Diners' Choice: Best Value restaurants in Durham

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for the best value restaurants 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!

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!

Discover more

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.

Discover more

Popular dish

Moussaka

Metro 8 Steakhouse

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.

Discover more

Napoli Pizzeria & Gelateria

4.9

4.9 (103)

$30 and under

Pizzeria

Carrboro

About the restaurant

Offering small plates, True wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, housemade gelato, local beer on draft, wine & cocktails in downtown Carrboro!

Top review

GRANT

Dined 7 days ago

Great food and service. The pizza is authentic tasting and fresh. We will be back!

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!

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.

Parizade

4.7

4.7 (3298)

$30 and under

Mediterranean

Durham

About the restaurant

Parizade is Mediterranean inspired culinary creations. A vast open kitchen spans the length of the restaurant. Surreal art by Henryk Fantazos adorns the walls and ceiling. Parizade is truly the crowning jewel of Giorgios Hospitality Group. *Large parties, please call the restaurant at 919-286-9712*

Top review

Neil

Dined 2 days ago

Parizade is always a wonderful dining experience: the food, atmosphere and service are reliably excellent.

Discover more

Caviar & Truffle Dinner

M Tempura

4.8

4.8 (601)

$50 and over

Japanese

Durham

About the restaurant

M Tempura is Durham's traditional Japanese tempura restaurant offering Tempura as well as Kaiseki Omakase offerings.

For the multi-course menu items, all members of your party must choose the same option please.

We currently cannot accommodate shellfish, vegetarian (egg in batter), gluten, and seafood allergies. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Top review

KrisVIP

Dined 4 days ago

love m restaurants, can't get better tempura anywhere else in the area!

Discover more

Experience

M Omakase Tasting Menu

Experience

Kaiseki Omakase Menu

Nomad

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.

Elements

4.8

4.8 (2442)

$31 to $50

Fusion / Eclectic

Chapel Hill

About the restaurant

Elements is OPEN for DINE IN & TAKEOUT!

From the moment you walk in to the last delicious morsel you will taste, we promise to deliver a unique and exquisite dining experience. Our cuisine combines classical as well as modern Asian and European cooking techniques to enhance the flavors of local and sustainable ingredients. Our menu changes often to capitalize on the freshest and most seasonal fare. We believe George Barnard Shaw said it best when he said. There is no love sincerer than the love of food." We couldn't agree more. From fork to mouth, we wish you good eats.

Elements Team

Top review

MarthaVIP

Dined 1 day ago

I LOVE Elements! The food is always excellent, the service is great, and if you go at the right time, the atmosphere is perfect.

Discover more

Popular dish

Crab Cakes

Explore Diners' Choice best of Durham

Explore more Diners' Choice lists