I've been here at least 3 times. The food is really good. The wings are probably some of the best in the triangle, if you don't need them fried. They are big ones, with good smoke flavor. I've also had the ribs (back ribs, not spare ribs, but a large portion and well-prepared). The salads I've tried have also been good. Hearty, fresh. Will be back. Have also gone to listen to music a couple of times. Seating can be a challenge for popular shows, so I suggest pre-ordering tickets. If you are interested in listening, but sometimes find live music too loud and don't care about seeing the act, sitting in one of the other rooms during a show can also work really well. read more

I heard the burgers at this place was really delicious so I decided to stop by on a be of my free evenings. It was a Thursday afternoon and raining and I decided to go for the special burger they had on the menu. First the decor is kind of cool, it reminds me of a jazzy, country type place. It's a little dark but it fits the vibe they are going for. They have both outdoor and in door sitting. So now for the food. I ordered the pimento cheese dip and it was amazing. Nice and hot and lots of good pimento cheese. It was definitely a winner! I also ordered the burger that I came here for. The burger flavor was good. But it was extremely messy, lots of sauce. It was a little too much for my liking. But overall once I got past the large amount of sauce it was pretty good. It looked like they had some great drink options at a low cost, so this is definitely a place I would frequent if I wanted a cheap drink and some good food. The service was quick friendly and fast. I heard they have live music here so I want to check that out at some point. Overall good food and a good experience. read more

The Blue Note Grill - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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This is definitely a great spot for live music and good BBQ in the Durham area. My fiance surprised me by bringing me to this place and it was a great treat. The cover charge for the night we went was $10 for the group that played at 9. However, we got there early to see the free band that plays regularly here. Both were outstanding. From the hostess to the waitress I was very impress. The venue isn't huge but I loved the atmosphere. I will be visiting this place every time I am in the area. read more

THE. BEST. Bloody Marys in Durham. And everyone I know who's ordered one agrees. The chicken wings ain't bad either. read more

This is a cute little place that's simply easy to drive by, but don't. I went with my mom to eat here and we both really enjoyed the ribs. Outside of the ribs I make, they were the most tender I've ever had. You simply use a fork and can shred the meat. Anytime you can shred meat with a fork it's impressive! My only criticism about the ribs is the rub. I wish they went a little lighter on the rub. The sauce alone is so good you hardly need a rub. Highly recommend the ribs!!! The sides were a different story however. We both ordered fried okra. They were nice and hot. They use flour breading, which I prefer! The downside was that okra really needs to be seasoned immediately after being pulled from the fry basket. The longer they sit the less salt actually adheres to them. They were still tasty, but would've been excellent had they been properly salted. The same could be said for the collards. They were perfectly cooked, but very under seasoned. The bad thing about collards is that they are very difficult to season outside of the pot. They really need to be cooked in a very well seasoned broth. After they're removed for serving it's nearly impossible to properly season them. Again, they were not bad, but would've been excellent with proper seasoning. The fries my mom ordered were not so good unfortunately. Since she's a light eater it wasn't a big deal. They were soggy which typically means the oil wasn't hot enough when they put the fries it. I ate one and she ate a couple. The hush puppies were very good. They had a nice subtle flavor. Very well cooked. I realize people come here for the live music, but it's not always my thing. I'd prefer to eat in a quieter atmosphere then watch music. Unfortunately we sat in the front row, so we had our ears blasted while we art. The musicians were fairly good, so that helped the noisy experience. Overall it's a place I would recommend. I'd just like to see the food better seasoned. read more

Popped in for brunch today-the house made sausage was PHENOMENAL I didn't take a pretty picture before diving in-eggs were prepared to my perfection and crispy tots too. Added bonus lovely live read more

The Blue Note Grill - I dove into my plate before a pretty picture The house made sausage was PHENOMENAL-eggs were done to my perfection! - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This place is absolutely fantastic! This is the best restaurant I've eaten at in Durham and the staff was incredible. Omega provided one of the nicest dinning experiences. And those ribs!!! read more

The Blue Note Grill - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I have visited this Grill regular for two years now. Every time we want to celebrate something or have friends visit us, this is my first choice. Very traditional southern style of bbq, delicious and nice music. I have many favorites: smoked wings with red chili source, ribs, redneck fries, chili, etc! The wings are crunchy outside but the meat is tender and juicy, the ribs are soft, with nice taste of BBQ source. And the redneck fries, usually I don't touch such kind of guilty food, but it is an amazingly match of fries and French fries! Beer are good and staff are friendly. Don't use patio in summer, or mosquitos will have a fest as you do! read more

We came to the Blue Nite looking for bbq and a real taste of local food. We ordered pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans and dirty rice. The pulled pork sandwich was very good. I did not enjoy the rice that much, but my husband loved the cinnamon sugar butter. Service was excellent! read more

The Blue Note Grill - Pulled chicken and beans were very good. - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Went in on an early evening and there were only a few parties seated when we got there. We were quickly seated, ordered, and our food was out - all in under five minutes. The food was delicious- pulled chicken, green beans, and baked beans. Free hush puppies were included, normal (non-NC) style but were kinda off, not bad but a little different taste than I'm used to. Overall, a great experience and we will be back for more food, music, and drinks. read more

The Blue Note Grill - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I like to go to Blue Note for the Entertainment.. I have eaten there but only had a Cheeseburger which was good but who can mess up a Cheese Burger.. Everyone raves about their food but it is a fun place to go on weekends with the live bands read more

This is one of my favorite lunch places in town. The service is quick and the food is good. I usually get the BBQ plate with two sides and hush puppies. I like getting the collard greens side, since I love collard greens but don't cook them at home. The green beans and Brunswick stew sides are good, too. read more

My wife and I chose the Blue Note Grill for the rehearsal dinner on our wedding weekend. Several guests were from outside NC, so we wanted to make sure they got an authentic local experience. Obviously, a lot of folks are pretty particular about bbq, but this place is the real deal. A Durham institution for years, they've been doing their thing since before all the new spots opened up downtown, and I remember getting great food at their old location when I first moved to town. The staff was really easy to work with in setting up our event, which was in the "Rib Room." They gave us early access to the space so we could decorate, and brought out a TON of food. The buffet gives you plenty of options and we were able to order separate plates for the vegetarians. It was a huge hit with the guests, and a remarkably affordable option for a large group. You can also catch local music here all the time. I'm a musician myself, and I always have a great experience when I perform at the Blue Note Grill. There's even a dance floor by the stage if you are so inclined! read more

The service is excellent and the food is exceptional. This is not my go to for drinks unfortunately. I only drink Jameson and I believe they may mix their liquors here. Other than that, it is great place to get a feel for Durham!! read more

Great music, great food, friendly atmosphere, comically bad service. The title says it all. We showed up at about 6 to see the Duke Street Dogs and loved their mix of country, blues, folk, and bluegrass. The crowd skews older and is very friendly, with several families in attendance. There's a small dance floor and everybody from Granny to Baby Sister was out there cutting the rug. The food is very tasty southern barbecue, and also includes some choices for vegetarians. The beer selection is outstanding and the prices for food and beer are moderate, especially considering the free show. The service was so bad that we had to start laughing. After getting one beer at the bar we sat down and ordered and appetizer while deciding what we wanted. And our server disappeared for the better part of an hour. We asked two other servers to have her come back, to no avail. At one point I even got up to try and find her but she must have been on break or something. Anyway, this may have been one bad server in the bunch so we'll definitely be back for the music, beer, and food. read more

It was a nice atmosphere! Good food and great music! Can't wait to go back! It is the full package!

The music was excellent. I was ok with the food. HOWEVER, it's the "service" that sunk it's battleship! Extremely long waits for beverages, very long wait for food, never got all the ordered items, had to go get my own tea refills and then wait an eternity to get bill and check out. It's baffling on how a venue with such promise can shoot itself in the foot. Management is asleep at the wheel. read more

Where the AARP crowd comes to party. I kept hearing how great the BBQ was a Blue Note and i'm at a loss because whatever this amazing BBQ is, I didn't have it. Upon a recent visit with friends we went here because most of us hadn't been here and my wife's parents frequent this place for it's live music. Now here's the thing with The Blue Note, most people are coming here for the live music, but when you're eating with friends and trying to catch up being seated in their main indoor area with loud music is really conducive to not being able to hear anyone. Our server who was a delight and the best experience about the place was very gracious and sat us outside. The downside of the outdoor seating is you get the second hand smoke from all the smokers outside who are smoking too close to the building. I ordered the rib meat sandwich since I like ribs but don't like the hassle of them. I got the mac and cheese on the side and we started with the pickle chip fries. The rib meat sandwich which sounded great in theory was completely underwhelming and could have been regular pulled pork. The mac and cheese was fine (nothing to write home about) and the pickle chip fries gave me some of the worst indigestion I've had in years. I've lived in North Carolina most of my life and when people talk highly about BBQ I'm very skeptical. Most of the rave reviews of BBQ in NC are from northerners who know nothing about BBQ. Everything I tasted that was called BBQ was very lackluster. What sounded great on the menu was very disappointing. The atmosphere is also very much your scene or not. It's known for a place that plays jazz and blues but the atmosphere felt like a place you'd fine at Myrtle Beach, SC (which is either your scene or not). This place felt very much like somewhere that older people come to let loose. Between the indigestion causing food and underwhelming BBQ, i'm not in a hurry to go back. Our server was ACES though, so there's that. read more

Good food!!! Great atmosphere . Live music and a dance floor are inviting and friendly!!!

I was doing a little research today hoping to find a place with excellent coleslaw that I can order in bulk for a weekend party and this place did not disappoint! The coleslaw is creamy with a little mayo and a little sweet but not too sweet. The cabbage isn't too finely chopped which I like. I ordered a smoked chicken plate just to justify trying the coleslaw and it is on the dry side. (but that is kind of expected with a pulled chicken plate) nice bbq sauce though. Oooo and the 3 large hushpuppies you threw in my basket are delicious! Thank you thank you! If I could give 4.5 stars I would :) read more

Came here again on a Tuesday night and really enjoyed the blues jam session. They seem to have a house band, and every couple songs, randomly call up some new folks to jam together for the next several. Meanwhile, you can enjoy some reasonably good BBQ - the pulled pork sandwich with slaw on top is really pretty good, and the sweet potato fries are solid. Also tried the fried pickles, which were great, and some fired avocado, which was strange but tasty. I'll stick to my original statement that nothing about this place screams best of the best individually, but all together it's a really nice place. Check it out and enjoy some fun local music while you eat. My main criticism might be that it's exceptionally loud in the band room, so don't expect to talk to anyone you're with. read more

I have been sitting waiting for dinner for over a 70 minutes! It's a BBQ joint where the meat is cooked hours ahead of time. The friend-end manager is hiding while his customers become irate. Update: the food came out in 80 minutes. The waitress said they ran out of ribs and had to cook more. Obviously they baked them because they have no red smoke ring. The manager is now out of hiding and came to our table. We told him we weren't happy and he didn't seem to understand why. Perhaps we'll try it again when they post a sign saying, "Under New Management". read more

Was recently in Raleigh/Durham for business and took a group of co-workers here to wind down on Tuesday night - apparently we picked the right night to go. We did the "pork n' pint" special - order a pint of beer and half-rack of ribs and get $2 off each. We stuck around for a few more hours and enjoyed a local blues open mic night. If you haven't been here, then get here ASAP! read more

Our team booked space at the Blue Note for our company Christmas party. I liked the atmosphere and decor, and everyone seemed to enjoy the food. Service was where this restaurant fell short. Aside from empty glasses and the server's general lack of interest in our dining experience....I ordered the BBQ sandwich, but I was served the BBQ plate. The bun is always a BBQ must for me, so I asked the waitress if I could get a bun. This was the beginning of a 15 minute ordeal, after which my co-workers joked about for weeks. It was a bun. A simple request, yes? Not so much. First, the waitress acted like she didn't know what I was talking about: you ordered a bun? a BBQ sandwich? you want a bun? After carefully explaining my plight yet again, she responded with, "well you will have to be charged for the bun." Needless to say I was borderline hypertensive at this point, but begrudgingly agreed in order to eat my food, which was now cold. What I didn't then realize was that she would make me pay for the bun before she brought it out to me-separately from the bill. If it wouldn't have been me, I wouldn't believe it, but that $2 and some odd change, that antagonistic waitress and the cold, cold BBQ on my plate soured my impression of this Durham gem. read more

Looking for good ribs? Gottum. Looking for good service? Gottit. Looking for a good time? Got that too. Whatever you are looking for Blue Note Grill will fit the bill. Large dining area that has a stage for music that starts at 8:00. If you aren't interested in the show they also have a large dining area away from the stage, as well as patio seating. The ribs, which they are know for, are fall off the bone good. Sides include fried okra, brunswick stew and mac-n-cheese plus several other items. Everything was excellent and portions were generous. While it is noisy it isn't unbearable. Service was outstanding both at the full bar and at the table. They do take reservations for larger parties so feel free to call ahead. The live music starts at 8:00 and cost $10 per person whether you are eating or not, which for live music is not bad. They normally have acts that are in the blues, jazz and bluegrass (hence the name of the grill) but it is really a wide variety of genres over time. Come check it out, you won't regret it. read more

The Blue Note Grill - Poster - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Super friendly staff, great food & the music never disappoints. Go on a Wednesday night to hear Chuck Cotton and don't forget to bring your dancing shoes. My favorites: Chili, chicken wings, collards, house salad & burgers. Everything on the menu is delicious. This place is perfect for big parties. read more

Excellent! I like Tuesday - for their jam sessions. Live the music, the clientele, watching the diverse folks especially the grandparents dancing with toddlers! But also all people enjoying music & dance - and the diversity of musicians who do many different things in their "day jobs" but unwind making music for the rest of us! And delicious Bar-B~cue Mac n cheese or banana pudding n collard greens Southern Cuisine at its finest! interesting folks to have a brew or glass of wine - relax! Life's too short not to stop and say "Howdsy! Neighbor!" read more

Good BBQ and a variety of menu items. I am a native and a BBQ aficionado. This place ranks well in Durham I would not go so far as to say the best but up there. I Mainly like the location and variety of menu items. Well Done ladies and gentlemen. read more

I decided to Visit this place on a whim and I'm sure glad I did !!!! Right from the door I was greeted with a smile and treated like one of the family. They have live music and great food . I'm gonna put this one in the win category for my food selections this week . I had the Ribs and pulled smoked chicken with a side of baked beans and some dirty rice and man was it good !!!! read more

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Holy cow Batman. So to be honest, this was out second choice of places to eat. Call it destiny, this place rocks. BBQ, ribs, catfish and burgers were had by our table, all were awesome. I had to try the banana pudding, the waiter mis-understood me and brought bread pudding. Holy cow, I not a fan of bread pudding, but this stuff was awesome, plan on sharing it, it was huge. There was a band, and they were right on tine. Great job! read more

Service was excellent. Very friendly host and manager. Live music across the hall is great and the pictures on the wall add a nice touch. Food needs major seasoning work. Wings were very bland. Mac and cheese had no flavor either. read more

My sister in law got us a gift card for Christmas. We went at noon on a Saturday, only a few people there. Perfect timing! Ordered the fries with pimento cheese. I wasn't going to order but was highly recommended by waitress, who was really cool and gave us information about the place and things to see. They were pretty good, a little rich. Our ordered half rack of ribs and pulled pork with fried okra and Mac n cheese. Yummy! Ribs were literally as they described, "fall of the bone!" All was great, would like to go back when the band is playing! read more

The Blue Note Grill - American Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I can't vouch for the food at the Blue Note, but I can say it was a pretty garbage place to go if you just wanted to see live music. They're set up as, basically, a restaurant with a stage up front. For someone, like myself, who just wanted to see the band and have a beer, it was not great. There's no place to stand that isn't in someone's way or kind of blocking the path to the bathroom. Most people who were there seemed to be there for dinner and viewed the band as incidental, which meant that there was a high level of chatter during the entire show. Even the singer commented, at one point, that "I feel like I can tell you anything, because it doesn't seem like anyone is actually listening." On the other hand, if, by chance, the couple who decided to say "screw it" and stood in front of the stage dancing, swaying, and mouthing the words the whole time at the Honeycutters show on 2/8/19, reads this: You are goddamn amazing and so sweet and I was so happy to see someone actually enjoying the show as opposed to complaining to the waitresses and talking over the band. You deserved a better venue! Also, you're a wonderful couple! But yea, Blue Note. I definitely would not ever go back to see a show there. read more

Visiting Duram Bulls stadium (the original) and saw this place across the street. So glad we stopped in as the food was outstanding!!!! If you are in the area, come get some good BBQ. read more

Not a happy place, bartenders could care less if you came in or not,Food is ok ,I would not go back . You can have ok food and a fun atmosphere and I will be a return customer, but ok food and poor service I will not return.. read more

Meh... perhaps I should have had BBQ. I had two apps and a side salad. I was super excited about the jalapeño cheese shrimp poppers until...I discovered (or didn't discover) jalapeño referred to a tiny slice or dice. There wasn't any jalapeño flavor at all. I'm not sure what the cheese was. I ate one and took the rest to go to see if my colleague might want them. The deviled eggs were good though. I wish the fresh jalapeño had been chopped up in that like relish in addition to being a garnish. Yum. Great service! read more

I ordered dinner with dessert delivery. The bread pudding was so small, they were served in specimen cups. I was shocked considering the price. I've had larger samples at Costco. My dinner was good but I wouldn't order dessert! read more

Good Menu and good food, with all kinds of bears/spirits. Highly recommended, we will be back! read more

Stopped in for a quick lunch, service was wonderful, quick and knew the menu. I got a pulled Chicken sandwich basket, my brother had a pork basket. Mine came with 1 side, his with 2. Both were moist and extremely flavorful. My sides were green beans w bacon and onions and mac and cheese. Both sides had flavors that were great, if a bit softer than I prefer. A side salad was cold, firm and very well presented. read more

The music was amazing, the service was perfect and the food was on time! The space was warm and inviting. It felt like home, somewhere you come for the service and entertainment. Elizabeth was our server and she attended to all our questions and needs while navigating a large number of tables. The host Jackie was friendly and was the reason we waited to be seated. I must say it was worth the wait. read more