Lovely restaurant with a creative menu. The yellowfin tuna carpaccio was exceptional, an absolute gem of a dish, beautifully presented, popping with flavor, and a delight on the tongue. Staff is knowledgeable and very competent. Parking isn't abundant; we recommend getting a ride service there and back, especially on busy weekends.
Brad
The menu is truly incredible and something I would characterize as a mixture between cosmopolitan fine dining and southern country charm. The atmosphere, venue, staff, decor, and most of all food are all stunning.
Ralph
The food and service were spectacular as usual. The biggest issue other than parking is time management. Rules are posted with the reservation booking on Open Table. Our party of 4 arrived at 8:05 for an 8:15 reservation . Another party of 3 had already been waiting for their table when we arrived. We were not seated until just after 9. If time frames for tables are posted it would be nice if they were adhered to. Thee bar area is small and usually not conducive to “waiting for the table.”
arijeet sengupta
We went there for birthday dinner for our daughter. Three of us took got lamb and one of us had steak. Two of us getting the lamb had loose motion in the morning. The gravy for both the dishes were the same. Very average food for which they charge a lot of money, It is definitely not worth the money they charge
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
JJ
My girlfriend and I were celebrating our Anniversary. We received a complimentary dessert and a glass of wine. The food was amazing, and the service was outstanding. This was our second time, and we will definitely be back.
Roger
The positive was our waiter. Caring, knowledgeable, good timing and attentive. But aside from two other positives little else impressed us. The Granddad Old Fashioned was very good but the Angel Manhattan was overly sweet and far too weak for a $27 drink. The grilled oyster appetizer was not tasty and the presentation was disappointing. For dinner, why not expect hot food? This is perhaps our #1 complaint of some restaurants we visit. Both the salmon (which WAS very flavorful) and the duck were tepid. They were sent back for reheating. The duck presentation was OK but only four very small slices - why so little? The desert selection were all things Nana's likely prepared ahead of time and refrigerated. So, our rating included some things done well but there are far too many negatives. This, incidentally, is a very expensive place to eat. It does not live up to expectations. Boston folks
Jess
I'm no stranger to Michelin star restaurants. I've traveled all over, eaten at more than I could count. Food is the language of my soul. Nana is one of the few restaurants I haven't been to in the Triangle. I have my few favorites that I keep on repeat. Fearrington House is #1. I go 4 times a year for each new menu. I knew Nana probably wouldn't measure up to Fearrington but thought I would give it a try. The basics are they could not even keep my drink refilled. I had 2 drinks: a sweet tea and a Diet Coke that sat empty for my entire second appetizer and main course. The chicken liver mousse came with BURNT crostini. I took pictures. Black as the night sky and quite frankly inedible. I ended up using the rolls with cultured butter that I ordered and it was just not good. Better with proper crostini. Grits soufflé 5/10 for its uniqueness. Duck ragu... noodles were clearly handmade and the texture was great, but tasted like normal bolognese, nothing special. I won't be back.
Daniel Debrecht
We hosted our holiday party at Nana’s, and it was a wonderful experience from start to finish. The pre-planning process, day-of communication, food, and staff were all truly exceptional. I would highly recommend hosting a gathering in their private area.
*Parking can be challenging, but it is manageable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Emily Duberman
Great atmosphere, flavors, and staff 10/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
John King Oppermann
Some friends and I had a phenomenal meal here. We were visiting from Brooklyn and haven't spent a lot of time in Durham and were so happy to have been able to eat here on our short trip. Every single dish was incredible.
Very good food and service, nice ambience, not overpriced. One of the best restaurants in Durham.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Jessika Harris
2/5 Stars - Disappointing Birthday Experience Across the Board
I had high hopes for celebrating my birthday at Nana’s, but unfortunately the experience was disappointing from start to finish - poor service, mediocre food, and complete disregard for the occasion.
The Wait: Despite having a reservation, we waited 15 minutes to be seated. The hostesses seemed completely clueless and disorganized - no apology for the wait, no communication about the delay, just confusion.
The Service: Our server, Ritchie, was dry, unpleasant, and clearly distracted throughout the evening. His descriptions of the dishes were lackluster and uninspired - he seemed to be going through the motions with zero enthusiasm. There was no effort to sell the experience, no wine recommendations, nothing to make the meal feel special. He was inattentive, difficult to flag down, and didn’t even say goodnight when we left.
Despite mentioning it was my birthday when booking, there was absolutely no acknowledgment from anyone on staff.
Most concerning was the dismissive attitude toward my food allergies. At a restaurant of this caliber and price point, I expect staff to take dietary restrictions seriously. The casual, uncertain response was not only disappointing but genuinely concerning for my safety.
The Food: For all the wait and high prices, the food was mediocre at best. I ordered the Grilled Dry Aged Rohan Duck, which arrived rare and extremely chewy - not the quality you’d expect from “dry aged” duck at these prices. My husband’s lamb was overcooked and had an overpowering gamey flavor that suggested it wasn’t handled properly.
The Exit: When we left, there was no “thank you for coming,” no “goodnight” - nothing. We simply walked out after spending a significant amount of money for what should have been a memorable birthday dinner.
The Bottom Line: For what you pay at Nana’s, this level of service and food quality is unacceptable. Durham has too many excellent restaurants that actually care about their guests and execute their dishes properly to settle for this experience. Save your money and celebrate elsewhere.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Lisa Leatherwood
We went here for the first time a few weeks ago. We sat in the bar. Kwame waited on us and he couldn’t have been better—gave us so many great suggestions of things we wouldn’t have tried otherwise, like the scallop appetizer and the crab pasta to share. We tried four different entrees and all were excellent. Also, the sommelier (I sadly do not remember his name) steered us to a Gamay Beaujolais wine that we would never have chosen but paired perfectly with our dishes and was great. Loved sitting in the bar and the service and food was impeccable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
ADAM Cameron
The food was good although some entree portioned very small. The service was not so great. As I waited on my waitress for 15 minutes after seating. Another gentleman noticed & took my order. When she finally came never introduced herself. I was able to see her constantly visit other tables in front of me with out stopping by. It was a little aggravating but I would say the food made up for it.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 2
Dorothy
Our experience was outstandingly wonderful. It was truly fine dining. It has been quite a while since we were so well taken care of. Our waitress, Amy ,was so experienced in her position. We were most impressed when she asked about food allergies followed up cross contamination issues. She then proceeded to review the menu with us pointing out what might be avoided because of the ingredients in sauces. While I couldn't eat the grilled oysters and showed my sadness, she said "Well you can have raw oysters on the half shell." And that was the beginning of what become my most wonderful 80th birthday celebration. We loved the variation of the menu. It was so nice to have dishes that reflected true culinary skill. All of the waitstaff were very attentive.
Lovely restaurant with a creative menu. The yellowfin tuna carpaccio was exceptional, an absolute gem of a dish, beautifully presented, popping with flavor, and a delight on the tongue. Staff is knowledgeable and very competent. Parking isn't abundant; we recommend getting a ride service there and back, especially on busy weekends.
The menu is truly incredible and something I would characterize as a mixture between cosmopolitan fine dining and southern country charm. The atmosphere, venue, staff, decor, and most of all food are all stunning.
The food and service were spectacular as usual. The biggest issue other than parking is time management. Rules are posted with the reservation booking on Open Table. Our party of 4 arrived at 8:05 for an 8:15 reservation . Another party of 3 had already been waiting for their table when we arrived. We were not seated until just after 9. If time frames for tables are posted it would be nice if they were adhered to. Thee bar area is small and usually not conducive to “waiting for the table.”
We went there for birthday dinner for our daughter. Three of us took got lamb and one of us had steak. Two of us getting the lamb had loose motion in the morning. The gravy for both the dishes were the same. Very average food for which they charge a lot of money, It is definitely not worth the money they charge
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
My girlfriend and I were celebrating our Anniversary. We received a complimentary dessert and a glass of wine. The food was amazing, and the service was outstanding. This was our second time, and we will definitely be back.
The positive was our waiter. Caring, knowledgeable, good timing and attentive. But aside from two other positives little else impressed us. The Granddad Old Fashioned was very good but the Angel Manhattan was overly sweet and far too weak for a $27 drink. The grilled oyster appetizer was not tasty and the presentation was disappointing. For dinner, why not expect hot food? This is perhaps our #1 complaint of some restaurants we visit. Both the salmon (which WAS very flavorful) and the duck were tepid. They were sent back for reheating. The duck presentation was OK but only four very small slices - why so little? The desert selection were all things Nana's likely prepared ahead of time and refrigerated. So, our rating included some things done well but there are far too many negatives. This, incidentally, is a very expensive place to eat. It does not live up to expectations. Boston folks
I'm no stranger to Michelin star restaurants. I've traveled all over, eaten at more than I could count. Food is the language of my soul. Nana is one of the few restaurants I haven't been to in the Triangle. I have my few favorites that I keep on repeat. Fearrington House is #1. I go 4 times a year for each new menu. I knew Nana probably wouldn't measure up to Fearrington but thought I would give it a try. The basics are they could not even keep my drink refilled. I had 2 drinks: a sweet tea and a Diet Coke that sat empty for my entire second appetizer and main course. The chicken liver mousse came with BURNT crostini. I took pictures. Black as the night sky and quite frankly inedible. I ended up using the rolls with cultured butter that I ordered and it was just not good. Better with proper crostini. Grits soufflé 5/10 for its uniqueness. Duck ragu... noodles were clearly handmade and the texture was great, but tasted like normal bolognese, nothing special. I won't be back.
We hosted our holiday party at Nana’s, and it was a wonderful experience from start to finish. The pre-planning process, day-of communication, food, and staff were all truly exceptional. I would highly recommend hosting a gathering in their private area.
*Parking can be challenging, but it is manageable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great atmosphere, flavors, and staff
10/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Some friends and I had a phenomenal meal here. We were visiting from Brooklyn and haven't spent a lot of time in Durham and were so happy to have been able to eat here on our short trip. Every single dish was incredible.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Very good food and service, nice ambience, not overpriced. One of the best restaurants in Durham.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
2/5 Stars - Disappointing Birthday Experience Across the Board
I had high hopes for celebrating my birthday at Nana’s, but unfortunately the experience was disappointing from start to finish - poor service, mediocre food, and complete disregard for the occasion.
The Wait:
Despite having a reservation, we waited 15 minutes to be seated. The hostesses seemed completely clueless and disorganized - no apology for the wait, no communication about the delay, just confusion.
The Service:
Our server, Ritchie, was dry, unpleasant, and clearly distracted throughout the evening. His descriptions of the dishes were lackluster and uninspired - he seemed to be going through the motions with zero enthusiasm. There was no effort to sell the experience, no wine recommendations, nothing to make the meal feel special. He was inattentive, difficult to flag down, and didn’t even say goodnight when we left.
Despite mentioning it was my birthday when booking, there was absolutely no acknowledgment from anyone on staff.
Most concerning was the dismissive attitude toward my food allergies. At a restaurant of this caliber and price point, I expect staff to take dietary restrictions seriously. The casual, uncertain response was not only disappointing but genuinely concerning for my safety.
The Food:
For all the wait and high prices, the food was mediocre at best. I ordered the Grilled Dry Aged Rohan Duck, which arrived rare and extremely chewy - not the quality you’d expect from “dry aged” duck at these prices. My husband’s lamb was overcooked and had an overpowering gamey flavor that suggested it wasn’t handled properly.
The Exit:
When we left, there was no “thank you for coming,” no “goodnight” - nothing. We simply walked out after spending a significant amount of money for what should have been a memorable birthday dinner.
The Bottom Line:
For what you pay at Nana’s, this level of service and food quality is unacceptable. Durham has too many excellent restaurants that actually care about their guests and execute their dishes properly to settle for this experience. Save your money and celebrate elsewhere.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
We went here for the first time a few weeks ago. We sat in the bar. Kwame waited on us and he couldn’t have been better—gave us so many great suggestions of things we wouldn’t have tried otherwise, like the scallop appetizer and the crab pasta to share. We tried four different entrees and all were excellent. Also, the sommelier (I sadly do not remember his name) steered us to a Gamay Beaujolais wine that we would never have chosen but paired perfectly with our dishes and was great. Loved sitting in the bar and the service and food was impeccable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food was good although some entree portioned very small. The service was not so great. As I waited on my waitress for 15 minutes after seating. Another gentleman noticed & took my order. When she finally came never introduced herself. I was able to see her constantly visit other tables in front of me with out stopping by. It was a little aggravating but I would say the food made up for it.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 2
Our experience was outstandingly wonderful. It was truly fine dining. It has been quite a while since we were so well taken care of. Our waitress, Amy ,was so experienced in her position. We were most impressed when she asked about food allergies followed up cross contamination issues. She then proceeded to review the menu with us pointing out what might be avoided because of the ingredients in sauces. While I couldn't eat the grilled oysters and showed my sadness, she said "Well you can have raw oysters on the half shell." And that was the beginning of what become my most wonderful 80th birthday celebration. We loved the variation of the menu. It was so nice to have dishes that reflected true culinary skill. All of the waitstaff were very attentive.
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