If you’re looking for great drinks and good upscale pub food, this place is excellent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nate Neely
Lights out decor and awesome food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kamryn Rogers
I will never stop thinking about this restaurant and the food. My mouth is watering thinking about it currently, the brussels, mac and cheese, salad are all incredible. The Braised Pork Risotto is officially my death bed meal, and the chimichuri on the steak frites was just great. Tessa was our waitress and she was so kind and attentive. I truly LOVE Bar Virgile.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
freedom clay
Food is consistently top notch as well as customer service. I’m a perpetual patron!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Giovanna Kast
For a restaurant that does not take reservations, it was a happy surprise that we were seated immediately. We were brought down to the secondary basement location, a lil dusty tropical-esc bar with peeling wallpaper and tables way too small for two entrees. The drinks were delicious! Definitely recommend for a cocktail!! But my lower rating is due to my experience with the fried oysters. For an 18 appetizer having something so fried and oily you could get it at the state fair was quite disappointing, on top of that I found prices of shell cooked with the oysters. At first I thought it was just a fluke and then it kept happening which eventually made me stop eating them entirely. I made this aware to the waitress and she was kind enough to take $4.00 off the meal. But personally I do not foresee myself coming back! P.S didn’t get photo of the oysters cause they did not look very pretty to begin with.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 4
Ross C
Great place for a night out in Durham. No reservations taken and be prepared to wait. That said, the food, atmosphere, and people were all great. Had drinks at the bar while we waited, it’s a tight squeeze but doable with a small group. Tried the Figgin’ Nuts cocktail and the Pilsner on tap and as also good. We sampled most of the small bites: Mac and cheese, deviled eggs, charcuterie board, and fried oysters. Nothing was truly unique, but all were well-executed and very tasty in a comfort food sort of way. The salmon with brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes entree was a perfect way to top things off. It was the kind of dish that you keep eating even when you’re getting a little full because it’s so good.
I will note this place seemed perfect for couples and groups of 5-6. Any bigger than that and it might get a little dicey trying to land a table…maybe go really early if that’s the case.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Onja
I used to love this place but went there last night and it was so bad. The waitress seemed stressed, did not smile and wasn’t friendly at all. They didn’t have the 1 wine I ordered of only 3 red wines on the wine list. I ordered the vegan risotto and got served a burger and they wouldn’t make me the risotto cuz they said it would take too long. My date ordered the steak and it was overcooked and not flavorful. Then he asked for a to-go box and they didn’t have any but gave him a half sheet of aluminum foil. I won’t be going back here. Pitiful. They used to be good.
Food: 1
Tido “Primo” Puente
I love this bar. The food is superb and the vibe is great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Mark Faerber
Top notch bar in Durham. Excellent attention to the cocktails. Professional bartender. Great selection of liquors and bartender will make something you enjoy. Go 'dealers choice' with a flavor preference and he will surprise you. Intimate seating with excellent food out of a small kitchen right next to the bar. Really enjoyed the atmosphere and vibe in this place. Really great bar in every way. Picture is blurry but if this is your bartender the drinks will be fantastic with great conversation.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kelsey Hathaway
The atmosphere: Warm, intimate, and stylish. The space has a cozy wood-and-brick vibe with an open kitchen and well-stocked bar that gives it real character. Love the look.
Service: The serving staff seemed to be doing it all — taking orders, delivering food, clearing tables, and resetting them. They worked hard, and the bar and kitchen staff also felt shorthanded, which showed in the timing. Drinks took about 25 minutes, appetizers around 35, and the check another 15 after requesting it. When we arrived, they told us tonight is a theater night, and they have to turn tables every 90 minutes, so we were expecting better timing.
Drinks: When they finally arrived, the cocktails were excellent — balanced, creative, and worth the wait.
Food: Best dish: the house burger, easily the highlight.
Close second: the risotto, rich and flavorful.
Appetizers: mussels and deviled eggs were fine but nothing standout.
Desserts: both were forgettable.
Overall: Above-average main dishes and stellar cocktails, but service delays overshadowed. Possibly just an off night due to staffing — lucky for us, we didn't have somewhere to be. Three courses did take over 90 minutes...be warned.
Bar Virgile is a unique, and eclectic gem of a place. The ambiance is cozy, and inviting, the service outstanding, and the food superb. It is perfectly situated, just a 2 minute walk to DPAC, and is my new go-to place to enjoy a truly great (and messy!) burger and cocktail both before, and after the show.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 8oz BV Cheeseburger, Cocktails and Food
Damon Taylor
Great little bar and restaurant. Best burgers in town. They don't take reservations though ,so you never know if you can get seated right away or not. It's very popular, so... Also, very noisy. You definitely have to raise your voice to carry a conversation here.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Dr. R Floyd
Amazing service, great drinks and good food. We unfortunately found it odd that on weekends they don't box your leftovers or allow to-go orders if you're already dining. So basically - eat all your food on weekends :/ 🤔
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lee Johnson
Great Margarita and very nice fried broccoli!
Nicole K
Didn’t order food. The staff was nice. Drinks were good. Packed after a show at DPAC.
If you’re looking for great drinks and good upscale pub food, this place is excellent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lights out decor and awesome food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I will never stop thinking about this restaurant and the food. My mouth is watering thinking about it currently, the brussels, mac and cheese, salad are all incredible. The Braised Pork Risotto is officially my death bed meal, and the chimichuri on the steak frites was just great. Tessa was our waitress and she was so kind and attentive. I truly LOVE Bar Virgile.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food is consistently top notch as well as customer service. I’m a perpetual patron!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
For a restaurant that does not take reservations, it was a happy surprise that we were seated immediately.
We were brought down to the secondary basement location, a lil dusty tropical-esc bar with peeling wallpaper and tables way too small for two entrees.
The drinks were delicious! Definitely recommend for a cocktail!!
But my lower rating is due to my experience with the fried oysters.
For an 18 appetizer having something so fried and oily you could get it at the state fair was quite disappointing, on top of that I found prices of shell cooked with the oysters. At first I thought it was just a fluke and then it kept happening which eventually made me stop eating them entirely.
I made this aware to the waitress and she was kind enough to take $4.00 off the meal.
But personally I do not foresee myself coming back!
P.S didn’t get photo of the oysters cause they did not look very pretty to begin with.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 4
Great place for a night out in Durham. No reservations taken and be prepared to wait. That said, the food, atmosphere, and people were all great. Had drinks at the bar while we waited, it’s a tight squeeze but doable with a small group. Tried the Figgin’ Nuts cocktail and the Pilsner on tap and as also good. We sampled most of the small bites: Mac and cheese, deviled eggs, charcuterie board, and fried oysters. Nothing was truly unique, but all were well-executed and very tasty in a comfort food sort of way. The salmon with brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes entree was a perfect way to top things off. It was the kind of dish that you keep eating even when you’re getting a little full because it’s so good.
I will note this place seemed perfect for couples and groups of 5-6. Any bigger than that and it might get a little dicey trying to land a table…maybe go really early if that’s the case.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I used to love this place but went there last night and it was so bad. The waitress seemed stressed, did not smile and wasn’t friendly at all. They didn’t have the 1 wine I ordered of only 3 red wines on the wine list. I ordered the vegan risotto and got served a burger and they wouldn’t make me the risotto cuz they said it would take too long. My date ordered the steak and it was overcooked and not flavorful. Then he asked for a to-go box and they didn’t have any but gave him a half sheet of aluminum foil. I won’t be going back here. Pitiful. They used to be good.
Food: 1
I love this bar. The food is superb and the vibe is great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Top notch bar in Durham. Excellent attention to the cocktails. Professional bartender. Great selection of liquors and bartender will make something you enjoy. Go 'dealers choice' with a flavor preference and he will surprise you. Intimate seating with excellent food out of a small kitchen right next to the bar. Really enjoyed the atmosphere and vibe in this place. Really great bar in every way. Picture is blurry but if this is your bartender the drinks will be fantastic with great conversation.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The atmosphere: Warm, intimate, and stylish. The space has a cozy wood-and-brick vibe with an open kitchen and well-stocked bar that gives it real character. Love the look.
Service: The serving staff seemed to be doing it all — taking orders, delivering food, clearing tables, and resetting them. They worked hard, and the bar and kitchen staff also felt shorthanded, which showed in the timing. Drinks took about 25 minutes, appetizers around 35, and the check another 15 after requesting it. When we arrived, they told us tonight is a theater night, and they have to turn tables every 90 minutes, so we were expecting better timing.
Drinks: When they finally arrived, the cocktails were excellent — balanced, creative, and worth the wait.
Food: Best dish: the house burger, easily the highlight.
Close second: the risotto, rich and flavorful.
Appetizers: mussels and deviled eggs were fine but nothing standout.
Desserts: both were forgettable.
Overall: Above-average main dishes and stellar cocktails, but service delays overshadowed. Possibly just an off night due to staffing — lucky for us, we didn't have somewhere to be. Three courses did take over 90 minutes...be warned.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Bar Virgile is a unique, and eclectic gem of a place. The ambiance is cozy, and inviting, the service outstanding, and the food superb. It is perfectly situated, just a 2 minute walk to DPAC, and is my new go-to place to enjoy a truly great (and messy!) burger and cocktail both before, and after the show.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 8oz BV Cheeseburger, Cocktails and Food
Great little bar and restaurant. Best burgers in town. They don't take reservations though ,so you never know if you can get seated right away or not. It's very popular, so...
Also, very noisy. You definitely have to raise your voice to carry a conversation here.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Amazing service, great drinks and good food. We unfortunately found it odd that on weekends they don't box your leftovers or allow to-go orders if you're already dining. So basically - eat all your food on weekends :/ 🤔
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great Margarita and very nice fried broccoli!
Didn’t order food. The staff was nice. Drinks were good. Packed after a show at DPAC.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
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