Durham Local Favorites 2012
In Durham, people are proud of their local businesses; so proud, in fact, there are several media-run polls to determine which businesses are the most popular in a variety of categories. Two of these polls, from Durham’s daily newspaper, The Herald-Sun, and the weekly newspaper, Independent Weekly, provide dozens of insights into local favorites.
The following listings represent Durham-located, non-chain winners in Dining, Nightlife, Shopping, and Things to See & Do categories. Click for a complete list of Durham winners and finalists, or visit the publication websites for additional information.
The Herald-Sun Winners |
| Dining |
| BBQ - Bullock's Bar-B-Que |
| Best Kept Secret - Bennett Pointe Grill |
| Best Breakfast/Brunch - Brig's at the Park |
| Chinese Restaurant - Neo-China Restaurant |
| Greek Restaurant - Spartacus Restaurant |
| Ice Cream - Goodberry's Creamery |
| Indian Cuisine - Sitar India Cuisine |
|
Italian Restaurant - Pop's |
| Mexican Restaurant - El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant |
| Mom & Pop - Bennett Pointe Grill |
| Nightlife |
| Afterwork Scene - Charlie's Neighborhood Bar & Grille |
| Best Beer Selection - Tyler's Restaurant & Taproom |
| Live Entertainment - DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center |
| Outdoor Venue - Durham Bulls Athletic Park |
| Sports Bar - Tobacco Road Sports Cafe |
| Shopping |
| Boutique - Bano Italian Boutique |
| Gift Shop - Morgan Imports, LTD |
| Jewelry - Ross & Co. Jewelers |
| Things to See & Do |
| Day Spa - Blue Diamond Spa |
| Golf Course - Lake Winds Golf Course |
Independent Weekly Winners |
| Dining |
| Bakery - Guglhupf Bakery & Pâtisserie |
| Bang for Your Buck Restaurant - Chubby's Tacos |
| Birthday Cake - Mad Hatter Bakeshop and Cafe |
| Breakfast - Elmo's Diner |
| Burger in Durham County - Only Burger |
| Business Lunch - Toast |
| Cajun - Papa Mojo's Roadhouse |
| Caribbean - Jamaica Jamaica |
| Chef in Durham County - Amy Tournquist, Watts Grocery |
| Dumplings - Chirba Chirba Dumpling |
| Food Truck - Only Burger |
| French - Vin Rouge |
| Frozen Yogurt - Locopops |
| Guacamole - Dos Perros |
| Kid's Menu at Local Restaurant - Elmo's Diner |
| Late-night Munchies - Cosmic Cantina |
| Mexican/Latin American in Durham - Dos Perros |
| New Restaurant in Durham County - Geer Street Garden |
| Outdoor Dining in Durham County - Geer Street Garden |
| Pasta - Pop's |
| Sandwich - Toast |
| Seafood - Blu Seafood and Bar |
| Soups - Toast |
| Sunday Brunch in Durham County - Watts Grocery |
| Sushi - Shiki Sushi |
| Taqueria - Chubby's Tacos |
| Thai - Thai Café |
| Wait Staff in Durham County - Elmo's Diner |
| Nightlife |
| Best Neighborhood Bar - Fullsteam Brewery |
| Best Place to Chill in Durham County - Fullsteam Brewery |
| Bloody Mary - Motorco Music Hall |
| Karaoke - The Pinhook |
| Lesbian Bar - The Bar |
| Local Beer - Fullsteam Brewery |
| Local Brewery - Fullsteam Brewery |
| Margarita - Dos Perros |
| Place to Hear the Blues - The Blue Note Grill |
| Place to Hear Country or Bluegrass - The Blue Note Grill |
| Place to Hear Hip Hop - Motorco Music Hall |
| Place to Hear Jazz - Beyu Caffe |
| Place to Salsa Dance - Cuban Revolution Restaurant & Bar |
| Place to See Music Before 10 p.m. - Broad Street Café |
| Place to Shoot Pool - The Green Room |
| Place to Watch Monday Night Football - Tobacco Road Sports Cafe |
| Place to See ACC Basketball in Durham - Tobacco Road Sports Cafe |
| Sports Bar - Tobacco Road Sports Cafe |
| Trivia Night - Bull McCabe's Irish Pub |
| Upscale Bar - Whiskey |
| Shopping |
|
Jewelry - Jewelsmith |
| Local Bookstore - Regulator Bookshop |
| Local Wine Store - Wine Authorities |
| Local Women's Boutique - vert & vogue |
| Retail Beer Selection - Sam's Quik Shop |
| Salvage/re-use Business - The Scrap Exchange |
| Things to See & Do |
| Bed & Breakfast - The King's Daughters Inn |
| Hotel in Durham County - Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club |
| Live Theater Venue - DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center |
| Place for a Blind Date in Durham - Sarah P. Duke Gardens |
| Place to Entertain Kids - Museum of Life + Science |
| Place to See Blockbuster Movie - Southpoint Cinemas |
| Theater to See an Independent Film - Carolina Theatre |
More info:
>> Past Local Favorites Restaurants
>> Celebrated Cuisine
Photo Credits: Chirba Chirba Dumpling & Fullsteam Brewery - Jessie Gladin-Kramer/DCVB
Sauda Zahra: "With these Hands: Quilting as a Spiritual Odyssey" Exhibit
Art quilts by Sauda Zahra, in the Ella Fountain Pratt Legacy Gallery. FREE admission.
