The food is good home cooking- staff is kind and attentive- difficult to find parking

No flavor, turkey sausage was dry, long wait for nothing. Food could be a lot better. The waitress was very nice though.

One of my local American friends took me for lunch at Elmo's. That was 3 years ago and now I am a regular at this joint bringing my friends along. One of the best diners in town with friendly staff and an expansive menu. The brunch specials are my to-go menu items because they're delicious and portion sizes are modest. Pancakes and waffles are unbeatable too. You'll find your favorite dish on the menu and if not, then they can customize majority of dishes for you. read more

My previous review was three stars but I DEFINITELY want to upgrade it to a 5! We eat there nearly every Sunday. Wait times are minimal. Service is prompt. Food in YUMMY! Coffee is always fresh. Overall one of our favorite spots. read more

We have been devoted Elmo's customers for more than 20 years, eating there weekly. It has a typical diner menu and the food is consistently tasty. It's a great place for a group with varied tastes and is super kid-friendly. The managers and wait staff are friendly and attentive. Weekend breakfasts are busy, but it's easy to relax and linger at weekday breakfast and lunch. And the prices can't be beat! read more

Ahhh Elmo's. I remember my first meal in Durham, it was at Elmo's. Located on Ninth Street, Elmo's is the spot for families in the area, and for nearby students to sit down and enjoy a good meal. From brunch to dinner, Elmo's is warm and welcoming at any time of the day. Sure, compared to some other fancier options nearby, Elmo's is simple and humble, but the classic offerings are always decent and will never disappoint. read more

Always great service. Always great food! Will always pick Elmo's as a staple dinner in Durham!

A couple weeks ago, my husband and I visited Elmo's Diner for breakfast. I ordered a vegetarian omelet with home fries. This was honestly one of the worst breakfasts I have had in a very long time. The omelet was dry and the vegetables were scarce and not fresh. What I did find were chunks of broccoli stems, clearly from a frozen bag of broccoli, and the mushrooms were either frozen or canned. I expected to get sautéed potatoes/onions/spices for the home fries, and what I got instead was deep fried potato chunks that were over fried, dry, and bland. We've been to Elmo's a few times and had good experiences, so not sure if the food overall has declined, but this definitely made me rethink visiting the diner again. read more

Fantastic, classic breakfasts. The staff are kind, efficient, the restaurant reliable and a family favorite, especially for my dad who really hates it when people "make food too fancy"! Has retained several servers for several years and we enjoy seeing them on return visits. The front bar top is our favorite. Dinner menu is huge-- one relative with a million food intolerances can find what he wants while our niece and nephew can find what every 7 and 10 year old wants! We waited to long to discover how great dinner was, after visiting the restaurant for years for breakfast. read more

I came to Elmo's expecting diner vibes, but it reminded me more of an ihop. The menu was huge with so many options, plus a specials list. I chose the Reuben. It was a good sandwich and the fries were good as well. I think the breakfast might be there specialty though. If there's a next time, I'll definitely try the breakfast items. read more

It was our first visit to Elmo's diner and I must say, it was fabulous!! Our waiter paid attention to detail and made sure our cups and glasses were full. The food was excellent!! You are served large portions which are well worth the price. the atmosphere is wonderful. friendly atmosphere well-lit clean lots of Sun. I must say I never knew this diner existed we must visit 9th Street more often! I would highly recommend Elmo's diner for breakfast! We got there early enough that there was not a wait however, when we finish eating and was leaving the place was really filling up! if you ask me what's the perfect time to get there on a Saturday morning, I would say anytime before 9:30 a.m. I get bumbs up Elmo's diner! read more

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

Salmon cakes and dill sauce are amazing! My girlfriend absolutely loved the stuffed french toast. Unfortunately, we live in Florida. Otherwise we would be here every morning. read more

Large Menu, Big Portions, Huge Flavor! Love this place for the awesome grub, both breakfast, lunch & the classic diner vibe. Walk Cox Mt Trail at Eno River, then come here & order 2 of everything! read more

Here's the thing...if you stay in a hotel in Durham you have GOT to go to Erwin St (also called 9th Street). This is where normal people are hanging out. Exhausted from the overwrought food in downtown Durham we hit Elmo's on the way out of town for breakfast. Parking is a nightmare, but we were seated quickly. The menu for breakfast is basic, but the service is outstanding. Hostess....server....runner....busser. It was slick and fast. Breakfast was OK, but service was superb. The only downside is the sign on the door saying "No Guns". This is disconcerting. Since constitutional right to own and carry a pistol trumps Elmo's dining policy, I kept my pistol on me. Perhaps change the sign to "No Murder". read more

Food delish. Salad fresh. Clean and friendly. Food service was prompt. Cornbread a little dry. Liked food selection. All American select choices. read more

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

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Went here yesterday on a cold and rainy Saturday. We were surprised that is was so busy despite the bad weather. When we arrived we were told it would be a twenty minute wait but we were seated at the bar area in about 15. The menu was very large and there were at least 15 breakfast specials on the menu. The specials ranged from burgers to unique pancake options. I decided to stick with basic breakfast food and got the pancakes and they were delicious. I believe they are known for their breakfast here. Overall the food was great and served quickly! The waitress was very friendly and friendly had a side of sunflower toast that was baked by a local bakery. Great experience and will definitely go back! I just wanted to note the restaurant is kind of small and there isn't a lot of parking. But there is plenty of street parking available. It's located near a few little shops and other places and overall the street has a cool vibe. read more

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

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Very busy place, be prepared to wait a little while. However, the line moves quickly considering how many people they serve. Excellent food and the staff is very friendly. They serve breakfast all day. I love their waffles. I would definitely recommend eating there. Best breakfast place I have found in Durham so far. read more

Great food, great menu, great staff.... Really everything you need in a diner for breakfast!!

Had high hopes and was very disappointed. Biscuits and gravy were not good, the gravey tasted like wall paper paste. The staff was great, very personable and willing to help. The food was just not good. read more

We love this place! We always manage to sit in Megan's section: she is A+ Awesome food, service, and atmosphere.

We had breakfast, she ordered the spinach quiche and thought it was great. Wished the portions were just a tad bigger. I ordered the chilaquiles and it was okay but once she brought out a side order of sausage to add it was pretty dang good. The sweet tea is great you can actually taste the tea and the sweet. It's not pure sugar. Service was fast, one of the cleanest diners I've ever been in. There was plenty of parking. read more

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

Just a fantastic little spot! Their lemonade is mostly homemade and it shows! Must get it if you are a lemonade fan! Their baked apples were delicious! My aunt said they served the best broccoli casserole she ever had - and she's 72yrs old, so she's eaten plenty of it! I ordered their salmon which was tasty. There was a bourbon or bbq glaze of some type I would have passed on but it wasn't bad. Just a wee heavier than my taste- maybe they should ask if patrons prefer to leave it off... also had the steamed broccoli and smashed potatoes which were both REAL and very tasty! Grilled chicken breast was of excellent quality and tasty! Highly recommend this pleasant gem if you are in the area and looking for a retro vibe w good food! There is a counter to eat at so the Mayberry RFD vine is subtly present. Staff interacted with locals in a lively, familiar manner. That was a very nice surprise after a somewhat stressful day at Duke Medical Center for appointments. If you are stopping in, ask for Zander! He was a ray of sunshine to top off a pleasant dining experience! read more

Elmo's Diner - Cute wall hanging - Diners Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Friendly service - each employee that we interacted with was very warm and seemed interested in our experience. Food was prepared well with a good variety. read more

Great place Good food diner quality. Great service A little bland but tasty and super fresh. read more

Great diner atmosphere and very tasty food. Loved the biscuits with sausage gravy. And coffee good too.

We love Elmo's diner! The food is delicious and the staff is friendly. They are usually busy, but they really keep things moving. It's definitely worth the wait! read more

You know it's going to be good if the Police and EMS are eating here. Good country cooking! Will defiantly be back fo sho. read more

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

Great service by Connie! Loved that everyone in Elmo's was so friendly. Food was tasty. Between the entire table we tried a few things from the dinner menu AND the breakfast menu. Once I see breakfast served all day I can't resist! Specifically I was able to eat biscuits with sausage gravy, scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns, chocolate chip pancakes, cinnamon apples, and I stole some french fries from my sons plate. Everything was great and the prices were even better! read more

I went to Elmo's last Sunday with a friend where I had, and I say this without exaggeration, the best American-style breakfast in my life! I had the Shrimp and Grits item found on their Specials menu, which consisted of shrimp, spicy cheese grits, pepper jack cheese (my choice), sauteed green and red peppers, onions, tomatoes and scallions. Also, two scrambled eggs with a biscuit (my choice) and black decaf coffee (my choice). The waitress reassured me that the biscuit is going to be really good and that it is made from scratch there at the restaurant. She was absolutely right! And actually, the whole meal was filling. It was my last for a good 5 hours while on the road trip back to Ohio. And now, I'm on a mission to see who will serve this meal here - the challenge will be finding a place to serve cheesy grits AND shrimp! Other observations about this place...On Sunday morning, between 9:30 AM and 10:00 AM when we arrived, it was busy with a 20-minute wait. It was just my friend and I, and I got to drink my coffee out of a mug before we sat. All of this is to be expected, in my opinion. There are a few breakfast places where I am from that are popular and have the same [good] restaurant problem - everyone and their brothers want to eat there at the same time! But once we got in, the waitress and the service were both attentive and incredibly quick. They also have a place to hang your coat next to your table, something I believe every restaurant of this style should have, especially in Ohio where it gets colder in the winter. Having said more than enough, the bottom line is when I visit my friend in Durham, NC again, I will definitely be back here and have my outstanding breakfast once again! read more

Elmo's Diner - I had the Shrimp and Grits item found on their Specials menu. Hands down, the most filling breakfast I have ever had! - Diners Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Don't believe the hype. The atmosphere is nice (classic diner), but the food is sub-par & the service is average. Not worth your time.

This place screams Durham and fun atmosphere, with a great perch for watching Durhamites wander up and down 9th St while you eat. Service was good, with a diner feel. Not overly warm and welcoming, but not expected in that setting. They were attentive, friendly, and able to make recommendations when asked for advice. I opted for the baked french toast with cinnamon apples, which was reasonably good - and filling. Prices reasonable/borderline cheap, and a hearty selection of offerings. Will certainly be back to try more of the menu. read more

It is very hard to get it right on fish taco. The fish has to be juicy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. Yet the coating should not be too thick and it should not be greasy. Elmo did it all correct. What is more, they are generous on fish. Yes, two fish pieces per taco. Fish taco is about fish! The dressing also has robust flavor. Mashed potato: full of characters. The gravy is cooked using good ingredients. It has depth and I like how they keep the potato skins. read more

Elmo's Diner - Mashed Potato - Diners Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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We love checking out Elmo's on an early Saturday morning--emphasis on EARLY bc this place reallly gets packed. The staff does a great job of handling the weekend crowds, but if you're a couple just head over to the counter to get yourself up close and personal with your breakfast. We really enjoy their classic breakfasts (eggs w/ the meats) but have had some really great additions like vegan pumpkin/oat pancakes or their huevos rancheros (delicioso y super spicy). The coffee is always flowing and the conversation is always friendly. read more

Food was delicious! Probably the very best breakfast in Durham. Creative and filling. It's pricey. And trying to get in on a Saturday or Sunday morning will almost be impossible. If it's a place that you really wanna try, I would definitely try to go mid week. Service was friendly and fast. Parking can be difficult. This is a place to take friends. read more

My 1st visit to Elmo's make me want to go back again. It was really busy but I was able to get a seat at the counter within 15 minutes. The service was quick and the waitress was on point. I enjoyed my baked french toast and will be back to try something else on their extensive brunch menu another time. read more

Elmo's Diner - My 1st time at Elmo's and I'm loving it - Diners Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Elmo's Diner is a great place for grabbing a bite to eat. I gave it 5 stars because even though there are a few small cons, they personally haven't affected me at all (just some friends). Pros Inexpensive (under $10) Great children's menu with realistic and simple food (toast and an egg, plain noodles with cheese, etc) some items even cost less than $3! Good food (I had a veggie burger, it was hot, fresh, and delicious) Friendly staff (our server was training but so professional and helpful) Good with children - coloring is provided Cons Parking can be tricky Sometimes there is a wait Bathrooms are small read more

Love their breakfast!! Love the banana pancakes! Everything was delicious...service was great! read more

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

Quality food at a very fair price with great selections and specials without menu overload. My Durham go-to.

Food is delicious... but the Manager is extremely rude. I've been coming to this location for 7 years now, so the manager must be new. Clearly super stressed when it's busy and her attitude was such a buzzkill. read more

This diner is amazing! The food to the fast service. Their burgers are good and their milkshake. In terms of quality and quantity. I ever tried their kid's chocolate fudge scoop. They even give you a coloring sheet and irrespective of my age I'm down for that. read more

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

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