AnotherThyme Restaurant and Bar
109 N Gregson St, Brightleaf District
(919)682-5225
With a wine list recognized by The New York Times, Anotherthyme features a sophisticated bar and a flavorful cuisine of multicultural, all-natural ingredients selected by chef-owner Mary Bacon. Southern Living notes a "delicious Thai tuna salad and wonderful wine list." Open M-Th, 5:30-9:30pm; F-Su, 5:30-10pm.

Café Parizäde
2200 W Main St, Erwin Square
(919)286-9712
According to Southern Living, "Bold paintings splash along the walls. Colorful murals spread lushly across the ceiling. And the menu whirls you through the Mediterranean…the ebullient atmosphere reflects the personality of longtime Durham restaurateur Giorgios Bakatsias." Open M-Th, 11:30am-10pm; F, 11:30am-11pm; Sa, 5:30-11pm; Su, 5:30-9pm.

Elmo's Diner
776 Ninth St, Ninth Street District
(919)416-3823
Food Network’s "$40 a Day" host Rachael Ray proclaims that Elmo’s Diner is an "awesome pick. Everything here looks great! Try some eggs in their infinite variety, or spice it up with a breakfast burrito or huevos rancheros." Though breakfast is served all day, Elmo’s whips up splendid lunch and dinner favorites. An array of daily and weekly specials rounds out the diner’s All-American menu. Open Su-Th, 6:30am-10pm; F-Sa, 6:30am-11pm.

Foster's Market
2694 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd
(919)489-3944
Country Home - "As owner of the beloved Foster's Market in Durham, North Carolina, Sara Foster has built a reputation with her special brand of homey, delicious food. Her food philosophy centers around seasonal foods and simplicity." The Oregonian stated, "just the kind of jazzy takeout market we all wish we had right around the corner." Sara honed her culinary skills as a one-time member of Martha Stewart's catering team. Open M-Su, 7:30am-8pm.

Four Square
2701 Chapel Hill Rd
(919)401-9877
Bon Appétit calls Four Square "exciting" and remarks, "The plates going back to the kitchen were licked clean." Owned and operated by executive chef Shane Ingram and his wife, former pastry chef Elizabeth Woodhouse. Open M-Th, 5:30-9:30pm; F-Sa, 5:30-10pm.

George's Garage
737 Ninth St, Ninth Street District
(919)286-4131
Recognized by Meridian Magazine as "…arguably the best sushi bar in the Triangle area." George's, the namesake of restaurateur Giorgios Bakatsias, features a variety of cuisines with an emphasis on seafood and steak. Open M-Th, 9am-10pm; F-Su, 9am-11pm.

Guglhupf Bakery & Pâtisserie
2706 Chapel Hill Blvd
(919)401-2600
"Food Finds" on the Food Network describes Guglhupf Bakery as "a little bit of Europe in the middle of North Carolina. Guglhupf brings old-world recipes to the new world." Co-owners and pastry chefs Claudia Cooper and Hartmut Jahn searched from their native Germany for the best place to open an artisan bakery and café in the States, and their findings led them to Durham. With recipes featured in Family Circle and Ladies Home Journal, everyone is figuring out the positive meaning of Guglhupf. Open T-Sa, 7:30am-7pm; Su, 8:30am-2pm.

Magnolia Grill
1002 Ninth St, Ninth Street District
(919)286-3609
A Bon Appétit Restaurant of the Month, Magnolia Grill was also ranked 11th in "America’s Best 50 Restaurants" by Gourmet magazine. Food and Wine named chef-owner Ben Barker one of the 10 best chefs in America: "Barker is still stirring things up, putting a global spin on the flavorful memories of his Carolina childhood." He has been named Best Chef in the Southeast by the James Beard Foundation, and wife and co-owner Karen Barker was recently recognized by the Foundation as the nation's most Outstanding Pastry Chef. Open T-Th, 6-9:30pm; F-Sa, 5:30-10pm.

Nana's Restaurant
2514 University Dr Rockwood Building
(919)493-8545
Once named one of the best new restaurants in the nation by Esquire. Chef-owner Scott Howell, "a man of formidable talent," (Food and Wine) serves Southern regional cuisine with strong Italian and French influences. The restaurant's selection of wines has won the coveted Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine each year since 1994. Open M-Sa, 5:30-10pm.

Pao Lim Asian Bistro
2505 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd
(919)419-1771
At Pao Lim, whose name means "treasure," chef Bernard Huang serves Indianized Chinese and a variety of other cuisines. Southern Living notes, "Pao Lim is a testament to modest, simple fusion…. The dining atmosphere here is serene, but once your food arrives, it's obvious that a true labor of love goes on behind the scenes." Open Su-Th, 11:30am-9:30pm; F-Sa, 11:30am-10pm.

Pop's, A Durham Trattoria
810 W Peabody St, Brightleaf District
(919)956-7677
Recognized by USA Today within weeks of its opening; named one of the top new hot spots in the country by Bon Appétit. A former warehouse located in Downtown's Brightleaf District, with high ceilings, an open kitchen, and wood-fired oven. Owners Matthew Beason, General Manager; Chris Stinnett, Executive Chef; and John Vandergrist, Chef de Cuisine, serve northern Italian cuisine. Open M, 11:30am-9:30pm; Tu, 5:30-9:30pm; W-F, 11:30am-10pm; Sa, 5:30-10pm; Su, 5:30-9:30pm

Taverna Nikos
905 W Main St, Brightleaf District
(919)682-0043
According to NC Home and Garden, "Taverna Nikos is proof once again that, in North Carolina at least, excellent cuisine is not a monopoly of big cities or fat wallets." Authentic Greek restaurant located in historic Brightleaf Square, on the National Register of Historic Places. Open M-Sa, 11am-10pm.

Vin Rouge French Café & Wine Bar
2010 Hillsborough Rd, Ninth Street District
(919)416-0406
Named one of Durham’s best restaurants by The Boston Globe, the French bistro Vin Rouge located on Ninth Street offers provincial cooking and an extensive wine selection in an intimate setting for both brunch and dinner. Owner and popular Durham restaurateur George Bakatsias has created another successful dining experience. Open Su, T-Th, 5:30-11pm; F-Sa, 5:30pm-12am.

Satisfaction Restaurant, Bar and Pizza Delivery
905 W Main St, Brightleaf District
(919)682-7397
Open M-W, 11-1am; Th-Sa, 11-2am

TOSCA Ristorante Italiano & Wine Bar
604 W Morgan St, West Village
(919)680-6333
Open for Lunch, M-F, 11:30am-2:30pm. Open for Dinner, M-Th, 5-10pm; F, 5-10:30pm; Sa, 5:30-10:30pm.

Blue Corn Cafe
716-B Ninth St, Ninth Street District
(919)286-9600
Latin-American Restaurant in the eclectic surroundings of Ninth Street. Weather permitting, there is limited outdoor cafe seating available in addition to indoor seating with local artists providing an ever changing display of work for sale. Open M-Sa, 11:30am-9:30pm

Papas Grille
1821 Hillandale Rd, Loehmann's Plaza
(919)383-8502
Live Jazz and "eclectic" music every Tue. & Thur. evening.(2) private dining rooms:1 - seats 12 (up to 17 ppl max)1 - seats 15 - 80 ppl. Open M-Th, 11:30am-10pm; F-Sa, 11:30am-10:30pm.

El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant
905 W Main St, Brightleaf District
(919)683-2417
Open M-Su, 11:30am-10pm

Cosmic Cantina
1920-1/2 Perry St, Ninth Street District
(919)286-1875
Open M-F, 11am-3am; Sa-Su, 12pm-4am

Federal
914 W. Main St.
680-8611

Maggiano’s Little Italy
8030 Renaissance Pkwy.
Main Street at The Streets at Southpoint
572-0070

The Mad Hatter’s Café and Bake Shop
1802 Main St.
286-1987

Francesca’s Dessert Caffe
706-B Ninth St.
286-4177