This spot in the heart of Carrboro will soon serve up Peruvian chicken and empanadas
One of downtown Durham’s busiest spots is making a move to Carrboro.
Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas will open a new location in Carrboro’s former Milltown space at 307 Main Street, right across the street from music venue Cat’s Cradle. Milltown, regarded as one of the area’s first international and craft beer bars, closed last year after 15 years in business.
Luna owner Shawn Stokes has already added a sign to the old Milltown window, announcing an opening in the early part of this year. Stokes expects to open the Carrboro Luna in February.
“We had been looking around for almost two years to find the right spot,” Stokes said in a phone interview, noting their search included all of the Triangle. “I really like Carrboro. ... I liked the overall vibe of the community there and think our culture will resonate pretty well with the culture there.”
Luna opened its original Durham location on Main Street in 2015, serving a largely South American menu with influence from the American South. Popular dishes include Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken, pork carnitas and a variety of empanadas.
Instead of signing another lease, Stokes and investors purchased the former Milltown building in November of last year for $772,000.
Draft beers from NC breweries
The personality of the Carrboro Luna will shift somewhat, Stokes said. The official name will be Luna Rotisserie and Taproom, giving new life to the 18 beer taps left behind by Milltown. Stokes said to expect a draft list of almost exclusively North Carolina breweries, as well as wines and ciders on tap.
Milltown was known for its patio, and Stokes said the new Luna will soften the space a bit with some greenery. The restaurant plans to book local musicians for live music.
With its location across from Cat’s Cradle, Luna will also add some late night hours, looking to catch concert goers after the show for one more drink or a bite to eat, Stokes said.
The menu will be largely the same, though Carrboro will eventually see a brunch service, Stokes said. Luna’s popular rotisserie-style pollo a la brassa will continue being the heart of the menu, Stokes said, which means shipping in a special oven from Peru.
Luna’s version starts with chickens brined for 12 hours, marinated for another 12 and then roasted in a charcoal oven. Stokes said the dish always makes him nostalgic for his time in South America with the Peace Corps more than a decade ago.
“It’s one of the things I love the most,” Stokes said.
