Liana Lau: Lovely place to study (free wifi, well-lit). The oatmeal is delicious.
Jason Baxter: Local sausage, oatmeal, and hatter breakfast are all great and available all day, everyday. French toast is always excellent, but usually on available at brunch on weekends.
Bob Nocek: Good food, but overrun by freelancers and students who order one drink and work for hours on their laptops, exhausting their free refills. Good luck getting a table if you actually want to have lunch.
4. Elmo's Diner
8.8
776 9th St (at Hillsborough Rd), Durham, NC
Diner · 93 tips and reviews
Ivan Urlaub: Great community feel and very kid friendly. A Durham institution (although the other location in Carrboro is a huge disappointment). Kids menu, pick 2 omelette and oatmeal are all excellent options!
Sandy Bass: Everything! We are eating a late breakfast, but their tomato basil soup is so good I'm taking home a bowl for dinner.
Stefan: their milkshakes, especially the peppermint-vanilla, should not be missed.
6. Fairview Dining Room
8.9
3001 Cameron Blvd (at Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club), Durham, NC
Breakfast Spot · 4 tips and reviews
Liana Lau: Everything is amazing - happy hour dinner ($25 prix fixe), afternoon tea, weekend brunch (dessert buffet) and regular (expensive, but so worth it) dinner. :D
Lesley Looper: Sunday brunch is yummy! Try the shrimp and grits.
Sarita Moreno: Start off the lovely afternoon tea service with Kir Royale!
Ed Weeks: Really good breakfast dishes. I must also say that the burgers and grilled chicken sandwiches are great too. By all means try the broccoli salad as a side dish. It's very tasty.
Ivan Urlaub: Menu has a lot of variety, excellent flavor combinations, and the best kids coloring book and crayons we have ever been given at a breakfast restaurant.
Dorcas Rodriguez: Best breakfast in town
Angie Y.: You can't go wrong with the eggs benedict for weekend brunch. Comes with asparagus, a salad and home fries!
Winter Schatz: Delicious food. But the service is absurdly slow.
Jake Stanley: Escape from Duke proper, feel like you're in a city for the space of a meal, then walk back to campus and remember how bucolic it all is.
Ilse Ortega: Nice local beers, awesome freshly baked bread with pimiento spread!
Becca F: You can order beers in 3 different sizes (16, 12, & 4 oz!) & there's a great tap list!
The News & Observer: Try the addictive shrimp and corn hushpuppies, served with a warm pimento cheese dip. Read more.
12. Foster's Market
8.8
2694 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd (btwn Legion Ave & Bedford St), Durham, NC
Sandwich Spot · 52 tips and reviews
Melissa E: Grilled Greek is excellent. Cute place GREAT dessert
Christine Cox: Love the Greek grilled cheese!
T Hilgen: Great sandwiches, salads, old time bottled soda and desserts in a really cool atmosphere. If you're in the area, don't miss Foster's.
14. Panera Bread
7.7
737 9th St Ste 200, Durham, NC
Sandwich Spot · 10 tips and reviews
Simal Soydan: Love the smoothies, salads (especially the one with crunchy apple) and French Baguettes.
Jason Baxter: Victory is mine!!! They have all new staff...I'm guessing new management as well. Much friendlier and now they have bread. Glad they got the message (whether it was from me or another customer).
Simal Soydan: Panera is only good for bakeries and smoothies. However, the other meals like bowls are very bad. Also they give dirty forks and spoons...
15. Bean Traders
8.5
105-249 W NC Highway 54 (at Fayetteville Rd.), Durham, NC
Coffee Shop · 77 tips and reviews
Red Sea Pedestrian: Coffee, bagels, and really awesome creamcheeses.
Amanda Harris: Best coffee I've ever had. I promise that anything you get will be delicious. If you're looking for something a little different try the Chocolate Habanero iced coffee!
Michael M: Dave says "I'm actually descended from a long line of octopus" commenting on his ability to serve up his most delicious coffee creations. Watch him and you'll agree.