North Raleigh’s latest dining shake-up comes courtesy of a familiar name. The Torres family, long known for their El Tapatio spots around the Triangle, has quietly debuted Cabo Mexican Cuisine, an upscale coastal-Mexican restaurant now filling the former Applebee’s at Brier Creek. The chain’s booths and sports-bar vibes have been traded for leather banquettes, hanging greenery, a marble-topped bar and a cocktail program built around an expansive margarita list. The kitchen leans seafood forward, but keeps plenty of crowd-pleasers on deck.
What To Expect From The Menu
Cabo’s menu mixes coastal flair with comfort classics. Ceviche, trompito al pastor and bone-marrow tacos share space with enchiladas, burritos and arroz con pollo. Diners will also find high-end proteins such as steak and lobster, plus roughly a dozen margarita variations and shareable margarita towers. The dining room’s leather seating, greenery and marble bar are part of a full remodel of the old chain space, according to The News & Observer.
Where It Is And Who Built It
Cabo sits in the former Applebee’s building at 8701 Brier Creek Pkwy, inside the Brier Creek Commons shopping center, which now lists the restaurant on its directory. The concept comes from the Torres family, operators of multiple El Tapatio locations across the Triangle. The Brier Creek spot was in soft-open mode earlier this month, giving early diners and local social media sleuths the first peek at the revamped interior and signage, as reported by WRAL.
Part Of A Growing Local Trend
Cabo’s debut fits into a broader shift around the Triangle, where long-running, North Carolina-style Mexican restaurants have been rolling out sleeker, more modern concepts with coastal influences. Local food watchers have been tracking that evolution for months, noting remodels of existing spaces along with fresh brands built from the ground up. Triangle Food Blog and other area outlets have highlighted Cabo’s soft opening, design choices and its role in that trend.
Practical Info
Cabo Mexican Cuisine is open daily for lunch and dinner, according to The News & Observer. It is the Torres family’s first upscale concept in the Triangle, planted at the same Brier Creek address that previously flew the Applebee’s flag. With the new spot settling into full service, weekend reservations are expected to be in high demand.
