This is a decent four-star Southern bar near the Duke campus. We were driving through town, and we stopped here before visiting the local botanical garden. There's plenty of paid street parking in the area. The interior is a bit dark inside, minimal ambient light from the outside, TVs around the bar. Lunch arrived quickly, I had the patty melt which was a bit over salted, but not too bad. Service from Makena was overall decent, nothing exceptionally bad or good. Pricing for lunch averaged just over $20 per person, including the "included gratuity." It's a fine Place to get standard bar food. read more

We were driving from Columbia, South Carolina to Richmond, Virginia today and decided to stop in Durham for some lunch around noon. This place is located in the downtown area of Durham on the second floor of a red brick building. There is plenty of patio, bar and dining room seating. It was a little hot for the patio so we sat at one of the tables in the dining room. The menu offers a handful of appetizers and salads, as well as about twenty lunch entrees. I went with the NC pulled pork sandwich. It also had coleslaw on the sandwich. Side options included fries, salad, Brussel sprouts, or onion rings. I went with the brussel sprouts and they were very tasty. My husband had the patty melt with French fries. The fries were a generous and tasty portion. His patty melt was very salty, though. Service was pretty quick. read more

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So I asked yelp to recommend a place for a birthday dinner. This was the first on the list. So since I couldn't get a reservation on my birthday to the place I originally wanted to go, we decided to come here. There is plenty of parking on the backside of the building, paid parking out front, and be careful not to park in the apartment spaces on the side...they sounded pretty serious about towing. I had made a reservation but it was probably unnecessary as it was pretty empty when we arrived (it was about 5pm on a Saturday.) The waitress brought a bottle of water to the table and took our drink order. And I know that this place is literally call it's a Southern thing but can I mention how much I dislike drinking out of mason jars? I ordered the chicken n biscuits, my husband got the country hamburger steak plate, my BiL got wings, and my SiL got the crabcakes. We also orders charred jalapeno & sweet corn hushpuppies and frickles as an appetizer. I was VERY excited about my food. Y'all...the only thing that impressed me were the Frickles. Everything else was distinctly underwhelming. I also ordered Blackberry Betta Have My Money which was not that great. My SiL ordered a espresso martini that they said didn't come from a mix but she said it tasted like it was. The bathrooms were very clean. The decor and the vibe were great. Cute even. I really enjoyed that part of it. After dropping off our food, we never saw our waitress again unless we flagged her down for drink refills. It was especially frustrating since there was automatic gratuity added. And since the place wasn't that busy, it felt like she didn't feel the need to earn her automatic tip. Overall I was disappointed in my birthday dinner. I won't be coming back here. read more

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Unfortunately, I did not enjoy my dining experience. The customer service was great and I was grateful for that, however the food, was lackluster. This is a convenient location with a full bar. The hours during our Saturday visit were 5-9 pm for dinner. On a Saturday! We decided to start with Fried Green Tomatoes for the appetizer. Very tasty. For dinner entrees, I made a poor choice and ordered the Country fried Hamburger steak, with broccolini and baby potatoes. My friend decided on the Catfish plate that comes with beans and rice. Both were not good. I'm wondering if the dinner hours are the issue here for the kitchen. The plates looked and tasted rushed. My hamburger steak was incredibly dry and overcooked. No sauce. No onions. No seasoning. Rushed. My friend found the beans and rice and fish terrible, so bad, she had to send the plate back. The beans were similar to the flavor of canned Hormel Chili. Another customer advised that brunch is better time to visit the restaurant. read more

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I'd give this place more of a 3.6 but since that's not an option, I rounded up to 4. The biscuit, sausage and gravy were objectively pretty good but seemed to lack "je ne sais quoi" and dimension in flavor... so not my favorite. The chicken and waffle skewers were pretty good though! Good flavor. Very friendly waitress. read more

It's a Southern thing: Kitchen and Bar - Smothered and covered - Southern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I love this place for consistently tasty food and a warm, inviting atmosphere. Every visit feels relaxed and welcoming, and the service is always on point. It's one of those spots where you can walk in anytime and know you're going to have a good experience. If you're looking for recommendations, the wings are a must‑try, and pairing them with a Bloody Mary never disappoints. read more

Having had a stellar brunch here before, Husband picked it for his birthday celebration dinner. We made 5:00 Saturday reservations (they open at five, but it doesn't hurt to have reservations). We were seated right away. For drinks, he chose RyeWhiskyDon'tLetMeDown, and for $14 it very much let him down. It was four small sips, the rest was a giant cube of ice. My None of Your Fig-ness was interesting. At first it was too sweet, but then I realized I just needed to stir it. Fine after that. For food He got the Hamburger Steak. I chose the Half Chicken but substituted collards and mashed potatoes for the other sides. Love that you can do that. When the food arrived it looked absolutely fantastic. We both dived right in. Potatoes and Collards, check! Delicious! His Hamburger Steak came with a very flavorful sherry onion gravy. He was happy with his potatoes and green beans. But sadly, my chicken was cold. As in, just came from the fridge cold. And so was the bbq sauce on the side. They both tasted good, but were just cold. I kinda wish I didn't ask about it cause, when she said that was not the way it was supposed to be, she took it back to the kitchen, and when it came back to me, they had fried it to death. All I could taste was oil, and it was overcooked. But hey, it wasn't cold anymore. If I could have had it the way it originally came out but warm, it would have been perfect. read more

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I drove into town for the Chris Brown concert, and after checking into the hotel, this spot was recommended for a quick bite. We arrived right when they opened, so it was nice and quiet -- perfect for a relaxed start. The food was absolutely amazing. I'd definitely recommend giving this place a try! read more

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Solid brunch spot. Pretty busy in there consistently. Good eggs Bennie's. Cooked perfectly. Service was good.

Stopped by for a meal, and overall, the food was good--solid Southern comfort fare--but it could've used a little more flavor to really stand out. Everything was cooked well, just missing that extra seasoning or boldness to take it up a notch. One downside? No espresso drinks. For a spot like this, having a good coffee option would've been a nice touch, especially with brunch-style dishes. A latte or even just a solid cappuccino would've rounded out the meal perfectly. Service was friendly, and the atmosphere was welcoming, but I'd love to see them step up both the flavors and the coffee game! read more

It's a Southern thing: Kitchen and Bar - Southern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We stopped by for dinner and ordered the "Pete-loaf" and the fried pork chop with sweet tea. There were no issues with the service but the Pete loaf meal was horrible. The potatoes tasted like they hadn't been washed and were partially cooked. There was no seasoning. The sprouts tasted like rubber. The meat loaf tasted like a burned Salisbury steak. I was unable to eat it and ended up sending it all back. It was the worst meal I've had in a long time. The pork chop meal was a 2/10. It was dry and bland. The tea was bitter. We ended up going to a different restaurant because I was starving. read more

It's a Southern thing: Kitchen and Bar - Pete-Loaf tasted like Salisbury steak and was burned Dirty, partially cooked Roasted Potatoes and rubbery Crispy Brussels - Southern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Came here last night and what a wonderful experience. Was in town for the Duke lacrosse game and stayed the weekend. Party of three started out with the frickles and a crab dip. Both were warm and flavorful. We had an abundance of pita bread to dip in the crap dip. The sauce with the frickles was fantastic. I ordered the Dr Pepper wings as my entree and they were fall of the bone tender. Something so different about smoked wings versus fried. I washed everything down with a Bull Durham beer and it was flavorful and a perfect pour. Parents got the smoked chicken and shrimp and grits. See the attached photos. read more

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This is a functional place that serves as a good southern brunch spot but also doubles as a sports bar. They got all the hits for a southern brunch place. Our server was so friendly and welcoming. She recommended a few of their standouts and so we ordered fried green tomatoes and shrimp and grits. Their fried green tomatoes were tasty, and they had a flavorful crust, it was served with pimento cheese, creamy with a slight tang. I would stay away from the big breakfast platter because the scrambled eggs were basic and dry. While the bacons were thin and floppy. I almost ordered their shrimp and grits. But I'm glad I didn't. They were served differently compared to others. But the grits were delicious! I had their chicken fried steak and it was good but the gravy had an interesting herbal taste to it. The scrambled eggs were overcooked so I didn't finish it. Overall the food is okay but it is heavy. read more

Amazing place and amazing food, as usual. Staff are always happy to accommodate you in every way. Really cool setting and various forms of seating accommodations. read more

It's a Southern thing: Kitchen and Bar - Awesome kitchen setup. Open aire for all to behold the magic that happens within. Great taste - Southern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Great food. Great location. Awesome shrimp and grits and tasty banana pudding. Would come back again. read more

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Second time here and prefer the ambiance at this location to the smaller Durham one. I enjoy the larger space, music, ambiance and crowd. Decor is also nice. Food is consistent and good at both. I've ordered the shrimp and grits and the chicken and waffle skewers. Both were great! I went with people who had dietary restrictions and they don't really have alternatives or non meat option. Service was good. Servers were friendly, attentive and accommodating. read more

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Came here early Sunday morning and probably one of the best decisions I've made in a while. Walked in and our server, Jesse Jarvis- what an angel, someone needs to give him a raise. He was super kind and had such a great energy early in the morning and never failed to make sure we had everything we needed. Again, give him a raise! He's great. Ambiance is wonderful, this was the first time I was here- you walk in and it just feels so homey. A great ambiance whether to celebrate a friend's birthday (like I was this morning), group hang outs, could see myself having brunch here with the girls, or even here for a date. I got the Cajun salmon cake bene- it came with a side of potatoes and fruit and it was so delicious. I'm a potato fein, and they were the perfect outside crispy and inside soft. Egg was poached perfectly, loved the flavor of the salmon cake but wanted to taste a bit more of the Cajun. The fresh veggies (spinach and bell pepper I believe) made it well-balanced. Would totally come back again :) and make sure y'all tell Jesse I said hi too. read more

It's a Southern thing: Kitchen and Bar - Cajun Salmon Cake Bene - Southern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Food was standard and service was perfunctory, so given basic needs were met, three stars. I cannot give a higher review to a restaurant who places cards on every table explaining why mandatory gratuity is charged, regardless of party size (as many places reasonably do this for larger parties). The card explains in detail that their workers are on the front line and facing risks. I always voluntarily tip 20% for standard service and more for great, but the tone of the message suggested I contribute to the base salary of their staff. If they are facing risks for the establishment, why not pay them a living wage? The staff seemed overworked, so are they valued or just advertised as such to increase the owner's profit? The card left a passive-aggressive impression, so we have found other options for lunch. read more

This was our first time in. They sat us right away. We ordered the Brussel sprouts to start then the pulled pork dinner was very very good. The Arnold Palmer was excellent. We will be back for sure. read more

It's a Southern thing: Kitchen and Bar - Pulled pork dinner - Southern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Stopped in here for brunch on the weekend and really enjoyed my food!!! I order a VERY basic breakfast- 2 over medium eggs, bacon, and biscuits- but it was perfect! Seasoned (and salted) well, and each item cooked to perfection (hard to find these days!!). The biscuits were my favorite part- they were crispy on the outside, doughy and buttery on the inside. I could've eaten 10 more of them, if I wasn't full. My spouse had the chicken and waffles skewers- which were EXCELLENT. Not a chicken and waffles fan but love that the chicken was boneless, and each bite-sized piece was lightly fried. The "waffle balls" worked perfectly for this dish. The bourbon maple syrup was so sweet and decadent, and I loved that it was served on the side so things on the plate weren't soggy. Service was friendly, and the back patio was doable in the heat with all the umbrellas (and dog-friendly). They offer several drinks- beer, wine, and cocktails. I know they push $15 bottomless brunch (mimosas), but I was happy I ordered a cocktail instead - I saw the pitcher of them go by, and it was 95% OJ (bright orange). I would definitely return for brunch again! read more

We enjoyed a post-football game dinner here. The food was tasty and service was attentive.

Food was decent, service was good and the place looked clean. But overall I wouldn't try it again, try for yourself

I love this place, breakfast, brunch and dinner is perfect and I will always be back as long as they keep being them read more

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In town for the Duke daughter's Parents Weekend...Sunday brunch? Why not go to a restaurant with such a .... different name? Very fun vibe. Bustling crowd, NFL games on the multiple TVs, waitresses running around with big pitchers of mimosa... We got a Fat Kid sandwich which is such a politically incorrect name and yet worth ordering! We also grabbed the garden omelette, with bacon on the side. The portions are really generous. I only regret eyeballing the food on the next table, someone ordered the 1 pound of chicken wings with collard greens. I nearly begged them to allow me to try one, but I did not want someone to put a fork in my hand. Which I would've done to me. We shall return! read more

It's a Southern thing: Kitchen and Bar - Room at the bar - Southern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Been here twice before and both times were a hit. Great ambience. This is a cool place to bring your significant other for a nice date night. It's surrounded by fun things to do. Anytime you're in Durham and you want some good southern cuisine, check out these guys. read more

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We came for lunch and were so happy that the food was legit! The jalapeño marinated chicken sandwich was excellent. I ordered mine with extra house-made pickles. The fried green tomatoes appetizer was also nice with their bacon jam. The service was excellent and the vibe was pretty lively. read more

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We were visiting Durham for my partner's graduate reunion and decided to pick a new spot in town seeing that it has been awhile since we've visited. It's a Southern Thing was a great selection! We first started with the smoked wings that were unbelievably great. Crispy with lots of smoke flavor - would have loved more of the sauce but was nonetheless a great starter. For an entree, I had their jalapeño fried chicken sandwich. The chicken was moist and juicy. I would have liked more spicy to it but I don't think that took away from the great taste. We had a new trainee as a server but she did an excellent job. She was attentive friendly as was certainly getting a handle on things while we were there. read more

It's a Southern thing: Kitchen and Bar - Smoked wings - Southern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

My partner and I visited on a Friday evening after hearing great things about the food here. It was pretty crowded, but we luckily had a reservation. The ambiance is very cozy, exciting, and rustic. I ordered the jalapeño brined chicken sandwich which came with a side of fries. The chicken had great texture and was super crunchy! I was worried about the jalapeño being too spicy, but it was the perfect level. The fries were also very delicious. We also ordered the banana pudding for dessert and it was delicious - just sweet enough and the texture was not overly soggy. Overall, we had a great experience and will definitely return! read more

It's a Southern thing: Kitchen and Bar - Banana Pudding - Southern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I ate at the bar and had an amazing experience. Service was great, the fried green tomatoes with the best I've ever had in catfish with red beans and rice was delicious. Topped it off with a happy Gilmore bourbon drink that was very good. read more

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First time here and I really enjoyed it! Came in right before heading to a show at DPAC. Great service, food came out quick and it was fresh! Our servers were phenomenal and I enjoyed the relaxing ambiance. Super friendly and cozy vibe with plush seating and pillows. Can't wait to come back. read more

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My brother in law had been talking up It's a Southern Thing for a while. We all went out to dinner while visiting Durham and finally gave them a try. I liked the causal vibe and their unique take on southern classics. I ordered the chicken n' biscuits and thoroughly enjoyed it. The buttermilk biscuit "croutons" on top were absolutely delicious! The creamy chicken pot pie filling was so warm, satisfying and filling. Hubby loved it, too. He ordered the country hamburger steak plate. A straight forward, hearty dish. Mashed potatoes were flavorful, topped with savory and yummy gravy. The green beans were cooked perfectly. I also really liked their local craft beer menu! read more

It's a Southern thing: Kitchen and Bar - Country Hamburger Steak Plate - Southern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Food was very good and put together in an interesting menu. Drinks, alcohol, are fantastic and the sweet tea is also great. It was a little too loud the night we were there - live trivia read out loud. That didn't work with the echos and general noise level. Get the remote machines - they work great read more

It's a Southern Thing was amazing! We were seated quickly and near a window, so we were able to enjoy our food and look out onto downtown Durham. Restaurant was fairly busy, but that was expected as we came in around brunch time on a Sunday. My boyfriend got the mimosa with orange juice. He loved it! Described it as delicate, with no overpowering alcohol taste. I stuck with my water, but we both enjoyed being able to pour the water ourselves. For our starter, we shared the fried green tomatoes, which were placed on top of a bed of pimento cheese and topped with a drizzle of ranch dressing. As a longtime pimento cheese hater, I was surprised at how flavorful and delicious this pimento cheese was! And it paired wonderfully with the side of bacon jam the dish came with. Our entrees came out shortly after the we finished up our starter. I had the Chicken and Waffle Skewers, which came with a side of Collard Greens. The chicken was delicious and the waffles were a little undercooked, but still tasty. However, I wish this dish came with a little more maple syrup, it seemed a little sparse on my plate. I recommend asking the server for a side of maple syrup. Collard Greens stole the show, they were fantastic! Boyfriend got the Pete's "Fat Kid" Breakfast Sandwich. He said it looked a bit difficult to eat because it was packed with so much food, but once he cut it in half, he ate the sandwich so fast and loved it! His meal also came with a side of cheesy grits. He took one bite and his face said it all, it was amazing! Overall, It's a Southern Thing can definitely expect us back! Great food, great service, great ambiance. read more

It's a Southern thing: Kitchen and Bar - Fried Green Tomatoes - Southern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

It's a Southern Thing is offers brunch so I am always excited to try a new place for brunch. It is located on a second floor so there are stairs involved. They do take reservations which is good. The restaurant is casual and serves scratch made dishes. I went with the avocado toast as I hadn't had avocado in a while. It came with an egg, tomato slice, cup of melon pieces and potatoes. The bread wasn't toasted so that is my only complaint as I ordered toast. The menu does say "thick Texas Toast" not thick bread. Service was friendly so I will be back to try other menu items. read more

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Service was great. Food was bland and chicken was tuff when chewing. I did enjoy the pancake balls but did have to send back the order due to no flavor on the plate. The greens were more crunchy then collards should be as if they rushed the boil down process. After sending this dish back I ordered a shrimp and grit meal. To my disappointment it came with a clumpy smooshed kind of grit covered in a good Cajun shrimp soup of sorts. This dish still lacked the necessary flavor. I really liked the ambience of the restaurant but this establishment adds 15% gratuity to EVERY check and its not in anyway understandable with the quality or taste of food they serve. read more

It's a Southern thing: Kitchen and Bar - Chicken and waffles - Southern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Wife ordered the chicken and biscuits which was like a chicken pot pie and the veggie were crunchy and the chicken was dry - she also got the banana pudding and it lacked flavor - service was good but disappointed with the food read more

I had a fantastic time at this brunch spot! Located in the corner of downtown Durham, it was in an area that was not too busy but still close enough to walk to the rest of downtown Durham. This place stood out to me because it is one of the few places I have found in the area that has bottomless mimosas! They have amazing staff that make rounds with a pitcher to refill your glass. It is a premixed mimosa so you do not have the option to tailor the champagne to OJ ratio (if that is something you are specific about). I ordered my go-to eggs Benedict entree and I thought it was pretty good! The service was decent considering how busy the restaurant could get. Overall, the thing that stood out to me the most about this place is the bottomless mimosas. I got the impression that most people come here for the mimosas (which is very valid). I can see myself coming back here for another weekend brunch! read more

It's a Southern thing: Kitchen and Bar - Eggs Benedict - Southern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I went with a friend for brunch. Forgot to take any pics (not like me at all!). The fried green tomato appetizer was cooked to perfection. I had the chicken fried steak with hash browns and scrambled eggs. It was good, but I'm not a big fan of black pepper and it was very heavy on the pepper. It was average in business for a downtown brunch spot, but not too loud. Our waitress was good, but I will say we weren't checked on very frequently. Overall, I'll come back when I'm downtown again. read more

You can't go wrong with bottomless mimosas! The food here is consistently good. Service is typically quick and the vibes are chill. This visit, we ordered the Pete's fat kid breakfast sandwich, the jalapeno brined chicken sandwich, and biscuits and jam. Both sandwiches are very good. The buns are soft and fluffy. The chicken sandwich could use more pickles or another crunchy element and it would be perfect. This wasn't our first visit and won't be the last. read more

It's a Southern thing: Kitchen and Bar - Pete's fat kid sandwich - Southern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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With a hankering for shrimp and grits, we arrived at It's a Southern Thing without a reservation shortly after they opened. Despite a bit of pushback from the hostess, we were seated in the bar area facing the televisions where we had fantastic service and an excellent meal. Fried pickles to start were excellent and we ate every single one. The dipping sauce was perfect. Shrimp and grits for Mrs and she loved it. Lots of shrimp, lots of flavor and a very good portion. I chose the blackened chicken mac & cheese which was yummy. Super hot from the broiler, very tasty and enough that more than half went home with us. Not a cheap meal but a great one that we enjoyed and would definitely return. [Review 19953 overall - 3440 in North Carolina - 927 of 2023.] read more

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