How do you fondue?
When we say you’ll be seeing The Little Dipper in Brightleaf Square, we aren’t talking about the constellation. The Wilmington-based fondue restaurant is set to open a new downtown location in late March. The eatery will occupy the space that previously housed Taverna Nikos.
Kristen and Pete Gruodis are collaborating with Amy and Ben Neal to bring the best meats, seafood, vegetables and homemade sauces to the community. The menu will feature many of the same items as its Wilmington counterpart—which includes fondue flavors ranging from Baja cheddar to mocha amaretto—but with a few differences.
“We’re going to try to have some locally sourced items on the menu,” says Ben, who’s originally from Durham. This gives them the opportunity to switch things up and create a dining experience unique to Brightleaf Square.
The group formed at the Wilmington location, which opened in 2005, where Kristen and Pete are two of the owners and Ben worked for five years.
Although there have been challenges in getting the building ready to open its doors, the team remains optimistic about the future and the chance to bring fondue to a new market.
“I love Brightleaf Square,” Ben says. “It’s such a great central location. I’m just excited to be a part of the restaurant industry in Durham.”
Come March, the rest of us will have the chance to dip right in, too.
