I came here for the High Tea I'd seen advertised on Instagram. I'd attempted to make a reservation…read moretwice- the first time I called and the person who answered the phone told me I could make an reservation online. I tried this, but the system wouldn't even let me try until 30 days in advance, which I did, but was told I wouldn't need a reservation on a Sunday afternoon at 3pm for two people. I showed up and half the staff seemed really confused until I pointed to the tiered plates on other tables, then they said "ohhh the tea party!" lol. They got someone else, who said she wasn't sure she could accommodate us because we didn't have a reservation! I showed her the email on my phone which said "your reservation request was denied" because we supposedly didn't need one. I wouldn't usually have been so insistent but my friend had driven like 40 minutes to hang out and have this plant-based experience. She ended up relenting and bringing us the "tea party." The tea cups were the size of a shot glass and the tea bag selection included Lipton. I think it would have cost them basically nothing to give everyone their own teapot so you could actually seep your own flavor of tea, or even a bigger mug. It was just a little silly. They also start you off with a cute little labeled pitcher of lemonade- so cute but I wish they would have continued with this theme of labels or else just given us a pitcher of water because I was really thirsty by the end. The food that was made in house was delicious- the vegan pimento cheese sandwiches (bread tasted kind of stale though), the samosas and other savory pastries were delicious. The star of the show for me was the flatbread- veggie with some sort of aioli on it- I just loved it! Then there were store bought crackers and jelly (not chutney as we'd hoped/thought) and some store bought cookies. They had homemade vegan baked goods there, so I wish they had just tried a little harder to have some on hand for the high tea experience. The ambience was not great for a high tea experience. It's fast-casual so you order your high tea at the counter. Also they had the door open so it was really hot and the pollen was coming in. All in all, I would return but definitely for take-out, never for the high tea. The cost per person was not commensurate to the experience I had. That's a bummer because with some very small tweaks they could have a great niche!

Had 2 opportunities to dine here, the first was in house - burger - and it was rather tasty. The…read moreorder taking process - not so welcoming as the lady taking the orders was clearly more into her phone than anything else on this slow day. I also used the restroom and the water line was spitting out as much air as water, so to ensure they were aware and too prevent a potential issue I told the lady at the front. She got pretty perturbed that I did this but went and informed the manager anyway - show as watching videos on her tablet and didn't seem to care. No bother for me, I just trying to be nice and make sure an issue didn't happen. The manager came over later and told me they were working on the pipes, causing the issue, nothing to worry about. The front desk person was completely put off, like I was complaining - which I wasn't. Kinda weird. Next order was a door dash a few days later and it seemed to be lacking the care pout into the in house order - but it wasn't bad. Food is good but my main reason not to return was the front counter person not wanting to see customers on a Sunday morning, makes for an awkward experience.

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.

Tucked away in a quiet corner, this spot is a hidden gem you might not discover unless you're…read moresearching for it. While it doesn't quite have the ambiance for a date night, I recently picked up some food for my vegan family members, and it was fantastic. The Philly fake steak came highly recommended, and it was so good that I'm already planning my next trip back to get it again. If you're a local looking for excellent vegan food to-go, this place is definitely worth a visit.

Love hitting up parts and labor before a show at motorco. Their beer/ na options are great! Love…read morethat they show you what regular and ba option are in their main board to make things easier! The food is always tasty! The service has always been quick with plenty of staff on hand if they get busy! The location and set up is great allowing the inside outside environments to allow a lot of seating and room.

What a cool place! I visited with some girlfriends for drinks and lunch. I love the open concept of…read morethe space, it feels really inviting. We placed our orders at the bar, got our drinks, and they brought the food to our table when it was ready (which didn't take long). They have tons of outdoor seating which is great to enjoy with nice weather. I'm not vegan, but I love that they have so many vegan options! Cauliflower Nugs: delicious fried bites of cauliflower. We paired them with the ranch and motor-oil sauce, I loved the dual sauces! Moto-Bahn: yum! I loved everything on this sandwich, it was perfectly balanced. Each bite was crunchy & delicious. I loved the spice I got when I got a bite with jalapeño.

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.

Came here after the Durham Farmers Market with a friend and wow this place was a surprise. …read more I went with the grain bowl and honestly it is one of the best I have had in downtown Durham. It is built on quinoa and rice with black beans and kale, then layered with corn salsa, tomato cortido, guacamole, and a creamy acevichado style sauce that pulls everything together. It is finished with a crunchy mix of pepitas, nuts, and grains. The balance is quite ideal in my view. My friend had the rotisserie chicken with two sides, kale and slaw, and it was just as impressive. Crispy skin, juicy inside, and really clean flavors. Simple food done right and GF friendly. Everything felt thoughtfully prepared. Prices land right where you would expect for the quality, roughly 16 to 21 dollars depending on what you order, and it feels worth it. My bowl plus side of dark chicken was plenty. A few notes. Parking is what you would expect for downtown, so plan accordingly. Service was solid and friendly, but nothing that stood out. The vibe inside is festive and relaxed, bright and open, and just a fun place to hang out for lunch. Porbably not a special occasion. I also suspect it could get loud when full. This is definitely going into my regular rotation. That grain bowl is going to be hard to pass up next time, so instead of replacing it I will probably just add a side or an empanada and start working my way through the rest of the menu.

I would say the service here was average to poor. The sweet tea had a strong chemical/artificial…read moretaste to it; I recommend they simply take it off the menu. The food is decent!

Excellent food. I like the ordering and payment process, which does not involve any waiting. I…read morehad the chicken bow which was really tasty. The only downside I think is the prices which are too high for the portion size.

Loved the guys who opened this place as a food truck, then a small store off rt 55 and finally…read morehere. Unfortunately the new owners deleted the famous delicious bah mi sandwich that made their fame. They have "burnt ends" with corn chips. Nope. Good bye Kokyu. Farewell.

I was thrilled to learn that Ethiopian was on the menu in Durham given I miss having it at every…read moreturn while living in the DMV. And when I last lived in Durham 30+ years ago, having Ethiopian on Main Street Durham was unimaginable. But Durham on so many levels is a completely different universe. Goorsha is a very pleasant small dining room off a welcoming bar area when you come in. It was overcast and cold this early March day but the outside dining must be lovely later in the spring. We had a very helpful waitress answer a few questions and the food came quickly. The Sambusa appetizer should have perhaps taken a bit longer. The edges were crisp and tasty as was the Deko sauce it came with. But the center was still a bit cold so a bit more time was needed. I wanted beef tibs and went with the Zilzil tibs knowing there would be less sauce and danger of staining my work clothes. They were plentiful, well-cooked if not powerfully seasoned. They were quick to bring ample powered pepper so I could give it some kick dipping each injera enveloped bite for some added heat. The winner was my vegetarian dining companion who went with the very flexible pick three from many vegetarian options. They were a distinct yet complimentary troika of richly favored dishes. At least for lunch, Goorsha goes with individual plates rather than the traditional round platter family style so familiar in Ethiopian cuisine. It definitely worked for us given one of us was a vegetarian and the other all tibs all day. Definitely very glad to see it just across the street from Brightleaf Square and one of the earliest areas converted from tobacco warehouses to fashionable eateries. Glad it is part of the Durham eating scene.

A solid Ethiopian spot. It was a new cuisine to several members of our large party, so the more…read moremodern or Americanized aspects of the restaurant (for example, they offer utensils, whereas some of the more traditional restaurants do not) helped make it a bit more familiar. The spice has a bit of a kick, but I personally enjoyed the fosolia (green beans and carrots - I'm not the biggest fan of either ingredient separately, but they were soft enough when cooked that it did appeal to me!), kik alecha (yellow split peas), and misir kik (red lentils). Goosha is right across the street from Brightleaf Square, a cute shopping area in a previous industrial park. There's also free parking in the Shooters lot.

We came here on a early Friday evening before a show a DPAC. Luckily we got there early enough to…read moresnag a table by the window so we could people watch. We both had a classic burger (him with no pickles, me with no special sauce), shared an order of fries, he had an IPA and I got a blackberry mojito for about $40. The good: The fries were amazing (shoestring fries are my favorite)! The amount of pickles they put on it were phenomenal! The drinks we awesome and the vibe was outstanding. The employees were friendly and helpful. And I feel like everything was priced well and appropriately. The not so good: The meat was just meh and the onions were straight up burnt. Not caramelized, burnt. Overall, the burger was decent, just not great like we were hoping. We sat at our table for quite some time and had a few drinks. It was busy but never too crowded. There was a line but it moved quickly. I would reccommend this place to grab a quick bite before a DPAC show!

We really enjoyed our visit to Queen Burger while in town for a Duke football game. It's in the…read morecutest little part of town and I love that it's fast casual with a very simple menu. The space is a little tight but they do have outdoor seating which worked perfectly for our group. I also loved that they served cocktails in to go cups. The food was outstanding - a melty, crispy edged smash burger with a side of cheese tots, yum! We also got the chicken tenders and fries for our daughter and the bites I tried were delicious. This will definitely be a spot we visit when we want something quick and scrumptious if we are in the area!