Went for Sunday brunch. The service was great and the food was flavorful, but could have been tweaked a bit to make it spectacular. The cinnamon bacon rolls weren't warmed all the way through- cold in the middle just didn't work. The birds nest Benedict had lack luster potatoes that you couldn't see under the salmon patty and was topped with an over cooked poached egg and super runny Hollandaise sauce that should have been more flavorful. I was expecting a nice bed of crispy potatoes that the salmon and egg would "nest" in. The potatoes were limp and didn't make anything resembling a nest. My husband said the chicken and red velvet waffle was excellent. The chocolate pecan tart was spot on- warm and gooey! The coffee was excellent. The restaurant itself was really cute and super clean with an inviting ambiance. We'll probably go back, but maybe not for brunch. One other note, there is nothing vegetarian on the menu except for donut holes. They are eliminating a good deal of possible customers.- just good for thought. read more

I hope Lula & Sadie's can keep progressing to become an anchor in the Lakewood shopping area. I encourage you to try it, especially locals. It's cute inside. It has a vision for modern takes on southern food. Staff are friendly -- somehow about 8 people spoke to us (maybe streamline that process?). We had dinner. Many portions were nicely sized, like the ribs -- which are not NC style but slathered with bbq sauce. Nashville chicken was definitely spicy. My party wasn't as wowed by the food (notably the purple grits) but YMMV. Food came out very fast. It was not hot but I imagine some brunch dishes would be made to order. It's definitely a new restaurant so there's room to smooth things out. Front staff could probably use a little more more training for the prices. Speaking as someone who's waited & bussed tables, some suggestions: - no server should be on the floor without having memorized the menu, including drink names and basic ingredient - if it's not crowded, don't rush to bring out food -- allow time for an appetizer course (dinner), and make sure any dish is correct & hot; wait to clear until it's obvious people are done. (It was mostly empty when we were there so there was no rush to turn over the table.) - servers should know what can be made vegan/vegetarian; and, if a customer is clearly concerned about what's vegan, do *not* serve them a non-vegan side with their vegan dish (like the corn biscuits): let the kitchen know this is for a vegan and have kitchen provide an alternative side. As other reviews note, the 20% fee to improve wages is not really the best model for achieving living wages -- best to cover wages with listed food prices and not replicate tipping structure. In Durham, Monuts is a good model. If you have this fee, do *not* then have the host verbally encourage customers to tip and do not have the server stand by customers with the tip screen up as they are paying. Take any payment away from the table & give them privacy over the tip. Higher costs bring higher standards for food and service. read more

I really enjoyed the burnt ends mac and cheese that I got from Lula and Sadie's recently! The flavor of everything was really great, but the cornbread wasn't my favorite. They have a lot of southern dishes with modern flare on the menu that I want to try! read more

Lula and Sadie’s - Southern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Another great vendor in DFH! I saw that they had a hot chicken mac n' cheese on the menu, you know I had to get it. The Angry Yard Bird Mac N' Cheese comes with white mac n' cheese, a crispy buttermilk fried chicken drumstick, crumbled bacon and your choice of mild, hot or hottest hot sauce. Let me tell you something. If Lula and Sadies started to sell this fried chicken in buckets, it would be OVER. Perfectly seasoned, crispy and juicy on the inside. The mac n' cheese was my ideal type of Mac because it wasn't overloaded with cheese and it complemented the chicken so well. While the hot chicken isn't the regular type you find, the hot sauce definitely packs a punch and goes well with the dish! I can't wait to go back and try the shrimp salad sliders, ribs and french toast! read more

Amazing peach dessert. Melted our mouths. Friendly staff. Delightful atmosphere. New gem in the neighborhood read more

Lula and Sadie’s - Rooftop patio - Southern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I'm disappointed to say this after a few months of waiting for them to open near our house in Tuscaloosa-Lakewood, but it just wasn't good food. The meatloaf sandwich ($14) was the best of the bunch, soft on the inside, a bit of char on the outside, and a tangy sauce. The sauce is a bit sweet for my taste, but it's a good sauce. The fries were mediocre at best, and tasted heavily like dried rosemary. The sweet tea is on point. The catfish ($20) simply wasn't salted, neither the fish nor the breading. The breading was crisp but that was ruined by the plating with a big glob of tartar right on top of it, and the black-eyed peas right below it. The black-eyed peas were very over-salted. The buttered okra was good, although it's just okra that's been salted and baked in some butter. The fried dirty rice app ($6) was awful, basically an arancini abortion, with a terrible mushy texture, and no discernible flavors. The meatballs app ($12) were tough and tasted like the frozen bbq ones that someone invariably brings to an office potluck. The fried green tomatoes ($12) were ruined by being doused in liquid melted pimento cheese. The service is ok. The auto-gratuity is 20%, and while that doesn't impact service some places, here it feels like it's led to the friendly but inattentive sort of servers you get in Europe. The ambience is fine, although both our table and chairs wobbled. All of this would've easily been overlooked had the food been better. Again, very disappointed that the cool local joint we've been waiting for for months ended up being, well, this. I'm not sure if we'll revisit it or not, as it was an expensive disappointment at $117 for 4 apps, 1 small plate, 1 main, and a couple of sweet teas. read more

I've been seeing signs about this new place opening and have been excited to try it out. I came here for a graduation celebration and we really enjoyed the experience. The restaurant seems to be in a semi-historic building but with a renovated interior that has a great ambiance. For appetizers we had the Joyce's chicken-n-dumplings and the "oink" balls which we really enjoyed, although the portions for these were smaller than expected. I had the pork-n-grits which were great, the grits had a good consistency and the pork was cooked well, although I would have enjoyed more of the green sauce on top. The actual entree portion size was great especially for the price. The only negative was that the service was quite slow and we waited quite a while for everyone to get their food. I expect this is due to it being a new opening and us being a large group, so I hope that will improve with time. Overall would recommend this new Southern eatery in Durham and would be happy to go back. read more

Lula and Sadie’s - Nawlins' BBQ Pork-N-Grits - Southern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

If I could give Lula and Sadie's team more than 5 stars I would. We ordered their Thanksgiving take-out and it was incredible! Everything was bursting with flavor that it's hard to choose my favorite dish. The dessert was great too with the best sweet potato pie I've ever had. But even better than the food was the kindness of Chef Harry. We were supposed to pick up the food the day before Thanksgiving, but were unable to make it because my wife and I were in the hospital for the birth of our son and not getting home until later that day. We called and asked if it would be possible to have our food saved until we could pick it up on Friday when they re-opened. Harry wouldn't have this and insisted on coming into the restaurant Thanksgiving morning just so that we could pick it up that day. They even included a birthday card for our son. It made our first Thanksgiving as a family so incredibly special. The other items on the "regular" menu are also spectacular with so much flavor and fresh ingredients that even without the service we'd be regulars but now are customers for life. read more

A group of us had dinner and it was very nice! it was comfortable and the food was good! it's not a big spot so I would suggest making a reservation. They do offer Sunday Brunch (which I went back to try) and it was good as well. It's a family business and I love that! read more

Stopped by last Friday for their pimento cheese burger. Best burger in North Carolina. Will be even better once the pandemic is over because I'll be able to eat it inside of the beautiful Durham Food Hall. "Our Grass-Fed Angus Burger Topped with Our Famous Pimento Cheese, Hickory Smoked Bacon, Fried Onion Strings and Basil Mayo on a Toasted Brioche Bun". It's the best burger in NC and the ingredient list says it all. No need for me to say anymore. You can order in-person or online (https://www.toasttab.com/lulaandsadies/v3) for pick-up. read more

We had a reservation for a party of 8. We arrived on time. The restaurant opened at 10am. Our reservation was at 10:30am. We arrived early. We were told the only seating available for us was a few tables right outside of the entrance. Essentially in the parking lot. A few feet from vehicles. Seating on the upper terrace was not available to us. The hostess did not offer any options. The dining room had several seats available. However, we were told they were reserved for other reservations. The only option was to sit in the parking lot. Those tables were not presentable nor sanitary to serve food. The exhaust from the vehicles would have been hazardous. Considering this was Father's Day, the hostess was not helpful. She just shrugged us away. We were taking aback, Considering the great reviews. Never again. read more

First time customer, so I was a little overwhelmed by the wonderful menu options. The service team of Shea/Kierra was amazing and gracious as I changed my dinner entrée options a few different times when ordering. I settled on the Shrimp and Grits, Watermelon Margarita, and Bacon Wrapped Balls, and the meal was excellent. Great flavor, nice presentation, and well prepared. I will be back to support this local business. read more

The food was delicious and all members of the staff were so friendly. It was grandma's cooking elevated to what we've come to expect from Durham's foodie scene. read more

Brunch food was delicious, bacon cooked perfectly, generous portion sizes, correct order, and our waiter was great. The menu looked amazing and I definitely want to come back. I am reducing the rating by one star due to the noise level. At the risk of sounding like an old fuddy-duddy, the sound level was nuts. It's already a live, echo-y space, and while I love a good jazz brunch, live musicians in the space was a major drawback. My friends and I had to significantly struggle to hear each other and be heard. We are speech pathologists who specialize in communication, and the both listening and speaking environment was not conducive to any kind of healthy hearing or voice use. Not to mention the vocal load placed on the wait staff. If it was this hard to hear and talk for a group of 30-somethings, it would be nigh on impossible for anyone with any degree of hearing loss or voice problems. Research has demonstrated over and over that noise in a restaurant matters. In short: I would go back! But not on a Sunday with live music because it was so loud, despite how good the rest of the brunch menu looked. read more

This place is really cute and well appointed, I wish the food was deserving of the decorating. The service was "ok" and they make sure that you know there is a 20% "living wage" up charge which sounds suspiciously like a tip. The food wasnt "ok", it was woefully lacking in flavor. I had the Nawlins Barbeque Pork & Grits which sounded delightful was was actually grits draped in boiled pork. I was very disappointed. read more

Service was outrageously slow, even though the restaurant was only half full. Our food came out lukewarm and dried out, it had clearly sat for a while in the window before coming to our table. Our server didn't come back to check on us until 15 or 20 minutes later. read more

Amazing food! We've only gotten it takeout but can't wait to try eating there soon. My son loves the kids chicken and waffles.

Delicious food. We got takeout here for a special event. We usually go out to a fancy foodie place but couldn't due to COVID-19. So we got takeout her and took it to nearby Central Park. We ordered & paid in advance, specifying a pickup time. I went in a few moments before the allotted time, and the food was waiting for me on a table. I literally picked it up and walked out. The FGT salad was fresh and the fried tomatoes were lightly breaded tomato bites; they seemed like sun golds,but I ate them too quickly to investigate. The greens were fresh and covered in a tiny bit of salt. The balsamic dressing was quite tart and nicely complemented the tomatoes. Spouse had the macaroni and cheese side, which he praised as homemade - no cheez whiz to be seen. He also had the red beans and rice which were pleasantly spicy (a little hotter than medium). The Andouille sausage was ok. I had 3 BBQ ribs on a bed of macaroni & cheese. Ribs had a nice smoke to them. I'm glad I ordered an extra serving of sauce, because otherwise they'd have been drier than I like. Highly recommended, especially on a nice summer afternoon where dining outside is possible. read more

Mediocre food. Beans and rice that taste they came straight out of a can. Passive aggressive attitude from Marcus, and watered-down drinks. We won't be back. read more

Delicious brunch! lots of great options for food and drinks. Our server was kind and attentive, and the chef brought us a delicious appetizer, pretty and fun deviled eggs. our entrees were great, smoky, well composed and wonderful to eat! Give this Durham gem a try! read more

I was referred to this restaurant by a relative and two friends! They were totally right! The food was awesome. I did not have a good experience with the lack knowledge from my waitress. I was kind of taken away. I asked the young lady how was the fish prepared, I had never eaten here before. I was told that I don't work in the kitchen. So I don't know. She never came back with an answer or explanation either. 20% gratuity for a waitress that don't care to find at I need to know! After I bought that information back to the ones who referred me there. They explained to me that the customer service was kind of lacking with them also. Good food and good atmosphere! Great job. read more

Charming restaurant. Keeping the farm to table feel very much alive. Good quality food and a nice variety as well. I enjoy the Chicken and Dumplin's during lunch, made very well, accompanied with delicious cornbread. I always have a side of Collards as they are perfectly cooked. Service is great as well, very pleasant staff. Marcus is stellar, so ask for him when you can. The space is nice and clean. It's all a thumbs up for me! read more

Currently eating some spicy sausage gumbo (red beans and rice) at my desk... and dang they are good. Definitely spicy (not just a little kick). I ordered their BBQ ribs and Hattie B's spicy fried chicken sandwich last week and they also didn't disappoint. The BBQ ribs have a really nice smoky/sweet sauce and the fried chicken sandwich has a perfect crunch and flavor (with a sweet honey drizzle and kick). I've ordered as sides the baked beans (which were literally perfect) and your slaw and it was exactly what I was looking for. Those two staples were perfect and exactly how they should taste. Everything we've ordered has either met our expectations or exceeded them. We will keep ordering takeout from you for sure! read more

Wonderful southern hospitality and fabulous food! Great cocktails and nice wine pours in a lovely atmosphere where everyone feels at home. We've been there a couple of times and enjoyed each visit. We'll be back often!!! read more

I was lucky enough to be one of the first to try this Durham Food Hall gem. Although I couldn't enjoy in the food hall because of restrictions at the time, my to-go order was packed with everything I might need. This burger was juicy and extremely flavorful- loved the onion strings on it for a crunchy touch! The staff was very friendly and I will definitely be back- next time for the FGT salad read more

Lula and Sadie’s - Pimento cheese bacon burger! - Southern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Stopped in for dessert the other night. Greeted with friendly service and delicious treats. The white cake with white frosting tasted just like my grandmother used to make & my husband's pecan pie was equally delicious. Will return for Jazz Brunch next time we're in town. read more

Looked up reviews for places for brunch and arrived and they don't accept walk ins. There is no way to reserve either. Call to make sure they take walk ins. Don't waste time driving there. read more

The catfish was perfectly fried, the spicy chicken sandwich was delicious, and my kid loved the chicken tenders. the staff was also very nice and welcoming. We met the owner and we found him to be very nice. I highly recommend eating here. and, we can't wait for the rooftop dining area to open! read more

Lula and Sadie’s - This was so good! - Southern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This place is really great! I got fried chicken and red velvet waffles and it completely satisfied my cravings! I waited at Dames Chicken and Waffles nearby and didn't get any service for about an hour so left and found this place and it was perfect! Chicken was well seasoned and crispy, and the waffle was delicious with the cinnamon butter sauce! read more

Amazing food. Big portions. I got the hot chicken sandwich and it was my favorite hot chicken sandwich in Durham

We had the new food at Pour and love it - excellent addition to my favorite taproom in town. The food is clearly pub food inspired but with an extra level of care and flavor that elevates it above most of the options in town. read more

We visited on a Sunday afternoon without reservations however was sat after about a 5 minute wait. The place was rather busy and the host was doing a great job keeping up with tables (like cleaning them after guests left) so she kept things moving. We ordered the rice balls as an appetizer and we enjoyed them. Our main course took awhile to come out. The server did tell us the kitchen was backed up and it would take about 20 minutes to get our food. I think it was more like 40. But she kept checking in on us. The place has high tin ceilings and no sound absorption. So it was a little loud in their. I ordered the potato crusted catfish and warm pea salad; a solid dish. I don't eat catfish a lot and it's like salmon, it has a particular taste. But this was really good. My mom had chicken and waffles which I tasted the chicken and it was good. My husband had the yard bird and mac. He enjoyed it. The Mac-n-cheese looked and tasted homemade albeit a little bland for me. We didn't have desert. All in all I'd go back. I really want to try their salmon cake Benny. read more

We're thrilled to have this lovely new restaurant in our neighborhood (at their new location at 2022 Chapel Hill Rd). We've stopped in for dinner twice, both times sitting out on the ground floor terrace, with our small, quiet dog. The service is excellent- from the warm and prompt greeting on arrival, to the various folks stopping by our table to check in that we had all we needed, etc. (I believe Marco waited on us both times- he is very engaging and efficient). Now for the food- scrumptious! So far, have enjoyed the fried green tomatoes, kale/romaine caesar salad, NOLA shrimp, meatloaf, and Nashville chicken sandwich. Every dish was fantastic. My husband especially enjoyed the spicy collard greens (best ever). The cocktails are also delicious- especially the gin with fresh strawberries and the vodka lemonade with fresh blueberries. We'll definitely be regulars to this wonderful family restaurant. Can't wait to swing by for brunch! read more

Food took over 45 minutes to arrive this morning. Brunch took an hour and a half because finding our waitress and waiting for the food was too long. Others seemed irked as well. Service seemed to be aware of the mandatory 20% they automatically put on all checks and weren't as attentive as other places. "Living wage" which they reference upon the front door and verbally before you place your order should be coming from the restaurant not the customers. They also charge for ketchup even if your meal comes with items that are always eaten with ketchup like fries or the kids chicken. Being charged for a 1oz plastic container of ketchup just seems cheap. Portions range from way too small for an entree/price- large. My eggs Benedict was very small and my husbands biscuits and gravy were basically two large wedges of biscuit cake. read more

My friend and were gravely disappointed with the quality and quantity of our selection of Joyce's Chicken (shredded chicken breast) and Dumplings (were frayed beyond recognition, and appeared to have been like little snow clumps of flour.) The broth was of soup consistency and bland (unseasoned). The serving bowl undoubtedly the cup size of a pre-teen child. The cornbread was a seemingly measured 2" square by 1/2" thick, and tasted as if it may have been Jiffy left over and pulled from the fridge. The salad was not more than what I do on my lazy days at home: A stack of mixed greens topped with 4 halved colored Cherry Tomatoes, a sprinkle of shreffed carrots doused in a rather tasteless blue cheese salad dressing. When the seemingly pleasant waitress asked how we enjoyed our meal and heard our displeasure, she had a total attitude adjustment never acknowledging our displeasure, but insisted on a mandatory gratuity of 20%. I felt owed an apology, but paid the bill + the demanded gratuity. Besides, Arnold Palmers (lemonade and iced tea) are usually served in a tall glass, not a cup sized glass. I will not be a returning customer! read more

Great renovations to the old Davis Bakery building. Very nice inside. Spacious seating, so not crowded. Food was delicious with some twists to old southern favorites. read more

White washed version of soul food, it was poorly seasoned and lacking flavor. The service was good but we couldnt get past the food being so bland read more

16 bucks of mindstaggering proportions. Can even see a piece of bacon if you look hard enough smh read more

Lula and Sadie’s - Missus breakfast poutine - Southern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Went here twice and the food and service not good won't be back. Overpriced. Tried brisket and then the burgers. Sorry.

We had a very disappointing experience with Marcus while trying to plan a brunch for 25 people. We spoke with Marus in April regarding booking a brunch on a Sunday in September for out-of-town guests following our wedding on Saturday. He booked us and we talked a little bit about the menu. My partner reached out to Marcus in August to confirm the reservation, and he said he needed to talk with his boss and would get back to him. He never did. My partner then called Marcus 10 days before our reservation. He claimed to not remember him and their conversation the previous month but did say he had us in the book. He then said he would have to charge us a $500 buy out fee when the Lula and Sadie's website clearly states that parties of 35 or less are a large party reservation not a buyout. He again said he had to talk to his boss, and they agreed that we would stop in on Saturday, one week from our wedding, to discuss this further. When we arrived, we were told Marcus was busy and we could wait if we wanted. I asked how long the wait would be and was told he could not give us an ETA. We waited half an hour to speak with him at which point he barely greeted us and was incredibly rude. Marcus insisted on our brunch being a buy out and required additional payment. When I tried to explain what their website says he cut me off and said this is a buyout. During the half hour wait, I was able to make brunch reservations for our party of 25 people with no additional fees or complications at another restaurant in town. We initially chose Lula and Sadie's because we wanted to bring our guests to one of our favorite locally owned restaurants. We won't be back. There are too many other good restaurants in town that are far better at treating their customers like they value them and their business. Do better Lula and Sadies. read more