These were the best pancakes that I've ever had -- like literally the perfect texture and taste. I also had the California omelet, which was also delicious. The service was great and the prices were some of the best in Durham. I will definitely be back! read more

Elmo's Diner - Lemon Berry pancakes - Diners Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Overrated! Went here because the locals hyped it up. I got the To-Go shrimp and grits with a side of biscuit and bacon. Absolutely ZERO flavor or seasoning on anything. Very dry food. The grits were cooked well and the bacon was crispy, but overall there wasn't anything that made me wanna run back. Just left me hungry and angry that I wasted my calories. read more

Elmo's Diner - Home fries and a Buscuit - Diners Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Gotta love Elmo's for saving our Valentine's Day this year. After realizing that some of the other restaurants on 9th street only served a set 3-course menu on Valentine's Day, we decided to walk over to Elmo's to see if they had any tables available. There's almost always a wait, so we were surprised to find that they had a table available immediately! Extra points for being super kid-friendly, brightly lit, and having crayons and coloring paper available. It's a running joke that my friend's mother orders the same thing at Elmo's every time they come, so my mother-in-law decided to try it out: the salmon entree. And now we can see why! Nicely portioned, broiled perfectly, and deliciously flavored, the salmon was definitely a good choice. Between the 4 of us we also tried the Cheesy Baked Spaghetti, which had hearty meaty marinara sauce, the fettucini with chicken and veggies, fish tacos, mac and cheese side, and creamy tomato soup. I definitely recommend the fish tacos for the sauce and crispy fish! read more

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This place seems to be a popular diner in Durham. There was a 15-30min wait for Sunday brunch time. The service was quick and food comes out fast. The food was nothing special, just basic. read more

Tasty, Friendly, and real deal. The kinda breakfast spot to successfully appeal to everybody.

If you're looking for a diner with diner food, this is the spot. If you come here looking for upscale brunch food, this ain't the spot. The food is here is reasonably priced and tasty, the service is fast and friendly, and the restaurant is clean. I'd recommend this place to anybody who is looking for a diner. read more

Kinda felt over hyped. They were busy on Sunday around noon and our waitress was probably having a bad morning. I ordered the shrimp and grits, which was way greasier that I was expecting. The shrimps were decent sized, only slightly over cooked. Scrambled egg on top and chopped tomatoes gave it a nice balance of flavors. My husband ordered a veggie omelette, it's was ok, wished the veggies were more fresh. The OJ mimosa was ok too. Overall, it's a place I'd eat at, maybe for a basic weekday breakfast or lunch, but not for Sunday brunch. read more

Elmo's has been around forever. When you want basic, good diner food, stop in! Warning, there will probably be a wait. On my most recent visit I tried the Greek grilled cheese and French fries. Warm, delicious, exactly what I wanted. Even came with a small side of coleslaw. Service was quick and friendly. read more

Elmo's Diner - Greek grilled cheese and fries. - Diners Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I just had a lovely breakfast at Elmo's before classes today!! My friends and I were seated promptly, and enjoyed great service from our waiter Dante. He was friendly and attentive, offering recommendations and refills with a smile. At his suggestion I tried the lemon berry pancakes (from the specials menu). They were super filling and struck a perfect balance between sweet and tart. Needless to say, I'll be back again soon! A local gem on ninth street. read more

Love Elmo's! My favorite diner South of NJ! Great variety, great food! Friendly hardworking staff! Will always go back! read more

Wow, this was a very generous portion! We ordered the Biscuits and Gravy, it came with two eggs, the biscuit with sausage gravy , choice of breakfast meats (that sounds very English to me, or have I watched to much Downtown Abby?) and choice of a side. The side of home fries were just right, a little crisp to them, and the turkey sausage had such good flavor but not too sharp. The gravy was gooooood. I split it with my hubs and then took half of mine home to my sleeping daughter. I was still full. There is a coffee pot out in the waiting area if you need a caffeine kick while you wait. They add it to your bill at the end. Plenty of seating outside if you do have to wait. I will definitely come back. Service was good and the diner was clean. We parked on the street but there are additional parking options near the diner. read more

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Love this place. I always stop by when I visit Durham. Great food, awesome service, little bitty parking spots

This has been one of my favorite local restaurants since moving to Durham in 2019. I always get the pancakes, home fries, and/or onion rings. I especially love their Lemon Berry Pancakes, but it's only sold on certain weekends. My 2nd favorite are the pumpkin pancakes which is fantastic. My BF always gets the Turkey burger, or shrimp and grits (only sold on weekends), and he loves it! I love the consistency of this place, the food literally tastes the same every single time, regardless of the time or day. Not to mention, the price and customer service is always right (even during the pandemic and quarantine)! I recommend ordering from whatever specials menu they have, but you can't go wrong! It's a small town feel, with big city satisfaction! read more

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This is the go to place if you want a simple breakfast that's consistent in taste, service and affordability. Nothing on the menu "wows" you but everything tastes good and comes in great portion sizes. read more

Elmo's Diner - 3 Back to Basics - eggs, breakfast potatoes and English muffin. Delicious! - Diners Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Great atmosphere and awesome diner food. Have been here several times during my trips to town both for dinner and breakfast. It is fast, courteous service and good food! read more

Food is subpar. But in a desperate need for breakfast OK. If you're looking for an awesome breakfast keep it moving. And the coffee is OMG, cheap tasting. read more

Great food at a great price! Really cool diner, been a few times over the year. Love the omelettes!! So far this is my go to place for biscuits and gravy, and I've been in the hunt for THE BEST BISCUITS AND GRAVY! Today I had a cranberry, pecan and grilled chicken salad and it didn't disappoint. Overall, I highly recommend them for a quick bite, breakfast foods at a great price. Only recommendation would be that I wish they had eggs benedict as an option, even if it was just a limited weekend option. read more

Elmo's Diner - Desert menu - Diners Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I think Elmo's is a decent breakfast spot. The service is usually friendly, the atmosphere is comfortable and casual, and the menu is pretty extensive. It can get really busy on weekend mornings, so there is often a wait and parking can be a hassle. All in all, I think it's fine for a traditional basic breakfast spot, but don't expect it to wow. read more

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This place is a classic. Food is always great, the service is always kind, quick and accommodating. You can't go wrong with Elmo's. Ever. read more

I think Elmo's is always fairly busy but they seem to run and manage the waits pretty efficiently. The food is very homemade-ish which is typically what you expect from a diner, right.? The pumpkin pancakes were soooooo good! Our service was quick and our server (I swear I'll do better with getting names) was attentive and friendly. read more

Elmo's Diner - Pumpkin pancakes - Diners Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Wonderful atmosphere with fantastic food and even better service. A massive shout out to Heather for showing this California native what Southern Hospitality means. Looking forward to stopping back in during my next visit! read more

Had a fantastic breakfast here recently. The shrimp and grits were perfect. Large, flavorful shrimp over the tastiest grits. All it needed was a couple of shakes of hot sauce. Served with a large biscuit. Service was fantastic and friendly. The restaurant was bustling but luckily we didn't have to wait too long. read more

This place is an old school diner with some great breakfast. I haven't been her for lunch or dinner, but I imagine it would be good. Their biscuit and gravy is legit! They've got some yummy brunch items. read more

I was in the city for a meeting and decide to stop in for an early lunch. To my surprise they were located at the end of the busy street with ample parking, specifically for their establishment. It looked a a comfortable location and upon entering the establishment I felt like I was stepping just slightly back in time. The older building being as well kept as it was with the option of counter seating definitely made this diner stand out. I sat in a warm and sunny portion of the dining room, next to the large open windows, it was very comfortable. The staff were exceptionally friendly and very attentive to your needs. I was not sure if they would be serving lunch prior to lunchtime, but took a chance and ordered a turkey burger with skin on mashed potatoes. Although I was very tempted to try the pancakes, I was going to be sitting in a meeting and needed something lighter. My food arrived shortly afterwards, prepared just as I asked and from what I could tell the turkey patty was definitely homemade. the skin on mashed potatoes definitely had the appearance of being homemade and after tasting them I confirmed that to be true. The entire meal was excellent, the potatoes tasted like something momma made, I added some extra butter and they were perfect. The burger was seasoned very well, provided plenty of cheese and tasted great. The price point for this establishment is excellent, you will not be disappointed by any means. The dining area can get loud, depending on who else is sitting there of course but the group next to me echoed quite a bit throughout. Still a great diner to visit. Cheers! read more

I am not a fan of brunch but when I go I always get hashbrowns, I like the mash ones, I like the whole ones; I like them all but this place had no hashbrowns how do you not have hashbrowns at a brunch breakfast spot?!?! I was so sad. Their options aren't that great, they have a chicken salad "or" tuna salad, but it depends on the week... so unlucky me wanted tuna and it was a chicken week... they were also out of soup of the day and it wasn't even 11am yet... OK onto the actual food we got. Boyfriend likes breakfast food so he got the pancakes, omelettes, biscuit, and grits. I went for the turkey avocado bacon wrap with coleslaw and french fries on the side. I thought the breakfast food was OK I was not too happy that everything we asked for cost extra like even cheese on the grits or pickles for the wrap but I guess it's a business and they're trying to make some money. I was happy with my wrap. The turkey was actual turkey pieces and not like deli slices. The bacon was a good decent size where I can taste it and my bites, and avocado tasted fresh. I was not a fan of the coleslaw and the fries was not very well seasoned. There was a long wait around brunch time but we got seated relatively quick since we got there before 10:30 AM. read more

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Honestly,this placed was so packed I expected SO much more. It was a very average diner, very average choices, super average quality.Knocked another star off for price. PROS: * they have your classic breakfast choices, combos, sweet and savory picks, etc * cheap -ish mimosas and a different brunch menu (with more typical choices) * very old style diner like vibe (but not cute enough to go out of your way for) * they serve counter culture coffee yum!!! * service was extremely friendly CONS: * Everything was more expensive than expected! * Got a waffle that I was super excited for (on the menu, they brag about their homemade batter) - it was thick and bready and plain --i was so disappointed. * Added country ham for an extra dollar thinking it was going to be thick cut and juicy, but it was thin and hard to cut (not tender or crisp... weird in the middle) * 25-35 minute wait for 11:30 on a Sunday.. SO not worth it OVERALL: I don't see myself coming back, unless something about their menu, venue, or flavors change! read more

Ok, I'm from the New York and New Jersey so diners have to really impress me for me to appreciate them. I know, that's not really fair. Elmo's is just not for me. It's always super crowded on the weekend. Brunch waits are insane. The food is okay. It's fine - nothing I ever crave or want to come back to. The best part is that it's cheap. The service is okay. The setting is classic diner. It just leaves nothing to be desired. There's a lot of great breakfast / brunch places in Durham and Elmo's food and quality just doesn't do it for me. read more

Have now eaten here twice on recent visits to Durham, NC and was pleased with both experiences. The most recent on 12/23/22, the wait for a table was a bit extreme, but the service was excellent and the food even better. If you're looking for home cooked food that warms the soul don't bypass this little "hole in the wall" which may not look like much because chances are you'll be pleasantly surprised! read more

Lunch at Elmo's Diner! it was hubbys first time! I had been once, years ago. We like to try places new to us! This one is usually packed in the mornings, so we went for lunch! To be honest, the food was bland! And the service, sub par! We never even got a drink refill! The ambiance is great, restaurant was clean! The staff super nice! Just not attentive! read more

Elmo's Diner - Elmos Burger - Diners Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I love this place! Breakfast is always amazing, pecan waffles are perfection.Service is always on top of things, making sure your drink is always full. Love the location too! read more

The place was great! The food was delicious and the cherry cobbler was some of the best I've ever had.

Amazing food and service, loved the experience. I would recommend this to anyone for a date night.

I had heard great things about Elmo's and my expectations were met! The service was great and we enjoyed our food. Pros -service was awesome! Coffee and water were refilled multiple times! The waitress also offered to split the check right off the bat which is always appreciated -food was delicious! I got the cranberry Apple pancakes which were multigrain pancakes with a cranberry compote topping. The compote was very sweet so only order this if you are a sugar addict like myself Cons -short wait because this place is so dang popular :-) read more

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Closest thing to an Nj diner. Always packed so be prepared to wait but the food comes quick and is worth the wait. Great for a classic waffle, omelette or sandwich. True diner vibes. A big menu and a lot of fun specials. read more

Elmo's has been doing sooo well during these crazy COVID times! I think it's the place I feel most comfortable dining in Durham and anywhere for that matter. They are very reasonably strict about patrons wearing their masks, keeping everyone distanced during waiting and while eating. I was so happy when they had first opened back up for car-side takeout at first, which was so smooth, easy to do, amazing food and better than no Elmo's! I'd say my husband and I come to Elmo's on a weekly basis for brunch or when we don't feel like making dinner. They still have a more limited menu, with several additional specials to choose from. I can always find something I'm in the mood for. We are really hoping they bring back the eggs Florentine sometime soon! It's our favorite dish!! Elmo's still is and will probably always be my favorite spot in Durham. read more

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I had the chilaquiles, which were spicy enough to taste really great without the heat overpowering the other flavors - yum! The pork sausage patties I had were fine but completely standard. My one complaint was that the Earl Grey tea came with lukewarm water, but the server quickly remedied that when asked. But the menu had a wide variety of breakfast offerings, and choosing wasn't easy - which is great. The service is prompt and friendly. This establishment is frequented by local law enforcement - and I can see why - good food at reasonable prices, and open early on Sunday mornings (and the rest of the week too) - which many of the better breakfast places are not - it seems that the high-quality breakfast/brunch places generally don't open until 9 or 10, by which time I've already eaten. It's definitely a cut above the other diner-like establishments. Summary: High quality standard breakfast offerings, plus a little more both in variety and ingredient quality, and a good value. read more

Elmo's Diner - Elmo's chilaquiles, with sausage patties on the side - Diners Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Variety of breakfast and lunch options. Accommodate allergies. I was on a soft diet post-surgery. Pancakes did not work. They cooked eggs for me no problem! Our favorite for anything food!! read more

I can't believe I've never reviewed Elmo's before! This is "our place" for my family- when we have out of town guests or want to meet up- we always meet here! They have something for everyone and are very family friendly! Good for families with kids, couples, brunch, lunch, dinner.. haha it fits every occasion! The prices are very reasonable too and the service is always very friendly and attentive. I've never had a bad meal here- tons of tasty options. It's not going to knock your socks off if you're looking for upscale - but it's better than your typical "diner food" and they offer breakfast all day! They have lots of vegan and vegetarian options which I really appreciate. They also offer gluten free options! Our favorites: vegetarian taco salad, veggie burger, CRINKLE FRIES, their sweet tea!, Greek grilled cheese, salmon cake meal, spaghetti, pancakes, artichoke dip, veggie grilled cheese, Brunswick stew, spicy veggie burrito, chicken enchiladas, blackberry cobbler (the list goes on- it's allll good!) It does get pretty busy during brunch hours- but they offer coffee in the lobby while you're waiting. They also usually request that your whole group be present when you put your name in during busy times. read more

Elmo's Diner - Salmon cake meal with broccoli casserole + cornbread - Diners Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

GGreat food, consistent quality, excellent service. Casual atmosphere. My go to place for breakfast, lunch and brunch.

True to its diner moniker, Elmo's has an expansive menu with all the breakfast basics and then some. We were seated quickly on a Sunday morning, service was fast, and our waitress Heather was great. I ordered the baked french toast which was good and surprisingly not super heavy. My cousin got the salmon cake which was good but quite small. It did come with several sides that altogether still filled him up but the grits were pretty oily and didn't look too appetizing. A solid breakfast spot overall read more

Elmo's Diner - Front - Baked French Toast with scrambled eggs and Turkey Sausage, Coffee Back - Salmon Cake & Eggs, Biscuit, Grits, and fruit - Diners Near Me - Durham, North Carolina