"Solid option for on-Duke-campus slightly upscale lunches" As its predecessor which moved to Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, this "new iteration" of the Divinity Refectory offers slight upscale dining options on campus relative to the usual burgers/ pizza/ fast food. They often have some sort of Indian dish in a sauce with tofu or a casserole, lots of vegetables, vegetarian/ vegan options (e.g., beef vs. veggie lasagna), etc. They also have sandwiches, soups, and they have a pretty nice collection of varied fancier desserts including cheesecakes and creme brulee. I tend to find the portions a bit small, but I'm a big eater. It's cafeteria-style-- you walk through a line and order what you want, and pay at the end. The food is fresh, and the service is friendly. Price is slightly higher than some on-campus options (e.g., Panda Express), but the food is certainly a cut above, so it's not unreasonable. Somewhat surprisingly, they don't have any sodas on tap-- only bottles. No credit cards accepted. Given the proximity to the administrative building, this place is frequented by various Duke deans and professors, as well as students taking professors out for lunch (through the "FLunch" program). read more

Divinity Cafe - Cafeteria Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

So Ive been going to div cafe nearly every day for the past two years (recently less though) so here are my thoughts. Overall, I'd say the quality of div food has gone down for breakfast. It's supposed to be one of the healthier places on campus but some of their foods aren't as good for you as you might think of you look at the ingredients (ie the eggs, which taste more like the liquid eggs than real eggs...more on that below). Breakfast: I used to be obsessed with div oatmeal but the past few months it's really hit or miss. The baked oatmeal also isn't very healthy, it's loaded with sugar and butter. Sometimes it's very dry and other times it's really creamy. Once in a while it's delicious though (less so recently). This oatmeal is not vegan and I'd love to see a healthier, vegan rendition. The eggs are often very oily and taste like liquid eggs rather than farm fresh eggs like the cafe advertises. I usually custom order egg whites since those taste more real, even though they're usually also drenched in oil. The fruit here is really overpriced. You might get 3 strawberries for $4... recommend going elsewhere for fruit. My go-to breakfast here is now the low fat Greek yogurt (I think the healthiest thing you can get here) with a side of organic, crunchy peanut butter. I sometimes add a bit of honey and it's delicious. The other options are usually lemon ricotta pancakes, French toast, etc. They also have breakfast burritos, potatoes, and grits. I haven't tried these but they look alright. Lunch: I'm not always a fan of the lunch specials but when I do go for lunch I'm usually not disappointed. Beware, the line is generally pretty long although it goes by quickly. The shrimp etouffe last week was INCREDIBLE. It comes with a side of veggies although they usually give you very minimal (I got 3 pieces of broccoli...). The week before, I got the shrimp stir fry and I asked for less sauce. The server still took extra sauce from the bottom of the pan and poured it onto my plate.... they don't really listen to requests when there's a long line. Their pastas are pretty good and the buffalo Mac and cheese is great, although definitely not a healthy option. Their wraps are decent. If you're in the mood for one its not a bad choice. The refrigerated foods (salads, sandwiches, ...) are not my favorites. They don't heat up the sandwiches there so if you get a pbj you just eat it cold. They also have apples and peanut butter. This is good but I'd recommend just buying an apple and asking for a side of peanut butter since it's much cheaper. read more

See all

One of my favorite dining options on Duke's Campus. The layout of the Refectory mirrors that of a typical cafeteria: a line snakes by the trays and past the refrigerated area, various food/dessert options, and finishing at the cash register. The food here tends to be the most homemade like on campus, with popular dishes being the grilled cheese and tomato soup combo and the vegetarian curry. My personal favorites in terms of pastry/dessert options include the muffins (made fresh each morning), and the chocolate cookies with white chocolate chips. Avoid the pasta (tends to be flavorless sauce) and the creme brûlée (strange aftertaste). Lunch rush tends to be crowded and the prices are rather high given that they serve Duke students which have an inflated number of food points to spend. read more

See all

Great place to eat, especially when the weather is wonderful! The food is always fresh. Had an issue with the pound cake being dry, but my entree and side were perfect. read more

Divinity Cafe - Beef Lasagna with green beans, side salad and the unfortunate dry pound cake. - Cafeteria Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

A friend and former Divinity School student recommended Divinity Cafe for a gluten-free muffin. YUM - recommend the Kitchen Sink muffin. And it was nice to wander through the building past the church and some beautiful stained glass on my way to breakfast. I found it affordable and it was very empty in the morning (although it was also spring break so....) The back patio has a bunch of raised beds with herbs growing - eat outside! read more

When I feel like I could use some comfort, I come to Divinity Cafe. I can't tell if it's the food, the ambiance, or both. The food is pricier than some of the other venues on campus and it's pretty popular for lunch. My go to order? The tomato basil soup and grilled cheese sandwich; makes me feel like I'm back at home enjoying the grilled cheese sandwiches my mother makes me. They also serve some vegan meal options, which is nice to see. They have a variety of cold drinks and desserts, as well as some fruits. My favorite is the hibiscus tea. There is plenty of indoor seating and on warm days it's nice to take your meal outside to enjoy at the nearby benches. read more

Best food on campus!!! It feels like home. Everyone goes for the grilled cheese but it's so much more than that. Breakfast is a 10! Flo's Tamales are my favorite special! Snickerdoodle cookies are my favorite splurge. This place is so underrated/forgotten and it has gotten me through some rough Duke days. read more

Decent quality but low on the value scale. I recommend Penn Pavillion or the other main campus dining options if you're looking for a better value for your lunch. read more

Divinity Cafe - The half soup half wrap meal ($6.95) is tasty but certainly not a hot deal - Cafeteria Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Food is pretty decent in comparison to other campus options. Line can get extremely long at times. Their tomato basil soup and grilled cheese are "famous" on campus (and will definitely fill you up). I also like their peanut butter + jelly + banana sandwiches as well as their strawberry + granola yogurt parfaits. Tried the cod, squash, and collards the other day and was very disappointed - cod was so dry and bland and the squash and collards were gross. read more

Amazing Mac and cheese. Famous grilled cheese and soup. You cannot go wrong here. Get the buffalo Mac and cheese!!!! You will not be disappointed read more

Decent breakfast food for students on campus. They have typical breakfast foods like eggs and sausage and potatoes-- enough to start your day off! Oh and they also have vegan options too. read more