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Mateo

4.1 (847 reviews)
Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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MATEO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Trendy
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Mateo

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Bone Marrow
Andrew J.

This place was all the excitement when I was in Durham for it's tapas. Definitely a nice location right by Durham Convention Center. The place was busy and chattering all around! Service was prompt and waitress was very friendly at the beginning but then got busy and we couldn't find her for awhile near the end. We ordered the marrow, arroz frito, and a special I can't remember the name of! Overall, it was ok. I think the menu description is very detailed but you taste 1 or 2 of those ingredients primarily and minimally notice the other if at all. Marrow: This one was very hyped up! It was an interesting flavor with the marrow and the short rib marmalade. The bread was pretty much all crunch with very little give which wasn't ideal but to each their own. The short rib marmalade got in the way of the marrow and kind of hid how little marrow you actually got. The marmalade kind of took over the flavor and was very sweet and prominent while the marrow felt undersalted leading to it feeling underwhelming. We actually took the leftovers home, salted the marrow and added very little shortrip, and it tasted WAY BETTER. The primary flavor in this was the marmalade, not the marrow which was too bad. Arroz Frito: this was essentially a mediocre fried rice with way too much sauce, nuts and too mushy for my taste. This might be my bias so I certainly could be misrepresenting it. The duck lap cheong was a few very small pieces that do not at all taste like duck. The peanuts felt like it was half of the flavor and the other half was the yumyum sauce. Overall, I really wanted to like this place but it fell short of expectation. Maybe I ordered the wrong dishes for me or I'm not the audience they cater their tastes to. I'd probably give the marrow another try if I were to come back though.

Khiem H.

My expectations were pretty high for this restaurant. There were so much recommendation from Reddits. I'll start by saying the tomato Bread was nothing to write home about and neither was most of the Tapas. However, the Paella's was the best Paella I've ever had and I had a lot of different one before. The service was ok, and the place is relatively quiet. Over-all I'd only comeback for the paella because it's worth it.

Pollo Frito and Cheerwine Sangria (Red Wine, Citrus, Seasonal Fruit, Basil)
Keenan T.

Mateo has the tapas bar atmosphere I picked up in Spain. Order two or three tapas per person and you're all set to share a feast. Prices are reasonable and were fairly similar to those I saw in Spain's tourist cities. The key to enjoying tapas is start small and share. You can always order more later. I told the story of my time in Spain to our server. She grew jealous. The small charcuterie board is a great personal sampler. I wanted to share with my friend but he had plenty of his own. We completed our meal European style with a post-dinner espresso. Mateo can get busy, so it's best to book ahead.

Scott J.

This is a fun place to go for date night. My wife and I always love the food here. Being a busy night, the service was a little slower, but it was worth it.

Sampler
Lauren H.

We hadn't been here in about 5 years as it seems Durham had gotten father away. But it was great to be back! Everything we had was delicious, perfectly prepared and spot on. The service was very friendly and quite fast. Will definitely come back.

Datiles Goat cheese and jamon stuffed dates
Mary W.

Mateo is a cool, fun tapas bar in downtown Durham. If you get lucky, you may be able to snag a parking spot on the street or in the lot next to the restaurant. If not, there's a parking deck close by. A group of 6 of us came in for dinner right when they opened at 5 on a Thursday evening. I'm not sure you'd want to bring a group much larger than this here as it's a little small for large groups. It's cool inside, though, and the bar is spacious! The service is outstanding! Our waitress and everyone that brought our food out was awesome. Our waitress explained the dining concept to us and they really drive home the family style idea, to the point where splitting the check multiple ways isn't easy or favored. Totally understandable. She also made great recommendations! For drinks, we started with a Oaxacan Manhattan, Tiki Espana, Garden Party, and a couple Mocktails. Their cocktail menu is nice and they were all delicious! The mocktail drinkers didn't love their choices but personal preference. I also appreciated their beer and wine options. Food: we ordered enough for a small army I think! Patatas Bravas, Chicken Croqueta, Pato y Arroz, Calamares, Mata, Remolacha, Datiles, Huevo Diablo, Ensalada, Gambas Al Ajillo, Panceta de Cerdo, and Albondigas. All were beautifully plated and delicious! Extremely unique flavors and dishes. My favorites were the Patatas Bravas, Mata, and the Chicken Croquetas. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed our experience. There is a tapas bar 30 minutes over in Raleigh that I have to admit I prefer, but they are definitely different despite offering similar concepts and dishes. This is a great runner-up, though! Highly recommend!

Inside. Bar and dining room. Busy on a Thursday evening. Book reservations on OpenTable.
Daniel B.

Mateo Bar de Tapas is a very good tapas restaurant and one of the best, if not the best, tapas restaurants in the Triangle. Mateo opened in August 2012 and is from the same folks behind Mothers & Sons Trattoria next door (opened June 2016). Both restaurants provide a fun, "elevated casual" night out in Durham. If I had to pick between the two, I'd go with Mateo. Mateo doesn't have dedicated parking. For this visit, we parked behind the restaurant in one of our go-to lots: 111 W Chapel Hill St. At the time, parking in this lot cost $2.25 per hour, Monday-Friday, 8am-7pm. We visited Mateo after 7, so our parking was free. This restaurant is popular. You should book reservations well in advance. Mateo is on OpenTable and awards dining points, which is a plus since not all OpenTable restaurants do. We had a 7:30pm reservation for four on a Thursday. When we showed up, the place was packed. The restaurant has a nice design, floor to ceiling, with two levels of indoor dining. There's no outdoor seating. Mateo has a long bar with distinct, giant Edison pendant lighting. The atmosphere was loud (but not too loud) and lively at the beginning of our meal. By the time we left, around 9:45pm, the place had emptied out and was more mellow. Food-wise, there were well over 20 selections of tapas (both regular menu items plus specials) and other Spanish cuisine like jamon (dry-cured ham), paella, and whole fish a la plancha (pan grilled). Drink-wise, they had cocktails, beer, cider, wine, and vermouth. Below is a list of what we ordered. It should give you a good idea of what the menu has to offer and pricing. Cocteles * Rhubarb Revival ($15) - Reposado tequila, rhubarb, Montenegro, lemon, Crude fig and orange bitters * Pepino x2 ($16 each) - Conniption dry gin, Alley Twenty Six tonic syrup, cucumber, saline Sangria * Cheerwine Sangria x2 ($12 each) - red wine, seasonal fruit, brandy, Cheerwine Tapas * Datiles ($10) - goat cheese stuffed dates, crispy serrano ham, romesco * Queso Frito ($13) - fried farm egg and manchego, romesco, lion's mane mushrooms * Patatas Bravas ($10) - crispy potatoes, brava sauce, aioli espuma * Boquerones ($12) - Spanish anchovies, vinagreta, avocado puree, potato chips * Remolacha ($14) - beet goat cheese mousse, spring onion, citrus roasted beets, benne brittle * Bok Choy ($13) - chili crisp, fried garlic puree, pork belly furikake * Almejas ($16) - NC littleneck clams, shallots, garlic, guajillo chilis, jamon, boiled peanuts * Pulpo a la Plancha ($16) - octopus, romesco verde, new potatoes, black garlic aioli, spring vegetables * Marrow ($18) - roasted bone marrow, short rib marmalade, radish, pickled mushrooms, toasted baguette * Panceta de Cerdo ($16) - ginger tamari glazed pork belly, cauliflower puree, mustard greens, crispy garlic and shallot, fried cauliflower Especiales * Calabaza a la Plancha ($14) - Lyon's Farm zucchini and summer squash, stewed tomatoes, garlic bread crumbs Dulces * Banana Pudding ($9) - pecan wafers, PX cream, toasted meringue * Basque Cheesecake ($10) - peach compote, Graham cracker streusel, peaches and cream cloud The cocktails were tasty and creative. My wife absolutely loved the Pepino. It was refreshing, balanced, almost savory, and not sweet. My friend and I enjoyed our Cheerwine Sangrias. I recommend it for a unique, local twist. When it came to the food, we found the dishes to be equally satisfying, fresh, and delicious. The presentation was beautiful all around as well. The Datiles was a solid variation of stuffed dates. I liked the Queso Frito more than my wife, who thought it was just alright. She and my friend loved the Patatas Bravas. The outside was crispy, the inside was piping hot and tender, and the aioli enhanced everything. I really liked the Boquerones. It was one of my favorite dishes. It was like elevated salt and vinegar chips, with anchovies. The portions were too small, though. The Remolacha was yummy and the plating made it look like a work of art. Both the Bok Choy and the special Calabaza a la Plancha served as good side vegetables. They were light and cut through the heaviness of the other dishes. We couldn't get enough of the Almejas broth and ordered more bread to eat with it (no charge). Not enough bread came with it to begin with. The Pulpo a la Plancha was well made and well presented. I also recommend the Marrow. There was a generous portion of marrow. It was rich and gratifying -- exactly what you want out of a bone marrow dish. The Panceta de Cerdo was fantastic. The pork and cauliflower balanced each other out. The cauliflower puree was so good that our other friend asked if they could bring us a bowl of just that (they couldn't). Save room for dessert because the two we got - the Banana Pudding and the Basque Cheesecake - were both outstanding. The "PX cream" in the Banana Pudding refers to Pedro Ximenez Spanish dessert sherry. Both of the desserts were creamy and delectable. Service was A+. Kayl rocked.

Patatas Bravas
Melissa T.

I cannot wait to go back to this place on our next Durham trip! We did not have a reservation so I was there before the doors opened so I could make sure I got our family of 4 a spot! The plan worked! My mom is from Spain and I spent my summers in Spain eating all these yummy dishes! None of it disappointed!! My 8yo daughter eats "Cristina's" (pan con tomate) almost every morning and she gave these ones two thumbs up! The ambiance was great!

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2 months ago

I was craving for tapas and this place did not disappoint. It is good to see this place has a lot of customers on a week night.

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5 months ago

Service and food were great. Best dishes were the huevos diablos and tortilla espanol.

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It's a Southern thing: Kitchen and Bar - Chicken and waffles skewers ($14) IG: michellelieats

It's a Southern thing: Kitchen and Bar

(719 reviews)

$$

I love this place for consistently tasty food and a warm, inviting atmosphere. Every visit feels…read morerelaxed and welcoming, and the service is always on point. It's one of those spots where you can walk in anytime and know you're going to have a good experience. If you're looking for recommendations, the wings are a must‑try, and pairing them with a Bloody Mary never disappoints.

So I asked yelp to recommend a place for a birthday dinner. This was the first on the list. So…read moresince I couldn't get a reservation on my birthday to the place I originally wanted to go, we decided to come here. There is plenty of parking on the backside of the building, paid parking out front, and be careful not to park in the apartment spaces on the side...they sounded pretty serious about towing. I had made a reservation but it was probably unnecessary as it was pretty empty when we arrived (it was about 5pm on a Saturday.) The waitress brought a bottle of water to the table and took our drink order. And I know that this place is literally call it's a Southern thing but can I mention how much I dislike drinking out of mason jars? I ordered the chicken n biscuits, my husband got the country hamburger steak plate, my BiL got wings, and my SiL got the crabcakes. We also orders charred jalapeno & sweet corn hushpuppies and frickles as an appetizer. I was VERY excited about my food. Y'all...the only thing that impressed me were the Frickles. Everything else was distinctly underwhelming. I also ordered Blackberry Betta Have My Money which was not that great. My SiL ordered a espresso martini that they said didn't come from a mix but she said it tasted like it was. The bathrooms were very clean. The decor and the vibe were great. Cute even. I really enjoyed that part of it. After dropping off our food, we never saw our waitress again unless we flagged her down for drink refills. It was especially frustrating since there was automatic gratuity added. And since the place wasn't that busy, it felt like she didn't feel the need to earn her automatic tip. Overall I was disappointed in my birthday dinner. I won't be coming back here.

Plum Southern Kitchen & Bar - Plum Southern Kitchen & Bar. Open Thursday - Monday from 4:30-9PM for dinner and drinks.

Plum Southern Kitchen & Bar

(165 reviews)

I came to visit Durham for the first time in a long time And was pleasantly surprised to see all…read morethe new and exciting restaurants. A friend suggested we try this place. We made a reservation and were seated upon arrival. Our host was Anthony, I think his name was, with a keen interest for ginkgo trees. He was very attentive, friendly and extremely helpful. He took her order and had some good suggestions. I was craving shrimp and grits which was probably the most unique shrimp and grits. I've had ever. Very distinct flavor and still very rich and familiar. The shrimp were large and juicy as well as remained crunchy overall cooked very well. We also had the summer tomato and burata salad which was really refreshing and delicious. My friend ordered the mac and cheese which is a hefty serving size. Definitely a shareable side or a main for one person. Our host came to check on us frequently, our Waters never went empty. Other hosts were also helping check in on us which was nice. The restaurant itself is large. Booth tables available, which made for a cozy environment. We ended the night with some brownie a la mode, which was the perfect dessert to have on a hot summer day. Overall the experience was amazing, great food and incredibly nice people. Definitely Miss miss the southern hospitality of Durham. Definitely recommend a try here at plum Southern kitchen & bar.

Stopped by for dinner and sat outside with our dog- VERY dog friendly, relaxing classical music…read moreoutside, with some cute decor- including flowers and lights. The menu had recently changed so we got to try quite a few new items. We tried the panzanella- sweet corn, red beans, heirloom tomato, patty pan squash, pea tendrills, and a roasted red pepper vinaigrette. This dish was my favorite of the night- small but shareable, entire dish was refreshing and all the flavors and textures went together so well. For dinner I ordered the roasted chicken and the baked mac and cheese with bacon. The roasted chicken was juicy and tasty, and a bit sweet with the bourbon ginger and plum reduction, but the mac and cheese seemed dry and overcooked. We also ordered the buttermilk cheddar biscuits- that taste slightly undercooked (in a good way), so the texture was soft and chewy (and amazing). The honey butter and large maldon salt granules made the biscuits perfect. They were so good we ordered a second order!! I would definitely return to Plum, for both the food and hospitality.

Dame's Chicken & Waffles - Sweet potato waffle, two drumsticks, peach schmear

Dame's Chicken & Waffles

(2k reviews)

$$

Dame's is in a new setting, serving tasty food and kind service…read more Maria was a helpful and friendly server who brought me the Buff Brahamas dish. Two large slightly-spicy and well-breaded chicken cutlets sat on my good waffle. The whiskey cream drizzle (syrup) added some gentle, earthy sweetness and I put the apricot shmear butter to brighten my waffle. I also got some collard greens to balance my flavorful meal. I also tried the Orange-Speckled Chabo chicken and waffles dish on sweet potato waffles with honey Dijon mustard that added mustard tang to complement well the chicken. For a treat, (we had lamented that we hadn't tried the gingerbread waffle), a kind staff person brought us some yummy gingerbread waffle for dessert. Yum!

The restaurant is in a new location. It's easy to miss after crossing the railroad tracks. Parking…read moreis in a dirt and gravel fenced in area. I had to was my car after leaving from the restaurant. The restaurant is small. There is one bathroom for each gender. There is a separate section for Togo orders. I waited longer than expected for my food (45 minutes). I ordered two cutlets and one sweet potato waffle. The cutlets were salty and over seasoned. The waffle tasted ok, but was nothing to brag about. Staff had a flat affect and were moving like robots. I did not feel welcomed. Prices were affordable, and the restaurant was almost filled to capacity. Tables are close to each other with little elbow room.

Succotash Southern and Creole Kitchen - Chicken and sausage gumbo

Succotash Southern and Creole Kitchen

(149 reviews)

$$

Okay, We're from New Orleans so when we see a "New Orleans style" restaurant, we always question…read morethe authenticity of the claim. In the case of Succotash we feel we have found the holy grail... Friendly, knowledgeable waitstaff? check Homey and a little funky atmosphere? check cool soundtrack? check BUT what about the food? We first came for brunch... I had the 'Brisket and Grits'. It was a very tender brisket with cheesy, garlicky grits, scallions with fried egg. The best part? They drizzle some of the brisket gravy over the grits... Oh man this was delish. We got talking about South Louisiana food with our server and he told us they bring in Leidenheimers french bread from New Orleans for their po-boy's. What's the big deal? ...I'll tell you! The bakery was founded in 1896 and it is the ONLY bread that marks a true po-boy to New Orleans natives. Why? Because of it's unique texture. Their loaves have a pillowy soft interior and a crunchy crust that isn't found in most french breads. It's the gold standard for po-boys. So today, I came back to Succotash for an Oyster po-boy. And the Verdict? Five stars mon ami! Leidenheimers bread with a very generous amount of perfectly fried oysters. ...I like mine simple with just lettuce, tomato and a little hot sauce. This was I can honestly say, the very best oyster po-boy I have found outside of NOLA. ... so yeah, I've found a new home... thanks and a tip o' the hat to Chef Juan DiGiulio and the great staff he has brought together!

Succotash is a bit in the cut if you're not familiar with the area…read more I almost passed the restaurant. The staff was welcoming and gave suggestions when I asked. I enjoyed the catch of the day corvina with a side salad and potato's. This dish was delicious. I got the fish blackened and this was a bold flavor with a spicy and deep smoky flavor. I enjoyed the peach bread pudding for dessert with a decaf coffee. The bread pudding presentation and taste didn't match but I wasn't disappointed. Everything was great.

The Chicken Hut - Fried Chicken wings

The Chicken Hut

(162 reviews)

$

Cash only. Open from 11:30 AM and closes at 2 PM. Closed weekends…read more When you enter, there's a counter where you pay last before you leave. A lovely woman there helps explain the process to those who look lost haha. So you go through the room to the right where there are dining tables and chairs and get in line to what looks like a buffet. 1 entree and 2 sides are included in your order, along with a drink your choice of either a roll or hush puppies. Dessert (cake) is extra. Pig's feet was $18.99 while smothered chicken with gravy was $17.99. Food selection changes daily. You get a ticket with the price, which you then take to pay at said counter. Everything was delicious. Wish we could have tried the oxtails (not available on the day we went) and fried chicken (sold out). The owner was serving huge portions to everyone. They were closing up and gifted us cake slices. Staff there were sweet :).

Just learned about chicken hut. My stepfather went here the day before and it was so good he wanted…read moreto go back the next day with me. This is a little gem in Durham NC serv8ng up some down home cooking. They are a cafeteria style restraint serving up fresh to order fried chicken everyday along side a changing menu of food on the line. The day I went they were serving smothered pork chops, I jad to get the greens and huspuppies for my sides. The portions were crazy and they were generous with the gravy baby. Oh and I had to polish things off with that fresh banana pudding. Yall better stop playing and come down to chcien hut and get you a plate. The staff was full energy and we're genuinely friendly making it a personal experience for everyone. You could even tell that many regulars weee coming and going as the staff chopped it up with everyone there like they knew them. Great vibes and food to match, no wonder chicken hut has been such a staple in the community for so long.

Mateo - tapas - Updated May 2026

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