Best Lunch Restaurants in Durham

23 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Cucciolo Osteria Durham restaurant

1. Cucciolo Osteria Durham

4.7

Exceptional(1643)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • Durham

Booked 29 times today

Cousins Jimmy and Julian Kim welcome you to Cucciolo Osteria Durham! A sister restaurant to the original Cucciolo Osteria in Seoul, Korea, offering modern Italian cuisine with a twist.We are located in the same building as the Amtrak train station, just opposite side, next to West End Wine Bar.

2. Mothers & Sons

4.6

Exceptional(138)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • Durham

Booked 58 times today

Our lunch and dinner menus differ greatly. Please see the menu link below to see an example of our offerings.Partners Matt Kelly and Josh “Skinny” DeCarolis are proud to offer Mothers & Sons, a trattoria in downtown Durham featuring regional Italian food with seasonal sensibility. DeCarolis introduces the first restaurant in the South to focus on fatta a mano —handmade pasta. Mothers and Sons offers antipasti dishes such seasonal bruschettas or smoked octopus. Choose from primi dishes like the bucatini al amatriciana, squid ink tonnarelli or rigatoni alla norma and secondi dishes like the bistecca alla floretina and eggplant parmigiana. Dishes are made with seasonal ingredients so menus may change depending on when you visit. An extensive Italian wine list, dozens of amari as well as an imaginative cocktail list with an italian flair assures there will be a drink that will complement your meal perfectly.

A photo of Nasher Cafe at Duke University restaurant

3. Nasher Cafe at Duke University

4.7

Exceptional(856)

Price: Moderate

• Contemporary American • Durham

Booked 10 times today

The 125-seat indoor/outdoor Nasher Cafe overlooks the garden and sits adjacent to the Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen "Corridor Pin" sculpture, providing a serene and beautiful ambience. The Nasher Cafe offers local and sustainable products forged into creative lunch, brunch and dinner menus. Guests can experience a world class museum as well as restaurant in one stop.

4. Juju Durham

4.8

Exceptional(2382)

Price: Moderate

• Asian • Durham

Booked 80 times today

Juju serves up small plates with bold flavors, each prepared creatively with attention to tradition, whimsy, local integrity, and, of course, deliciousness. In addition to its extensive and delicious menu, Juju features a dynamic beverage program of hand-made cocktails, Sake selections and a well-chosen list of artisan wines and craft beers.

5. Counting House

4.3

Awesome(1551)

Price: Expensive

• Seafood • Durham

Booked 17 times today

At Counting House restaurant, led by Executive Chef Melanie Wilkerson, local cuisine meets bold flavors and playful execution. A seafood-driven menu set amongst the art of today, designed to provide you with an easy-going escape that will feed your soul. The bar and lounge is a welcoming place to taste innovative cocktails, sample local craft brews, and explore broad bourbon and wine lists.Reestablishing the warmth and vitality of a historic gem, Counting House combines contemporary design with architectural details including the building’s original terrazzo floors and arched windows.

6. Nikos

4.7

Exceptional(431)

Price: Expensive

• Greek • Durham

Booked 37 times today

NIKOS offers a treasure trove of flavors distilled from Greece and the surrounding regions — spanning from the southern coast of Crete to the north of Mount Athos, and from the Ionian islands to the Aegean Sea.We invite you to embark on a culinary journey that encompasses health, wisdom, dreams, passions, and the timeless pursuit of ideas that transcend boundaries.

A photo of Emmy Squared - Durham restaurant

7. Emmy Squared - Durham

4.7

Exceptional(67)

Price: Moderate

• Pizzeria • Durham

Booked 16 times today

Founded on an unconditional love of well-made food, we use only the highest quality ingredients for our famous Detroit-style pizzas. As Emmy Squared has grown, we’ve continued to make fans and receive accolades along the way, including winning Nashville’s Battle of the Burger, being recognized as one of "The Best New Burgers in NYC" (Gothamist) and one of the "20 Best Burgers in NYC" (Infatuation). Besides award-winning pizzas and burgers, you’ll find delectable appetizers, sandwiches, and salads on our extensive menu. We look forward to welcoming you to Emmy Squared Durham and sharing our unique take on American “comfort food.”

A photo of Fairview Dining Room restaurant

8. Fairview Dining Room

4.8

Exceptional(1872)

Price: Expensive

• American • Durham

Booked 24 times today

The AAA Four Diamond Fairview Dining Room has been reimagined as a lighter, brighter backdrop for our renowned fine dining experience. Featuring custom details hand-crafted for the space by regional artisans, this new design simply enhances what you have loved for years. With the reopening of the new Fairview Dining Room, our Area Executive Chef Troy Stauffer and his imaginative culinary team have introduced a new Fall menu, perfectly complementing the elevated look and feel of the space. Indulge in a savory Cheshire Pork Tenderloin or delicious Duke of Crabcake with a sommelier suggested wine and finish with a decadent hand-crafted dessert from our pastry team, each dish embracing cozy flavors perfect for fall.

A photo of Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar - Durham restaurant

9. Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar - Durham

4.8

Exceptional(197)

Price: Moderate

• Indian • Durham

Booked 9 times today

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.

A photo of The Marketplace at the JB Duke restaurant

10. The Marketplace at the JB Duke

4.4

Awesome(38)

Price: Moderate

• American • Durham

Unique Dining Experiences at JB Duke HotelEnjoy delicious cuisine at our contemporary yet comfortable restaurants and bars at the JB Duke Hotel. From meals in our restaurant, MarketPlace, to lighter bites at Lobby Lounge and MarketPlace Barista & Bar, there’s a unique dining experience for everyone.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

LS
LucySVIP
Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill •1 review
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
Always a pleasant experience there! One of my favorites places to dine in Durham. Great food; excellent service.
More info
Nasher Cafe at Duke UniversityPrice: Moderate• Contemporary American• Durham
•
4.7
A
angela
Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
What a wonderful place! I enjoyed the atmosphere: cozy, comfortable and authentic. The food was fantastic- we had the burrata and the octopus appetizers (some of the best I’ve had!) I could have stopped with just the appetizers— had the mushroom and artichoke lasagna, which will be a great leftover dinner tonight!
More info
Mothers & SonsPrice: Expensive• Italian• Durham
•
4.6
K
Kevin
Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
First time visiting JuJu through friends and family members rave about it. We thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere, cocktails / cocktails and especially the food before our DPAC show. The staff and servers were awesome and all of the food was creative, unique and delicious. The Bomb a$$ Shrimp was a favorite along with the short rib wontons. Will definitely be back!
More info
Juju DurhamPrice: Moderate• Asian• Durham
•
4.8
E
Erica
Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill •1 review
5.0
Dined on 25 Dec 2024
My husband and I had the best time on Christmas Eve! The food was delicious and our server, Liz, was outstanding!
More info
Cucciolo Osteria DurhamPrice: Expensive• Italian• Durham
•
4.7
L
laura
San Francisco Bay Area •1 review
5.0
Dined on 24 Dec 2024
We love the whole experience of this restaurant and hotel, will be back for many more memorable meals ❤️
More info
Counting HousePrice: Expensive• Seafood• Durham
•
4.3

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Durham

Best Lunch Restaurants in Durham

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23 restaurants available nearby

1. Cucciolo Osteria Durham

2. Mothers & Sons

3. Nasher Cafe at Duke University

4. Juju Durham

5. Counting House

6. Nikos

7. Emmy Squared - Durham

8. Fairview Dining Room

9. Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar - Durham

10. The Marketplace at the JB Duke

See what locals rave about

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