Where do I even start? I freaking LOVE this place. Drinks 5 stars. Service/Staff 5 stars. THAT PHILLY CHEESESTEAK 10 STARS. If you want good food, good drinks, and an overall good time look no further. Hell yes Dain!!! great place!!! read more

My brother and I have stopped by here a couple of times for lunch, and it's exactly the right atmosphere for a couple of guys looking to kickback with a good sandwich, a cold beer, and maybe some sports on the TV. Their steak sandwich really shines, greasy and flavorful without being overly fatty, a real treat. They've got a decent selection of microbrews for such a small place, though they tend to rotate the selection less often than I would hope. Ten points for the decor, which is fun without being annoying. The service is so-so at best, not a huge surprise. read more

There's a lot I miss about Durham. Dain's is right near the top of that list. Outstanding beer selection, outstanding staff, outstanding burgers (I recommend pepper jack, salsa, grilled peppers and guac.) Go. Go often. read more

Dain's is great. Good atmosphere, nice beer selection and most importantly awesome food. The Dainer is awesome, nice thick Burger with a nice thick slice of bacon. Also not to be missed the Pierogis (One of few places in Durham, maybe the only place you can get them!) and the Ring of Fire tots. You may be tempted to get the fries, but trust me get the tots. Service is also usually pretty great. Do it you won't be sorry. read more

Pretty fine burgers made to order, make sure you request medium~medium well. If it's your first time, opt for the fries, they are pretty close to perfect, but the salad is good too. Great decor and people (zombie and ghost costumes on Halloween), although it is small and not suited to parties larger than 4, 6 might get lucky. Good selection of beer, seasonal specials are fun too. One of my favorites read more

If you want a really great burger in a laid back place, this is where to go. I was starving when I got there. Not much on the menu and the ambience is that of a small local bar, but I was not disappointed. My burger was huge and cooked just perfectly. A lot of free toppings and plenty of others to choose from. I was stuffed and happy when I left. Best burger I have had out in awhile would definitely eat there again. Good service too. read more

The food and drinks were good but the service not so much. We got tots on fire (really good) and I had a garden burger. Also good were my friends BLT and the grilled cheese/tomato soup. But service was slow and not very friendly. We waited and waited for refills and for people to come see if we were alright- ended up flagging staff down twice. The kicker- we ordered 5 shots and asked for a coke chaser and they charged us for the soda. That's never happened before read more

Just had a great dinner experience at Dain's. The staff was super friendly. It was actually kind of busy on a Tuesday night; the bar and tables were both almost filled. Both bartenders made it a priority to check back constantly even though they were busy. They had both the NBA, USA soccer game, and some shows on the tvs so you really could watch what you wanted. It was a really chill environment and all the wall decorations were interesting to look at. They have this cool fan contraption on the ceiling that was from a previous establishment. I ordered a Reuben with tots and it didn't take long at all for it to come out. The Reuben was well stuffed and I was full after half the sandwich. Not the best Reuben I've had but it was still good. When I was leaving I noticed that anyone that was left on ninth street were all at Dain's. This was my first visit and I will definitely go back. read more

Dain's Place - Reuben and tots. - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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So my sister bragged about this place and wanted to show it off. A couple of Dainers, a healthy portion of steak soup and a White Street Kolsch for me and a Shotgun Betty for my sis. Huge beer selection, tons of local and regional and a rotating tap make this a great watering hole. Limited menu, but what we had was fantastic and served quickly. We don't live here, but when we visit we will return. read more

I love Dains. It's a great local establishment that Durham really needed. Smoke free and laid back, its a great place to get a beer, a burger and some conversation. Sometimes on live music nights it gets a little loud and somewhat crowded. I also wish they had more in the way of outside seating. Otherwise the food is always delicious; best burger in Durham. The beer selection is stellar for such a small space and most nights you can find Dain himself working the bar. What more would you want from a local joint? read more

Stop what you're doing. Go get a cheesesteak from Dain's. It is transcendent. read more

My review for Dain's is one of those where you have to appreciate a joint for what it is, and what the "it" I am referring to is a "divey" neighborhood bar. Sort of a Dukie hangout, but that doesn't mean you have to be college age to go there, because I am certainly not. Dain's does kind of remind me of a place I would frequent, when I was in college though. I ordered the 8 oz Angus burger, with tots and washed it down with a draft. They have a limited draft menu, but do offer a wide variety of beers in bottles. The food was filling, not the best you will ever eat, but for a dive bar, you might be impressed. I don't think I will ever become a Dain's regular, but if I am ever in the Ninth Street neighborhood, I would stop in. P.S... the fact that they were playing some of my favorite tunes from back in the day from Pearl Jam, Sound Garden, Alice in Chains and Radiohead may or may not have influenced me giving four stars instead of three. read more

Super cool bar. Great staff. Being a burger snob I had to try this place. Ordered the Dainer, added a fried egg, and tots for a side. Not disappointed! Nice beer selection. I went with the local porter. Will be back! read more

Great value bar grub. I ordered the 0.5 lb buffalo chicken nuggets (should be labeled bones less buffalo wings). For $8, I would estimate I got roughly 15 sizable pieces. They also have delicious tots and some cool decor read more

Such a great place to go for a burger, some tots, fries, and a beer. Their burgers aren't the thick, juicy kind I love, but The Dainer is fantastic, and their nuggets of chicken are awesome. I usually get 1/2 fries and 1/2 tots; their fries come seasoned with Old Bay and are just really delicious. Also, their tots on fire are dangerously good. The beer selection is pretty amazing, and all the servers are incredibly happy to help you pick a good one. Everyone who works there is just so nice and sweet, and awesome to chat with. This is definitely our local hangout. Dain's was also the only place open on 9th street during a snowstorm, which makes me want to give it a 6th star if I could. We went probably 4 times in 3 days just to hang out with the people there and get some good food. Such a great place to be a regular. ALSO, since Dain owns Heavenly Buffaloes, you can get some serious wings and sweet potato waffle fries delivered to you while you're here! read more

If you are looking for a mellow pub to read the paper/book and have a little something to gnosh on, or perhaps some idle conversation with Dain or some other person this is not a bad place to go at all. Chill place. read more

We stopped in here while my daughter was at basketball camp. This place is awesome. We had my toddler son with us and he was mesmerized by all the memorabilia in the pub. He danced to all the music and had a big time. They have a large selection of beer. But with the baby with us we didn't sample. I built my own burger and it was fantastic. My husband had the defibrillator. He finished but is ready for a nap. The service was top notch. Not sure he was used to waiting on babies, but he was great. We definitely recommend. read more

Great local hole-in-the-wall for very good beer and good bar food. I agree with another reviewer about the burger. It really was good but I got mine in like 2 minutes so it had obviously been pre cooked, which was fine with me since I was hungry. It was also a little skimpy on the beef- the thinned the middle to make it appear to be a big piece of beef. But still, I would order it again when I get back to Durham. The Seeing Double IPA was worth the visit. read more

Good burgers. Perfect place to go for game nights.

Neat bar, fine beer selection, sort of dig the seating and the vibe. I was only in durham for a conference but I thought Dain's was a solid choice. read more

Some customers are treated like second class. Service was terrible. Needless to say, they've lost my business.

I'm usually not one for the bar scene but Dain's is great. I love the eclectic decorations on the walls, the intimacy of the small building, and the friendliness of the staff. As one of my friends said (and I agree), if we were to become a regular at a bar, Dain's would definitely be the place. If you do come here for food, definitely try the tots on fire. It's massive! A huge container of hot tater tots, smothered in sweet chili, cheese, and jalapenos, this is one of those dishes that you break your healthy eating streak for and savor every bite. My friend ordered one for the table and there was definitely enough to share for the three of us. That sweet chili... I'm craving it even as I write. I also ordered the chicken breast sandwich. The chicken itself was disappointing - a bit dry and pounded too thin. However, the bread was fantastic. I believe they may make it themselves or get it somewhere else but either way - it was fresh, lightly buttered, and delicious. The sandwich also came with a small pickle, pepper, and bag of chips so overall, a bit pricey for $10. I'd recommend going with the burger instead - my friend seemed to thoroughly enjoy his. This place has also been featured on Man vs. Food so if you're one of those who likes checking off places based on the Travel Channel, stop by! read more

Great dive bar, great beer selection, good music. Got a burger, asked for med rare, was a little more cooked than askedbut overall still good, read more

This is a great place to get good beer and one of the best tater tots. As you can see from the photo gallery, Dain's Place offers delicious sweet, chili, and jalapeno topped tater tots. Forget calories count and order it, it's worth it. I had a Dain's burger before and also had their chicken sandwich. Both were cooked right and came out at perfect temperature. Bartenders and wait staffs are all courteous and friendly, make sure your beer is flowing and stomach is full. Place is pretty small and no reservation, so prepare to wait a while to get a table. read more

Tried this place back in March while on vacation. That's right, during March madness, this Michigan boy sat in a bar and watched the duke and unc games with the other patrons. It was a riot, most fun I've ever had during MM. Add to that amazing food, great waitstaff, good prices and cool decor. This place is fun. I didn't even realize they had been on man vs. food before trotting in there. I'll definitely be back. read more

Only THE BEST BURGERS EVER! Yes I just gave a little bar 5 stars. The burgers are perfect. You need tater tots - yes you do. You deserve them. Order yourself a beer. If you don't know what to get just ask the people here know their stuff and will help you choose. My daughter loves the chicken too. read more

I've been meaning to write a review of Dain's for awhile now, seeing how I've been here about a dozen times. It's possible that I was waiting for a bad experience, or something that clicked a 'meh' meter. But that doesn't happen. Dain's is consistent, and consistently awesome and tasty. I've heard from close friends that everything on the menu is good, including the grilled cheese and the chicken. I honestly wouldn't know, because to me, Dain's is about having a downtown burger with a beer. And tator tots. The burger is the best in downtown. It's done right, it's not super greasy, and with a slew of customize-able options to make your own, or you can try the ultimate 'Dainer'. Just get tots too. They are crispy nuggets of potato perfection. I'd take these over fries anytime I have a fried goodness craving. As an added bonus, the atmosphere is fun, with a 'come as you are feel'. It's like half biker, half dive, half college type of place. Give it a shot, have a beer, you'll be back. read more

Ordered the Reuben with fries. Absolutely delicious. The server was super friendly and attentive.I went there for lunch,but will be back for beers soon. They have a great beer selection. read more

Dain's Place - Reuben. - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Great bar food! It's a very "hole in the wall" kind of place, nothing fancy. But they have a ton of different beers, the bartenders/waiters are super friendly, and the food was very good. It's a very simple menu: burger, chicken sandwich, or hot dog. Then there is a list of about 30 different toppings so it's very customized. They also have fries and tater tots, or potato chips to go with your meal. I usually never order tater tots, but we got them here and they were great - very crispy. The side of tots is huge. 3 of us are them until we were full and we only finished about half the basket. This is a great place when you want a laid back tasty lunch. read more

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Best bar food I've ever had. The beer selection is great, and the staff is awesome. The décor is entertaining. The grilled ham and cheese sandwich is amazing, it's huge! I recommend putting pimento cheese on it. The tots on fire are great, but even better if you have chili with them. read more

Been going here for years. Great neighborhood bar with good comfort food. Great place to watch football on Sundays especially if you're an eagles fan. read more

For my money the best burger + a beer (or three) joint in town. Great staff, chill tunes, great selection of beers, cozy atmosphere. Don't leave without trying their homemade fried cheese triangles. read more

We came after reading the reviews and they don't lie! It was my first time and I think I've found my new neighbourhood bar. The burgers were delicious! I ate a burger with bacon, mushrooms and swiss cheese (the cheese was amazing!), and my friend ordered the vegie burger which was also good. I think the best part about the burgers is that everything feels fresh! like the buns were just made, the ingredients were great, we were very pleased. we weren't in a drinking mood but they have many beers (and pitchers!) so we will definitely come again! read more

I come here for three things: beer, tots and no nonsense; it has yet to disappoint. If you get more than a side of tots, plan to share with at least one other person -- and you should be hungry. Otherwise, it can easily be shared among 4 - 5 people depending on appetite. This is my go-to neighborhood bar. read more

Dain's Place is my favorite neighborhood hangout on 9th Street near Duke East Campus. The music is always perfect for the mood of the day. The right sports are on the TVs...and if they aren't, you just have to ask. I could spend hours looking at the button collection and all the local memorabilia. The burgers are delish. There is a great selection of beers. I went to Dain's on my second date with my boyfriend over a year ago and we are there at least once a month. Great local hangout! read more

Just waited 40 minutes for two takeout hot dogs. Called ahead. Was told it would be 10 to 15 minutes. Got there 15 minutes later, and waited another 25 minutes. read more

I love this place, go here often for lunch. The buffet is just the right size, not overwhelming with choices. The staff is friendly, very nice atmosphere. read more

Met friend who's daughter was having an interview at Duke University hospital for an internship. We were prompted seated and told them we were visiting and didn't want to be rushed. They were great, came over to ask about drinks just often enough and we never felt rushed. :) They have a small menu, but each of us found something that we wanted, varied selections. The drinks were great, not watered down and perfectly made. We all enjoyed the meal we selected, friend got their hamburger and she said it was cooked perfectly. I got their salad w/ fried oysters, crisp greens, perfect dressing and the oysters were large w/ light breading. Just how they should be fried! I recommend this to anyone that's near Duke University, great food, nice atmosphere and reasonably priced. read more

A friend and I stopped into Dain's place after going to Burger Bach and deciding the menu was too fancy for us- we're simple people and wanted regular, simple burgers. (Plus I've tried them and wasn't impressed.) Anyway, we remembered that Dain's was actual the street and we'd both heard great things, so we popped over. I appreciated the super lowkey, laid back vibe. They were playing old school hip hop which was great! The servers were welcoming and gave great suggestions about the menu. I ordered a bacon cheeseburger and my friend had a hangover burger. The orders got a tad mixed up- they gave me an egg instead of bacon, my friend had plenty of bacon so he shared with me. It was my first time having an egg on a burger and I have to say it was tasty. We both really enjoyed our food, although my friend wished the bun was a bit heartier and toasted- his burger kept falling apart. The tots were delicious. I'd totally go back, I enjoyed the food and the service that much! read more

This is one of my good friends favorite places to eat in Durham and I can see why. The burgers are really good at Dain's. I really liked their fries also, and they beer selection is second to none. Dain's is a winner. read more