Went for an early Valentine's Day dinner after reading the reviews. What a great choice that was! We were prepared to have to wait for a table, even on a Thursday, but I did not expect the bar to be full of diners as well. The bartender made sure to get our drink order while we were waiting in line. I had a Manhattan and my boyfriend got the maple bacon manhattan. Both were excellent. The atmosphere is so nice in there and there is so much to look at it I didn't even mind waiting. Even though its small in there, the tables are not right on top of each other. It's a mixture of cozy bench seating and chairs. We started with a charcuterie board and the wings. You choose your own cheese and meat and we went with the manchego and spicy capicola. Both were very good and they are served with bread, stone ground mustard and some type of apple butter. We had to ask for more bread but our server happily brought it. The wings were excellent. Crispy and nicely sauced. The harissa ranch they were served with was soooo good. After all that I really didn't want a large entree so I got a salad and side of brussel sprouts and butternut squash. Both were very good although not the most exciting choiced. My boyfriend got the short rib burger and really liked it. I stole a few (dozen) fries. I would probably go back just for those. The service was absolutely excellent. Eleanor was our server and was so pleasant and helpful and really took great care of us. They seemed to have a lot of staff for such a small restaurant, but I am sure that keeps them continuing to provide great service. I am not sure how often they have live music during dinner, but I thought it was a very nice touch. Not overpowering by any means, every enjoyable. I think this will be our new date night spot! I know they change the menu a lot and there are many other cocktails I want to try and everything was very affordable. Great experience! read more

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We stopped by here on the way to a show at the DPAC and we were not disappointed. Everything we had was great. The Brussels could have used a little drizzle; they were a tad dry. Burger fries and Mac n cheese were great. The chartreuse buzzard drink is a tart/sour drink that was small but strong. It's small, so depending on the night there may be a wait. The vibe and environment were good, lounge like, and service was good, it was busy so it took a while but overall a nice experience. Bathrooms also located upstairs from the actual restaurant/bar. read more

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We went to Bar Virgile one evening for a birthday. Our first impressions were amazing. The staff was super nice and we had a very large table for ourselves. To start the dinner we ordered a few appetizers. Every single bit was awesome. The best bites of the entire dinner where then caviar deviled eggs and the fried oysters. The only con of the appetizers where that the portions were a little small for the price. But, the entree portion definitely made up for the small portions. They were huge! We had the Steak Frites, the Pork, and the roasted chicken. All of which were delicious. The only thing that was not very tasteful was the Brussels sprouts which had a very odd flavor. In the third course we had a chocolate chess pie. The dessert was fantastic. And the fresh made whip cream was a super nice touch. Overall the total food experience was extraordinarily extravagant. On the other hand, while the staff was nice we felt very rushed at the second half of the dinner. The birthday guest had no one sing and not even a candle on the chess pie. The server ignored us at the end and did not ask us if we wanted dessert besides the free birthday treat. While these irritants where small they can really add up to ruin a dinner experience. While it wasn't the very best dinner every I would still recommend Bar Virgile to anyone (with one exception, your B-Day). read more

Bar Virgile - Charcuterie Board served along side second course - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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It's easy to miss Bar Virgile when driving and there isn't much parking on the adjacent street. This is one of the best bar/diner combinations I've been to in Durham and I'm glad we gave this place a try. The alcohol selection behind the bar counter is huge! The bartenders here must be skilled in order to keep up with all of those bottles. There is seating along the bar counter, as well as some table seating for larger groups. We came on a Friday evening around 9 PM and the place was packed. While waiting for an open table for three, the bartender came to us and offered their cocktail and beer menu to order from. I appreciated the gesture and the drink made the wait seem not so long. It's evident that meat is a prime choice here, so I ordered the smoked speck charcuterie, as well as the lobster & sweet pea spaghetti. We didn't have to wait long for the food to arrive. The lobster spaghetti was creamy with just the right proportion of meat and noddles. The charcuterie was served on a small platter with bread and apfelmus (German apple sauce). This venue has a dark, modern upscale atmosphere that makes it a great choice for dates or to enjoy the evening with close friends. I wish I knew about Bar Virgile since I got to Durham! read more

Bar Virgile - The bar's emblem, right across from the counter - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Yelp guided me to yet another winner. The service was quick and efficient. The muted lights and exposed brick walls in the dining area add to the ambience. I had the Lobster Bucatini which was absolutely delicious. I also got olives and cheese to go for my hotel and am so excited. This is a definite go to, even if traveling alone like myself. read more

Bar Virgile - Lobster Bucatini was fab - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I came to Bar Virgil once for drinks late night and was impressed by the subtle, classy decor and felt intrigued to try the food. So I came in this evening with my mother-in-law and a friend. My Manhattan was delicious and served in a beautiful little glass and my friend was pleased that there was a pinot gris on the wine menu. The olives were pitted and well-marinated, the kale salad was pleasantly flavored with cashews and strawberries and the shoestring fries were great -petite and crisipy. Grilled cheese was over-priced and the menu was a bit pork-centric and could use a little expansion. Overall, very enjoyable and I will be back for snacks and drinks, but probably not for dinner. ... oops, posted the review before I ate the cherry in the Manhattan: Superb!! read more

Bar Virgile - Manhattan in a dim, intriguing atmosphere reminiscent of the much-missed Whiskey - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Great vibe to this place with good cocktails. We were jut getting drinks and appetizers and tried the deviled eggs which were great.

The BEST restaurant in Durham NC by a long shot! Highly suggest making reservations, food is Out of this world, service is phenomenal and the atmosphere is great for a date night! I made reservations for my boyfriend birthday and we went at 7:30 on a Saturday evening. The restaurant did a phenomenal job keeping people spaced out for covid reasons and we saw them cleaning each seating and table after the guests very thoroughly. We choose to sit at the bar and had the most wonderful bar tender. She asked us what types of drinks we liked and then made suggestions off the cocktail menu. I have to say I don't think there was a bad drink on there. We had a few and loved them. My favorite was the one with rose petals in it (: I got the burger which everyone raves about. It was cooked perfectly. My boyfriend had a meatball and pasta dish. I liked his a lot as it was very different but had amazing flavor. We plan to go back here. I would go every month if I could just for the drinks! read more

Sweet little sexy, cozy spot. I found parking 1/2 block away and went before a show at DPAC. Had a Negroni and a couple different cheeses and the pate'. My palate was pleased. My friends had the risotto, fried oysters, and olives. They were happy with their choices, as well. I had a somewhat heavy lunch, so I was really interested in light bites. This is a great date spot (or a spot just to meet friends for drinks) if you go early. We were there around 5:30 maybe? But as we were leaving around 6:45ish, it was pretty packed, even on a Tuesday night. I would venture to say this is the best thing to happen to downtown Durham since the departure of Whiskey, my very favorite Durham bar. (God Rest your Soul). I will indeed be returning. read more

So much fun. Totally quiet on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving but the bartenders were great to talk to. Not only that but they take their cocktails seriously and made me 2 different ones after I explained what I liked and didn't. Highly recommended. read more

Great vibe and interior deco. The wait for a table can be really long though. They have a relatively small bar area with maybe about 10 seats. They also have a table area with about 8 tables of 2-6 seats. My group of 4 got there at around 10:30pm on a Friday and had a 30 minute wait for a table. I think there usually is an open 2 person table though, so that wait isn't quite as long. The Gin Fizz drink is pretty cool. There is a solid inch of foam rising above the rim of the glass. Bar Virgile is a little pricey but a little cheaper than the nearby 21C. The atmosphere is also a lot more laid back than 21C. read more

Bar Virgile - Interior - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This place has the most outstanding meat and cheese charcuterie I have ever had, and at a bargain price. It can be a dinner in itself. Nice atmosphere, good service, but we we there early. Food was so good, I took a photo of the menu to get the provider names so I can find the foods in ATL. Also, the jalapeno margherita was a top notch blend! Good for whatever ails you. read more

Bar Virgile - Maybe too dark to see; the secret continues - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Awesome drinks and food. Excellent service. Great pre-game (Bulls) place. We will be back. read more

I love this place, I just wish they took reservations. Their cocktails are great. I usually get the risotto but the steak frites are delicious as well. read more

Third time in and still just as awesome!! They have changed the drink menu, but the bartender graciously agreed to make me my favorite from the old menu. Got the charred octopus (again) and the asparagus, chorizo and egg. Both were outstanding!! read more

Bar Virgile - Charred octopus. Best Ive had since Barcelona!! - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This review is for the bar and atmosphere only, unfortunately due to the wait we didn't get a chance to eat here. So for more on that it gets busy and its a small place, maybe 10 or so tables and on a Saturday at 6pm it was a 1 hr wait. Keep in mind it was the night of a DPAC show so maybe thats not normal but they dont take reservations so keep that in mind. The bar is first come first served. The drinks were incredible here and I had a really good gin fizz here called the Ramos that id would for sure recommend my wife also loved her gin 2.0 drink. Food looks good, hope we can get a chance to check it out next time but we will for sure stop here for a drink every time were in the area. read more

Bottom line: go here! Stopped in here before a show at dpac, would highly recommend if you're seeing something there to eat here before, it's an easy walk! The setting is very intimate, I counted only about ~30 seats so I imagine this place gets very packed on peak hours and peak days. The service here was incredible our waitress gave us awesome recommendations on literally everything and even helped us order less so we wouldn't order too much food! Food here was very good and totally worth it. They have a tapas style menu and some bigger dishes you can order as well. We got the cheese and meat boards , some greens and split the hamburger (was sad we didn't get the Mac and cheese it looked great!). All the food was very top notch, I enjoyed every bite! With a few drinks out meal came to about 70$, which I thought was very fair given the quality of food! read more

my wife and I have been wanting to try this place for a while, I work for the city of Durham and she works at Duke Law School, we like to keep our money in Durham along with owning our house In Durham. We went out to dinner in the downtown area last night and stopped by this location to try their specialty cocktail menu. The front door man ( bummed we dont know his name ) was Awesome!!! the place was packed but he got us a small table and was completely friendly and welcoming . The vibe was super, and we met many cool people while we were there. Our hostess ( FERN ) WAS JUST PERFECT!!!!! She helped us pick something we have never tried before and was always checking in on us even tho the place was packed. The drinks that we had were out of this world good and not over priced, we left with fireworks from the Bulls game and the streets packed with happy people, I recommend that any one who enjoys a great wild cocktail, good peeps, go to this place!! It is very rare that I write reviews but. WOW!! read more

I wanted to LOVE Bar Virgile, but it was a bit too small and pricey for me. The atmosphere was cool and the service was good. I got a frozen alcoholic beverage (cannot remember the name) that tasted like a weak banana smoothie. It was okay, but not what I expected for the prices. My table also got a cheese and charcuterie platter, which was yummy, but also expensive. I think my table ordered two drinks, two cheeses and one meat and we were well over $30, almost to $40. I know that's a good price at other places, but for cheese and meat....eh. Overall, Bar Virgile is a cool place but be prepared to spend more money to eat there. read more

Just amazing! Wonderful service. Cocktails are unique and on point. Had the fried oysters, kale salad and the burger to share. All excellent. Wish this place was in our hometown. read more

Very delightful experience! The wine, the meal, the atmosphere, and the bartenders were all outstanding. It is a little cramped and we were forced to sit at the bar but this did allow us to meet the great bartenders who were informative and helpful in making our visit great. We'll be back. read more

Just went for the first time - loved it. Cocktails were great, food was delicious, the server was so sweet and helpful.

We need one of these in Jupiter, FL! The drinks are stellar but oh my god, the fried oysters and the lobster roll are just out of the world. Staff are super friendly. One of my favorite places! I love this place! read more

Bar Virgile - Classic Manhattan done right! - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Let me start by saying that I was really excited to try this place. My review goes south from here...... After checking the menu and arriving at 10:03 I sat down asked for a drink and food menu. I was promptly informed kitchen was closed. I was not even offered a snack menu. I was highly surprised since no where on the menu does it say kitchen closed earlier or no late night bites like other places in the area. I do look forward to trying the menu if I can ever finish with clients earlier when in town. read more

We have been here twice and had a great experience both times! We went before DPAC shows both nights which if there's a DPAC show and/or Bulls game the night you're planning, I recommend getting there before 5:30pm if you can. It is a small restaurant that fills up quickly and they don't take reservations. For my fellow vegetarians- they have quite a few options and they were open to changing something to exclude the meat. My first time I ordered the risotto (yum!) and the second time I ordered the vegetable plate (you choose 3 sides) and got the brussels sprouts, cauliflower gratin and mashed potatoes. I recommend all 3 but the cauliflower gratin was by far my favorite!! read more

Such a downtown gem! My friend and I shared two small plates and a large plate and every thing we had was AMAZING!!!! The drinks are fun and delicious. We'll definitely be returning! read more

Favorite bar! Order the Ramos gin fizz and get the burger because it's amazing! Hard to find seating cause it's small and so busy! Must experience if you are in Durham! read more

Bar Virgile - Best burger in town! - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

They have a really warm ambiance that is perfect for conversation! Great for a night date or catching up with old friends. The food is DELICIOUS from the veggies to main courses. Drinks are expertly crafted. The staff are also welcoming and attentive! I cannot wait to return. read more

The best old fashioned around! I've never tried any other drinks because I stick with what I like, but they all look amazing. I've eaten here once and the food was great too. Nice relaxing ambiance... kind of has an old world, speak easy kind of vibe. Highly recommend. read more

I want to come back and try it. We came at 6pm on a Monday and it was full with a 40 minute wait for a table. We went to Neomonde because we had a 7:30pm show at DPAC. read more

When I open my bar it's going to be kind of like this place. Drinks and bartenders are excellent. The idea of the food is better than the actual food, but it's still pretty good. read more

Hands down the best burger in Durham. There are a lot of good options, but nothing surpasses the short rib mix burgers. These have SO much flavor, and hands down surpass all the other offerings in town. Fries may not be the best, but they're extremely solid and quite tasty. This spot is really enjoyable. The music might have been a tad bit high, but the drink options are all spot on and super unique. Definitely give the cocktails a try - I tried a gin/lemon cocktail first, which was delicious, and then a strawberry mix that was a bit sweeter and even better. There are some really solid cocktail spots in Durham, but this place has to rank near the top, hands down. We had a good 20 min wait even on a Monday night. Small place, and clearly a good following. Need to get back here more often. read more

Almost everything I've tried here has been great! Their cocktails are excellent - my absolute favorite is the Ramos Gin Fizz. This might be one of my favorite drinks ever. It tastes like an orange creamsicle without being overly sweet! And the presentation is so fun - foamed over on the top from the cream and egg white being whipped. The crispy confit artichoke hearts with lemon caper aioli is also one of my favorites. If you like artichoke hearts and fried things, this is the perfect balance and the sauce pairs super well. The vegetable sides are also quite good, paired with interesting flavors so they aren't just a steamed vegetable side. The duck leg cassoulet was good, maybe just a touch salty. read more

I love Bar Virgile for its ambiance and wonderfully crafted cocktails. I have to be honest, however. We had dinner there last night for the very first time. My salmon was a bit over cooked, not warm enough, and the Brussel sprouts were dry. In all fairness, however, it may have been partly due to the fact that it was an incredibly busy night. They don't take reservations, therefore the kitchen staff doesn't get a sense of numbers to expect and may feel rushed. I'm just guessing obviously. We arrived around 5:20 pm and by the time we left a little after 7, it was extremely crowded with people lined up at the door waiting for a table. read more

This place has the best goddamn espresso martini i've ever had. It's magical. Food is so good, service is phenomenal, I love the feel of the place. But what I love more is their espresso martini. Did I mention that they have really good espresso martinis? I also was super happy with the espresso martini read more

This was a spare of the moment find and I am so glad we did! The staff was very polite and accompanying. The venue was cozy and had a speak easy vibe. The drinks were strong and the dishes were out of this world. I got the fried oysters as my app and the pork chop as my entree. This pork chop was so beautifully cooked I couldn't put down my fork. I was beyond impressed and blown away by this place. Do not judge this book by its cover! I will definitely be back. read more

It was our first time here and I couldn't believe we haven't been before, it is definitely going on our favorites list. The staff was friendly, the bartender made us amazing and very creative cocktails from their seasonal drink menu. Our favorite was the fried oysters! They offer indoor and outdoor seating- we sat at the bar and felt very comfortable with the COVID precautions they had in place. read more

Bar Virgile - Nana surf (right) - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I love Bar Virgile. Great cocktails, great vibe, and great food. We were here on a busy Saturday night and waited about 20 minutes for a table. There was live music and it was LOUD but somehow the noise added to the overall charm of the place (husband disagreed and found it too loud). Husband and I shared a charcuterie/cheese appetizer and marinated olives. I waited a while for my drink and it came out with an appetizer on the house to apologize for the wait. For our mains I had a burger with steak frites and he had a steak. Both dishes were really good. My burger juicy, his steak tender and cooked perfectly. A really great dining experience. Definitely in my top 3 Durham finds. read more

Terrible service. When we got here no one greeted us and the guy at the bar just stared. We walked in and we finally greeted by a really sweet hostess. The waitress was nice enough but completely incompetent. I told her I was vegan and she said they would be able to accommodate and then came back and said that not even the olives were vegan. That's fine, I'm honestly not expecting special accommodations and I'm definitely not 'that' vegan, which is why I asked if they had anything. But when someone says they can accommodate, it gets my hopes up. If she had said they don't modify we would have gotten drinks and left, but at that point we had already ordered. It definitely felt like they were just in a 'fck that' mood. Anyway, she took one persons order and left, didn't take anyone else's order at the table. We had to flag her down for that (there were three of us and two had orders) and then they brought the food but no silverware. Which we also hd to flag her down for. I honestly had higher hopes because I had been to Nana's where they were amazing in service. This place has awesome drinks but avoid at all cost if you want good service or anything on the menu modified at all. When we paid the bill her closing statement was 'thanks for coming. And I hope you find something to eat'. Definitely NOT the level of service I've come to expect from this restaurant group. read more

Went here for date night!! We spent 2 1/2 hour drinking and eating appetizers only to be asked to move to a different table to make room for another party. Completly rude and poor business after spending almost $250 here. Will not be returning !!! read more