This is a decent four-star Southern bar near the Duke campus. We were driving through town, and we…read morestopped here before visiting the local botanical garden. There's plenty of paid street parking in the area. The interior is a bit dark inside, minimal ambient light from the outside, TVs around the bar. Lunch arrived quickly, I had the patty melt which was a bit over salted, but not too bad. Service from Makena was overall decent, nothing exceptionally bad or good. Pricing for lunch averaged just over $20 per person, including the "included gratuity." It's a fine Place to get standard bar food.

We were driving from Columbia, South Carolina to Richmond, Virginia today and decided to stop in…read moreDurham for some lunch around noon. This place is located in the downtown area of Durham on the second floor of a red brick building. There is plenty of patio, bar and dining room seating. It was a little hot for the patio so we sat at one of the tables in the dining room. The menu offers a handful of appetizers and salads, as well as about twenty lunch entrees. I went with the NC pulled pork sandwich. It also had coleslaw on the sandwich. Side options included fries, salad, Brussel sprouts, or onion rings. I went with the brussel sprouts and they were very tasty. My husband had the patty melt with French fries. The fries were a generous and tasty portion. His patty melt was very salty, though. Service was pretty quick.

On the way to an event and thought I would grab me a quick bite. I ordered 9 Chicken Wings (all…read moreflats) macaroni & cheese, fried okra, 2 pieces of white loaf bread, & a raspberry lemonade. I got the hot honey sauce on the side. There was a 15 minuter wait for my food, however EVERYTHING WAS HOT (temperature wise)! I was able to make 2 meals out of my plate! If I'm ever in the area, I'm stopping by and having a plate!

If you're not going to be open on a Sunday, can customers please be informed ahead of time instead…read moreof not saying anything? I was really looking forward to eating here after church on Sunday (5/31/26), so it was disappointing to find out you were closed without notice. I understand things happen, but updating your hours online or making an announcement on social media would really help customers avoid wasting a trip. Hopefully communication improves moving forward because I was genuinely excited to try the food.

Great vibes and great food! Stopped by for brunch on a Sunday morning. They don't open until 9…read morewhich was surprising. We got there early enough that parking and the wait wasn't an issue, but on our way out it looked rough. The vegan breakfast sandwich was great! I was impressed with the iced vanilla latte as well. Overall a great breakfast spot.

On a road trip with my friend and we wanted a light snack before lunch. We saw Guglhupf bakery and…read morerestaurant so we decided to stop by the bakery section. We went during early lunch hours. It is busy here,seems like a locals favorite for brunch. There is indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor patio is beautifully decorated. The bakery shop sold alot of in house food products such as housed German sausages and jam. Also local made beverages;the kombucha "Lavendar Dreams" is light and refreshing to drink etc.. I tried the chocolate croissant (crisp but not too crispy,chocolate stuffed filling not jam) and the ham and cheese pretzel( delicous pretzel:ate everything;bread part is savory and soft). Our first visit here I'd say this place makes a great brunch place. You can either stop by for breakfast,lunch or a light snack from the bakery shop. Service wasnt the best here. We informed the cashier that it was our first time here. Knowing that,they kept on stating is that all?.. Everytime am asking about a item and deciding what to try. I understand it is rush hour and can get busy but I felt truly rushed.

My Afro-Latina heart was so happy…read more I've been searching for really good Latin food since moving to North Carolina, and Boricua Soul absolutely delivered. From the moment we walked in, the vibe was on point. They were playing great music that made the whole place feel lively and welcoming, and I loved that you can choose to eat inside or enjoy the outdoor patio. My husband and I both ordered the Boricua Soul Bowl. He got the chicken, and I got the pernil. The pernil was incredible it was tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. The bowl came with arroz con gandules, collard greens, mac and cheese, and I chose the tostones. I had honestly given up on finding good tostones that I didn't have to make myself, but these were exactly what I'd been craving. Crispy, perfectly cooked, and absolutely delicious with the Guava Lava sauce. Since, I couldn't pass them up, we also ordered a side of maduros, and they were perfectly caramelized and sweet. The empanadas easily made my top five. Crispy on the outside, flavorful on the inside, and gone way too quickly. Also don't skip the watermelon lemonade, it was so refreshing and paired perfectly with everything we ordered. We'll definitely be back. There are still so many things on the menu I want to try, but I already know I'll be ordering the Boricua Soul Bowl. One tip for first-time visitors: if you're sitting inside and trying to get back outside , the exit is the same door you originally came in through on the far glass door. There is a sign, but we watched three different people accidentally try every other part of the glass first, so hopefully this saves someone a little confusion.

I'm from Charlotte and my friend was in the southeast visiting so we met up in Durham. ChatGPT…read moresuggested Boricua Soul as a part of our girls day. First stop. We never made it anywhere else lol! I'm so excited to write this review!! We chose it because when I reviewed the Yelp reviews they were stellar. But mostly I was super intrigued by the sweet potato cheesecake empanada and y'all it was everything I hoped it would be. It's small, you can maybe get 4 or 5 bites. The filling is sweet but not overpowering, good balance. The crust, crunchy and delicious. Came with a side of whipped cream. Drizzled in caramel sauce. I had the restraint to save it for last. We opted to split the shrimp sandwich and house made chips because we weren't too hungry and wanted to save room for the empanadas. Perfect plan. The sandwich can be ordered with a garlic, jerk or buffalo sauce. We were given a sample of the jerk to determine spicyness. Super spicy (which I loved) but my friend doesn't so we went with buffalo which wasn't spicy at all. The shrimp were a nice size, coated and seasoned well. The restaurant itself is small with about five tables but there is an abundance of outdoor seating shared with other businesses. We knew we planned to relax and catch up so we opted to eat outside. Despite the 90 degree weather, the entire area was shaded with a little wind so perfect. We got a number and our food and drinks were served to us. (Peach passion froze----yum!) Now. Boricua Soul is a great example of why I love seeking out and patroning local restaurants. The founders, Serena and Tori Fredericks, were both present, Serena managing the front, Tori managing the kitchen and both in and out of the restaurant serving people outside as well as inside. They were all over! Very welcoming. We were there for four hours and Serena's smile never left her face. She personally checked on us throughout. It felt like hanging out at your family's for the day. When we came in just a few people there, no line. Serena was at the register. I told her I came from Charlotte and she graciously gave us samples of the mac and cheese and collard greens as she described the menu. Both by the way, amazing! I don't think I've ever been able to find delicious perfectly seasoned greens with no meat. Before we knew it the line was to the door. By then I had the chance to experience her love for what she does and her heart for the community. Clean restaurant, beautiful and personable decor. Clean gender neutral private bathrooms. I took pics of the article on the wall about them, well worth the read. You too will drive miles to experience this Caribbean and Southern inspired restaurant! Im coming back and bringing people. There's so much more for me to try.

Quick service, fresh food options. Lunchtime can be a nightmare due to the long lines. But it moves…read morepretty quickly.

Amazing food here! Healthy, value! And the drinks are amazing…read more Also the team at Durham is very friendly, always smiling and welcoming, we always take out around 8-10pm! Ambiance is casual and I wish they were open even later but still, we love Farmside!

Good vibes all around, I feel like the Federal is the kind of bar that could be good anytime of day…read moreor night. They have impressive hours and serve food late into the night. Thank god for places like this for those of us who want to eat past 9pm. We sat at a table rather than the bar and our waitress was just the sweetest. The wines available impressed for a place that is more of a gastropub/dive bar. I just wanted a quick pre dinner glass of wine and I also admired the menu because it had a decent selection of veg options, like I could see myself hungry as an animal late at night and do well enough here. My dining companion's nachos were an absurdly huge portion, considering the reasonable price. I didn't know places like this even existed anymore!

Stopped by for late lunch or just a snack. I try to sit by myself yet the bartender was less than…read moreattentive. As a place, it is a cool spot. For the service, meh Had the curry brat on fries with blue cheese. Blue cheese was weak at best. Fries were ok. Brat. Meh. I will not say the bartender name nor when I was there but all in all this was a Yelp fail

Visiting from Chicago for Black August (my first time in NC). My friend wanted to check this place…read moreout and so we did! We made a reservation online for Sunday brunch. We reserved for the rooftop but unfortunately they were short staffed and so we sat in the main restaurant area with live musicians! It was a nice pivot! The ambiance in the restaurant is very pleasant! It's bright, has beautiful Black art in the wall, and feels spacious, and yet cozy. I ordered the L&S loaded grits and my friend had the red velvet pancakes and chicken. I enjoyed the grits, very flavorful and filling. They were "juicier" than I'm used to but that may be a regional difference from what I'm accustomed to! My friend's chicken and waffles were amazing! The waffles tasted like a mix between a donut, cake and a waffle! Really tasty! Our server was also very attentive and kind! It was a great experience! Would recommend!

Y'all. This is truly a gem. A dear friend and I are having…read morea girls' weekend in Durham and were looking for an unpretentious dinner spot with great food. We frikkin' found it! Quaint, spotless, Frank Sinatra & Sam Cooke playing thru the speakers, a lovely server & bartender, and the food... For mains, I had the Duck Gumbo with a side of collards & my friend had the Angry Yard Bird Mac & Cheese. Everything was an impressively elevated version of familiar comfort food. BUT, Y'ALL, we shared the fried green tomatoes for a starter. Now, I've eaten fried green tomatoes many times in many, many places. These were the best I've ever had. Hands down. No contest. The pimento cheese just takes them to an entirely different level. I'm sure I'll be thinking about them long after I leave NC. Ugh. Can you make friends with food and then miss it when you're away? Apparently so. For your own sake, get yourself to Lula and Sadie's and order those fried green tomatoes.

Their new location is so lovely! I think it's several stories with a rooftop terrace looking out…read moreover downtown Durham, but I ate on the main floor. It was 94* outside and the Pineapple Express mocktail was just the ticket to cool off! 10/10. Loved the details of the frosty glasses, the china, and the silverware. Every dish was an explosion of color and plated to perfection. Peach leche de Tigre Ceviche- 9/10. A ton going on taste-wise. Only knock was that I wish the plantain chips were a bit bigger/thicker to eat it with Octopus- 8/10. We loved it but the purple potatoes were a tad salty and we were sad that there was only 1 tentacle instead of 2 so we could each taste ones Shorty pan- 6.5/10 as an Argentinian, bit of a miss for me. It tasted good but it wasn't super reminiscent of a choripan and felt super skimpy on the chorizo The service: incredible time with Travis. What a gem

Had a lovely time visiting little bull while near downtown. In general, I would recommend this…read moreplace for most people! The service was kind and helpful and the vibe of the place, especially upstairs was perfect. Good music taste, good views. The ceviche was perfectly colorful and tasty with a nice variety of fish and veggies. Keep up with killer dishes was the duck chilaquiles! The tortillas were perfectly cooked in the salsa and topped with some tasty crispy duck. The only knock from my friend is wishing the meat was a little softer but we are also used to Peking duck. The birriamen was so-so, the goat was missing something in flavor and really needed the sauce. The sauce on the birria was less flavorful that what I make at home and not as good as strictly Japanese ramen. The noodles felt like what you get from an Asian grocery store. The horchata was good but very coconut forward instead of cinnamon. I will be coming back for their dinner and brunch menus!

The food was sooo good. I love the esthetic of the diner I like old school diners so it was very…read morethat. had received several compliments from the employees who were all lovely including Megan (not sure if it is spelled different) our server. The service was so quick I felt like we ordered and food was there within minutes! I will totally be back!

I was visiting the Duke Gardens and searched on Yelp for a nearby place for lunch using the AI app…read moreon Yelp. Elmo's Diner came up nearby and with solid reviews. They also have a kid menu which I searched for. There was a long line plus it was grad weekend. Service was nice even with it being slammed. Parking took a bit. I settled on a Cobb salad with thousand island dressing. I really loved my salad and the price was just around $10.00 which was a pleasant surprise these days. This is a cute place and the locals seem to know all about it.

I thought my visit here was great! I sat at the bar and the bartenders were wonderful. I started…read morewith the coconut shrimp and I absolutely cannot stop thinking about it. It was absolutely one of my favorite dishes I've ever had. I got the spam burger for my entrée and I thought it came with fries and salad but the bartender kind of confused me about it. Otherwise I felt like it was a little dry, but otherwise he was decent. Then I ended with the Keylime pie and I still think about it to this day. It was absolutely one of my favorite Keylime pies I've ever had.

Lovely vibe. Fantastic cocktails. Excellent service. Delicious burger. The shoestring fries are…read morekiller.