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.

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!

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.

Tried this spot out that came highly recommend and it did not disappoint! The Food was amazing…read more(Oysters, Fried Fish & Red Rice, and dessert of course beignets). The parking wasn't the best on this particular day, as there was a Durhams Bull Game that evening. The decor and vibe were all present inviting as soon as you walk in!

Summertime ..and the food, service and ambiance can be enjoyed at Seraphine. We went for oysters,…read moresmall plates and wine before seeing a show at DPAC. They have indoor seating but it was a beautiful night to dine on their patio. Cocktails, Mocktails and more are available but we opted for a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé wine to pair with some Blue Crab Claws (which were on their menu additions) , Ceasar Salad (I highly recommend getting it topped with fried oysters), speaking of oysters they offer them raw but the broiled oysters should not be missed! We tried the broiled oysters with chili lime butter which were so good with their crusty bread. If you love seafood try the Tuna and Lobster Crudo and for my vegans the Fried Lions Mane small plate was tasty! We enjoyed everything and see why they got nominated from Michelin Guide and recently featured in Durham's Mag Best Of ! You must go and experience a taste of Louisiana in the Bull City for yourself .

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.

I have only been here a couple of times but each time was a good experience. The staff is always…read morefriendly and the food was great. This time I got a shrimp boil....so much great flavor! The seafood is always fresh. The restaurant is clean..that's always a plus. Oh before I forget, my husband enjoyed his oyster po boy...immensely!

Amazing food you gets your money's worth. They don't hold back portions in my opinion.read more

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.

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.

So I asked yelp to recommend a place for a birthday dinner. This was the first on the list. So…read moresince I couldn't get a reservation on my birthday to the place I originally wanted to go, we decided to come here. There is plenty of parking on the backside of the building, paid parking out front, and be careful not to park in the apartment spaces on the side...they sounded pretty serious about towing. I had made a reservation but it was probably unnecessary as it was pretty empty when we arrived (it was about 5pm on a Saturday.) The waitress brought a bottle of water to the table and took our drink order. And I know that this place is literally call it's a Southern thing but can I mention how much I dislike drinking out of mason jars? I ordered the chicken n biscuits, my husband got the country hamburger steak plate, my BiL got wings, and my SiL got the crabcakes. We also orders charred jalapeno & sweet corn hushpuppies and frickles as an appetizer. I was VERY excited about my food. Y'all...the only thing that impressed me were the Frickles. Everything else was distinctly underwhelming. I also ordered Blackberry Betta Have My Money which was not that great. My SiL ordered a espresso martini that they said didn't come from a mix but she said it tasted like it was. The bathrooms were very clean. The decor and the vibe were great. Cute even. I really enjoyed that part of it. After dropping off our food, we never saw our waitress again unless we flagged her down for drink refills. It was especially frustrating since there was automatic gratuity added. And since the place wasn't that busy, it felt like she didn't feel the need to earn her automatic tip. Overall I was disappointed in my birthday dinner. I won't be coming back here.

We had an extremely memorable experience at Alley Twenty Six, in large part to our amazing server,…read moreAnthony! We made a reservation for a Saturday night dinner and he made sure we were well taken care of all night. We started the night with their James Bears award winning cocktails, and every drink we ordered was a hit! Spiced strawberry mule, Sunset Sipper, and the table favorite: Earl Please. The latter two drinks were mocktails and they were still standouts! As for the food, the Alley burger was perfectly cooked: juicy patty paired with truffle cheese and simple toppings that really highlighted the burger itself. And shoestring fries are always a good choice with a delicious burger. Ricotta gnocchi was also very good. As our server Anthony said, let's get this burger nominated!

We hav been here twice and gotten a burger each time. Foie burger is the way to go. Hands down one…read moreof the best burgers I've had. The "wings" were absolutely killer with the perfect sweet and spicy flavor and that dipping sauce with them is out of this world. I would get the burrata again too, the only miss was the gnocchi and I say that but I ate every bite... so it's old a miss compared to everything else. Service was top notch and the drinks are delicious. I want to go get a drink at the funky little ally window one night. Go here! Get the burger! You will not regret it