Revolution - Durham Restaurant - Durham, NC

Revolution - Durham

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Address:
107 W. Main Street
Durham, NC 27701

Neighborhood:
Durham

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Cuisine:
Global, International

Price: $30 and under

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Revolution - Durham Details

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Website: http://www.revolutionrestaurant.com
Email: info@revolutionrestaurant.com
Phone: (919) 956-9999
Hours of Operation: Monday - Thursday 5:00pm to 10:00pm

Friday & Saturday 5:00pm to 11:00pm

Sunday 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Global, International, Contemporary American, Tapas / Small Plates
Executive Chef: Jim Anile
Dress Code: Business Casual
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Full Bar, Late Night, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Personal wines welcome, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Catering: Catering by Revolution makes it possible to enjoy the same sumptuous cuisine, unmatched service, and impressive wine lists, far beyond the charming historic walls of the Downtown Durham restaurant. From an intimate cocktail gathering, to private cooking classes, to a beautifully seated dinner party, Chef Jim Anile and his culinary team will ensure that you and your guests share in a moment to remember. Revolution's professional and dedicated staff will work with you closely, to help design an event that is created uniquely for you and your tastes, while mindful of your budget.
Private Party Facilities: We have available an intimate, private dining space with seating for up to 50.
Private Party Contact: Jessica Lane (919) 956-9999
Entertainment:

Getting there

Parking: Valet
Parking Details: Revolution offers complimentary Valet Parking Thursday through Saturday. Garage and street parking are also available.

A word from Revolution - Durham

Revolution’s sophisticated and vibrant atmosphere greets guests as they enter the commanding historic Baldwin Building. A dazzling tiled mosaic from Florence adorns the wall, while rich hues of garnet and chocolate brown leather, natural cork, and original restored wood flooring create an inviting… social scene. Revolution’s menu features a selection replete with imaginative interpretations of contemporary global cuisine. Chef Anile also offers a variety of tasting options from the three course “Feed Me” to the seven course “The Feast” menu. Revolution is proud to serve an unassuming yet impressive selection of fine wines featuring small production vineyards. The creative cocktail list pays homage to global cuisine while highlighting a changing roster of fresh ingredients.

Revolution is also the Official VIP Restaurant of The Durham Performing Arts (DPAC) President's Club.Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerBest Ambiance
Diners' Choice WinnerBest Service
Diners' Choice WinnerNotable Wine List

Diner Reviews

"I have heard much about what a wonderful restaurant Revolution is. I was a bit disappointed in the food. It was good, but not great. Same for the service. We were there for a special occasion and we did have a wonderful private table. This place is quite expensive and I had really hoped the experience would match. I would give it another chance if asked, but it is not somewhere I would go again on my own."
Dined on 4/12/2014
"This was our second time at Revolution. It has has such a great atmosphere. The appetizers were great. The steak was amazing."
Dined on 4/12/2014
"Went to Revolution prior to a DPAC event recently and loved the food. The server was nice but the actual delivery of the app and main meal was pretty slow (and we noticed others thought so also). If there was a kitchen issue, then the server should coe out and let us know. This is a great place but is a bit noice, even if only 3/4 full. Must be the floors and ceiling echoing the noice - so don't go for a romantic meal."
Dined on 4/12/2014
"Great food and service. The 'small plates' were entree sized portions. The mussels were outstanding and there were 24 of them, so more than enough for an entree portion. We will be back!"
Dined on 4/9/2014
"The restaurant décor is very stylish and modern but comfortable. When we arrived for our reservation time we were promptly seated. However, we continued to seat for about 15 minutes without a server approaching us; fortunately, we were not trying to make a show. I asked for a server to come by and when he did he seemed to think we had just been sat. When he discovered how long we had been waiting he was visibly alarmed and apologized. After ordering a cocktail he informed us the first round would be on the house. That's the right thing to do and as a result we will be back. Good job."
Dined on 4/6/2014
"We were trying to decide where to dine before a play at the DPAC. We decided to look for a place with some great tasting healthy options and we were not disappointed. The Red Snapper was great and reasonably priced and accommodated a request to make a substitution for additional veggies. The white decor gives the impression that it is a very expensive place but I have paid the same or more at other places in the area. They have free valet and if the valet is not outside you can park at the door and the hostess will take your keys. I plan to come back again soon!"
Dined on 4/4/2014
"Took a group of visiting artists here for dinner. Great food, and nice table place to be for a few hours of sharing ideas and food. Well done in deed, and tasty too!"
Dined on 4/3/2014
"Several dishes were not prepared properly. Staff was accommodating but could not seem to get it right. Valet service was awful. Restaurant mgr. arranged cabs to get us to show and back and helped find our car."
Dined on 3/28/2014
"One of the best in the area. Great service, excellent food, clean modern atmosphere."
Dined on 4/1/2014
"While our party of four sensed the staff tried hard, the dining experience was just unremarkable for a $50 per person night out. I can't remember much about the food now that a week has passed except that $20+ for lentils seemed over the top, and the dining area was chilly (though the staff was nice about offering alternative seating). Dessert was good, as it is most places, and the interior had a refined feel, but things needed more amplitude, pop, and wow to constitute a revolution."
Dined on 3/22/2014
"When I made the reservation, I put in the notes that it would be myself, my daughter and her 2mo old lil boy. I wanted to be sure that we weren't seated too close to someone who was celebrating or having a romantic dinner, etc. We were given the PERFECT seat downstairs with the bench on one side of the table so we had plenty of room for car seat, diaper bag, etc. Of course, he was the perfect baby (smile) which made it easy but I soooooooooooo appreciated their thoughtfulness to our situation. We couldn't have had a better dinner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Dined on 3/24/2014
"Our meal was delicious. We each enjoyed a large plate and sampled a few small plates as appetizers - shrimp, scallops, and Mac n cheese with rabbit! Our waitress was wonderful - attentive when needed and kept her distance when she could tell that our group was busy catching up with conversation. I definitely would go back."
Dined on 3/20/2014
"This was my second visit to Revolution and it was very similar to the previous visit. The food was delicious and cooked well. The wine was great. The service was spot-on: my partner-in-crime's water was always full when he wanted it to be; he likes his water a lot. The only complaint I have is minor. At both my experiences here, we've sat at tables right next to the bar which is also a pretty high traffic area that, although open, feels a bit cramped especially when you're trying to put on/take off your coat to leave/sit down. Other than that, I enjoy coming to Revolution especially for a nice dinner which it provides so well."
Dined on 3/14/2014
"Having made reservations two weeks in advance, I was quite surprised to be seated in the basement. It does not compare with the ambience of the main dining area upstairs. It would be fine for a large group affair but certainly not suit the special dinner for two I had hoped for that evening."
Dined on 3/18/2014
"Revolution is one of the more consistent restaurants in Durham. The food is always of high quality with an equal focus placed on taste and presentation. The menu is innovative and the drink list is complete without being overwhelming. My only complaint is with the service. The servers are attentive but can also be a little intrusive not taking hints from diners that they are in the middle of a conversation. This may be a reflection of a slow night but this is not the first time that has happened. Overall I will definitely return to the restaurant as the food quality outweighs the service hiccups."
Dined on 3/17/2014
"This was our first visit to Revolution. We were very happy with the service and our meals, as well as the prices. The restaurant is two blocks from DPAC, making it a convenient pre-show stop. However, I suggest requesting seating in the street-level dining area when making a reservation at this restaurant. My wife and I were seated downstairs, which is one large room more suited for larger groups. (The upstairs will be just as noisy, though, because the bar is on the main floor. So are the restrooms.) Other than that, our experience at Revolution was very good."
Dined on 3/15/2014
"Excellent dinner and service at this downtown Durham restaurant that is very convenient before a DPAC event. The swordfish I had was well prepared and was served with an excellent medley of fresh vegetables and polenta for a super blend of flavors and textures. My wife had the gnocchi with veal osso buco which was also excellent. Farm fresh salads had preceded our main course and, again, the service was excellent."
Dined on 3/15/2014
"We went to Revolution with our two grown children for a birthday dinner for my husband. The service was amazing; we had toasted my husband at the very beginning of dinner, the waiter overheard us, and at the end of dinner he brought dessert with a candle and Happy Birthday written out on the plate, with no request from me. Attentive service without being overbearing. The food was incredible, and with our very diverse tastes in the group, everybody was pleased. The only downside was that we were seated downstairs in their rather dark "overflow" room, which meant the ambience wasn't quite what I had hoped for a special birthday dinner. However, it ended up being a bit quieter than upstairs (which was a good thing)."
Dined on 3/14/2014
"Overrated. Entrees weren't good. Appetizers and dessert good."
Dined on 1/23/2014
"Revolution has not disappointed ever. Food excellent, martini perfect, bread - warm and fragrant, food - excellent and reasonable proportions. A favorite place to treat yourself."
Dined on 3/13/2014
"Revolution is within walking distance of DPAC. We had a 5:30 reservation and had no trouble making our 7:30 show. The menu was divided into 3 sections - cold plates, small plates & entrees. You could also do a 3 or 5 course tasting menu.The menu didn't have much variety. Vegetarians may have one or two items to choose from and vegans are pretty much out of luck. Wine is expensive - you won't be able to get a glass for less than $11 or a bottle for less than $40. I had the spinach salad plus the butternut squash and goat cheese tamales - both were very well executed. My husband had the gnocchi w/osso buco - fine, but not remarkable. As we left, we noticed the list of specials. Funny that our waitress never mentioned them."
Dined on 3/13/2014
"One of my favorite foodies recommended this restaurant, so I had confidence that the restaurant experience would be befitting of a cherished birthday celebration. It actually exceeded my expectations. All aspects of the dining experience were excellent. I had the chef's choice, where the chef chooses to prepare the courses of his desire of items not on the menu. I do not each pork or beef, but my limitations did not limit the chef's creativity. Revolution is now one of my go-to choices for fine dining."
Dined on 3/11/2014
"The food was great and so was the service. Had a wonderful evening."
Dined on 3/8/2014
"The reservation system worked perfectly. Staff and service were fantastic. A used plate or empty water glass never sat for over 30secs, but the staff didn't hover over you. Wine was great, but a bit pricey at $10/gls for a CA Merlot. Food was near perfect, (wife had salad and salmon and I had NY strip), although it would be nice to have included a side with the main course. Everything is a la carte, but it is all well done."
Dined on 3/8/2014
"We ordered the chef's tasting menu, and had indicated on the reservation that we would. We were seated in the bar area, which I did not think was entirely appropriate for what we were expecting. The waiter was not knowlegeable about the food or wine. He did not pace the courses very well. One course was brought out looking very dissimilar on the two plates. A runner tried to give us two plates that were not ours, and asked if we weren't done with our plates yet when we were clearly not. Though the food was very good, and the wine pairings were well chosen, the level of service was very disappointing for this caliber of a restaurant."
Dined on 3/8/2014
"Revolution is a stone throw away from DPAC which is why we decided to give it a try. Overall, we loved the food. I had the mussels appetizer which was pretty good but could be improved with a little less salt in the broth so that it could be savored with a soup spoon after the generous portion of mussels has been gobbled away. The Veal Osso Buco with gnoccis was great: It is a home run. Very tasty. My wife the lamb Osso Buco special and raved about it while we were driving home after the show. The French Sauvignon by the glass is a great choice. Very refreshing and reasonably priced. The restaurant is a little pricey but worth it."
Dined on 3/8/2014
"Cool contemporary (not kitschy) decor. Service friendly, informal and efficient. Like the cocktail menu, food was fantastic. We had Ahi Tuna, cold water oysters, seared scallops, Katafi baked shrimp, grilled salmon. Enjoyed it all. Valet parking, not too noisy, no complaints. Will return for more."
Dined on 2/28/2014
"The food and service are excellent. We particularly enjoy dining at Revolution before going to the DPAC."
Dined on 2/22/2014
"I haven't had food this good in a long time! Everything was wonderful, unique and delicious."
Dined on 2/21/2014
"We had a great dinner, however the only downside of our evening is that our reserved table was IN THE BAR. We had a group of 6 and were seated at a high bistro table in the bar. The problem was that the bartender was our waiter. Not a good mix. I would have thought with having a confirmed reservation through Open Table, we would have had a table in the dining room. The food was very good and I would return, but I would also call ahead next time to make sure my table wasn't reserved in the bar."
Dined on 2/21/2014
"We enjoyed every moment of our Saturday dinner, post the Book of Mormon matinee last Saturday. Khaleel, our server, was spot on in his recommendations and all 4 of us went for the Feed Me option. Your Chef delighted our palates at every serving, and we could not have had a better experience. The food temperature was perfect upon arrival, which is not often the case, and the tantalizing flavors were superb. We also appreciated Khaleel suggestion to go for the 4 different dessert options and shared amongst us. We had a hard time picking just one fave! It will be difficult to top this dining experience any time soon! Thank you for a lovely meal and experience."
Dined on 2/22/2014
"A group of 5 had a very nice dinner before the DPAC show. Our 5:45 5reservtion was suggested for an 8 show. The restaurant was full, the service is a little slow but, very accommodating. Everyone enjoyed their selections: tuna, tamales, haystack shrimp, scallops and rabbit all very nicely presented, tasty and interesting. The cardammom spice cake for dessert was a nice not too sweet ending. However, save romantic or serious discussions for another time as the noise level is very high. I'm not sure how a handicapped person would get through to a table as the space is limited."
Dined on 2/21/2014
"Love the bar area-the bartenders were so attentive and the drinks were delicious. Our waitress at dinner was inattentive and the food came very slowly. We had to alert the hostess in order to get our waitress to come to our table, which isn't acceptable at such an establishment."
Dined on 2/22/2014
"Being still relatively new to Raleigh, we have been searching for a restaurant that completes with the quality and ambience that we enjoyed in Chicago. Well, we found one that rates with the best.....Revolution."
Dined on 2/22/2014
"Within walking distance of DPAC, this gem of a restaurant provided the perfect dinner to celebrate a special birthday before heading to the Broadway musical. From the valet parking to the courteous service by Bob, great martinis and wine list, and varied menu, we felt special. Our meals were all 4 superbly prepared and presented and timely for getting us to the show! We'll definitely be back!"
Dined on 2/19/2014
"The food was delicious and we absoultely loved the apple crisp with the ice cream! The restaurant was very quiet and the server seemed quite knowledgeable. I can't wait to go back for lunch!"
Dined on 2/17/2014
"Was really excited to try this restaurant but for the price, the food was ok and the service so-so."
Dined on 2/18/2014
"It was almost too noisy to talk, but the food was better than expected."
Dined on 2/18/2014
"Really outstanding dinner ... The ONLY thing I would point out to potential diners is that they do have a basement that (according to my wife on a previous visit) is a bit more isolated and takes longer for service to be carried out. We were on the main floor and we had a great time / great service / great food."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"First visit to Revolution. Service was excellent. A bit noisier than i would like. Menu choice acceptable. A large bar area. Complimentary parking. Swordfish overcooked and "tuff". Will go back ."
Dined on 2/14/2014

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