As a Carolina grad I rarely strayed off of Franklin Street and certainly not into enemy territory up in Durham. Over the years I've gotten a bit better with my Durham visits but stopping in at Dains tonight had me feeling like a special forces paratrooper being dropped behind enemy lines! Despite all the Dookies about, the only real danger at Dain's is wrecking your diet and healthy eating habits! Inside Dain's you'll find some tightly packed booths, hi-tops and bar stools but hang in there my tater-tot loving friend because the wait will be worth it! I ordered up the two most absolutely, caloric items on the menu: the Defribalator burger along with the Tots on Fire appetizer. The Defribalator was covered on Man vs. Food, we're talking about a 1/2 lb burger with slaw, sweet chili, bacon, cheddar and drumroll please... a split hotdog! Seriously bad and good for you at the same time. Thankfully I split this bad boy with my friend April. As good as the sandwich was, for some reason the bun stood out to me as really good. Moving on to the appetizer, we're talking about really crunchy tots covered again in cheddar, sweet chili and jalapenos. Oh my this was a ridiculously tasty app but you know you're doing some damage to yourself! Tied in with the great food, good beer and friendly peeps, I totally gotta give Dain's Place a big thumbs up. Even after our group took a trivia beatdown tonight. The only saving grace was that the trivia winner was the team of UNC Yelpers led by John L who crushed all the competition... Rock on Dain's Place, rock on! read more

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I have to admit that the reason why I rounded up for Dain's Place was the ambiance. I LOVE how adorably quirky Dain's is and how it's dimly lit, but perfectly so. I like the whimsical wall décor and the cozy booths. Definitely want to come back here again - especially because I haven't had the burgers, which is what it's famous for. :O I got the steak soup and cheese & potato perogies with my roommate to share. They were definitely very filling, so we got quite a good value for our food. (My roommate did comment, however, that the perogies would've probably tasted the same if we bought them frozen. Haha). That said, I really enjoyed the perogies ... even though there were only 5 pieces. =( The steak soup was interesting and good, but since I don't like Mexican food all that much (which it reminded me of), I was not a huge fan of it. I definitely still drank it and enjoyed it, but I wouldn't get it again. The service was really good, too; they were really accommodating when we rushed in all breathless and said that we needed to be able to order and eat within an hour. read more

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Ordered an 8oz Angus burger and a side of tater tots with cheese wiz, chili, and jalapeños. Burger was quite good - tasted fresh and the toasted bun was an added bonus. I was not too impressed with the tots. It would have been better with real cheese. The chili was also a little too sweet. The only thing that was good was the tots had a crispy exterior with the exception of the tots covered with chili. You would think the addition of the jalapeños would have made it spicy, but nope, not spicy. The major downside of this visit was the rude male employee named Bo. I waved at him to get his attention since he never looks at us to make sure if we need anything. I told him that my friend is ready to order and he replies he can't hear me. So since I have such a quite voice, I yelled, "she wants to order". Then this Bo guy snaps at me and says in a condenscending tone, "Can I take your order when I don't have all these plates in my hand??". Wow, I have never been talked to with such disrespect. When he did finally come back to take my friends order, he still had some attitude. With this poor rude customer service, I am definitely not coming back to this place and you can bet I will let all my colleagues know about my experience. read more

Dain's Place - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The food is amazing. Great beer selection and the burgers are very good. Try the fried mozzarella triangles.

I don't get in here often enough, because I enjoy it every time I'm in. The food is really quite good, and the tots are excellent. They always have a few ciders available, and a nice selection of dark beers. Too many bars in Durham go nearly all IPA for the hot months, and this place consistently has good dark options. So thankful. Service is always great, and the atmosphere is spot on. Sometimes a bit hard to get a table, but worth coming in at the busiest of times. read more

I love dive bars. Dain's hit the mark for drinks after dinner with an old friend. Dain introduced himself immediately and got my first beer. Other bartenders were equally attentive and fun. Great vibe. read more

Looks like Dain's is falling behind on quality... and charging more for less. I've ordered pierogies from here countless times and now instead of six you get five. I spent $20 for ten pierogies via DoorDash. I'll spend $3 for a dozen at any grocery store going forward. read more

Dain's is legit! I enjoy the lowkey vibe here as well as the great food. This place is the perfect representation of Durham - divey, quirky, unpretentious, but overall, friendly. This is your local bar, your lunch spot, your joint to take your out-of-towners, and your place to meet your buddies after a long day at work. At Dain's they serve a bunch of local beers on tap, but they also do a lot to respect the food they serve. Complete with burgers, hot dogs, fries, and a bunch of other bar-staples, they know how to cover all bases. They were also made more famous when they were featured on Man v. Food for their "Defibrillator Burger" - a hot dog/cheeseburger hybrid. I recommend their "Tots on Fire"if you ever do swing by here. Thinking about my overall experience, I really wish I didn't have to give Dain's 3-stars. However, there wasn't enough to push me over the edge into infatuation. I do think that you should make your way out here to this Duke/Durham cornerstone, though. You may fall in love with Dain's as thousands of locals rightfully have. read more

Dain's Place - Tots on Fire (Cheese, Sweet Chili, Jalapeños - on the side) - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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You know the place you go to once, and it just feels like home? The servers are friendly, the patrons are decent, the atmosphere is mellow and the food is great? Well thats Dain's Place, our neighborhood bar. The burgers here are great, and the even have oreos and milk for desert! Full bar and the beer selection is more than adequate. One more thing that really speaks a ton about this place and the kind of establishment they are running. If you are familiar with this area, and spend enough time on ninth street, or the Durham Farmers Market, you will know the man with the longish grey hair who happily plays his guitar for all the passers by. Well he came in and sat down next to us at the bar didn't speak a word and was served oreos and milk. I got the attention of the bartender and asked him if I could cover his meal. I was surprised to find out that my offer was unnecessary because Dain's Place already takes care of him. I wont lie, this brought a tear to my eye, and made me really appreciate where I live and the wonderful people we have around us. Sometimes it is more than the food, drinks, deserts, or service. This is a top notch business who cares about their neighborhood and the people who reside within. It is a bonus that their food is awesome! Well done Dain's Place, well done! PS, Try the Dainer with tots, you wont be disappointed. PSs, Opened for Saturday morning breakfast. read more

Dain's Place - Tots on fire. - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

So I get this email from my co worker. Dude. There's a place that was on Man vs. Food and we need to do a tour of it. I work from home, and live in Wake Forest. So this was a 45m drive for me to get to the area. We set up a friday meeting and headed that way. I stared at their monster burger that comes with 1/2 lb patty, chili, and a hot dog on it. I debated it and almost went for it but I just wasn't that hungry. So instead I got the 'Dain's Burger', and I was not disappointed. There are very few 'good burger' places that are local down near Wake Forest. DOn't know why, but this was worth the drive. I'm now trying to figure out how to work this into business lunches as it's not that far from the Triangle. We got in at 11:30 and it appears we beat the rush, as we walked out about 12:15 Duke must have broke for lunch because it went from being empty to full really, really fast. read more

"Durham bar with great burgers: sides a bit pricey but good value" Came by here for lunch since I've heard so much about the great burgers. I'm pleased to report the reputation was not undeserved- my burger was quite good. I got the regular 8 oz angus burger with cheddar cheese and a few fixin's (ketchup, lettuce, tomato, pickles). It was well-done yet quite juicy and flavorful. I'm sure it was NOT made "fresh" when I asked, as it must have come out on the plate fully dressed within 5 minutes of when I placed my order. But I don't blame them for planning ahead a few burgers, and again, it tasted great. Phil G. warned in his Yelp review against getting the melted cheddar, so I specifically just asked for "cheddar", and it was just right- melted, but not "runny." Thanks Phil! A friend suggested I get the tater tots, too, and the MOUNTAIN of tater tots I got was impressive indeed. Very crisp and tasty, too- I literally couldn't finish them (rare indeed!). Some of the other reviews noted the pictures in the lady's room... the ones in the men's room are rather amusing- like a woman looking "surprised" with her eyes pointed at, well... Overall, happy with my lunch. The price was a bit on the high end- my burger with cheese was $7, and I paid an extra $2 for tater tots. With tax and tip, the meal came out to ~$11.50, which is on the high end for a burger and "fries." That said, I think the VALUE was good- the quality was very high, and the food was literally more than I could finish, even after coming hungry. Quick warning- the Yelp site says there's outdoor seating, but this seating amounts to two tiny 2-person tables... read more

Great place to watch an Eagles game - especially for recent transplants to the area (like us). Good drinks, chill relaxed vibe and great bar food (with a sense of humor -- just read about the "healthy" tot option :) -- I tried the Impossible Burger and while it's not a burger "burger" it's an excellent option if you are trying to ditch eating meat. Love beer? they have a kick-ass list! See you soon Dain's! read more

I went here for lunch and it was busy, but not terribly so. Dain's is pretty small, so I really wouldn't recommend going if you have more than a party of 4. They have an awesome selection of beer and specialty sodas too. I'm a sucker for vintage sodas. Root beer tastes so much better in a bottle than in a can! I ordered their 1/4 lb hot dog with "tots on fire". You know a place is legit when they serve tater tots for lunch. "Tots on fire" consists of tater tots topped with sweet/spicy chopped jalepenos, melted nacho cheese and need I say more? The hot dog was good, but not mind-blowingly so. I compare all hot dogs to Costco hot dogs, which I think are the best. All others just pale in comparison. Basic toppings for both hot dogs and burgers are free - like ketchup, mustard, tomatoes, etc. Sauerkraut, cheese, etc. are extra. Service was a tad slow, so beware. Since the place is so small, not too many people can fit in there = they can't exactly have that many orders going on. So I was surprised that it took them awhile to cook my food. Especially when it's just a hot dog. Not enough of a reason to keep me from coming back though :) read more

Dain's Place - Hot dog with tots on fire - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Pretty cool place. I've been twice - once to eat at lunch and the other night to drink. Drinking is definitely the highlight of this place. They carry more craft beers than most other bars in Durham - maybe even Tylers! They have 3 fridges dedicated to the bottles and about 4-5 on tap. Better yet, the bartenders know the beers too! I hate it when I go to a new bar and there's a whirlwind of possibilities and the bartender can't help me out. Not at Dain's! This guy knew his stuff. It's located on Ninth St, so if you want to "sit" outside you better get there early. There are only two metal cafe tables, which are absurdly adorable for a bar, but seriously uncomfortable. Otherwise, you'll be one of the few who have to stand around waiting for someone else to get up. It's probably better just to sit inside at the bar and talk it up with the bartender. Go for the beer, skip the food. And I bet it's pretty good for trivia, I'll have to stop by sometime. Anybody want to go? p.s. Go to the bathroom while you're there it's pretty cool. In the ladies' room they have pictures of the David and the scientific information about each part of his body. Each. Part. Of. His. Body. :) read more

Best burgers in Durham hands down! To be honest, I never thought about coming the Dain's for food, but I'm so glad I tried their burgers because this has become my go to place when I want a burger. It may look like a dive bar from the outside, but don't be fooled, amazing food to be served inside! read more

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Dain's is a fun and local bar on 9th Street in Durham. We have come in to grab a beer and they always have fresh beer on tap and then a fridge full of bottles. There are always sporting events on the television (March Madness, Tour de France, football) and you can grab a seat at the bar or in one of their booths. There is not much seating and it reminds me of Wooden Nickel Pub in Hillsborough. Dain's also owns Heavenly Buffaloes and that is a great place to grab wings. I have not dined here but the cheeseburger that came out of the kitchen next to us looked amazing. If you are looking for a casual setting and great beer selection on 9th street, this is your place. read more

Dain's Place - Sexual chocolate - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Finally made it to the stomping grounds and visited Dain's. Decent selection of beers. Carver sweet potato beer, pretty decent for a light, and Brooklyn's Black Chocolate stout for a dark. Smutty nose is a great porter. Little disappointed they ran out of Terrapin's Moo Hoo Chocolate Milk Stout on tap on a Friday...hopefully they restock often. Like how they add the Corona and extras in a smaller font, as a side note, if you really have to order one of those... Tots live up to the fame. Great way to get a basket of fried goodness. Especially enticing with a side of guac (think ketchup container cup size.) Service decent. Ladies' room entertaining. Good luck finding parking on 9th. Oh and yes, tiny booths, get comfy, people will encroach on your space. read more

Visited again on a Sunday evening around 8 p.m. and I stick behind my previous assertion that this place is cool. Don't remember if I noticed last time or not, but the garden burger is the actual Gardenburger, as in the original, the one in your local grocer's freezer case. But this happens to be my favorite veggie burger of the frozen ones, so, yay! Obviously, it would be more exciting if Dain's made theirs from scratch. I really thought it was homemade last time I went. I wonder if they just ran out or if I was hallucinating that first time? Speaking of hallucination, allow me to reiterate how delicious the Foothills Seeing Double IPA is. And this time the hubby and I tried the pierogies, which I'm pretty sure are the Mrs. T's ones, but fried instead of boiled. My husband enjoyed his chicken sandwich. I always sub salad---nice and fresh, too---but tried some of my SO's tots and they are crispy, golden perfection. All told, this is really quite excellent for bar food. And the atmosphere is rad; the staff and customers are just so laid back. This is a great place to chill. They have movie nights some nights; used to be Sundays, but the Olympics were on during this visit. read more

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Dain's Place is a true Durham staple. A favorite for Dukies and Durhamites alike, it offers a great selection of beer and some of the best bar food in town. The burgers and philly cheese steaks are great, and they have the best tatie tots I've come across. I love coming here to catch a game or just for a drink. read more

Dain's Place - Coming to a face near you. - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Food is great -- dogs, burgers and tots. Haven't had anything else there. Beer tap selection usually ok, but frequently too many similar beers, including some that just aren't that good. The beer snobbery runs high here, but the taste doesn't always. Lots of bottles. The crowd really varies. Sometimes the place is basically empty. Sometimes the crowd is chill. Sometimes it's stifling with cranky hipsters. And sometimes the place (which is pretty small) is too packed to enjoy, regardless of who's in there. Bartenders/servers are usually great. Depends who's working. Great decor. Feels like someone went to a bunch of '80s & '90s flea markets, rounded up all the best stuff, came back and meticulously outfitted the joint in it. I see something new every time. read more

Dain's Place - Dog with cheddar & ketchup, and tots ($7). Probably a Terrapin Rye on the side. - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Food: 3.5 Beer Selection: 4 Ambiance: 4 Food/Price: 3.5 Pros: Excellent Beer Selection, Unique funny atmosphere, Friendly staff Cons: Limited seating, There are better burgers in the Triangle My first Dain's experience had me pitted against the Defibrillator, a 1/2lb burger with bacon, sweet chili, cheddar, coleslaw, and a hot dog all smashed between a fresh-made bun, and featured on the show Man vs Food. I proudly and begrudgingly finished the whole thing, but I don't know if I anyone really won. This paired with the Homer Simpson quote displayed behind the bar and the borderline creepy pop culture abomination of a sculpture made of children's toys pretty well captures the light and playful air of the place. I once even found, among their reading materials, a book entitled Pornagami, which is exactly what it sounds like. The burgers and toppings are solid and well priced though there are several other places in the Triangle with better burgers (Zinburger, BCBB, Chucks, Elevation Burger?). What makes this place worth a visit is the beer selection, atmosphere, and friendly and funny staff. Every visit the staff has had a knack for being available and helpful without being overbearing. And they always have good recommendations and are very knowledgeable about their beer selection. Bottom Line: This is a solid Durham bar, and hands down the best place on Ninth street to get your drink and eat on. read more

Dain's Place - Cream stout - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I love Dain's. It is hands down my favorite local bar here in Durham. So yes, I guess this review is not without some bias... But seriously, this bar has got everything you would want in your go-to local watering hole--an extensive microbrews list (including numerous local brews), deep wooden booths, random paraphernalia on the walls, friendly service, and a chill bearded owner. Add in some kick ass trivia, Saturday brunch, and support for the now famous Doughman race and you've just gone above and beyond, my friend! I've been here for everything including Monday night football, trivia, brunch, lunch, dinner, meeting up with old friends, and sharing beers with the best of friends, and I've had a great time on each of those occasions. Food wise, the burgers are solid with "The Defibrillator" (made famous on Man vs. Food) clearly being the grandaddy of them all. The tots are amazing and go with any main dish, while you can wash it all down with some Oreos and milk (how awesome is that?). Brunch wise, I've gotten the chilaquiles a couple of times (my staple brunch order wherever it's offered), and have always left full and happy. The portion is more than generous, the salsa verde is popping, and the eggs are done right. Whatever you choose to chow down on, Dain's has you covered in terms of delightful brews to polish it off with. Dogfish Head? Lagunitas? Abita? Highland? Duck Rabbit? Triangle? Great Divide? New Belgium? A hearty yessir to all of the above and many, many more. I think I love Dain's even more after writing about it. read more

Went here for dinner last night and fell in love. Our friends have been raving about their burgers and we finally decided to stop in. I love places with unique charm and this has it. Loved the pennies behind the bar and the frames filled with pins and buttons etc...but my favorite was the giant wheel of matchbox cars. Got magic Hat on tap and it was nice and cold and delicious. Service was quick and pleasant. The burger was big and all of the topings on it were fresh. The burger was so juicy and cooked perfectly. It was absolutely delicious. The tots were amazing too. I'm a BIG tots fan and they hit the spot. Was a little on the expensive side for a burger and fries/tots but it was well worth it to me. Will definitely be stoping in again! read more

Dain's Place - Burger and tots - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Solid bar food here! Good place and vibe to watch sports games in the area as well. My friends and I came here on a whim, not expecting much in terms of food quality, but we were pleasant surpised! I'm a huge tater tots fan, and the tots here are a must. The burgers are all cooked well too, including the chicken breast, which is what I had. There are obviously a lot of options for good food on Ninth street, but if you're craving burger and tots, definitely stop here! read more

I really liked this bar. It was a mix of a bottle shop with a regular bar. The best part was the location nestled right on 9th street so we were able to walk there after dinner. We were able to be seated at the bar right away and they have a huge selection to choose from. We didn't try the food since we just dined across the street however this place was perfect for after dinner drinks and conversation. The bartenders were extremely helpful with explaining the drink options and very attentive to ensuring we weren't low on drinks. The one thing that was interesting about this place...the cabinets on the back wall of the bar. The front of the cabinets were designed with pennies which I thought was unique and set this bar apart from others. I will definitely come back to this bar and try the food! read more

Dain's Place - Bars seating - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Dain's is nice. It's freezing outside and it's pretty cold in here. Very nice decor for a chill night. They have daily specials. The Dark & Stormy is pretty good, it could use less ice. I stopped in off the recommendation from a friend and it was a pretty good suggestion. The music was the highlight though, heard some good Portishead and Pretty Lights. The Saturday night vibes were very chill but it's also early could get more live as it gets later. read more

Definitely going back. Today, finally--one of the first nice days of 2014--and my coworker and I ran-away for lunch. As you are walking up--you may be approached by a homeless person, but it's just part of deal having a business on this street. They have outdoor seating, but from what I saw, it looked like it was maybe two tables? Going inside--it's set up like your standard bar. So makes this place 5 stars awesome? -Dain, the man is actually there, and fun to talk to! Not like some owners who are--just business people. No, from what I've heard, Dain graduated from Purdue came down here and wanted to open a food joint--simple as that. This is a person who seemingly isn't interested in making millions--he just wants to run his burger/bar spot. From what I can tell he is doing a wonderful job. -My burger, excellent! 100% Angus Beef and yes, you can tell a difference between that processed meat "stuff" from McDonalds but a REAL burger. You can have up to 15-20 condiments on your burger [awesome] -Personally, I'm not a IPA kinda gal, but I love the selection. These are going to be off the beaten path beers--and I love that--because, let's be honest--we've all met our lifetime quota of PBR, Miller/Bud light, and Coors...it's time to be adventurous. read more

Dain's Place - Bar seating! - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Nice bar and a good barman and he told me when I accidentally might have ordered a $15 beer.

Great staff good bar food, not a large bar but big enough for groups of 4-6 only negative would be they only serve domestic beers.

Best bloody Mary's in the world, Must try, and the Dainer burger is very good as well! I walked past a lot of restaurants and just came in here for a drink. Glad I stayed for dinner and the drinks!! read more

Dain's Place - Bloody Mary - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Stopped by Dain's for a couple beers and a snack. The place was so chill and laid-back, it was a great place to waste away an evening. Even though we weren't locals, the staff and the patrons made us feel like we were. They have a huge list of diverse beers that seems to change often so you can definitely get creative. We decided we wanted a snack so ordered the cheese fries with bacon - they were awesome! The cheese sauce was very consistent, I'm not sure if it was homemade but it was very cheesy. The bacon was a good touch and the fries came with ranch for dipping. The portion was enormous and we both left stuffed! If we ever find our way down to Durham again, we will definitely go back to visit Dain's! read more

Dain's Place - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Dain's place charges seven dollars for a New Amsterdam (vodka) and soda. I would never order that but the bartender told me that it's was the ONLY vodka they had, busy weekend. Umm, Ok. My friend ordered some "tots" while the basket was huge it was a mix of 1/2 disgusting over burnt & 1/2 freezer burnt. This place is a definite pass. I don't understand any of the good reviews at all. read more

The food isn't bad but I had a termite on my burger, I've seen roaches crawl from up under my feet, as I was sitting at the bar drinking, the food is wonderful but I'm pretty sure it should be closed do to health protocols. read more

Dain's Place - Still don't know what type of bug I bit into - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I felt sexually harassed by a woman bartender here. She made me feel incredibly uncomfortable while in the small hallway by the bathroom with her sexual, objectifying language and glares. It made me incredibly worried for my safety and I'm not sure I'll ever have it in me to come back again, no matter how often my friends ask me to come. Would advise women to not step foot, plenty of great alternatives. read more

Greatest bar ever! I've been coming here for years. Burgers are all excellent. The grilled cheese is absolutely perfect. Good fries, great tots (get them on fire), mozzarella triangles are perfection. Great beer list. And Dain is awesome. Highly, highly recommend. Confirmed: place is still amazing read more

Very cool Burger place. Blues music playing on the inside. You feel at home right away. A locals hangout w/ a few Bar Flys thrown in - makes for good free entertainment. They also have a good variety of ales & full bar. read more

Dain's Place - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Decided to stop in for a drink and something eat one evening while walking around the area. Really good food, decent drinks, pretty cool atmosphere. It was Sunday night football so it was rather loud inside but overall would def go back again. read more

Wow, Dain's Place was definitely mind-blowing. Very nice and cozy environment. I was fortunate enough to choose Angus Burger, it was so flavorful, my favorite dish. Staff are very courteous. They're attentive, polite and always on their game. Don't miss Dain's Place. read more

Well, I was with my husband and two friends when we decided to grab a bite. We saw the reviews about this place and we decided to give it a try. The waitress was so rude and we felt the she was rushing us, besides the fact that she was also not being courteous to other customers. We decided to leave after ordering drinks and we definitely we will not be back. read more

Came in for the Panthers game. Direct TV was experiencing blackouts. Unheard of....Zero stars for Direct TV. No service inside so I asked for the WiFi guest password. The waitress was pushy and wouldn't give me the password until I ordered something like she thought I was just taking up space at the bar. I came to drink and watch football haha give me a break! Unfortunately no football. Paid for the overpriced Bloody Mary and left...won't be back. Many better options in Durham. 1 star because I'm an optimist and believe things may improve and people will get nicer. read more