Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Durham

OpenTable

Updated December 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!

Bleu Olive

4.8

4.8 (1271)

$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

SandraVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Another wonderful evening at Bleu Olive. The lamb loin was cooked to perfection and they accommodate food allergies very well. The staff is professional and caring. We had a lovely dinner and will definitely return.

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Popular dish

Moussaka

Taberna Tapas

4.8

4.8 (1773)

$30 and under

Tapas / Small Plates

Durham

About the restaurant

Spanish Tapas
Extensive Spanish Wine list
Full bar
Serving dinner

Top review

live2eatVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Service and food were very good. A delightful dinner experience.

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Popular dish

Dark Chocolate Mousse

Blue Corn Cafe

4.8

4.8 (425)

$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

LizaVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Great fresh take on Quesadillas and their plantain sampler was excellent!

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4.8

4.8 (339)

$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

Maddie

Dined 4 days ago

Amazing service, cocktails, and food!! We love coming to Nomad and as always, had a great experience. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a nice night out.

Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar - Durham

4.8

4.8 (192)

$30 and under

Indian

Durham

About the restaurant

Rated as the # 1 Indian Restaurant in Triangle, Lime & Lemon Indian Grill offers an immersive dining experience with exquisite dishes that will take you on a journey through India's many regions, traditions and festivals. We meticulously curate using only the best ingredients to create dishes that are authentic, unsurpassed, and timeless. All this in an ultra-modern setting to ensure your dining affair is nothing short of perfect.

Featured in the October 2019 edition of News & Observer and received a 4 out of 5 star rating. It has been consistently voted as one of the Top 10 Ethnic restaurants and has also been recognized as the Best Indian Restaurant in the Triangle for 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Top review

Chris

Dined 7 days ago

The manager made room for our party of 5 on a very busy Saturday night. The service staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, and the food&drink was outstanding.

Jujube

4.7

4.7 (1453)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Asian

Chapel Hill

About the restaurant

Jujube offers a unique culinary experience to the Triangle that brings Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Indian and Indonesian cuisine infused with the finest Western influenced flavors. We feature an extensive collection of craft beer, a wide variety of wines that elegantly complement our menu, as well as a refreshing assortment of signature cocktails. Escape the ordinary. Come enjoy our social and harmonious environment where Asian themed decor and soft lantern lighting awaits you. In the warmer months, enjoy dining al fresco on our screened patio. At Jujube we aim to bring you an eclectic myriad of tastes in an ambiance that brings together both the beauty of Asian tradition paired with a whimsical modern twist. Curbside Pickup and Dine in daily. Reservations or call ahead strongly encouraged.

Top review

Dined 1 day ago

Great food and great service! One of our fav restaurants!

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Popular dish

Jujube Bolognese

Popular dish

Lemongrass Grilled Hanger Steak

Talulla's

4.7

4.7 (1241)

$30 and under

Turkish

Chapel Hill

About the restaurant

When you walk through the shadowed glass doors of Talulla's, an instant transformation begins to occur. Your mind and body begin to relax. Your ears pick up on the eclectic mix of music. Your eyes wonder around the walls, decorated in Turkish rugs; then the ceilings, scattered with warm, unique lighting pieces; then the floors... the dark, hardwood floors; and finally, across the plush seating areas, disguised by cushions and pillows and fabric leisurely draped around the frames.

Top review

Tina

Dined on Dec 13, 2024

Amazing food, attentive but not overbearing waitstaff, warm and friendly atmosphere!

Tandem

4.7

4.7 (2043)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Carrboro

About the restaurant

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

Top review

rachael

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

The food here is always reliably good and was on my visit. Beet and Brussels salad with goat cheese was delicious. The salmon I ordered with it (add protein) was good but it was not served as a cohesive dish. I expected it to be served on top of the salad vs on a separate plate and with more seasoning. Service was attentive. I’ll. Be back.

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4.7

4.7 (914)

$30 and under

Steakhouse

Durham

About the restaurant

Metro 8, located in Durham, North Carolina, serves American cuisine in an upscale steakhouse that is perfect for date nights or work meetings. Each meal is made to order with fresh ingredients by professionally-trained chefs and cooks. Metro 8 has a full bar which features an extensive wine selection, including both domestic and imported wine.

Start out your meal at Metro 8 with an appetizer such as the crab stuffed shrimp or the empanadas. Choose from dinner entrées like the filet mignon or the lamb chops. For the vegetarians in the group, try items like the fettucine porcine or the Caesar salad.

Top review

Samantha

Dined 1 day ago

We had a wonderful time! It was our first experience at Metro 8, and after that meal, there will definitely be others.

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4.5

4.5 (286)

$31 to $50

Italian

Chapel Hill

About the restaurant

Named 2023 Restaurant of the Year by Eater. Dishes you’ve long loved served alongside dishes you’ve never heard of make our ever-changing menu an adventure you’ll want to embark on often. Our wine list is as varied as our food, and every one of our cocktails has been created just for Bombolo by our mixologist.

Top review

sam

Dined today

The food was very good, and the service was solid, but very expensive.

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