5 things to know about Big Cat, the biggest Raleigh restaurant of 2026 so far
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Big Cat opens March 25, 2026, at 1000 Brookside Dr., #119 in Raleigh.
- Menu blends Indian, Mediterranean and Mexican flavors across small plates.
- Owners include Triangle restaurateurs from Ajja, Ex‑Voto, Mala Pata and Locals.
Before it even had a name or a menu, the new Raleigh restaurant Big Cat was one of the biggest Triangle openings of 2026.
That’s because Big Cat is owned by a collection of some of the biggest players in the Triangle food scene: Cheetie Kumar and Paul Siler of Ajja, Angela Salamanca and Marshall Davis of Ex-Voto and Mala Pata and Justin Pasfield of Locals Seafood.
Finally, Big Cat opened Wednesday, March 25 — and oh boy, it was worth the wait.
Big Cat is located at 1000 Brookside Drive, #119, taking over the revolving restaurant space that over the last decade has included Brookside Pizza, Falafel & Co. and Brookside Bodega.
If you remember any of those spots, Big Cat will look largely unrecognizable, with bold new colors, a rearranged interior and a brand new, gigantic covered patio.
Reservations are live. Here are five things to know.
1. The Players
The folks behind Big Cat own some of the Triangle’s most popular restaurants. Together they make up three of The News & Observer’s Top 50 restaurants, which published earlier this month.
Big Cat was announced in spring 2025, without a name or concept, only the promise that it would likely be a vibey, tasty, comfortable hang spot based only on the owners involved. Earlier this year we learned that the restaurant would be called Big Cat with the menu steered by James Beard finalist Kumar.
Big Cat will open five nights a week for dinner starting at 5 p.m. In about a month, look for a banh mi lunch counter to open, along with a bodega-style market stocked with simple pantry items, some housemade snacks and grab-and-go meals.
2. The Menu
Much of Big Cat has been shrouded in mystery these many months, as we’ve been waiting for the concept to open. Here’s what we learned in a media preview this week.
The opening menu is made of a half-dozen small plates, larger dishes from the grill, salads and breads. The dishes touch on Indian, Mediterranean and Mexican flavors.
Highlights include a charry grilled broccoli, coconut curry roasted oysters, a springy bibb lettuce salad with mint and fresh sugar snap peas, a lightly smoked half-chicken topped with chimichurri (and as much garlicky thoum as you can handle) and a spicy, sweet charred pork belly with pickled thai chilis and coconut milk.
Also look out for grilled wings tossed in a Valentina-Buffalo sauce or a hot harissa-honey, nine-layer dip topped with savory corn flakes and airy housemade corn chips, or a bowl of spicy lemon shrimp hit with Calabrian chilis.
On the sweet side, make sure to hit the soft serve, either a classic custard with a drizzle of olive oil and salt sprinkle, or the dairy-free coconut, topped with toasted coconut flakes and lime zest.
3. The Bevs
There are more than a dozen cocktails at Big Cat, including two spirit-free drinks on the menu. Stirred classics like a martini and sazerac get pre-made and stored in the freezer for a boozy arctic-level chill. Other highlights include the Slowpoke Rodriguez, riffing on a marg with a touch of flowery sweetness from St. Germain. Fans of herby cocktails should check out the Si and Am, with lime leaf gin, fennel-infused vermouth and parsley oil.
On the beer side, Big Cat is swinging big with the basics, including Guinness and Modelo on tap and some local crafts like Trophy Brewing. Wine fans will find many delights, including natty and orange options by the glass.
4. The Market
Big Cat inherits a building known for its neighborhood market. In the past that meant a wall of takeaway drinks, candy and snacks.
The new Big Cat market will be tiny but curated, a place for housemade snacks, pantry staples, bodega mainstays and toilet paper in a pinch.
The main entrance will soon be the lunch counter, with plans for banh mi sandwiches.
5. The Cats
Inside, Big Cat goes big on cats, big and small. On the wall there are a pair of giant, elegant cat faces made by the artists at Paperhand Puppet Project. There are metalworked cutouts designed by co-owner Marshall Davis and made by Paul Siler. There is cat art everywhere, some by professional artists, some famous felines in muppet form like Garfield and the Pink Panther and many tchotchkes donated by the surrounding Mordecai neighborhood that will likely call Big Cat its local.
This story was originally published March 25, 2026 at 7:00 AM.
