Came here to Nerra for their Salt, Sea, and Lime dinner--a four-course prix fixe experience--and it was such a treat! The ceviche was bright, fresh, and perfectly balanced, and the chips served alongside it were oh so good. The tortilla soup was the next course...and it was nicely spiced, comforting, and warming. The braised beef short rib tacos were great--the pickled veggies really added a punch of flavor that tied everything together beautifully. As far as the cocktails go...the winter pearita was delightful--I could have happily had a few more of those. Dessert surprised me the most. I'm usually not a tiramisu person since I'm not big on coffee, but their Mexican chocolate tiramisu won me over. The coffee flavor wasn't overpowering at all and it had almost horchata-like vibes. Overall, the menu felt incredibly thoughtful, cohesive, and delicious from start to finish. The restaurant itself is super cute and perfect for a date night. Service was fantastic as well--our server, Mikayla, was attentive, on top of everything, and made the experience even better. Would absolutely recommend. read more

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Service was excellent. Staff was very friendly. Outdoor seating was nice as the seats inside were very close together. The band started and my friend and I had to yell at each other. We had the special drink that was yummy. Mint, strawberry and gin. The ceviche was overcooked and rough which is weird as it is ceviche. The calamari was meh. We split the shrimp and grits. It was really great and way too salty. I enjoyed the brussel sprouts. read more

Came here for my friend's birthday and had such a nice time. The place is cute and quaint with really chill vibes. I ordered the Caesar salad, Cajun seafood pasta and 2 drinks. Everything was very good, a special shoutout to the chef for the dressing on the salad. Our server told us it was made in house and idk what she added (besides the olives) to make it so damn good, but NEVER CHANGE THAT RECIPE. I demolished that salad and pasta, not a crumb left. It was also my friend's birthday so she was able to pick a dessert and we were all able to try the Carmel Apple tartlet. It was very good! Super flaky and delicious. Parking is either paid or street BUT if you park in the lot, you get 2 hours validated for free :) I'll definitely be back again soon! read more

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I'd give 4.5 stars if I could. Visited Nerra for the first time and had a delightful date night. I loved the ambience inside and outside, and staff was amazing and welcoming. My husband I shared the ceviche and bread board for appetizers and both were delicious. The cheddar biscuits were my favorite. We accidentally went super carb heavy but our main dish didn't disappoint. The Golden Coast platter was so good. Mahi was cooked to perfection. The fried shrimp was maybe the best I've ever had, and the truffle fries were such a nice compliment. We'll definitely be back! read more

Nerra - Ceviche and Bread Board - Seafood Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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The service was top class, from the hostess to the waitress. The ambiance was so interesting -- feels like a beachside restaurant. The food was fresh. The mushrooms and Caesar salad were golden. The mahi mahi was a little bit underwhelming, though that could be due to how it was prepared. I'd go back again to try some of their other seafood options. One of the better seafood places in the area. read more

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Social media can be deceiving but in this case the images align to the amazing taste! This place is something truly special and my inner fat boy is about to take over and have me coming back weekly!!! Don't judge me but I signed up for the Tequila 4 course next week! Great service (Mikayla was terrific), vibe and energy---great music as a backdrop and not blaring! Durham has a new crown jewel! Chef actually comes out and is visible working the floor. Very impressive! read more

Nerra - Berra shrimp appetizer...great flavors! - Seafood Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Excellent food and attentive service by Andrea. The vibe is retro diner chic. The seated mahi with chimichurri sauce and the jerk chicken with mango pineapple salsa were both excellent! We will be back! read more

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Husband and I made reservations here on a Friday night. Great vibe, beautiful artwork, indoor and outdoor seating available. Our server brought us water while we decided on drinks. I appreciate the carafe of water on the table. I decided on the Mermaid's Cove which was fantastic. The menu here looked amazing. I love seafood and I love the flexibility of picking your fish, style of cooking and sauce. I chose the mahi, grilled, with the crimson harvest sauce and husband ordered Mahi seared with Sun fire salsa. When our orders came they placed the wrong ones in front of us (based on sauces) so we switched. As we started to eat we realized I had the seared and he the grilled. Not a huge deal as we like both but something for the kitchen to be cognizant of. Crimson harvest sauce did not have much flavor. Brussels were 10/10. Overall this place has great potential but food and service weren't quite there for the price point. read more

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This place is amazing! Everything is so delicious and the service was great! It is a cute quaint place. The staff is very friendly and attentive. Our water was consistently topped off and food came out pretty quickly. Server gave great recommendations! Everything we had we loved. I didn't order this but the most impressive and original part of the menu was the curated catch menu where you can order two fishes cooked any way topped with any sauce of your choosing. I ordered the Cajun seafood linguini and loved it. Even the sides were delicious! My favorite was probably that delicious pear cocktail, I don't often see pear on a cocktail menu and it did not disappoint. OMG and the bakers flight! Those butter were so good I wanted to take them home. Loved everything. Can't wait to come back and try more of the menu. read more

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Great food. The ambiance was great and the service was really good. Super great server. read more

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It's date night, which brought us to Nerra which turned out to be the perfect spot. I believe our waiter was new/training, and he did an excellent job. He had great recommendations on food and made sure we had everything we needed. The food was so good, from the mixed bread app to the main dish. I loved the option of being able to pick the fish, preparation style, and sauce. I will def be coming back here again. read more

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Went to this place with friends, and it was a stellar dining experience! Every single thing that we ordered was incredibly seasoned, generously proportioned, and priced well. I would 100% recommend this place. We died outside and the artwork was beautiful. Also, the service really speaks volumes, as all of the team members work together to ensure for delightful experience. I was surprised to learn that the Chef was from Durham, North Carolina. The food tasted like something straight out of Louisiana. read more

We had read good things about this newish restaurant (woman owned, local ingredients, etc.) and made a reservation for dinner on a Thursday evening. We were promptly seated and perused the menus. We weren't in a drinking mood so only got lemonade and ice tea (very sweet!). Decided on the ceviche to start. My wife had the shrimp and grits and I had the gumbo after I had seen it featured in a video on their Instagram page. Food was good, although the sodium content of the gumbo hit me more as I was finishing it up. We decided to pass on dessert but it seems like they have some good options. We're happy to see lots of restaurants/bars in this part of Durham so we're rooting for them. read more

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Excellent service! Wonderful food! Group of 13 everyone was pleased. Outstanding fresh fried soft shell crab plate. Lovely buffet. Great coffee. No pork on brunch buffet was no problem. We will return, soon! read more

Bummer. Was excited to try this new place out but unfortunately the brunch was very disappointing. The shrimp and grits had no flavor and the grits were super watery. My friend got the breakfast hash and that too lacked flavor and even salt and pepper couldn't help. Honestly, I could've made it better at home. The cheddar cheese didn't give the dish the oomph it needed. And the sautéed vegetables were just grilled vegetables with no flavor. I'm sorry to say but I can't recommend this place for brunch. Maybe their dinner menu is better or maybe they had an off day but paying $20+ something a dish and walking away disappointed is not something I can afford at this time. read more

Nerra - Shrimp and Grits - Seafood Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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What a lovely little spot! If you like seafood and you want it done right this is a great option. Our server, Nigel was a delight. He was very knowledgeable on the menu items and had great recommendations. All in all, it's on the top of my list for seafood in Durham! read more

What a wonderful new addition to the Durham food scene! Nerra is a seasonal, seafood-forward kitchen. Two friends and I came on a Friday night, and we got the: - Spicy Tuna Crudo (tuna, cucumber, sun-fire salsa, sesame & micro-greens): We ordered the Ceviche but they ran out and recommended the Crudo instead. So glad, because this dish was delicious! Super fresh, zingy, flavorful, great textures, loved the crispy wonton chips- my favorite starter for sure. - Nerra Shrimp (shrimp stuffed with crab, bread crumbs, Parmesan & citrus-caper butter): Good, but didn't really stand out to me. - Bakers Flight (pumpernickel, Gouda-rosemary biscuits & hush puppies served with whipped honey butter & sea salt-garlic butter): I didn't like the hush puppies (not sweet like classic hush puppies should be), but the biscuit, bread, and butters were tasty enough. - Cajun Seafood Linguine (linguine with creamy Cajun sauce, seared scallops, jumbo shrimp, turkey andouille sausage & bell pepper): My favorite entree! Creamy but not heavy, lots of seafood, perfectly cooked pasta, loved the Cajun twist. - Oven Roasted Whole Snapper (served over baby potatoes, spinach & charred tomatoes with a citrus caper sauce): Well-cooked with subtle seasoning that allowed the fish to shine, but not really my vibe. - Honey Butter Corn Skillet: Way too sweet for me unfortunately, but I liked eating it with the pasta. - Wild Berry Crisp: Tart, sweet, good textural diversity. Unfortunately, they ran out of ice cream, which I'm sure would have taken this to the next level. Dessert is actually free if you get two entrees! - Fresh Brewed Sweet Tea: Lowkey loved this, the tea essence was strong and it wasn't too sweet. Ambiance is wonderful, super aesthetic- felt like we were seaside. Service was fast and attentive. There's plenty of nearby free parking (adjacent to restaurant, on Newman St, parking garage on S Elizabeth St). Definitely make a res or you'll likely have to wait, especially on weekends (it was popping). 9/10 would recommend! read more

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I'd been wanting to try this place for while so I was happy to get to have a dinner with friends there! It's very small and cute. I love the aqua blue theme decor, it's bright and it brightens your mood as well. The food was the star of the show, each dish full of flavor and delicious. Tried the fried fish and shrimp, loved that it was light and flavorful. I did order the sauce flight and it was really good with the 5 different sauces. They have weekly specials and my husband ordered the seafood pasta and he enjoyed that as well. The service was fantastic! Tips order the bread flight, looks of unique options and they make the butters in house! One thing to note the cocktails are expensive, so they add up if you get more than one. I want to go back soon! read more

I came to my first near a supper Club beautiful atmosphere jazz music wonderful dinner the wait staff is impeccable read more

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Food was excellent. We had ceviche, seared mahi mahi, and shrimp and grits. All very good. Main dishes arrived before we had finished our appetizers. I expect better at the price point. read more

This was my third time here and the food, service and atmosphere has been a 10/10 every time.

This is an excellent little seafood restaurant right near Ponysaurus brewing and the new Fizzwerks. Perfect location for a date night or dinner with friends before grabbing a few drinks out. There's a gravel parking lot right next to it too, so that's a plus, but it was filling up fast after we got there around 6pm, so you may want a backup plan just in case. My husband and I tried the Ceviche and Nerra Shrimp apps which were both delicious. Ceviche was fresh and bright. We did the Cajun seafood pasta and grilled salmon with caper butter which was cooked to perfection and had a bit of a smokey flavor. And we finished with the key lime tartlet. Yum! Food and service were excellent. We'll definitely be back to try the seafood boil for two. read more

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Pros: great service, neighborhood vibe, good intentions, delicious dessert Cons: fish and brussels sprouts criminally overcooked; overpriced even for downtown Durham; felt like a work in progress. This place has such potential but needs refinement. The kitchen is attached to the bar so you see and hear, loudly, every order in and out. Employees were bringing trash bags through the dining area during our meal. Feels like cooks and staff just need more training. Yet forgivable because we felt like they were really trying to create a special space in Durham. We wish the best for this restaurant. read more

This was an after work meet up. I made reservations two days prior. I was intrigued because of the seafood offerings. My friend and I started out with the Nerra Shrimp, which is shrimp stuffed with crab and parmesan. We moved on to the entrees, she got the salmon with the butter sauce side and I got the short ribs and added brussel sprouts. The short ribs were a little on the salty side, but I was advised by our lovely and knowledgeable server, David that it would have been perfect with serving or red wine. (Note to self for next visit). The reason I did not have the red is because I preoccupied with the Driftwood Manhattan and the Deep Current tequila drink. On my next visit, I want to try the Red Snapper. I met the chef, Alexis and several wait staff. I will recommend this restaurant and I will be back. read more

The food was very good. Everything I had. The service was fantastic. My waitress was awesome. A very nice ambience. I will definitely be back again soon. read more

Amazing service, quality and attentiveness to everything! Food was 1000/10 and I'm very particular when it comes to food! The details, chef expertise and quality ingredients were spot on! The ceviche was beyond fresh and the whole red snapper ....chef's kiss!! I am certainly going to be a repeat customer! A hidden gem! read more

Disappointed with Valentine's Day menu. Sharing a side and single dessert for the price point was not worth it. Ceviche was overt acidic and had a thick texture to the seafood. Creme brûlée was the thinnest I've ever had. Tiramisu tasted like someone had decided to make tiramisu and instead just gave you a plate of whipped cream. Waitress had no idea what she was talking about and was so disorganized and the menu didn't explain what anything was at all. "Stuffed chicken" - okay, what's it stuffed with? "Curry coast" wtf is that. "Tempura Tide" ok that sounds like a football team. Absolutely bizarre experience. Entrees were pretty damn tasty so I'll give them that. read more

What a delightful surprise to land at Nerra. We were greeted warmly at the host stand and our server was equally welcoming and knowledgeable. The menu is designed for fish lovers and my husband chose the fish of the day which was excellent. I opted for the assorted bread appetizer, chicken wings and skillet corn. All were excellent and were prepared with interesting combinations of flavors. Before we went in and were talking to the hostess, a couple exited the restaurant and remarked "This is the best restaurant in Durham". They may well be right! read more

On of the hottest new Sea Food restaurants in Durham. Please make a reservation, to insure your seating. The menu is chalked full of amazing dishes crafted by the Kitchen. Chef Lex delivers excellent meals and service from Mikayla was 5 star!!! Definitely a must eat!! read more

There's no menu on its website. Also, it's website is not compatible with viewing on a phone. It takes too long for information to pop up as you scroll. read more

Highly recommend. The staff, service, and menu options were amazing. My significant other ordered Gumbo...it came out in a big bowl with rice and 2 (not 1) corn bread muffins (all made in house). I tried a taste and it was delicious. I ordered Grilled Salmon with green beans and the salmon was seasoned so well with the grill you really did not need the sauce, served on the side, but I enjoyed the sauce just the same. Nerra has only been in business 4 months and besides the wait staff we met the chef, who was so accommodating. Give this restaurant a try...you won't be disappointed. We will definitely be going back. read more

It's always an amazing time at Nerra. The service I received from Tina was outstanding. They had a great playlist, it was a smooth Christmas/Jazz mixup it really matched the decor and vibes of the establishment. The menu is unlike any other restaurant in Durham. I got the Cajun seafood pasta it had a really deep flavor that came from the turkey sausage and the creamy sauce was truly delicious. You will definitely want to make a reservation before Christmas time, trust me! read more

Friday night 6 pm reservation seated immediately and drink orders taken. Shared Nerra shrimp and the Golden platter which was fried shrimp and mahi-mahi. Shrimp were very good. Fish a little dry. Plenty of food to share. Ordered key lime tartlet. Which was very good. But dinner plates were not cleared before dessert came. Had to ask for the used dishes to be removed. Fish selections limited. Friendly staff and nice setting. Would try again. read more

I had a wonderful experience with friends at Nerra. Chef Lex has created a flavorful menu and assembled a welcoming staff with a beautiful backdrop that takes you to a restful spot by the sea. Many of the staff at Nerra are part of Chef Lex's family and you can tell they have hospitality in their blood. The cocktail with lychee was light and refreshing. The Bull Durham cocktail was for those who want a little stronger drink, but also delicious. Do not skip the bread flight. The hushpuppies and herbed biscuits are heavenly. I don't know what Chef Lex does with salads, but it's magic. The blackened kale salad with salmon was delicious. My friend who ordered the shrimp dish was unusually quiet while she concentrated on eating her entree. The fries are light, crispy and perfectly seasoned. I had a sesame crusted Tuna that I completely forgot to photograph because all my focus was on eating it. To top it all off, we had peach crisp that we all shared because we were too full to eat a full one on our own. I brought extra peach crisps home for neighbors and they couldn't stop raving about it. The portions were generous. There is a parking lot beside the restaurant with free 2 hour parking for Nerra diners. read more

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I have been looking for a good seafood restaurant in Durham (been here a year) and finally found it. This new restaurant had delicious food, very attentive service, and a nice atmosphere. Most importantly, the food was fresh and well prepared. The special dietary instructions for our table were all implemented accurately. I can't wait to see how this restaurant is after the "new restaurant kinks" are worked out, because I didn't see any! This one is worth going back to, unlike the other seafood restaurants I've tried. Great find! read more

This was supposed to be a nice spot for a date night. Well our waitress was not attentive, spent more time talking to other co workers than our table. The food is priced to reflect "upscale", however the only thing upscale about the food is the heavy parsley garnish in every plate. We started with the appetizer (nerra shrimp and bakers flight). It was decent, the shrimp was too small for the darkened toppings. We then ordered the salmon and the oven roasted whole snapper. For the price, the salmon was extremely small, about 4oz not even 6, there was no flavor and the "miso" sauce didn't help. The snapper was very bland with a flavorless sauce. We ordered drinks, a double shot of alcohol was 32 dollars. The floor manager made up some extra wrong excuse as to why there was an up charge for a low tier alcoholic beverage. He alluded to the fact that the bottle said "very special ". We explained that all of bottles in this particular category of liquor says "very special" on the bottle. Wow. Overall the place looks nice and clean, however it is definitely NOT an upscale restaurant as they are trying to present. Mediocre at best!! read more