Wow where to begin!!!! We ended up here due to recommendation and thank goodness we did! The hospitality was ON POINT. From the second we walked in, the hostess, who was also serving, was delightfully patient and kind. She got us drinks while we waited for table. Now these drinks.... I ordered a vodka, pineapple, sprite and grenadine (my go-to, I call the skittle) and it was the best I've ever had! We later learned they make their own grenadine and it was clearly the most amazing I've had and made a world of difference in this drink. Not too sweet and perfectly easy to drink. Now the food, we started with the Brussels sprouts which had bacon and pecorino cheese. Wow! So yummy. We also got the deviled egg duo, half with bacon, half with caviar. I preferred the bacon as I learned I don't care for caviar. The hanger steak was delightfully cooked at medium rare and came with a tasty herb blend on top. The fries were crispy and came paired with a delightfully delicious dipping aioli. We also got the Mac n cheese which came out bubbling and AMAZING! I had mentioned it was my perfect and they surprised us with some sort of chocolate mouse pie with a sparkler on top! A wonderful surprise. 10/10 recommend and will be back my next trip to Durham. read more

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A wonderful 4.5 stars for this gem in downtown Durham. My wife and I stopped for a quick dinner on Friday prior to attending a Yelp event at Hi-Wire Brewing, which was a short distance away. We don't often venture to Durham for dinner but, I read previous reviews and we decided to give this place a try. They don't take reservations and we planned on getting there around 6pm. The restaurant was busy. Luckily for us there was an open table and we were seated right away. The interior is nice with an urban artsy look to it. I really like exposed brick walls, especially in older buildings like this. It added to the eclectic art on the walls and the drawn up cocktail menu above the kitchen serving station. The bar setup was really nice too with the exposed brick walls behind the shelving for bottles. Throwing in the subtle lighting effects adds to the ambiance of the place. My wife and I each started off with a specialty cocktail. I went with the Figgin' Nuts (Rye, Fig, Black Walnut Bitters, Fig syrup and orange bitters) my wife ordered an Aunt Ginny (Conniption Gin, Cranberry Compote, Barrel Rested Gin, Lime and egg white foam). Both were really good. With the fig syrup, I figured the drink would be sweeter, but it wasn't. I tried the one my wife got. It was a bit more tart but still really good. For an appetizer we split the roasted Brussel Sprouts. They were seasoned really nicely and had parmesan as a topping, nice touch. For dinner my wife went with the Black Trumpet Meatball Bucatini. She said it was delicious. I sampled a bite and I concurred. There was a nice balance with the meatballs that are made with beef, pork and veal. When we go back I may get this. I went with the Steak Frites. The hangar steak was cooked perfectly. The fries were crispy and seasoned just right. The desert menu looked fantastic but, we skipped desert on this visit. On the next one we will definitely be splitting one. We enjoyed our pre-yelp-elite event dinner here. We will, without a doubt, be back again. read more

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This is my second time going to Bar Virgile. I love their ambiance and cocktails. They rotate their cocktail menu with seasonal craft cocktails. I got the following three cocktails: Let me be Brisk is a gin based cocktail made with earl grey tea infused syrup. It is really refreshing and easy to drink. Phoenix #4 is a Mezcal based cocktail that is SPICY! It's not for everyones taste palette. Figgin Nuts is a rye based cocktail that is made with fig syrup. It's a spin on a Old Fashioned and is very liquor forward. Will definitely be going back to try rest of the cocktails as well! read more

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This is a good place to come for drinks before going out. The seasonal cocktails are good. The burger was tasty but I have to say their entree sizes are a little small. read more

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I thoroughly enjoyed my burger along with the two drinks i ordered. I cant remember their names and from what i can tell they rotate their cocktails anyways. read more

I'm always happy to try a new tapas place. Bar Virgile was delicious. We were all happy with our drinks and the small plates that we ordered and shared. Perfect place for small groups or double dates. The service was excellent. Didn't wait long for anything, and the waiter was very helpful. read more

Bar Virgile - Aunt Ginnie - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Great drinks to choose from and it is such a cute spot. Can't go wrong with the cosmo! & the food looked delicious! Will be back

Amazing service, food, and drinks! It's a small restaurant so you have to get there early or be ready to wait. Definitely worth it!

Great space for cocktails and small plates! Thoroughly enjoyed the decor and ambience of the space, the drinks were strong and the presentation on point. Definitely recommend the Brussels and the chocolate pie! read more

If there is a show at DPAC, Bar Virgile will be packed with a wait.They recently added an Annex. It doesn't have the same uptown vibe, but may get you in and out a bit quicker. If you have time to wait it out, or visit when there is no theater crowd, you are in for a real treat. Excellent craft cocktails, professional service, and the best hamburger in town. Plus more sophisticated dining options. read more

As my second stop of the night to grab second dinner, literally like 15 mins after first dinner. Go figure. We sat outside which actually ended up being a parking lot with a surprisingly nice view. Covid ingenuity, go figure. The "charm" of outdoor eating was still there, regardless of being in a literal parking structure. I'd say a huge part of that was the nice weather and good company. Food wise, nothing was really spectacular. We tried the bolognese, the burger, and the fried broccoli. The bolognese was alright, a bit salty and oddly one note? The depth of flavor I expect from a bolognese sauce wasn't really there. They did have good fresh pasta though. The burger, again, nothing spectacular, just an average cheeseburger. It was supposed to be what they were known for so go make of that what you will. The star of the night here was the fried broccoli, at least for me. Its a small plate but well fried and good flavor. The buttermilk aioli that went with it was also ok but wasn't necessary, in my opinion. As for drinks, they had some good sounding seasonal cocktails. Unfortunately, I didn't get to try them thinking they had the same menu at the Annexe... so word of warning, drinks from one part of the restaurant do not translate. read more

Bar Virgile - Bolognese and burger - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Bar Virgile is an *outstanding* dining experience in downtown Durham. Their cuisine is awesome & their menu is quite varied. There didn't seem to be anything run-of-the-mill on there. The environment is hip and casual. (No white tablecloths here.) The dining area is small & cozy, so you'll want to get there early to ensure you're seated without a wait. The server was knowledgeable, fast and friendly. I highly recommend BV, particularly if you regard yourself as a 'foodie' - you won't be disappointed. read more

I've never dealt with such POOR customer service on TOP OF the known ROACH INFESTATION. 10/7 is usually an amazing celebration of life for me but this year it ended a bit differently. Around 8:30 after much deliberation, I decided to go and have my birthday dinner at Bar Virgile. Though I've lived in Durham about 10 years, the chance of trying this bar out never presented itself. I was excited to say the least. Upon entering the bar, I was not greeted but I politely asked the bartender if we were to wait to be seated or seat ourselves. They confirmed that we would be seated by the host. The host sat us, and we proceeded to order food and drinks. About half way into indulging in our food a roach crossed the table onto the connecting seat and continued to linger. After seeing our new party guest I notified the server, which showed not much haste. She tried to find somewhere else for us to sit while killing the critter and taking away our half eaten food. WE were sat at a dirty table that was eventually cleaned and met with various excuses of the building being old etc. I've worked in food service for many years. It's understandable that a bug might show its face to guests every now and again. However, the lack of accountability and dismissive behaviors in response to this situation is not acceptable. The server brought the check and charged me for the food. I asked to speak to a manager and the bartender presented himself as the standing manager. He had already been versed on the situation from the server. I asked for the food to be removed from the bill since we could not eat it. Though this should have been the initial course of action he agreed and charged me for the drink. Honestly I have never felt so disregarded. Aside from it being my special day, standard customer service was horrible. I tagged the social media of the bar hoping that managerial staff would reach out, to no avail even though they watched the video. I called the bar to speak to someone on 10/8 and the manager also disregarded me by saying "they comped your food, I don't know what else you want". Once I pointed out the lack of training for these types of situations and lack of accountability by everyone (including him) he agreed that the situation was not handled properly. After making more excuses of the building being old and recent rain, he confirmed that the servers will be informed of how to handle these situations going forward. If there is such a known problem with roaches for the bar or downtown Durham in general, at least train staff on how to handle these encounters. As the consumer, I don't want to dine here anymore but I'm glad that other consumers' experience may be improved from this review. read more

This walk-in-only establishment serving local food has fresh ingredients, unique flavors, and commitment to supporting local producers. We truly loved the service of the staff and appreciate the authentic taste, seasonal menu, and the sense of community this place fosters. It is dark and quaint. You'll certainly get snuggly with your neighbor but it is in a fun way. We had the burger, salmon, deviled eggs, and drinks. We have never gone before but will certainly be back soon. read more

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Nice atmosphere and nice staff and service. Food was very good and enjoyed the atmosphere.

Delicious cocktails! We went here after dinner and I was jealous of my neighbors who had a yummy looking burger and pasta. My bf and I each got a cocktail and the waitresses were very attentive. The cinnamon on my espresso martini (if it fitz) was a nice touch and my bf's Roman holiday cocktail was such a delicious combo of flavors. "BV" is everywhere on the menus and such, and I couldn't stop thinking about the unfortunate infection with the same initials. Tables are very close together so don't go here if you need your conversation to be private (hopefully the couple next to us resolved their fight we overheard) read more

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Came in on a Saturday night to enjoy drinks downstairs at Annex with friends. After getting an appetite we decided to come upstairs to Bar Virgil's since you have to be sitting at the bar to order food. We were lucky and came up to a table ready for us. We got the Brussel sprouts and fried oysters as appetizers. The Brussel sprouts had the perfect crisp and were flavorful. Probably on my list of top 3 Brussel sprouts since that's my go to side or starter. The fried oysters were fried well and tasted fresh. My friend enjoyed them so much she came back for more 3 days later. My friend ordered the burger and said it was one of the best she had. I've been on a steak frites kick and loved that this one came with chimichurri sauce.The chimichurri was flavorful and rich but went great with the steak. The fries were also very good. I could not stop eating them! The dressing on the greens had great flavor also. The craft cocktail and wine list offered great pairings with our entrees. They don't have a long wine list but good variety. read more

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We came in for the drinks, left with a great smile on our faces Grabbed the Ramos gin fizz (Plymouth Gin, Cream, Egg White, Orange Essence, Lemon, Lime) and their old fashioned and also sampled my friends' other drinks I couldn't remember, another fizz and something. Absolutely tasty Yo! Their fried oysters are hella good! Why haven't anyone ever told me about this?? Their charcuterie board was good too, but not as good as them fried oysters, we had to get it twice. Forgot to take pics bc we ravenously ate. Oops Bottom line: it was a great atmosphere. If you want to go on a date, This. Is. The. Spot. Otherwise, it's a great spot to eat and drink at nonetheless. Drinks and food were great. I've missed this place due to moving away read more

Bar Virgile - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Wonderful from the maitre d' to the bar tender! We were there for a quick dinner before a show and everything was amazing! Thanks for your friendly knowledgeable service. Food and drinks were amazing and creative. read more

Specialty drinks were awesome! Food was delish. Cool atmosphere! Highly recommend!

Wow! The bf picked this one out and I was very impressed. It's a very quaint and private feel for a great cocktail or dinner. I'm not a fan of old fashions, but I could've had a couple of the ones made here! We ordered the burger (because everyone raves on here about them), steak frites and the German chocolate cake and it did NOT disappoint. I love a good steak, but the burger was OUT OF THIS WORLD. If you haven't been here you have to order the burger. Absolutely delicious. The presentation of everything was perfect. This is my new favorite cocktail place! read more

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A great drink list with solid food. Best Mac and cheese I have ever had. The burger is solid but the fries are pretty mediocre. They could really improve on them. The servers are really nice here and are nicer when you get to know them. The lighting is very nice here and it's a great place to take a date. read more

We love it here! Our pre-DPAC restaurant. No reservations are taken but arrive by 5 to sit at the bar or go to the Annex. Food is always great and drinks are nummy. What BV misses in size and scale, they make up for service, consistency, and location! Enjoy!! read more

The interior of this place creates such a cozy atmosphere, you might forget you're dressed for a baseball game that started 30 minutes ago lol! We stopped by Bar Virgile before a Durham Bulls game for light food and drinks. Despite being on the smaller side, they were able to fit us at a two top for dinner service. The menu was small, but mighty: their cocktails are truly unique, infused with spices and mint and eggs, truly using it all to get crafty (pun fully intended). Some of the main courses could get pricy, but I thought the papardelle bolognese was well-portioned and appropriately priced for the quality. I enjoyed this dish and didn't feel disgustly stuffed. What really blew me away was Bar Virgile's decor. Very dark, very sexy. I would have every single piece of artwork in my house if I could. read more

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Overall- I would absolutely come here again. I'm honestly sad that I haven't been more often. Hands down best cocktails in the city Price - reasonable given the level of craftsmanship What we got Honey sour drink- so good. I normally don't like gin but the egg what was perfection Wildflower punch- everyone at the bar was getting it so we got it. Such a good call Burger Ambiance - this place was everything. Ive never felt so cool Service - fantastic. The bartender was so on point and so slammed but incredibly friendly and talented Pro tip- sit at the bar with a view of the kitchen. Watching the chef prep the food was literally it's own show. Such talent. Also the amount of effort and art that goes into each drink is something that you don't want to miss read more

Bar Virgile - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Where has this place been all my life?! I am in love. I live in Raleigh and don't make it over to Durham as much as I'd like to, but this place is definitely worth the short trip. I stopped by for the first time with a friend who was visiting from out of town and am glad we did. We were looking for a place (within walking distance to the DBAP) to grab some dinner and pre-game drinks before the Durham Bulls game on a Saturday night. Boy, were we in for a treat. We arrived right before 7PM and were pleased that there wasn't a wait because they were pretty busy! I really liked the vibes of this bar. The menu is pretty large, I really wanted to order one of everything. Alas, I did not, but all of the food we tried was super tasty and was the perfect portion. I tried two of their seasonal cocktails, and loved both. The steak frites also stood out - I'm definitely reordering next time I'm in. This is my first visit of many to Bar Vigile. I'm really looking forward to bringing my boyfriend here for our next date night and will probably suggest this bar anytime I'm in Durham, or when friends ask me for recommendations. read more

Bar Virgile - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I've gone back to Bar Virgile 3 times since my last review, and it delivers effortlessly every. single. time. Most recently, my dear friend and I celebrated both our late December birthdays with BV's new lunch hours (hallelujah!), and it was nearly everything I could have asked for EXCEPT: no oysters. BV, please please please add the oysters to the lunch menu, then let me know, and I will be there for lunch at least weekly until I die. This trip, we both did mezcal (one Wildflower Punch, one Alejandro Fleming) and steak frites. Fries were absolutely outrageous, steak was perfectly cooked, and we both appreciated the amiable service that allowed us to order our mezcal even though neither cocktail was on the lunch-approved shortlist. I can also now add "smoked rosemary" to my favorite smells. Mmmmm. Ambiance remains to-die-for and I'm just so excited that my favorite spot now offers lunch, since we work barely five minutes away!! But for real: ADD THE OYSTERS. I love you. But oysters. read more

Bar Virgile - The fried oysters that should be on the LUNCH MENU please guys & a Wildflower Punch - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Absolutely loved the place. First of all, very cute restaurant/bar. Limited seats available, we had to wait for a while to get our table. They do not out ur name down and text you later. You have to be physically located in the restaurant/bar while waiting. I absolutely loved the devils egg and the Mac and cheese. Honestly I think their appetizers seemed more appealing to me than the main course. Service was great! Price was fair as well. Love to come back. It was a good experience! read more

Good environment. Good food. Nothing great. Cocktails were good. Overall not bad. Just not great. Now this could have been because we were there during a busy season as Hamilton was in town. read more

Bottom Line Up Front: great drinks, good food, just turn down the volume The Good: The drinks were tasty and clearly done with an artistic touch which did not subtract from the flavor. Food consisted of small plates with a couple options for a large plate dinner. The food left a good impression, coming out both hot and delicious. The Bad: Menu is smaller and the venue is definitely limited to groups smaller than 5-6 people. The Ugly: The Music.... I left bar Virgile a different man than I walked in. Took the girlfriend on a date and we're initially hesitant to sit at the bar because we prefer a table and the music was especially loud at the bar. Unfortunately we found no refuge at the tables because the music was equally as loud. Want to give this place a 5 star review but a small joint like this has to capitalize on intimate conversation, tough to do when you spend the night yelling across the table. Recommendation: Go here on a second or third date, just be a better man than me and ask the waitress/bartender to turn down the music a little read more

Not the best cocktails I've had. I say that because I prefer sweet over stiffness. These drinks were STIFF! Poured with a heavy hand and lacking sweetness. But I understand some may think that's a positive. Not my cup of tea. Not pictured were the Brussel sprouts. They were AMAZING. Cooked with bacon and topped with a very good cheese I forget the name of. Everything worked well together and we made short work of them. May come back just for them. read more

Bar Virgile - a red drink with a purple umbrella - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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This place has outdoor seating in the garage right next to it. They have heaters, a plus! Luckily when we went the weather cooperated with us and we didn't need it. They have a variety of drinks - seasonal and regular. In our party, there was one person who doesn't drink. The waitress went above and beyond to ask this individual what they're looking for in a mocktail. This was really nice because typically I've just seen a syrup mixed into some soda water and that's it. I ordered the salmon entree for my main and it was decent. Nothing to complain about, but also nothing to rage about. If you're coming here, keep in mind it's a higher end/expensive place in Durham. Their menu wasn't too extensive. Will I be back? Maybe if I'm in the mood for fun cocktails but not for food. read more

Bar Virgile - Salmon (comes with mashed potatoes & brussel sprouts) - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I went here with two other girlfriends early, just as they opened, because of the first come first served policy. The place is small and I can imagine it fills up quickly. We were lucky enough to be seated in the corner round booth which gave us a great view of the whole restaurant. The ambiance is French bistro casual with brick walls and classic vintage posters and faux chalkboard specialty drink items posted as artwork. They have an excellent menu of appetizers and mains that each are presented with thoughtful, interesting ingredients. We had the beet risotto, fried oysters, and mussels with frites. Fabulous! The cocktails are well prepared but ungenerous and pricey. Still, it's the only place in town that I've seen you can order a Ramos Gin Fizz. I'll be back to sample more of this delicious place! read more

Last night was our first time trying Bar Virgil's and we had such a good time! We sat at the bar and just had drinks after attending a show at DPAC. We got the Phoenix and and Aunt Ginny to drink. Both were absolutely delicious, the atmosphere was super cool and fun and the bartender Drew was fantastic. We didn't order any food, so I can't comment on that, but we will be coming here again for drinks! Note, there is a parking garage right beside Bar Virgile so it's easy to access. Also this is a popular spot!! There was a line down the sidewalk of 20+ people before they opened at 5:00 on a Saturday. Thankfully we were able to get seats easily at the bar, so I would recommend getting here early and not coming with a super large group. read more

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Great place for a special night out. Not exactly cheap, but you can tell why by the quality of the food, drinks, and service. One of the best restaurants downtown. read more

Great hamburgers and true bartenders! Ambiance was great and a cool diverse crowd. Can't wait to go back

Loved the inside of this place! Dark and mysterious! Interesting menu with many options. Okra was amazing! Beet salad was tasty. Service was excellent! read more

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Sat at the bar and had excellent service. The burger was so unexpectedly good. The drink menu is really fun, it feels like miami downstairs if u know what i mean read more

Bar Virgile - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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UGH! I've said this so many times to paces I've been: FOUND MY NEW FAVORITE PLACE. I guess I've got a lot of them lol. That's just how good it is! The ambience when we went was low-lit and romantic, with chatter in the air. Very cute. We got the Steak Frites, mussels, and pasta. OMG were they so good! The mussels were cooked perfectly. The flavor was robust and really brought what seafood lovers love. Especially the shellfish aroma, complimented with the sauce it was tossed in. The steak was done to our liking, which they suggested also.... medium rare, with the crispy thin fries and their version of the green goddess. Man oh man it was amazing. The pasta we got was also the best. The one who ordered it usually don't like pasta but actually fell in love with it.... So that speaks for itself. I tried it and it was mind blowing too. DESERT we ordered both deserts they had available. We were sure they were going to be mind blowing after eating the foods so we didn't wanna pass up on one or the other of the desserts and MAN they did not disappoint! We are definitely coming back here. OOOOOH almost forgot! The DRINKS! Wow. They were so creative with their herbs and flavors. They had the best kick and were so amazing! read more

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This was my first time to Bar Virgile. I read the menu online and was excited to sample the cocktail menu. We showed up 45 minutes after opening on Saturday evening, and the bar was quickly filling up - no resos. We fortunately scored a cool spot for two in the downstairs bar. I started with a Sazarec and she tried the Wildflower Punch - both were very well made. For dinner, we shared two small plates - Watermelon Salad and Fried Oysters. Both were fresh and delicious. We followed by splitting the Salmon, and finished our dinner with the Chocolate Chess Pie. I followed up my Sazarec with a Boulevardie- they accommodated my off-menu request (Negroni, swap the gin with bourbon). Also, nicely done. We both highly recommend and will return soon. read more