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.

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

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

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

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

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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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

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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First suggestion we followed from the TV Food Map App. Cindy's Southwest Grits and my Chilaquiles (nicely spicy-pictured)) were terrific and unique. Delicious !! The server was really nice and the porch was relaxing for our 15 minute wait for this popular place. 2 Thumbs up to Elmo's and the App! read more

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

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

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

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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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Great for breakfast, if they do the rest of their food like breakfast it I'll be perfect!

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

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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My husband and I have been here twice, once with my in laws. The food is fresh and the menu has a good variety. Prices are great and so is the service. Only reason for 4 stars is the wait. Good for y'all for running a successful business but there is always a very long wait time. read more

Such a cute and homey dinner! Food was fantastic, I got the lemon berry pancake special which was amazing. Service was quick and friendly! read more

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

~This is a review of their dinner food, not breakfast or brunch~ My partner and I went in last night for dinner. I had the elmo's burger with onion rings and he had the chicken & dumplings with a roll and french fries. The service was great, the prices were right, and the food came out pretty quickly, but the food itself was just ok. I am actually a big fan of diner food, but this did not live up to the hype surrounding Elmo's in Durham. Nothing was wrong with the food (the only issue being that my partner was brought rice instead of french fries), but both my partner and I found it to be pretty bland and unremarkable overall. I will definitely come again to try the breakfast food, because that appears to be what they are known for! At dinner time, we didn't have to wait to get seated, and while we walked, parking would not have been an issue. From what I've seen in the mornings, neither of those things would be true: they are usually very busy and unless you go really early there is normally a wait, and their parking lot fills quickly (although there is street parking up and down Ninth) read more

Lots of variety for vegetarians. Reasonable prices, tons of different options, and a huge daily specials menu.

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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Had brunch here with the family and friends. Service was great. Food was so delicious!!!!!! My son got a waffle, which filled up the whole plate- he ate all of it!! I had an omlet with potatoes and English muffin. Did not leave here hungry at all! Of note, parking is a quick turn into a small side lot. It fits more cars than you would think but fills up fast. Diner packs in so maybe call ahead or be prepared to wait. It's definitely worth it though!! Prices were fair for the high quality. read more

Popped in for a couple of reasons... after a 3 hr journey to Durham I wanted a home-run for a meal. Have eaten here before so knew I would get decent food. Shawn D. my waiter was friendly and attentive. and my meal which was the Elmo's Burger with a side of fries and I added a small side salad with this cool dressing (tahini and lemon) got to try it if you haven't. Mic the busboy was awesome too... and I am not just saying that because he is my son. LOL. :) Today was Mic's last day at Elmo's as he has to focus on his last year of Highschool. This place is always busy and for good reason. Very friendly folks and consistently good grub. read more

This place is where you go when you want great food with the stereotypical diner atmosphere. They seem to stay busy so keep that in mind when arriving. We will be back! read more

Burrito was nice, burger was also nice. You should try here, when you are at Durham, NC. read more

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Cute spot near Duke. Great good and huge servings. Our waitress was great too. Shrimp and grits were delicious. Would be back when in the area! read more

Don't get me wrong, I think the food here is pretty awesome...at least it was when I was going there about 3 years ago. But see, it's been that long since my last visit. The last several times I went, I left pissed off. Twice they messed up my bill...once charging my credit card for SOMEONE ELSE'S meal (at a completely different table!) and once charging me an incorrect amount and then acting like it was MY fault. And the last time I went, it was just my husband and myself, we had a long wait. Not surprising or unexpected but what was unwelcome was that the hostess seated at least four parties that came in after us. My husband said something to her twice and it still took another 30 minutes. We have not returned since then. If you do decide to check this place out, I hope you get better service than we did. read more

Very quaint hang out near the college. We stopped for breakfast. The food was the normal breakfast fare with a good price and service was great! The decor was fun and my kids loved that several Duke basketball players were there eating ! Worth the stop if you're in town and a walk around the neighborhood too! read more

This is an awesome and delicious place for breakfast. When you find a place that give you crispy bacon or make that breakfast like momma make. It's a winner..Only thing they need to add now is shrimp and grits, that would be a game changer. Yes indeed. But I love it and my server Megan is so patient and so sweet she helped me choose and delicious breakfast.. another idea is seafood omelet, but that's just me being from SC lol.. Highly recommend this diner.. read more