I absolutely loved my experience at delafia! The vibes of this place just drip cool, and…read moreunassuming- I felt like I was back home in Brooklyn coming here! The fascade of the wine bar is hidden so be sure you don't walk by the "barber shop" when you're looking to get in. This bar focuses on natural and biodynamic wines aka my absolute obsession, so I was happier than a pig in mud by the drink selections. The food menu is small, but takes care of business. I recommend a nice tinned fish, giant beans, and the chocolate budino for dessert! The vibes are dark, hip, with an outdoor seating option as well. All in all, a cool destination to check out some fantastic wines.

Casual but hip wine bar just south of downtown Durham, Delafia feels like an intimate and hidden…read moregem. Inside this old barber shop is a weathered space and crowd of locals in the know. Short list of wines along with some snacks, enjoy a nice glass of vino and conversation when visiting. Friendly and knowledgeable staff for wine-lovers!

Had a few beverages at West End Social with bartenders Corbin & Marcus at WES / WEWB: great spot,…read morecool vibe. I would add that [to me] this seemed to be more of a social place to have beverages of *all* kinds rather than simply a wine bar. There was a high-energy afternoon baby shower on the upper level; everyone knew everyone & the place had a solid old friends energy - give it a try. PS: I'll give 'em some grace, but please be sure to have more Tito's on hand next time ;)

Where is the wine??? Cool atmosphere...lots of spirits available but lackluster wine list.read more

I was excited to try Killer Queen for a downtown girls' night. We don't make it downtown very…read moreoften, so I've been enjoying exploring some of Durham's newer spots -- and this one was absolutely worth the visit. The wine list is broad and thoughtfully curated, with options that feel approachable whether you're a casual wine drinker or someone looking to try something new. The sommeliers were welcoming, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about helping us find something we loved. The space itself is adorable, with eclectic décor and cozy lighting that makes it easy to settle in and stay awhile. It's a great spot for conversation and a relaxed evening with friends. The only downside is that the space is fairly small, and I would have loved to see one or two more lower seating options for small groups rather than mostly high tops. That said, I could absolutely see us coming back for a pre- or post-theater glass of wine or an easy catch-up night.

Love this place! It's definitely a bit on the pricey side when it comes to the wine, but the…read moreoverall experience makes up for it. The service is awesome--our server was super friendly and gave me a great drink recommendation when I wasn't sure what I wanted. It ended up being perfect. My friend and I shared a glass of the 2023 Cederberg Bukettraube (sweet white wine) and got the charcuterie board for one with the truffle salami. That board was so good--I can't stop thinking about it. The toasted baguette slices with truffle salami and mustard? Unreal. It was the perfect little snack to share. We also had the citrus lavender crème brûlée, which was surprisingly delicious. I don't usually go for crème brûlée, but this one was light, not overly sweet, and just had a really nice flavor. I've also tried their shepherd's pie before and loved it--wish it was still on the menu! The vibe inside is moody and cozy, and they've got a cute outdoor patio too. Overall, such a great spot. A little pricey, but I'll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend checking out Killer Queen.

This is a great little bistro/wine bar/neighborhood spot. It's definitely upscale in feel, but…read morestill reasonably priced. Most of the seating is on a second-floor covered terrace, though there are tables inside as well. It has interesting city views of the University Hill area over South Square towards the "hypodermic building." There are parking options on all sides. The wine list is nice, but I like trying their specialty cocktails. These tend to have interesting additions such as tea-infused syrups and other creative ingredients. I've always had great sandwiches here at lunchtime, particularly the Santorini (a take on a gyro) and the Yacht Club, which is similar to a club sandwich but brightened up and made scrumptious by apricot jam. Their side of Caesar salad is always nice and crisp, with just the right amount of dressing and flavorful cheese shavings. The staff is engaged and attentive without going overboard. There's really no better lunch experience in the area on a nice warm day when you can just hang out and relax with a varied, delightful menu.

Casual spot to grab cocktails before (or after) dinner. Nice outdoor patio with friendly service…read more We enjoyed the White Dove and Bramble On. Both were good.

Great decor - large, open space, with very light furniture. There are quite a few places to sit…read moreoutside, if you want to ask the host(ess) for a place out there. There's an S-shaped bar along the right side as you walk in with a few smaller tables scattered to the left and ahead, but if you walk around the plantings, there are larger tables in the rear. We had reserved a place for eight, and they fit us in with plenty of room around as a buffer. Few other parties joined us back there, so it was very quiet and great for friends catching up. We tried several wines, but I was a bit shock ed that the list wasn't longer: three reds, three whites, a few rosés and sparkling offerings was all there were. The only Italian red was a blend, which was ok. 60% Sangiovese, it was ok, but I'd have loved a bold Tuscan red like a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo or a full-on Sangiovese. I ordered the wild mushroom flatbread and the pasta carbonara. the flatbread was delicious, and very filling. Half went home for a lunch treat the next day! The pasta was ok, but there weren't the flavors I was expecting. Hardly any meat was in the dish, and it was just a kinda "ok" creamy pasta dish. But the service and the atmosphere was amazing! It's funny - many in this group have met since and we always remark how other places have such a larger wine selection than this one that has "wine" in the name. Maybe they need to change the name if they aren't going to have a wider selection. Still a fun place, just done expect a lot of selection.

I really love this place. The food, wine and the dessert was delicious we really enjoyed everythingread more

My mom was in town and we wanted some nice Italian. We dropped in on this place after being turned…read moreaway by many restaurants in DT Durham because we didn't have a reservation and it was a Saturday night, so, I get it. This place has one spot open for us and thank goodness because it was fantastic. I think the most exceptional thing about our dinner was the service. Our waiter was such a delight, as was the rest of the staff. Very knowledgeable and just the right amount of friendly. The food was delicious! We got a steak and pasta dish that I added shrimp to. The steak was cooked exactly as requested and was incredibly tender. My pasta was perfectly al dente and the sauteed shrimp fit in perfectly with the flavors. Our desserts at the end of the night did not disappoint either. Each dessert had it's own unique flare that someone could enjoy and nothing was overly sweet. It really complimented the freshness of the dinner. I absolutely recommend coming here, but if you're planning a weekend dinner, grab a reservation!

The restaurant is light filled and airy…read more Pasta dishes and entrees were all very good. Wait staff was attentive.

We live right next to Louella, and absolutely love this wine shop! Service is always very welcoming…read moreand friendly, and there's a pretty large selection of wine! You can sample wine at the counter, or buy bottles from the shelves (to drink there or to go). They also offer free wine tastings every Saturday! We often pick up wine bottles to go- they have a decent selection of wine from many different countries. Favorite part about Louella? It's dog-friendly! Both inside and outside (making these hot days more bearable for us and our fur baby). It can get crowded here, but have never had a problem finding a table- and we've made several friends at this shop! Would highly recommend stopping in for some wine!

Really popular place amongst locals. The staff are very knowledgeable about the menu options which…read morechange quite frequently. I had the moscato. It was sweet and had a nice lychee taste. I also really like the ambiance. Very classy and perfect meet up place to catch up with friends.

We came here for brunch to celebrate my wife's birthday with a couple of friends visiting from out…read moreof town, and it was a great choice. We arrived a little early and were seated quickly. Parking worked out for us, but I'd recommend arriving early unless you plan to use valet. Street parking nearby can be tight. The interior is charming and relaxed--exactly what you hope for in a French bistro. Our server was incredibly friendly and helpful, and the service throughout the meal was excellent. They also had a nice range of gluten-free options, which we appreciated. I had the Croque Madame and it was delicious. The mornay sauce was the standout--perfectly creamy with a smooth texture that didn't feel heavy. It's not cheap, but you get what you pay for. Overall, a really enjoyable brunch and, so far, our favorite French restaurant in the Triangle.

I debated leaving 2 stars but settled on 3 because the food was really tasty. We came in on a…read moreSunday at 5:45 pm. We ordered the lobster bisque special and shrimp to start and placed our order for dinner fairly quickly after sitting down. The two appetizers came out right away and were very unique. We then waited an hour and a half for our entrees. Our server checked in multiple times saying they were on their way/ coming soon. We were just two people and ordered steak frites and mussels. No special order or anything complex. These are two of the most popular items. We watched tables get served and flip to new people in the time it took to get our entrees. When the food did come out, we really enjoyed it. It was well made but this was a disappointing experience overall.