I was very fortunate to have a southern grandmother with a heart of gold, who cooked the most…read moreamazing meals usually all from scratch. Soul food (when done right) is expensive, time consuming, but most importantly a labor of love. Our Kale's Kitchen food didn't taste like business. It was something akin to what you would expect granny to serve Sunday after service. Our orders of Turkey Wing, and Stuffed Chicken were each accompanied with green beans and mac and cheese. I also ordered a side of yams. The Turkey Wing was tender and flavorful. The green beans (from a can, I believe) were cooked in a broth of some kind and well seasoned. Mac and cheese buttery and loaded with a mild cheese(s). The stuffed chicken is a very large breast stuff with a more complex cheese mixture similar to perhaps an artichoke dip. Yams thick not watery and well seasoned. Very, very, very good! Fun fact: I used to really be out here ordering from these Instagram chefs and Kales Kitchen was one of them. I think it was a 10 meal prep for less than $100.00. We had a quality issue and she was quick to respond and resolve and I love to see the growth. With that being said, you will have to be flexible. They are still working through process issues. However, for me, the food justified the inconvenience. Considering all the hype that isn't an easy feat. Soul Food 4.7

Was excited to try a new place but beware, their hours vary by day. I arrived where their website…read moresaid they were open till 3:59am only to be told they closed at 8:30pm on a Saturday... I was also told the menu changes daily... whenever I'm on this side of town maybe I'll give them a try but I won't go out of my way to visit a place that says download Instagram to see if they're open/what they have for the day. You're a restaurant with a website wasting a domain ... at least ATTEMPT to keep that accurate! Also, to clarify: If you check sanitation scores like I do - they used to be listed as KALE'S KITCHEN but are now listed as KALES AT JOE'S DINER. They do have a good grade though!! Just something to be aware of if you check places frequently like I do.

Do you love pop-up shops, locally made products, once-a-month special events, WOMEN,…read moreboutique-thrift items, recyclable goods, sustainable cleaning supplies, jewelry, BEER, letter-press cards and oh so much more?! Then let me know you, the Durham Patchwork mini-market is about to be your new best friend! I "secretly" took my boyfriend to Fullsteam on the first Saturday of the month so we could "grab a beer." Little did he know that there was a full-blow POP-UP shop within! My eyes got wide and he realized he'd been tricked, but man oh man was it worth it [and he got a beer out of it!]. This little market is any girls dream! While you sip on a brew you can wonder between vendors [the majority female entrepreneurs and artisans] and have conversations while they tell you about their products, which they are all very passionate about. The vendors change from month to month, but the covered [non air conditioned] space in Fullsteam is filled to the tippy top. This is a perfect spot to pick up presents for friends, yourself or stock up on Christmas supplies! You can support many local business in one stop AND in a chill but popping environment. Check out their facebook page [www.facebook.com/TheDurhamPatchworkMiniMarket] for the latest vendor news and updates. And now you know where to find me every FIRST Saturday from 12:00-4:00pm.

I found out about this pop up market just the day before, lucky me! Unlike other pop up shops,…read morethis one was free admission. The event went from 12-5. There were a variety of craft vendors that were local artists. I would rather buy a local artist print, mug, ring, etc than go to a mall. I wish there was more 'walking' room though, it was very packed (which is a good thing).

Although I'm not a fan of sweet with savory, I finished everything on my plate : )…read more We had never tried chicken with waffles before and our server took us through the options and even brought out tasting samples of the different types of butter which were all amazing. It does seem like I'm mixing up brunch and dinner food items though in terms of the flavor profiles. However, the waffles were excellent and the fried chicken had incredible flavor. I'm still not completely sold on the combination but everything on the plate tasted perfect. Highly recommended.

We have been to Dame's Chicken & Waffles a few times at the old Downtown location, once to the…read moreRaleigh location, and now the "new" Durham location. This new East Durham location is a little smaller than the old one, but they kept the brick aesthetic and the same jazz décor; it has great vibes, but it can get a little noisy with large groups. They now have a small parking lot. The new building has charm, although the surrounding area feels industrial and somewhat run-down. One of the restaurant's windows was boarded up, broken glass had spread into the parking-lot entrance, and barbed wire was visible from our table. The chicken is always tangy and moist. I don't know what they put in the breading, but I'm like a moth to a flame to that stuff. The mac and cheese is some of the best in the Triangle. Our server, Lanyah, was a hustler! While there, she had 9 tables, and one of them was a large group of about 10 people. My wife and I each ordered A Classy Hen with a Baby Blueberry and a Peach Apricot Shmear. I liked the Peach Apricot better. My wife got fresh fruit as her side, which was mostly just orange slices. This, unfortunately, is the end of any positives. Because it was just Lanyah, the service was slow, and it appears from our various times coming to Dame's that slow service is the rule, not the exception. Our server said that it was typical to have just a single server, one cook, and a busser--who was not that helpful. Lanyah was still busing some tables and when there was a loud crash that sounded like dishes falling, she ran and checked on it herself. It took her a minute to get us water and then take our order, but it was understandable. She hugged my wife when we were leaving when we told her she deserved better. The cook was doing their best, but it took 48-minutes and 49 seconds to get our order after it was put in...yes, I timed it. One family walked out due to the long wait. There was another male staff member-I'm not sure whether he was the manager, but he spent most of the evening sitting in the bar area. He was not seating people, bringing out orders or drinks, or helping out our overwhelmed server. They were supposed to close at 7:30pm, but we walked out the door at 8:05pm and the large party was still there waiting for their food, with the other man still sitting in the bar. We want to love Dame's, but slow service just overshadows everything else that is positive. Until they hire an appropriate number of staff, we will not be back.

This is one of my favorite spots! Their coffee taste high quality and their syrups are home made…read more The folks are always super kind as well. I usually get a honey cardamom oat latte.

Been coming here for a few months, and it feels like one of Durham's best-kept secrets. My coffee…read morehas always been served quickly and with care, and they offer a nice variety of pastries as well. This isn't the kind of coffee shop you visit just to grab a drink and leave, because the space invites you to linger. It's a great spot to settle in with a book, or spend a couple of hours writing. It is located at an interesting plaza, occasionally, there is EDM music from next door drifting in, but somehow it adds to the atmosphere, making the place feel like a hidden little escape with a touch of mystery. Such a unique place to check out both day and night (becomes a wine bar)!

Honestly my favorite of the (two) M restaurants I have been to so far. The biang biang noodles were…read moreumami and hit all of the notes. Unfortunately the jajamyeon tasted burnt initially (it is wok fried so maybe it was too caramelized and charred for my liking), but the chef remade it and the remake was great! Seating is limited but luckily there was no wait for lunchtime on a Friday.

My wife and I are local to the RTP area and wanted to try a new place in Durham. Given the reviews…read moreon this place, we were looking forward to try it. However, we were utterly disappointed with our food there. The bao buns had a tender pork in it but the only sauce it included was hoisin which made it too salty. The Korean fried chicken in the 'Spicy' flavor was flavorless. The sauce was extremely bland alongside the chicken meat inside. Don't let the red bright color deceive you, we kept wondering when the 'spice' would kick it (it never did!). We each got a curry udon and added chicken to it. As frequent curry eaters, we wanted the Asian flavors we enjoy however, this udon was bland as well. The chicken we asked to be added felt like it was just chopped and put over the udon with no actual flavor integration into the dish. We left this place feeling like it was a waste of our money. Given their higher prices, I would've expected something A LOT better with some real Asian flavors.

I am a regular Rise patron and rewards member for several years. I love their selection of…read morebreakfast and brunch options. I usually order a biscuit and save half for a second meal. When I order a box, I order it plain and then add my own fixings at home. My box creations can make up to three meals. I've begun adding my own fixings to their biscuits too. I'm pleased with Rise's pricing, regular coupon offers for loyalty members, and a reward point system that's easy to track. They've recently sent out coupons in those coupon clipper mailers and I found they carry great value. This Rise location (like their location in Chapel Hill) caters primarily to takeout clients. There are some bar tables and outdoor patio seats if you want to eat on site. I'm a takeout client myself (as I hinted above) and prefer building on top of what I order. Rise's biscuits can't be beat. They are flaky, fluffy, and reheat well. My tips for reheating: - Microwave: Lightly sprinkle water on the open faces of your biscuit (not the hard crust) and cover before microwaving. - Air fryer: Use the "Reheat" setting and reheat your biscuit at 325º for 4-5 minutes.

The chicken biscuits and cinnamon rolls are always fresh and delicious. The stuff is always…read morecourteous, helpful, pleasant and professional. The restaurant is always clean and the lighting is very bright.

Just wanted to share some pictures from our recent visit. Delicious as always and fast attentive…read moreservice. Rice cakes were perfectly tender. The beef in the japchae was melt in your mouth and very flavorful. We have never had their KFC somehow but it's insanely good. Come check them out.

Loved the food we ordered. It was delicious. I met my wife during work break to grab dinner and the…read moreservice was fast! Food is delicious and will go back again.

There were so many yummy adorable looking restaurants to choose from in Chapel HIll, but Yelp and…read morefriends recommended the Lantern so I made a reservation several weeks before our trip there for my daughter and I. It was a short walk from our lovely hotel (the Carolina Inn), but started raining when we first walked out the door so we called an uber which was a very short ride. We were seated right after arriving and I had a nice glass of wine and my daughter a diet coke a few minutes later. The menu looked like a sharing type of meal so we opted for: - pork & chive dumplings: yum - spring rolls: tasty, but my stomach (as always) regretted the fried food the next day - bento box: the hit of the meal - shaking beef: i thought pretty good, but my daughter wasn't a huge fan The service was good and the food was brought out at the perfect pace. While I'm sure their dessert is yummy we opted to walk down Franklin street and enjoy some Ben & Jerry's after dinner since the weather had cleared up.

This fabulous Asian fusion restaurant on Franklin St is one of Chapel Hill's hidden culinary gems…read more-- an unparalleled blend of service, atmosphere and taste that makes it worth the drive from anywhere in North Carolina. On a recent visit, our family started off with an delicious order of Pork & Chive Dumplings, while I enjoyed a perfectly prepared Old Fashioned from the bar. For our entrees, we shared plates of tender Shaking Beef tasty Sticky Rice and succulent Pork Ribs, all paired with a fabulous Pinot from the restaurant's impressive selection. Service was outstanding throughout our visit, and Lantern's softly lit, intimate setting makes it the perfect spot for a date night or just to escape the Carolina heat. Everything about our visit was wonderful, and the prices were more than reasonable for a meal of this caliber. An amazing find in Chapel Hill!

This is one of the small businesses at Boxtop RTP in Durham. The Meat & Graze location is small and…read moredoesn't offer indoor seating, but the charcuterie is amazing and you can always enjoy it in any of the outdoor seating with wine (and, if during a live performance, that will elevate the experience to perfection). I stopped in and ordered a small charcuterie snack box because I'd already ordered a big lunch. The charcuterie box was freshly made to order. I will be back and will remember this establishment for my catering needs as well!

Another black own business that you need to check out! Simple charcuterie boards. You can build…read moreyour own, grab one or let her make one for you. May 2024. I had her make mine and it was the best decision. I had fruit, nuts, crackers, honey and much more. It was presented so cute and I only paid $12. If you're looking for a snack give them a try.

One of the top meals that I've had in the Triangle, and it was 100% vegan! The food was awesome,…read morebut what stood out even more was the service- the epitome of Southern hospitality. Since it was our first time at Pure Soul, the host gave us drinks on the house (we got Sweet Tea, Lemonade, and Root Beer). The tea and lemonade were on the sweeter side, but I enjoyed both. My sister liked the root beer, which was from Uncle's Scott's, a local NC brand. They also offer a discount for teachers, students, and veterans. For entrees, we got the: - Drumstix plate (BBQ, buffalo, or fried- included rice and a sauce): We chose fried- it was perfectly crispy, so tasty. Couldn't choose between hot honey and honey mustard, so they gave us both, again so nice. Rice was well-cooked. - Chicago burger (grilled onions, cheddar, pickles, tangy aioli): Classic! Enjoyed this overall. - Fried fish plate (includes rice, slaw & tartar sauce): This is funny, but this dish was a bit too fishy for me lol. But crazy how well they do their vegan alternatives. - BBQ plate ("pulled pork" in a sweet BBQ sauce, served with slaw): Probably my least favorite entree, I think the pork was too sweet for me, but it did balance with the slaw. We tried a bunch of sides, which from my most to least favorites were: Soul Mac (not too cheesy), Hushpuppies (crispy outside, pillowy inside), Rob's Favorite Cornbread (so moist), Sweet Potato Fries (classic), Bilbo's Greens, Blackeyed Peas & Veggies, and Nik's Candied Yams (too sweet for me). Ambiance is nice with both indoor and outdoor seating. Lots of parking available. 10/10 would recommend!

This is easily a 4.5 star spot but yelp won't let us do halves…read more Great attentive and helpful staff with plenty of options to choose from to curate your own plate. Our son had the kids impossible burger and mac n cheese. My wife had the Soul Rolls and I had the bbq (vinegar based) plate with slaw, mac and cheese and greens. We also had 2 drumsticks. The kids plate was devoured quickly- the burger is slider-sized and comes with onion, tomato, lettuce and pickles on the side (surprisingly the veggies were untouched but I claimed the pickles). My wife said the Soul Rolls were a 10/10- crispy eggrolls stuffed with mac, greens and sweet bbq protein. My plate was good too but I wish it came with bread instead of counting it as a side. Also wish it had a little sauce on the side. Greens were seasoned well and the mac was creamy. Drumstick was amazing but a bit steep at 4 bucks each. Only criticism is that we wish the side portions were a little bigger for the price. Still won't stop us from returning in the future when in town!