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.“

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

“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.“

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

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

“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.“

“We brought my sister for her birthday as she loves afternoon tea. We've been to many afternoon tea places both here and in the UK and have been largely disappointed with the quality in the US. However, this place was different. It was the closest we've come to having an authentic afternoon tea in the US. We loved every item. My sister said the only thing lacking was a charming tea set. The tea settings were a little plain. But that's just preference. The staff were kind and even brought out a little piece of chocolate cake with a happy birthday sign on it. The noise level was low so we had no problem hearing each other. Overall, lovely.“

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

“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 !!“

“Excellent food and service. Always a pleasure.“

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

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

“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!!!“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Updating my review from some years ago! My seniors group visited The Refectory today. I made a reservation and when we arrived, our tables were ready and waiting, well marked and with bright tablecloths. The staff did an amazing job of coordinating their service; dishes were quickly prepared in the kitchen and brought to our table in short order. Everyone including servers and cashiers kept things running smoothly, making sure all our needs were met. We dine out as a group once a month and The Refectory may have been our best outing yet! Highly recommend! Oh- everyone was pleased with their selections and my own shrimp sandwich was especially tasty!

Fresh, healthy, delicious dishes with vegetarian and gluten free options. Friendly and welcoming staff.“

“I want to express praise and gratitude to Desmond at the Durham Hotel. I had been calling the rooftop restaurant for a couple of weeks to try and modify a reservation for a birthday party and after five or six attempts, they had not called me back. I eventually called the hotel and Desmond answered and even though it is completely separate and outside of his job responsibilities, he took down all my information and reached out to them on my behalf . Desmond was able to modify my reservation so that I did not have to drive down there an hour each way. He was very professional and I enjoyed talking with him. He is definitely in the right line of work because I felt like I was talking to a friend. Details matter, and Customer Service should still matter. Thank you, Desmond!! Sincerely, William / reservation 9546“

“great food and customer service“

“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“

“Just delicious and fantastic staff“

“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“

“Starting off a self-directed food tour here at Bull City and we were the first ones in when they opened at 11:15. This was a great spot to start, get in the vibe and have something to eat. It's friendly and it's relaxed. We sat at the bar and were well served and had a good time.

We started off with the jalapeno poppers which were tasty even if they didn't have much hot to them. Five stuffed jalapeno peppers which were tasty but unspicy. The buttermilk dip on the side is great for cooling down the heat but it wasn't needed today.

It's super that they pour half pint beers which was a real plus when you're just looking for tastes and not a huge meal. The burgers did look tremendous and well presented with a 6 ounce patty, which is a bit more than a third of a pound making for a big meal. Too much for us on this trip today, but I am sure that I'll be back.“

“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!“

“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!“

“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 !“

“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 👌“

“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!“

“Normally, my food is awesome...today not so much. I ordered ribs and brisket with fries and collards along with Texas toast. The sides and bread were the only thing that was great. The ribs and brisket were VERY dry. The brisket was so hard, that it almost had the texture of jerky. I was so disappointed 😞.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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).“

“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 :)“

“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.“

“Atmosphere is awesome and food was good“