Acclaimed chef opens new Indian restaurant in the Triangle. Where to find it
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chef Preeti Waas opens Cheeni at Horseshoe at Hub RTP, second in the Triangle.
- Restaurant runs lunch service now, but plans expanded hours and offerings.
- Steakhouse and pizza joint among restaurants expected to open at Horseshoe in 2026..
A celebrated Triangle chef has opened a new location of her storied restaurant.
Cheeni Indian Food Emporium from chef Preeti Waas is now open at Horseshoe at Hub RTP, a 100-acre mixed-use development in Research Triangle Park.
The restaurant was first established in North Raleigh’s Falls Village shopping center in 2022. A second Cheeni opened in the former Jack Tar space at 202 Corcoran St. in Durham in late 2023. Then in 2024, the Raleigh location closed.
Spanning 3,000 square feet, Cheeni is Waas’ second concept to open at RTP, joining the “boutique bodega” Nanny Goat.
For the time being, Cheeni is open only for lunch, but expanded hours and offerings are expected in coming months. Diners can expect the same homestyle Indian cooking for which the downtown Durham restaurant has been recognized.
Joining chef Waas at Cheeni is her daughter, Amy Waas, who will contribute to beverage direction. Amy Waas will draw inspiration from The Bar Beej, the sister cocktail bar of Durham’s Cheeni, which was nominated for a James Beard Award in the Best New Bar. Cheeni RTP will serve Indian-influenced classic cocktails, women-driven wines and house-made mixers and syrups.
James Beard recognition
Waas is a two-time James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Southeast.
The first large-scale edition of Cheeni, in North Raleigh, combined a morning cafe, lunch and dinner service, teaching kitchen and retail shop selling high-quality Indian spices. But prior to that, Waas had opened Cheeni as a coffee counter in the lobby of the downtown Raleigh YMCA. That concept was expanded to the Alexander Family YMCA on Hillsborough Street, but both were closed by March 2022.
Nanny Goat
Preeti and Amy Waas together founded the Nanny Goat concept. Offering a regularly changing collection of gifts, grab-and-go foods, snacks and other items, the “boutique bodega” opened at Horseshoe at Hub RTP in July. A second Nanny Goat opened at the GeerHouse development near the Durham Food Hall in November.
Restaurants at Horseshoe at Hub RTP
Cheeni is the latest tenant to join the Horseshoe at Hub RTP. Drift Coffee & Kitchen, the coffee shop born at the North Carolina coast, opened Wednesday, Nov. 12 next to Nanny Goat.
Several other restaurants are expected to open at Horseshoe next year. From Prime BBQ chef Chris Prieto is Prime STQ, a steakhouse and barbecue joint. Cary’s popular Di Fara Pizza Tavern will expand to a new location, slinging authentic New York-style pies. And the former “Top Chef” contestant Katsuji Tanabe is teaming up with V Pizza co-owner Anthony Rapillo to open High Horse, fusing American, Mexican and Japanese flavors.
Cheeni RTP is located at 3151 Elion Drive, Suite 101. Hours are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, and the restaurant plans to begin offering online ordering from the RTP location starting the week of Monday, Dec. 22. Cheeni is closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
