Location: Durham
Top Restaurants in Durham
North Carolina, United States Food Guide: 10 American food Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Durham
Discover Restaurants offering the best American food in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population to be 251,893 as of July 1, 2014, making it the 4th-most populous city in North Carolina, and the 78th-most populous city in the United States. Durham is the core of the four-county Durham-Chapel Hill Metropolitan Area, which has a population of 542,710 as of U.S. Census 2014 Population Estimates. The US Office of Management and Budget also includes Durham as a part of the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Combined Statistical Area, which has a population of 2,037,430 as of U.S. Census 2014 Population Estimates.
Things to do in Durham
10. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
Overall Ratings
4 based on 267 reviews
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is an American Restaurant and Steakhouse serving authentic wood-fired steaks, seafood, specialty cocktails and select wines. Join us for Happy Hour at the FIREBAR® or on the patio for drink specials and bar bites. We offer top-n
Reviewed By 24lorraineS
My friend and I stopped in for lunch while shopping at Southpoint. The restaurant is a short walk from the mall itself, passing the outdoor shops. It was not crowded and the staff was pleasant. We split the Colorado chicken salad, which is too big for one, but really delicious! Tried their coffee, which was not good, and switched to lemonade which really was delicious! Nice place to relax in pleasant surroundings with really good food!
9. Bull City Burger and Brewery
Overall Ratings
4 based on 694 reviews
Bull City Burger and Brewery is a locally owned, independent restaurant and craft brewery located at 107 East Parrish Street in downtown Durham, NC. We opened March 2011. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner 7 days per week with approximately 90 seats i
Reviewed By VaTraveler-Jr
Ambitious burger menu. Had grilled bison on custom bakery roll with chèvre and a fruit jam spread. Duck confit grease fries are crispy and flavorful. Some complain of a $20 burger if they are used to $5 McD meal. These are handcrafted. Tasty and different. Just expensive for what you get.We're so glad you enjoyed the burger and duck frites. We source all of our ingredients locally and make everything (excluding the ketchup) from scratch in-house. It would be less expensive to offer pre-made or heavily processed items, but that's not who we are or what we would like to present to our customers. We also believe in offering our employees the opportunity to earn a living wage. So we hope you'll come back again and give us a chance to prove that our burgers and the service you receive are worth every penny.
8. Metro 8 Steakhouse
Overall Ratings
4 based on 226 reviews
Reviewed By Sam S
All 5's without qualification! We were visiting Durham overnight and in the mood for a great steak, but had no idea where to find it. We dived into the TripAdvisor reviews and chose Metro 8 Steakhouse. The dining experience was absolutely great!Tip: You probably won't find parking close to the restaurant, so drop the rest of your party at the door and have the driver (e.g., me, last night) handle that.The atmosphere at Metro 8 is semi-formal without being stuffy. White tablecloths, waitstaff wearing black and white, but you do not need to dress up to feel comfortable here. Reservations are recommended, even on a weeknight. Alternatively, there is a bar along one side near the front, where I believe you can dine on a first-come, first-served basis.My lady and I were seated in a romantic semi-private alcove containing just two tables. We became acquainted with the party next to us and enjoyed a good conversation with them, an unexpected bonus to our wonderful evening at Metro 8.Our server, Alex, was charming, thoughtful, and professional. She delivered just the right amount of presence without being intrusive. In many restaurants the waitstaff do not understand this very important aspect of their job, but Alex does.We opted for a couple of martinis to start, which were perfectly mixed to our liking. The table rolls were delicious, served with a cream cheese and jalapeno spread. My lady and I shared the caprese appetizer which was incredibly good, with the freshest tomato and mozarella slices I can remember anywhere.The menu predictably features several tempting cuts of beef, as well as alternative entrees if you prefer. My companion ordered the filet mignon au poivre while I had the large churrosco, a specially prepared skirt steak with Argentinian flair. Both arrived expertly cooked to our personal specifications. We were extremely satisfied with our steaks: delicious, tender, without a hint of gristle or excess fat. We also ordered large baked potatoes which were generously loaded, the perfect complement to the (no apologies) red meat.We enjoyed a glass of cabernet along with our meal, a vintage that Alex had recommended. It was excellent. And so was Alex, our wise-beyond-her-years server, who made the entire dining experience very special.Unfortunately, we had no appetite left for dessert on this occasion, and my doctor would have counseled against it after such an indulgent meal. We requested a doggie box, which arrived in an environmentally responsible cardboard format. Our check was a bit more than a hundred dollars before the tip, and was worth every penny.We can't wait to get back to Metro 8 Steakhouse on a future visit to Durham and try some of their other appealing steaks. We dine out a lot and have a good basis for comparison. This restaurant has earned our highest recommendation!
7. Ted's Montana Grill
Overall Ratings
4 based on 246 reviews
Ted's Montana Grill serves time-honored American favorites in an atmosphere inspired by the hospitality, food and spirit of the Old West. Our mission is to give guests a fresh, authentic and original experience with every visit. Ted's Montana Grill's made
Reviewed By cattailcruiser
We made a reservation and were seated promptly upon arrival in a cozy booth. Patrick, our server, was superb. The pickles arrived when we were seated.. yum! We ordered house and chopped salads to start... both were excellent.. and of more than adequate size! For entrees, I had Tedâs filet with baked potato and chef special veggie, spinach casserole. Yum! Hubby loved his bison chopped steak with mushrooms, onions, gravy, and mashed potatoes along with carrots. I loved the Bison Chardonnay. We will be back! Thank you for the great review! We are so pleased to hear you enjoyed your experience at Ted's. We will pass along your kind words to Patrick. We look forward to seeing you again for a 5-Star dining experience!
6. Page Road Grill
Overall Ratings
4 based on 289 reviews
Reviewed By happytraveller5
My sister and I stopped at Page Road Grill recently and it was beyond disappointing! We ordered the same appetizers I have had many times before but it seemed like everything was microwaved including the pita bread and the shrimp hushpuppies. I usually love the hushpuppies but the texture was way off. Ick! We were there about 7 pm so it wasnât super late. The menu has changed too and some of my favorite items are longer there. Service was terrific as always!
5. Elmo's Diner
Overall Ratings
4 based on 853 reviews
Reviewed By PrMichaelM
Our server, Denise, was awesome! She was on top of everything - for everyone in our section! Answered every question, lots of fun! We flew in during the hurricane and found Elmoâs. Thoroughly enjoyed the vibe, the menu (breakfast anytime!), and both of our selections were delicious - the quiche, tomato soup, salmon cakes and eggs! Even the Northern Tea (unsweetened) for us Yankees was good! Highly recommend. Ask for Denise - sheâs the best!
4. Dame's Chicken & Waffles
Overall Ratings
4 based on 538 reviews
Reviewed By Katlyn C
Our experience was lovely from start to finish! Our waitress was incredibly helpful when reviewing the menu and she didn't steer us wrong! We ate the sweet potato waffle topped with a fried chicken cutlet (seasoned to perfection) and a side of maple pecan! It was to die for! Highly recommend.
Most Popular Pizza food in Durham, North Carolina, United States
3. Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Biergarten
Overall Ratings
4 based on 700 reviews
Established in 1998, this innovative Bakery, Cafe and Biergarten serves contemporary cuisine with a nod to its southern German roots, emphasizing local and seasonal ingredients. We are not your traditional Hofbräuhaus and you do not need to dig out your L
Reviewed By Susiewoozie12
Came for dinner- great pretzels, beer, salads, short ribs. Service was excellent and food was wonderful. Came back two days later for breakfast- fresh eggs, tea, and scones. Went to bakery and got bread and pretzels to bring home. Loved this place and want to come back soon!! Highly recommend and get reservation for dinner.
Best Italian food near Durham, North Carolina, United States
2. Foster's Market
Overall Ratings
4 based on 356 reviews
Reviewed By Tradry
Maybe 20 years ago a place like Fosterâs was a unique find. But thereâs really nothing special about this deli/market.The food is good although slightly overpriced. Seating can be uncomfortable and seating indoors is a limited. nothing bad about it but nothing great about it either. Counter service only.
1. The Refectory Cafe
Overall Ratings
4 based on 300 reviews
"Slow Food, Fast", this award Winning, local family owned, restaurant is focused on Hot, healthy, homemade & Local fare. The Refectory Cafe® was Duke University's first "Green Cafe" established in 2005, best food on campus 7 Years in a row and winner of D
Reviewed By bobjrcomptree
Went with family for a pre-DPAC event. This was my first time to The Refectory. It's a great area of Durham, close to downtown. Someone said casual elegance and I can't agree more. I can't believe they do breakfast, lunch and dinner. We had calamari to start, excellent. I had the salmon, another had the grouper and one other had the vegetable ratatouille. I tasted all three and they were all great. I will return. Great job. The waitress was very nice and attentive. A very good experience.Thank you Bob & family!We are thrilled that you were so delighted and appreciated our "casual elegance". Yes, we are open 7-days a week. Closed only on Sunday nights so staff gets a chance to rest up and spend time with family and friends! We have an amazing staff and so happy that you had such a great experience.Thanks for letting folks know! We look forward to serving you again very soon!:-)Laura
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