50 Best American Restaurants in Durham

“This place is a true GEM to Durham! I celebrated my birthday here with a group of 17 people and from the initial conversation with the staff they were extremely efficient, professional and accommodating! And the food…the food was incredible! The drinks were made perfectly, the service was top notch and the atmosphere was very accommodating. I 100% recommend this place, no matter the occasion! Thank you all for accommodating my large group and making sure we had an unforgettable evening.“

“Absolutely delicious food and amazing service!!! 10 out of 10 !!!“

“Our first time dining here and definitely won’t be our last. Everything was exceptional best fries, delicious beet salad. Great gluten free options. Staff super friendly and efficient. Atmosphere was jazzy cool. Our waiter Ryan was great and made the best Arnold Palmers. 10 stars“

“Had very relaxing time with family. The food was enjoyable.“

“Loved the friendly atmosphere and dog friendly“

“Great ppl and great place. I have not eaten here i have attended and event here. The place is very clean and owners are very professional, while at the event I hade ppl ask for info about renting. Keep the good work up guys,good to see a business that cares about community and not just profits. I'll be bck and tell others . Thanks for a great experience.“

“I love Ally 26, the atmosphere is wonderful. The staff is always friendly and knowledgeable. The drink selection creative with many great options to choose from.“

“Had a great experience here ! Taylor was a great server , will definitely be back and will be asking for her !!“

“Food was good and served quick. Service was outstanding. We sat in the bar area and our server was quick“

“A whole vibe for sure . Loved JJ. Will be back“

“Amazing experience! Went with another adult and 3 children ages 4, 7, and 11. It was my daughter's birthday and I put it in the reservation and they surprised us all with a special cake and candle for her! They also offer hot chocolate for kids and some more kids friendly sandwiches which I didn't know before hand. It was quiet with excellent service and the dining room was beautiful. I highly recommend it!“

“They have fire live music! R & B night every Tuesday night, and live jazz every Wednesday. And it’s worth mentioning it that their breakfast selection is top notch as well.“

“OUTSTANDING!!! my family and I were there for the art exhibit and we had dinner there. the food was amazing and the staff was kind and accommodating. Do yourself a favor and spend a little time in this wonderful Cafe you will not be disappointed !!“

“Absolutely delicious! Wish you had a location in Greensboro,NC !!“

“Excellent food and service. Always a pleasure.“

“The food is great. Very well managed. I’ll definitely go back!“

“Always friendly service and delicious food at the Amelia Island location!“

“Good food, great staff, and good comedy on Monday nights.“

“Some of the best wings I have had in a long time! I tried the teriyaki and sweet Thai coconut chili, no peanuts. Delicious!!!“

“I finally came to Boricua Soul after seeing them on one of the food shows. I brought my mother along and we really enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere along with the food. Mom got the shrimp sandwich with collard greens and mac & cheese while I got the Boricua Bowl with fried chicken. The greens were great and while I’m not really a mac & cheese person, this mac & cheese was hitting on all cylinders. Great down to earth business where the owners are in tune with all who walk through the doors to share their space. The fact they’re located at American Tobacco in downtown Durham right by the Durham Bulls baseball stadium makes it a must stop. Defintely coming back the next time I’m in Durham when I see Mom again.“

“good presentation on food and God customer service. No wait.“

“I love a good ribeye, Tony Roma's served me the best, most perfectly cooked, tender ribeye I have EVER eaten in my life! The mashed potatoes and green beans were perfect as well! This was a fantastic meal and our server Vee was fantastic as well. we left miserably full and we will be going back!“

“It’s my first time eating here and I loved the food. I had egg and cheese omelets, home fries, bacon, and a fish patty. It was all very good. The staff were friendly and the I liked the atmosphere of the cafeteria. The only con I can think of is that I live so far away. I stopped by here on the way to a doctor’s appointment and I’m glad I did. I apologize for posting a photo of a partially eaten breakfast but I was enjoying this meal before I thought to take a picture.“

“I have ordered several custom cakes for special occasions and they have all been delicious! I have a gluten and dairy intolerance and they do an amazing job accommodating both and taking the time to discuss with me my options for cake, frosting and filling flavors. The rest of my family (who can eat gluten and dairy) even LOVE these cakes. They say that they can't tell the difference! The chocolate cake is our favorite.“

“Looking for lunch one day and thought I would try Cafe Meridian. One time is all it took. My new favorite lunch spot. Everything I have tried is tasty. Tried the Fiesta chicken. Would eat that daily! Yum.“

“great food and customer service“

“Took our wheelchair bound mother-in-law here for her birthday dinner. She enjoyed everything as did we. This is a simple, honest, quality cafe you can have breakfast, lunch, or dinner at. Give them a try… they are part of what make Durham great!“

“First time eating there this morning.I ordered the Grilled Chicken. Sandwich and Onion Rings! ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!! THE STAFF WAS AMAZING! NOW I NEED TO TRY THE BREAKFAST“

“Grub is one of our favorites, for many reasons. Great burgers, yummy grits bowls, …. more …. and I swoon thinking of their Brussel Sprouts! We love the staff too !“

“This place is amazing. We go there a lot and never leave disappointed. Katie is the best server and today a new cook Chris cooked our steak and it was the best filet I have ever had“

“10 out of 10! The best freshest burger I have had probably ever, and I have access to very fresh beef as a farmer back home. Pastured grass-fed local beef and fresh brewed beer, you just can’t get better than that! Topped with house made pickles and pimento cheese!! 🤤 And Sam, the bartender was so friendly and such a good vibe! She recommended some good local spots and did not steer me wrong with dessert. Next time I’m in town I know where I’ll be eating. 👍 I love supporting local spots that support their local farmers and feed the community good clean food, AND it tastes sooo good!“

“I had one of those Hawkdogs this past Saturday at our Neighborhood’s Block Party. The hot dog tasted incredible and that chili was out-of-sight. I can’t wait to see what the hamburgers taste like. I will definitely be buying from them again!“

“I don’t usually choose hot dogs for lunch but yesterday 8/7/25 my co worker recommended we go to the dog house.i was confused but went along with it.first of all let me say service was perfect but also fast.Norma not only was nice but very funny. I never thought placing an order would be so fun! Any ways im not gonna ramble on but for winch and a show i would definitely recommend the dog house on latte road Durham NC. And make sure Norma is there!“

“I don’t usually choose hot dogs for lunch but yesterday 8/7/25 my co worker recommended we go to the dog house.i was confused but went along with it.first of all let me say service was perfect but also fast.Norma not only was nice but very funny. I never thought placing an order would be so fun! Any ways im not gonna ramble on but for winch and a show i would definitely recommend the dog house on latte road Durham NC. And make sure Norma is there!“

“As someone who’s from Philly and came here for a festival that got cancelled (sadly, F Blue ridge rock fest!!🙄) we came here because we heard it was a good place to watch the eagles game and it definitely delivered !!! The vibes and the great energy made it feel like we were back home and definitely the spot to catch the game. & the food was fantastic as well. If I’d ever be back in the area, I’d for sure come back here for a game & some good food!“

“Just delicious and fantastic staff“

“Bralie’s Sports Bar is hands down one of the best spots around for great food, fun, and entertainment. The food is outstanding every time — fresh, flavorful, and way better than you would expect from a sports bar. Whether you’re stopping in for a quick meal or spending the night with friends, the menu never disappoints.

The customer service is equally impressive. The staff is always friendly, attentive, and welcoming, making the atmosphere feel comfortable and relaxed from the moment you walk in.

What really sets Bralie’s apart is the entertainment. There’s always something going on during nights and weekends, making it a perfect place to catch a game, enjoy live entertainment, or just have a great night out. Highly recommend checking this place out if you want excellent food, great service, and a fun atmosphere all in one spot.“

“Our family enjoys the burgers here and the staff are very friendly. Great service and great food. 👍“

“ate there once and loved it!! highly recommended 👌“

“I have to eat gluten free, and Town Hall on Falls of the Neuse never disappoints. I love that they have a dedicated fryer for fries, chips or tots. Their burgers are top notch and the tuna steak sandwich has a very generous serving of tuna. This place is on our regular rotations. Five stars!“

“The wings are on point! Food and atmosphere are great! Nice bar, and seating areas.“

“Always amazing hot dogs. This particular one is the only one I like to go to. The service is always great and food is hot and made to order. You can get the tailwagger(2 dogs, fries, and a med drink) for $8 and some chamge before tax. I got the bull dog(mustard, chili, and onions), and the ol' yallow(mustard, cheese sauce, and bacon bits). They also sell by the pint, quart and gallon(slaw, brunswick stew, bbq).“

“We had such a great experience here for my son’s birthday. Our food was delicious. But the best part was our waiter Mr. Larry! He was outstanding and took the best care of us. We will definitely be back!“

“I love this place, the food is always great.
If you like to sit down for some great food on the weekend with a friend. It is perfect relaxed place to enjoy a meal inside or out. The food is out of this world. It is exceptionally put together at every level. Try the swine wine on you more cow bell. It's the answer to a rainy day.“

“We had a wonderful experience from being greeted to being served beautifully by Daniel. He took extra care and attention to make our evening special. The cheese board was a special scrumptious surprise with different textures and flavors. The steak was beautifully platted and the dessert was a perfect topping.“

“Twinnie’s has quickly become one of my favorite eateries at Duke! I come here at least once a week and it is always a pleasure to see the team. Special shout out to Jack who never fails to make my day! He is so kind, fun to chat with, and full of great recommendations. The food is top notch (cafe style entrées and drinks); seriously everything here is delicious. I’d recommend trying the daily specials or the classic Chicken Pita. Also, the seasonal pumpkin latte is back! I just drank it for the first time today and it won’t be my last. Check out Twinnie’s for good food and good vibes :)“

“Atmosphere is awesome and food was good“

“Comfortable stay while attending a conference. Room was typical average. The front desk staff was helpful. I forgot to pack my cell phone charger and the gentlemen at the front desk let my borrow a charger. Comfortable bed and overall a great stay.“

“Yessica is the absolute best! She is so good and attentive and has a really warm spirit. Our server, Jeronimo, gave us the best service. Very accommodating and makes you feel at home. The food is really good. My daughter and I have found our new fave Mexican!! Thanks guys!! We'll see ya tomorrow. 😂“