Wonderful! Great service! Anthony and Kyle were fantastic and fun! The food was delicious, creative, beautiful and fresh. This was our first time here but we will be coming back tomorrow to try the brunch. The place itself is cute with twinkle lights and fresh flowers.
Sruthi M.
My friends and I wanted to try a new, cute brunch place and this was the perfect spot! We came on a Saturday morning and although it was busy, the service was still very efficient and the staff were kind and accommodating. We ordered a mimosa flight, black bean burger and the challah French toast and everything was delicious and filling! I definitely recommend if you're looking for a nice brunch place!!
Amer Malik
Very nice food at reasonable prices. Good variety of dishes and
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Alex and Owen
Incredible food!!! There’s not a single dish that disappoints. Would recommend to anyone.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alex Morgan
The only thing better than the bright, sunny atmosphere here is the incredible food. It’s real, nutritious, and so amazingly delicious. You can never leave The Refectory feeling anything but incredible! The food feels nourishing in a way that many restaurants are incapable of achieving but The Refectory makes it happen. I would recommend The Refectory to anyone because it meets all diets and needs without sacrificing amazing taste!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Paulina Piwowarczyk
I always stop by Refectory when I’m in Durham! They have the best food in town, and the service is always quick and friendly! I’ve loved everything I’ve tried but especially recommend the baked oatmeal, quiche, and lemon pancakes!!
It's ok, not bad and not great it's right down the line a solid place for brunch.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Derek Jacobs
Easily one of the best restaurants in the triangle! I am yet to have a bad meal here. The staff is very friendly, attentive and caring, and the atmosphere is excellent with solid indoor and outdoor dining options. The effort that goes into making everything is obvious thanks to the high level of quality in each dish. Two things I am very picky about when eating out are calamari and eggs Benedict, and both are absolutely phenomenal here among all other things I have tried. I cannot recommend the Refectory Café enough!
Sunday-First time here and not impressed short staffed no welcoming host available. My 1st impression was a greeting from a sign saying to seat yourself and grab your own menu then walk to a register to order your food. Not welcoming at all! The atmosphere was like a lunch cafeteria not cafe style at all more like a school cafeteria or dinner. Outdoor picnic tables have nice outdoor plants. Customer Service was fair food was delayed. The strawberry waffles are on sweet French bread and is great. Salmon Toast with avocado with sunny side up eggs was tolerable the eggs tasted like cooking spray and the arugula with onions was a terrible combo once removed it was good with tomato sandwich got messy no toothpick to hold it together. I would add cream cheese or goat cheese or feta. Pancakes were ok loved the lemon flavor but no blueberries were inside or on top they just added strawberries on top but still yummy.They didn’t review the menu with but they have many alternatives must have gone on the wrong day food wasn’t bad must have gone on the wrong day.Definitely will try again fairly priced.
Horrible, horrible experience!! Ordered 1 smoked salmon avocado toast on gluten free bread and other on "regular" bread. When first one came out, we asked if this is gluten free and the server looked and said yes it is. Next one came out 3 min later on a thinner white bread. We asked another server which one is gluten free and she checked with the kitchen and said the second one she brought out. Educate your staff on a serious health condition! Also , no soap in the single gender neutral bathroom.
The Refectory Cafe looked good online, and on paper, but the real experience was far from that. It's got ample parking, indoor and outdoor seating, the place looks clean, has a wide variety of food options including vegan plates, as well as a wide range of dessert options.Walking through the door we were not greeted, and the sign that says take a menu and find a table was behind a podium for a host/hostess. Your next step is to go to the register and place your order. An interesting concept for a restaurant like this, but why not.The staff overall was accommodating and friendly. Fairly quick as well. The atmosphere was clean, decorated for St. Patrick's Day, and lots of options for tall tables, large tables, indoor and outdoor tables. It was a nice selection.But let's get to the real reason that we're all here... The food. If you look online, the options and meals look amazing. Our table was generally pretty disappointed in the flavors, presentation, and accuracy regarding our simple orders. Ask for no tomato's, you get tomato's, want sweet potato fries? Get overcooked burned sweet potato fries. Want a passionfruit vegan cake? Well.. it's just bad. 4/5 of the meals at the table were incorrect or not very good. And we're not talking about crazy changes or anything, some of the meals were flat out missing items that are standard to the meal.I'm not saying I WON'T come back, there are some other things I was tempted to try and who knows, it might be better. But for a first time, if it hadn't come highly recommended by family, I definitely wouldn't give it another try.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Jennifer Giordano
Most of the food was pretty good, like the French toast. Except the biscuit my mother ordered was hard as a rock and we couldn't order the chicken and waffles, which was what I really wanted because of a broken fryer. I'd like to try it again on a better day. Parking is also tricky.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
zineb jadi
Amazing staff, food was delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Breakfast Bowl
Misumi
Vegetarian options: I ate the vegan pancakes and they were delicious :) The inside can get a bit loud. There is outside seating too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegan
Had the vegan pancakes for the first time, and amazing! Also the cheesy grits has to be the best I've had from anywhere in quite some time. Overall wonderful experience, and I'll be sure to come back.
Wonderful! Great service! Anthony and Kyle were fantastic and fun! The food was delicious, creative, beautiful and fresh. This was our first time here but we will be coming back tomorrow to try the brunch. The place itself is cute with twinkle lights and fresh flowers.
My friends and I wanted to try a new, cute brunch place and this was the perfect spot! We came on a Saturday morning and although it was busy, the service was still very efficient and the staff were kind and accommodating. We ordered a mimosa flight, black bean burger and the challah French toast and everything was delicious and filling! I definitely recommend if you're looking for a nice brunch place!!
Very nice food at reasonable prices. Good variety of dishes and
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Incredible food!!! There’s not a single dish that disappoints. Would recommend to anyone.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The only thing better than the bright, sunny atmosphere here is the incredible food. It’s real, nutritious, and so amazingly delicious. You can never leave The Refectory feeling anything but incredible! The food feels nourishing in a way that many restaurants are incapable of achieving but The Refectory makes it happen. I would recommend The Refectory to anyone because it meets all diets and needs without sacrificing amazing taste!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I always stop by Refectory when I’m in Durham! They have the best food in town, and the service is always quick and friendly! I’ve loved everything I’ve tried but especially recommend the baked oatmeal, quiche, and lemon pancakes!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Greek Yogurt Cheesecake, Chicken & Waffles, Quiche, Huevos Rancheros, Blueberry Pancakes
It's ok, not bad and not great it's right down the line a solid place for brunch.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Easily one of the best restaurants in the triangle! I am yet to have a bad meal here. The staff is very friendly, attentive and caring, and the atmosphere is excellent with solid indoor and outdoor dining options. The effort that goes into making everything is obvious thanks to the high level of quality in each dish. Two things I am very picky about when eating out are calamari and eggs Benedict, and both are absolutely phenomenal here among all other things I have tried. I cannot recommend the Refectory Café enough!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Calamari, Quiche, Fries, Huevos Rancheros, Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict, Sandwich
Sunday-First time here and not impressed short staffed no welcoming host available. My 1st impression was a greeting from a sign saying to seat yourself and grab your own menu then walk to a register to order your food. Not welcoming at all! The atmosphere was like a lunch cafeteria not cafe style at all more like a school cafeteria or dinner. Outdoor picnic tables have nice outdoor plants. Customer Service was fair food was delayed. The strawberry waffles are on sweet French bread and is great. Salmon Toast with avocado with sunny side up eggs was tolerable the eggs tasted like cooking spray and the arugula with onions was a terrible combo once removed it was good with tomato sandwich got messy no toothpick to hold it together. I would add cream cheese or goat cheese or feta. Pancakes were ok loved the lemon flavor but no blueberries were inside or on top they just added strawberries on top but still yummy.They didn’t review the menu with but they have many alternatives must have gone on the wrong day food wasn’t bad must have gone on the wrong day.Definitely will try again fairly priced.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Challah Cinnamon French Toast, Toast, Strawberry, Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict
Horrible, horrible experience!! Ordered 1 smoked salmon avocado toast on gluten free bread and other on "regular" bread. When first one came out, we asked if this is gluten free and the server looked and said yes it is. Next one came out 3 min later on a thinner white bread. We asked another server which one is gluten free and she checked with the kitchen and said the second one she brought out. Educate your staff on a serious health condition! Also , no soap in the single gender neutral bathroom.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
The Refectory Cafe looked good online, and on paper, but the real experience was far from that. It's got ample parking, indoor and outdoor seating, the place looks clean, has a wide variety of food options including vegan plates, as well as a wide range of dessert options.Walking through the door we were not greeted, and the sign that says take a menu and find a table was behind a podium for a host/hostess. Your next step is to go to the register and place your order. An interesting concept for a restaurant like this, but why not.The staff overall was accommodating and friendly. Fairly quick as well. The atmosphere was clean, decorated for St. Patrick's Day, and lots of options for tall tables, large tables, indoor and outdoor tables. It was a nice selection.But let's get to the real reason that we're all here... The food. If you look online, the options and meals look amazing. Our table was generally pretty disappointed in the flavors, presentation, and accuracy regarding our simple orders. Ask for no tomato's, you get tomato's, want sweet potato fries? Get overcooked burned sweet potato fries. Want a passionfruit vegan cake? Well.. it's just bad. 4/5 of the meals at the table were incorrect or not very good. And we're not talking about crazy changes or anything, some of the meals were flat out missing items that are standard to the meal.I'm not saying I WON'T come back, there are some other things I was tempted to try and who knows, it might be better. But for a first time, if it hadn't come highly recommended by family, I definitely wouldn't give it another try.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Most of the food was pretty good, like the French toast. Except the biscuit my mother ordered was hard as a rock and we couldn't order the chicken and waffles, which was what I really wanted because of a broken fryer. I'd like to try it again on a better day. Parking is also tricky.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Amazing staff, food was delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Breakfast Bowl
Vegetarian options: I ate the vegan pancakes and they were delicious :) The inside can get a bit loud. There is outside seating too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegan
Had the vegan pancakes for the first time, and amazing! Also the cheesy grits has to be the best I've had from anywhere in quite some time. Overall wonderful experience, and I'll be sure to come back.