I've been here a couple times and my parents seem to like it. I was struggling to think of a summary, and I think the answer is: clumsy. The service is haphazard (either too fast or too slow) and the food is unimpressive. Oh well, it is a fun little bistro. I shall try it again! read more

Farm to table. Local business. Delicious food. What more can you ask for. The refractory always delivers when you are looking for simple cooking. And sometimes I order a cake just to show I'm proud of myself. read more

I may have found my new favorite Durham-area restaurant! Start to finish, we received warm and attentive service. Refectory is going above and beyond to keep customers safe and adhering to state/national precautions with ample outdoor seating, spacing between tables, and cleaning of all high touch areas that we observed during our meal. Masks were worn (correctly!) by all employees during our visit. The food, most importantly, was remarkably good. We started with the fried green tomatoes, which were fried to a perfect crisp and paired with a tangy sauce. We also ordered the citrusy and slightly crunchy cauliflower florets which were equally delectable. Our entrees were seasonal specials - sweet potato gnocchi and mushroom crusted salmon - and rank among the most memorable entrees I've enjoyed since moving to the Triangle 1.5 years ago. We finished with the pumpkin cheesecake, which had a unique carrot cake crust (!). Would highly recommend to anyone looking for thoughtfully prepared and beautifully presented fare at reasonable prices. read more

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This place has a super creative brunch menu, and as a person who is often invited to brunch and who also doesn't see the big deal about eating eggs and toast out when I could be eating eggs and toast at home for a fraction of the price, I really value creative brunch menus. Off the specials menu, we got the waffle with a crispy duck leg and sour cherry pepper jam. Off the normal menu, we got shrimp and grits. But for the occasional bleachy-tasting shrimp, the grits were great. The dish was smoky even without the bits of bacon and they stuffed plenty of shrimp in (almost too many - I wanted my bites to be more grit!) However, they paled in comparison to the wonder that was the waffle dish. I hope it's on the specials menu next time I go. The duck was so perfectly fried, the skin was just one thin crunchy piece of umami covering this tender expanse of meat. The waffle was wonderful by itself, but when you added the sour cherry pepper jam? In my opinion, THIS is how you do sweet-savory breakfasts. Not pouring sweet syrup over fried chicken. Not bacon maple donuts. This. It's not too sweet (mostly tangy and sour) and not too salty, so it doesn't overwhelm you. The flavors just play off each other delicately without sending you into a blood pressure/blood sugar coma directly afterward. Good mango juice, too, although I'm still giving the win on that drink to True Flavors Diner. read more

Lovely little spot with superb service (our server Jon was great) and delicious food - we started with rampini, crab cake, and mushrooms (my personal favorite), then the chicken, short ribs, and daal. My husband said it was the best chocolate pudding pie and I had the yummy vegan chocolate "cheesecake" read more

My husband found this place for us to try out for date night. It seems to be a cafe by day, fancier experience by night. Covid 19 measures were in place, and the staff was friendly. We ordered the short rib and the tenderloin steak. The presentation was good, I liked the daily veggie options of grilled asparagus and Brussels sprouts, some places have mediocre options. The short rib was so tender and flavorful, my husbands tenderloin was cooked to perfection as well. We were offered dessert and chose banana pudding cheesecake, which honestly was the worst part of our meal..highly unrecommended for sure. I would come and check this place out again for breakfast or a quick lunch possibly, if I was in the area. read more

The Refectory Cafe - New American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Vegan goodies! And full omnivorous menu too. I'm vegan and my mom is not, so it's sometimes hard to find places we both love... but the refectory was perfect. Cute place with indoor and outdoor seating. Full menu with a ton of yummy dishes for my mom. Several vegan options for me. I got the vegan black bean burger which was so fresh and good. Had a cashew aioli on top which was amazing. I also got vegan chili (their signature chili) which had a little spice but not as much as I'd like so I added some hot sauce which they had on the counter. GET THE VEGAN CHOCOLATE CHEESE CAKE!!!!! My mom got a BLT with home made chips and loved it. I also got a local kombucha. read more

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The Refectory Cafe was close to where I was staying, AND they had vegan options! On my first official morning in Durham, this was my planned breakfast spot. At The Refectory Cafe, you order at the counter, and then sit and wait for your food. It looks like they open up the line for food options throughout the day - maybe for lunch - but the morning I stopped in, it was just a simple counter order. I was surprised that the Refectory Cafe not only had vegan menu options, but they also had options in their baked goods area! I ordered their tofu scramble, and seeing it didn't come with potatoes, added on a side of them. Also a drip coffee. For the price I paid, it definitely wasn't worth it, but I was satisfied. The tofu scramble was not cooked nearly close enough to how I like it (it was more wet, like literally had a little wet puddle it sat in, and had absolutely no burn to it), but the flavor was really good. The potatoes had its own scramble with peppers and onions (the amount I got was pitiful) but the addition with the tofu was tasty! Normally, I wouldn't be able to eat this type of tofu scramble, but the flavor really made up for it. The cafe, overall, is nothing spectacular. The inside has nothing interesting to speak of - but it was easy sitting, and ordering, and food came out pretty quickly. Also, again - definitely plus for having vegan options! read more

The Refectory Cafe - Tofu scramble, with side potatoes - New American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I love to eat here occasionally, especially to be with friends at lunch. I have never been for dinner. The food choices are varied so there is always something for everyone. My very favorite dish is the Indian Dal, served with naan. Sometimes you have to ask for it. Normally you go through the line cafeteria style. Waitstaff do come to attend at tables. There is outdoor seating as well. My reason to give a four star and not a five i because the only thing I have been served that I think isn't really great are the french fries, which I think are over cooked read more

Good food, good service. Standard brunch menu. Nice indoor and outdoor seating options. Heated patio area. Ample parking. I recommend! read more

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I cannot express my frustration with the refrectory. I had made a reservation on OpenTable, and just minutes before our reservations the restaurant canceled my reservation. We were two minutes away from the restaurant, after driving all the way from our house (30 min drive). When I asked if they could fit us in, they told me it would be at least 45 minute wait. This is simply unacceptable to jerk people around like this. Needless to say, we will never be coming back here. read more

The Refectory Cafe - Restaurant canceling our reservation - New American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Wow, this place has really changed since I visited a few years ago. My husband and I have been for lunch a few times over the years and I remembered this being a fast-casual kind of place with healthy food and lots of vegan options. I stopped in with a friend for dinner and found it to be restaurant week; plus, there were candles on the tables and the hostess asked if we had a reservation! Despite this surprise, I was happy to get a table and peruse the offerings. The regular many delicious-sounding options. In the end, it was too tempting to pass up on the restaurant week menu, with regards to cost. My friend and I both had the kale salad as a started, which was fantastic- wonderfully massaged and with a delicious citrus dressing. I got the salmon for my main, which was perfectly cooked and presented on a bed of orzo with cherry tomatoes and asparagus. My friend got the white bean and quinoa croquette, which was amazing! I was happy to taste hers, and sorry I hadn't tried this delicious and creative vegetarian dish. For dessert, I tried a vegan and gluten free chocolate cheesecake, which was amazing! I would never have guessed it was vegan. My friend tried the Greek yogurt cheesecake which was also tasty. I am so happy to learn that this place has such nice dinners. i will definitely be back. read more

Probably more of a 4.25 star rating. It would have been a 4 only, but a nice lady saw my friend and I looking lost and explained the menu-ordering-table-service part as it wasn't clearly apparent. The food wasn't new or novel, but it was super tasty. We split a HUGE veggie omelet. I would guess this as a 4-egger. It came with a smattering of fresh fruit and a small arugula salad. We ended up with 1/3 of the omelet leftover. That's awesome for $10. We also ordered teas (my friend liked her blueberry hibiscus) and some tomato soup and vegan chili. The soup and chili weren't delivered with our omelet and I was so full I canceled the chili order and that didn't seem to be a problem for them to do. I really liked that there were live flowers on the table. That sort of little touch makes a big difference in how I enjoy a restaurant. read more

The Refectory Cafe - New American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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What a brunch spot! Their specials for the day was more appealing than their regular menu, so that's what we went with. Across from me, my girlfriend ordered their chicken and waffles with 100% maple syrup on the side (costs .30 cents extra). It was good, but not the best. The chicken breading was thin and didn't really stick to the chicken, which also fell apart. The waffle's texture wasn't that fluffy as it was advertised. Pretty basic stuff, though! I ordered their Stuffed Burrito, which featured turkey sausage with other typical but tasty stuffings! This was great and I can see myself getting this again! Their pico on the side is something I would've wanted more of. Their side of arugula with a peeled orange and half of a strawberry was strange... Bottom line: should their maple syrup even be extra? No regular syrup was even mentioned or offered. I see a lot of potential on this menu but their prices don't reflect the food quality compared to other cafes I've been to. I'm already set on coming back for some shrimp and grits, quiche, or their omelets! read more

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I came with a friend and wasn't too hungry (evidently) but I was told their desserts were to die for and so I HAD to order the oreo cheesecake. I still think about that piece of cake till today and it's been weeks. LOVED it. My friend also loved his pasta and our salads were so crunchy and delicious. Would recommend! read more

The Refectory Cafe - Oreo Cheesecake - New American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Wow! Best breakfast/lunch we've had in a long time. And barely any line on a Sunday morning, either!

Sat outside and had a nice atmosphere. The cheese plate appetizer could use more pita bread on it. The vegetarian chili was really tasty, but came out super hot. My husband got the vegetarian gnocchi and that was amazing. Over recommend. read more

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This is just a review of the bloody Mary while wait for breakfast. If you are afraid of spice, seasoning and flavor, this libation is for you. Bland canned (libby's?) tomato juice and a celery stick and a couple olives. Boring. Over priced. Breakfast arrived: quiche was good but was definitely reheated from a frozen product. Challah french toast was very nice. Strawberry fizz cocktail too sweet but OK. Breakfast for two with 15% tip: $61.25. Ouch. If the food was stellar, that would be fine. It wasn't. read more

We saw this restaurant featured on out and about TV North Carolina featured program about restaurants and establishments in the state. We are we were so excited for brunch on Mother's Day and spoke to Laura to see if there was any reservations she said she would keep us on the list and text me less than an hour later saying that there was reservations available for 2 PM. We drove 33 miles from Holley Springs to Durham but it was well the trip. We were greeted by the owner Laura Hall who was delightful & so welcoming & helped us with great suggestions from the menu. The food was so fresh & delicious. We will definitely be coming back for dinner. Please don't hesitate to eat here. It was amazing food & everything is very minimally processed & she sources local fare & organic local options. We can't wait to go back. Definitely recommend you won't be disappointed. read more

So-so meals based on two experiences there. 1) Lunch with the "girls" - had a cobb salad that was very generous and tasty. The outdoor picnic tables are not comfortable if you have back problems, but I appreciated being able to enjoy being outside and dining. 2) Breakfast another day - had the Breakfast bowl of eggs, bacon, and cheesy grits. The eggs were undercooked when I ordered them "medium". My partner had the breakfast bowl with potatoes, also with undercooked eggs (ordered medium). We both had upset stomachs after our breakfast. I would return if I needed a place to meet people to dine outside (however would appreciate a table that had chairs with backs on them). I am unable to dine inside due to being immunocompromised. Lunch was better than breakfast in my opinion. I have yet to try eating there for dinner. read more

I had higher hopes for this place as the menu looked promising. The outside seating area is lovely. Everything we got was extremely basic and bare bones. The "toast" was just bread straight out of a bag, it had no crunch or support for the toppings. Anything with avocado had the tiniest layer of what seemed like grocery store guacamole. I've had better avocado toast at the airport! Prices were reasonable and nothing was bad... it just wasn't that good either. Good if you need something fairly healthy but not worth a second visit. The wait staff was not friendly and no one even bothered to refill our waters. read more

The last two times I've visited Durham, I've intentionally stopped here because they have a great menu and it's a wonderful (and kid-friendly) place to meet friends. I appreciated the vegan options - the chocolate chip pancake and tofu scramble are delicious. Very friendly staff and efficient operation. The patio is a nice option too. read more

Refectory cafe hosted a bridesmaid luncheon for my niece with about 30 women, and closed the cafe down for our event. The food was delicious, cocktails really fun, and Geri and Laura and their staff took great care of us - they really made the occasion one of a kind! Highly recommend this cafe! read more

So, our experience was not great and I'm a little bummed after all the great reviews. I would like to say, the space was super cute, it had indoor and outdoor seating. The indoor seating was a little close in my opinion compared to other places I've gone during COVID. The set up is interesting where you order at a counter and they deliver you the food. We went Sunday during brunch and it was fairly busy. I had the avocado bacon toast and added over easy eggs and my partner had the build your own bowl that should have come with two eggs over potatoes and your choice of three toppings. When I looked around at the other people's tables (did I mention the tables are close?) all of their food looked really good, so I'm wondering if we just chose poorly, especially after all of the good reviews. So my avocado bacon toast with eggs was not good at all. My food was cold and the bread was stale. My partners "bowl" came out and it had the eggs, ham, bacon, and cheese he ordered, but no potatoes. Honestly, idk if we would have complained; however, no one came back to check on us. Even though we didn't have a great experience, I'd still recommend checking it out. I think it was honestly just an off day based on the other reviews. read more

The Refectory Cafe - New American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I had my first experience at The Refectory Cafe last month and it was such a pleasant one! I was greeted by the most friendly and helpful hostess who also informed me about their willingness and ability to work with food allergies! She made me feel like the only customer in the restaurant (which I certainly was not) but her care and consideration was just above and beyond. All of that AND the food and atmosphere were top notch. I will certainly be bringing my family and friends back. Thank you for being such a thoughtful establishment! read more

The Refectory Cafe is a solid choice for breakfast. Nice atmosphere. This was my second time eating here. I reserve a table online and both times the crowd was pretty much the same once on Saturday and the other on Sunday. 10:30 Saturday and 10 on a Sunday. Maybe this was the sweet spot for timing or I was lucky. Parking was adequate and staff were friendly. The only thing that kept me from adding the extra Star was the response of staff when you walk in. My wife and I walked in and stood shortly as staff moved around and and appeared not to either pay attention to the door open or notice we were there for a little while but when approached staff was friendly. Another customer when we were seated experienced the same thing and I guess gave up waiting and returned to her car only to leave. With that said attentiveness may need a little work but when contact is made they rock. The food is excellent and the food both times I dined came out hot and plated well. The breakfast potatoes are a must, and the BLAT Sandwich although simple was great. French toast delicious. Green Machine Smoothie.....Healthy. Lol. Everything tastes fresh and is presented as if the kitchen cares about how their product looks as well as taste. The menu really caters to everyone. If you can't find something on their menu, look again, you missed it the first time. The option to order from the QR code on your table or walk up to the register is a great option/choice given. I used the QR code both times and service was great and timely. Although a minor occurrence happen I plan to return and chop this up as maybe staff may have been busy but didn't appear super busy from the naked eye or had orders on their mind and didn't want to break their concentration but hopefully this was just a off day. Definitely recommend trying Refectory Cafe to anyone. read more

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I came here on a weekday for lunch, and it was a great experience! Easy parking, barely any wait in line, and delicious food for a good price. They have seating both inside and outside, with what looked liked real fresh flowers on each table. Nice place for just casually catching up with friends or an easy, no-hassle family meal. I had the Short Rib French Dip Au Jus and picked fries as my side (came out to ~$11+tip). Zero regrets. I felt very satisfied and very full, so I didn't try their cakes (~$6/slice). Next time! read more

The Refectory Cafe - Short rib French dip au jus - New American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I absolutely love Refectory Cafe. It's perfectly located for lunch or brunch on the weekends. Their food quality is superb and there is something for everyone. We love taking our family here for breakfast. The service is good and a friendly welcoming staff. read more

Yelp won't let me post without 1 star. Attention any person with any food allergies or restrictions. Do not go here. When a food establishment has a clearly labeled menu with all allergens indicated, one assumes that they can feel safe eating there. This is not the case with this restaurant. Part of the problem is that there isn't waiter service, you place your order at the counter and staff brings your food out. When I asked the server if my order was gluten free, he inspected the plate and said yes, this is gluten free. After a few bites, my daughter's food was served and she said - my toast looks more gf than yours. And then we knew. The kitchen proceeds to tell us that the bread I ate is processed differently and there is less gluten. Now I'm sick and most likely will be feeling the effects of this for several days. It's very upsetting and disappointing. read more

TL;DR: A quiet spot with good brunch food. Visited here a few times on Sundays. Consistently good coffee and iced tea. Good quiche and breakfast sandwiches. Also sampled their Mexican food, not bad. Reservations: Accepted, limited. They will stick a card on a table with you name on it. Parking: Much better than the circus next door. Ordering: You order at the counter, they give you a number/sign and bring it out. They also have delicious looking deserts, but I've been too full to try them! Return: Sure. I have. read more

This place was SO good! The portion sizes were lovely and they had a lot of gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options so very accommodating. I would love to return here someday read more

The Refectory Cafe - Huevos Rancheros Brunch - New American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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"Quality but somewhat pricey breakfasts and lunches" I used to go to the Refectory on Duke's campus (Divinity school) sporadically, and the new location seems to mirror the strengths and weaknesses of the old place. You order at the cafeteria-like area, and if it's something they have to cook special, then you get a number and they bring it to you (like at Guglhupf next door). Pluses: + Great quality food overall. Went today for breakfast, and had the "Vegan breakfast scramble", which was basically tofu, veggies, and chips. It was clearly made fresh, and the veggies were high quality. I've heard similar of their sandwiches and pastries (and enjoyed them back at Duke). + Organization. The layout is far more sensible than at Guglhupf next door. There's a clear line and progression of what you're supposed to do. The area "feels" roomier since it's designed well. + Free wifi. Though you have to ask at the counter for the password. Minus: - Price for some items. My scramble was $8. Not "outrageous" in price since it was large & fresh, but certainly not cheap. But rather few things were cheap-- even the "egg sandwich" was $6. Some of their pastries were priced well, and the apple cinnamon baked oatmeal was $3 for a reasonable-sized cup. (I posted a picture of the breakfast menu here.) - Music was a little louder than I would have liked... I actually moved to another seat to get further from the speakers. I wasn't a regular at the Refectory when it was on campus before due to the high price, but I do acknowledge their food quality is high and always enjoy what I eat. I do think they're in a tough spot competing right next to both Foster's and Guglhupf. I'd personally slightly prefer the other two, but this is a place I'd go periodically for diversification and encourage people to try. read more

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Cheesecakes have been delicious and large portion size. Many bakery options. Has outdoor picnic tables or indoor seating. Tried a salad lunchdaily special it was tasty but if had not been getting dessert would have wanted larger portion size read more

Delicious food and excellent service. The salad my friend got was large and I got pasta which was amazing!

Phenomenal food and service! I loved being to be able to reserve an outdoor table ahead of time so my dog could join us. They had fans out in the patio, making it super comfortable when when warm out. read more

I was disappointed the first time I'd been with their speciality omlet--expensive for the price. Sounded awesome with avocado--my favorite! But was disappointed on the lack on delicious "goodies" in the omlet. However, I went back and tried lunch, the leek soup was delicisous, however the wrap and tiny square of pumpkin chocolate bread could be something I could easily make at home and better. Get leek soup! I would still try it again because I've heard good things from others. read more

Cute little cafe that I was looking forward to trying. Made an 8:15 reservation showing up at 8:10. Was served water.... 20 min later after nobody came back to the table, we walked out! Poor show for this restaurant. Food looked great on others plates and desserts fantastic but alas, we will never know if they tasted as good as they looked read more

Amazing food, top notch service, and an overall can't miss spot! Whatever you're hungry for, the Refectory has it! I've been many times, and plan to keep going in the future. Don't miss the huevos rancheros, Nashville hot chicken sandwich, smoked salmon eggs benedict, or the Greek yogurt cheesecake! read more

The cutest place for date night or catch up session. The ambience is beyond adorable. I recommend sitting outside. The weather was perfect not too hot or too cold. And the lights are adorable. The food is phenomenal. I personally loved the appetizer and all the veggies. And would do all the sides over the pain course. We had the salmon and chicken, and the meat was alright, but the veggies were a delight. Desert tray was amazing. Would definitely go back. read more

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The food was delicious! Definitely don't skip dessert - get it to go if you must. Highly recommend reservations. We went on a VERY BUSY Sunday that had the service team jumping. Even in the midst of such a crazy day they were all friendly and helpful. read more