Durham restaurants

[lap814]

I'm bringing my mom to Duke for her first basketball game in Cameron. We would like to go out for a nice-ish dinner and I'm looking for suggestions. Thanks!

[allenmurray]

Durham is loaded with good restaurants. My favorite in the upper $$$ group would be Nana's. http://www.nanasdurham.com/

Magnolia Grill is liked by a lot of folks - my only complaint is that the dining room is too big and open and it always seems loud in there to me. http://www.magnoliagrill.net/

Parizade is an old standby. I like it a lot and have never had a meal there that wasn't really good. It also has a really wide price range. http://www.ghgrestaurants.com/pariza...ademaster.html

Any of those three are very convenient to Cameron.

Not quite as convenient to Cameron is Rue Cler. It is wonderful and has a prix fixe three course dinner at $30. It is not all that convenient to Cameron, and if you don't know Durham well it can be a bit tricky to get back to Cameron from there. It isn't all that difficult, just make sure you leave yourself some extra time. http://www.ruecler-durham.com/

The Fairview at the Washington Duke Inn is incredibly conveneint to campus (practically on campus). It was recently named as one fo the 25 best restaurants in the Triangle by the News and Observer's food critic. (So were Nana's and Magnolia Grill). http://www.washingtondukeinn.com/Dining/fairview.asp

[rthomas]

I really like Pop's alot - down around Brightleaf Square.

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

[aimo]

Taverna Niko's (Greek) in Brightleaf is very good.

[allenmurray]

I heartily endorse both Pop's and Taverna Nikos. They are both really nice places with great food, and are not as expensive as the ones I mentioned.

Pop's usually has a loud and busy feel, where Nikos is quieter.

Nikos was closed for quite a while as the owner lost his business partner and couldn't manage both his restaurants (he has a place in Cary as well). He hired a new chef from Greece and re-opened just a few months ago.

Nikos makes a Lemon Chicken soup that is worth driving hours for. Even though Nikos does no take-out, from time to time my wife will stop there to get some soup to bring home. They put it in whatever empty (washed of ocurse) jar they happen to have in the kitchen. Yummm. Nothing like some Lemon Chicken soup straight from an industrial size jar.

[aimo]

I heartily endorse both Pop's and Taverna Nikos. They are both really nice places with great food, and are not as expensive as the ones I mentioned.

Pop's usually has a loud and busy feel, where Nikos is quieter.

Nikos was closed for quite a while as the owner lost his business partner and couldn't manage both his restaurants (he has a place in Cary as well). He hired a new chef from Greece and re-opened just a few months ago.

Nikos makes a Lemon Chicken soup that is worth driving hours for. Even though Nikos does no take-out, from time to time my wife will stop there to get some soup to bring home. They put it in whatever empty (washed of ocurse) jar they happen to have in the kitchen. Yummm. Nothing like some Lemon Chicken soup straight from an industrial size jar.

And even though they don't have poached chicken salad on the lunch menu anymore, you can usually special request it. It rocks!

[DukeCO2009]

Bullock's

/thread

[arob]

If you want steak, Angus Barn is amazing, but a tad on the pricy side (http://www.angusbarn.com/)

Firebirds in Southpoint Mall is also pretty good.

[DukeUsul]

Watts Grocery on Broad St. near East Campus has quickly become a favorite for us.

[rockymtn devil]

It's been years since I've been to Durham, but I never had a bad meal (and usually had a very good one) at Anotherthyme off of Main St. near East Campus (http://www.anotherthyme.com/Anotherthyme/HISTORY.html).

Another place I really enjoyed was Crook's Corner on Franklin Street in CH (yes, you have to hold your nose, but the food is excellent) (http://www.crookscorner.com/)

Enjoy the game with your mom! I'm sure wherever you eat will be great. Durham has wonderful restaurants.

[Raleighfan]

is Vin Rouge, right off Ninth Street near East Campus. Serves good ol French comfort food. Even if you're not a Francophile, you'll be impressed with this place...great food, reasonably priced. It's Bakatsias-owned, but IMO is much better managed than the others we've been to. We haven't been to Magnolia Grill in about 10 years in spite of all the accolades because after going there 3 times, we were sick of the attitude at the place (maybe it's changed; we don't care!). Nana's, Watts Grocery, Nikos, Pop's, Anotherthyme...hard to go wrong with any of them.

[lap814]

For all the great ideas! We'll be doing Bullocks for lunch - can't miss that.

[allenmurray]

It's been years since I've been to Durham, but I never had a bad meal (and usually had a very good one) at Anotherthyme off of Main St. near East Campus (http://www.anotherthyme.com/Anotherthyme/HISTORY.html).

It is still as good as ever. Great bar too.