Came here after the Durham Farmers Market with a friend and wow this place was a surprise. …read more I went with the grain bowl and honestly it is one of the best I have had in downtown Durham. It is built on quinoa and rice with black beans and kale, then layered with corn salsa, tomato cortido, guacamole, and a creamy acevichado style sauce that pulls everything together. It is finished with a crunchy mix of pepitas, nuts, and grains. The balance is quite ideal in my view. My friend had the rotisserie chicken with two sides, kale and slaw, and it was just as impressive. Crispy skin, juicy inside, and really clean flavors. Simple food done right and GF friendly. Everything felt thoughtfully prepared. Prices land right where you would expect for the quality, roughly 16 to 21 dollars depending on what you order, and it feels worth it. My bowl plus side of dark chicken was plenty. A few notes. Parking is what you would expect for downtown, so plan accordingly. Service was solid and friendly, but nothing that stood out. The vibe inside is festive and relaxed, bright and open, and just a fun place to hang out for lunch. Porbably not a special occasion. I also suspect it could get loud when full. This is definitely going into my regular rotation. That grain bowl is going to be hard to pass up next time, so instead of replacing it I will probably just add a side or an empanada and start working my way through the rest of the menu.

This place was amazing. We tried both the brisket and chicken sandwich, and they did not…read moredisappoint. We also shared a potato empanada that was recommended by another customer, which was also fantastic. The yuca fries and plantains were delicious. You also get a large amount of food for the price, definitely left us feeling satiated. Staff was very friendly, we will be back!

This is our favorite bakery in the area for several reasons. There is a wide variety of baked goods…read moreto choose from and nothing is too sweet. They make cookies, pastries, breads (pan loaf and hand-formed ones), soups, hand pies, and sandwiches. The variety is amazing. During the holiday season, they offer larger pies and have various seasonal goods to offer. But what's also wonderful is this bakery gives back to the community in many ways. During the height of the pandemic, they offered free bagged lunch to anyone who needed one. They also were (are?) part of the pilot project for Durham's guaranteed income. It looks to me that the owners/company are concerned about being good citizens of the community and that's a great thing. These days, so many companies get bought out by private equity companies. I hope this bakery continues to be locally owned and operated! (Also, generally this bakery isn't offering the very fancy European/European-ish style pastries which is fine by me. The prices are very reasonable, possibly in part because they aren't trying to make their baked goods a "high end" item. There are other good local bakeries that offer "high end" pastries, but they are also much less affordable and for my taste, too rich.)

i came here early this morning on a whim, as i happened to be in the area. i was greeted…read moreimmediately by two friendly faces who were more than willing to be patient with me while i perused the options. they helped me on my journey to choosing a blueberry danish which made my taste buds SING. on top of everything, this place is just CUTIE and i really want to come back next time im in the area. i think next time ill try the scones or the ham and cheese croissant. with a sourdough loaf for later ;) the bakers who helped me at the register did say they get pretty busy around lunchtime, just fyi for those reading!

Honestly my favorite of the (two) M restaurants I have been to so far. The biang biang noodles were…read moreumami and hit all of the notes. Unfortunately the jajamyeon tasted burnt initially (it is wok fried so maybe it was too caramelized and charred for my liking), but the chef remade it and the remake was great! Seating is limited but luckily there was no wait for lunchtime on a Friday.

We came with a group of three on a Thursday night around 7pm. We accidentally walked into M Sushi…read morefirst (right around the corner), but they sent us on to the right place. There's not a ton of seating, but we got a table quickly. The service was quick, and even though the place was small, it felt more cozy than cramped. I liked having the menu on the wall! They had two vegan options, and my partner & I both got the Biang Biang noodles. It was good, and perhaps even better the next day (the serving was big enough that I couldn't finish it). My sister got the Jjajiang Mian & absolutely loved it. This was a very positive experience, but not mindblowing--I think that the hype around the "M" restaurants perhaps raised my expectations a bit too much. It's also possible that their non-vegan options are stronger than their vegan options. Overall, though, very yummy, the prices are very reasonable for Durham ($16 for the Biang Biang noodles), and I would come back & try the veggie curry if given the chance.

We really enjoyed our visit to Queen Burger while in town for a Duke football game. It's in the…read morecutest little part of town and I love that it's fast casual with a very simple menu. The space is a little tight but they do have outdoor seating which worked perfectly for our group. I also loved that they served cocktails in to go cups. The food was outstanding - a melty, crispy edged smash burger with a side of cheese tots, yum! We also got the chicken tenders and fries for our daughter and the bites I tried were delicious. This will definitely be a spot we visit when we want something quick and scrumptious if we are in the area!

We came here on a early Friday evening before a show a DPAC. Luckily we got there early enough to…read moresnag a table by the window so we could people watch. We both had a classic burger (him with no pickles, me with no special sauce), shared an order of fries, he had an IPA and I got a blackberry mojito for about $40. The good: The fries were amazing (shoestring fries are my favorite)! The amount of pickles they put on it were phenomenal! The drinks we awesome and the vibe was outstanding. The employees were friendly and helpful. And I feel like everything was priced well and appropriately. The not so good: The meat was just meh and the onions were straight up burnt. Not caramelized, burnt. Overall, the burger was decent, just not great like we were hoping. We sat at our table for quite some time and had a few drinks. It was busy but never too crowded. There was a line but it moved quickly. I would reccommend this place to grab a quick bite before a DPAC show!

What I recommend: The Arborio soup and the herb and pesto sandwich…read more I went to Toast for brunch to meet a friend and had an amazing experience. The space inside is a little small, but it feels cozy, and the staff is very friendly and helpful. They do have outdoor seating, but in the winter, sitting inside is definitely the better choice. I had the herb and pesto sandwich, which was fantastic, but the standout was the Arborio soup. It had mushrooms and a rich, risotto-like flavor that made it one of the best soups I've had. The prices were reasonable, the service was great, and I can see this becoming one of my regular spots. If you're in the mood for a cozy soup and sandwich combo, Toast is the place to go.

I've been to Toast a handful of times and their paninis are excellent. I like this grilled…read moreportobello one with arugula and fontina a lot. The environment inside is cozy but does get crowded during lunch hours. Toast also has rotating soups of the day, and my colleagues often rave about them being excellent. I'll be back to try a soup!

I've been hearing about this Bull City Burger spot for over two months, (noted for their tasty…read moregrass-fed beef) and in watching the reviews -- I figured that the experience should be very pleasant; to the eyes and the palate. I was hoping I would not be disappointed. Downtown Durham on Parrish Street I do believe. I went there midday and there was a sparse lunch crowd already seated when I arrived. The warmly lit space presents nice aesthetic as you walk into the restaurant. A very chill and comfortable atmosphere. I love the bar and the mirrored wall nestled behind it. The spot is pretty laidback and very clean, but has a bit of a rustic nuance to it as well. I like that. The serving staff were extremely nice and helpful towards advising me in making my selection -- with me being a first-timer and all. I kept it simple...I chose the Classic Burger (pink) with pepper jack cheese, bacon marmalade, and as a side, I had to go with the Dirty Fries -- 'cause that's how I roll y'all. About the food: I have to say, the burger was staunchly built and crafted with artistry. Nice and tall with a seriously tasty bun encapsulating everything. Perfectly well-seasoned meat and the first bite was simply delightful. I noticed as I got towards the center of the meat, it was bit less juicy than the surrounding parts of the burger, but nevertheless still tasty. My Dirty Fries were delicious In the end; the experience as a whole was quite delightful and I would definitely like to go there again -- perhaps try a different burger to expand upon my experience with this place. Gotta try out That Bar y'all! I do recommend it for those who haven't had a chance to go by there to check it out.

I'm going to open by saying that the fun and humor of this restaurant is amazing. The interior is…read morenice and vibrant, with a perfect mix of minimalist and maximalist designs in the building (especially with the brewery apparatus being visible--which is awesome!!). Even before me an my party entered we could hear music playing from the building, which kept the vibes up! Moving onto the food, a certain menu item caught my eye. Something that I'm legally obligated to keep quiet about... but let tell you- this burger was Gooood. This "Signature Secret Burger" was rather unique, as it was like you took a pretty simple egg burger, and just ramped it up. My initial thought when I first tried it was that it was a burger squared, the mystery ingredients amplified the flavor to make such a savory meal. It wasn't to overbearing like many other burger places that I've visited, not immediately making me feel fat and full after taking a few bites. Our party also ordered a whole quart of fries, and they were SO GOOD!!! I'm a sucker for good fries, and you knocked this out of the park! Your fry soft was nice and mellow and complimented the fries perfectly. (And even afterwards, the fries warmed up really well and were still Really freakin' good!) Finally, during my visit, their anniversary event (Happy 15th By The Way ) and they were offering FREE DESSERT for someone who happened to sit in a randomly chosen seat. And by the luck of the gods my little brother found his way onto the seat! It was just really awesome to see a restaurant doing such awesome things for their birthday, y'don't see that every day! Overall, this place is definitely a place to stop by if you're in Durham. If you're in the area visit IMMEDIATELY if you love good fun food!

We had an extremely memorable experience at Alley Twenty Six, in large part to our amazing server,…read moreAnthony! We made a reservation for a Saturday night dinner and he made sure we were well taken care of all night. We started the night with their James Bears award winning cocktails, and every drink we ordered was a hit! Spiced strawberry mule, Sunset Sipper, and the table favorite: Earl Please. The latter two drinks were mocktails and they were still standouts! As for the food, the Alley burger was perfectly cooked: juicy patty paired with truffle cheese and simple toppings that really highlighted the burger itself. And shoestring fries are always a good choice with a delicious burger. Ricotta gnocchi was also very good. As our server Anthony said, let's get this burger nominated!

It's always exciting to go to Alley26, namely for their food. Out of all the options in a block…read moreradius (with the exception of sushi nearby), I will always chose Alley26. Over burgers, over French food, over ramen, over Indian. Why? Because Alley26 serves delectable oysters, succulent burgers, and incredible tin fish. Yes, tin fish. If you haven't seen their extensive menu of fish, you must! While it's not for everyone, it is a tinned fish enthusiasts heaven! I go here to celebrate milestones with a good friend and we always have a mini feast, paired with a glass or two of wine. My favorite time to go is when the weather is comfortable and we can sit in the alley way, it's soooo chic that it feels like you're sitting outdoors at a meal in Italy of France. Service is always on point and I forget the bartenders name that is super knowledgeable and super kind. When I remember, I'll circle back to update this review. If you're thinking about this place, definitely check it out! The only inconvenience though is that I believe is 21+ over, at least at night it is.

Really cute cafe/ upscale gift shop. I've only ordered variations on the cheddar biscuit breakfast…read moresandwich. The biscuit is so flaky and crispy, and you can sub avocado if you don't want bacon. They have a number of other breakfast and lunch choices plus a coffee bar. They have a ton of cute gifts for all occasions and audiences from bath and beauty products to cookware and specialty foods plus a selection for baby and kids.

We have been at the previous P&O location and this location but had not ordered food here. Stopped…read moreby on a Saturday particularly to eat instead of shop. We got a cheddar biscuit with bacon and eggs, and my wife wanted the salmon bagel but they were out of bagels so they offered to make it on sourdough bread. We found a place in the seating area and waited for them to call our name. My biscuit was delicious and filling, and my wife's salmon was so large she ended up taking part of it go. Don't forget to poke around their retail area for gifts, cookbooks, wines and more. They also have occasional sales. It's now become a Durham institution.

Love hitting up parts and labor before a show at motorco. Their beer/ na options are great! Love…read morethat they show you what regular and ba option are in their main board to make things easier! The food is always tasty! The service has always been quick with plenty of staff on hand if they get busy! The location and set up is great allowing the inside outside environments to allow a lot of seating and room.

What a cool place! I visited with some girlfriends for drinks and lunch. I love the open concept of…read morethe space, it feels really inviting. We placed our orders at the bar, got our drinks, and they brought the food to our table when it was ready (which didn't take long). They have tons of outdoor seating which is great to enjoy with nice weather. I'm not vegan, but I love that they have so many vegan options! Cauliflower Nugs: delicious fried bites of cauliflower. We paired them with the ranch and motor-oil sauce, I loved the dual sauces! Moto-Bahn: yum! I loved everything on this sandwich, it was perfectly balanced. Each bite was crunchy & delicious. I loved the spice I got when I got a bite with jalapeño.

While visiting Durham on business, I discovered La Mala was just a five minute walk from my hotel--…read moreand what a fantastic discovery it was. A beautiful clean and spacious interior with a great view for people-watching foot traffic along Corcoran. The service was prompt, friendly and attentive without being intrusive. I ordered La Santa margarita and it was refreshing and delicious served in a Collins glass over ice. For starters, the guacamole fresco served with toasted whole tortillas was a steal at only $10, and enough for two (although I ate most of it myself). I ordered the quesabirrias, three full-sized tortillas stuffed with tender shredded slow-cooked beef served with a generous bowl of birria consommé and accompanied with fresh chopped cilantro and red onion and a hot sauce (smoky, perhaps tomatillo?) -- another steal at just $16. All in all, my experience here was perfecto.

La Mala is a vibe. We visited for a second time, and had a good experience. The food is always…read moretasty and fresh, and the service was helpful. We tried a few drinks this time, and we were pleasantly surprised. Many drinks at Mexican food places can be too sweet; these were really balanced. I'd like to try the new Raleigh location as well.