Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Durham

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in Durham? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Blue Corn Cafe

4.9

4.9 (417)

$31 to $50

Latin American

Durham

About the restaurant

Blue Corn Cafe has been serving the Triangle area since 1997. We offer a locally sourced twist on Latin American cuisine. Our passion for locally sourced food and beverage has allowed us to offer our unique twist on Latin and South American recipes. Both owners Danielle and Antonio Rios have a passion on bringing their culture to your table with unique quality products.
Our warm atmosphere and kind servers make you feel comfortable upon entering and that is only where it begins. We look forward to serving you. Prevecho!

Top review

Scott

Dined on Sep 23, 2024

Authenticity of the food and the service is top-notch. You can taste the care and they make you feel at home. The Chicken enchilada Mole was outstanding. The place was packed but not noisy. Great business lunch spot.

Discover more

4.8

4.8 (1244)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Durham

About the restaurant

For parties of 5 or more, pease give us a call.

A family operated - Mediterranean Bistro serving a fresh & local ingredient inspired menu.

The Papanikas family first opened the doors at this location in 1994 under the name Papas Grille, a fine dining Greek and Mediterranean restaurant. With “Papa” and Sam in the kitchen and Angelika, Chris & Yianni running the front of the house, Papas Grille turned into one of the finest and well-respected restaurants in the Durham food scene. After eighteen successful years as Papas Grille, it was time for a makeover and with that came a new brand as well. The reconstruction took place in 2012 in which the changes brought a more casual setting and modern feel. With “Papa” retiring during the changeover, Sam took over the realms in the kitchen fine-tuning his craft which is highly focused on quality ingredients and consistent execution. The front of the house continues to be overseen by Angelika and Yianni.

Top review

Kathy

Dined 1 day ago

Outstanding food and great waiters and waitresses. Lovely hostess too.

Discover more

Popular dish

Moussaka

Nomad

4.8

4.8 (325)

$30 and under

Global, International

Hillsborough

About the restaurant

Nomad delivers traditional ethnic dishes and craft cocktails with a unique spin, all in a cozy, rustic interior. It’s a modern neighborhood spot that lets you travel the world without leaving Hillsborough.
You may find yourself nestled at Nomad for the entire night, enjoying the atmosphere, the noteworthy dishes and the multi-layered drinks.
In the hands of the locally based, welcoming owners, Nomad brings a diverse dining experience to the Hillsborough area that has yet to be seen.

*Tables are limited to 1 hour and 30 minutes*

Top review

Jaime

Dined 1 day ago

Always the best experience at Nomad.. Excellent friendly service, food and drinks are the best around

Osteria Georgi

4.8

4.8 (868)

$31 to $50

Italian

Chapel Hill

About the restaurant

Giorgios Bakatsias' inspiration behind his newest concept, Osteria Georgi, stems from a deep appreciation for his dear friend- the late, great George Tarantini, an Italian native and beloved soccer coach for NC state University, well-known for his love and respect for hospitality.

Osteria reflects the passion behind Italian cuisine and culture-
a daily celebration of life while gathering around a shared table, of enjoying the beauty in simply prepared hand-made pasta, locally sourced ingredients and vibrant flavors, in having gratitude for the local farmers, fisherman, and artisans from which it all came, and always- a love for great company.

Top review

Yolonda

Dined 4 days ago

My waiter was absolutely fabulous! He was very attentive to our needs in spite of some delays. The chef was also A-1 for coming to speak with us about the delay of our order.

Local 22 Kitchen and Bar

4.7

4.7 (1006)

$30 and under

Southern

Durham

About the restaurant

A Southern-accented gastropub with a strong local focus.

Top review

Nancyvip

Dined 4 days ago

Took somebody that was visiting Durham for just a couple nights. Food as always was good, service was attentive and gave them some idea of local food.

Tandem

4.7

4.7 (2006)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Carrboro

About the restaurant

Tandem offers modern American cuisine in a sophisticated, yet comfortable atmosphere.

Top review

Nancy

Dined 1 day ago

Great place to meet friends for lunch. Quiet and easy to talk. Love the brisket sandwich and the salad is fresh and delicious

Discover more

Carolina Brewery - Pittsboro

4.6

4.6 (95)

$30 and under

Southern

Chapel Hill

About the restaurant

Carolina Brewery is a brewpub located in Pittsboro, North Carolina that specializes in serving craft beers and American pub fare. The restaurant features a lively atmosphere with a full bar, patio and numerous televisions broadcasting sporting events. Carolina Brewery in Pittsboro serves lunch and dinner daily and offers a variety of menu items made using fresh, in season fruits and vegetables and locally raised beef. The restaurant offers an extensive menu of starters, soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, typical pub fare and desserts. Featured entrées at Carolina Brewery in Pittsboro include chicken mac and cheese, down East BBQ plate, crab cakes, shrimp and grits and fish and chips.

Top review

Karen

Dined on Oct 4, 2024

Fresh food, good taste and great staff!! We enjoyed some of the Oktoberfest items.

It's A Southern Thing Ellis Crossings

4.6

4.6 (44)

$30 and under

Southern

Durham

About the restaurant

It's A Southern Thing is our owner's personal love letter to The South. We've proudly served Downtown Durham since 2017 and are thrilled to expand and open up our second location here at Ellis Crossing. Known for our unique take on traditional Southern fair, we welcome you with a laid back atmosphere, Southern hospitality, delicious craft cocktails and thoughtfully created, scratch made dishes. From our best-selling Shrimp and Grits to Sweet Tea Brined Pork Chops, Fried Green Tomatoes, Collard Greens, Chicken and Waffle Skewers and everything in between, you will find familiar flavors presented in an original way. Offering brunch and dinner seven days a week, with extended bar hours and a private dining area for small functions, we invite you to come in, stay a while and let us show you why so many customers love being part of our It's A Southern Thing family.

Top review

Carolyn

Dined 7 days ago

This was my first visit, but it won't be my last. Delicious food, attentive and helpful wait staff, and excellent value for your money. What's not to love???

It's a Southern Thing - Downtown Durham

4.5

4.5 (237)

$30 and under

Southern

Durham

About the restaurant

It's A Southern Thing is our owner's personal love letter to The South. Known for our unique take on traditional Southern fair, we welcome you with a laid back atmosphere, Southern hospitality, delicious craft cocktails and thoughtfully created, scratch made dishes. From our best-selling Shrimp and Grits to Sweet Tea Brined Pork Chops, Fried Green Tomatoes, Collard Greens, Chicken and Waffle Skewers and everything in between, you will find familiar flavors presented in an original way. Offering brunch seven days a week and dinner Monday through Saturday, we invite you to come in, stay a while and let us show you why so many customers love being part of our It's A Southern Thing family.

Top review

Howie

Dined 7 days ago

Great food and the ambiance is amazing. Staff very polite and fast! Prices a bit high but then again all food is now days.

Kanki Durham

4.4

4.4 (430)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Durham

About the restaurant

Since 1972, Kanki has been the Triangle’s favorite Japanese steakhouse and sushi house.
Located in West Durham on Mount Moriah Road, Kanki Durham serves up delicious hibachi lunches and dinners, sushi and much more.

Our Durham, NC Japanese restaurant is the only Kanki location with a To-Go number, and we make picking up take out orders fast and simple with designated parking spaces and an easily accessible “Take Out” door.

Kanki will only seat complete parties. Please have all your guests accounted for prior to seating. Incomplete parties must wait to be seated until all has arrived.

An 18% gratuity will be added to parties of 6 or more.

Top review

Duanevip

Dined on Sep 20, 2024

We enjoyed dining there. The staff and chef were excellent.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Durham

Explore more Diners' Choice lists