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    The Lenny

    3.9 (70 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 11:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

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    THE LENNY ATMOSPHERE

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    Garrison T.

    The lenny is gorgeous and overlooks the Durham bulls stadium. I ordered a fish sandwich. It came with fries and a salad. My meal was ok. I also ordered an peartini which was sweet and would be good for those who like sweet drinks. The calamari was good. Overall the better for the fish sandwich could've used more flavor like lemon and a ton of black pepper. Our server was nice and balanced a full house. I'd come back and try something different entirely.

    Fancy party with Jess
    Dan H.

    Went to a fancy private event for one of my wife's former coworkers that had rented out their event space and had a curated custom menu with drinks. The food was excellent. It was a private event so their service was very prompt about getting new drinks or offering food, taking dishes, that type of thing. The food was excellent. From the slider burgers, chicken skewers, vegetable wraps, grilled veggies, charcuterie plate and desserts. Their crafted drinks were very nice as well. The parking situation is very easy, their ability to validate parking works but is a bit temperamental. The view of downtown is truly unmatched especially at sunset.

    View from Lenny 555
    Theresa P.

    Potential for sure! But... give them some time to pull it together. First, they need better directional signage. Multiple people were milling about the street trying to figure out where to go to get in the restaurant. When you finally enter the actual restaurant it is stunning. Beautiful view of the Ballpark and Durham University area. Very nice outdoor rooftop seating. However, the extra chairs and haphazard placement of unused cocktail tables threw off the vibe. And the service, well it left a lot to be desired. We got promptly seated for our reservation and were given water. Took a few minutes to get our cocktail orders taken. Then it was a good 45 minutes before our cocktails arrived. Half of our appetizers were not brought out. We waited forever for our food and one of our guests then got the message that what he ordered was no longer available. It was such a mess that the manager offered to comp us for whatever we wanted in the way of drinks or other food. So a couple of drinks were ordered and another appetizer. I had ordered a summer salad and mussels. The summer salad was delicious the muscles never came out. When my bill came the muscles were still on it and the pizza appetizer we supposedly were getting free was on the bill as were the "free" cocktails. Our waitress was ridiculously inept. Thankfully her assistant that was busing our table was amazing and he went overboard trying to make things right for us. The manager was also very friendly and tried to help. Because of this we will it another try but we're going to give them a bit of time to figure out these issues.

    Staci H.

    I'd already eaten so I just got the potatoes. Some friends got flatbread and meatballs. The service was great. We had a pretty decent sized party and the server, Molly D was amazing. She was truly on top of everything, so thank you! Aside from the views, one of my favorite parts about The Lenny is the artwork. It really adds to the atmosphere.

    Justin F.

    While I know this place started with some lower reviews, after eating here a few times, I can honestly say it gets better every time. I keep coming back for the incredible view--it's definitely my favorite rooftop bar and dining spot in Durham. Just be aware that during the summer, it can be quite bright on the deck, even right before sunset. The service can be a bit inconsistent with some of the staff, but it's typically good. The food, though, is fantastic; you have to try the tuna tartare and the red snapper. The drinks are also spot on--my favorite is their smoky old fashioned. If you want a place with an amazing view and great food for a date night, this is the first place that comes to mind.

    Matcha butter
    Priscilla R.

    Came here on a whim and last minute reservation for 1 at their opening time (5pm). There were not many people there at that time on a Tuesday which was great. I was able to choose where k wanted to sit. I sat indoor which was cold along the window bc of the AC. I did notice that those outside came inside after some time because it was hot out. The food was all amazing! The drinks were delicious and pretty. Server gave great recommendations! Decent serving sizes. I will be back to try more off their creative menu. Really great flavors!

    Fig & roasted squash flatbread

    The ambiance was nice here but sadly the food did not impress us and the service was really slow. The meatballs were very salty and the lava cake was just okay. But the flatbreads were good! If you order one thing, let it be that. I preferred the fig, but the buffalo chicken was also tasty. The fries were crispy and good too. The cocktails were great! I ordered "I'm in love with a bartender" and my friend ordered "full time lover". I liked mine more but they were both delicious.

    Truffle gruyere croquette
    Mike B.

    Very cool new spot on the 11th floor of an office building, overlooking Durham Bulls ballpark. Tried this place about a month after opening. Service is settling in, and minor wrinkles getting ironed out. We had a great meal, and it heartening to see a new place with full tables! The office building is new, and not fully occupied. There's parking in the adjacent deck, but it's kind of confusing to get to the restaurant. After a little trial and error, we found the elevators! The interior features windows on 3 sides. One overlooks DBAP, the other downtown Durham. Great views! Looking forward to grabbing a cocktail and sitting outside watching a game. Interior design is very cool, with a central bar, open kitchen, bar seating facing the windows and tables scattered throughout. I'd call the design industrial chic, lots of exposed concrete and ductwork, plus funky wallpaper and upholstery, gold fixtures. Very cool. Tried a couple of small plates and an entree. Truffle gruyere croquette is arancini-like with cheese inside instead of rice. Delicious crunchy outsides, gooey rich cheese on the inside. These are not your kids cheese sticks! Also tried panzanella salad. It's a melange of tomotoes, onions, olives, peppers and a garlick-y oil and vinegar dressing interspersed with house-made croutons created from stale bread. Unique, flavorful and very pleasing to the eye. Had the summer fettucine, added shrimp. Wonderful spinach fettucine, cooked perfectly al-dente, tossed in unique pea & mint pesto and then topped with a mix of sundried tomato, zucchini and mushrooms, adorned with parmesan. It's very light, a right-sized serving. 5 plump shrimp accompanied. Well prepared - crisp on the outside, firm on the inside. This is a cool concoction. Delish! Overall, a very good new spot to try. I'm sure it will get harder and harder to get a table - but worth it!

    Cheesecake with Pretzel Crust!
    Jennifer H.

    I was sooo excited to return to the Lenny for my second dinner experience last night with two of my friends! I hate that I didn't get my services name but her was fabulous and he's studying business at UNC-great guy! The atmosphere was great and the view of the ballpark with holiday decor was cool to see as well! I must say that I was a bit disappointed that the drink I had last time was no longer on the menu, but the one I did have was amazing! We girls just ordered a bunch of food items for sharing, there was some disappointment when we tried to order oysters and learned they didn't have any! On to the food we did have; the what I now call "garlic foam" shrimp were amazing as was the tuna we ordered. Corn ribs were a whole new experience for me and they were so flavorful! I tried a bite of the octopus-my first time and personal I was underwhelmed but loved the bed of potatoes they were served on! We also ordered two flatbreads; the buffalo chicken and one with figs on it-I must say I miss the Gorgonzola fig from the previous menu, much better flavor than the current fig one, the buffalo chicken one however was on point!! Thank you for a fabulous dining experience!! Lastly, please, please, please do a better job of providing directions on how to get up to the roof top-the directions really are not clear and this was my second visit-I fumbled thru but there could be better signage and written information provided to your patrons on how to access the restaurant!

    Inside
    Lauren M.

    What a cool spot! This is up on the 11th floor and it's so nice inside and out! Amazing view if you go out on the patio. I had the H2O melon mojito, chicken flatbread, and hibiscus brussels sprouts. Everything was really tasty and I was super full. There were 6 of us so I also got to taste a few other items - margarita flat bread, patatas bravas, and fries. All were yummy! Our server was great! Very attentive, and super accommodating splitting our checks up per couple. We let her know we were going to a show at DPAC and she was great about making sure we were in and out in plenty of time.

    Burger and fries
    Tiff T.

    I didn't enjoy my carne asada flatbread but that doesn't mean I wouldn't come back. The flatbread had too much marinara sauce on it and it was a tad spicy. The steak was too heavy for the flatbread which made it messy to eat. The brussel sprouts were amazing and my friend enjoyed her burger and fries. The fries were nice and crispy too! I expected my mojito to be flavorful but it was watery. My friend enjoyed her passion fruit cocktail though. The oysters seemed to be a hit with everyone around us. The prices are decent; really depends on how much you want to spend. Wine and cocktails run $12-$15. There are plenty of NA/mocktail options too. We waited for our food and drinks for a while but they did get busy shyer a certain time due to the game. And I understand they are newly opened and still getting their footing right. It was tricky getting inside as the front doors are locked so you have to follow the signs to the back, then enter a code to get upstairs via the elevator. There is nearby parking at the justice parking deck next to the courthouse, but a bit of a walk (FYI for my ladies that wear heels). I would return for another menu item or to try their brunch. The views are immaculate and the space/aesthetic is really nice. All of the servers were friendly and helpful.

    Crab cakes
    MelRo G.

    Delicious ... 1st timer and will definitely be back! Liam was also a great waiter! Space is a vibe.

    Phylicia R.

    This review will be short and sweet as we only went here for drinks. The vibe is great, location is nice, they have friendly people working at the bar and at the front door. We will be back to try their food. The view outside is really nice as well. It was a little too cold for us to hang out there long but it was really nice! Can't wait to check them out for brunch and dinner!

    The view!

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    Ask the Community - The Lenny

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    The Lenny - bars - Updated May 2026

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