Durham, North Carolina, is known for its vibrant and diverse dining scene, in particular its commitment to Southern cuisine, including barbecue, fried chicken with waffles, and food for the soul. Durham is also renowned for its strong coffee culture and for the variety of local restaurants serving everything from Southern comfort food to international dishes. Durham is full of fantastic restaurants that know the comfort and joy of Southern cuisine. Of course, taste and taste are subjective, but excellent representations of classic foods are essential.
From elegant restaurants to barbecues, independent bistros and food for the soul, Durham proves time and time again to be the tastiest city in the South. Find dishes such as handmade empanadas, French birria sauce, specialty sushi and fried oyster rolls. The Rabbit Hole is a little further away from the city center than Barrio Comida, but it's highly recommended. The atmosphere is that of a Shanghai dinner club from the 1920s and I'm not sure that many places offer high-quality Asian cuisine along with live jazz music.
During the day, you can feast on an enormous variety of dim sum (think red oil wontons, pork rolls, and crispy, spicy veal), while at night you can expect more filling meals, such as black bean stir fries, fish with soy and ginger, and chicken satay. At night, you enter through a secret door, down the side street, under the red light. Coviello is one of my new little Durham jewels. This is an Italian restaurant and wine bar where you can enjoy magnificent cappuccinos, authentic food such as arancine, fresh focaccia stuffed with basil, pesto, sun-cured Parma tomatoes, pizza, pasta and, of course, cannoli.
If the sun comes up, it's a fantastic place to watch the world go by with an Aperol Spritz and charcuterie board. Finally, if you like good wines, the owners, Dani and Alicja, are very knowledgeable and will guide you in the right direction. At Elvet Bridge, you'll find Notch, the home of American slow-cooked meats here in Durham. All the meats are prepared on site, marinated for 12 hours before being simmered for 14 hours and, yes, you can tell: this is paradise for meat lovers.
The BBQ Notch tray is a great introduction and comes with veal breast, burnt tips with tequila, smoked sausages with jalapeno, shredded pork, cornbread and maple butter, cabbage salad, beans, onion rings and french fries. Wow, even writing that I could feel like it was filling me up. You can lower the tone a little with a tray for 2 cans (2 meats to choose from) or with one of the great hamburgers. I love this place, it's a little dirty, but it's definitely the best place if you want to eat slow-cooked and simmered meats.
You only pay in cash and, of course, no frills, but L&D is an institution in East Durham and a tradition dear to many long-time Durham residents. Authentic fresh Neapolitan pizza comes to Durham in the form of Rudy's and honestly, you won't find a better pizza in Durham, period and point.
