RDU emphasizes local in its choice of 10 new restaurants. Here’s who, what and when.

Ten new bars and restaurants will be coming to the terminals at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in the next year and half, filling gaps that become more obvious as air travel continues to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new offerings aim to reflect the Triangle and create a sense of place, drawing on brands unique to the community. Seven of the 10 new eateries will be versions of bars and restaurants that exist in the region or were developed for RDU by local chefs.

“I’m very pleased to see that RDU will not be looking like a lot of other airports,” said David Kushner, a member of the airport’s governing board that approved the contracts Thursday. “This is a lot of very locally focused concepts that will reflect the Triangle and will offer a wide variety.”

The lineup includes a cocktail bar created by Durham Distillery, two local breweries — Bond Brothers and Lonerider — and new restaurants developed by local chefs Scott Crawford and Oscar Diaz.

RDU began emphasizing local eateries and retailers several years ago, with restaurants such as Char-Grill and La Farm Bakery Cafe and gift shop Root & Branch. Black & White Coffee Roasters of Raleigh will replace the Starbucks at the bottom of the escalators in Terminal 2, while Beyu Caffé of Durham will open this summer in the ticketing areas of both terminals 1 and 2, outside the security checkpoints.

Meanwhile, Crawford, the five-time James Beard Award semifinalist, will open Crawford’s Genuine in the Terminal 2 spot, which, until recently, was occupied by another local favorite, 42nd Street Oyster Bar.

Most of the 10 new outlets approved Thursday will open in spaces that are vacant, many since the COVID-19 pandemic nearly emptied airports nationwide. With air travel expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels this year, those vacancies and the long waits for coffee or a bite to eat become more apparent to travelers.

That’s especially true in Concourse C, the north wing of Terminal 2. Bruegger’s Bagels and the getREEF Virtual Food Hall are the only places serving food in the concourse, and RDU officials say they’ll concentrate on fixing that first. That includes temporarily reopening the Cantina Grill Mexican restaurant and adding standalone carts that serve coffee, sandwiches and salads.

Most of the new restaurants will be in Terminal 2

Work on the permanent restaurants will take place in phases in the coming months, with all 10 expected to be open by late fall 2024.

In Concourse C, the lineup includes:

▪ Lonerider Brewing Co., which has three Triangle locations, one in Oak Island and another coming in Durham, will serve food and its beer, including a new brew called Boots Up Ale sold only at RDU.

▪ Adios!, a Mexican restaurant created by Diaz, a two-time James Beard semifinalist whose previous restaurants include Cortez and Jose & Sons in Raleigh and the upcoming Little Bull in Durham.

▪ Butcher’s Burger and Bar, a burger restaurant developed with Crawford.

▪ Half-Moon Empanadas, a small, woman-owned chain started in Miami, Florida, that serves Latin American street food.

▪ Dunkin’, once known as Dunkin’ Donuts, the chain known as much for its coffee as its round confections. Dunkin’, one of two national brands among the restaurants approved Thursday, comes by popular demand, said Kimberly Stewart, RDU’s vice president for concessions.

“We have received numerous requests over the years from guests for Dunkin’,” Stewart said. “For coffee enthusiasts, every coffee is not created equal. Dunkin’ gives us another option.”

In Concourse D, the south wing of Terminal 2, the lineup includes:

▪ Bond Brothers Taproom & Kitchen. The Cary-based brewery was open in Concourse C a short time in 2020 before the pandemic shut everything down.

▪ Conniption Cocktail Bar. Created for RDU by Durham Distillery and inspired by Corpse Reviver Bar & Lounge in Durham. In addition to cocktails, it will serve salads, flatbreads and bowls as well as coffee and espresso drinks.

▪ Bongiorno & Son Italian Deli and Market, based on the Raleigh deli that Michael Bongiorno opened in 2020.

▪ Guy’s Pizza Joint, the other national brand, this one by celebrity chef Guy Fieri. In addition to pizza and sandwiches, it will serve breakfast pastries from The Blue Ox Bakery in Raleigh.

And in Terminal 1:

▪ Raleigh Beer Garden, an airport version of the Glenwood South institution, with 48 beers on tap and a menu that includes chicken and waffles, bratwurst and fish and chips.

Even the bars will sell breakfast

The hours and offerings at the restaurants will be geared for travelers looking for food and drink at any time of day, which means even the breweries and bars will serve breakfast items and grab-and-go sandwiches, pastries and coffee.

Kushner, the airport board member, said while he liked the variety, he worried that it might be too heavy on places aimed at adults.

“I don’t see a lot of things that necessarily would appeal to families who are traveling with children,” he said.

Stewart replied that RDU encourages all of the restaurants to focus on daytime customers and to have family-friendly menus.

“Even the Conniption Cocktail Bar mentioned in their proposal that they do have kid-friendly options,” she said.

Board member Dickie Thompson had another worry: That the focus on local might favor affluent travelers at the expense of others.

“I know we understand the concept of trying to get local; I know there’s not McDonald’s or Burger King or things like that that we see in Atlanta and other places,” Thompson said. “I just don’t want to price everybody out.”

Stewart replied that RDU requires restaurants to provide menus that satisfy a range of budgets, especially in Terminal 1, which contains low-cost airlines Southwest, Spirit and Avelo.

For a full list of existing restaurants and shops at RDU, go to www.rdu.com/shops-and-restaurants/.