I keep trying to remember the last meal out I've had where EVERY bite of EVERYTHING was 150%…read more Nerra, this weekend, comes close and could perhaps exceed that benchmark. Nerra is at 506 Ramseur Street, Durham, NC. Get a reservation. Don't show up hoping. We went for a belated Father's Day, a week late, because my wife and son let the date slip past them. They'll deny it. I know better. And I'm not actually upset about it, because if they'd remembered, we'd have missed this. We started the night with the Baker's Flight (pumpernickel, cheddar rosemary biscuits, cornbread, house butters). The pastries were excellent. The butter was something else entirely. I asked for 8oz to take home, which is not a thing I do. I don't need more butter in my life. Seriously. But this butter was coming home wiht me regardless. Our entries: Shrimp and Grits (built on stone-milled grits with jumbo shrimp, spinach, seared peppers, smoked gouda and parmesan, under a Cajun cream sauce). Number two, the Sun-Fire Jerk Chicken (bone-in, braised and marinated, with fried plantains, island jerk sauce, jasmine rice, and a salsa). Lastly: The Whole Roasted Fish (Snapper this particular night, with spinach, tomatoes, citrus caper, and roasted potatoes). Each dish was spectacular. As if not enough, we still ordered dessert. Mama Made, we were told. Cheesecake and a Chocolate Brownie with ice cream. I'm not going to lie here and say either were shared. Somewhere about this time I was doing math in my head of how we could come to Nerra on a weekly basis. Seriously, I was. The Chef came by the table. The Chef's Mama came by too. Our server, Andrea, did the kind of work that doesn't get talked about enough. Andrea was attentive without hovering, present without performing. Andrea should take some time to right the manual on how to take care of a table and party, cause she's a master at it. If none of this moves you, I don't think I can do more for you here. If it does, you already know you're booking a reservation in the next 30 minutes. We are absolutely going back. The only question is how often I can make that happen without rearranging our entire budget. I'm working on it.

My husband and I went to Nerra for our anniversary. It was totally unplanned so we grabbed a last…read moreminute reservation and went at 1:30. So we were near the end of brunch/lunch and before dinner. The restaurant itself is really quaint and I just loved the decor. Staff was warm and friendly. Our waitress was Patience and she was AMAZING! We started with the vegetable tempura and we also tried the calamari. Now I will admit I wanted to stab my husband in the back of his hand with my fork for wanting me to share that tempura. It came with blackened ranch which I have never head of, but it was outstanding. I tend to be super sensitive to salt, and I found the Calamari slight salty. It is one of the primary reasons I don't opt for fried foods. Somewhere there was a memo that say if it's fried, go ahead and OVER SALT it. I will never understand. I had the Sesame Cruisted Tuna with brussel sprouts and my husband had the Golden Crusted Platter. I did not have one complaint about my entree. It was cooked to perfection, and I just enjoyed it to the last bite. I did taste my husband's dish and it was fried and it was salty. More so than the Calamari HOWEVER, he loved it and he did say it was just slightly salty for him, so ya know, it's probably me lol. His broccoli though...it had a grilled flavor to it but no grill marks. How they did it I don't know, but I had to steal a couple off his plate because he owed me for eating my tempura. ha! I rarely drink but I had a glass of wine and my tequila guy has a blood orange margarita! He loved it and that was a recommendation from Patience. Thanks Sis! All said, I only took a point off of this review for the salt. I just think chef's should know better and be careful that it's not too much. A little salt goes a long way and when in doubt, just leave some space for us to salt our food at the table, You can add, but if it's overdone, it ruins the dish. Otherwise, I will go back and try it other menu items! Tempura and then something different lol. The good news is I want to go back and sure, you go ahead and try it too. I think this one is a winner.

This is the ONLY place we get our oysters. And their mignonette is very good! Not all are equal…read more We've been coming here for years, and the food is always fresh and delicious. They crack those oysters there and then. Lots of fresh oyster liquor. Not some dried up tasteless oyster. I never once considered waffle fries with tartar sauce. Now, it's almost an addiction. We'll typically sit at the side bar area and chat with the employees, who are always friendly and knowledgeable about what they serve. And we'll grab a beer from the nearby bar- it is a food hall, after all- and enjoy a nice meal. They have new specials based on what's good, and they always make them tasty. We love this spot. Always on our rotation.

This place never disappoints. Came here on a Sunday as a second choice but easily became one of the…read morebest meals in a long time. Plenty of seating since it's shared with all the other vendors. Being that it's in a food hall, if someone in your party doesn't particularly care of Locals, they can easily get something different. This is a huge selling point so that everyone can be happy and full. We ordered: - 4 grilled oysters - a dozen raw oysters - shrimp po boy (with generous portions of shrimp) - some huge fish, maybe snapper? - kale salad Everything about this place is so fresh. You never have to wonder how long it's sat there or if there has been enough patrons to keep the supply fresh. You know at Locals that everything is always on point. Highly recommend to anyone with a fresh seafood itch!

Our first time for eating at Sho Nuff Seafood, and we will definitely be back there soon. It was…read morevery good ... fresh, hot and good ... everything.

I enjoyed Sho Nuff Grande Shrimp. This included a large serving of 24 large shrimp, smoked sausage,…read morecorn and potatoes. This was so delicious. I really enjoyed this. The individuals I dined here with had flounder and catfish and they also enjoyed their food. I also tried the collards and that was also very good. The staff here were upbeat, professional and attentive The restaurant itself isn't fancy. Many areas can use more cleaning such as the paper towels holders on the tables and the bathroom trash can. One operating restroom isn't sufficient for the crowd that comes in and out of this restaurant. Overall, very good seafood and I do recommend. It's Sho Nuff GOOD!

My son suggested this joint, and I am glad that he did! What a great place. The service was great,…read morethe food was amazing, and I loved the atmosphere. It is completely casual, and I loved seeing the owner in the kitchen when he greeted me and thanked me for coming in. My spicy mani was great, and my son really enjoyed his drum. The sides were great too. I will be back!

I had the fried sheep's head. It was cooked just the way I remember my Grandmother cooking it. I…read moregrew up on Lake Erie, so fishing was a common activity in my family. What a great food memory. The fish here is top shelf in its preparation and flavor. The staff is very friendly. The portions are nice. Dining inside is a nice experience. It is not a huge dining area, but it is a perfect space where members of the community can gather over great fish and conversation. There are a few tables outside as well to enjoy the weather. Prices are what you would expect from freshly prepared fish meals. Not expensive but definitely not fast food prices. The fish changes daily so you should come often to experience the range of goodness! As you can tell, I highly recommend this restaurant.

We visited in a Monday a little after 5pm, after whole day at Duke…read more On arrival, easy parking and then we were greeted by a big smile from the young lady behind the bar (Megan) and we sat outside. We started with a dozen oysters, and calamari- followed by tacos. The food was fresh, their coleslaw is made in house and was delicious. The oysters were fresh and tasty. I had the grilled mahi tacos and my husband had the shrimp- it was all amazing. The ambiance was relax and welcoming. Fast service too. Priced reasonably.

Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar in Durham sits in a shopping center where the parking is posted as…read moreone-hour, but if you're a customer, you can stay longer without issue. That's the first thing you notice--plenty of parking. I had no trouble finding a spot on two separate visits this week. Inside, it's a cozy setup with a bar, table seating, and an outdoor patio area. It has that laid-back oyster shack feel. The patio looks like it could be dog-friendly, though I didn't confirm. The place is clean, and the staff are genuinely friendly across the board--welcoming without being overbearing. Food-wise, it delivers. On my first visit, I had steamed clams and steamed Gulf shrimp. Both were phenomenal. The clams were sweet and perfectly cooked, and the shrimp was just as impressive--simple, fresh, and done right. Second visit, I went a different route and ordered a hamburger--yes, at a seafood spot. Running keto, I skipped the bun, and it turned out to be a great call. Cooked exactly to order and full of flavor, it held its own against the seafood. Whether you're coming in for oysters on the half shell, fresh seafood, or even a solid burger, this place covers it. Make sure to check the chalkboard specials--that's really where the menu shines, with daily deals that are worth the visit.

Honestly, hit her Miss depending on who's working in there you might get a bunch of skinny pieces…read moreof chicken other times you might get a full box of chicken for no reason!!! Ambience is not really giving fine dining. They have wooden tables and chairs. So you can eat in there, but the ambience will probably be better at home.

We tried Skrimp Shack in North Durham for the first time and placed an online order for pickup…read more After driving 15 minutes home, we discovered none of the sides were in the bag. I called the number in the confirmation email, but no one answered. I then called the number on the website and spoke with an employee and then the manager. The manager claimed she had personally prepared our order and insisted the sides were included. They were not. Instead of taking responsibility and offering a reasonable solution, she expected me to make another 30-minute round trip to pick them up. I requested either a partial refund or delivery of the missing items at the restaurant's expense, but she refused and argued with me about it. Unfortunately, the food did not make up for the poor service. The "jumbo" shrimp in my son's meal were medium-sized at best. My wife would not eat the fried clam strip po'boy because the clams tasted off. The "French" baguette tasted more like a cheap school-cafeteria dinner roll. The oysters were fine but nothing special. The hush puppies were easily the best part of the meal. Mistakes happen, but a decent restaurant should acknowledge them and make them right. We will not return, and based on both the food and the manager's response, I recommend steering clear

Growing up in Southern California, I've chased real tacos through enough dodgy alleys and late…read morenight backyard taco stands to know authentic when I taste it. Somehow that same soul has landed in the unlikeliest spot: Foster Street, in downtown Durham. Pulpo tacos, legit goat birria, bright ceviche mixto, a killer torta milanesa, and that sneaky chipotle aioli that steals the show. All washed down with ice-cold Modelo Negra on draft. Unpretentious, soulful flavors done right, prices that feel like a steal, and food that tastes like your nana cooked it with attitude.

I came here on a Saturday around 6 and was able to be seated right away. We chose to sit outside…read moreand their tables are right along the sidewalk. The atmosphere could be better but I still give 5 stars because of the food! We were skeptical about goat cheese and guacamole going together but wow! It was really inventive and delicious. Flavors I had not tried before. I also really liked that the free chips came with bean dip-/ yum! The gringa steak quesadilla I got was open faced. A little different than I was used to, but the flavor was 10/10. Overall I thought the food was unique and I would totally come back for more

I love the food here they always are quick service after you call in an order. It doesn't take them…read moremore than 20 minutes to make your food and probably three other orders The ambience, if you could call it one is a little ghetto in there, but they take food stamps! Very flavorful food

Heard about this spot and wanted to give it a try ! Food was good and fries were fresh ! Service…read morewas fast and easy. There is no where to sit and this is mostly pickup. The wings were really good and juicy. Inside has a mundane look and could use some tlc.

I can only speak for the crab legs. They were fresh, tasty, nicely seasoned, and a very good price…read more We'll definitely be back. Very friendly service too.

This place wasn't a complete bust, but there were quite a few things that I didn't like…read more The restaurant opened at 11 and we were let in around 10:58 (kiddos for them for opening on time). They make you order and pay up front before you can sit down, which was not an issue for us. The 1st issue was none of the tables were cleaned. If we were the FIRST and ONLY guest in the restaurants, shouldn't the tables have been clean? The lady told us to pick a table and she would clean it. The wait wasn't long for the food, but my 2nd issue was the food was laid on the counter at the front and the women yelled to the back "Ma'am your food is ready, come and get it". I was slightly annoyed that we were eating inside the restaurant yet you yell for us to get food to bring back to our table instead of just bringing the food over. Same with the drinks, "come and get it" and laid it on the counter. Lady we are the ONLY people in this restaurant! No utensils were given, we had to fetch them ourself. No crab crackers were given we had to catch someone passing by to ask for them. I ordered the seafood boil for $42.99 (tax included) which includes 2 crab clusters (smalls ones), 6 shrimp, potatoes, corn and sausage. The presentation was nice, but the food wasn't seasoned well. I was not impressed at all by my food. The potatoes tasted undercooked, my corn tasted overcooked , the sausage was ok. The food wasn't TERRIBLE, but it wasn't GREAT either if that makes any sense. My mother ordered the fish and she didn't hate it, but said it wasn't seasoned well at all. Since the food wasn't absolutely terrible I'm willing to give them a 2nd chance, but since we were the first people there on a Monday, I really don't have high hopes they can sell me the 2nd time around.

I stopped by yesterday for the first time, and it won't be my last. The food and service were…read moregreat. I thought the prices were reasonable, too. Looking forward to my next visit to this restaurant!

I got my order delivered by a delivery service. The food lasted me a couple days and the quesadilla…read moreand burrito were both good reheated. Chicken Quesadilla Fajita: Huge quesadilla, it was tasty and filling. I do wish it had more cheese on it. It was a great deal (even using a delivery app) so I would definitely get this again and just get a side of cheese/extra cheese. It comes with rice and beans, so it's really a ton of food for the price! Lunch Burrito Grande (Steak): Yum! The cheese sauce smothering this burrito was slightly spicy and I really enjoyed it. Taquitos Mexicanos: 4 large taquitos, they were decent. Lots of food since it comes with rice, lettuce, guacamole, and sour cream.