My wife took me here for my birthday and what a birthday dinner it was! This is one of the top restaurants in the Triangle - and I can't believe we hadn't eaten there yet. Now this place is quite expensive so it's definitely a special occasion kind of restaurant. Service was top notch - our waiter was always there when we needed him and never intrusive either. Food was outstanding! From appetizer to main course to dessert everything was fantastic. It was so good that my wife even wanted some of my entrée - even though it was a meat that she doesn't usually eat... One caveat: if you are celebrating something special then either order only one dessert or none. We ordered two and then on top of that our waiter brought out another chocolate dessert on the house. We almost exploded... We will definitely be back - and have been telling our friends to go there as well! read more

Came here for restaurant week - did not know what to expect. The service was fabulous, the food was meh. I had the corn chowder appetizer which could have been from a can. My husband and friend had chicken and dumplings which were just ok. My husband chose the pork dish for dinner which was really yummy. My friend and I had the potato crusted flounder and we were very disappointed. There was way too much breading and it needed a sauce. The collards that came with it were good. Dessert was a sample of small items. They were okay, nothing special. We all were very disappointed we spent so much money on food we weren't crazy about. read more

We tried out the Fairview Restaurant for the first time last night to take advantage of the restaurant week deal. I had made a reservation and we were promptly seated. After taking our order, they brought over some bread and then a complimentary amuse bouche--both very tasty. I started with the spring strawberry salad and had the flounder as my main dish. My boyfriend had the bacon-wrapped wasabi shrimp and steak. We were both very happy with our dinner choices. There was a nice "sampling of sweets" to end the meal--small bite of raspberry cheesecake, small scoop of creamsicle ice cream and a lemon panna cotta. The cheesecake and ice cream were our favorites. The food was nicely prepared and delicious. The service was great, but didn't get in the way of enjoying the meal. The only thing I would say makes this 4 stars instead of 5 stars for me was the price. We got an unbelievable deal with the Restaurant Week prix fixe menu--three courses for $30. The entrees alone were nearly $30 each on the regular menu. I would probably only come here again for a VERY special occasion, although I would consider coming back for the happy hour prix fixe dinner. read more

Good food, don't get me wrong with the three star rating but for the price you are paying you can find better opportunities in the area. If you are staying at the hotel it is a great place to eat. If you are not staying at the hotel I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to eat here. The breakfast buffet can break the bank so think about it before you eat there. Again, the food is good not for the price they charge. read more

Afternoon Tea! One of the local best-kept secrets is the Fairview's full, formal, proper English high tea. They offer this several days a week. From warm scones with clotted cream, lovely tiers of finger sandwiches and sweet treats, pots of different flavored teas (my favorite is the ginger peach), this is the full-on experience you'd get at the Dorchester or the Savoy. It's a delicious, civilized, calm oasis in beautiful surroundings. Highly recommended. read more

My husband and I ate at the Washington Duke (Fairview Dining Room) last Saturday night during Triangle Restaurant Week. Their Restaurant Week menu was excellent. There were 6 appetizer choices and 6 entree choices. The food could not have been better! Everything we ordered came out attractive, perfectly seasoned and served at the correct temperature. The low country jambalaya was delicious! That said, for a restaurant at this price point, with a quiet, romantic ambiance and beautiful surroundings the service was really awful. We had 3 or 4 different servers and although they were each professionally dressed and professional in manner, they never to got the correct order to the correct person and never managed to refill anything with out being asked.....bread, butter, water, coffee,etc. The restaurant was about 2/3rd full but the waitstaff just seemed overwhelmed. The food was so great I truly hope Fairview Dining Room get this issue ironed out as I see by many Yelp reviews that this is an ongoing problem. read more

The food was good and the service was sharp. I had the lump crab cakes - light, not deeply fried - pretty darn good. I have a hard time getting any more excited about eating at a hotel. read more

Love the breakfast. Great service. Delicious, cooked to order food (and they have a buffet). Wonderful people! As I said in my check-in, I give this place the following number of stars: the square root of the number of electrons for elemental Manganese. #verysmartpeoplehere I ate two poached chicken ovum, with two slices of baked flour risen with rye seeds and a bowl of beautiful berries from the great earth we walk on. Too bad there are idiots on this earth #feelingbadforthepeopleoftheUkraine read more

Fairview Dining Room - Perfect morning. - New American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Service was good, but kind of slow at first ... "Crabcake" should be called "Crabpile". The concept of cooking the crab meat together with a binder ( hence, the name cake) did not apply: it was a pile of crab meat lumps that tasted like something, not crab ( too much seasoning - Asian ??). Didn't get the root vegetables, at least could not identify them, and the greens were over cooked. End result: not good. The salad was decent, not special and the dessert disappointing: at 1:30 some of it was gone and not replaced. read more

Went here during triangle restaurant week. I was able to have a 3 course meal for $15. It was a good meal especially for the price but I think this place is overrated. I don't see myself going here on a regular day for a meal - I think it's too expensive for the quality of the food. There was nothing specific that I was jumping up and down about. The atmosphere gave off a nice classy/sophisticated vibe but I would only recommend trying it out if you are able to get a good deal for a meal. read more

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From the atmosphere to the service, the food and the ambience, all around 5 stars. The prices are a tad higher than most other places but the quality of products used and well regarded preparation is apparent from the start of any dish. We had a party of 4, later in the evening on a Saturday and had impeccable service. We all had appetizers, the soup of the day, entrees and a dessert flight of 3 to take home. We couldn't pass up the desserts but could not possibly eat it there. We all wound up having seafood, I personally had the two crab cakes, sooo tasty. All lumped crab meat and very filling. We all tried a little of each and the Chilean sea bass was a special and it was phenomenal! No pictures taken as it is requested not to use your phones, not necessary, just a request. Live piano in the dining room with great views of the greens and patio. read more

Fairview Dining Room - Had the rhubarb tart for bfast the next day. With coffee, yum! - New American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Review for brunch: Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday 10:30 am - 2 pm. It's 3 courses, but the last course is a dessert buffet, so you could make it however many courses as you'd like. I started off with the half grapefruit appetizer, basically half a grapefruit presliced and topped with berries. Wouldn't really recommend, but I was trying to save room for the next two courses. Next, I ordered the goat lady eggs Benedict, which had prosciutto, asparagus, tomato, goat cheese, honey wheat muffin, and hollandaise, with breakfast potatoes (could also get fruit or grits) as a side. Highly recommend! They didn't ask me how I wanted my eggs cooked, and were done medium, so no runny yolk. It wasn't a problem, though, because the sauce they put over it had already drenched the english muffin underneath and the prosciutto with the goat cheese together added lots of flavor. I do wish they were more generous with the goat cheese, I could barely taste it at times. Next, you make your way to the dessert station in the center of the room, where they had parfaits, cobbler, mouse, cakes, and pie. Grab a plate and fill it up with however many sugary items as you'd like. The items I tried were all really good, but not super noteworthy. Two words of advice: come hungry. read more

Fairview Dining Room - goat lady eggs benedict - New American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Nicely decorated, very polite staff. Reasonable price. Morning buffet has many choices read more

I went back and forth on this review a lot, whether I should rank it four or five stars. I ended up with 5 as the service was spot on, the wine list was extensive and offered a wide range of quality options, and the food was quite tasty. However, it's really quite expensive, and fell short in the experience department. The food, while good, was not excellent. The meal was very good, but not memorable. I opted for the lamb shank on a bed of risotto - the lamb was cooked well and fell off the bone, but the flavors were a bit underwhelming for the dish. I don't think you'd come away disappointed from this experience - the meal was great and the service was spot on. However, for the price, and given the foodie nature of Durham, I'm not sure I would choose to go back here with other better and cheaper options available. Perhaps for a special occasion, but if I'm going pricey, I think there are some better places in the area. read more

I freaking adore the Fairview. We come here once or twice a year for afternoon tea. I've eaten here too for lunch and it was great. The service is ALWAYS excellent. I mean, very proper for afternoon tea. The scones, cucumber sandwiches, chocolate covered strawberries, etc are to die for. Their lemon curd is not the stuff from the Dickinson's jar.... (that they serve over at the Carolina Inn) it's MUCH better. One time when I went for my birthday, after having all of those amazing tea sandwiches, sweets, and scones... they brought me out a HUGE piece of cake decorated for my birthday!!!!! I was like whoa! I could barely eat any, but I took it with me. I am giving them only 4 stars because of two things. The restrooms are FAR from the restaurant. You have to walk down two hallways to get there (out of the restaurant). It's kinda awkward having to leave for that long -away from your guest. The other reason I am giving them 4 stars instead of 5, is because they do not use real bone china. Crossroad's at the Carolina Inn uses the real stuff from like a Great Grandma (in London..)... I mean, stuff if you drop it would cost you a leg. Afternoon tea runs around $25 a person, but it's really nice. Great thing to take your favorite lady to if she likes tea and sweets. read more

What a terrible restaurant! The service was below a regular one dollar sign restaurant. We asked for bread three times before it was brought to us, and we had to ask a different server! Then he brought one small basket of bread for a table of 13 people. What? He asked us to finish the basket before he can bring more. What kind of outrage! This was embarrassing for me to host the business meal. Then he went around tripping over chairs and clanking around with silverware. Not only was service slow, he served us one dessert short that was included in the set menu, and we had to ask him to come back again a third time (AFTER THE CHECK WAS SIGNED AND HE TOOK THAT AWAY TOO) so he can practice counting with us. How humiliating. read more

I loved Fairview when I was a student at Duke though it definitely hurts the wallet a little more that I've graduated. I've been here for just about every meal - brunch, lunch, dinner and most recently afternoon tea. I somehow managed to never go for afternoon tea while I was a student and two of my friends were in town visiting and were dying to go back to the WaDuke. I was a little hesitant at first since it is $25/pp for tea and nibbles but it turned out to be absolutely fantastic (and filling)! I couldn't help but laugh at the corny description on the website of Afternoon Tea: "In remembrance of more genteel times... Relish the intimacy and unhurried pace of this time-honored tradition, sure to be a restorative and memorable experience for you and your guests" but it really hit the nail on the head. Me and my girlfriends just hung out and chatted for THREE hours before we realized the time. I had a Jasmine/Green tea and definitely recommend it - so aromatic and delicious. The nibbles don't seem like that much, but I even winded up taking a couple home. I highly recommend trying this once, especially with your girlfriends. I haven't had a bad meal yet at the WaDuke (and I've dined here 10+ times over the last 5 years or so). Brunch portions are huge and come with unlimited dessert. There's also a live piano player. I love coming for dinner (especially for the early dining special which is a fixed price 3 course meal) and the creme brule is fantastic. Overall, a little on the pricey side but great for a nice night out for the food, upscale atmosphere and service. read more

My first visit to the Fairview at the Washington Duke Inn was a special event and the place deserves accolades for decor, ambiance and attentive service. The menu is a little pricey; but, it has really interesting choices and everything we tried was very good. The chef places emphasis on flavors and sauces, and does a good job. We had champagne, the pecan-crusted chicken, the NY Strip, wine from the Biltmore Estate (surprisingly good), coffee, and two desserts. The presentation and the pianist set the evening. Downsides: the steak was very good but not cooked as requested, so diners should adjust for the chef''s under-cooking a bit, and the waiter forgot the soup we ordered, Upsides: the ability to relax in a nice, quiet restaurant, talk without shouting, and the quality of the food completely made up for any shortcomings. You can get an equally good meal cheaper at any number of places in the Triangle; but, the total package sets The Fairview apart for a special night out.....and just a little more attention could easily bump this rating up to 5 stars. read more

My friends and I went here to get the full on fancy-meal-experience and to spend our Duke foodpoints. We had appetizers, wine, entrees, desserts, and even after-dinner drinks. Classic Caesar salad - freshly shaved Parmesan cheese was impressive as well as the inclusion of an actual slice of Spanish anchovy. The greens were great though there were a lot of stems. I had the waiter add a lot of pepper to the salad which definitely enhanced the dressing's flavor. The foccacia croutons sort of stayed around until the very end because they were large chunks unlike the cubed store-bought kind - thumbs up for actually making their own croutons. Oh and yes, there was a cheddar crisp that I happily broke into the salad. Artisan cheese plate - I forgot the name of one of the cheeses and because they vary per night/week, I could not find it on the online menu. However, the two that I did remember were the Manchego cheese and Bleu cheese. All of them were of Spanish origin so the waiter told us. The Manchego seemed almost tasteless to me at first but perhaps it was because I had it with the seasoned flatbread cracker. When I had it alone, I liked its subtle flavor. It was a semi-soft cheese. The cheddar was actually quite pleasing because it wasn't too sharp. I wasn't in the mood for a sharp cheddar, and this one still had a kick to it but only mildly so. The one I liked best, however, was the Bleu cheese. My friends agreed as well. It was nice and creamy, spreadable on the crackers and rich in taste. We finished it first. Other parts to the plate were the fresh honey and Tamari roasted almonds. The honey was fantastic and dipping the almonds in it only made it all the better. I'm not sure, however, that the almonds should've been matched with those cheeses. The second appetizer was a plate of pan-seared scallops. They were complemented with braised endive, roasted mushrooms, and a sweet potato-black truffle vinaigrette. I thought that the scallops themselves were a tad too soft and bland on the inside. That was probably attributed to how thick each of them were; dipping them into the sauce helped a bit. The endive and mushrooms were great in the vinaigrette as well as on their own since they had some sort of seasoning. My dinner was poached Maine lobster tail with roasted mirepoix, lobster and potato ravioli, and leek fondue. I was excited to try out lobster tail in an American restaurant as I had always had lobster from Asian places back home. However, I'd have to say I was mildly disappointed with my expensive dish. The lobster was soft and flavorful in itself but the rest of the dish did not measure up to my expectations. The mirepoix was too hard, the lobster and potato ravioli too dry (the plus was how stuffed it was with lobster rather than cheaper ingredients), and the leek fondue much too salty. I still enjoyed my main dish for its main feature of the lobster tail but everything else left me with criticisms. I ordered a bottle of Pinot Grigio Stella (Umbria, Italy) for the table because we had decided before we got to the restaurant that we were all having seafood of some sort. A white wine definitely complements that choice, and I decided on a Pinot Grigio because 1) I like them and 2) I am not well-versed in many other wines. It turned out to be an excellent choice that everyone at the table liked; it was light and almost without the sometimes-unpleasant (to some) taste of alcohol. I felt like it still had a good body to it and quenched our thirst for fancifulness. Who could pass up on splurging on desserts as well? We had a molten chocolate cake duo w/Tahitian Vanilla ice cream and Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout chocolate gelato, a grapefruit sorbet with seasonal berries, and a caramel apple tart with Apple Jack ice cream. After so much food, I think the most fitting to finish the night was the light, refreshing grapefruit sorbet. All of them were fantastic though. The chocolate cake was quite condensed even with its small size but it was balanced out with the vanilla ice cream. The chocolate gelato part was great on its own but as you can read, there was some Duck-Rabbit in it which was definitely noticeable. Good thing I like the taste of beer or else the gelato would've been ruined for me! The apple tart was a good in-between because it was rich in itself but still light enough because of the fruitiness and ice cream that it wasn't unbearable on a full stomach. On the waiter's suggestion, I went with the Michele Chiarlo 'Nivole' Moscato d'Asti 2008 (Canelli, Italy) for dessert wine, and my oh my was it fantastic. It was a sweet, bubbly wine that was a little thick. A good way to describe it would be A good way to describe it would be to think of a glass of Sprite that has a little more syrup than carbonated water. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and the small sip that my roommate took confirmed its amazingness. I'd have say that the Moscato was actually the highlight of that night out and the perfect way to end! read more

Wow. Wow. Wow. Amazing dining experience start to finish. The food was amazing. The service here is topnotch, from the host when you walk in to the waitstaff to the food runners. I haven't been to such a perfectly run establishment in a LONG time. Keep doing what you're doing Fairview!!! read more

One of my favourite places in Durham!! I have never disliked anything here and all their courses are generally good. I have been here for afternoon tea and it's nice just sitting there, chatting with friends and relaxing over a pot of tea and hors d'oeuvres. I also love their molten chocolate cake (I like hot desserts with ice cream in general). I think it's most worth it to come to brunch here. You basically pay for the price of your entree and there is unlimited desserts!!! make sure you save room for this. I'm always stuffed after my entree and can't take full advantage of the desserts. Another plus is that I could pay for this place with Duke food points!! read more

GLUTEN FREE :Still my favorite restaurant. Beautiful grounds, beautiful traditional interior, friendly professional staff. I messaged the chef to ask about gluten free accommodations and the waiter was already aware when we sat down. Almost everything on the menu was easily modified to be GF. Wonderful combination of textures and flavors. The gluten free flourless cake and crem brûlée were yummy ( the only 2 GF desserts but didn't need more), tuna tar tar, kale salad, steaks, dessert and wine were all perfect. I Absolutely love the whole experience of eating there. Breakfasts are also very good! read more

The service here might be better than the food. And the food is simply amazing. This needs to be on your list of places to try. It is expensive, but I feel the meal is worth every cent. read more

This review is based on several visits for a multiple course dinner with wine service. First, the food has been outstanding each time. They may not always have the latest and greatest and most experimental dishes, and their decor is definitely conservative, but what they will have is perfectly prepared and presented delicious food. But the best reason to go here is for their service. It seems that the longest-standing restaurants in the Triangle are those whose service is impeccable. I've had that level of service consistently over the years from Angus Barn. And in three tries, I've had that level of service from this restaurant. Friendly, thorough, polite, detailed, attentive. We make really amazing food at home. When we go out, it's nice to be taken care of. The Fairview's competition offers mostly disaffected youth as servers, a take it or leave it approach, with little knowledge of how to run a table, but the Fairview delivers what I have learned to expect from fine dining. You're going to get really great food and you will not get anything but the best service. For a dinner where you don't want to risk anything going wrong, go to the Fairview. Also, the seats are really comfortable. They're not in a hurry to turn your table. read more

I would give this restaurant the 5 stars it deserves if the food merited exceptional, but alas, it does not. The main courses were well prepared but for the price, for the promise of the location, I've had better at Tripps. But you should go for the shear elegance of service and the spectacular atmosphere of a fine dining experience. I will close this by saying the desserts are worthy of five stars, fantastic! read more

Really fun dining experience for brunch and for afternoon tea. I'd go with groups of friends, sometimes for special occasions, sometimes just for fun (as a Duke student, thank goodness for food points!). Definitely allow yourself a couple of hours for the whole experience, but it's really just lovely (and honestly, prepare to be stuffed when you leave). read more

We had some friends visit from out of town last Sunday & wanted to take them to a restaurant that was as enjoyable visually as it was Tasty. The staff was prompt & very knowledgeable about the menu. We had a party of ten, everyone throughly enjoyed their meal. read more

Great for brunch and tea time, and dinner is just ok. Brunch: ordered the smoked salmon, omelet, and had unlimited dessert buffet. Dessert was definitely the highlight - delicious pecan tarts, bread pudding, chocolate covered strawberries, and so much more. There was so much more food than we could eat, and I was stuffed for the entire day. Definitely the best value. Tea: got some sort of peach tea that was delicious, although too much caffeine for my taste. The treats served with tea are great, although it isn't the best value (around 25 dollars for some tea and small treats). The treats aren't particularly filling, but in this case, I liked the fact that it wasn't too much food. Dinner: I have come here multiple times for dinner and in general, I'm not very impressed. I've had steak once and angelfish once, and both were just ok. In my opinion, somewhat overpriced. The bread for all of these meals (scones, muffins, biscuits, plain bread) is just amazing though. Make sure to box up leftovers! read more

My favorite restaurant in Durham. Yes, it is somewhat expensive but is definitely worth it for both the excellent food and for the quality service. I'm a regular visitor for dinner. One point few reviewers have noted is how beautiful it is to sit outside during the warm months--one is next to flowers and multiple butterflies and can gaze at the wonderful spread of the golf course. Best outside view in the area. read more

I love the Fairview Dining room. When we were undergrads we would hussle our end of year food points together and get dressed up to go. The staff here is so kind, and the food is always delicious. I love that the menu is seasonal, and updated frequently. Also don't miss breakfast and brunch options here. And if you want to do something really special go for tea! You have to call in advance to schedule that but it is such a fun, delicious experience to share with friends. read more

Wonderful mother's day buffet prior to my daughter's games here at Duke. Delicious wafels, grits, salmon, omelettes, pastries.

The food here was delicious, best crab cakes I've had in the south. Our waiter was wonderful as well giving great recommendations and was very attentive. read more

Pricey but a good breakfast. I had two eggs, toast, grits, and coffee and it came to be about $13. But it was nice to have a view of the golf course during the meal. read more

Order the burger here and you will not be disappointed. Yes, it costs about as much as a full tank of 87 octane gasoline for your Toyota Corolla, but you will love it. read more

Perfect end to my weekend in Durham! The hostess was so sweet, the waitress (Toni) was so complementary, she suggested her favorite, the corn-beef hash. The plate arrived hot and the hollandaise was the perfect balance of butter and lemon. Definitely recommend this restaurant to travelers looking for some Southern comfort food and a charming dinning experience. read more

Fairview Dining Room - Elegant dinning experience awaits... - New American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This place is definitely my favorite formal dining in Durham. While I was at Duke, we went to WaDuke AT LEAST twice a year. This is also a great place to go with your friends or family as it's very nice. I hope they're thinking about bringing the Bison dish back because it's the bomb. Really, almost anything here is delicious. I gave it a 4/5 because the staff (manager in particular) was really pretentious once and they are not the friendliest of people here. read more

When it comes to food, I have never had a bad experience. To put this in perspective, I am a student at Duke, meaning that I eat most of my meals at the dining hall where everything tastes like mush, so the food here blows me away every time. I have been treated better, however. As a Duke student paying on food points, I understand that Duke takes a sizable cut of the money spent, and that students are not the ideal customers: they may not tip well and can be more exuberant than is appropriate for the locale. Even so, that does not excuse some of the downright poor service I've received over the past three years. I have had to wait 45 minutes for my group's checks to go through. We've had to ask for bread that was delivered automatically to other guests. Servers of coffee and tea do not hang around to ask if we would like cream/sugar, forcing us to wait and flag them down again. Less tangibly, but perhaps most importantly, I sometimes get the sense that I am not welcome there (little eye contact, brief/curt responses, etc.) This is not my experience every time I go (I have been perhaps 15 times, and most of the time I feel very well-treated) but the occasions where I do feel slighted stand out to me. I believe all diners should be treated equitably, but this is an area that they could stand to improve. read more

I wish I could say 4 and 1/2 stars. The service (Angel) was amazing. Dinner was fabulous (carpet bagger filet) and the truffle brownie dessert was a winner. The romaine salad appetizer was a disappointment but I would definitely go back. read more

Pros: The environment, service, etc. could not be more perfect. The restaurant has a beautiful view of an immaculately-manicured golf course, everything was clean, quiet, and pleasant. The service was top-notch - our waitress was friendly and engaging, and found a great balance for being available but not pestering. They also gave us a lovely anniversary dessert for free, which was a great plus. From this perspective, it was a classy place. Cons: The food. My wife got the New York Strip, which was good, but nothing special. You could have "gone out back" and gotten an equivalent steak, if you know what I mean. At this price, you're expecting to be impressed. I had the veal which was, frankly, terrible. It was tough with very little flavor. (Not all the food was bad or only OK, though. My veal did come with a fantastic roll thing which was basically mashed potatoes surrounded in some sort of light and crispy fried skin which was rather amazing. Before the meal started, we were given a very small sample of a cooked piece of bacon with some garnishes. Summer salad was also very good, and creative.) Overall, if you're looking for the perfect environment, this is your place. If you want reliably tasty food, there are lots of far better and far cheaper options. read more

High class ambiance and top quality food. Pretty good wine list too!