Grata Diner is a good looking diner tucked away in the corner. They have patio seating and indoor seating... green leather / vinyl seats and chairs. The ambiance is very much that of a diner. The service is different from what I'm used to, they will seat you at your table and give you menus to order. Once you're ready to order you walk up to the counter / register to order. *They Do Not except Cash I personally think the menu has too many options. I was torn between getting a Turkey Ruben sandwich or Ciabatta French Toast. I ended up ordering the French Toast. The French Toast aren't the best it's basically ciabatta bread and syrup I was disappointed... *The turkey bacon on the side was really good. I probably should have went with the Turkey Rueben instead. My wife ordered Biscuits and gravy with a blueberry pancake, Her pancake came out burnt, she sent it back and they quickly made her a new pancake. For her Biscuits and Gravy she said the gravy was great but, the biscuits could have been softer. Overall my experience was ok... not good, not bad just ok. read more

Grata Diner - Ciabatta French Toast - Cafes Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

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Ahh this is a cute diner in Chapel Hill with great vegan and gluten free labeling. That said, I think most of us felt our meals were somewhat lackluster. I got an omelette that had a lot more oil than it needed to; it was a great portion though, and I really appreciated you could get tofu as one of the fillers. The gluten free waffle was pretty "crusty and plain and uninspired" and not filling for the price. For what it's worth, I had one bite of that waffle and liked it more than he did. The folks were very kind, and food came out in good time around noon on a Sunday. Nice big parking lot with free parking. read more

Grata Diner - Build your own omelette with gluten free bread - Cafes Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

Located in the Carr Mill Mall, this diner has a menu full of classic breakfast and lunch options and is open daily. I ordered the huevos rancheros at the counter, received a water glass, and paid without an option for leaving a tip. The food arrived beautifully plated. Fresh flavors, all well cooked ingredients. The health food score was 100! Eat with Gratitude - motto of restaurant. read more

Grata Diner - Drink menu - Cafes Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

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Only 1 guy working who tried to seat people, take orders, serve food and clean tables. He didn't seem happy in all these roles and never smiled or said thank you. Food was ok diner food, but ambience was odd. read more

On the hunt for a quick lunch, we found this place after striking out at three other places that either didn't have food or didn't have indoor seating. I got the grata club which was a good sandwich. For my side I got a watermelon, jalapeño, and mint gazpacho, and it was so good that I will forever be thinking of that gazpacho. They also had lemon infused water, which I really appreciated. This diner is located at the end of a mall and has plenty of parking. The inside has the classic diner seats and tables with the exposed brick of the building. They also had some outdoor seating. When you go to the restaurant, they will seat you and then you order from the counter. read more

Grata Diner - Grata Club with gazpacho - Cafes Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

The food is always delicious! They get extra stars because they have no egg pancakes ! This is wonderful for people with an egg allergy. Great salads also!! read more

I love breakfast and I love the idea of a living wage for all restaurant workers. However, the owner seems as if he dislikes conversing with customers-borders on rude and was just plain old rude today. Perhaps he prefers the back of the house. The wait staff are often pleasant but never the owner. Don't expect any extras-you'll have to ask for jam or butter for a biscuit, and it is not provided with any grace at all. He is doing you a favor! Owner's demeanor today sends me away, and I have eaten there a number of times. I won't go back. My 76 yo friend was unsure how to manage the ordering online, and said it wasn't obvious to her. Owner said it was and was very short about it. Others have posted similar reviews but apparently he is unable or unwilling to address it. Breakfast at Weaver St from now on. read more

Nice neighborhood place. Friendly people, alot of food on your plate. Menu full of classic breakfast and lunch options and is open daily. read more

The food was great. I sampled homefries w sausage gravy that had flavorful chunks of sausage I appreciated. The veggie grata bowl w the pesto grilled chicken on top was fresh but not overly seasoned so you could appreciate the vegetable medley. The bomb a$$ biscuit was delish. I went knife and fork so my hands weren't yolked up in case the kids needed help, but it would be pretty satisfying to chomp. My daughter's pancakes never showed and switching to a waffle took a while, so she sampled most of the items happily as well. She said the waffle was her favorite. It had a nice crispy flaky exterior and a little bit of a gummy chew on the inside. My wife and I split the GF waffle and it was like mochi + a waffle. Kind of amazing if you love mochi. I'm craving one of the waffles now. My son loved the self serve drink bar's endless sweet tea. read more

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"We don't accept tips." Direct from the owner. I was shocked. In a world where everyone is asking for more money this is amazing. So those folks here who complained about their prices are out of line IMO. Food was excellent. The owner does not have an outgoing bubbly personality as others have said. But he's respectful and answers questions patiently. They don't accept cash any more as also mentioned by others. Yeah I wish they took cash but no cash removes a whole money control process from the business and certainly removes a crime risk. But in a world that's run by greed his no tip policy really sets them apart. He might even decide one day to take tips. From a business POV it may make more sense. If so this is still a 4 star experience. I will certainly return if I'm in town again. read more

My wife is dairy free and has gluten allergy - I have Alpha Gal, am diabetic and have a tree nut allergy. We are not easy restaurant guests!! LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! You sit down with menus, decide what you want , go to counter to order, get your own drinks, then they deliver to your table. Lots of gluten free choices and other choices for those with dietary restrictions. Food is always cooked correctly , staff is friendly. On Chapel Hill game days and perhaps others, it gets crowded. I highly recommend a reservation (even for breakfast) if you have your heart set on it. We've seen 45 minutes waits and days when several tables were available. Kids are fine here. Ambiance is good for what it is. Highly recommended. read more

Surprised this place doesn't have higher reviews, I had a wonderful experience here and would definitely recommend trying out. We met the owner and he was super friendly! Our food was incredible! Boozy Bourbon French toast is to die forrrrr (my mouth is watering just thinking about it now). Then, we also got the breakfast sandwich with tots - again AMAZING! You do order at the counter but service was excellent and food arrived quick, hot, and fresh!! They have a cute little outdoor seating area and the inside was clean and spacious (options for large groups too). I will def be back here soon!! read more

I've been a regular since day one but they just lost a devoted customer as THEY DON'T ACCEPT CASH PAYMENTS. That's the end of that.

A great experience. The service was the highlight. It was both friendly and low pressure, in that they pay a living wage and do not offer the option to tip additionally. IN this time where you are constantly asked to tip for everything and even places that have a living wage pressure you to tip, it was nice knowing the staff was taken care of and I could focus on the food. The prices were also quite reasonable, even with the fact it included service. I had a Grata omelette, which was big and robust on fillings, but the flavor fell a little flat. I'd go again, nice menu with lots of options, and while I didn't dislike the omelette, I would try one of their other dishes. read more

After taking a long walk, this was the perfect lunch spot. Stopped in about an hour before it closed on Black Friday and was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is an "order at the counter" spot with quick and wonderful service. I got a turkey Rueben with vegan tomato soup, and we also got a "The Veggie" bowl with various veggies, tofu, and lemon basil vinaigrette on the side. We split a cold brew and a "Radiate" kombucha in the Piña Caliente flavor- delicious! Everything was very yummy and the location was also fantastic. read more

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Grata Diner is my wife's and my favorite for breakfast and lunch. Good, wholesome, fresh food. For breakfast, my wife usually has The Grata Platter (squabbled eggs, crispy bacon, greens, and fruit cup); I usually get The Grata Scramble (eggs, chorizo, tomatoes, spinach, onions, avocado, and Feta cheese. Our favorite bread is Rye Swirl toast. The crispy bacon is excellent. Sometimes, one of us will opt for pumpkin pancakes. For lunch, their Smash Burgers are the best. The Grata Special and The Swiss BBQ Bacon (my wife's favs). My favs are The Basic and The Greek. They reminds us of the burgers we got in our small town City Cafes in the 1950s -- the best ever, and now replicated here. Friendly service in a repurposed textile mill building. read more

Food was ok and appreciated the GF options. Was not impressed with the service, especially for the price; not sure if it was because we were seated outside (?) But read more

Pancakes are sooo good! Open face sandwhich is mid. Service was great- they dont take tips but unstead pay the workers a living wage- sounds like a good idea to me Definitely will be back read more

We went on a Saturday for brunch and we were blown away. It's part of the old carr mill and I love the ambiance - brick walls, tall ceilings, plants in the windows. They also have move outdoor seating. Food was incredibly tasty. They use local ingredients and everything tasted fresh and homemade. We got the Grata Garbage Bowl, Pumpkin Pancakes, and a Chicken Club with the soup of the day. Everything was flavorful and filling, the avocado verde sauce on the bowl was especially good. Staff was friendly and helpful and our food came out reasonably fast. Grata pays their staff a living wage and that shows in the customer service you receive. Food was also surprisingly affordable - less expensive than other restaurants nearby and the value is much better. This is definitely an underrated place in Carrboro. Highly recommend! read more

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First time here and it did not disappoint! The biscuits and gravy were amazing and the blueberry pancakes were delicious! We will return again to try their lunch options! read more

Grata Diner - Biscuits and Gravy, Blueberry Pancakes - Cafes Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

I ordered the Huevos rancheros anticipating a crispy corn tortilla Instead I had a tortilla base that was impossible to cut even with the steak knife my wait person offered When I asked if she had given my feedback to the chef, she replied that he said it must have been left in the griddle too long The restaurant was not busy and I find that response completely unacceptable given the $19 I spent read more

I stumbled across Grata Cafe thanks to Yelp! It was early afternoon on a weekday, and some of our group was still looking for breakfast while the rest of us were ready for lunch, so their extensive menu including all-day breakfast was the perfect fit. The cafe is in the location formerly held by Elmo's diner and the setup has largely remained the same. There's a small covered, outdoor area and tables inside. Not sure if it's always the case, but we ordered at the front counter and then the server brought our food out to us when it was ready. My Caprese grilled cheese was really good. Lots of interesting flavors blending together well, and definitely a step above your traditional diner fare. My fries were just ok though, probably not worth the calories, so I might opt for a different side next time. read more

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After looking up this place on yelp, our group decided this was a must try from seeing the images of their food. As soon as we walked we were greeted( and later found out it was the owner) and informed of how to order. Menu has all day breakfast and lunch options as well, which was great! The food was splendid! Cooked right and better than what we expected, well seasoned and great portions. The owner checked on our table numerous times and was very kind, definitely agreed that we will be back and encourage you to try this place! read more

Grata Diner - Dining area - Cafes Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

I had the caprese omelet to go. First, they should call this a crepe. It was as if someone made a crepe, dumped a caprese salad on it, folded it over, then served it. Second, the tomatoes were cut into huge wedges and cubes that kept falling out. Maybe good for a salad but not an omelette. Basically you end up eating the thin omelette soaked in tomato juice, and then have to pick at the all the basil and tomato chunks that fell out. Poor execution. Can't believe this was $16. read more

Grata Diner - Caprese "omelet" - Cafes Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

Excellent options for breakfast. We had a little of everything. Pancake was nice and a little hearty and grain inspired. Eggs were excellent quality and nicely yellow. Taters were seasoned and nice addition. The sausage was flavorful. They have grey squirrel coffee available. I am not sure why they put the word Diner in the name because this is not a "diner" in my opinion in price, atmosphere, menu or anything. Just a nice place with lots of light inside yet cozy and industrial at the same time. read more

Waited 30 minutes for our food to be served. I asked the older lady server to check on the order but walked around in circles and never got back to us. On top of that waiting, my wife and I are now dealing with severe food poisoning from the grits bowl. Both of us have thrown up and continue to feel fatigue/discomfort. Horrible experience for first time in NC. Shame. read more

This is unfortunate. Everything about this diner is cute. However, the biscuits and gravy I had came out extremely cold, no one followed up on the food to see how it was. This is a place with huge potential that just needs a bit more customer service and QA of food leaving the kitchen. read more

Inside was a cute diner vibes, however the food was less than satisfactory for myself. I ordered what I thought was Juevos Rancheros and a side of breakfast potatoes, would not get either next time. read more

Hmmmm well what can I say. Please please please do something about the quality of your water, the stale plastic taste gets into everything. I get why people like it here, they cater to many dietary restrictions but the underlying taste just spoils the whole. read more

This place is outstanding. First, they serve breakfast all day. There is, basically, no other place in carrboro that does that. The owner, Jay, is an amazing person. He really uses the restaurant to make the good he wants to see in the world, and it shows. I'm not sure what else could be said. Great food, great service, great mission. read more

Grata Diner - Cafes Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

Good coffee, excellent omelet. Friendly, helpful staff. Nice, comfortable atmosphere. No tipping. read more

It takes a gratuitous dollop of amazing for me to log onto Yelp, but here I am after eating for the first time at Grata Diner in Carrboro (in Carr Mill Mall.) Not only is the ambiance phenomenal with the option of airy patio dining or comfortable indoor booths surrounded by large windows and high ceilings, but the huge portions of food (enough to completely stuff our bottomless pit of a 17-year-old) came out lightening fast and were piping hot, fresh, and delicious. But, I still haven't gotten to the best part, which was the extensive gluten-free options on the menu. We're not just talking gluten-free substitutes, but breads/waffles/fried chicken all made to perfection with gluten-free flour and doughs. Our family (which has two gluten-free members) thought we'd died and gone to Heaven. That said, all the other items had even the gluten tolerant amoung us licking our plates. That's not hyperbole: we literally licked our plates. As if all of that wasn't reason enough to make this our go-to family outing spot, the reasonable prices (especially for locally-sourced ingredients) sealed the deal. We're so excited to go back and try their new dinner menu! read more

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I'm not sure what exactly changed but the food took a big step up. Like a big one!! It is now definitely my favorite brunch spot in town. It blows the old Elmo's out of the water. The fruit is super duper fresh and presentations are beautiful. The staff is incredibly nice. They also have some amazing kombucha selections. read more

We came in for breakfast and were positively surprised with Grata Cafe. Starting with the coffee which is from Carrboro Rosters, which is guarantee of a delicious coffee. We had the Caprese omelet, which was delicious. The omelet was so perfectly cooked that almost looked as a crepe. The owner explained that is is due to a special technique they use while cooking the omelet The Grata hash has a delicious marinara sauce which is a recipe that runs in the owner's family for generations We will definitely come back to try the pasta and the bowls. read more

Grata Diner - Grata Hash, Caprese Omelet - Cafes Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

Unfortunately, I have to give my first ever poor review on Yelp, and it's for a restaurant in my city that I was very much looking forward to trying. I took my daughter to Grata Cafe today for a surprise breakfast, and ended up being refunded over an hour later before I ever tried a bite of food. We arrived at 10:15 am and stood in the entryway for a good ten minutes before anyone made eye contact with us let alone offered a greeting. Still, we thought the ambiance of the restaurant was inviting, and we were excited to try the "Boozy French toast" and one of their featured scrambles. Once seated (by the owner), we got back up promptly to wait in line to place our order at the counter, which we did- at 10:30. I knew the time we placed our order because I was being mindful of time overall due to a work commitment for early afternoon, and because I sent a Venmo to my daughter shortly after we placed our order. We served ourselves a water and a cold brew and waited...and waited... not one employee nor the owner came by to check on us, let us know how our food was coming, etc. Forty minutes went by like this, and I started to wonder if perhaps the kitchen had misplaced our ticket, because employees kept passing our table with plates of food as we continued to wait. I finally went back in line for the counter to inquire about our order- I really hoped the food would materialize as I waited to ask about it, but no such luck. I knew I had to leave soon for a work commitment (We had been at the restaurant for over an hour now), and felt that there might not be time to enjoy the meal at the restaurant at that point- so I thought I would ask for it to be packed in to-go boxes. What happened next I never would have expected. I explained to the young lady at the counter that I was needing to leave soon, and was unsure about what to do as our food hadn't arrived yet. She stared at me blankly, and then the owner stepped in front of her, so I directed my attention to him and explained that we had been waiting for a little over 40 minutes for our food to that point and that I was needing to leave soon. He wordlessly turned around and headed to the kitchen. When the owner returned a moment later his first words to me to that point were, "Your order will be done in 8-9 more minutes and it's only been 32 minutes". I was surprised at this response, to say the least- I expected a "My apologies, we are really busy today", or "We are short staffed today", or just about anything other than tersely correcting my timeframe and letting me know that it would in fact be at least a forty minute wait even by his own estimation. I politely replied that I had said 40 minutes because of the time stamp on the Venmo I sent my daughter after she placed the order and received her total. And that I was simply hoping to still be able to get the meal in time before my departure. The owner then replied with a scowl, "I'm not going to do this back and forth with you. Do you want to wait, or do you want a refund?". - I was shocked. What back and forth? Offering me a refund outright? This is just about the antithesis of how to communicate with a customer/ handle a customer service matter. I said, "I'm just letting you know the circumstances, that is all". I'm sure the expression on my face was shock. The owner then said, "Like I said, I'm not going to argue with you. Do you want a refund or do you want to wait?" . My family has a background in the restaurant business, and I am well traveled, and never have I been treated this way in at a dining establishment- let alone by the owner. I replied that yes I would like a refund. He them told me to go sit down (To wait for the refund to be complete I'm guessing?) and pointed at our table. I told him I would not be sitting down nor leaving until I saw the refund to my daughter's credit card. He angrily began to initiate the refund on his tablet, and I was blown away at how volatile his energy seemed. He showed us the refund on the tablet. My daughter, out of habit, and because she had stayed back at the table and didn't fully understand what had taken place, told the owner thank you. He ignored her. We ended up going to Breakaway down the road which we have enjoyed in the past, and had another great experience there. I am so disappointed to have been treated with disrespect by the owner of an establishment in my own town. I was truly looking forward to trying this restaurant and supporting a new local business. Sadly, I cannot recommend this restaurant to friends/ family/ colleagues for fear they will be mistreated, and I hope I spare someone else from this unpleasant experience at Grata Cafe. read more

At the last minute our reservation at another brunch spot fell through but we were able to get a brunch reservation to celebrate our daughter's graduation from UNC and are pleased at our great fortune to have stumbled onto this gem. The owner worked magic to get our large party seated outside. The menu was expansive with many delicious options for vegetarians and those who are gluten free. The food arrived promptly for all six of us after our order. Needless to say the food and service was excellent and the owner stopped by our table and made sure our experience was perfect. Many thanks to him and the staff for making our celebration so special. read more

Good meal and good service. The price was good and they had a good selection for dishes. read more

Grata Diner - Garbage bowl with mushrooms, Ciabatta bread French toast with chocolate chips. - Cafes Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

I truly miss Elmo's I grew up on it and when I found out they closed this location I was upset, we decided to give this place a try.. not once but 3 or 4 times. We kept giving this place a chance thinking food quality would get better. I ordered French toast plater which was $16.00, as you can see from the photo the bacon looks to be that cheap microwavable bacon that you get at Walmart. I am highly disappointed in the food quality and price. As I do understand location drives the cost of rent. I do say if the prices where decreased that may help locals to become regulars. Also, for a locally owned restaurant I would recommend using local farmers for higher quality food. Service and ambiance are good. Bit confusing for 1st timers. There is not wait staff. They seat you then you get back up to order . Any refills or condiments you need too have to get back up and ask. This process especially with the older community is not a good practice. I do say this restaurant could be packed weekly, but you must know your audience, your consumer and your community, read more

Grata Diner - a breakfast of eggs, bacon and toast - Cafes Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

Worst service I've ever seen. We waited almost an hour for our food and still didn't get it. When we told the owner we couldn't wait any longer he was rude. He gave us a refund but no apology and just a bad attitude. We will never go there again. We went around the corner to the Weaver Street market and had a great lunch and oddly enough heard the people at the next table complaining about service at grata as well. Obviously the owner is not open to suggestions as this person said he gave her an attitude as well. read more

My friend and I loved our food. Everything was fresh and flavorful. Chicken club sandwich and meatball burger were delicious. Great service. Love the atmosphere of this space. Reasonable prices. I can't wait to eat at Grata again read more

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