The food was not very good. Not worth the price. The service and waitress were lovely but I wouldn't go back.
Joe
I had a fantastic experience from start to finish. Manager Phyllis clearly runs a tight ship - everything felt welcoming, smooth, and well cared for. Paul, behind the bar, was friendly, attentive, and made the experience even better. The server, Pip ,was outstanding: warm, knowledgeable, and perfectly timed everything. The food was excellent. I started with the Gem (lettuce) Caesar salad, which was fresh, crisp, and perfectly balanced. I'd come back just for this salad. For dinner, the fried catfish was the star of the night-crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and full of flavor. The creamy grits were a great accompaniment. You can tell real care goes into the cooking. Great food, great service, and a great atmosphere. I'll absolutely be back and would recommend this place without hesitation.
Kayla
Limited menu, but great experience overall. Service was great and very friendly! If you're a super picky eater, I wouldn't recommend. However, their burger and fries were top notch!
Amanda
The duck was so tough that neither of us could cut it even with a steak knife. We sent it back. The lamb shank was very tasty, but a small portion for the price. The server was pleasant but amateurish. And for that price I would have expected tablecloths and some grace notes. We will not be back.
Meredith
My husband and I just came here for our anniversary, and we were quite disappointed. The decor is pretty random and eclectic (not in a good way) and just looks strange and tacky. The so-called "artwork" is absolutely awful. The service was quite good. Our server was nice and energetic, and she did her best, even though they were kinda busy and the kitchen was pretty slow. Unfortunately, we had to send back two different dishes. First, our confit wings, which just weren't that great. Some of them were a little bit underdone, even. And then after that, I had to send back my roasted chicken entree, which also had some underdone parts inside that were leaking red juices all over everything. And the whole dish itself just kind of wasn't that impressive. Plating wasn't great, the turnips were a little bland, the greens were overdone. We did have a side of the mushrooms with Madeira to replace the wings. They were very good. After I sent back my chicken entree, I got the agnolotti, which was mostly pretty good, but I think it only came with four agnolotti and probably could have had just a little bit more, and a little less sauce and mushrooms. But it was tasty. My husband was not impressed with his smash burger which was very average for $19. He said the burger and fries reminded him of Sysco products and that he could get a much better one for half the price at Only Burger. Because we had to send back two different dishes, we did get a free dessert. We got a panna cotta, which was nice. Ultimately, this feels like one of those of restaurants that doesn't actually deliver impressive fine dining but definitely charges you for it. I think they lean on their setting, their weird artwork, and some fancy chef's name, and I think the food sounds a little fancier and better than it actually is. I've come to realize that more casual restaurants tend to have much better tasting food than these expensive places with $50 entrees but can't get chicken right.
Rachel
Food was outstanding but the service was comically bad (was everyone on staff high??) and extremely disappointing.
George
We were there for brunch. The food was excellent (particularly the Turkish Egg), the service was quick, helpful and pleasant...and the art both in the restaurant and in the gallery added to the experience.
Deanna
I was staying at 21c Museum Hotel for the weekend. I stopped down for a beverage for myself and my daughter before heading down to the gallery and mirror maze. When we came back for dinner I was happy to treat my daughter to her first fine dining experience. The duck with mole sauce and sunchokes was phenomenal, my first time enjoying all three, might I add. My daughter had the kids steak, both of us only made it half way through before we were stuffed. Which made an excellent late night snack. Thanks for such a great experience, I look forward to visiting again the next time I'm in Durham. The stay was about $30 more than a La Quinta but it is worlds apart in ambiance, cleanliness and service. Why stay at a plain boring chain when you can have art, mirror mazes and great service.
NinaPEast
We were excited about this restaurant, but were surprised when we came in and saw stained upholstery and dirty floors. This would have been fine if it wasn't for the terrible food. My husband got the lamb shank and it looked like it was swimming in oil and mush *which we think was overcooked/liquified rice- the lamb was tasteless/fatty. Do NOT get the sunchokes- they had no taste other than deep fried. The worst part about all of this is that within one hour of leaving the restaurant we both had terrible diarrhea for several hours, and considering we had two different things, doesn't bode well for how this restaurant prepares its food.
Taylor Outler
The food is always so delicious, fresh, and has a unique flavor profile. Everything I’ve tried from the pork schnitzel, gnocchi, smash burger, wings, etc. you can never make a wrong decision. Today I also tried the lemon cheesecake. AMAZING.
Ordered a Gin Bombay Gimlet, a little more sour than I liked leaning hard on the citrus. You really had to look for the hibiscus notes that were stated in the description. The menu seemed very straightforward. However, it was kinda like a surprise for some dishes. Example: Fried Shrimp with a sauce. That was actually shrimp wonton's fried with a sauce. There's room for improvement. We might have ordered those if it had been written out. It was like you needed to be ‘in know'. Dinner was the burger & Ribeye. Both were outstanding, well seasoned, cooked perfectly, arriving with the perfect amount of wait time. We look forward to going back.
BruceC844
There were six of us, five is us with dietary restrictions. A variety of Gluten-free, no garlic, vegan……you get the picture. The waitress and chef could not have been more accommodating. The portions of everything were large to huge. The food was fresh and delicious. The fruit bowl came on a charcuterie board and was prepared beautifully. The salmon portions were large as was the bacon, eggs, potatoes, and bread portions. The waitress came around five times to pour coffee as well. We were very pleased. If you’re staying at the 21c hotel, this was a delightful place to have breakfast.
Edward
Visited for Sunday brunch. Pretty slow and inattentive service, although the waitress was nice. Limited menu with few decent GF options. Food was fine, but more expensive than it should have been. Ambiance felt a little off from what I remember from previous visits years ago. The sculptures are nice! They should probably get new management for the restaurant that will demand attentive service and make prices more competitive with the better options nearby.
Rachel Watson
The burger wings and fries were solid. Ingredients tasted fresh. The milk bread with the whipped honey was the star of the show, though. I could probably eat it everyday.
Food: 4
Service: 5
Carrie
Amazing food made with fresh ingredients! We had such a wonderful dinner that we went there for breakfast the next day. We tried their award winning biscuits and were impressed again by the food! Beautiful atmosphere as well. If we come back to Durham, we would stay at this hotel again to enjoy the delicious restaurant and beautiful artwork.
The food was not very good. Not worth the price. The service and waitress were lovely but I wouldn't go back.
I had a fantastic experience from start to finish. Manager Phyllis clearly runs a tight ship - everything felt welcoming, smooth, and well cared for. Paul, behind the bar, was friendly, attentive, and made the experience even better. The server, Pip ,was outstanding: warm, knowledgeable, and perfectly timed everything. The food was excellent. I started with the Gem (lettuce) Caesar salad, which was fresh, crisp, and perfectly balanced. I'd come back just for this salad. For dinner, the fried catfish was the star of the night-crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and full of flavor. The creamy grits were a great accompaniment. You can tell real care goes into the cooking. Great food, great service, and a great atmosphere. I'll absolutely be back and would recommend this place without hesitation.
Limited menu, but great experience overall. Service was great and very friendly! If you're a super picky eater, I wouldn't recommend. However, their burger and fries were top notch!
The duck was so tough that neither of us could cut it even with a steak knife. We sent it back. The lamb shank was very tasty, but a small portion for the price. The server was pleasant but amateurish. And for that price I would have expected tablecloths and some grace notes. We will not be back.
My husband and I just came here for our anniversary, and we were quite disappointed. The decor is pretty random and eclectic (not in a good way) and just looks strange and tacky. The so-called "artwork" is absolutely awful. The service was quite good. Our server was nice and energetic, and she did her best, even though they were kinda busy and the kitchen was pretty slow. Unfortunately, we had to send back two different dishes. First, our confit wings, which just weren't that great. Some of them were a little bit underdone, even. And then after that, I had to send back my roasted chicken entree, which also had some underdone parts inside that were leaking red juices all over everything. And the whole dish itself just kind of wasn't that impressive. Plating wasn't great, the turnips were a little bland, the greens were overdone. We did have a side of the mushrooms with Madeira to replace the wings. They were very good. After I sent back my chicken entree, I got the agnolotti, which was mostly pretty good, but I think it only came with four agnolotti and probably could have had just a little bit more, and a little less sauce and mushrooms. But it was tasty. My husband was not impressed with his smash burger which was very average for $19. He said the burger and fries reminded him of Sysco products and that he could get a much better one for half the price at Only Burger. Because we had to send back two different dishes, we did get a free dessert. We got a panna cotta, which was nice. Ultimately, this feels like one of those of restaurants that doesn't actually deliver impressive fine dining but definitely charges you for it. I think they lean on their setting, their weird artwork, and some fancy chef's name, and I think the food sounds a little fancier and better than it actually is. I've come to realize that more casual restaurants tend to have much better tasting food than these expensive places with $50 entrees but can't get chicken right.
Food was outstanding but the service was comically bad (was everyone on staff high??) and extremely disappointing.
We were there for brunch. The food was excellent (particularly the Turkish Egg), the service was quick, helpful and pleasant...and the art both in the restaurant and in the gallery added to the experience.
I was staying at 21c Museum Hotel for the weekend. I stopped down for a beverage for myself and my daughter before heading down to the gallery and mirror maze. When we came back for dinner I was happy to treat my daughter to her first fine dining experience. The duck with mole sauce and sunchokes was phenomenal, my first time enjoying all three, might I add. My daughter had the kids steak, both of us only made it half way through before we were stuffed. Which made an excellent late night snack. Thanks for such a great experience, I look forward to visiting again the next time I'm in Durham. The stay was about $30 more than a La Quinta but it is worlds apart in ambiance, cleanliness and service. Why stay at a plain boring chain when you can have art, mirror mazes and great service.
We were excited about this restaurant, but were surprised when we came in and saw stained upholstery and dirty floors. This would have been fine if it wasn't for the terrible food. My husband got the lamb shank and it looked like it was swimming in oil and mush *which we think was overcooked/liquified rice- the lamb was tasteless/fatty. Do NOT get the sunchokes- they had no taste other than deep fried. The worst part about all of this is that within one hour of leaving the restaurant we both had terrible diarrhea for several hours, and considering we had two different things, doesn't bode well for how this restaurant prepares its food.
The food is always so delicious, fresh, and has a unique flavor profile. Everything I’ve tried from the pork schnitzel, gnocchi, smash burger, wings, etc. you can never make a wrong decision. Today I also tried the lemon cheesecake. AMAZING.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Ordered a Gin Bombay Gimlet, a little more sour than I liked leaning hard on the citrus. You really had to look for the hibiscus notes that were stated in the description. The menu seemed very straightforward. However, it was kinda like a surprise for some dishes. Example: Fried Shrimp with a sauce. That was actually shrimp wonton's fried with a sauce. There's room for improvement. We might have ordered those if it had been written out. It was like you needed to be ‘in know'. Dinner was the burger & Ribeye. Both were outstanding, well seasoned, cooked perfectly, arriving with the perfect amount of wait time. We look forward to going back.
There were six of us, five is us with dietary restrictions. A variety of Gluten-free, no garlic, vegan……you get the picture. The waitress and chef could not have been more accommodating. The portions of everything were large to huge. The food was fresh and delicious. The fruit bowl came on a charcuterie board and was prepared beautifully. The salmon portions were large as was the bacon, eggs, potatoes, and bread portions. The waitress came around five times to pour coffee as well. We were very pleased. If you’re staying at the 21c hotel, this was a delightful place to have breakfast.
Visited for Sunday brunch. Pretty slow and inattentive service, although the waitress was nice. Limited menu with few decent GF options. Food was fine, but more expensive than it should have been. Ambiance felt a little off from what I remember from previous visits years ago. The sculptures are nice! They should probably get new management for the restaurant that will demand attentive service and make prices more competitive with the better options nearby.
The burger wings and fries were solid. Ingredients tasted fresh. The milk bread with the whipped honey was the star of the show, though. I could probably eat it everyday.
Food: 4
Service: 5
Amazing food made with fresh ingredients! We had such a wonderful dinner that we went there for breakfast the next day. We tried their award winning biscuits and were impressed again by the food! Beautiful atmosphere as well. If we come back to Durham, we would stay at this hotel again to enjoy the delicious restaurant and beautiful artwork.
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