Our dining experience was SO bad that we finally had to laugh. My noodles were stiff and completely underdone. My partner got suspiciously ill-feeling after eating the scallops. The table (which looked like a diner table) was tilting. The waiter spilled water all over the table and ignored my drink order. I asked for a glass of wine and I got a small pour of a bottle that tasted as though it had been opened a week ago. What's not to love? read more

Nice ambience, positive vibes. Came here for Halloween 2015. So glad I did. The place is spacious, offering both outdoor and indoor seating areas. I did not eat here, so I can't vouch for the food, but the dancing and after dinner crowd I can tell you was great. A lot of students from UNC frequent this establishment. I'll be back! read more

General Opinion: La Rez is still a premier dining establishment. The wait staff is attentive and consistent, and the bar has a plethora of options. The bartenders remember their regular guests, and I have walked in more than once without having to order a drink before one came to me. Food: The menu changes regularly, which I think adds to the exclusivity of this restaurant among others. The majority of their food comes from local farms (which makes everything better) and practically ensures the freshest produce/meats. While the portions are not "cheesecake factory" in size, they make up for in taste and presentation. I recently had the quail, and while the bird was the size of a large egg, I finished the plate feeling satiated. The most recent meal I had there was the pork tenderloin. Easily the largest as far as portion, but equally amazing as far as flavor and presentation. Drink: If they are unsure how to make a drink, they will research it, which is more than most places will do in the area; however, I have only needed them to look one drink up, and now almost everyone there who mixes now knows how to make a top notch "Dirty Bong Water" (for those who have not had this before, I highly recommend it, not what you think) Service: I have never had a bad serving experience. Granted, during "late night" it is tough to get to the bar, but even in those instances, when you are seen at the front, you are taken care of. Environment: La Rez is a chameleon, in that I mean during dinner hours, you are at a top notch 5 star restaurant, after dinner (between 10-11 to close) Thurs-Sat, you are at one of the best dance clubs in the triangle in my opinion. There is a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights that seems to take great pride in always ensuring a party during what is called "Late Night". There are a lot of college kids during Late Night, but you are going to find that anywhere you go in this area, and that to me is not a huge problem. If you do not want to be around frat guys and sorority girls, then you probably shouldn't be going out in Chapel Hill on the weekends...common sense... that's like not wanting to see Catholics and yet you go to the Vatican... Overall: I absolutely LOVE this place. The bartenders can hold legit conversations, and the entire staff makes sure you feel welcome there. The food is always great, and if you are looking to party, you HAVE TO check out their late night. Again, if you don't want to party with college kids, don't bother going to Chapel Hill on the weekends. Quit complaining, it's everywhere read more

Great restaurant a block away from the pizza-beer-burger-hot dog Chapel Hill's Franklin Street college district. Quiet elegant yet not crazy expensive. Cocktail app main dish $57 incl tip. Roasted Brussels sprouts perfect. Duck breast, which I never eat, was terrific. Old Fashioned was nothing special (do you really put soda in an Old Fashioned?). Overall four stars, will definitely be back with spouse, who will find the place to her liking. Just the place where undergrads take their parents for a great meal in Dad's dime. read more

I cannot say enough good things about La Residence! It's a beautiful building with lots of charm with its handsome interior. My brother's engagement party was held at La Rez last night. We were in the patio which is covered in a tent during the winter. Heaters kept it very toasty and inviting. The drinks and hors d'oeuvres were outstanding! And another aspect of excellence was the incredible service from the staff. They were welcoming and helpful. Generally they were such gracious hosts to all of us. If you are looking for a location for a special event - this is the place - give them a call!!! read more

La Residence - Warm in the patio in the winter! - New American Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

When you can eat outsdie on a beautiful patio in a historic residence in the heart of Chapel Hill, who can beat that ? The service and food are very good. This is the happening place late nights. All of the servers are very friendly and I highly recommend this for your dinner and/or party. read more

La Rez, as most people around here call it, is a busy bar on almost any night of the week. I came here once for dinner, but was underwhelmed by my visit The pasta was a little overcooked, and there was more sauce than anything else on the plate. As a bar, La Rez tends to be overpriced, and a little too crowded for my liking. They do run $2 wine night on Tuesdays, but that's the only major drink special that I know of. The staff isn't overly friendly or efficient, and the seating isn't much better. They have an entire outdoor patio, but the arrangement is poor and it makes it difficult to sit down. On a less crowded night, though, this place can be great to sit and split a bottle of wine with friends because the ambiance shines through when the crowds are gone. read more

This is maybe the best place I've ever been. Drinks out the wazoo. Such fun music. 10/10 would recommend to literally anyone in Chapel Hill reAdy to have a fun time. The bouncers are so nice (especially Tim--he deserves a raise) read more

I have a soft spot for LaRes. I took my wife to this restaurant on our first date to impress her 16 years ago. We return once or twice a year for date nights when we have a sitter and want a fine dining experience. We went here for dinner recently and were quite surprised to see that the menu had converted to bar food on par with something one might order at any of a dozen other places on Franklin. Heads up - check the menu before you go because this place has adapted to COVID in a way we hadn't expected. Best of luck to LaRes, I hope you thrive for many years to come and can return to the caliber you were at before the world went to hell. read more

I've eaten at "La Res" a few times this year; any restaurant who can take care of, and please, groups of 8-10 people with little notice starts off on a good foot with me. The beautiful atmosphere, whether indoors or out on the patio, is the perfect setting for large parties and romantic evenings. Start off your evening with a delicious variety of exotic cheeses, crackers & fruit, available in the bar area, then enjoy one (or several!) of the many fabulous appetizers - the barbecue bruschetta is a personal favorite. The soups are so good, it's difficult to save room for your entree. I've had a potato leek concoction and a homemade cream of mushroom, both accompanied by the most delightful tini grilled cheese sandwiches. If you can somehow stuff it down, their desserts & after-dinner coffee drinks are the perfect way to end an evening. We've had fabulous wait staff every time, with no pressure to leave no matter how long our group decided to linger. We've also had visits from one of the chefs at some point during or after our meal, to ensure everything was to our liking. How can you not love that kind of service?! read more

Just had a delightful lunch at my favorite Chapell Hill restaurant. La Res, as it is affectionately know by the locals, has a limited but excellent menu. Lunch is usually lighter fare but there is always something for everyone's taste. I had a fresh salad of mixed greens, candies walnuts and goat cheese. My sister had the Caesar salad with a cup of rich creamy lobster bisque. We ended our meal with a creme brûlée. It was one of the best I have had with a soft custard and the sugar top perfectly crisped. To go with our meal we had a glass of red wine select by the very knowledgeable staff. Fresh flowers on all the tables added a nice touch. I highly recommend stopping by La Residence the next time you are in downtown Chapell Hill, NC. read more

La Résidence was the only restaurant I visited during Triangle Restaurant Week. As mentioned by the other Yelpers that we dined with that evening, the food was decent, but unfortunately the poor service and strange method of billing prevents me from recommending this place to others in the future. Me on my soapbox: The whole premise of Triangle Restaurant Week (TRW) is to allow restaurants to showcase their best dishes at an unbeatable price, so that diners will be impressed and return often as regular patrons. Unfortunately, I felt that the restaurant was a grudging participant in TRW and that they were trying to "make back" money from customers in any way they could. All of the other participating restaurants were charging the standard $25 for the prix fixe, so why did La Résidence feel that they needed to charge original prices, then apply a bizarre arbitrary discount at the end to arrive at our total bill? As a result, we paid a higher % tax and a higher (pre-calculated) gratuity for the 3-course dinner. Like anybody else, I don't like feeling that I've been taken advantage of, and we were not the only people at the table to have been unfairly overcharged. Yes, I did quite enjoy my two-scallop dinner despite the lone shrimp dumpling being a tad salty ($24 for the "original price"), and I also enjoyed the chocolate mousse despite the whipping creme being overly flavoured with vanilla. The cumin doughnuts were dark brown, overfried, and not as interesting as I'd hoped. However, the bottom line is, the waiter was uptight and not particularly pleasant, and I walked out feeling like I had somehow been ripped off. Not wanting to dispute the charges and wait another 20 minutes for the re-calculation of the bills, I just figured I'd let them have their extra dollars if they were willing to lose a repeat customer. read more

Not very friendly employees, my friend was talking to the dj and was jumped by bouncers for "distracting" the dj

My wife and I went to La Res, with reservations, for Easter brunch and were completely and utterly disgusted by the unprofessional service. After waiting 5 minutes at the door unattended, we were dumped off at a small table set between two rooms. We were left unattended for 10 minutes and I grabbed another waiter who, begrudgingly, brought us water. We never once saw a personal waiter. The food was utterly mediocre - it was an easter brunch buffet, and the presentation was messy and the taste bland. Hotel quality in flavor. We again had to grab a waiter to give us our check, who dropped off the bill without eye contact or so much as a word. Unbelievable. The absolute worst service I have ever received in my life. I could possibly understand if we were dressed inappropriately or being disruptive, but neither were the case. Highly and unequivocally unrecommended. read more

La Residence, La Res, La Rez what ever you choose to call this house that has been retrofitted into a restaurant oh so many decades ago, is no longer the premier dining establishment it once was. I have been to La Res, when it was *the* finest dining choice in the Durham Chapel Hill corridor. It boasts of training chefs and launching them on the world, but they are no longer executing well. During a Saturday night we dined there with a party of 6 and found the menu lacking in imagination, and the food poorly executed. My partner had the Carolina flounder or maybe it was another white fish, pan fried, lacking in taste. Even the house salad was nothing more than some greens and dressing. Our wait, did not know anything about wine, and sought out the help of the staff in back. She directed us into the wine called Chemistry, which was a sweet blend, very sweet. We had previously told her we did not want sweet white wine, and since we had never heard of Chemistry, we were talked into it. Mistake. I had the mushroom soup as an appetizer, served slightly above tepid, and with some nice truffle oil islands to set it off. It was tasty if not cold for a served temp. I then chose another appetizer as my main course. I had the pate. It was good but unremarkable. The fish my partner had was greasy. What on earth happened to this place? With Magnolia Grill, Lantern, Nana's as alternatives the competition is on. If Gordon Ramsey could make an appearance, I think this place could stand to go through a reality TV show makeover on Kitchen Nightmares. read more

I've never eaten at La Res (due mostly to bad reviews from friends), but as a student I spent more nights out here than I care to remember. It is an extremely popular nightspot, which is kind of a shame because it's a very pretty and intimate space when the crowds are gone. The patio area is lovely but the poor layout makes it nearly impossible to navigate through big groups of aspiring socialites. The drinks are below average and definitely overpriced. As far as the service, this is one place that I really think should have professional, career bartenders. They have a few competent people behind the bar, but some of the young girls are just wretched. I dont know, I really enjoyed this place when I was in school but now it's just not my scene. read more

Thought this might be a classy place to eat during the day, haven't been yet which is why I gave it two stars. I HAVE been at night though and let me tell you. There's a cover charge. FRAT BOY CENTRAL. Clusters of overly intoxicated stuck up college kids pushing and shoving their sweaty bodies up against you. I'm sure it's lovely during at the day, but unless you just rushed Sigma Chi, stay clear at night. read more

The bouncer was extraordinarily racist, refusing to let my friend in because she was an exchange student and he assumed she didn't speak English. He then banned my entire group from entering when we tried to defend my friend. read more

I was married in a ceremony at La Residence on May 28, 2017. The staff assisted us with setting up the schedule. The day of the wedding, they decorated, set up the ceremony area, hosted a cocktail hour to allow time to change the setup from a ceremony to dining. The food - filet mignon and wild Alaskan salmon - was excellent and the staff very attentive. The wines they recommended were perfect. The guest were very impressed and so were we. We did not have to worry about anything except saying our vows and spending time with our family and friends. I highly recommend La Rez for special occasions, dinner with friends, and intimate dinners. Liegh E. read more

Just had dinner there on a very quiet evening just before the students (and parents) at UNC started returning. The atmosphere is refined and very comforting - indoor and outdoor eating. The menu is limited but changes frequently and is quite refined. Sort of one of everything - one steak, one soup etc. Everything was very very well prepared though the portions were small for the money. The wine list is excellent and Thursday is 1/2 price on all bottles on the wine list (which was very reasonable to start with) and some bargains at 1/2. The service was attentive and charming. Can't comment on how it would be when full. We will be back. All in all a lovely evening, fine food, service and atmosphere. read more

I came here for the first time for the small plate crawl. After walking in and standing around for a few minutes we were greeted by the hostess and were seated, given a two glasses and a bottle of water. Then 20 minutes later the server came and apologized to us for the delay, but at this point I was already annoyed. The small plates we had ordered were not memorable and we had only ate half of our plates. Maybe it was an off night but I'm not willing to give them another chance to find out anytime soon. read more

We had a great Brunch...our waitress was brand new and trained well. It is in a great location with a perfect outside deck. Thank you.

I've been here several times and it was always consistently good. Recently however, they seem to have changed chefs and the new person still seems to be finding their way. Apparently the pastry chef has not changed as the deserts seem to be the same and remain delicious. My fav is the chocolate torte. read more

I read some other people's comments about the wait staff and to be honest just from the tone I can tell these are some picky people. If you've EVER waited tables you know what a challenge it can be- if a waiter works better by getting a drink order first then the food who cares? My waiter was extremely friendly- I don't remember him being "awkward" in the least but honestly I don't spend a lot of time analyzing the wait staff unless they are rude or don't bring the food I ordered etc- our waiter also gave us an excellent wine recommendation which was a nice treat, many times when I go out our waiter/waitress can't even recommend a suitable wine because they don't know much about it. We had an excellent appetizer- I just tried to look it up but it seems they've already switched their menu up, but it was melt in your mouth delicious. I had the duck for dinner which was cooked to perfection and its accompaniments were beautifully plated and went perfectly with the duck....and the crème brulee? AMAZING- and trust me I'm a connoisseur :) The atmosphere was warm and inviting and it was quiet enough to have a great chat- our bill was pretty steep by the end but I didn't mind paying it one bit, when you go to a nice restaurant you should go for the experience not because you have coupons. Overall the change to this place is absolutely wonderful it's a perfect place for a date, to take family, or to catch up with an old friend and chat, I would highly recommend it! read more

What a great experience we had here! The menu was just the right size, and the choices were great. The food was wonderful across the board. Everybody in our party of five was extremely pleased with the meal. To top it off, our waiter was extraordinary. He was not only knowledgable about the menu and taste profiles, but was generous in sharing with us what the chef was doing with each of the dishes - it was an education. Most impressive though was the extent to which he was invested in our experience. This was the best combination of meal and service I've had in a good while! Bravo! read more

Went last weekend with two friends. We eat at restaurants frequently and were impressed with the service, and definitely with the food. They have a new Chef who came to the table to introduce himself. All in all, a special place . read more

This place was fantastic! I usually don't write reviews but I feel I need to spread the word. I ate there on Tuesday evening for an anniversary dinner with my sweetie of 15 years! We drove in from Raleigh as a friend told us to try it out. The food was amazing. The waiter was very knowledgeable and recommended the flat bread as our app and a wonderful bottle of wine. Delish!! I got the sea scallops and my hubby got the tenderloin, both cooked to perfection. It was so pretty when it came out I wanted to look at it for a minute before I ate it! Leave room for dessert! I got the honey cheesecake and it was again amazing. We had a fantastic time and plan on making La Res our new date spot. I hope they read this and know how perfect this night was for us! Thank you!!! read more

Friends and I went to La Residence last night and had a wonderful experience. The service was friendly and very attentive. The food was great! I had the salmon main entree which was well-flavored and crispy on the outside. The green beans were perfectly prepared. The au gratin potatoes lovely. Nice caesar salad. Friends had she crab soup which they raved about. The wine was very nice. And, of course, we shared a creme brulee which was also perfectly prepared. Why did I not know about this place? The prices were also reasonable...especially considering the white table cloths and great piano-bar-like music. Parking in a garage right across from the restaurant or down the side street. This place is a gem! read more

I ordered Boef Bourginion (sp) as medium and in every French place that I have even been to (maybe 50?) that translates into medium rare. This was served by the manager and was well done. After being served my table was not approached again so I could not return the portion. I would not recommend this restaurant. read more

I purchased a Groupon for the Tomato-based meal. The food was delicious, but hardly worth what the full price was declared to be. There was only one waiter working, so the service was laughable...until we had to tip based on the full price of the meal. Definitely not the La Residence we frequented in the 1980's. read more

I had the Duck Au Vin and it was delicious. The place is actually less pricey than I expected. But do expect to wait for a long time for your food. read more

Horrible service. There was no hostess at the hostess station when we walked in and there were bottles of wine half full just sitting by the door. Once seated we waited for 20 minutes (not exaggerating) for someone to come take our drink order and it happened to be the same girl who sat us. If it was a busy Friday I would understand things happen however it was a Tuesday night and it was not busy besides one other table outside. We won't be back. read more

This place is usually out of my price range, but I went for a celebratory dinner and was quite pleased. I had the risotto, Brie and pears, and cobbler. I wasn't completely blown away, but it was all very tasty and presented well. The server was sweet but a little inattentive. read more

My son graduated from UNC Pharmacy school, and I had a wonderful party for him at La Residence. It is nearly impossible to get a reservation for a large group in Chapel Hill during graduation weekend. I emailed them in January asking about availability. Fran emailed me immediately and told me that she could accommodate our party of 20 in a private room. The private room was only an additional cost of $100 (which I think is a huge bargain), and we had the room from 7:00-10:00PM. When our guests arrived, they were served fruit and cheese trays by the bar. We started an open tab, which worked out great! When everyone arrived, we sat down for our meal in a private room. The Pittsburgh Penguins hockey game was on the TV in the bar (my son is a HUGE fan). We asked if they could turn the TV on for us in our room, which they did, to the delight of my son and his friends. They even printed up a menu personalized for our event. The food was delicious, and I can't express how wonderful the service was. They made our event very special !!! I highly recommend them - thank you Fran !!! read more

Great food, nice atmosphere and good service. I would strongly recommend this restaurant if you looking for good food at a fair price...

I have been going to La Residence these past four and half years for our biannual cocktail. The service is great and they really know how to make you welcome at a party. Even when not asked, they do things that make the evening special. Thanks for hosting us!! read more

Everything about our first visit to this restaurant was just perfect! We had reservations for 7pm on a Saturday evening. We were seated immediately and water was on the table before I could blink an eye. We were brought fresh baguette and olive oil with balsamic. The menu was small enough that it wasn't overwhelming yet had something for just about any taste. Perfect. I ordered the prosciutto, herbed goat cheese, fig on crostini for appetizer. I moaned with the first bite. The flavors were perfectly matched. I paired this with an arctic soda, a tasty grape cocktail that was the perfect balance, not too sweet, not too tart. So refreshing! My husband ordered the Caesar salad, very good with a surprise of kalamata dust on top. He also got an old fashioned, a classic yet he said it was one of the best he'd ever had. For the entrée I ordered the ravioli of the day. They were stuffed with shrimp and corn with a delightful tomato cream sauce over top. Hands down one of the best pasta dishes I've ever tasted! I paired it with a Sauvignon Blanc. My husband got the blackened salmon, this was his turn to moan with the first bite. He said it was cooked to perfection, buttery, and had the perfect amount of spice. For dessert I got the camp fire crepe. It was HUGE! I could barely eat half but oh my, WOW! So very good! My husband got the chocolate mousse torte, not a drop was left. Our server was Zeke. One of the best waiters we've encountered, ever. He was personable, attentive yet not intrusive, very knowledgeable of all menu items, and just had a great disposition. There was a wedding party on the other side of the restaurant and everyone did their best to keep doors closed as to not disturb the other patrons. The noise level didn't bother us once. This restaurant will be added to our normal date night rotation. read more

My husband and I were there for Valentine's Day. The food was lovely - very tasty and well presented. The service was extremely friendly without being either stuffy or overly familiar. It was just a pleasant, well-thought-out dinner that we both enjoyed. The beef tournedos were in a lovely rich wine sauce and the desserts were yummy. The portions were satisfying without being overwhelming. It is an old favorite of ours that seems to be hitting its stride again. read more

The patio seating area was intimate and the food was very good. But I can't wait to go back there with some friends so that we can order one of each dessert! I especially want to try the Bananas Foster bread pudding. Sounds yummy. read more

I really like this restaurant so thought I should stick up for it amid all the so-so reviews I'd read here. Mainly wanted to say that my family had tried to make a reservation for this restaurant for Easter brunch, having enjoyed it in the past, and was very disappointed when told they were closed during the day this year. I found it odd that another reviewer thought it was so horrible for Easter, when I was under the impression it was closed that day! Maybe a disgruntled employee? Other than that, I have always had a great experience when dining here and recommend trying the patio dining. read more