4-1/2 stars: Great menu, great food, slow service at lunch…read more We hadn't been to Sage since its move to Durham, so when an appointment took us to that part of town, we dropped in for lunch. In my memory it's even better in the new location. There's a mix of Turkish and other Mediterranean food on offer, and it was hard to make a choice. I got the falafel/hummus wrap and my companion got a salad. There is a small menu of beer and wine available, and we got a glass of white, and a non-alcoholic beer (Dry January). Both were perfectly fine for lunch. The food was super-fresh and well seasoned. The portions were more than enough for lunch. The only niggle is that the poor woman working as a server was all alone, and one person simply isn't enough to cover the whole place. We weren't in a hurry, but people trying to pack a visit into a short lunch hour might have been cramped. Anyway, we'll be back the next time we're in Durham for lunch.

This is the second vegetarian Persian restaurant I've been to. It gave off no overt sign of the…read moredifficult times currently facing that part of the world. The menu includes a few options with tempeh but is mostly vegetable based, and is not full of artificial fake meats or weird fusion stuff. Ordering a sprout salad was a good decision. I was worried the nuts would be excessive but it was a reasonable amount, and the dressing and finely shaved vegetables made for a light experience. My vegetable stew came with some aromatic rice, and a satisfying flavor mix. Ordering tea was a good idea as well; almost everything in this cuisine seems to be lime-flavored. The overall portion size for price was not overly favorable. The location is near the hospital system and in an area with dicey parking, it does have its own parking spots outside and in an adjoining garage.

An amazing environment involving a garden, cafe and beer hall. Price is good, portion is a lot, and…read moreit's tasty. One suggestion: could you offer soup options?

This is a seat yourself spot with QR codes at the table to order food and drinks. They have few…read moredifferent sections to sit with lots of tables. This was my first time sitting inside since it was such a cold day. Food came out very fast and was good. The Burrito Bowl is a lot of food, and I had plenty for leftovers.

Solid brunch spot with great service and lots of GF options -- execution needs a tune-up (4)…read more Visited The Refectory Cafe on a busy Sunday morning. Parking was tight but doable in the lot. The space is charming inside and out; the shaded patio has a nice vibe, though foot traffic to the entrance passes by those tables. Ordering is walk-up, and food is delivered to the table. Menu is broad with clear gluten-free indicators (huge plus). Coffee was dark and delicious, and service throughout was genuinely warm, knowledgeable, and fast -- easily 5 stars for hospitality. Getting to-go boxes was effortless and we were offered refills often. Food was a mixed bag. My wife had the gluten-free smoked salmon toast with avocado. She wished the veggies and tomato were grilled; the GF bread itself was very good, but the greens/tomato ended up pushed aside. I had the smoked salmon Benedict. The salmon portion felt light, and the hollandaise leaned more toward mustard than citrus and was a bit thin. Breakfast potatoes and veggies were nicely cut and well-seasoned but undercooked; same for the bacon, which tasted more tough than crisp. (I reheated the potatoes/veg at home -- flavor was there once cooked through.) Prices felt reasonable, ingredients seemed thoughtfully sourced, and the team's earnestness shines. With a little tighter execution (fully cooked potatoes/veg, crisper bacon, brighter/thicker hollandaise, slightly more salmon, grilled tomatoes), this would be an easy 5. I'll definitely be back -- I gave it a 3.7 but rounded it up to 4 stars for the service, coffee, and GF-friendly menu options.

What a gem! This café has a warm, inviting vibe with its colorful murals (the sunflower wall…read moreoutside is stunning!) and plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors. We sat outside under their covered patio; it was drizzling when we arrived, but the space was still comfortable. When sitting outside you have to go inside to place your order but they bring it out to your table. My kids ordered the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. They're a decent size for little ones, topped with fresh strawberries (tip: if your kiddos aren't into strawberries, just ask to have them on the side like I did). You can also add extras like chocolate chips or blueberries for a small up-charge; both of mine loved theirs. I ordered Huevos Rancheros Brunch, which was good. Crispy tostadas loaded with tender shredded steak, beans, lettuce, and cream, and ask for a fried egg cooked medium so the yolk spills out perfectly. It came with pico de gallo and jalapeños on the side (I skipped those, but if you like a kick, i'm sure they will add great flavor). I tried their seasonal S'mores Latte; sweet, creamy, and topped with whipped cream and drizzle. Their dessert case is worth a peek; cakes, cheesecakes, pies, even vegan-friendly options. Didn't have any but next time. The staff were all so kind and welcoming, smiles all around.

Pure Soul was such an fantastic experience. I've heard so many great reviews about this place, and…read morewas happy that it lived up to the hype. The food was straight up good. Everything was seasoned well, what was supposed to be crispy was very crispy, what was supposed to be rich was very rich. The reason I rate this place 5 stars is because of the creativity in their drumsticks. Although I know I'm not having chicken, it basically tasted like chicken. It had a wonderfully crispy outer skin, and they even put a thick skewer stick in the middle of it to simulate a chicken bone. I thought this small detail was genius, and honestly sold the entire plate for me instantly. Will definitely be back to try other things.

My experience at Pure Soul was excellent. From the moment our group walked in, we were warmly…read moregreeted by Andrew, who was friendly, welcoming, and provided a true sense of hospitality. The food was outstanding. It was refreshing to enjoy delicious vegan soul food that genuinely captured the flavor, comfort, and authenticity of traditional soul food in a fully plant-based form. There are so many delicious options, it's hard not to order everything on the menu. It was nice to enjoy authentic plant-based soul food while visiting from California. I was also impressed by the wide variety of dessert options available, which made the experience even better. It's not always easy to find vegan desserts with both quality and selection, but they definitely delivered. This place is truly a gem, and I will definitely be back again.

They always have great food, vibes, and friendly staff. Lots of unique coffee options to choose…read morefrom, and even my non-vegan friends love the food.

I had a great experience eating at Coco with my 2-year old. We went in right before noon. We chose…read moreour own table. This is a very clean restaurants. Everything is vegan. I had a burger with breakfast potatoes. The burger itself was good but the top bun was a bit hard to chew on. I needed up removing the top bun to finish the burger. My daughter had pancakes with - fruit cup, I wouldn't advise to get the fruit cup for $5, it only had 1 strawberry, a few good blueberries and grapes. We had a warm chocolate chip cookie. Now that was delicious. My daughter really enjoyed her pancake. Our server was attentive and service was great overall. I will be back.

Roots is a great spot on Franklin if you're looking for something quick, healthy, and not too…read moreheavy. It's super close to UNC's campus, with street parking out front and a garage around back, which makes it pretty convenient, and there's plenty of indoor seating too. They serve grain and salad bowls--you can build your own or pick one of their signature bowls. I tried the new Garu bowl which features Korean BBQ chicken, honey sesame sticks, kimchi, and sesame caesar dressing. Service was quick, and the portion was solid (definitely enough for two meals). Everything tasted fresh, but the chicken was a little dry and didn't really have much Korean BBQ flavor, which was kind of disappointing. Still, it was a refreshing meal overall, especially for a hot day. I'll definitely be back to try other combos--just probably going to choose a different protein next time.

Had this for lunch the other day. Very tasty! Efficient snd friendly service--in and out quickly…read more Food options for all including just veges. Inside was clean and welcoming. Love that we have this option in Chapel Hill.

My husband's vegetarian coworker recommended this restaurant and we decided to give it a chance. He…read moreshould have hyped it up more because I thought it was amazing even as a an omnivore. My husband and I went on a late Saturday afternoon and we were seated immediately. We shared the Fido's Fries as an appetizer and I got the Chili Cheese Dogs as my entree. Almost everything could be made veggie or vegan so I asked for the dogs to be veggie. My meal also came with a side so I got the frickles (fried pickles). The Fido's Fries were beer battered fries, topped with cheese, bacon (we got the pork option but they have soy), scallions, & sour cream (on the side). The fries were absolutely delicious! I loved my chili cheese dogs as well. It was a very generous portion because it was two dogs and a ton of frickles. As a dog lover, I adored all of the dog art & statues around the place. The menu is even dog themed. I mean they call appetizers kibbles & bits. That could not be any cuter! There is indoor seating (with a bar) and outdoor seating. As you can probably already tell, the restaurant is dog friendly (with their outdoor area). They even have a dog friendly menu (called puppy meals). Service was superb! There is no dedicated parking lot but we easily found free parking a few blocks away. My mom is a vegan and we sometimes struggles to find creative meals when she visits. I will definitely be taking her here next!

I was attracted to the outside of this building and assumed I was walking into a Irish/burger bar…read more We were transported to more of a dining side vs. bar so I only got to see one side of the place and I don't like to not see my drink being made. My drink was good but I'm pretty sure the house made syrup was made with sweetener that was not cane sugar and I'm very sensitive to any other sweetener. Menu was large and I had a hard time deciding. It is a somewhat vegan place much to my surprise so I figured why not try it here because I do love good vegan option even though I do eat meat I ordered the trio of patties black eyed peas and black bean. I took a bite of each and left the rest. Three different staff noticed my untouched food but none inquired or offered replacing it or removing it from bill which to me would be a gesture of a good business practice. My companion enjoyed and loved each morsel of his crab cakes! The battered fries were great! My server was very kind and attentive.

I have been to this restaurant twice and will continue to go. The food has been amazing both times…read moreand staff is great. one of my favorite vegan restaurants!

This place is definitely tucked away--I've driven by many times without noticing it until recently!…read moreThe food was good, though not quite amazing. I ordered the Powerhouse Bowl and Cajun fries. The bowl was flavorful and satisfying, but the fries were disappointing--bland and tasted like they had been refried from frozen. Our friend ordered the OG chicken sandwich, which she felt was lacking in seasoning and could've used more mushrooms. I tried a bite myself and actually found it pretty flavorful, especially with the pretzel bun, which was a nice touch. The restaurant was a bit warm when we arrived, but the staff was quick to adjust the air conditioning when we asked--much appreciated! Overall, I'd consider coming back to give it another shot, especially since we came in about an hour before closing. That might have impacted the food and experience a bit.

Service: wonderful! They were quick and they were so sweet. We made a quick reservation online and…read moreby the time we arrived the table was set for us! Ambiance: perfect for a 1st date. It's a casual restaurant but all the decor and the modern touches with Indian influence gives it a great sultry vibe. Food: top notch. Thus far is our favorite Indian restaurant out there. The naan itself is freshly made and SOFT, thick, and has a nice chew. Best naan in the triangle area. Highly recommend the bread basket as you get a good variety of their different naans. The paneer pakora is crispy, piping hot, and has a great cumin and lightly salted taste. In the middle is mint chutney so it's has nice layers of flavors. The lamb palak was super tasty as well! The spinach was nice clay cooked where it was creamy with no bitter after taste. The lamb was fall apart tender! The lamb jalfrezi was also a show stopper, it was spiced, slight tomato sauce, and lambs again, super tender that can be broken up with just fingers. The malai chicken was good, but wasn't our favorite. The meat is tender, but I felt like the flavor wasn't hitting as much as the other two. It was lighter and even with the lemon it still felt like it was missing something. Overall: will definitely be coming back!

Tandoori Bites is a solid, no-frills option if you're craving Indian food. We went on a weekday…read moreevening and ended up being the only ones dining in, but there was a steady stream of people coming through for takeout, so it seems like more of a grab-and-go spot. Service was friendly and attentive (probably helped that it was just us), and there was plenty of seating. The menu has all the classic Indian dishes you'd expect, and portions are decent. Food-wise, everything was good and hit the spot, but nothing really stood out. Overall, it's a reliable, standard choice--worth checking out if you're in the mood for Indian, especially for takeout!

Goodness Cooks' foods are delicious, nourishing, and satisfying. They are profoundly good - - and,…read moreconsidering what you're really getting in each jar or tub--they are truly good deal. Both vegans and enthusiastic omnivores will find many delicious options. Sometimes what you order will be a whole meal on its own, and other times you might get some delicious side dishes that transform a plain homemade meal into an easy weekday feast. I recommend giving this service a try!

Everything they make is exquisite! From the sweet to savory, foods to bevs, I love it all! I…read moreappreciate that some dishes are sold frozen so I can enjoy them later on. Everything is made with natural ingredients by holistic chefs and it makes all the difference! Even the dishes made with foods I typically don't prefer the taste of were delicious! I highly recommend giving Goodness Cooks a try!