Need restaurant suggestions

[diveonthefloor]

Will be visiting from Memphis for MLK weekend and the Wake Forest game w/15 year old son.

Any suggestions for casual restaurant with good food and large portions (he eats a lot!) I plan to go to Satisfaction at least once. Any other good ones?

Thanks!!

[BlueintheFace]

Georges if it is still around. You pay by the pound and it is campus adjacent. If not, bullocks Barbecue would be good.

[jjasper0729]

I think George's is closed now but Elmo's just down Ninth St. is pretty decent too.

[juise]

I think George's is closed now
Apparently true... for now. (http://www.ghgrestaurants.com/garage/garage.html)



Elmo's just down Ninth St. is pretty decent too.
Funny, I haven't been to Durham since I left after graduation (2004) and that's the spot I would have recommended. It's nice to know that some things wil lbe the same when I finally get back to campus. :)

[BlueintheFace]

I think George's is closed now but Elmo's just down Ninth St. is pretty decent too.

Or that mongolian grill across from Elmos, the one where you get to eat as much as you can fit in a bowl. I think it is called Bali Hai

[91_92_01_10_15]

Will be visiting from Memphis for MLK weekend and the Wake Forest game w/15 year old son.

Any suggestions for casual restaurant with good food and large portions (he eats a lot!) I plan to go to Satisfaction at least once. Any other good ones?

Thanks!!

If I wanted to fill up a teenager, I'd do family style at Bullock's:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=Bullock%27s+Bar+B+Cue+Inc&fb=1&cid=0,0,17436381961949487963&near=Durham,+NC&ei=5ldGS5fMOsyXtge62_n8AQ&sa=X&oi=manybox&resnum=5&ct=10&ved=0CAMQkwMwBQ

[juise]

Or that mongolian grill across from Elmos, the one where you get to eat as much as you can fit in a bowl. I think it is called Bali Hai

Oooh... that sounds good. That definitely wasn't there when I was at Duke.

Your suggestion also remind me of my favorite large meal during my college days. Kurama (http://www.kuramarestaurants.com/kuramadurham.htm) (which is basically a Hibachi steakhouse) had an early bird dinner for two that was fantastic. I still miss it.

[jjasper0729]

ther'es also a pretty good place right across the street from where george's was. Forget the name of it now, but it's right on 9th st (open courtyard in front)

[superdave]

Q Shack - lotta variety, always fantastic.

Twisted Noodles - Thai food suggested to me by a Thai classmate.

Mellow Mushroom - best pizza in the business.

If you hit all three of those in one weekend, you can die happy.

[chrisheery]

Will be visiting from Memphis for MLK weekend and the Wake Forest game w/15 year old son.

Any suggestions for casual restaurant with good food and large portions (he eats a lot!) I plan to go to Satisfaction at least once. Any other good ones?

Thanks!!

Things that are not to be missed if possible as they are essentially a part of life at Duke:

Cosmic Cantina (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&gl=us&hl=en&g=617+Hicks+Street%2C+Durham%2C+NC+27705-3910&q=cosmic+cantina)


Addition:
I forgot Bullock's. You can't not go to Bullock's, just incredible.

Sati's (though I hate that place, never had a good meal or experience there, won't bother with address)

Wimpy's Grill (http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=en&source=hp&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=wimpy's+grill+durham&fb=1&gl=us&hq=wimpy's+grill&hnear=durham&cid=557072867232530618)

Other places that meet your description:

Devines (main street, across from Sati's)
James Joyce (bar food, but pretty good)

If I were taking a teenager anywhere, it would be Cantina followed by Wimpy's (but that is only open on weekdays for lunch, so not an option), followed by Sati's (more for the experience and it is a Durham haunt).

Best (more expensive) restaurants in Durham are all close by too.

[chrisheery]

ther'es also a pretty good place right across the street from where george's was. Forget the name of it now, but it's right on 9th st (open courtyard in front)

Are you talking about Charlie's Sports Bar?

[jjasper0729]

quite possibly... it's usually got a bunch of motorcycles in front of it

[El_Diablo]

If you want to eat a lot, Chamas (in Brightleaf Square, on Main Street near East Campus) will do the trick. It's an alll-you-can-eat Brazilian steakhouse.

There's also Dale's, which is on 9th Street. It offers an all-you-can-eat Indian buffet and is a good brunch option. Plus, it offers all-you-can-drink mimosas. :eek:

[El_Diablo]

quite possibly... it's usually got a bunch of motorcycles in front of it

Yes, that's Charlie's. Decent sports bar with a ton of Duke memorabilia on the walls.

Thanks to a new ordinance, it's smoke-free as of this week, along with the rest of Durham's restaurants.

[airowe]

Will be visiting from Memphis for MLK weekend and the Wake Forest game w/15 year old son.

Any suggestions for casual restaurant with good food and large portions (he eats a lot!) I plan to go to Satisfaction at least once. Any other good ones?

Thanks!!

Try this website: http://carpedurham.com/

For BBQ (other than Bullock's): http://carpedurham.com/2009/06/14/backyard-bbq-pit-2/

For Pho and other Thai/Vietnamese cuisine: http://carpedurham.com/2009/04/12/saigon-grill/

For pub food/casual: http://www.tylerstaproom.com/restaurants/durham

Mexican: http://www.lavaquitanc.com/ or any of these: http://carpedurham.com/2008/03/02/the-great-taqueria-tour-of-durham/

Italian: http://www.pops-durham.com/

Upscale American: http://www.wattsgrocery.com/ or http://www.magnoliagrill.net/

I'm sure you'll find other suggestions, there are many good restaurants in Durham.

If you're into sushi, we just fell in love with Sushi Love: http://carpedurham.com/2008/07/28/yes-you-can-get-even-more-great-sushi-in-durham/

[chrisheery]

Just so you know a few of these (just above) will cost a pretty penny. Esp Magnolia Grill, Pops amongst others. I also wouldn't call them "casual" establishments.

I love them both, but I am not sure they are what you are looking for.

[rthomas]

If you have a 15 year old, don't go to Georges (apparently closed anyway) or Pops (my favorite Durham restaurant because I love their mussels). Since you want to go to Satisfaction, go there. It's a classic Durham place that a 15 yr old can hang. I love Satis and you can figure thing out from there.

From a parent's POV, it basically depends on what your kid likes.

[SharkD]

Durham has had an explosion of great restaurants over the last couple of years.

See this post in a related thread: http://www.dukebasketballreport.com/forums/showpost.php?p=348635&postcount=17

Around campus, I'd suggest:

Elmo's
Dain's Place (best burgers in Durham, aside from the OnlyBurger truck)
The Mad Hatter
International Palace (ethiopian food)
Alivia's Bistro
Parker and Otis (a boutique grocery with a fantastic sandwich counter)
Tosca (italian)
Q-Shack
Dale's Indian (though Sitar India Palace is much better)
Guglhupf
El Cuscatleco
Cosmic Cantina
Chubby's Tacos
Rockwood Filling Station (great Neapolitan pizza, from the owner/chef of Nana's)


Further afield, you should consider:

Rue Cler (I think they're serving lunch, now, in addition to dinner)
Dos Perros
Mellow Mushroom (even though it's a chain)
Mami Nora's
Bullock's


http://www.urbanspoon.com/g/25/1900/Research-Triangle/Chapel-Hill-Durham-restaurants -- good list, though not complete

http://carpedurham.com/ -- Durham restaurant blog run by Duke Law students/alumni

[aimo]

http://www.bpgrill.com

Still fairly "unknown" except by the regulars. Good food with large portions. They are known for their Shrimp and Grits. Hillsborough Rd, heading west, in Bennett Pointe Shopping Center.

And now that the smoking ban is in effect, no more sharing cigarettes with the smoking section!

[ForeverBlowingBubbles]

can't go wrong with the chicken or tofu homewrecker from MOE'S

[airowe]

Forgot about Foster's Market for some good Southern comfort food.

[diveonthefloor]

Yes, that's Charlie's. Decent sports bar with a ton of Duke memorabilia on the walls.

Thanks to a new ordinance, it's smoke-free as of this week, along with the rest of Durham's restaurants.

Thanks for all of these suggestions!

Does anyone know if Charlie's allows minors on Friday evenings? I hear there are usually bands playing and assume there would be cover charge, but not sure if there are age restrictions....
Thanks