Mama Dip's delivers classic Southern charm in a traditional country diner scene. I wanted to try…read moreMama Dip's out before they closed their doors after nearly five decades in business. I split a fried chicken plate with my friend and we both agree that the cooks timed it well. The breading was on the darker side but the meat was tender. My favorite side was their hushpuppies. My friend and I liked their tender cores. Their cornbread could be better. I appreciate our server timing her check-ins with gaps in our conversation. I settled on the European table service style and signaled her when we were ready to order and when we wanted water refills. Thanks, Mama Dip for delivering fine Southern food and charm to us first-timers.

I came here for my birthday since wanted to go with my girlfriend before they closed for good. Such…read morea special Chapel Hill restaurant. It'll be missed. You could really tell the food was made with love.

This dinner had a full emotional arc…read more Let me start by saying this was one of the best meals I've had in the last 2-3 years. The star of the show in my opinion were the hush puppies and the corn and wild mushroom risotto. There were sooo many different flavors that perfectly complemented each other. I was blown away. And the pig cheek on top was incredible. 500/10. Our server made great recommendations! Then-- chaos and heartbreak ensued in the form of a fire alarm. We were forced to evacuate the restaurant as the fire department arrived , leaving about half our meal on the table. After 30 or so minutes of waiting out in the cold (we were apparently the only guests who hadn't paid out yet) our server came to find us. He asked us if we wanted to just give him our credit card information and he would ring us up later, when the fire department gave them the ok, as he understood not wanting to wait around. It broke our heart to leave our leftovers, but we agreed and went to go get the car. Thankfully we are stubborn.. and optimistic to a fault. And by the third time we circled around the block, the fire truck was pulling away. I ran in and asked if there was any chance our food hadn't been thrown away yet, and it hadn't! The staff was happy we had been able to come back, and they packed everything up for us, even taking the hush puppies off the bill and sneaking in a complimentary piece of key lime pie. I'm so glad we were able to tip our server appropriately for his great service-- and rescue our leftovers. Happy ending. All was well. (And the fire ended up being something innocuous in the unit above the restaurant)

Pretty great spot to eat! Service was amazing, one of the best around the area. Our waiter was so…read morekind, thoughtful, and knew his stuff about the menu. He kept refilling our waters which is a gesture that doesn't go unnoticed. Their menu is quite confusing. They have a hot section, cold section, and "classics" section. I assumed the classics were their mains and the "hot" and "cold" were just appetizers due to the difference in pricing. I opted for the blackened salmon, and my friend got the watermelon salad and tomato plate to share. The wait for food wasn't that long, but once they arrived, they were beautiful. Vibrant, full of color, plates of food that I was dying to dig into. The salmon was a pretty small piece (I was expecting a larger portion) and was on top of black beans and cheese grits. The salmon had a green sauce on top which complemented each aspect of the dish very well. I loved eating a bite of everything together. The tomato plate special was also good, but nothing sensational. It's literally just tomatoes with oil on them, but I guess they tasted fresh. I probably wouldn't come back, but this was a good meal nonetheless.

We made a reservation for 8 at 1 pm. They seated us by the door and the hostess stand which isn't…read morean issue but it was chilly, busy and we were forgotten. We came to celebrate my girls birthdays and while the server was kind, she was busy. No water refills, had to ask for the right number of plates for biscuits, bacon was dropped on the floor--which they replaced. I'm sure the staff was wiped after the big WIN last night but the way others talked about it my expectation was higher. I will say we did enjoy the food but my truffle fries forgot the truffle. I'd give it another chance but set my expectations accordingly.

We visited for the first time recently after attending a film nearby. We seemed to hit it at a lull…read moreso were quickly seated. Our waitress was warm and did a great job keeping tabs on us during our visit. I got the breakfast burrito with fruit on the side. The burrito was Huge and with as many different ingredients inside, it wasn't very flavorful, which was odd. I definitely had leftovers to take home. The fruit was good and fresh. My spouse got the classic Benedict with grits. She thought both were just okay, but the eggs were beyond poached. We each got a biscuit on the side, which were disappointing. Both were smaller than expected and not fluffy. I wondered how fresh they were. So we've been there, done that, and don't know if there's really enough to entice us to return.

I came to visit Durham for the first time in a long time And was pleasantly surprised to see all…read morethe new and exciting restaurants. A friend suggested we try this place. We made a reservation and were seated upon arrival. Our host was Anthony, I think his name was, with a keen interest for ginkgo trees. He was very attentive, friendly and extremely helpful. He took her order and had some good suggestions. I was craving shrimp and grits which was probably the most unique shrimp and grits. I've had ever. Very distinct flavor and still very rich and familiar. The shrimp were large and juicy as well as remained crunchy overall cooked very well. We also had the summer tomato and burata salad which was really refreshing and delicious. My friend ordered the mac and cheese which is a hefty serving size. Definitely a shareable side or a main for one person. Our host came to check on us frequently, our Waters never went empty. Other hosts were also helping check in on us which was nice. The restaurant itself is large. Booth tables available, which made for a cozy environment. We ended the night with some brownie a la mode, which was the perfect dessert to have on a hot summer day. Overall the experience was amazing, great food and incredibly nice people. Definitely Miss miss the southern hospitality of Durham. Definitely recommend a try here at plum Southern kitchen & bar.

Stopped by for dinner and sat outside with our dog- VERY dog friendly, relaxing classical music…read moreoutside, with some cute decor- including flowers and lights. The menu had recently changed so we got to try quite a few new items. We tried the panzanella- sweet corn, red beans, heirloom tomato, patty pan squash, pea tendrills, and a roasted red pepper vinaigrette. This dish was my favorite of the night- small but shareable, entire dish was refreshing and all the flavors and textures went together so well. For dinner I ordered the roasted chicken and the baked mac and cheese with bacon. The roasted chicken was juicy and tasty, and a bit sweet with the bourbon ginger and plum reduction, but the mac and cheese seemed dry and overcooked. We also ordered the buttermilk cheddar biscuits- that taste slightly undercooked (in a good way), so the texture was soft and chewy (and amazing). The honey butter and large maldon salt granules made the biscuits perfect. They were so good we ordered a second order!! I would definitely return to Plum, for both the food and hospitality.

I love this place for consistently tasty food and a warm, inviting atmosphere. Every visit feels…read morerelaxed and welcoming, and the service is always on point. It's one of those spots where you can walk in anytime and know you're going to have a good experience. If you're looking for recommendations, the wings are a must‑try, and pairing them with a Bloody Mary never disappoints.

So I asked yelp to recommend a place for a birthday dinner. This was the first on the list. So…read moresince I couldn't get a reservation on my birthday to the place I originally wanted to go, we decided to come here. There is plenty of parking on the backside of the building, paid parking out front, and be careful not to park in the apartment spaces on the side...they sounded pretty serious about towing. I had made a reservation but it was probably unnecessary as it was pretty empty when we arrived (it was about 5pm on a Saturday.) The waitress brought a bottle of water to the table and took our drink order. And I know that this place is literally call it's a Southern thing but can I mention how much I dislike drinking out of mason jars? I ordered the chicken n biscuits, my husband got the country hamburger steak plate, my BiL got wings, and my SiL got the crabcakes. We also orders charred jalapeno & sweet corn hushpuppies and frickles as an appetizer. I was VERY excited about my food. Y'all...the only thing that impressed me were the Frickles. Everything else was distinctly underwhelming. I also ordered Blackberry Betta Have My Money which was not that great. My SiL ordered a espresso martini that they said didn't come from a mix but she said it tasted like it was. The bathrooms were very clean. The decor and the vibe were great. Cute even. I really enjoyed that part of it. After dropping off our food, we never saw our waitress again unless we flagged her down for drink refills. It was especially frustrating since there was automatic gratuity added. And since the place wasn't that busy, it felt like she didn't feel the need to earn her automatic tip. Overall I was disappointed in my birthday dinner. I won't be coming back here.

We stopped by The Pig and ended up really enjoying it. I got the pulled pork sandwich and my…read morehusband ordered the fried bologna sandwich. We also shared a plate of three sides, originally wanted the fried green tomatoes, but they were sold out, so we swapped for hushpuppies along with collard greens and baked beans. I'll be honest, when my sandwich came out I was a little nervous because the slaw is BRIGHT yellow. I was expecting a strong yellow mustard flavor (which I'm not a fan of), but it actually wasn't like that at all and worked really well. My husband's bologna sandwich had a super thick cut piece of bologna and was fried perfectly. Everything we had was delicious, but I seriously could not stop eating the pickles, they were that good! The staff was friendly and happy to answer all our questions. It did fill up pretty quickly while we were there, but they've got a big outdoor seating area with plenty of space too. Definitely worth a visit!

A small clean little place in a tiny shopping center with on site parking. Good service. The food…read moreis average. I ordered a barbecue plate which comes with hush puppies that came out of an extruder, sliced pickled cucumbers and a yellow slaw. I don't know what causes the slaw to be yellow whether it's a spice or mustard. If it's mustard, there's not much mustard flavor, and it was chopped into oblivion. More of a mush. The BBQ tasted pretty good although it was already sauced. The collard greens I got instead of the pickles was a generous portion even given that substitute sides are $3 extra. The collards didn't taste that good, but adding some of their vinegar sauce helped. The thicker sauce taste better, imo. It's OK, don't know if I'll be back, probably not, but maybe worth a try for you.

Last night I was out in Chapel Hill visiting my cousin who invited me over to watch the Duke vs…read moreChapel Hill basketball game. After the game we went out and went around the different places on campus. At some point we decided that we were hungry. She told me there was a great fried chicken place near by and we ended up at Time-Out. Once we got to the place it was packed. The line was a little scary to look at, but we got to the front very quickly which was very impressive as I only saw 2 workers taking care of the register and putting the orders together. I ended up ordering Combo #2 which is chicken thighs and a side. I ordered mac and cheese as my side. Luckily we were able to find an open booth in the packed restaurant. When it came time to eat, I would say that the portion of the side was pretty generous. The mac and cheese was also really good and was up to my standards. The chicken was nice and crispy, and was very delicious as well. At one point it did feel like it was a little too salty, but I was able to look past that. I asked for some hot sauce on the side and it kicked it up a little and made it even better. For my first time here, I would say that I was very impressed not only with the food but also with the service. This place is open 24/7 which is a huge plus! I'll definitely be going back next time I am in town.

Don't let the low rating fool you--this place is a gem! Delicious!!! I'm honestly not sure why the…read moreratings here are so low. I almost skipped this spot because of the rating, but I'm so glad I gave it a chance! I stopped by on a Saturday morning and it was nice and quiet--only a few other people were there. I ordered the fried chicken, cabbage, and mac n cheese, and every bite was southern-style perfection. Also, if you like Bojangles sweet tea, you'll love it here! Get one of those square biscuits and the cinnamon roll! Must try! The biscuit was buttery and melt in your mouth and cinnamon roll had perfect amount of icing. The location is perfect--right on Franklin Street and super convenient if you're out hitting the shops. Definitely give them a try!

Pork-chop biscuit is my go to! Service is usually fast. Hit or miss on the freshness. Gets you in…read moreand out

This is another go to stop in Raleigh area. Will not disappoint. Biscuit, egg and chicken was…read moreabsolutely delicious. The ladies had smiley faces and it doesn't bank. Give them a try! Outstanding food and service!

Oakleaf took me by surprise. I'm not usually someone who goes for New American, but this…read morefarm-to-table restaurant completely won me over. It's perfect for a special night out. The space has a slightly dim, intimate feel with dark red walls and thoughtful details--even the plates feel intentional. The food is the real star. We had the tasting menu, and everything was absolutely delectable, aside from the duck (purely personal preference). I sincerely appreciate the choice of vegetarian, vegan, or omnivore options for the tasting menu -- that's quite special. You somewhat go in blind as to what you'll be served, which I really appreciate. For the omnivore tasting menu, there was a lot of seafood used, which I loved. The ingredients were married together well in each item. The price felt well worth it for the experience. They also offer a wine pairing for those interested. I'll definitely be coming back. And despite being in Chapel Hill, it has ample parking that makes it easy to access.

OakLeaf in Carrboro is one of those rare spots that immediately feels special. From the moment you…read morewalk in, you're greeted with warmth, both in ambiance and hospitality. The space is modern and elegant but still cozy, with soft lighting, subtle earth tones, and an open layout that balances intimacy and energy. Service was outstanding from start to finish, attentive, informed, and genuinely enthusiastic about the menu. Let's get into the food, because this was one of the most exciting and consistently excellent meals we've had in a long time. We started with They Might Be Tostones, a clever and beautifully layered dish with Murasaki sweet potato, lime-pimentón crema, and chili crisp. It was punchy, bright, and balanced. The Warm Rustic Baguette with whipped butter and sea salt may seem simple, but it was divine, crusty on the outside, soft on the inside, and perfect for lingering. Dirt Candy, a medley of seasonal vegetables with toasted pistachio ail lade, was vibrant and thoughtfully composed. The Big Eye Tuna Carpaccio with red miso-citrus bagna cauda and delicate shoots was fresh and refined, with a perfect acidity and richness. We moved on to heartier plates like the Ricotta Gnocchi with Italian sausage, peppers, whipped ricotta, broccoli rabe, and chili flake. The gnocchi were pillowy and deeply flavorful. The Kabocha Squash & Farro with lump crab, pancetta, and miso butter was savory, slightly sweet, and full of texture. The Pan Roast with flounder, mussels, fregula, and smoky shellfish sugo was bold and briny, with layers of flavor in every bite. Two pasta dishes also stood out, the Ravioli di Manzo with Barolo-braised beef and Parmigiano was rich and comforting, while the Plin Piemontese, filled with pasture-raised pork and finished in crema di parmigiano, was elegant and silky. For dessert, we shared all three options and each one brought something different. The Citrus plate with steamed lemon pudding and lemon curd was light, tart, and texturally playful. The Cheesecake with maple mascarpone and cranberry compote was creamy, nutty, and not overly sweet. But the star was the Chocolate Fondant, extra dark, gooey, with salted caramel gelato and hazelnut crumble. An absolutely unforgettable finish. OakLeaf is a standout. Every dish felt thoughtful, seasonal, and beautifully executed. We will absolutely be back.

It was my first time here. I made a reservation so we had no issue getting seated on a Sunday for…read morebrunch. They had a jazz band playing which at times got a little too loud to have conversation. Other than that, I enjoyed them. I ordered a seasonal drink and the Bacon wrapped meatloaf. My meal was excellent. The meatloaf is a bit heavy on the ketchup for the topping. However, that's how my mom made it growing up so I thoroughly enjoyed it. They have a parking lot with like 4 or 5 parks but there is a parking lot behind the shopping center that is a quick walk to the restaurant. And the service was excellent. My friend had several questions and he did his best to answer them all and offer additional information. I'm definitely coming back to try other items.

Was looking for a place with high brunch recommendations and took reservations. Lula's checked the…read moreboxes for me. Outdoor seating is an extra bonus and the "some times" rooftop. Upscale menu, without upscale pricing. I had the chicken a waffles, today's waffles were red velvet. Fabulous, nicely prepared, tasted great. Two more pluses: live jazz brunch was there, and Renna, the excellent friendly knowledgeable server.