Food & Beverage

Cooper's Hawk Opens 330-Seat Cary Restaurant November 9

Cooper's Hawk opens a 330-seat restaurant with tasting room and retail in Cary on November 9, its first Triangle location and second in North Carolina.

Cooper’s Hawk to Open First Triangle Location in Cary in November
Cooper’s Hawk to Open First Triangle Location in Cary in November — Dinuka Lankaloka / unsplash

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants opens its newest location in Cary, North Carolina, on November 9, marking the brand's first restaurant in the Triangle market and its second in the state after Greensboro.

The 330-seat restaurant sits at 1131 Parkside Main Street in Parkside Town Commons. The footprint includes an 18-seat, Napa-style tasting room, a covered and heated 68-seat patio, and two private dining rooms that together seat up to 48 guests. A retail marketplace sells wine-related gifts and merchandise alongside bottles to take home.

What does the format change for guests?

The design leans on Cary's railway roots and Victorian character. Whimsical wallcoverings, gem tones and trailing greenery sit against classical millwork and moldings, and the tasting room is styled as a residential library with antique décor and weathered books.

The menu is modern American with globally inspired flavors, made from scratch with peak-season ingredients. Every dish carries a recommended wine pairing, tying menu engineering directly to the wine program. Opening highlights include:

  • Crispy Brussels Sprouts — cashews, mint, cilantro, sweet Thai chili, sesame-sriracha aioli; paired with Moscato
  • Braised Short Rib Risotto — roasted mushroom, sweet onion, white wine, parmesan, white truffle oil; paired with Vin Velouté
  • Dana's Parmesan Chicken — tomato basil relish, lemon butter, Betty's potatoes, garlic green beans; paired with Chardonnay
  • Prime Churrasco Grilled Steak — chimichurri-rubbed skirt steak, cilantro-lime aioli, parmesan fries; paired with Malbec
  • Blackened Ahi Tuna — seared rare, wasabi sauce, cilantro citrus rice, Asian slaw; paired with Riesling

Dayparts span lunch, brunch, Happy Hour and dinner, with dedicated gluten-free and kids' menus plus carryout and catering — a full daypart and off-premise strategy rather than a dinner-only play. A full bar adds craft cocktails, sangrias, spirit-free cocktails and non-alcoholic beer.

Who builds the wine list?

The wine program is the economic and conceptual core of the concept. A team led by Master Sommelier Emily Wines travels to source grapes and partners directly with growers, crafting more than 60 varietals that have earned over 600 national and international awards. The tasting room ranges from approachable selections for newcomers to complex, full-bodied bottles for experienced drinkers, feeding both on-premise sales and the retail marketplace.

Founder and CEO Tim McEnery framed the expansion in brand terms: "We built Cooper's Hawk around a simple idea: the good life is better when it's shared. For us, that means creating places where people can come together over great food and wine, discover something new and enjoy being together. We're excited to bring that experience to Cary and welcome the Triangle through our doors."

Hours at the Cary location

  • Monday–Thursday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Friday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Saturday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Sunday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The November 9 opening gives Cooper's Hawk a second North Carolina anchor and its first entry into one of the Southeast's fastest-growing metros.

cooper-s-hawkrestaurant-openingswine-programsmenu-engineeringcary-north-carolina

More from Elena Vasquez

Elena Vasquez

Show full bio

News editor covering people, launches and day-to-day practice in Restaurant and hotel operations at The Pass Brief.

539 articles

Pairings

« Previous articleNext article »