
• Mark Thomas, 99.9 The Fan

Don't miss out on what is sure to be a competitive and certainly comical affair!

New Year's Eve Reservations

With so much focus on the holidays, New Year's Eve always seems to sneak up on us. Inevitably, the evening comes and we haven't made plans. Get a jump-start on your New Year’s Resolution to quit procrastinating, and book your New Year’s Eve dinner reservations today. In Durham, Tobacco Road Sports Café has an offer you cannot resist. We will have a four-course meal for just $30 per person. But don’t let this amazing bargain fool you, all four courses (described below) will be prepared with fresh, delicious ingredients.

We are accepting reservations for parties of 4 or more, and will have seatings at 6:30 and 9pm. Book your reservation in advance and you can pre-order a bottle of Domaine champagne for just $15 (that’s a 55% savings!) to properly toast the New Year, or upgrade to a bottle of Veuve for $60.

New Year’s Eve Dinner Menu

First Course (to share):

Buffalo Chicken Spring Rolls

Fried Green Tomatoes with roasted red pepper aioli and basil pesto

Pan Seared Scallops with arugula salad and vanilla black pepper syrup

Second Course:

Cup of soup

Caesar Salad

House Salad

Third Course:

Grilled NY Strip - Tomato Chutney, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Green Beans

Pan Seared Salmon - Peppered Cranberry Coulis, Asparagus, Sautéed Butternut Squash

Greek Lemon Chicken - Grilled Chicken with Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Spinach, Feta and Sun-dried Tomatoes

Fourth Course:

Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse Napoleon

Mango Crème Brulee

Call 919-449-4899 to make your reservation.

Toy Donations to benefit the United Way

Tobacco Road Sports Cafe has decided to spread the holiday cheer even further, so in addition to sponsoring the United Way in the Triangle Christmas Tree Challenge, we are accepting new, age appropriate, unwrapped toy donations. These toys will give kids in our community a very merry Christmas, which in itself is a great reward.

But to show our appreciate for your support of the United Way, we are offering a raffle for anyone who brings in a toy donation. For each toy you bring in, you will be entered to win 2 tickets to the Duke vs. Maryland game (for the Durham location) or the Duke vs. Florida State game (for the Raleigh location). As if that wasn't enough, you will have the opportunity to take the half-time, half-court shot for a chance to win $10,000!

So don your Santa hat and satisfy your inner child for the sake of putting a smile on a child's face this Christmas.

Triangle Christmas Tree Challenge

If you've been to downtown Durham lately, you may have noticed a plethora of Christmas trees adorning the Diamond View Park, right outside DPAC. In case you didn't know, these trees represent local non-profits, vying to win up to $5,000 to benefit their missions. Tobacco Road Sports Cafe is excited to announce our sponsorship of the United Way of the Greater Triangle's tree.

Working with the United Way we realized, not everyone will have a Merry Christmas this year. So rather than decorating our tree with glittering lights and festive ornaments, we decided to donate our tree to single mother and her 8 year old son.

This is just a small gesture when there are 206,941 individuals in our community who are living in poverty, and 68.142 of those are children. In order to help more of these people, we need you to VOTE for our tree and help the United Way win this contest, and in turn, give back to our neighbors. You can vote online, by visiting the contest's website or by texting TREE49 to 46988. Voting ends December 18th, so please get your vote in before time runs out!

In addition to the competition, we will be accepting toy donations at our Durham location. All toys will go to the United Way of the Greater Triangle for families with young children in our community.

Order $50 Tobacco Road gift card, get $10 card free

There's always that one person on everyone's holiday shopping list that is simply impossible to buy for. Rather than getting them another tie, candle, coffee mug or best-seller, try something new this year. This year, give the gift of fresh, delicious food, exceptional service, and infinite sports. Now you can wrap up that experience and put a bow on it by purchasing a Tobacco Road Sports Cafe gift card.

For every $50 order made online between December 8th through the 22nd, you get a $10 card FREE! Just to sweeten the deal even more, all gift cards are mailed out the following day, and there is no charge for delivery/procession, and absolutely no expiration date. Click here to order a gift card online.

So breathe a sigh of relief, because this holiday season you can put up your feet and enjoy the eggnog, worry-free.

Tobacco Road Sports Cafe welcomes new Executive Chef

Our new Executive Chef Patrick Cowden comes to us from a long stint at A Southern Season in Chapel Hill where he was the Executive Chef at The Weathervane Restaurant. As a long time resident of the Triangle he has steered the course at such places as Michael Jordan's 23 Sport Cafe, The Grill at Glen Lennox, Michael Dean's, and his own restaurant Patrick's Seasonal Cuisine which was located in North Durham.

As a Chef who is committed to North Carolina products and local producers he was a recent finalist in the Best Dish of North Carolina sponsered by the Dept. of Agriculture. This committment coupled with a passion for exciting Southern inspired cuisine makes Chef Cowden a natural fit for us here at Tobacco Road Sports Cafe.

Raleigh - Endless Event Options

In Raleigh, General Manager Chad Messick is a veteran events coordinator. If you have at least 10 people in your party, we offer a viewing room with a bar area that is great for smaller parties. If you have a larger party or prefer your own space, we have a private dining room that comfortably fits up to 24 people, as well as our main dining room that can hold up to 80 guests.

Throughout the years since the Raleigh location was opened, it has played host to a wide variety of parties. Along with the wedding parties, Greek organizations, and alumni clubs, we have had NCSU sports teams, ESPN sponsored events, Kentucky Derby parties, and company holiday parties.

Raleigh is also prepared to meet any audiovisual needs. We can hook up almost any computer or DVD player to one of our many TVs through HDMI, component-video, s-video and PC inputs. Due to this capability, we have a limited supply of laptops that are able to access games shown via the internet/ESPN 3. Additionally, we offer any package available in order to broadcast all sporting events. In regard to sound, each of the three rooms has its own sound options. The private dining room has its own TV and sound feed, the main dining room has three large TVs with one sound feed for the whole room, and the viewing room has one sound feed to accompany the 14 interior TVs.

All parties have the option to organize their menu options however they see fit. We can always provide our regular menu, but also provide our catering menu that sets up their party as more of a "buffet" style. A third option would be to offer guests a limited menu, where the items are chosen by the party and we limit their guests to the customized menu discussed.

But don’t take our word for it, come in today to see the space and discuss your upcoming event with our General Managers. The Reservation line in Raleigh is 919-995-4384. The holidays are just around the corner, so don’t hesitate to book your upcoming event!

Photos coming soon!

Durham - Built With Events in Mind

In Durham, General Manager Darren Birt ensures that your event surpasses expectations. Our Durham location is just a year old and was built with events in mind. From the vast covered patio to the partitioned indoor rooms, the restaurant can accommodate parties up to 700 people. In the last year, we have hosted the Durham Visitor’s Bureau, various fraternity and sorority cocktails, the Duke Emergency Medicine division, almost 60 rehearsal dinners, and countless collegiate and professional sports fan clubs.

For our tech savvy parties, we have extensive audio-visual capabilities as well. In order to ensure optimal audio, we have four separate spaces that are capable of individualized audio including the patio, main restaurant, and two smaller rooms. If it’s a band you want, we have a booking agent that will provide a band befitting your party. If it’s video that you want, our innumerable TVs connect to display presentations, slideshows, games and anything else you might want to share.

The Reservation line in Durham is 919-449-4899.

Photos coming soon!

Book Your Holiday Party Now

I can’t believe it is that time of the year already, but if the change in weather wasn’t enough indication, the sudden flood of holiday party reservations confirms it. We are already booking up fast for the holidays, so this is just a friendly reminder to book early to ensure that we have the space available to make your event a success.

From holiday parties, rehearsal dinners to NFL game watches, we have the private or semi-private space and all the amenities to make your function a memorable experience for all who attend. Work with our experienced event coordinators to develop a special menu, manage audio-visual needs and miscellaneous event requirements.

You can read the profiles describing the event capabilities of our two locations, each offering a variety of private and semi-private event space and unique atmospheres to fit your needs.

Dinner and a Show

DPAC fans, Tobacco Road Sports Café is just steps away from your favorite downtown Durham performance venue. Whether it’s for pre-show meal or post-show drinks and desserts, Tobacco Road Sports Café is the place to go.

This season includes Broadway musicals West Side Story, Wicked, and Chicago, concerts by award winning artists such as local favorite Scotty McCreery, Willie Nelson, and Aretha Franklin, and holiday tributes Radio City Christmas Spectacular, A Christmas Carol, and Carolina Ballet’s The Nutcracker.

Tobacco Road Sports Café wants to make your evening complete, so join us for fresh, seasonal features and great service that will compliment any DPAC show.

For a full DPAC schedule, click here.

Monday Night Football Just Got Even Better

Tobacco Road Sports Café offers everything you could want for Monday Night Football: a multitude of televisions, an extensive beer selection and a full menu of affordable and delicious fare. Now there is another great reason to enjoy the games here.

Every Monday night in both Raleigh and Durham Tobacco Road Sports Café will give away two NFL jerseys - one representing each team playing. To be eligible, you must arrive before the game. Winners will be selected at the start of the 4^th quarter, and you must be present to win.

Be sure to follow Tobacco Road Sports Café on Facebook and Twitter for more on these and other events!

Attention Local Beer Lovers

Beer enthusiasts, Tobacco Road Sports Café has you covered. Our Raleigh location boasts a dozen local beers on draft, including Highland, Lonerider, Big Boss, Fullsteam, French Broad, Foothills and many more--with new beers featured weekly.

Today we are introducing our newest North Carolina brew, “Raleigh Red” from the Roth Brewing Company. This medium bodied amber ale is the company’s flagship, and offers a distinct, crisp, hoppy finish.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up-to-date on the latest drink specials. We are eager to please, so much so that we are taking suggestions. Let us know what you’d like to see on tap by emailing Pierson, at pierson@tobaccoroadsportscafe.com.

A Night of Dogfish Head Beers and Fine Cuisine with Tobacco Road Sports Cafe

You may have heard of wine pairings, but have you ever heard of a beer dinner? Larry Dunn, Executive Chef at Tobacco Road Sports Café, decided to embrace the endless possibilities of beer. In the beginning, the beer dinner was created as an opportunity to open the café’s doors to more people and to allow local breweries to showcase their selections.

Larry took a particular interest in the events when he discovered the vast opportunities they provide. Not only can Larry continue to expand his cooking expertise by preparing gourmet menus, but the complexities of beer also allow for a highly individualized experience for each attendee. According to the chef, people all taste beers differently, so the variety of beers and tastes allow chefs and guests alike discover why there is more to the beer industry than the bargain drafts found on every tap.

The upcoming beer dinner on August 31^st will feature Dogfish Head’s 60 Minute I.P.A., 90 Minute I.P.A., Indian Brown Ale, Palo Santo and Midas Touch. Larry will create five gourmet courses to go with these craft brewed ales. The full menu is provided below.

Larry invites you to take part in a novel environment where the beer takes the spotlight. What could be finer?

Beer Selection

60 Minute I.P.A., 90 Minute I.P.A., Indian Brown Ale, Palo Santo, Midas Touch Cheese Fondue and Pretzels Cave Aged Gruyere, House Made Mustard, Warm Pretzels Salad Course Candied Pecans, Sun Dried Cranberries, Rosemary Beet Vinaigrette, Guacamole and Brie Ctroutons First Entree Course House Made Duck Sausage, Raspberry Onion Mamalade, Truffled Polenta, Arugula Second Entree Course Coffee Crusted Tenderloin of Beef with Vanilla Hollandaise, Herbed Creamy Risotto, Baby Vegetables Dessert Course Fresh Seasonal Berries with Citrus Scented Cream

Fourth Annual Extra Innings Triangle Networking Event

Tobacco Road Sports Cafe is gearing up to sponsor this fun-filled evening Wednesday, August 3rd at the U.S. National Baseball Training Complex. The Fourth Annual Extra Innings Networking Event will take place from 5-7:30 and provides fun for the whole family, including free food and beverages, giveaways, player autograph signings, and a silent auction. There will also be Triangle-wide networking for adults, and games for kids. Admission is free for participating Chamber of Commerce and Networking groups, so don't miss out on this awesome opportunity to join us and connect with your local business community!

For more information about the event, click here.