it's been a while since i've been to durham and even longer since i've eaten out at a "nicer" place in durham...what are some nicer places for dinner near DPAC/tobacco/brightleaf areas?

11/9/2010 10:15:47 AM

Magnolia Grill.

11/9/2010 10:16:41 AM

thought about that

also thinking about nana's or metro 8

[Edited on November 9, 2010 at 10:19 AM. Reason : never been to any of them, though]

11/9/2010 10:17:21 AM

Cafe Parizade is pretty good.

11/9/2010 10:31:29 AM

another good suggestion...we've done tango there, but not eaten (at least, not meals)

11/9/2010 10:50:11 AM

The Federal

lol

11/9/2010 11:00:19 AM

There's a Crazy Fire (mongolian grill) type place there that I used to eat it. I forget what it's called. Something Bistro...It's on the same street as Magnolia Grill I believe.

11/9/2010 11:29:53 AM

Durham has soo much good food it's hard to pick just 1.

11/9/2010 11:39:51 AM

Have you thought about the stuff near southpoint.

11/9/2010 11:44:52 AM

Dos Perros. The guy who launched Foundation in Raleigh is the bar manager there now. They also make their own chips and have awesome food.

I could stand for it to be spicier overall, though

11/9/2010 11:55:45 AM

^^^ be that as it may...only have time for one restaurant tonight

^^ no...needs to be near downtown

^ i'm looking for something "nice"...yes, paying extra for the atmosphere (unless it's a swanky mexican joint)

11/9/2010 12:01:03 PM

http://dosperrosrestaurant.com/menus/dinner/

I don't know that it's swanky, but it's not a standard taqueria

[Edited on November 9, 2010 at 12:06 PM. Reason : .]

11/9/2010 12:06:15 PM

I also really like Pop's and Chamas. Pop's is Italian meets locovore/seasonal. Chamas is a Brazilian steakhouse.

11/9/2010 12:07:16 PM

Parizade is delish

As is Anotherthyme http://www.anotherthyme.com/Anotherthyme/MENU.html

11/9/2010 12:12:05 PM

Dos Perros is medium swanky. Nice bar, modern track lighting. The food is similar to Dos Taquitos on Wilmington Street in Raleigh but without a kitchy atmosphere. It's fancy for Mexican.

Also, the margaritas are bangin' and made with fresh ingredients and not shitty sour mix.

What about Vin Rouge? French cooking right downtown. I've never been there but my foodie friends rave about it

11/9/2010 12:17:29 PM

FWIW i've heard dos perros is pretty overpriced for the quality of food. Not hating, just an account from a friend.

11/9/2010 12:46:51 PM

Metro8! I'm always there on Wed nights (b/c its half off wine night)

[Edited on November 9, 2010 at 1:09 PM. Reason : ff]

11/9/2010 1:09:05 PM

Quote :

"Have you thought about the stuff near southpoint."

Why on earth would you go to Southpoint to eat? You can find mediocre chain restaurants anywhere.


Watts Grocery is really fucking good, you should check that out.

11/9/2010 1:32:00 PM

I've had an excellent brunch at Watts Grocery, never been there for dinner though. Heard nothing but good stuff about Magnolia Grill, been meaning to go there for an occasion. Four Square also looks like it would be fantastic.

+1 about Southpoint being the land of chain restaurants. I live near there, and there's not much to get excited about. Though, as chains go, you could do far worse than Cheesecake Factory and Maggiano's.

11/9/2010 2:50:45 PM

No Red Lobster joke yet?

For shame, TWW.

11/9/2010 2:51:41 PM

Fuckin Pops bro. No question.

Pops restuarant (Pops backdoor is also great but its mainly a pizza joint)

11/9/2010 2:55:10 PM

Quote :

"+1 about Southpoint being the land of chain restaurants. I live near there, and there's not much to get excited about. Though, as chains go, you could do far worse than Cheesecake Factory and Maggiano's."

agreed as well. the restaurants in southpoint are all mediocre chains. Much better fare to be had in durham. NEAR southpoint, we frequent Bocci, Nantucket, and City Beverage. Hell, I avoid the mall altogether if I can.

11/9/2010 3:02:02 PM

in brier creek theres this place called the carving board that is just excellent

im taking liberties on what is considered durham now

but im tryna help.


Nantucket has the best calamari, the best marinara is at Bocci...hah

[Edited on November 9, 2010 at 3:03 PM. Reason : d]

11/9/2010 3:03:11 PM

The one time I went to Bocci I was severely unimpressed--we were served probably the worst-cooked Mussels I've ever eaten. I suppose I should give it another chance though...but for Italian in the area I prefer Pulcinella's. A lot more checkered tablecloth mom-and-pop, but the food is good and reasonably priced.

City Beverage has excellent food but it's also way overpriced for what it is...

[Edited on November 9, 2010 at 8:37 PM. Reason : $]

11/9/2010 8:36:23 PM

Watt's grocery is probably my top pick.

Dos perros is good, as is rue cler, revolution, the federal if you're looking for something more casual, & about a billion other places. seriously, durham is the heat for an excellent meal.

11/9/2010 8:40:25 PM

I heard the Red Lobster is nice. You get free shots in the parking lot.

11/9/2010 8:43:07 PM

we actually went to parizade since it was close to the DPAC and i knew parking would be easier (might not have been "hard" at the other places, but i'm at least familiar with the area where parizade is)

food, service, and ambiance was awesome, as was expected

found a new favorite wine...flying winemaker's zin

11/10/2010 7:31:38 AM

Had a really good dinner at Guglhupf. Highly recommend the Ayinger Celebrator Dopplebock.

11/10/2010 7:55:48 AM

A restaurant.

11/10/2010 7:58:16 AM

Somewhere on 9th street?

11/10/2010 9:35:20 AM

lol international delights


and ps another thyme got shut the fuck DOWN, its roberto duran

No Mas



[Edited on November 10, 2010 at 11:44 AM. Reason : f]

11/10/2010 11:43:08 AM

Quote :

"Had a really good dinner at Guglhupf."

I had no idea Guglhupf serves food. I thought they were just a bakery

11/10/2010 11:44:16 AM

theres this german place somewhere that my coworkers reallly love eating at

its called ghugenhoff (sp?)

and near my house on 55 is an indian restuarant called SPice and Curry which is the best indian food ive had and has a beautiful atmosphere

[Edited on November 10, 2010 at 11:46 AM. Reason : f]

11/10/2010 11:46:06 AM

Quote :

"Had a really good dinner at Guglhupf."

Quote :

"I had no idea Guglhupf serves food."

Quote :

"theres this german place somewhere that my coworkers reallly love eating at its called ghugenhoff (sp?) "

11/10/2010 11:47:53 AM

dont tell me thats how thats spelled

noice my attempt to add a "gh" to seem like i made an honest effort.

I know german at a level of a preschool kid from guatemala

[Edited on November 10, 2010 at 11:50 AM. Reason : h]

11/10/2010 11:49:04 AM

A FOR EFFORT

11/10/2010 11:50:15 AM

Spice and Curry used to be really good but they changed ownership and now I tend to go to Bombay Grille which is in the next shopping center down

11/10/2010 1:33:53 PM

i actually used to always go to bombay and after i went to spice and curry i liked that alot more

both are much better than saffron though


ill say this about living in durham though, i never gave a flippin shit about how food tasted until after livin out here a few years.

it really is an amazing city for food, i almost feel like a foodie...at the very least i have found tastes that i really enjoy and prefer to others



[Edited on November 10, 2010 at 1:48 PM. Reason : s]

11/10/2010 1:46:14 PM

after living in durham for two years, I'll definitely say that it's a better restaurant city than raleigh.

11/10/2010 3:41:56 PM

I wonder why that is. Maybe retail space is cheaper so more people can experiment with opening a restaurant?

11/10/2010 3:47:06 PM

nobody said mellow mushroom?!

11/10/2010 3:59:32 PM

pops backdoor owns the shit out of mellow mushroom

hell id say broad st cafe has better pizza than mellow mushroom

^^i think its because people around here are truly truly eclectic and there is also plenty of wealth within the city so i guess somehow it makes it easier for niche restaurants and mom and pop restaurants to stay open

plus the place is very pedestrian friendly and the nightlife around much of these places is pretty lively

plus theres college kids and a lot of overseas students/professors that enjoy not only having food from there own countries but various takes on american cuisine

thats a guess but i think it has merit, otherwise it really makes no sense why the dining is so rich

i just notice that there is also every kind of meal and dining for every sort of budget, the independent as mch as i hate that publication does a real good job promoting new businesses and reviewing the old ones.



[Edited on November 10, 2010 at 4:12 PM. Reason : m]

11/10/2010 4:07:02 PM

Holy crap now I want Mellow Mushroom.

I don't actually get pizza there though.

11/10/2010 4:08:11 PM

what do you get? Their sandwiches are kinda wack.

11/10/2010 4:09:32 PM

Tofu hoagie. It's pretty much the best thing ever.

11/10/2010 4:11:35 PM

11/10/2010 4:12:19 PM

you get wat

11/10/2010 4:12:34 PM

yes, yes, tofu is gross and bland and evil.

11/10/2010 4:12:46 PM

i wanna chew on chewy syrofoam too

11/10/2010 4:14:01 PM

i like the white pizza! mmmm

11/10/2010 4:16:55 PM