DPAC Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining

July 1, 2018 by Ron Wen

First Take: COPA in Durham, a Restaurant Overflowing with Delicious and Classic Cuban Eats

Front of COPA in Durham – nctriangledining.com

When you think of your favorite types of sandwiches, what comes to mind? A great BLT? How about lean roast beef and Swiss? Well one of my favorites sandwiches is the classic Cuban sandwich! Ham and roast pork layered with pickles, Swiss and mustard pressed together for a melty, cheesey bite. And out in Durham, the Old Havana Sandwich Shop was a great spot to get an authentic Cuban sandwich. Unfortunately for lovers of Cuban sandwiches, they shut down this past February but left a silver lining in the clouds. The owners of Old Havana Sandwich Shop would be opening up a new restaurant a month later, right down the street as COPA! Yeah, and they’d be serving up Cuban sandwiches and much more in the larger space. I managed to get in and dine at COPA for a couple of meals and it’s off to a great start! Read on for the details, mi amigo…

Bar at COPA in Durham – nctriangledining.com

If you’ve been in the area a while, you’ll recognize COPA’s new space as the old Revolution restaurant. But once inside, be prepared for a shock. What used to be a modern, plush and upscale interior has been drastically transformed into a Cuban cafe! Owners Roberto and Elizabeth have done a total refresh on the space, similar to their dearly departed Havana Sandwich Shop. From the weathered wood plank floors, hanging glass-blown lamps to the sea-green paint, COPA has a classic Caribbean feel to the place. And given I’ve never been to Cuba, I can’t attest to its exact authenticity in decor but I’m guessing it’s pretty close to what you might run into on the island. Overall the space is quite open, bright and comfortable, it’s now time to eat!

Much like their old sandwich shop, COPA has a smaller and tighter menu in their attempt to bring traditional Cuban eats to the area. You’ll find a variety of Cuban sandwiches filled with roast pork, ham, cheese and other goodies along with some small plates on their dinner menu. COPA also offers a nice selection of period Cuban cocktails, expertly mixed to pair with your meals. One new option is a modified brunch menu available on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 to 2:30pm. It’s good to see COPA taking full advantage of their new space with these expanded offerings!

Cuban sandwich at COPA in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Patatas brava at COPA in Durham – nctriangledining.com

During my first lunch visit, I had a chance to sample their patatas bravas and a traditional Havana Cuban sandwich! The Havana is a pressed sandwich layered with roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickle and mustard on Guglhupf bakery bread. An excellent bite and a standard from the old Old Havana Sandwich Shop! Served with thin-sliced plantain chips, it makes for a hearty meal. Paired with a nice plate of papas bravas (fried potato wedges served with aioli), you’ve got a great lunch on your hands. However, these offerings are pretty much holdovers from the previous Old Havana Sandwich Shop menu so I was really curious to see what they could do with the new menu. Which meant I needed to get back for dinner!

Classic daiquiri at COPA in Durham – nctriangledining.com

For visit #2 at COPA, I sat at the lovely triangular bar, topped with a speckled stone-concrete surface. It was a chance to try out their cocktail menu and the classic Cuban daiquiri. Loved this drink served up in a classic art-deco glass, a daiquiri is typically composed of rum, juice and a sweetener which is shaken with ice. A perfect start for dinner!

Pan de chicarrones at COPA in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Moving on the main meal, I started off with the pan de chicarrones which is FAN-tastic! A thick, rustic yellow bread studded with crunch pieces of pork belly (chicarron) makes for a wonderful bite. Served with some olive oil, you could nearly make a meal out of this appetizer alone. But what a shame that would be given the rest of the menu to try!

Arroz con pollo at COPA in Durham – nctriangledining.com

As a small plate, the arroz con pollo at COPA is served up in a little porcelain-cast iron dish, offering up a seared chicken drumstick and flat on a bed of deep yellow rice. It’s like a simple mini-paella to me with the toothsome and chewy rice paired with perfectly seared chicken. A small and wonderful treat in a bowl!

Given the newness of COPA they are probably still working out kinks in their operations but service was solid for both of my visits at the bar. Overall I am pretty satisfied with COPA and what it is trying to do here. While I always enjoyed their Cuban sandwiches, the addition of these small plates are really a game-changer in my opinion. The larger menu allows COPA to be a great restaurant choice versus being a good cafe. And I love the fact that they are sticking with more authentic options on their menu since Caribbean cuisine is not common in the Triangle. Maybe one day I’ll get to visit Havana, Cuba but until then, a dinner at COPA will have to do, buen provecho!

COPA

107 W Main Street

Durham, NC 27701

919. 973.0111

Dinner menu at COPA

Location on Google maps

January 21, 2018 by Ron Wen 4 Comments

Best Restaurants and Dining near the Durham Performing Arts Center – DPAC

As a huge fan of the Durham Performing Arts Center’s (DPAC) Broadway series, I’ve gotten to know the area really well when it comes to restaurants. Great eating and food options ranging from Mexican nouveau, casual Italian sandwiches, Neapolitan pizza, gourmet burgers and seasonal urban chic. So if you’re headed out to catch a DPAC show or game, there’s plenty of great restaurant options within walking distance of DPAC in three primary areas around Mangum Street, Five Points and the American Tobacco Campus! Check out each neighborhood and its dining options below, 18 in total.

Best Restaurant and Dining Deals around the DPAC in Durham, Part I (Walk to DPAC, Mangum Street)

Best Restaurant and Dining Deals around the DPAC in Durham, Part II (Walk to DPAC, Five Points)

Best Restaurant and Dining Deals around the DPAC in Durham, Part III (Closest to DPAC, ATC)

View Best Restaurant and Dining Deals Around DPAC! in a larger map

Best Restaurants near DPAC- Mangum and Main Street

Right across the railroad tracks you’ll find 6 great restaurant choices around Main Street and Mangum: Bull City Burger and Brewery, Luna Rotisserie, M Kokko, M Sushi, Pompieri Pizza and Rue Cler (on the map in red)!

First up is Bull City Burger & Brewery , a cool and casual dining spot! Bull City Burger & Brewery spins out fresh beer brewed on the premises along with top-notch gourmet burgers. Most everything is made in-house at Bull City Burger, the owner Seth, is very fussy about the quality of his wares. Bull City Burger & Brewery is also family friendly with a play area in the back for children.

Lovely interior of Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Pulled chicken plate at Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Conveniently on Main Street, you’ll find the new Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas! This hip and casual eatery offers up wood-smoked meats (chicken, brisket, pork) along with other Central American favorites at a reasonable price ($10 – $18 entrees). Inside the decor is warm and sultry, the delicious aromas of roast meat, will have you ready to eat. Add in a very nice bar and communal table and I’m pretty sure you’ll find Luna Rotisserie to be a great pre-DPAC show option for dinner.

M Kokko is the brain-child of Chef Mike Lee and offer some eclectic Asian preparations focused around the humble chicken. Choose from ramen, Korean fried chicken and more, all featuring their delicious bird. The space is small (15 to 20 seats) so it fills up quickly, keep your eye on the chalkboard menu on the wall to figure out your eats. You can find M Kokko on the back side of their sister restaurant, previewed below!

And while M Kokko is quite good, M Sushi is great! This classic sushi restaurant utilizes some of the best and freshest fish around in their sushi, chirashi bowls and omakase offerings. The inside is simple and industrial sporting a long sushi bar, bare brick walls and concrete floors. Don’t miss the barbeque eel buns here, served with some crisp salmon skin and pickle, they are fantastic. But you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu! Note, you’ll probably need a reservation to eat here in prime-time hours, most nights.

Interior of Pompieri Pizza in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

The interesting Pompieri Pizza sits in an old firehouse so it’s a large and open space. Pompieri specializes in Neapolitan-style thin-crust pizza, a classic Italian pie. Order in back at the counter, grab a soda or beer and they bring you your individual pie with shears! Snip away a slice that’s perfectly sized with some shears, the pizza is served unsliced here. I’ve tried their pork belly pie and name-sake Pompieri pie, both were excellent with a great chewy crust.

Front of Rue Cler in Durham - NC Triangle Dining — Front of Rue Cler in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

Interior of Rue Cler in Durham - NC Triangle Dining — Interior of Rue Cler in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

Another good dining choice would be Rue Cler, a solid French bistro with great service. They’ve also got a very affordable ($35) three course prix fixe menu, perfect for theater night. Mix and match from the seasonal menu or from the a la carte portion to your heart’s content. Recently I had a lovely lentil soup, braised asparagus and steak frites with bearnaise sauce as my prix fixe meal. Just keep the stiletto’s at home for ease of walking since Rue Cler is a bit further away off of Mangum Street!

Best Restaurants near DPAC- Five Points Area

This DPAC dining post will take a look at some great restaurants in the Five Points area, also a short walk from DPAC: It’s a Southern Thing, Mateo, Mothers and Sons, Pizzeria Toro, Toast. On the DPAC dining map above, you’ll find the restaurants profiled in this post colored in green.

Pete-loaf at It's a Southern Thing in Durham — Pete-loaf at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham

Crab dip with pita points at It's a Southern Thing in Durham — Crab dip with pita points at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham

It’s a Southern Thing is one of the newer dining options on this list having opened up in late 2017. Blessed with a beautiful and large dining room along with very reasonable prices, It’s a Southern Thing offers up classics such as meat loaf, shrimp and grits, smoked wings and more. A fun options within walking distance to DPAC but a bit off the beaten path.

Two hot dining spots in the neighborhood are located on Chapel Hill Street, Mateo for Spanish tapas and Mothers and Sons. Both follow a similar theme: fresh, ethnic eats in a super-hip, rustic environment. Mateo is the most upscale restaurant on this list, the type of place where you can get dressed up or go more casual. But that’s the beauty of tapas! You can come here to snack or build a full meal. And you can come as a pair or do it up as a large party, there’s plenty to choose from. Mateo puts out really authentic small plates such as pan tomate, braised oxtail toast and gambas ajillo. With a standard of decor that would fit into any major metro, Mateo does authentic small plates in a lively environment. Just be warned that the place can get loud, due to its busy crowd.

At Mothers and Sons you’ll find a bustling dining room with happy patrons and knowledgeable servers. The menu is authentically Italian offering up hand-made pastas, roast meats and more. Love the crispy arancini here along with the gnocchi ala romana! And the decor here is wonderfully done, you will probably need reservations to eat here on most nights.

The relatively new Pizzeria Toro is currently closed but should re-open shortly. Serving up wonderful, neapolitan-style pizzas out of a showcase wood-fired oven, Pizzeria Toro had a great reputation for artisan pies. The crowd here was super-hipster and with fire-fly, Edison lights over each table, the space feels like it was pulled out of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I’ve got my fingers crossed that Pizzeria Toro will be re-opening soon and I’ll let you know as soon as I find out!

Further down on Main Street is the wonderfully inexpensive but delicious Toast. Think panini’s, crostini’s, sandwiches and soup. The ingredients are all locally sourced and high-quality, I’m in love with their chicken salad sandwich. Add in a beer or glass of wine and you can still walk out of the place for $15. An amazing deal for food this fresh, it’s just not a fancy meal out. Be sure to check Toast’s website before making any plans to eat there. It’s a small operation run by a lovely couple but it may be closed from time to time for family reasons. Toast is typically open until 8pm which makes it a great choice for a pre-show dinner with some vino! So these six restaurants near DPAC at Five Points are all great dining and restaurant choices. A quick 5 – 10 minute walk will have you back at DPAC and in time for the big show!

Best Restaurants near DPAC- American Tobacco Campus

Ribeye and truffled cauliflower at Nana Steak in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

The menu here is pretty traditional ranging from $18 to $60 and covering the usual array of grilled beef, seafood, chicken and pork. I tried a Angus beef ribeye which was a bit fatty and luscious all at the same time. Along with the truffled cauliflower it’s a solid meal and an overall good experience here. Given its proximity to DPAC and upscale environs, I suspect Nana Steak will soon become a favorite for the DPAC crowd!

Discrete front of Nana Steak in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Lux bar at Nana Steak in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

The newest dining addition to the ATC is the upscale NanaSteak located at the base of the new Aloft Hotel! The discrete front entrance hides a very upscale, well appointed interior, typical of a steak house. The front bar and dining area has a lovely polished wood bar, chandeliers above and was filled with a more mature crowd on my visit. A second dining room and upstairs event/group area fill out the rest of the large dining space here. And while the ambiance is all steakhouse, prices here are pretty reasonable for what you get…

Casual interior of Only Burger in Durham

Texan burger with fries from Only Burger in Durham

Given its food truck origins, Only Burger is probably THE most casual and family-friendly restaurant on this list. The bright and cheerful space is highlighted by a food truck hanging over the menu. Choose from a variety of great burgers made with free-range beef and hand-cut fries, keeping ordering simple. While the menu is simple, the food is delicious and you can’t get much closer to DPAC.

Dining area at Tobacco Road Sports in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

One super-convenient option that puts you steps away from the DPAC entrance is the lovely, Tobacco Road Sports Cafe. Serving upscale bar food at reasonable prices, you will definitely not go hungry here. Yes, they’ve got tons of televisions. Yes, they serve pitchers of beer. But Tobacco Road Sports barely qualifies as a sports bar given its upscale decor, full bar and solid service.

Nachos from Tobacco Road Sports Cafe in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Love their nachos, sliders and frizzled chicken, and beef ribs. A large dining space, bar and patio means you’ve got plenty of seating options. But you’ll need ALL the space here because this place can get insanely busy. After you’re done, take a leisurely short stroll past the fountain over to DPAC, you can’t be much closer than Tobacco Road Sports…

Dining room at Tyler's Taproom in Durham- NC Triangle Dining — Dining room at Tyler’s Taproom in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Further down in the American Tobacco Center is Tyler’s Taproom. You’ll see their busy sidewalk patio and know you’ve found the place. Tyler’s specializes in solid pub food along with a great selection of beers, They’ve got locations in Carrboro, Raleigh and Apex in addition to this Durham spot so they know what they’re doing. While I haven’t had a full meal here yet, I’ve done some snacks and beers along with food at other locations. Their Carolina nachos and cheese-fries are to die for which is appropriate since they may stop your heart. Tyler’s is known for their great selection of micro-brews, don’t miss out on all the great local choices. Their garlic fries are a can’t miss but the bacon-parmesan popcorn just wasn’t that impressive. Just be aware that the place can get really loud with the open space and brick walls, not a great spot for a romantic or quiet meal.

In the end it all just depends on your mood: fancy and frilly or tasty and simple! Getting in for an early dinner around DPAC is typically not that hard unless there’s something very popular showing. Just don’t go to the DPAC hungry because outside of some cookies, gelato, candied nuts and adult beverages, you won’t find much to tide you over for three hours! And it’s really hard to enjoy a show when you’re famished, take advantage of the great dining options in the area, bon appetit!

Best Restaurants near DPAC- Main and Mangum Street

Best Restaurants near DPAC- Five Points Area

Best Restaurants near DPAC- American Tobacco Campus

NanaSteak (American, Steak)
Only Burger (Grill)
Tyler’s Restaurant and Taproom (American, Beer)
Tobacco Road Sports Cafe (American, Bar)

Additional Help for your DPAC visit

November 24, 2017 by Ron Wen

Media: It’s a Southern Thing in Durham Offers Up Southern Cuisine Done Delicious

Entrance to It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Entrance to It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to Southern eats, we can’t seem to get enough of it in the Triangle because let’s face it, we’re really good at Southern eats in North Carolina! So it was with some excitement when I heard about the upcoming It’s a Southern Thing in Durham. Taking over the space that used to be Pop’s, Lucia and Motto on W. Main Street, I was hopeful that maybe a more accessible and affordable type of cuisine would do ok in this large space. And thankfully through a media visit and personal visit, I had a chance to experience first-hand what It’s a Southern Thing is bringing to the Bull City. Here’s my take on this new and tasty restaurant for Durham…

Rustic dining room at It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Rustic dining room at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

First, if you haven’t been to this space before, it sits conveniently on Main Street between the downtown Durham core and Brightleaf Square. Which means you can do it for a visit to DPAC if you’re willing to walk a bit (leave the high heels at home). Street parking is a bit limited in this area so be aware! From the outside, It’s a Southern Thing is not that noticeable outside of a large brick wall with paned windows overhead. Find the side entrance and hop upstairs to the warm, cozy dining room. Inside, the space hasn’t changed that much since its days as Motto. You’ll still find the same bulb-lit “BAR” sign overhead but they’ve gone with a more casual interior. No more fancy fabric lamps, in with the barn-door plank tables and a more open and better lit space. With a view into the open kitchen it all feels like you can pop in here for a quick meal rather than a more formal dinner. And the prices here at It’s a Southern Thing reflect that: appetizers and salads are in the $8 to $12 range while entrees run from $14 to $22, pretty good for Durham!

Refreshed dining room at It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Refreshed dining room at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Crab dip and pita points at It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Crab dip and pita points at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Charcuterie board at It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Charcuterie board at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

I’ve had the chance to dine at It’s a Southern Thing for a couple of meals, one a comped media visit and another out of pocket to get a good feel for what they’re doing. The crab dip with pita points is a great starter! Bubbly, cheesy and with plenty of crab inside for flavor, it’s a generous portion and best shared amongst 2 – 4 people. And the charcuterie plate offers a great selection of cured meats, pimento cheese along with these wonderful seeded crackers!

Smoked wings at It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Smoked wings at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Pete-loaf with fingerling potatoes at It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Pete-loaf with fingerling potatoes at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Moving on to the meat and mains, It’s a Southern Thing’s smoked chicken wings are simple but very tasty. Tender with a nicely browned skin, there’s a lot of deliciousness here in this simple preparation. And a big thumbs up for their meatloaf! It’s actually “Pete-loaf” and named after the owner. Instead of a mix of ground beef and pork, they’ve updated the meatloaf with ground bacon instead! So while you get two smaller medallions of meatloaf, it’s super-rich and flavor-packed. Served over roast fingerling potatoes, it’s a great example of the type of comfort food you’ll be served at It’s a Southern Thing and gets a big thumbs-up from me.

Shrimp and grits at It's a Southern Thing in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Shrimp and grits at It’s a Southern Thing in Durham – nctriangledining.com

And of course you couldn’t do a Southern restaurant without the ubiquitous shrimp and grits plate! It’s a Southern Thing amps up the flavor of their shrimp and grits with some andouille sausage, tomatoes and chiles, an interesting combination! We also tried their desserts in a mason jars, banana pudding, chocolate mousse and more to finish off your meal in style. Service for both my visits was attentive and pleasant. While the staff is dressed down pretty casually here, they are very service-oriented and well-trained. Overall I think you’ll find It’s a Southern Thing to be a pleasant and tasty dining option in downtown Durham. The food is good, the space is beautiful and it’s all paired with solid service. At the price points they have their menu, It’s a Southern Thing is offering up an excellent option for the lunch and dinner crowd in Bull City. So give em a chance if you’re in there area! Along with Maverick’s Smokehouse, Saint James Seafood and Grub, you’ve now got some interesting new dining options on (and off of) W. Main Street in Durham!

It’s a Southern Thing

605 W Main Street

Durham, NC 27701

919.294.9632

Location on Google maps

October 18, 2017 by Ron Wen

Ten Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most Out of Your Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) Visit

The Durham Performing Arts Center is one of the busiest venues in the world, bringing top-notch Broadway shows, concerts and more to the Triangle area. Since its opening in 2008, the downtown Durham scene has totally transformed due to its presence. So if you’re going to one of the many shows at DPAC, I’ve pulled together some tips and tricks to get the most out of the show. Having been a previous Broadway season-ticket holder and fan I’ve probably seen over 25 shows at the DPAC over the years. Here’s some ideas on how to get the most of your DPAC visit.

DPAC Pre-Show Tips and Tricks

Ordering tickets – You’ve got several options here to get your tickets and while Ticketmaster may be the easiest, it’s also the most expensive. Some other options include over the phone which will still incur a phone service fee, but the box office will be the best option to save money. Standard box office hours are 10am to 5pm (Mon to Fri) and 10am to 2pm (Sat) but it’s also open three hours before show time. And given DPAC’s heavy performance schedule, that means it’s open A LOT.
Ticket Management – If you order your tickets online, you can certainly do e-delivery to save on mailing fees but sometimes for special shows, I just prefer an old-fashioned ticket that can go in a scrap book. So ordering tickets and doing Will Call where your tickets can be picked up at the box office is my preference. Note that if you are meeting someone at the show, you can put multiple names on your tickets so that a date or friend can pick up their ticket separately. Also if you have a problem with a conflict for your show, DPAC will do ticket exchanges for a new date/time but it will probably incur a service fee and any price differentials.
Parking – While you can certainly pay for a lot or parking structure, I prefer street parking. Oftentimes you’ll have to pay a bit for a meter and then parking will be free after 6pm. Most Durham parking meters take coins and cards, you’ll need your license plate number to use these meters. I’ve had luck on Pettigrew and Ramseur Street if you get there a bit early for your show. And if you’re early, don’t miss my post on the best restaurants and food around DPAC!

DPAC Show Tips and Recommendations

Beer, Wine and Cocktails – DPAC is well equipped for snacks and drinks but I’d certainly try to eat before your show. If you’d like to enjoy a beer, wine or cocktail for your show, you can bring drinks into the auditorium and usually there are two bars on each of its three floors. If you’re a wine fan, note that the bars can do double-pours into a plastic cup to save you a trip back out. You can also pre-purchase drinks before the show starts for intermission to save time on waiting in a line.
The Nutty Bavarian – One of the things you may pick up on when entering the DPAC are wonderful sweet, cinnamon smells on the first floor! That’s the Nutty Bavarian, a cart specializing in candied pecans, almonds and cashews served up in a small paper cone. The Nutty Bavarian is ONLY on DPAC’s first floor so don’t miss out! It’s my show tradition to grab some nuts at the Nutty Bavarian during intermission so sometimes I’ll have to hustle from the 3rd floor down to the 1st and back up, after grabbing some nuts.
Rest rooms at show intermission – Intermissions are usually pretty short (15 minutes), and the bathroom lines for the women’s restroom can get long. If you’re planning a bathroom break at intermission, you’ll have to get out as soon as the curtain goes down to minimize the wait. There will be a DPAC employee holding a sign for the end of the women’s line so keep an eye out for it!
Photos – While you aren’t allowed to take photos inside the theatre, DPAC will often have a backdrop-screen for Broadway shows to take a commemorative picture of your evening. Check it out if you want a picture with your date or loved ones, it’s usually on the first floor.

DPAC Tips and Tricks Post-Show

Meet the Cast – After your Broadway show, there will sometimes be cast members available for photos and signatures. Head on over to Mangum Street towards the rear of the venue. You’ll see some steps that lead up to a red door where you can wait.
Post-show Drinks – Now if you don’t want to fight the traffic out and back home, you may want to grab a drink or bite and relax but it will probably be after 10pm. Check out my post for more detailed information on the best bar and drink options around DPAC.
DPAC Open House – Once a year, DPAC does an open house to thank their patrons and sell season subscriptions. If you’re a DPAC fan and haven’t done the open house, make sure to get an invite! You’ll get to tour the facility, hang out on the stage and check out the changing rooms. Very cool and a rare occasion to see the behind-the-scenes view of DPAC. My favorite part of the tour is the beautiful signed murals that casts leave after playing the DPAC!

September 10, 2016 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

First Take: Motto in Durham Delivers Southern Italian in a New Way!

Front of Motto in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

If you’re a fan of shows at the DPAC, it’s always interesting trying to find good dining options. And while there are plenty of nearby restaurants, when you have thousands of patrons in the area looking to do the same thing, it can still be a challenge. But if you’re willing to walk a bit, I’ve got a great new option for you, the newly opened Motto! Brought to you by the Urban Food group and a refresh of what used to be Lucia Restaurant, Motto is a beautiful new space with a couple of surprises waiting for you!

Great interior at Motto in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Located in what used to be the space for Pop’s, from the outside you wouldn’t really notice Motto. Large brick building with minimal signage, its 2nd floor spot keeps it out of pedestrian eye-view. Since it sits between downtown Durham’s core and Brightleaf Square, this area doesn’t get as much attention as it should but it’s just a slightly longer walk to DPAC, just past the Amtrak station. Go up the stairs and you’ll be greeted by a hostess station. Long bar in front of you to the left and two dining rooms to the right, the space feels a bit luxurious but with some rustic touches including an interesting, wood pallet wall on one side. But given the time constraints for my show, we grab a couple of seats at the bar.

Bar at Motto in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Cracklins at Motto in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

The menu at Motto has been swizzled a bit from the old Lucia menu. Rather than just doing Italian, they have worked in a bit of Southerness to it in homage to their NC roots. And with only about 20+ items on the menu, it’s more of a small plates type situation. We order up some cracklins, mussels and I’m doing a corn agnolotti which caught my eye. The cracklins show up and are awesome: crisp, not greasy and perfectly fried. Dusted with some spices, they make for a great starter.

Mussels at Motto in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Next up are the mussels, loving presented in a large ceramic bowl with grilled crust slices of bread stacked atop. A squeeze of lemon and we dig in. They’re cooked up with tomatillo and chorizo which is decent. There’s a bit of spice on the back end but pretty mildly flavored overall, liked them but it wasn’t quite love.

Charred corn agnolotti at Motto in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

While the smaller hot plates are in the $11 to $13 range, Motto’s large plates go for $20 to $30 which is about right for the ambiance here. My aglonotti is a generous plate of stuffed pasta: ricotta, corn puree and dusted with some parmesan and sauteed mushrooms. L-O-V-E this plate, it bursts with the sweet corn flavor and earthy mushrooms. It’s served with brown butter sauce which plays nicely with the whole meal. My tablemate’s braised pork cheek is beautifully plated with some slivered radish and cracklin but I hold back on taking a taste.

All I can say is that nice job Motto! You’ve only been open a couple of weeks but it looks like an impressive start for you. From the great decor, excellent prepared Italian eats to the on-point pricing, DPAC and Durhamites have another great dining option in the hood. My motto for Motto would be: Delicious Italian-Southern eats near DPAC! So seek them out, Motto is more than just some words, it’s some great food…

Motto

605 W Main St,

Durham, NC 27701

984.219.1965

First Take: COPA in Durham, a Restaurant Overflowing with Delicious and Classic Cuban Eats