The Alley Cocktail is an excellent version of a classic Manhattan but better. The Alley burger is also excellent. Really nice neighborhood feel to the place that you will enjoy. Just go and have fun.
Elisa R.
Amazing service, great food, inventive cocktails! A must-visit for anyone who lives in (or comes through) Durham. Peaceful ambience. I appreciate the open kitchen and natural wood aesthetic.
Tammy S.
Classy place with exquisite food and impeccable service! Live jazz musician was on the icing on the cake. Smooth voice like Legend. Will return when I'm in Durham.
Myandi Flowers-Brasher
Benjamin made my Earl Please (an alcohol free cocktail from their menu) and was so kind and attentive. As a graduate student who can't drink alcohol much due to disabilities, places with options for me me to enjoy delicious and fancy beverages are special. The only thing that makes me sad is that I'm not rich enough to order more than one a day! ?? Someone pay me more money! It's so tasty! Best non-lavender mocktail ever!Dietary restrictions: Alcohol free cocktails; non-alcoholic beverages
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ebony Stewart
Evan is great! Cocktails are especially boozy and fresh. Light bites were tasty. Bathrooms are clean. Cute ambiance. Would come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Roll
Courtney
We had a lovely time eating a the bar on a Friday night. We expected the restaurant to be busier, but to our surprise, we were seated immediately. Evan (and Rob - when he had a break from bartending) was delightful and gave honest and thoughtful recommendations on food and drink items. The crispy brussels sprouts and cheese board were both great. The Alley Burger is definitely all it's cracked up to be. Definitely one of the best hamburgers I've ever had. The meal was certainly expensive, at $170 for four drinks, two appetizers, and two entrees. However, it's worth the cost as a special treat and for the quality of the service and the food. An aside - I love the black and white tile throughout the bar side of the restaurant. I wonder if it's original/been restored. Just beautiful.Vegetarian options: Only one vegetarian entree option (mushroom risotto), which ended up being a pretty small portion for the price. There were a few vegetarian appetizer options, so we supplemented with that.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Charcuterie Board, Alley Burger with Bacon
Von Lewis
Service here was top-notch. Had cocktails after a show at DPAC. Server was very accommodating and attentive. We will def be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Amaya Horner
Food is good but it took us an hour and a half to get our food while other tables were getting plenty of attention. All we ordered is 1 burger, chips, and a chefs board. The bartender was great but the waiter service is terrible considering what we paid.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Daniel Perry
PERFECT cocktails. The small plates, tinned fish, and tater tot caviar service are divine every time. Get a table in the alley if you can.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fit Gear Hunter
I loved this place, and I didn't even try one of their world class cocktails or specialty dishes - I got their Alley Burger and a Miller High Life, and they were awesome. Brussels sprouts too. But the Burger.... INCREDIBLE.
The ambience feels as though you're someplace far away, but in a good way. It's a great place to have a conversation for the first time, at the bar, or sit off at a table to catch up. I hadn't been since before CVid times and will definitely be going back sooner! Appreciate their creative bartenders and their lovely menu of mocktails and cocktails.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Wenyi Zhou
Excellent cocktail bar with food. The cognac cocktail I got, “Sexy Dynamite,” fit the description! The Carolina Gold oysters were also fresh. I really love their mignonette. Service was also great. Would come back again. They have a somewhat limited dinner menu due to kitchen space. Consider it “elevated bar food” with plenty vegetable options. The only down side I’ve got is that they don’t take Apple Pay.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Oysters on the Half Shell
Tessa E.
Really loved this place until the last two times. Hard to believe the best place for cocktails fell so far. Thanks to the waitress and the terrible burgers, will be trying again next year.
Jefferson Coleman
Great Place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sebastian Torres
One of the best burgers of my life! Great cocktail and service as well.
The Alley Cocktail is an excellent version of a classic Manhattan but better. The Alley burger is also excellent. Really nice neighborhood feel to the place that you will enjoy. Just go and have fun.
Amazing service, great food, inventive cocktails! A must-visit for anyone who lives in (or comes through) Durham. Peaceful ambience. I appreciate the open kitchen and natural wood aesthetic.
Classy place with exquisite food and impeccable service! Live jazz musician was on the icing on the cake. Smooth voice like Legend. Will return when I'm in Durham.
Benjamin made my Earl Please (an alcohol free cocktail from their menu) and was so kind and attentive. As a graduate student who can't drink alcohol much due to disabilities, places with options for me me to enjoy delicious and fancy beverages are special. The only thing that makes me sad is that I'm not rich enough to order more than one a day! ?? Someone pay me more money! It's so tasty! Best non-lavender mocktail ever!Dietary restrictions: Alcohol free cocktails; non-alcoholic beverages
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Evan is great! Cocktails are especially boozy and fresh. Light bites were tasty. Bathrooms are clean. Cute ambiance. Would come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Roll
We had a lovely time eating a the bar on a Friday night. We expected the restaurant to be busier, but to our surprise, we were seated immediately. Evan (and Rob - when he had a break from bartending) was delightful and gave honest and thoughtful recommendations on food and drink items. The crispy brussels sprouts and cheese board were both great. The Alley Burger is definitely all it's cracked up to be. Definitely one of the best hamburgers I've ever had. The meal was certainly expensive, at $170 for four drinks, two appetizers, and two entrees. However, it's worth the cost as a special treat and for the quality of the service and the food. An aside - I love the black and white tile throughout the bar side of the restaurant. I wonder if it's original/been restored. Just beautiful.Vegetarian options: Only one vegetarian entree option (mushroom risotto), which ended up being a pretty small portion for the price. There were a few vegetarian appetizer options, so we supplemented with that.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Charcuterie Board, Alley Burger with Bacon
Service here was top-notch. Had cocktails after a show at DPAC. Server was very accommodating and attentive. We will def be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Food is good but it took us an hour and a half to get our food while other tables were getting plenty of attention. All we ordered is 1 burger, chips, and a chefs board. The bartender was great but the waiter service is terrible considering what we paid.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
PERFECT cocktails. The small plates, tinned fish, and tater tot caviar service are divine every time. Get a table in the alley if you can.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I loved this place, and I didn't even try one of their world class cocktails or specialty dishes - I got their Alley Burger and a Miller High Life, and they were awesome. Brussels sprouts too. But the Burger.... INCREDIBLE.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Alley Burger with Foie Gras
Restaurantji Recommends
The ambience feels as though you're someplace far away, but in a good way. It's a great place to have a conversation for the first time, at the bar, or sit off at a table to catch up. I hadn't been since before CVid times and will definitely be going back sooner! Appreciate their creative bartenders and their lovely menu of mocktails and cocktails.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Excellent cocktail bar with food. The cognac cocktail I got, “Sexy Dynamite,” fit the description! The Carolina Gold oysters were also fresh. I really love their mignonette. Service was also great. Would come back again. They have a somewhat limited dinner menu due to kitchen space. Consider it “elevated bar food” with plenty vegetable options. The only down side I’ve got is that they don’t take Apple Pay.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Oysters on the Half Shell
Really loved this place until the last two times. Hard to believe the best place for cocktails fell so far. Thanks to the waitress and the terrible burgers, will be trying again next year.
Great Place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of the best burgers of my life! Great cocktail and service as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Alley Burger with Bacon