Watts Grocery

Watts Grocery

Address: 1116 Broad Street

Phone: (919) 416-5040

Website: http://www.wattsgrocery.com

Recommended for: Working Lunch; Being Seen  

wesduke says:

"Watts Grocery is a relatively new addition to the Durham dining scene, and considering that the space housed, until recently, a very low-traffic Oriental rug store, it is impressive that this restaurant has managed to become something of at "It" spot. Sitting at a table at Watts Grocery is a bit like being at the nexus of a burgeoning 'scene' in Durham. In addition to the standard 'mommies-who-lunch,' and Duke undergraduate crowd, there are usually also several blazer-and-tie-wearing businessfolk conducting lunch meetings during the midday service. 

Beyond a good place to be seen, Watts Grocery is a good place eat--creating a menu that focuses on locally grown and produced ingredients, chef Amy Tornquist turns out sustainable and delicious dishes (Tornquist is formerly of the Nasher Museum Cafe on Duke's campus, and if you managed to have one of her 'Grown-Up Cupcakes' before she left the Nasher, you know Watts Grocery is worth a visit). The grilled yellowtail tuna is a favorite--the sandwich is flavorful, and the red pepper mayo gives it just the right amount spiciness (for a Southern twist, try it with a side of the farmer's cheese hushpuppies). If you've left room for dessert, they offer red velvet cupcakes Monday-Friday.

Demand can sometimes outpace availability at Watts Grocery, so call ahead for a reservation (particularly on holidays or Duke-related events like Reunion or Graduation weekend)."

Piedmont

Address: 401 Foster Street
Phone: (919) 683-1213
Web site: www.piedmontrestaurant.com
Recommended for: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Atmosphere

The Blahgger says:
"Durham has no shortage of restaurants boasting French or French-inspired cuisine (see Rue Cler and Vin Rouge). Funny thing is, they're all pretty darn good for eateries located a few hundred-thousand miles from the Eiffel Tower.

The menu at Piedmont, the latest addition, appears to be a thoughtful assortment of French and Italian dishes bravely blended with the flavor of the American South. For lunch, try the smoked chicken salad with fresh avocado and white cheddar or the mixed greens with walnuts, apples and fresh goat cheese. For heartier fare, go for the warm brie served on foccacia with fruit and Dijon mustard or the chicken salad with aioli served on thick, rustic toast. Don't dare forget the pommes frites! They are to die for.

Dinnertime at Piedmont is a real treat. The atmosphere is sexy and, if the lower level is crowded, you can request a seat in the upstairs loft to turn the place into your own little romantic bungalow...at least, until the meal is over. The menu changes nightly depending on the chef's mood so call ahead.

Brunch is hands-down the best meal to visit Piedmont for. They offer everything from a cheese plate to shrimp and grits. Some personal favorites are the Farmer's Breakfast, a traditional meal of eggs, grits, homefries, and a biscuit, and the Brioche French Toast, which - pardon the cliche - melts right on the tongue and is served with sweet, rich whipped cream. Order a mimosa while you're at it. In lieu of champagne, Piedmont makes theirs with prosecco and delicious, fresh-squeezed O.J.

I haven't even told you the good news yet! Piedmont is surprisingly affordable - especially considering the freshness of the food. No meal is over $10 for lunch or brunch. Dinner portions will run you about $20. Yes, now with Piedmont in the game, you'll have absolutely no trouble satisfying your craving for délicieux French eats in The Bull City. Bon appétit!"

Toast

Address: 345 W. Main St.
Phone: (919) 683-2183
Web site: www.toast-fivepoints.com
Recommended for: Lunch, Impressing a Date on a Budget

The Blahgger says:
"In larger cities than Durham, the opening of a new sandwich shop would warrant little more than a shrug or an angry groan about an already over saturated market. But Durham, quiet little urban nook that it is, is still hungry for just about any kind of business - especially in the downtown district where more and more shops are closing their doors every day (I write this article on the same day that I noticed the closing of The Book Exchange, a used bookstore that was, until recently, Toast's closest neighbor).

Lucky for Durhamites, Toast is not just any old sandwich shop. If fact, they tell you, they are a "paninoteca," the word for a place where you can get authentic Italian sandwiches. I don't recall eating any sandwiches on my last trip to Italy, but if they taste like the offerings of Toast's menu, you can bet I'll be ordering one on the next vacay to Rome! Just about everything I've had the pleasure of eating at Toast has been, well, a pleasure. Their grilled paninis ooze flavor and there is no skimping on the ingredients either. Notable choices are the chicken panini with roasted red peppers and mozzarella cheese and the portobello mushroom panini with fontina, arugula and roasted tomato. They also offer cold sandwiches and crostinis, tiny toasted breads topped with delicious ideas like goat cheese, pine nuts, pesto and pickled fennel.

And forget chips on the side - Toast does that concept one better with your choice of soup or salad added to your meal for just $2 extra. Their green salad topped with slices of shaved Parmesan and a deliciously light dressing is the perfect compliment to any summer's day sandwich order. Most days there are a couple of choices for soups of the day. I'm not really sure how the cooks at Toast do it, but I would have to agree with my co-worker's description of the contents of her bowl as a "soup miracle." Thankfully, it's a recurring miracle in their kitchen.

The only flaw I can think to name is that the good word about Toast has already spread far too wide and that the place is frequently far too tiny to dine-in with more than one friend at a time. It's definitely not the place to gather with a large party of co-workers at lunch, although the warm weather allows for some limited outdoor seating. I have a suggestion for the small space problem: before The Book Exchange went under, another small cafe was Toast's nearest neighbor. The owners of Toast should take their earnings, buy the neighboring cafe space and knock down the connecting wall, allowing more elbow room for their customers to really kick back and enjoy their ultimate sandwich experience."

Parker and Otis

Address: 112 S. Duke Street 

Phone: (919) 683-3200

Website: www.parkerandotis.com

Recommended for: Browsing, Specialty Items, Wine

wesduke says:

"If you've lived in Durham for a few years, you likely think of Parker and Otis as 'that place that used to be Fowler's.' In fact, not very much has changed besides the name--including, unfortunately, the lingering smell of salami that has always permeated this space. Stubborn, meaty scents aside, Parker and Otis is a valuable addition to the Durham foodie scene (I am hardly an expert on this count, but figure any place that highlights pimento cheese as its signature ingredient must be a magnet for the epicurean crowd). If you prefer not to have 'interesting' be the most accurate description of your food (a shrimp BLT isn't for everyone), the fact that Parker and Otis is also a specialty food shop means that there is still plenty to like about this place. 

In addition to a great selection of wine, they've got rows and rows of delicious chocolate confections (the 'enormous peanut butter cup' is a must-try), and olde-time candies (okay, maybe Ring Pops aren't considered antiquated yet, but Parker and Otis does stock plenty of treats from days gone by). Add to that an assortment of hilarious greeting cards, a huge covered deck (no electrical outlets, though. Sorry, students), and cutesy T-shirts worn by the staff (each shirt has one word printed on it. 'Beer' and--you guessed it--'pimento' seem to be the two most common) and you've got yourself one interesting place. 

Besides the unique twists that Parker and Otis puts on the food offered, my only other word of warning to potential visitors is about the staff: while many of the people who work there are lovely, I have had several experiences where the staff was dismissive (perhaps due to the sheer volume of business they do, especially on sunny days) and/or condescending (harder to excuse).

Parker and Otis is located right across the parking lot from Brightleaf Square, so you can fill up on atmosphere at P&O and, er, seek lunch elsewhere."

Food For Life Supreme

Address: 1106 W. Chapel Hill St.
Phone: (919) 390-5992
Web site: http://www.foodforlifesupreme.com/
Recommended for: Take-Out, Healthy Eating, Vegetables, A Spiritual Food Experience

The Blahgger says:
"Food For Life Supreme is an establishment as strange as its name. No matter how much you've heard about this place, your first visit will certainly leave you befuddled, especially if you find yourself browsing through the some of the restaurant's literature while you wait for your order to come up (which you no doubt will). More on that later.

Located diagonally across the street from the Durham Co-op Grocery Store (another building decorated by Brett Webb-Cook with the face of Durham activist Pauli Murray), FFLS is a tiny, colorful kitchen that stands out among the gas stations and auto mechanic store fronts that surround it. And when I say "kitchen," I mean it. Food For Life has no chairs or tables for you to dine-in so get familiar with their phone number (which will come in very handy since they make every meal to order and take their sweet time with it).

The menu is short, but sweet mostly consisting of fried and grilled fish selections like the Supreme Comeback (a whiting filet with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and grilled veggies) or their take on the Cuban sandwich (a salmon panini with Swiss cheese and banana peppers). There is a hearty vegetable white bean soup among the battered offerings. And they have a variety of flavorful vegetables - including mustard greens and green beans - and side dishes like macaroni and cheese to supplement your main order. The most exciting menu item is the carrot fries, which taste like sweet, battered bursts of heaven, an appropriate description considering they are served with a side of "sun sauce." There's also "moon sauce," "freedom sauce" and "supreme toast" available among FFLS' offerings. See, I told you they were strange.

Pick up a Food for Life Supreme brochure while you wait. Between the nearly incoherent sentences, you'll probably discover that Food for Life is a small chain of stores across the country that emphasize the importance of healthy eating and encourage community involvement (especially the youth) in food preparation. They have training facilities where they teach kids to cook for themselves and boast the use of "healthy" oils like olive and corn in their cooking. I haven't found any evidence of this, but I have a hunch they're loosely associated with the Five-Percent Nation. You just get that feeling. Well, whatever odd networks and ties Food For Life Supreme is connected to, I don't mind my money going to support them as long as they keep those carrot fries coming!"

Blue Coffee Cafe

Address: 300 W. Morgan Street
Phone: (919) 688-2233
Web site: N/A
Recommended for: Breakfast, Coffee, Home Cooking

The Blahgger says:
"It's hard to put my finger on what it is. Maybe it's the welcoming smiles. Or the familiar sizzle of the grill and the accompanying smells. Or the way I always know the song playing on the radio when I visit.

Every time I go to Blue Coffee Cafe, I feel as if I'm coming to hang out with my family. The thing is, I wish it were my family that owned this adorably Southern cafe smack dab in the heart of downtown Durham (like, literally they're located right across from the anatomically correct statue of Major the Bull). BCC is not snazzily decorated or known for its chef's specialities. What they have to offer is consistently satisfying homemade-to-order food served up in a cozy atmosphere. The regulars include a rotation of police officers, retirees, blue collar workers, and Dukies who couldn't score on-campus housing. Their breakfast menu includes scrumptious omelettes and hearty breakfast sandwiches that you can get with eggs, cheese and a variety of meats (including turkey bacon and turkey sausage). They also have an impressive assortment of pastries and an ice cream counter for cooling off on warm days.

Just like all families aren't perfect, Blue Coffee's got some areas ripe for improvement as well. I suggest that you stick to a traditional cup of coffee rather than order a drink from their espresso bar. For some reason, they can't seem to get that latte recipe under control. I've had mocha lattes that taste like water and regular lattes that taste like wood. It's not the supply, which is provided by Larry's Beans, a local coffee distributor known for taste. It's just that the espresso machine operator could probably benefit from some barista lessons at Joe Van Gogh.

And one more gripe: good food takes time at a small business like this one. If you don't have oodles of time to spend waiting around for an order of eggs or a sandwich, I suggest you call your order in (see the phone number above) because the BCC cooks aren't known for speed.

What they are known for is kind service and food prepared with a touch of love - as if they were cooking for one of their own family members. That's probably why now President Barack Obama stopped by here on his 2008 election campaign. I wonder how long he had to wait for his egg white omelette with provolone..."

The Sarah P. Duke Gardens

The Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Address: 426 Anderson Street

Phone: (919) 684-3698

Website: http://www.hr.duke.edu/dukegardens/

Price: Free

Recommended for: Afternoon Stroll, Study Break, Picnics, Photo Opportunities

wesduke says:

"Ah, spring in Durham. This season heralds the return of birds (and insects) that spent the winter in points further south than here, the arrival of a nearly-unfathomable amount of pollen (truly, this is something you have to experience firsthand to believe), and the bloom of hundreds of well-cared-for flowers in Duke Gardens. It is difficult to describe the Gardens in anything other than effusive praise: from the wisteria-draped gazebo that is the setting for many spring and summer weddings (bonus points to the visitor who spots a bride hidden in the foliage, having her photos taken), to the unending rows of tulips that seem to take up every available surface, this place is remarkable. On weekdays, Duke Gardens is popluated mostly by students seeking a relaxing place to study (though it doesn't feel like it, the Gardens abut Duke's West Campus) and stroller-toting moms with their curious toddlers in tow, but the cost of admission (free) and open plan mean that anyone can drop in.

In addition to showcasing large stretches of carefully-tended rows of flowers, Duke Gardens also has a large pond complete with ducks (a clear favorite of younger visitors) and wide grassy areas (popular with hacky-sac- and frisbee-playing students). Once the weather warms up (usually sometime in late May), the a cafe located in the middle of the Gardens opens for business (be forewarned, however: the only methods of payment they accept are cash or student FLEX points), so you can sip sweet tea and revel in the full experience. The Terrace gift shop offers just what you'd expect: a cacophony of garden-related tchotchkes and assorted flotsam. But in a good way. Visiting this store (and, really, 'visiting' is the right way to describe time spent here) is like stopping by your kindly elderly neighbors house: you walk out feeling all is well with the world--even if you do smell a bit differently leaving than when you came in."

***

The Blahgger says:

"Couples on a budget - pay attention to this post! You'll find no better cheap date than Duke Gardens. This beautifully manicured landscape is one of the best places in town to spend a warm day strolling between the flora and sounding out the names of exotic plant species. You probably won't have much alone time, as the Gardens are usually filled with people in the spring and summer seasons. But, if you bring a camera, you're almost guaranteed to get some of the most gorgeous pictures of floral beauty in the Bull City...no Photoshop necessary! The cafe has simple, but flavorful eats like sandwiches, salads and cookies. And there are plenty of benches and flat surfaces if you want to bring a book, the newspaper or just people watch through your sunglasses. So, remember to take those allergy pills and enjoy spending a day in Sarah's Gardens."