Geer Street Garden
644 Foster St, Durham, NC, 27701
Geer Street Garden Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Durham for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Durham for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Durham for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
644 Foster St
Durham, NC, 27701 - Phone (919) 688-2900
- Website https://www.geerstreetgarden.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Best Nights : Tue
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Paid
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Sam R.
If you sit outside on the patio, beware of the flies if you sit near the bushes. I recommend trying to get a seat at one of the tables on the interior unless you want to be swatting at your food throughout the meal.
(2)Adam S.
I've eaten here twice in the last couple weeks and really enjoyed it. They have the best reuben in Durham, hands down. I also enjoy their chicken wings, which are a great value. I only drank the sangria which was excellent. The atmosphere is great, especially sitting outside after work. If I could I would deduct 1/2 star for the slow and disjointed service. Hopefully they're just working out the kinks, but it is frustrating waiting 15 min to get a waitress attention. Still, this is the place I'm taking friends and out of town visitors.
(5)Jason L.
Love the food! Need to come by more often. Only trick can be getting a seat if you don't get there before the evening rush.
(4)Bonnie A.
Great neighborhood spot. We love to make this our week ending spot so this is an honest review Wings are a staple to bars, which this is, and they are so inconsistent. Meaty and then so skinny that I get 24 instead of 12. Flavor is great when the cook sees meaty wings otherwise just nice. Moving on... Reuben is outstanding and just had the pumpkin squash soup that was delicious. Committed patrons will stay but get those damn wings right to keep the newcomers.
(4)VIshnu M.
Beer selection and food are great. Atmosphere is great, and getting better by the day. Service is slow, but at least the staff are all really nice.
(4)Meg P.
This place has pretty nice ambiance and a really nice outdoor beer garden but the food and service leave something to be desired. One member of our party left with food poisoning and another with a terrible stomach ache, not to mention the hour+ it took to give us split checks. We came as a large party from a conference and so we all needed separate checks which I do understand is inconvenient; but not impossible. The wait staff wouldn't even come to our table to refill drinks or remove plates after we let them know that we needed separate checks. They were incredibly rude even though we thanked them profusely and were generally great guests (other than the obnoxious check situation). Other than that the food was okay but not amazing for the price, with pretty small portions. The deviled eggs were obviously not fresh since they came out almost immediately after ordering whereas the rest of the food took quite a long time. A much smaller group of people from the conference decided to try our luck again two days later, though it seemed that the head waitress recognized some of us and then treated us extremely poorly. They told us it would be about a 20 minute wait and said that we could sit outside on the stone benches. We ordered two pitchers of beer and waited approximately 40 minutes while many other parties who arrived after us were seated before us. We then decided to just leave, at which point they somehow miraculously found somewhere for us to sit. Upon seating us the head waitress says without any kind of welcome or apology for the wait, "We can't do split checks this time." (this confirmed that she recognized us and was treating us poorly.) After this we decided that we were obviously not welcome and left to find food elsewhere. I wouldn't bother with this place ever again, luckily I don't live near here.
(1)stacy W.
I'm kind of in love with this place. It's simple and straightforward: 1. Food is yummy. - The fried green tomatoes and sweet potato soup were yummy in my tummy. the wings are also pretty decent. 2. Good selection of brews - well, at least they had a selection that i like! they also have some pretty good cocktails on their menu. 3. Location - i love me some downtown durham! and there are some other nice things nearby, like motorco and full steam, etc. but my favorite thing about this place is the patio! my dogs love it too :D
(5)Laura S.
This was my first time going and it was great. We arrived at 7:30 and were quoted an hour wait so we headed to the bar for drinks. I had a cider which was delicious and time flew-we were led out to their outdoor seating are which was covered and heated where I then had a delicious burger. Will definitely be back!
(4)Angela D.
The place looked so welcoming when we first got there!! I had heard from a friend that it had delicious food and a great selection of beer. The beer selection was good.... something for everyone. The food was just alright. I ordered the fish tacos... probably the worst fish tacos ever! Overbreaded, overcooked, tough, cold... not good at all. Normally I can eat anything with a "mexican" flavor... but I couldn't bring myself to finish even one taco. My boyfriend ordered the burger. He said it was, "alright", but could have been a burger from anywhere. Nothing stood out. Overall, we might go there again for a drink, but would definitely eat elsewhere.
(2)Perry H.
Definitely a good chill spot to meet-up with friends for a drink and bite to eat. I see this as more of a snack/brew spot than I do a place to have dinner. Not that the food was particularly bad but the menu was a bit limited. The design and decor is very cool with a white wash brick inside and a large outdoor area outfitted with communal picnic tables. We had the heirloom tomato salad to start which was very good and fresh but a bit overpriced at $8. The tomatoes were good and fresh but the serving size didn't constitute the price. I'll try another route for appetizer on our next visit. I opted for the pimento grilled cheese which was very good and the fries were very tasty, warm, and perfectly cooked. Think Fed fries from the Federal but actually warm. My wife had the bratwurst with sauerkraut and side salad which she said was good but not outstanding. We heard really good things from others around us; the wings, deviled eggs, and the watermelon cocktail got rave reviews. The Pile (fried chicken on top of fries with cheese, bacon, jalapenos, gravy and oh yes, two sauces) looked particularly unhealthy and hangover cure-worthy. The beer list is pretty good with about 10 beers on tap, a mix of local and regional brews. Definitely a good place to go hang out with friends and enjoy the outside patio and grab a bite to eat a few pints in.
(3)Lesley L.
Geer St. Garden is one of my favorite places for weekday lunch. I think I've had the grilled pimento cheese every time I've been, sometimes with fries and sometimes with a side salad. It's always been yummy, and the service friendly and prompt. I love the decor/ambience too.
(4)Andrew R.
I enjoy Geer St, it's in a good location near both Fullsteam and Motor Co, they have good food and a pretty good beer selection. The food has always been very fresh and unique. All the wait staff has always been great, I like the atmosphere and the outdoor seating. The Jalapeno Cheddar Hush Puppies rock, and they can make quite a good burger.
(4)Duke C.
After all the other reviews, I'm not sure what's left to be said. It's a great hangout. It's probably never going to make the top of the list if you just look at the food, or just look at the bar, or just look at the location in isolation. You put all those things together and you have the perfect storm. I have yet to attempt "The Pile" but it looks quite tempting. The rest of the menu is also quite good. I had the special of the night - which was a paella - something you wouldn't expect there. Simple and comfortable. Some interesting people watching and generally speaking a pretty friendly crowd. Would like to see them make a portion of the garden, non-smoking though.
(4)Andreas B.
Geer St. Garden is a little bit off the beaten path in downtown Durham, a block away from Fullsteam and Motorco. This is one of my favorite places in Durham for a casual outing. They have a fairly decent beer selection, and the food is great and reasonably priced. It's a really nice place to go to in the summer since they have a shaded seating area outside. The seating mostly consists of benches, so it kind of has a relaxed, beer garden feel to it.
(5)Wes L.
First the review, then a quick story about my experience here. Went around 7pm on a Friday, so was expecting a crowd & got one. Quoted a 45 minute wait, took about that long for a table for 2. Got beers at the bar & hung out. Good draft selection, plus all drafts are $5 so it keeps it simple. Inside was a little loud, but that's to be expected with a Friday dinner/drinks crowd. Bartender & host were friendly & helpful. Got to sit outside at the long picnic table, so take note: if you aren't a fan of possibly sitting next to strangers at a large picnic table, you might have to specify this. We enjoyed it, the music was funky & cool. Server was friendly. We ordered the Chili Relleno special & the veggie baguette w/fries. Chili Relleno was excellent with a light breading of cornmeal, black beans were good, pico was good but I would've liked to have a little more. Veggie baguette was delicious as well, and fries were awesome. We go the wasabi dipping sauce, which was perfectly spicy. Food came out quickly & correctly, no complaints there. So the food was delicious & the staff was great. Cool atmosphere. Now for the extra credit: About 1/2 way through my girlfriend's beer, she noticed some kind of residue on the glass. After debating, we decided to go back to the bar & ask ONLY for a clean glass to put the remainder of the beer in. Told the bartender this, but he insisted on a full, new pour. I was really pleased with this, excellent customer service. He didn't have to do this, and I didn't want him to think we were trying to scam a free beer! Great staff, will go back.
(4)Justin P.
I really thought that I was going to like this restaurant, but sadly I wasn't impressed. When I first heard the name of the restaurant, I thought that it would maybe a little more upscale and definitely would impress me with the food. It turns out that it is very casual and the food they serve is pretty typical pub grub. I went to Geer St with some of my friends so we split some appetizers. The appetizers were the hit of the night. We shared The Pile, which are cheese fries with bacon, jalapeno, and more cheese. The Pile tasted very good. The fries, cheese and bacon make a great combination. We also got some deviled eggs, which tasted good. The main entrees I thought were kind of off. I got a Reuben, which is a corned beef sandwich. I don't think they made the sandwich right. It was supposed to be on rye bread, but it wasn't. They toasted the sandwich in butter, which made it greasy. The amount of grease made the sandwich less enjoyable. I would not get it again. Geer St Garden should be known for the appetizers. You could come at night, stop a Fullsteam for some drinks, and then come here for the Pile. That's a great idea.
(3)Kris T.
I was part of a large group celebrating at Geer St. Garden last week, and the service and food were both impeccable. Although we arrived at different times, some more than an hour after others, our server stayed calm, cool and attentive. We ordered lots of appetizers, with some in our group eventually ordering entrees as well, and didn't have to wait long for anything. Whatever kinks this place may have had when it first opened (and I first tried it), they are now a well-oiled machine. Not to mention: with the cool fall weather, the outdoor patio is a wonderful place to hang out around sunset. Give it a try!
(4)Hannah R.
I went to Geer Street Garden last night with a few friends that are not accustomed to Durham. I thought I would take them to a neat local spot so they can get a good idea of what Durham has to offer. We were seated outside on picnic tables which was perfect for a group and the weather was beautiful. I have had excellent service previous visits and this time it was merely okay. We ordered specialty cocktails which were all good. All draft beer was on special for $3.50 which we did not know until we received our check so that was a pleasant suprise. The Jalepeno hushpuppies were great. They were piping hot and had excellent flavor due to the addition of the jalepenos. Fried Chicken was perfectly crispy served with mashed potatoes and collards cooked in southern fashion. A friend got blackened softshell crab. The vegetables were lukewarm but the crab was delicious and spicy--this will not prevent me from returning. Definitely check out this joint. If you love it support local Durham--and if you hate it there are so many delicious eateries in Durham you will find your favorite spot.
(4)Flaneuse D.
My friends took me here on my recent visit to the Triangle area because they know I go in for adaptive use of cool old buildings. I'd never been to a restaurant in an old service station, and I thought this was an excellent re-use of the space. I liked the decor and the general "vibe" a lot. I would've given it more stars but for one thing. The fish tacos I had were quite good, but we sat out on the patio and the place was LOUD. The earlier review about it being a bar that serves food (rather than a restaurant) is accurate. I could hardly hear my dining companions; it's NOT a place to come for conversation. I would go again, but not on a weekend night.
(3)Jon W.
Now this is a cool bar. With sliding garage doors that open up to Geer Street, outdoor picnic table seating, an inclosed outdoor seating with heaters and strings of lights illuminating the patio, it is the perfect spot to bring friends in visiting from out of town or your local buds for some suds. Look at that rhyme. I know what you're thinking, I hope Jon writes a poem about Geer St. Garden. Done: This Geer Street Garden is not for flowers But for beers with buds and power hours With indoor and outdoor seats galore You can meet a nice gal or even a whor...um...bore Their food is delicious, their drinks are fantastic Pay via cash or run up the plastic Whatever you do, don't leave without tipping Please chug like a man, these drinks ain't for sipping And Here's to the women, who wear red shoes Who steal all our money and drink all our booze They don't have cherries but that's no sin For they still have the boxes those cherries came in! Cheers ya'll Seriously, go to Geer St...it's awesome.
(5)Jessica Z.
Visiting from out of town and went on a Sunday night around 9 and it was pretty busy. Fried boneless chicken plate with fries was great, beer was good and burger was good just not the average size. Kind of small. Brownie dessert was amazing!
(4)Mia C.
Inviting and aesthetically pleasing interior. Solid food and drinks. Came late on a Saturday, and the late-night feastings did not disappoint. The fries were so deliciously crisply fried (none of that flaccid fry business here!) that I didn't even mind that my order consisted mostly of the smaller dregs of the potato strips. Accompanying the fries were 2 dipping sauces (I chose sweet chili and sriracha mayo), which were both tasty, as was the prosecco I washed it all down with. Extra extra points for not only playing hip hop but also playing tracks that weren't just the most popular hits. Someone eventually hijacked the sound system and put on the usual indie rotation, but we hip hop fans had a good run, and for that span of time, this place was near-perfect. Recommended.
(4)Dawn B.
There are few places on earth that I look forward going to because of a salad. I will pass over the killer entrees to enjoy one of their tasty salads and a side of fries. They have a cobb salad with smoked chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese, hard-cooked egg, avocado & tomato...amazing and Fried Chicken & Arugula Salad with Hard-boiled Egg, Parmesan & Ranch Dressing ...also amazing Advice: go with their dressings
(4)Alex O.
Cool little bar. Good beers on tap. I didn't have any food
(4)Lara S.
I really enjoyed Geer St. Garden. I liked the so-called "hipster" environment and low-key dining atmosphere. I had the burger which was great and a Crispin cider. The hush puppies were delicious. The menu may be fairly small, but the restaurant offers a wide range of ales and the food is always fresh. I'll definitely be going back.
(4)Brad W.
Skip the mac and cheese, it's much much better at Dame's or Tobacco Road. I had a special, the Italian sandwich on homemade focaccia bread. It was one of the best sandwich's I've ever had. Sooooo yummy!
(4)Rachel F.
Our friend in Durham is obviously a regular here. All of the staff know him by name (and by order), and everyone kept coming to our table to talk with him. After our meal there, I understand why he frequents Geer Street Garden. From the pimento cheese and fried green tomatoes to the veggie tamales, fish tacos, and vegetable stew, the food was great, and the service was even better. If we lived closer, we would undoubtedly be regulars, too.
(4)Sarah G.
Great atmosphere for 3 seasons. They have an excellent local beer selection, great food, and nice semi-covered patio with picnic tables in back. Geer St. Garden is a great place to grab dinner and a beer before heading up the street for some live music at MotorCo.
(5)Fred D.
Really cool atmosphere, cool wait staff and they have PBR, WOO HOO! the food was really good as well.
(4)Katie B.
Excellent summer hang out! Delicious drinks and pub food.
(4)Alysia A.
I am kind of amazed at all of the good reviews this place gets. I'm gonna let myself finish but first I will be positive. The decor of Geer St. is really amazing, I love the use of the old doors and the layout is fantastic. It was a bit cold and wet to sit outside but it was really pretty from what I glimpsed from inside. The waitstaff is kind of adorable, totally sweet and accommodating. Now the bad. Every single foodstuff my hot date and I ordered was in a word: weird. It was post pride parade and I was so hungry I could have eaten a small twink in heels without even cooking the little dear, so any kind of food ordered was bound to taste amazing, right? Wrong. We ordered: Wings - honestly they were just bland and I am not sure how you can fuck up a wing but they were just totally blah and beyond even the help of copious salt. Cobb Salad: it was just about the greasiest salad i have ever put to my lips. I could not believe how utterly slimy this salad was.The chicken tasted super tough like it had been hanging out with a motorcycle gang and then jumped in our salad to hide out. The dressing was just plain gross. We could barely stomach any of it and boxed up the whole shebang to go find a good burger somewhere else. I am not tempted at all to go back to this place, they sure are pretty and sweet but damn, that food was ill.
(2)Melissa S.
Three stars only b/c I'm so glad to have another neat establishment in my neighborhood. And only three stars because I can't quite bring myself to like this place. The food is always just "meh", sometimes overpriced, and the service is a little too cute for me... not friendly enough to make up for the slowness, casual approach to service, etc... I really want to like you, Geer St. Garden. I really do, and so I'll probably keep visiting you occasionally.
(3)Melissa T.
Many good looking options. We only ordered "the pile" and a salad. But the pile was delicious. We split it between 3 of us and we still did not finish. Worth the visit. Fried chicken and cheese over fries, jalapeños, bacon, gravy and cheese sauce. Cholesterol city.
(4)Tara M.
I really wanted to like this place. It came very highly recommended by a friend. Maybe we came here on an off night. The ambiance of the restaurant was great and the vibe was exactly what I hoped it would be. The food, however, was not. I ordered the steak. I asked for it to be done medium and ended up with a well done tough piece of meat. The steak was also very under seasoned and the table did not have salt or pepper on it for me to fix that. My husband ordered the fish tacos and we was just as unimpressed with his meal as I was with mine. The fish was over breaded and over cooked. His fish ended up being rubbery. Overall, Geer St. Garden was quite a disappointment.
(2)Nick F.
So here is your game plan: Start Fullsteam (around the corner) and drink a few of their beers (delicious as always), head to MotorCo (next door) take in a show, of course supplemented with more beer. Then move to Geer St. Garden and order "The Pile". It's what life was meant to be about. Feel free to thank me later.
(4)Phil G.
My decision to give Geer St. Garden 5 stars, is mostly based on my last experience. My previous visits were probably more deserving of 4 stars. I came with a group of friends to Geer St. Garden after spending some time at Fullsteam Brewery for my birthday. What really, made my last experience at Geer St. Garden a 5-star experience was the server. She was amazingly friendly and attentive to our group despite us not being fully sober. And, her patience was not affected by us rolling in at 12am. For example, we were trying to choose the two sauces for our appetizer so our server graciously offered to bring out a dish of each sauce so that we didn't have to waste time negotiating which ones to select. Somehow during conversation at our table, the server heard that it was my birthday. Without letting us know that she knew, we were later surprised with two desserts. A banana pudding and a chocolate cake with ice cream. In my excitement, I ate all of the banana pudding and I don't think I even shared (sorry, friends). I'm a huge fan of banana pudding and I liked this dessert. The desserts were a huge hit at our table and I was very appreciative of this small gesture that made my birthday even better. I could have probably been served raspberry jelly and still been excited but that is beside the point :) With the appetizer, desserts and good beer I was happy to be at Geer St. The food was good but the service was what stood out. As for food, we decided to order two of "The Pile" appetizers for 6 of us. The Pile is a generous portion of fried chicken, french fries, jalapeño peppers, and cheese piled on a plate with a selection of sauces. I was just checking out their menu online and I noticed that they added some more items so I need to give those a try (previous menu had a relatively small number of food choices). I've had the Pimento Cheese sandwich, Fried Chicken, and the Farmhand sausage sandwich and found these to be better than most food choices that you'd find at other bars. One small nit about this place, the draft beers are a little expensive ($5) but at least they have good local beers. What you'll also like about this place, is the outdoor patio. If the weather is good then you should definitely try to find a seat outside. Bring your dogs if they're nice.
(5)Ken W.
Locavore casual, in- and outdoor seating, more of the latter. Very reasonably priced for the creative food.
(4)April T.
The atmosphere is cozy and a little intimate, which I truly enjoyed. The service was great. Staff was friendly and helpful since I had never eaten there. I ordered the chicken and veggie Tamale. It was very tasty. I will definitely return. I also ordered a special treat. My friend and I shared a brownie ala mode. It had a caramel peanut sauce. I think it may be the best brownie I've eaten. The peanut caramel sauce really adds an extra punch. I love this place and I look forward to exploring the menu.
(4)Chris A.
Update: Geer St gets my 5-stars. I think I was cranky when I wrote the original review way back when. Geer St.'s menu frequently changes but always has the staples, and boy do they deliver. Great food, great local beers, and some of the best outdoor seating in Durham = 5 star, high five! Here's the thing with Geer St. Garden - it does everything really well, but that's not enough for a 5-star review for a Durham hangout, of which there are many awesome options. Everyone at our table liked their meal (two burgers, one Cobb salad, one Veggie Baguette.. guess what the two dudes had?), and the side-sauces for the fries were all yummy. I wouldn't come back just to eat though, because other than burgers there's not much on the menu that tickled my fancy. Come to think of it, my fancy hasn't been tickled in a while. I need to work on that. The beer selection was good, but not great, and $5 draughts are on the high end pricewise. That said, GSG has a really nice ambiance going for it and it's a nice place to drink. It was very crowded while we were there, and the inside was pretty cramped because it was too cold for anyone to go outside. I think we'll be back when it's warm out and sit outside with the dogs. That sounds nice. Maybe even fancy-tickling.
(5)Chase A.
I love the ambiance. I love what they've done with the so-cool classic architecture. I love that they've brought to FullCo Row some real food that doesn't drive off at the end of the night and return at unpredictable hours later. Before I get carried away here, a gripe. The fried chicken plate. Although I LOVE that they have boneless fried chicken, this stuff is too heavily battered. More importantly, the mashed potatoes are uninspired and near-tasteless, the gravy is too thin and also near-tasteless, and the collards -- holding fort at the opposite end of the spectrum -- are way too heavily spiced. In other words, they would -- unbelievably -- do best to start from scratch with everything on what sounded to be a promising platter of fat-awesomeness. And ... back to the positive. The grilled pimento cheese is fantastic and -- oh happy day! -- loaded to the gills. (Take that, Fed. Stop skimpin'.) Nice mix of snackables and more substantial fare. I'm looking forward to wandering my way through the menu some more. Dog-friendly outside. And the generous helping of heat lamps makes it people-friendly too. A Celebration Ale on tap rounds out the winter evening quite nicely.
(4)TJ S.
The Pile from Geer St. Garden is the truth. Everything blended well together and the flavors were amazing. It was enough for me and 2 friends to share. Very satisfying and would recommend going here for just The Pile alone.
(5)Jae T.
You should probably send home the waitress with the fresh, oozing tattoo. I mean, the service sucks anyway, but I could do without the Aquaphor/plasma drippings.
(1)Taylor Ann D.
We came with bigger eyes than our belly capacity. Fried Green Tomatoes -- $4 - Sooooo good. For some reason, one of them was also stuffed with pimento cheese. An accident maybe? An accident I LOVED. Butternut Squash Soup with Creme Fraiche and Toasted Pumpkin Seeds - $6 - Quite yummy, had a bit of curry seasoning and topped with pumpkin seeds, they didn't appear to be toasted though. Also, veggie based :) Green Salad with Pear, Toasted Walnut, Blue Cheese & Dijon Vinaigrette - $8 - Polished off the entire salad (which was a nice serving size), the "pears" were apples I think, but still great tasting. Veggie Tamale Plate with Black Beans, Pico de Gallo and Crema - $11 - Could use more salt/seasoning in the beans (and I'm not a huge salt person). We took these home for a midnight snack and doctored them up a bit to make more flavorful. I want to go back to try the: Six Deviled Eggs - $4 and Roasted Veggie Baguette with Zucchini, Red Pepper, Grilled Onions, Arugula, Olive Tapenade & Goat Cheese (with Fries or Salad) - $9 Happy eating! TAD
(4)Caroline V.
I really enjoyed this place. Love the outdoor patio seating. Small menu but good food.
(4)Jeremy P.
I can't believe I've never reviewed this place before with how often I eat there. I'm a regular Fullsteam patron and my friends and I regularly wander around the corner to Geer Street when we want dinner after a beer. The seating area inside is a bit small however they do have a large patio out back with halve the tables under cover and the other half with umbrellas. The patio is dog friendly which is great. The food is always good and fresh. They usually have daily specials based on their ability to procure some special ingredients so it's fun to give those a try. I'm partial to the grilled fish tacos as my mainstay. They have a full bar and always a quality selection of beer on tap with plenty of locals.
(4)Emily P.
French fries covered in fried chicken, melted cheese, and jalapenos...then covered in gravy and a cheese sauce, with your choice of two additional dipping sauces. Sounds like the most disgusting thing on the planet, might possibly be the most delicious. I went to Geer Street for the second time ever on Saturday evening with some friends who wanted to get a "Pile" the monstrosity described above. We all got beers (there's a decent amount of local and craft selections) and then split a $10 Pile which came in one of the largest plates/bowls I've ever seen. Definitely not something a single person should ever consume on their own. Split between three people? Probably acceptable. In the summer Geer Street has a decent amount of outdoor seating. Winter time the seating is still there - half of the patio when we went was enclosed in a plastic-walled room and had heaters inside. I didn't make it all the way in, but I suspect it was quite cozy/enjoyable. Definitely worth a trip back here next time I'm in Durham!
(4)Will C.
Great place for cold beers and bar food. Sit outside
(4)Kelly L.
Oh Geer Street, you are a surprise. I was a little against Geer Street even before it opened. I couldn't imagine one more burger joint in Downtown Durham, but thankfully it has more to offer than burgers and beer. The inside is small but the outside is much larger. I am really fond of their salads. Granted they are a little heavy on the dressing, if you ask for it on the side it is perfect. This particularly true with the Arugula and Fried Chicken Salad, but damn that bad boy is good. Their summer Heirloom Tomato Salad is superb but unfortunately, now, out of season. Their buffalo wings left something to be desired, meaning there was no buffalo sauce on the wings. We got sad little wings that were a little over fried and lacking the sauce that gives them their name. The desserts are impressive for a bar/beer garden/pub - whatever you want to call it. That brownie dessert makes me want to do a happy dance. It is the perfect mix of salty caramel peanuts, vanilla ice cream, and brownie. Love it. I definitely recommend Geer St., in fact, I might go there for lunch today after writing this review. Oh, and last time I was there, they were having someone taking measurements to install some sort of covering for the outside pergola. Hello outdoor seating in winter.
(3)Paige T.
This place is uber cool! My husband and I went in just for a beer after attending Durham's Open Streets a couple of weekends ago. I love the roughed up look of the walls paired with the hardwood bar, booths, chairs and tables. It's windows and doors were all wide open making for a lovely light and airy atmosphere. The menu looked amazingly delicious and I was excited to partake at another time. So, we decided to go to Sunday brunch and were at first sorta bummed, but ultimately pleasantly surprised to find a buffet. The french toast was ooey-gooey good, the sausage and bacon paired with the made-from-scratch biscuit--delish! The potato hash was nothing to write home about, but I polished it off nonetheless. I will definitely still have to go back to experience the "Pile" that I've read and heard so much about. I think I'll go with Christina G.'s suggestion--a post Fullsteam visit sounds perfect!
(4)Evon B.
This place is great for meeting a friend or 2 & having a light meal &/ or drinks. It gets really crowded around 5pm or so, so I would recommend early afternoon or evening visits. I've tried both the Cobb salad & the fish tacos- great. Go with a friend. Parking is pretty "interesting," but you're bound to find someplace nearby.
(5)Arika S.
Cool spot in downtown durham to grab a beer and get some good food. I think the prices were reasonable, parking was easy, but the service was a bit lackluster. I tried the Cobb salad which was really good and the pimento cheese is REALLY good although quite heavy. Will definitely be going back here.
(4)Jeff M.
Service awful. Not because of their attitude or anything, but because it just took forever for everything. I've been here 3 times, and each time dinner took more than 2 hours, one time over 3. The servers all seemed stunned why people were waiting around so long... hint hint they don't have their drinks yet. Food, excellent! I've had the Garden Vegetable Soup, and one of their salads, and both were very tasty. Also, the beer selection is local and delicious. Also the location is gorgeous, and right near a growing area with Fullsteam brewery, Motorco Music Hall, etc. Please note: I went there on their opening week, and the month after. They probably have worked out their service better.
(3)Amy B.
Pros: Great atmosphere excellent & friendly staff great service impressive beer selection for a small place just starting out the patio looks like a great place to hang out, and it has potential to be even cooler. Cons: the food. sadly. We were so excited about the deviled eggs, but they pretty much just tasted like a boiled egg cut in half. Deviled eggs are all about seasoning and texture--creamy, flavorful filling that is balanced out by the unseasoned white. Eggs need salt to taste good, and deviled eggs need mustard and mayo (and possibly other creative ingredients) to take them beyond boiled egg territory. Not many other places keep deviled eggs on their menu, so this could a signature item. People love them, and they have a ridiculously awesome profit margin. how's about a seasonal selection of a couple of different deviled eggs using locally sourced ingredients? Durham would eat that up. Secondly, the wings are fatty and not so tasty. Higher temperature of the cooking oil could render off the fat, and leave a delicious crispy skin in its wake (like 365-375 degrees) Frying chicken takes skill and practice, whether it's a drumstick or a buffalo wing. However, perfecting it will have the people beating down the front door. The good news--this place seems to have the heart and soul required to evolve into an institution. All great hangouts need a little time early on to work out the kinks. Anyway, we'll be back to check on the progress at some point in the future.
(2)Allie F.
I really dislike giving one star to a restaurant. It hurts. The saving grace is that the wait staff tried so hard to be friendly. Oh, and the space is kind of cool. But I just can't recommend this place to anyone for any reason. Our visit at lunch time was a comedy of errors. We were ignored for quite some time after we arrived and were seated. They were out of the drinks we ordered (unsweet tea). There was blood on one of our silverware-wrapped napkins. My salad wasn't washed and was full of grit. My buffalo wings were average. My friend's burger was below average. Her french fries tasted of nothing. My other friend's veggie stew was below average. It was expensive for what we got. We were charged for drinks we didn't get served. We were given no pen with our bill to sign the credit card slip. It went on and on. I can't think of any reason to go here. The idea, I suppose, would be for the folks congregating at Fullsteam / Motorco / Steel Blue to have a place to come eat. But you'll find far better food at the food trucks for far cheaper and far quicker. Very sorry, Geer St Garden. There are so many excellent eating establishments in downtown Durham. You guys need to shape up quick or consider another line of business.
(1)Restaurant G.
The bottom line is, their food is just not that good. it's like all their effort is put into being a trendy hip gastropub, but not as much effort is put into the food. yes, their are several things on their menu that stand out positively, like the deviled eggs. However, I have had two completely dissapointing meals here. The fish tacos, fried--the fish was blandly breaded fish knobs, overdone, and they tasted like cafeteria fish sticks. Last night we had a burger, and it was just not tasty. the fries were almost cold. drinks here, but considering you can get an amazing burger across the street at kings for 3.75, don't bother with their overpriced fare. It's just not well seasoned Or executed that well.
(2)Caroline S.
Pros: -Very cool atmosphere -Great food -Excellent drinks Cons: -Slow service -Kitchen/server miscues (cons of which I think will be remedied soon) Went to Geer Street Garden on a Friday afternoon and by 5:30 the outside tables were already full. Inside the restaurant is cozy, with only a handful of tables, and most of the room occupied by the bar. Our service was a bit slow. It was a busy time and they hadn't been open for long, so we let some things slide. However, we did have a really long wait for a second round of drinks where we almost canceled the order. In ordering food, we placed an order for the "pile" - loaded fries on steroids (with fried chicken, bacon and cheese, gravy and two sauces on the side), our meals came out first, and when Andy (owner) was told this he said the pile would "change our lives" and offered it to us for free. Sweet! Really enjoyed how he fixed the situation, fast. However, there were still a couple other miscues. After making very, abundantly clear that he didn't want pickles on his burger, our friend was served a burger with pickles on top. Again, Andy swooped over and said that they would make everything fresh (and not just push the pickle off). Again kudos! The check came and the pile was still on our bill, so I explained the situation to our waitress and asked her politely to check on it, which she promptly removed. Given that it's a relatively new restaurant there are just some service/communication elements that have to be worked out. Okay, now that's out of the way, the food... Excellent, excellent food. The pile was awesome - especially paired with the garlic aioli (not so much the cheese or gravy, surprisingly) and sriachanoyaisse (great touch!). The burgers were fantastic and a great deal at $9 (and they come with fries). I had the reuben which was really good. However in the future I would opt against a side salad which was just big pieces of lettuce (like the kind prepped for a burger) with dressing, just go with the fries and save the salad for another time. I had a couple of the Frisco drinks (Bourbon, B&B, bitters, lemon) for $8 not a bad deal at all. Would definitely go again. It's a very cool hip place in a happening part of Durham, but just come with a little bit of patience.
(4)Rebecca F.
Great casual atmosphere + excellent quick service. Unfortunately, food was less than average. Here's what we had! Deviled Eggs, Fish Tacos, and Relleno ... all three quite bland -- esp. the Deviled Eggs. Black Beans undercooked. Seriously need to work on their seasonings. Key Lime Pie (allegedly homemade ... that was excellent).
(3)Steve S.
Another (my second) maddening lunch at Geer St Garden. Ordered the special: grilled local asparagus with a fried egg and parm cheese. The asparagus were overgrilled and that was one seriously greasy egg. And it cost $9.61 for a seriously small portion. I had tap water to drink.In fairness, they said it was an appetizer. It would have been better had it either been priced like an appetizer, served with more than 8 aspagus, had the egg cooked in a fraction of the grease or perhaps not in the immediate vicinity of cheeseburgers. I know people love this place but I keep thinking there is nothing this place does that isn't done better and cheaper within short walking distance. Sigh, I'll never get this lunch back.
(1)Jessica P.
Geer St Garden is the perfect Durham experience. If someone had one night in town and wanted to know what Durham is like? I would take him or her here (maybe followed by some nearby Fullsteam)! The building and garden are adorable. Everything has a very rustic, warm feel. If the outside just had a little more plant life - it would be perfect. The only thing I didn't like - the bathrooms are individual and it's so small inside that if you have to wait for the bathroom, you're kinda awkwardly standing next to the the hostess stand and the bar. Our waitress was so sweet - I fell in love with her! For my cocktail, I had a Ginger Rogers. It was okay - the mint was a little over-powering and I couldn't taste much of the other flavors... but hey, mint on a summer day is super refreshing! I wish they had a more expanded cocktail list. I wasn't in a beer mood, but I def give their beer list my stamp-of-craft-beer-approval. You have to try THE PILE. It is the star of the menu: fries, fried chicken, jalapenos - come with gravy, cheese sauce (REAL cheese sauce, not cheez whiz) and your choice of other sauces. All the sauces/gravy come on the side. It was amazing. And super filling, too! I would recommend at least 3-4 people to finish THE PILE. We were all pretty stuffed by the time our entrees came out. I got the grilled pimento cheese with a salad. I was pretty impressed with the salad! Usually when you get a salad as a side at these places, it's just some lettuce with balsamic vinegar. But there were plenty of other yummy veggies in there. The grilled pimento cheese... I actually wish they made it a bit thinner, as in with less cheese. It was too stuffed which 1.) made it really greasy and 2.) the cheese in the middle didn't really melt... so it was more like a plain cheese sandwich. But really - I can NOT complain about eating straight up pimento cheese! If I get it next time, I might request them to make it thinner. Then it would be perfect! Can't wait to go back! Such a great addition to Durham :)
(4)Charlie W.
Geer St. has come a long way since it opened. When it opened, the food was sub-par for the price. It had a great space and good drinks going for it, bu with the food they were serving I thought it wouldn't last. They've since turned the food around, and I would argue that they now contend for the best pub food in Durham. Be sure to try the fries with srirachyonnaise! With the food on track, you can't beat the space, especially on a cool summer day. Nor the drinks--they keep a good tap list and can make a solid mojito.
(5)L. S.
This place has the worst service of anywhere I've ever been. I'm just coming back from my SECOND time being totally ignored and not served here. The first time my partner and I even had a reservation for a special Mardi Gras dinner. We were seated out back and left completely alone - no one checked on us or asked for a drink order. After 30 minutes with the only person even responding to us being the bus boy we left in disgust. Today I was downtown and hungry and it was the third place I tried after a couple others were closed. I seated myself per the sign and proceeded to be completely ignored again for 20 minutes - no staff was even in view to call over! I will never ever come back. The few times I have been able to be served the food was not exceptional enough to take the chance of being completely ignored yet again.
(1)Stephen W.
Geer St. Garden is absolutely perfect in it's simplicity and quite possibly one of my favorite places in Durham. The restaurant is quite small and so is the menu, kind of makes sense though doesn't it? Decor inside is simple but comfortable with a huge patio dotted with picnic tables. Those with social phobias may be wary of sitting with strangers due to the open seating but we found it to be a great experience and made new friends over a hearty meal and cold drinks. The Pile is bar food perfected. Excessive condiments are a must. Delicious brown gravy and *srirachanaise everywhere. Deviled eggs were great...not as good as Mom's but who would possibly expect them to be. A juicy pasture fed beef burger cooked perfectly with a side salad for $9 is a hard deal to beat especially when topped with pimento cheese. It was a messy two handed burger and far exceeded my expectations considering how lean pasture and grass fed beef is. It was the most flavorful roadside diner style burger ever and I want another just thinking about it now. The fish tacos are the only reason Geer St doesn't get 5 stars from me. Two corn tortillas per taco PLEASE! Unsafe taco engineering can be a disastrous mess and one tortilla doesn't hold well when dressed with a wet salsa. I tried only a few bites of the taco's but the fish appeared to be pollock or cod, I'm not absolutely certain but unimpressive regardless. All the tacos accoutrements were flavorful though and my company enjoyed that meal immensely with no complaints. The fried chicken is dredged in a flour/cornmeal mixture that is seasoned well and gives a great texture. So so moist....and I hate that word but seriously, this chicken is amazing. And for the record my sample was served "bone-in". Chatam punch is a winner made with rye, some sort of juice and magic I think. I don't exactly remember what it was but it was worth more than $8. A real nice representation of regional beers from FullSteam, Mother Earth and Highland as well as some affordable PBR and High Life. The wine list is super friendly too with glasses in the $6 and $7 price range. Our server was fast, efficient, and knowledgeable of the menu. She anticipated our needs before we had to ask for anything without lurking and was so friendly that she shared her fried chicken dinner with us. Fried chicken as a gift scores huge points in my book. Geer St. Garden is simply good. And pretty affordable as well. I love the beer selection, the quality of food and the condiment obsession. *Pretentious foodies and food network wannabe chef's take note, It's "Srirachanaise" not spicy aioli, or chili garlic emulsion. Your not fooling anyone. Just mayo and Sriracha, if you didn't start with egg yolks then its not an aioli. End of story. Thank you Geer St. Garden and congratulations on a successful start. And to my fellow Yelper's, "Your Welcome" for the Pimento Cheese Burger idea.
(4)Ursula L.
This place is awesome. The food is wonderful, the service is excellent and the atmosphere is great. It has been our favorite restaurant since we found it. It is a great place to go with the family, friends or on a date. My husband loves it because they offer gluten free options, including making their fried chicken gluten free. He was beside himself when he got to order fried chicken in a restaurant. He can also get one of their delicious hamburgers on gluten free bread. I love it because they source local, organic foods and grass fed beef. Yay!
(5)t b.
This was my second trip so the food was good enough for an encore however the service is slow. That being said the food was fresh, hot and very tasty. I would defiantly would recommend!
(4)Kaitlin S.
Geer St Garden is super chill, and it's located right next to the Motorco Music Hall and down the street from Fullsteam Brewery. I see it much more as a hangout spot than a place I'd go just for dinner, particularly given the limited menu. As mentioned previously, it's great for groups because of the picnic table setup, or it's great if you want to meet some new people. I was here with a big group for a birthday, so it was pretty much perfect. It was a nice night and a lot of people were there hanging out, many of them with their dogs. I had the Durhamite and sangria and enjoyed both. The Durhamite didn't seem to have that much alcohol in it, or I couldn't taste it. My boyfriend had the Frisco, which was surprisingly good considering it's mostly bourbon (I like bourbon but I don't want to drink it straight). He also ordered The Pile-- the appetizer with fried chicken, french fries, bacon, cheese, jalapenos and your choice of sauces-- which was heart-attack inducing but tasty. The service here was not very good, but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt because we were there the first week it was opened, and presumably they hadn't quite figured out how to navigate the outdoor picnic table situation yet. We joined our group after they had been there for awhile, and we were sitting next to another group, but no one came to take our orders so we went inside to get drinks. My boyfriend had to hunt someone down to order the appetizer, but I wondered if they had assumed we would just get drinks at the bar if we needed them.
(4)Jenean E.
I have been twice this week. Both times the service was fast and the staff was super friendly. My husband was gushing over the ruben, as was our friend. I had the cucumber/tomato/avocado sandwich: really simple and really tasty. On my second trip I had pimento cheese with toast points (basic, but cheap too) and the heirloom tomato salad- fresh and lots of flavor. I also finished off my daughter's cheese and salami board, which didn't have a lot going on but had quality cheese. I really liked the simplicity of the dishes I tried and the fresh tasting ingredients. Beer selection is smallish but great. The atmosphere and staff are fantastic. This will certainly be a go to place from now on.
(4)Natalie B.
Geer street is a small fun local place. Great for people visting the area. The pile is amazing and we get it almost every time we go. Small menu but everything on it is good!
(3)Jonathan B.
Stumbled over Geer St. Garden while looking for a lunch spot in Durham recently. What a pleasant staff! Great beer selection. Small but delicious menu (try the Reuben - you won't be sorry!). And the setting is the very best part - an old service station that sat dormant for decades before being lovingly restored by the owner of Geer St. Garden. Looking forward to seeing it during the warmer months. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Dave S.
They made the spot enough better for me to go from 3 to 4 stars. The food is still only fine for the price. It definitely isn't bad....it just isn't great. They did at least heed what I posted in my other review about getting stuck at these giant communal tables as a 2 person group next to hipsters. They now have little 2 person picnic benches along the side which is nice. They are still close to the long tables which are still packed with hipsters and you still feel like they are a little on top of you. I know I'm also nitpicking at this point, but the benches are super hard and really hurt by the end of the meal. There is a hard corner that digs into your hamstring and doesn't feel very good. The garden part is also pretty, but there are honestly a lot of bugs. I know I'm not making this sound like a 4 star review, so overall, it is a really nice place to sit outside. The beer selection is great, and the beers are great too. The food really is fine, depending on the item, and I love the look of the building. It at least will feature more prominently in our dinner lineup, even if it never rises to the top.
(4)Jessica S.
Because Geer Street Garden is a literal .15 miles from my house, I awaited its opening with bated breath. It has quickly become our go-to restaurant for a casual dinner, business lunch, pre-dinner drinks, night out with friends, or place to sit and read in the afternoon. The back patio is a little oasis and I love the nice cushion booths when it's rainy. Andy has displayed a commitment to improving his restaurant from day one. They are constantly upgrading the outdoor place and updating the menu. I originally thought that they didn't have enough produce on the menu but that was quickly changed and I know have quite a few options when I'm craving some produce. Joel loves the cocktail list and I am pleased with the wine selection and prices. The food is fresh and well-prepared. While this isn't cutting-edge food, it is fresh, tasty, and we've never had a guest not find something they liked. We also love looking at all the cute dogs out back with their owners.
(5)Ben S.
I've been to this place twice since it opened. The reuben is good (they use good meat, which is nice), and the burger with pimento cheese is delicious as well. My wife got the pimento cheese sandwich, which was average (maybe a bit on the cold side). The srirachanaise (seemingly the hipster-condiment-du-jour) was tasty. The beer selection is decent, the outdoor seating is cool and has shade if you want it, and the multiple-parties-sit-at-the-same-table thing is a refreshing change. However, I don't feel like it's that great a deal for what you pay, and although the menu items are tasty, there's more variety at the Federal, and a better beer selection to boot.
(3)Amy H.
I spotted Geer St. Garden going to s show at Motorco last week and really wanted to try it! Since we had planned a trip to the science museum in Durham, we decided to try it out afterwards. We were seated quickly and I immediately noticed the friendly and relaxing environment. We shared The Pile" and loved all of the sauces it came with! I ordered the Roasted Veggie Baguette. Thought it came with a few too many onions for my taste, it was delicious. I just pulled the onions off and it was perfect! I would love to come back here again and maybe hang out on their patio with a beer. Geer St. Garden gets a big thumbs up from me!
(4)Megan F.
Meh is the perfect way to describe this place. I've been here a few times because it's so close to my house. The first time I went wasn't too long after it opened. I was there with 3 of my ladies for our night out. We waited a while to get our food after ordering. We didn't realize how much time had passed since we were enjoying beers and good conversation. After 1 hour (no lie) had passed our waitress stopped by and asked us, "Did you eat already?". Um no. So they apologized, told us the beers were on the house, and put a rush on the food. When it came out about 10 minutes later, the orders were wrong. At this point, I just wanted to eat anything but they brought our correct orders out, apologized, and told us the whole check was on them. I was impressed with the customer service that night and chalked it all up to being new and working out the kinks. Since then, I've been less than impressed with most things there. They do have a good selection of beers and their specials for dinner are usually pretty good. That being said, their brunch was nothing more than chaffing dishes on the side of the bar with lukewarm food. I have no problem with a buffet, but this is what I expect from the Comfort Inn, not a new trendy spot in downtown. My husband and I went back one more time so he could try the dinner. After being seated at a crowded picnic table, (which would have been okay except that the heat lamp was so close it was making us sweat) were were told we'd be getting water, and someone would be with us shortly. Neither of those things happened. The waitress did come by, but that was to talk to the people next to us, more than once. After waiting about 10 minutes, we decided to leave because we actually wanted to eat dinner sometime that evening. All of that said, I'll go there for beers and the pimento cheese sandwich with some of the ladies from time to time, but I don't expect much and certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone who wanted a full service restaurant.
(2)David N.
Yeah not really. Food was meh and service was awful. Server walked away to see if could get a different cheese on my sandwich when we were ordering. He never came back to get the rest of our order. We were confused as to what was going on and our food came out before we finished ordering. We are easy to satisfy but there is too much competition in Durham for this sort of thing. Probably won't be back.
(2)Brent L.
Finally got around to trying Geer St Garden after it being on my list for a long time. I love the location and setup of the place (it's an old gas station/mechanic I believe). Tons of awesome outdoor seating makes me happy too. And the food was fantastic. The Pile was delicious of course and my fried chicken plate was really good too. The greens were nothing special, but the rest was quite tasty. Key lime pie and banana pudding didn't disappoint either. Definitely a good place to go again!
(4)Blair G.
This place surpassed all of my expectations! The burger, fries, Cobb salad and butternut squash soup all were incredible. The ambiance is tremendous. Do yourself a favor and come here.
(5)Photon O.
It's a really neat space, and I want to like it better, but the sauerkraut has a funny smell. I had the bratwurst sandwich with a salad, and M had the reuben. We get reubens all over the place. I may be somewhat of a reuben connoisseur. The reuben here is ok, except for the funny sauerkraut smell. M didn't notice it, but it was sufficient that I will not order those things again. Across the table, the fried chicken and arugula salad looked awesome, and the burger+fries smelled great. I will try those things, and avoid the sauerkraut. (which is sad, because normally I love sauerkraut) One additional small complaint-- the lettuce was not cut for human-sized mouths. This, plus my own ineptitude with a fork, left me with salad dressing all over my face. I will probably go back because it felt like a nice place to be, and the prices were not too high. Also, I want to try the french fries with all the stuff on them when I am not about to embark on strenuous physical activity.
(3)Jim N.
First visit here last Saturday, led there by Yelp'ers and newspaper reports. Very friendly staff, nice place, good beer selection, limited-but-interesting menu. We shared a butternut squash soup (really nice), then my wife had the grilled pimento cheese sandwich and I had the local burger. Sandwich was outstanding...burger was so-so; but, the fries were among the best I've had in the area....worth a return visit to try other items on the menu. Prices were fair and service was fast....all the makings of a hangout for Durham! The beer selection alone makes it worth an evening out here.
(3)Bob S.
Confused by some of the other reviews--maybe they're due to a rocky start. Our experience there has been great. We've been twice, once at lunch (with friends and two kids) and once at dinner (with two kids and the family dog). Indoors the first time, outdoors the second (the outdoor tables have little caribiner clips for dog leashes). Service was flawless, drinks were good and came very quickly, food was excellent. I had the avocado/blt sandwich thing, wife and kids shared "the pile" and the tomato salad. She also had some kind of watermelon crushed mint cocktail-like beverage, we all had salad, and it was all good. Oh, during my first visit I had the vegetable stew with polenta--major yummy, and my wife had the reuben sangwich. The kids really liked the deviled eggs. Dessert was a warm brownie topped with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with salty caramel peanut sauce. Oh yeah. We'll be returning many times.
(5)Ron M.
Best brat I've had in years. While the menu is not extensive, I highly suggest that you check it out if you are in the neighborhood
(4)Anais R.
The outdoor seating is super cute and kind of has a beer garden feel to it with big wooden tables, good for groups. They have an okay beer selection. However, the food is terrible. The one time that I ordered food here, both my friend and I felt really sick afterward because our hamburgers were extremely greasy. I would come here for a beer when the weather is nice and had a medium to large group of friends with me. I will not make the mistake of ordering food again though.
(2)Kristen J.
I've gone to Geer St before and while the atmosphere/patio is nice in the summer, the food and service is so-so. But this last time I was especially disappointed and will probably not be back. I ordered a burger with garlic aioli on the side. What I got was a cheeseburger with regular mayo on the side. When I said that I didn't ask for cheese (which was fine, I just didn't want to pay an extra $1 when I didn't ask for it), I was confronted by the waitress that tried to tell me that I had in fact asked for cheese. My plate was taken away and brought back a few minutes later - the meat was now in pieces, and it was obvious that the cheese had just been scraped off and the patty flipped over (as evidenced by the cheese still on the burger). While the food was okay, about an hour after the dinner my stomach became upset and I spent the rest of the night at home with a very painful and upset stomach. I will say that I've had their salads before and those have been good, and I do enjoy the patio. Although I've had smoother experiences at Geer St before, because the food in general isn't that special and this last experience was so bad, I will not be back but do recommend it for anyone looking for a good place for an outdoor drinking spot in the summer.
(1)Nick D.
I come here pretty often and it is solid. Service is regular and the food is above average. Some really great cocktails esp the whiskey business. Also ask for a corn n oil which was taken off the menu but they will still make for you. The fried chicken and arugala salid is my go to. The ruben is also great. Good burgers and fries. If I'm just with one other person it is fun to eat at the bar.
(4)Stacey H.
Ohh Geer St, I want to love you!!! You are SO cute!?! Your menu looks amazing, the draught beer lineup is stellar, and the actual layout of the beer garden is adorable. BUT, your service left something to be desired and the food was, well rather bland. I'm hoping this was just a fluke, but for a Friday evening you need to step up your game, friend!
(3)Kim C.
This is a great place for drinks on the patio. I've been twice and have enjoyed my evenings here. I've been mainly for drinks, so I can't review the food. If you are looking for a place to relax, get some beers or cocktails on a patio this is the place. The patio is surrounded by a lush garden, it is well lit, but not overwhelming. We'll be back.
(5)Marc L.
Went to this restaurant for Lunch a few days ago... Only have 45 minutes for lunch, so needed a place that was fast and efficient since one of my other favorite places doesn't take credit cards. This one does thank goodness and the Rueben I had was very filling and did the job of filling me up. I know that some folks who have longer also like sitting outside in their patio area. The staff was real nice, and i look forward to going back there soon.....
(4)Stephanie B.
We went here between a visit to the Farmer's Market & Stone Bros & Byrd on Saturday, and Geer St. Garden fit in perfectly. I had the Roasted Veggie Baguette with Zucchini, Red Pepper, Grilled Onions, Arugula, Olive Tapenade (I opted out of the goat cheese) - and it nicely complemented all the veggies I'd seen at the market. The olive tapenade was an inspired dressing for the roasted veggies. The baguette was just the right crispitude (and I take my baguettes seriously). The fries were quite good, though I wish I'd taken advantage of one of the sauces rather than relying on plain old catsup. The Mr. had the Grilled Pimento Cheese sandwich, also with fries. I had a bite and it was delish. Service was friendly and it was overall a good experience. I think it'll be a nice complement to our trek to the Farmer's Market.
(4)M R.
Overall they make nice food and it's great to sit outside. The beers are usually very good selections and the wait staff is helpful and nice. Solid 4. Doesn't knock you out of your seat, but will make you satisfied 8/10 visits.
(4)Scott S.
I went to Geer St. Garden on a Saturday night with a group of 6. After a short wait, we were seated and eventually had our orders taken, but it took a really long time (~45 minutes) to ever get our food. I got the Fried Chicken Plate (substituting mac & cheese for the collards). The mac & cheese looked really good, but sadly didn't have much cheese on it and overall was pretty disappointing. The mashed potatoes tasted a bit off. The fried chicken wasn't really bad or really good, just kinda meh. My wife got the grilled pimento cheese sandwich and loved it. The fries were also a hit at our table, though I didn't try them myself. After checking my credit card bill later, I noticed that I was charged about $5 too much. I called the restaurant and the lady I talked to was very nice and apologetic and added the money back to my card after looking into it on her own. The worst part of my experience was the few days after I went. I had awful food poisoning and was basically stuck to the toilet for 2 full days and still wasn't right until a few days after that.
(2)Natalie A.
Had a reservation for a friend's birthday dinner and had a great time. Our server, Donna, split our checks which I know was a hassle given that we had 10+ people in our party. Will definitely be returning. Thank you Donna!
(4)Candice C.
Finally got to check this place out and my first impression is this might be my new "go to" spot. Loved the outdoor patio with it's long picnic tables, rustic old door and gorgeous plants. Inside looks inviting but I haven't experienced it yet. The heirloom tomato salad looked amazing and I hear the potato salad rocks. I tried "the pile" and only made it a quarter of the way through this and would recommend it more as an appetizer to share with friends than an entree. Think of it as nachos made with fries (and a side of gravy!?!) Really enjoyed the burger (but my heart still belongs to Bull McCabes for best burger in Durham) and the fries are awesome. Everything is fresh, service was great and they put your leftovers in the cutest little box. Love it!
(4)Ras J.
I really wanted to love this place, but it falls short in a lot of ways. The service has been painfully slow both times we've been here. It's actually been a chore to flag down our waitress which is sad considering how small the place is. Decor is nice. I like the look of the place and the patio is very inviting. I might go here for a beer occasionally, but not food. The food is overall not very good. I'll start with the positives. The deviled eggs were excellent. Probably the best I've had in a restaurant and the 3rd best I've had from an individual. They were simple and delicious. The eggs were cooked perfectly; moist, delicate, perfect consistency. The filling was also perfect; seasoned well, creamy, perfect consistency. The wings were above average. And the watermelon cocktail was delicious. The burger and fried chicken were way below par. Burger was overcooked, dry, and underseasoned (to the point of being nearly flavorless). The bun is low quality and too thin; halfway through my burger it was a saturated soggy mess that just fell apart. Also they forgot the bacon on my burger and literally gave me one single ring of onion. Pickles were good. Fries were awful. If you're going to make fresh cut fries, you need to use the doublecook/ice method. Otherwise, they are just a soggy pile of grease sponges. The fried chicken was a mixed bag. I found the breading to be flavorful, but the preparation method was riddled with amateur mistakes. First, it was deboned. I don't understand why. Leaving the bone in results in moister more flavorful chicken. There's no reason to debone fried chicken. Also, it was a 3 piece meal but the piece were completely disproportionate in size. There was a thigh and 2 tiny piece of breast. This resulted in the thigh being cooked fairly well (though slightly overcooked) and thus the smaller breast pieces were way overcooked, and dry as sand. If you're going to have different sized pieces, then they need to be dropped in the fryer at different times so they cook evenly and ALL pieces stay moist. The potato salad was way underseasoned and the corn on the cob was pathetic. It was maybe 3 inches long and harvested prematurely. The gravy was also completely bland and tasted of nothing but gravy base. The brownie sundae was abysmal. It seemed like a homemade brownie, but whoever made it didn't measure the flour properly and had used way too much. There was also too little cocoa. It was ridiculously bland. The "salty peanut caramel sauce" was also pretty disappointing. Finally, it's a mixed bag on pricing. Some things are WAY overpriced for what you get. The burger starts at $9 before you get any add-ons. I realize local beef is expensive, but if you overcook it and use a lousy bun, then you've lost all right to charge that much. The "Pile", the soup, and all the entrees are overpriced for their quality and quantity. The deviled eggs, the wings, and drinks are all priced fairly. This place has a long way to go in terms of service and product quality. I'll give their food another chance in a few months, but for now, it leaves much to be desired.
(2)Mamie H.
My current favorite for dinner with friends. It's a great atmosphere, especially on the patio, and delicious food, all at a good price! Throw in delicious cocktails and a great beer selection, and what more could you ask for!
(5)Christina P.
My friends and I rolled up to Geer St Garden around 9 and were a little disappointed how limited the menu became after hours. There really wasn't anything that stuck out from the selection of typical bar food. I got some fries to share and chose the sirachanaise and garlic aioli as our dipping sauces. The fries came out super warm and garlicky and were reminiscent of the Fed's garlic fries during its glory days. yum. The garlic aioli was kind of meh and it really didn't taste much different from regular mayo, but the sirachinaise was reallly a pleasant surprise. I'm tempted to make my own sirachinaise now. The beer garden itself is a very enjoyable place to sit and hangout with all of the picnic tables under twinkly lights. Overall, this just seems like a good option to hang out among all the choices in Durham...I just wish they offered more food choices at the later hours of the night.
(3)Amy J.
Was looking to see what all the hype was about and was disappointed. The patio area was nice but there was an abundance of ants on our table and near our food. I have never been to an outdoor restaurant were there have been so many ants. The food was so-so at best. Didn't believe it was anything special. The best thing is the burger but with so many burger joints in Durham we would have hoped for better selection.
(2)Liz W.
I'll be moving from Durham in the next month or so, and one of the things that tops the places that I'll miss will be Geer St! My husband and I live about 5 minutes from this place, and we eat there juuust about every week or two. (Not the healthiest choice, but hey.) The atmosphere is great (if you're not uppity about sitting at the same picnic table with some other folks) inside and out! We've always had excellent service (don't expect being treated like a princess, but they're all really nice and they get your food to you.) Their Reuben is... oh I don't know.. life-changing, really. I won't get one anywhere else in town! And "The Pile" is a must-try. Their house-made sauces are awesome too. It's a fun seasonal menu that changes up pretty frequently, so there is always something new to try! If we want the food but it's a busy night, a lot of times we'll just order it take-out, it's ready in about 20 minutes, and we enjoy it at home!
(5)Andrew B.
Cool outdoor space if you don't mind communal seating. Our particular server wasn't very helpful in regards to gluten free options and didn't seem interested in finding someone who could help me. "ok, your fish tacos are gluten free you say?" "Since they are fried, is that a cornmeal only batter then?" "Are they fried in a dedicated fryer for non-gluten items?" We all agreed our food choices were bland and somewhat disappointing (fish tacos and burgers). We'll probably be back, but I'll definitely want to try something else on the menu next time.
(3)Lauren W.
I really do like this place and I would give it a 5 star BUT I gave up on this place. They had INSANE onion rings, but stopped making them, and I do not get a full hour for lunch so I normally have to go down there, order... wait for it to cook then eat on the way back but It got annoying when my order was never right. I want a hamburger they give me a cheese burger (and don't say "just take the cheese off" because it never taste the same), I ask for one sause they give me another. Naturally I would forget to check untill I was in the car on the way back. They have offered to Cook another one, but time is not on my side and I have to deal. But Everything they have taste good.. my expirence is just never having my order right and I HATE that
(3)Mallory M.
Overall, Geer Street Garden was amazing! The seating was a little tight...the porch is full of large picnic tables, so if you went as a date or in a small group you may likely be sitting with other people at the same table. Beer and drink list was better than average. Lots of local beers, which makes sense being right in Durham. For food we had "the pile" as an appetizer. Was mainly just a lot of unhealthy things combined (french fries, fried chicken, cheese, gravy), and honestly was a little bit of a let down. The burger, however, is amazing. Maybe the best in the triangle.
(5)Jill D.
In a word, Yum! The Ruben was amazing as was the pimento cheese. Tasty garlic aoli for dipping fries was also used (we suspect) for making the deviled eggs - again, Yum!
(5)j s.
They're just starting out and I'm rooting for them, but their food is mediocre and over-priced. I tried their ribs recently and it was really more of a stew than anything resembling ribs. The time before that I tried their burger and was also not impressed. Their drink selection is pretty good though, and I hope they improve their menu and/or lower their prices because the atmosphere is nice, the servers are sweethearts, and it is in a convenient location (for me). It would also be great if they started a brunch menu on weekends :)
(2)Holly W.
Great beer selection, excellent menu, reasonable prices, and rustic/chic atmosphere. I ordered the Gazpacho, which was phenomenal, and the fried fish tacos, also very tasty, as were the fresh pico de gallo, and pickled cabbage? or something. My parents were very satisfied with their Carolina BBQ sandwich and the Fried Chicken Arugula Salad. I'm gonna try to get my next date to take me back here!
(4)Alexia P.
Great Staff Great Atmosphere Great Location Need to work on the food items... Will definitely go back again :)
(3)Patrick M.
Good beverage selection. Food menu is ok but nothing mind blowing. Bench seating outdoors blows if it's just you and a date.
(3)Robert C.
Fantastic beer selection, awesome staff, great indoor and outdoor atmosphere. Everyone at our table love their food. Really enjoyed my first visit. Highly recommend.
(5)Tammy D.
Visiting Durham to take a continuing ed course as Duke this weekend and needed a some dinner and a beer. I'm staying at the Duke Tower, and this was one of the places that popped up close to it (I don't have a car). What a pleasant surprise! Very quaint and unexpected, super cool vibe inside and very laid back inside, yet still hip and unique. Local beers on tap, friendly and helpful staff, and pretty decent food. May be coming back tomorrow night too!
(4)Leigh F.
Pros: -Great food, seasonal menu -Love the patio! -Great service Cons: -Weak drinks
(4)Helena K.
Oh, baby, I'm in love! I recently visited twice in as many days: skived off work early one Friday afternoon to have a pint and a chat with our beloved Christina G., then dragged the ol' ball and chain, Al D., along for dinner and pints next night. The rain these last few days has been incessant. Luckily it cleared up enough for Christina and I to sit on the patio, although dark storm clouds hung heavy and low overhead and we sipped our respective Mother Earth Endless River Kolsch and Highland Gaelic Ale. This patio with its community-style seating is glorious, and definitely somewhere I could hang for hours on some warm summer evening. Saturday, Al and I weren't quite so lucky weather-wise and the most recent torrential downpour had us seated at the bar for dinner. Stools are fine for knocking back some pints with chums, but I don't know that I'd always want to sit there for dinner, particularly not if conversation (and comfort) were desirable. Next time I'm keeping my fingers crossed that a booth will be open. We arrived during the start of that golden hour of light, just as the sun begins to set. That beautiful light filters through the windows of the garage door and warms the brick walls. Just lovely. The bar transformed as we sat: the rain stopped, the garage door was open, letting in a lovely breeze, as the light from the setting sun grew richer with each passing moment. I enjoyed my Victory Hop Devil and Terrapin Rye Ale, but at $5 a pint with no specials that I saw, I don't see myself coming by here for more than a pint or two at a time. Mr. D. raved about his local, pasture-raised burger with fries. I thoroughly enjoyed the grilled pimento cheese with side salad of mixed greens, radishes, red onions, and carrots, all so fresh that I am pretty sure their supplier is Peter Rabbit, and *his* supplier being, of course, Mr. McGregor. I lurve me veggies, so I'd really like to see a few more veg options on the menu. A massive meat-free salad, and perhaps a house-made veggie burger. I really like the staff. The girl who took care of us on Friday was sweet as pie. The guys at the bar are chill, yet efficient, and clearly very talented mixers of drinks, as I watched them expertly prepare mojitos and martinis. Gosh, but the beer selection is so good, I don't know that I'll bother with the mixed drinks. But you should check them out, for sure. I feel very welcome here, which, for obvious reasons, is essential in creating a pleasant experience. Highly recommend!
(4)Hannah P.
Basically no vegan options, and no willingness to try and accommodate vegan diners. I went there during the summer and asked if they had anything vegan besides soup (not really a big fan of hot soup in mid-July), and the server actually recommended we find somewhere else to eat.
(1)Spencer H.
So this place opened while I was in India for two months and I have been DYING to go! Naturally its the first place i try when I return. Unfortunately for me I chose a Friday night, and its BUSY, but I don't mind because I like to see the restaurants in my area packed! We were seated on the patio as the weather had cooled to just right temperature to dine outside. The setup is so that a bunch of picnic tables are sort of mushed together in a way that if it is only two of you, chances are you will be meeting and dining with someone new. Which I was all for, until they moved me to accommodate a four top, and then that four top left, but then i was moved again to accommodate another four top, and then they left.. Now im starting to smell myself.. Do I stink or something? So you know me... OK maybe you don't, none the less I am a sucker for Fish Tacos, so now you know. What I didn't realize is that I would have to construct them myself! Which I don't know why but this kind of irritated me, maybe I was too hungry to play with my food, anyway. That aside the tacos were just OK I've had better, I've had worse. On the upside, the fries were delicious, and my wife had the reuben which was SO good it made me wanna slap my mama. I washed it down with a rocket science (oh how I've missed thee) and she had a terapin rye ale (mmmm mmm mmm!) To wrap it up, I will have to give it another try, and NOT order the fish tacos. I do like that their menu is small and full of tasty items. The atmosphere is great the beer selection is great, and the patio is dog friendly which I dig. I look forward to dining here again.
(3)Myke O.
Very good. I had a burger with a nice thick slice of cheddar cheese on top, not the whimpy thin slices that I've had with every other burger ever. The cheddar also had the perfect amount of sharpness to it. The atmosphere was cool too.. it looked like an old gas station but fixed up really nicely with a brick facade. We sat outside in January in the tented patio under the heat lamps to avoid waiting for a table inside.
(4)Arch S.
This really is the best place in Durham. Lunch, dinner, late night... I recommend the fried chicken, the banana pudding, anything with pimento cheese, etc. Their specials are usually spot-on and the burger is WAY better than most every burger in Durham. If you're looking for something light, their arugula salad with fried chicken will do it. Perfect place, perfect location, awesome service EVERY TIME... You can't beat it.
(5)Lauren P.
Do you like your meat? You will like Geer St. Oooh - that rhymed! I do like Geer St Garden, especially cause you can get a rare burger there. But be warned, they take that seriously. Mine was almost tartar status (but I'm not complaining!). Also brunch there on Sundays is pretty good. I don't know how new it is, but they do a buffet with french toast, grits, sausage, eggs, and BACON! And coffee. I didn't have the coffee because they also have beer. And a full bar. And well, that just trumps coffee some days. And as far as brunches go, it's the most well-priced/affordable outing. I might start making Geer St my Sunday brunching spot. Until it gets cold that is, because the outside is the best place to sit and eat. Inside the bar is pretty small. I'm actually curious what they'll do in the winter...I guess I'll just have to go back and find out!
(4)Ed C.
A friend and I visited Geer St. Garden last night after another friend mentioned it a couple of days ago. I'm going on record as a fan. First and foremost, I'm a fan because I've loved that building since I was a boy in 1960s when my family would "go to town" on a Friday night to get hot dogs at the King Sandwich Shop, or as my Mom still calls it, The Ballpark. I remember loving the half circle windows, and as I got older dreamed of living in an old service station such as Fletcher's Gulf--totally remodeled for fabulous living, of course. While the menu doesn't go on for pages and pages--something I think is good--I found it hard to choose just what I was going to have. In the end, I chose to be kinda good and had the Fried Chicken and Arugula Salad with water and their Sazerac cocktail--rye whiskey, absinthe, sugar and bitters--but I was definitely tempted by the burger, the fish tacos, the pimento cheese sandwich, and The Pile. My salad was substantial and tasty, perhaps not my all time favorite but one I would definitely do again. My friend had the Fried Chicken Plate and an Heirloom Tomato salad. The online menu says the plate comes with potato salad and coleslaw, but the in-house menu only mentions potato salad--and that's the way it arrived. The chicken was the same chicken as in my salad, crispy and delightful, but the potatoes in the potato salad were medium rare. While I like medium rare for a steak, I like my potatoes cooked well into the done or over done range. The Heirloom Tomato salad was the last one for the night as they were running low on the Heirloom Tomatoes, but the host offered it as a comp--with other tomatoes filling it out. Definitely a nice salad! The weather was awesome, so the bay doors were open, and it made even the inside seem like relaxing on a patio somewhere. The renovations have made the place gorgeous, and the crowd added to the beauty--definitely a great place to watch guys! I'll certainly be back!
(4)Tracey B.
I have had a regular lunch here before and enjoyed it, but the Sunday brunch is quite a rip off. I was in town for the Full Frame festival and hoping for a fun meal before movie watching. This was quite a disappointment. It's the south, grits need butter and salt and need to be creamy, these Sunday brunch grits were more like clumpy oatmeal, not great. The eggs were runny, bacon was in tiny bits all stuck together and I had to peel them apart to get anything resembling a slice of bacon. Quiche was ice cold, french toast limp and soggy, fried potatoes I could not even chew, hard and cold. There was jelly, but I saw no toast.... The fruit was most likely prepacked from the grocery and had no flavor at all. The coffee was really good. All of this for $11. A Sunday brunch for $11 should at least have one special item offered, and it would be great if the food were hot and tasty. There was also banana pudding next to green salad leaves, I guess this was supposed to be a salad, but it was just leaves, no veggies.... and banana pudding for breakfast? No thanks. On a positive note, the bartender and waitresses were all very friendly, the place is clean and attractive and has great potential. It just needs better food! The bloody marys looked amazing Overall..... meh
(1)Mark H.
Food is good but unfortunately we got the same bad waiter we had 9 months ago. Hostess sat us on end of a table next to kitchen door when there was a nice table available. I called after her but couldn't get her attention. I chased her half way through kitchen. Went around to front and mentioned that I had been trying to get her attention and she said " Oh I heard you but didn't realize it was you. Once we got the better table a young lady came up and took our drink order and appetizer order. 10 minutes later someone else came up and said "Did someone take your drink order?" I said " yes, did she leave?" He said no she is the hostess.She was just helping me out." Then he says" So what did you order from her?" We told him and then he said " so you ready to order?" I hesitated at his abruptness since I had asked for a taste of one of their beers. He took that to mean we weren't going to order entrees and asked if that was all we were having We said no and went ahead and ordered. The hosts came with my taste of beer and I told her my selection. Someone else delivered the appetizers. Someone else delivered the food and Maxie' sides were wrong. The other waiter fixed it for us. I really want to like this place but finding it hard. If we ever go back we will make sure to ask for anyone but the waiter who waited on us.
(2)Melanie Z.
I went to Geer St. Garden this week with my husband to celebrate our 1 year anniversary. We chose this place (we had never been before) because several people told us that it was their favorite place to eat in Durham. The positives: - We loved the decor. It is "shabby sheek," and really captures Durham's feeling of reinvented- ness. We loved the layers of scraped paint on the walls, the exposed wood, and the concrete floors. - The ambience: It was casual and fun, and in a very cool part of town. - The service: our waitress was attentive and very personable. We told the hostess that it was our anniversary, and after that several other staff members came up to us to wish us a happy anniversary. - Yay! The waitress took several items off of our bill (our dessert, beer refills, and some other things) because it was our anniversary! The negatives: - I thought the food was just ok (some great, some not so great). The spinach salad had too much soggy spinach leaves, and only a tiny smattering of goat cheese, almonds, and oranges. Not a good ratio. - The restaurant was out of MANY menu items: the corn soup (which I ordered originally), fish tacos, and many other things were not available. The waitress recited a long list of things they were out of before she took our orders. That's it! We will be coming again.
(3)Grace H.
Cool little spot. Outdoor patio is cool until the wood thorn from the bench was stuck in my ass the whole time. PROS: 1) Great selection of beer - Never had Durham beer, had the Nancy something, and it was definitely unique. Not flavorful but unique. Tasted like your good ole' blonde 2) Selection of food - I had "The Pile" and what a pile of junk that was. Some deep fried fries covered in a heavenly splurge of cheesy goodness with jalapeños and their side sauce of sweet chile was so bombdiggity. Was not a huge fan because I felt absolutely disgusting and bloated afterwards but what do you expect with deep cheesy fries. CONS: 1) Wasn't all that great food quality plus a bit pricey for the quality of food so in the end, it was A-OK
(3)Sarah C.
Amazing ambiance with an outdoor covered patio great for all seasons! Late night food menu is appreciated - one of the only places in Durham you can grab a bite past midnight. Both times, I've ordered their pimento cheese sandwich. The first time it was great, the second time a little greasy. Really good salad and really good house dressing. Also love the cocktails. Recommend this place more for the bar experience, with the food as an after thought. But, for bar food, it is good!
(4)Mickey B.
A lovely summer's day & Geer St. Garden was a great choice. The outdoor area is sweet. Roofed but open at the sides w/lots of ceiling fans and flowers it was a wonderful blend of inside/outside. Service was friendly and prompt. She had grilled pimento cheese & I the Rueben. Both sandwiches were great! The only negative being that they were too big to finish. We shared the fried green tomatoes which were 'just' very good, as were the fries. Super beer list. Salad fresh and tasty. And.... it is hard to quantify but this place just has a happy vibe about it. Everyone there seemed happy - none of the kids acted up - no one seemed unhappy with the food and there were smiles all around. Our first time but we'll be back. We went for lunch but it strikes me as a very nice place to get a little drunk at in the evening. I'll have to try that before summer is gone.
(4)Mark F.
I really just don't "get" this place. The food is pedestrian and dull and the menu never changes. The outside seating area is nice though. I guess this is a good place to come to drink rather than to eat.
(3)Paulina M.
The drinks here are amazing, the reason I only gave 3 stars is because there are just way better places in Durham to spend a good amount of money on food. I have been pretty disappointed every single time I have eaten at this restaurant even when I have been given recommendations. And even when I have had a good buzz on :/ and it's fairly expensive for the food being so mediocre! I do think this is an excellent place to grab a drink in the summer and sit outside!
(3)Hannah C.
I ordered a chicken gyro and my husband ordered chorizo tacos. Both were fabulous! Everything is so fresh here. We ate outside and it has a really cute atmosphere - feels like a family picnic. For dessert we had a chocolate brownie a la mode with a salty peanut caramel sauce. Loved the sauce. A great find in Durham!
(5)Kelly M.
My office is right around the corner from Geer St., so I often stop here for lunch. I LOVE this place. First off, it has a beautiful outdoor patio that is the perfect outdoor seating, especially on a gorgeous North Carolina fall day. It is covered and heated in the winter, so no worries if you are asked to sit outside on a cold winter's night. The beer selection here is fabulous, they have several craft beer options to choose from, and their food is amazing. I've had several items of the menu but a few favorites include: 1.) Pasture-raised burger- juicy and delicious! The burger was cooked to perfection! I asked for medium and it was the perfect shade of pink. Sometimes a restaurant's definition of medium is so rare, but Geer St. does it right. Comes with a side of delicious french fries! 2.) Grilled Pimento Cheese- I LOVE pimento cheese, and this is no exception. The sandwich is cheesy and delicious. I enjoyed this one with a generous helping of side salad to keep it at least a little healthy. 3.) Fried green tomatoes- these are actually a side, but please order them with your meal! They are so good!! I am so hungry after writing this review, I may have to head to Geer St. for lunch today!
(4)Dirk L.
The service here is atrocious. After sitting down at 7:30, it took the server until 8:15 to actually take our order. Then, after the extremely long wait, she forgot to put the order in for me and one other guest. The rest of our group had waited so long for their food that they ate without us two. The server made some excuse blaming the food runner and the kitchen as if it was an easy mistake and that we shouldn't be too concerned. When we got the food it was past 9:00 and it wasn't even very good! Watching friends gobble down food in front of you while you're starving is not very fun. To then finally get the food and have it not taste very good is even worse. Also, the food runner constantly had no idea where the heck he was going. He brought the wrong food to our table twice. This place is a mess and the food isn't even good. Durham has a ton of better options; go there and enjoy yourself ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE WITH A BIG GROUP!!
(1)Sara S.
Get the fried green tomatoes.
(4)Sungmin S.
Strangely enough I didn't know Geer St. existed until someone took me for dinner. I've been missing out!!! We sat outside in the patio because there were no seats inside, but the heater kept us warm throughout our dinner. After ordering I immediately regretted not getting the night's special (crab cake BLT) but that was alright since my Reuben was amazing - one of the best I've ever had. Also, do get the side of fried green tomatoes because I am still drooling as I write this review. My date ordered the special and enjoyed it very much as well. He also got the jalapeño hushpuppies which were good (but not as good as fried green tomatoes... Shhh). Food came out extremely fast despite the heavy crowd, service was superb... Looking forward to come back here to sit inside, and for some drinks at the bar!
(5)Sonya Z.
Infimint Cosmo was good if you like fruity, minty drinks. The Pile was a good appetizer to share. Grilled fish tacos could have been more flavorful, mostly just a plain fish flavor.
(3)Felecia L.
It's a really cool concept and like how people were enjoying themselves here along with their 4 legged friends but I didn't really have a nice visit. I do love the communal tables though my back would prefer something with a back but for a meal it's not a bad way to eat. It was garishly loud though that I just kind of checked out rather than talking to my bf. I couldn't hear the waiter, my partner but I could hear everyone Else's conversations. I usually get used to loud places and adjust but I never did accommodate and just concentrated on the food. The food was so-so. I got the Arugula, brie and avocado sandwich with a side salad and Dijon vinaigrette. The sandwich was pretty boring unless you like to break you teeth on a baguette. There weren't many vegetarian items to chose from unfortunately. I took the top of and ate it like a french bread pizza. The salad was pretty tasteless and the dressing was so light it didn't really add much at all. I also ordered the butternut squash soup with pumpkin seeds and that was decent. I didn't feel like this had much of a garden feel as the name implies. More like a picnic area in a rest area. The service was very good which is a saving grace. I wouldn't go back since there are so many places that have a friendly, fun vibe without the amount of noise. I think you could safely take rowdy kids here and no one would notice. I do feel bad for one little girl who was crying because it was so loud though. The dogs here were probably the best thing going for it.
(2)Joanne D.
brunch here sucks, go somewhere else
(1)Anthony G.
Durham has become the Epcot Center of the Triangle! This place is like a Food Truck sans truck. It was crowded on a Saturday night but what isn't these days in this over crowded place which used to be not overcrowded. They sat us on this long picnic table where we had to hear all about the date the people next to us were on. I had no idea that most of the tables were picnic tables and the sat us under a roof top heater that was burning my scalp so I had to duck and cover and chew and wanted to get out fast. The sandwich we had for $10-was good enough. It was avocado arugula and brie and came with fries. The host was very gracious and the waitress was very nice the guy who brought our food almost threw it at us and ran away. I think I may return on a weeknight I'm"m not sure yet since there are so many other places that now exist in Durham where there was only a Honey's and a Waffle House. The service was good and the sandwiches were good for the price I just didn't like the tables not being individual and the food was something one can get anywhere but I'm sire that on a weeknight this place is quiet and looks quite charming a lo we didn't spend money decorating and left the building peeling look. But enjoy the new Durham and come to this place even if it is just one time.
(2)David P.
Does your mom live in Ohio and is coming to visit you? Does she not know that you shop at vintage clothing stores and wear jeans 3 sizes too small? So you're like, oh crap I have to go Kohl's and buy an outfit so my mom thinks I'm still normal. If this sounds like you, and I am sure it does, then this restaurant would be a good balance restaurant that you could take your mother from Ohio to. You could wear your Kohls outfit but still be on the border of Hipsterville and sometimes see a bulldog on their outside seating. Get a good decent somewhat normal meal with just enough pretention to make you feel like you're still keeping to your values.
(5)Ashley W.
After gazing inquisitively at this establishment from Cocoa Cinnamon, my boyfriend and I decided to venture over for an impromptu lunch. We opted for an indoor booth, and were given menus fairly quick. For drinks, I ordered "The Durhamite" ($8) -- a blend of vodka, black tea, and lemonade. Perfect choice for a hot summer day. My boyfriend chose a Fullsteam Southern Lager ($5) to wash his grub down (a Durham staple). Food-wise, we adventurously started out with "The Pile", which we were delivered in 15 minutes. For $11, you get a HUGE platter of french fries, slathered in a melted cloud of cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, jalapeños, tiny slices of fried chicken, and served with a side of two mini-pitchers of gravy and two dippin' sauces. Our mouths dropped in astonishment at the size of this monstrosity. About halfway through plate completion, our Southern Veggie Plate was delivered, which also happened to be equally as enormous. For $14, you get a scoop of hoppin' john, collard greens, sweet potato hash, 3 fried green tomatoes, 3 jalapeño hushpuppies, sweet butter, and srirachanaise. The fried green tomatoes were a bit thicker than I anticipated and the breading was a bit thin. As for the jalapeño hushpuppies, they were the BEST I've EVER had. Moist, spicy, thick, and oozing with flavor. Due to our Pile-stuffed stomachs, we ended up leaving with 75% of the Veggie Plate in a to-go box. As for service, the waitress was just "okay." We got our food fairly quickly, but our waitress barely offered any enthusiasm. To our surprise, we witnessed them reluctantly deal with customers who came in after us: boredly greeting them from the booth behind us, while remaining seated and folding napkin/utensil arrangements. One couple requested to be seated inside and the waitress proceeded to let out an irritated groan -- and the male customer mocked her groan in response. Is this real life? Overall, I will definitely be back to consume the rest of their menu (weak service aside). Due to the fried chicken teaser in the "Pile" appetizer, I will be ordering the fried chicken plate, along with a side of jalepeño cheddar hushpuppies (sorry, not sharing!). As for "The Pile", get your arse over to Geer St. Garden, and order it right now. It is not a feat to be consumed by one person (2 for max fullness, 4 for a light snack).
(5)Frederick R.
Atmosphere is very welcoming. The bartenders are pretty knowledgeable. The patio seating is backyard style with picnic tables. The "Pile" is highly recommended and can generally feed two people. They reduced the size of the "Pile from humongous to large but, it's still worth it!
(4)Emma D.
- One of the best outdoor patios in Durham. Dog-friendly, and it's even heated in the wintertime! - Great drinks, especially the Durhamite (alcoholic Arnold Palmer) and the Whiskey Business (bourbon, ginger, lemon). - Delicious food. I love the Cobb salad
(5)Lauryn C.
First visit to Geer St. and I'm glad I stopped in. I'm sure this place has a pretty awesome night scene but I only had a chance to stop by for a quick lunch. I love the outdoor patio there are plenty of tables to spread out. The menu is pretty simple, sandwiches, salads, a few appetizers. I decided to order the cucumber, tomato, avocado sandwich with basil mayo and a side salad. I do love my blue cheese dressing and they definitely make there's in house it was very good. The sandwich was pretty big and tasty. I like the way they peeled and sliced the cucumbers the long way you don't see that all that often it made this already messy sandwich easier to bite into. I stopped in a little later in the afternoon, my servers changed but nobody really let me know. I was working so I was happy they gave me my space but I waited a while for someone to come by and check up on me and nobody came. I was happy to walk inside to grab my check but I'm not a fan of a restaurant changing servers with out letting you know. A simple hey I'm leaving do you want to cash out always works for me. Almost all the other guests on the patio were enjoying a frosty beer I'm sure that is really what this place is all about. I look forward to coming back and enjoying the night life so I can give an updated review.
(3)D C.
I want to like it, but they make it hard, like their burgers. The kitchen is irregular at best, communications are terrible (most of my orders over several years since they opened have been mangled), and service? On a recent visit, the waiter SAT DOWN at our table to take the order. Later, my companion's plate was whisked away while I was still eating, without bus person asking if it was ok (um no) or if anything else required (in fact his glass was empty and he wanted another beverage). It all adds up to bad management and inconsistent execution of a half-baked idea. I continue to return periodically. The baked half of the idea is great! Good part of 'inconsistent' works! above all: the hours and space (sometimes you need a picnic table), and general interest in local/sustainable ingredients sometimes outweigh other considerations. They have ingredients to be so much better. Instead they are disappointing.
(2)Lindsay H.
Great ambience and outdoor seating. However, the food is subpar and the service is standard. I would go again just to drink but not for dinner.
(3)Carla M.
I could have spent hours here on the patio drinking local beers and enjoying their spectacular garden. Didn't try the food but the beer was local, a perfect way to spend a leisurely afternoon drinking and chatting. Seriously loved it.
(4)Nigel W.
Great lunch in a lovely pine bench laden covered garden area. The wait staff were excellent! The food was awesome.
(4)Josh T.
Atmosphere is great, service very pleasant and attentive. I had the fried chicken -- sides were fine but the chicken had no seasoning. My friend had the ribs special, but it was nearly inedible. Meat was mealy, sauce was charred and burned. Disgusting.
(2)Katharine W.
After I posted about my negative incident the other night, the manager messaged me and apologized for the service my group and I had received. He said it was unacceptable. I really appreciated him apologizing, and told him I had never experienced poor service like this at Geer St. before, which was why I was so surprised. I will definitely be giving Geer St another try.
(3)Maurice Y.
My friend and I love trying different off the beaten path spots and Geer Street is a great find. I tried the Whiskey Business cocktail along with The Pile. I'm a big guy and the Pile was more food than I could ever think about eating at one time. Very good and tasty. Our waiter was really friendly and paid great attention to our needs. I will be back. We left very satisfied. She had the fried chicken and she raved about the flavor. She's a great cook so that's a big compliment.
(5)EJ G.
I've lived in Durham for about 6 years and only just started going to Geer Street Garden within the last year - WHAT WAS I WAITING FOR? Well, one of my good friends would always talk it up, and now I wish I would have checked it out sooner. Service has always been fast and friendly, the place has a really nice vibe - friendly and inviting, yet chill and laid back. The inside is nice to sit if you're looking for more of an intimate meal and conversation with another person, but the outside has a fun communal seating vibe as well and is nice in any season with heaters up to make sure everyone's comfy. They have a decent selection of local drafts, a good drink menu, and although their food menu is only front and back, they have a little bit of something to please everyone. I often like to head here after the gym to grab a bite with my sister or a friend, but also came here for my last birthday dinner and was thoroughly pleased with everything. Generally if I'm there with my sis, we split the Fried Chicken Arugula salad, along with The Pile. The Arugula is on point; not being too sour in flavor and is nice and fresh, along with hard boiled eggs, cheese, fried chicken tender pieces, and house made ranch dressing. The Pile isn't an every time sort of thing, but if you're feeling a little devious it's fun to hack at it with your dining partner. I believe it's fries, melted cheese, fried chicken tender pieces, and bacon. And also you have your choice of sauces and gravies to pour on the monstrosity. Geer Street Garden is in good walking distance to Motorco, Cocoa Cinnamon is across the street, and Full Steam isn't far off either. Parking can be iffy if you go at a busy time, because their front lot is microscopic and the gravel lot behind them is not so large either. Luckily there is overflow parking across the street and behind Cocoa Cinnamon. I love the food here, but I've only giving it a 4 star rating, because although it's definitely delish, it isn't something which I'd be asking for, for my last meal! ;-]
(4)Neechi M.
For the food alone I would probably give it 2 stars but because the patio area is pretty cool as is the interior decor/atmosphere and the bartenders were nice I added another star. We've come here a few times and I've never had any food that I would ever phone home about but the drinks are usually solid so I think it's best as a snacks and drinks type place as opposed to full-blown meal status. The Pile sounds like it should be perfection. In reality, it's a mixture of ingredients that are not made particularly well so when they come together it doesn't make anything nearly as magical as it sounds on paper. The Cobb Salad was probably the favorite thing I've had here. I can't remember much else of what I've had from the many occasions mostly because they've been mostly un-memorable. Like I said, service is good, drinks are good and it's easy to get seating for a large group so that's why we often end up here and it's definitely a good place to catch a few drinks and have some snacks.
(3)Amy B.
They had me at "covered patio with pretty lights", but the food was good too! I'm a vegetarian, so I ordered the tomato, cucumber, and avocado sandwich. It came with a choice of fries or a salad, and I went with the salad to balance out the other 99% of the time that I order fries at restaurants. The sandwich itself was tasty. My only complaint was that there was too much dressing on the salad, leaving it pretty soggy. But it's quite possible that I was extra-tough on the salad because I couldn't get over the fact that it wasn't French fries!
(4)Liz W.
I've been to Geer Street three times now, once for dinner, once for a late-night snack, and most recently for Sunday brunch. The building itself fits right into the whole hip, "find an abandoned structure and throw a restaurant in there" theme that this part of Durham has going on (and I mean that in the best possible way...I dig it). The thing with Durham is that there are a ton of awesome restaurants...like, ABNORMALLY good restaurants, and Geer Street is just average. The food isn't bad, but given the choice, there are other places I would pick first. For instance, their Sunday brunch is $11, and it's a buffet, which honestly seems like a baffling decision on their behalf. It's not terrible, but if I'm going to go out for brunch in Durham, a buffet is not going to cut it (no matter how awesome your ambiance is). With places like Dame's Chicken and Waffles and Nosh nearby, you've got to step up your game a bit. There's just too much good competition in the area to think you can put out some chafing dishes full of scrambled eggs and home fries and impress people. They're in a good location, and I especially love the screened-in outdoor seating area. I think with a few tweaks, Geer Street could really kill it, but they just aren't there yet in my opinion.
(3)Elizabeth K.
Geer Street Garden & I just don't get along. I finally came back for the infamous brunch after my not-so-pleasant experience a while back. There weren't many brunch items besides the typical breakfast foods you may be familiar with: scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, quiche, home fries, grits, french toast (cold), deviled eggs, some fruit, banana pudding. After just 1 small plate, and 10 minutes before brunch was supposed to end, they were taking the food back to the kitchen. My friend & I contemplated on whether or not we should say something or go ahead and order from their lunch menu (we had already paid for brunch). But I like my brunch so I mentioned it to the bartender, and she rectified it by bringing out a plate of food. French toast, a biscuit, scrambled eggs, a bit of sausage, and deviled eggs--all cold. I'm not a fan of half of these. She also went ahead and comped my brunch fee, which was very sweet of her. I really liked their bloody mary though, and I got to choose my own garnishes. But I don't think I'll come back to Geer Street Garden again.
(2)Martin B.
Very nice local place for Durhamites. The food was tasty and sort of Mexican oriented. Family and apparently Dog friendly!
(5)Warren N.
I've been to geer steet garden twice now and each time was enjoyable. Definitely go on a nice summer night where you can sit out on the patio. There is a lot of outdoor seating on picnic type tables with Christmas lights and lots of plants making for a cool atmosphere. Each time I have ordered the fish tacos, which are certainly tasty. They come in a make-it-yourself style, so the salsas and guacamole are in their own containers for you to put on top of your fish in the tortilla. This makes it a fun dining experience, and also allows customers to choose how much toppings they want on their tacos. Also try the house made sangria! It was amazing. It was made with cinnamon and almost tasted like wine with a cinnamon toast crunch aftertaste. What could be better? The service is great here and the waiters were super friendly. Overall, I went with a 3 rating because the menu is really small so your choices are very limited. Also, the food is nothing out of the ordinary that I would rush back. Come here for a fun dinner out with friends to sit on the patio and it will be worth it, but don't come with the expectations of having the most tasty food imaginable.
(3)Ellen C.
I came here for brunch with my C-LEAD team. How it works is that it's self-serve, buffet style, all you can eat. The food was a little cold even though I was the first people in line when the shop opened. For about $8, it's really not bad for an all you can eat brunch!
(3)Anton S.
This place is the BOMB! Located in downtown Durham, I would have to say Geer Street is on the rise! Menu is quite diverse, they offer a wide variety of appetizers and main courses. It's a lot of food, I usually go with TWO APPETIZERS. personal favorite on the menu is the fried chicken salad it's sensational. If your in Durham and want a bang for you buck, check this place out for sure!
(5)Tom J.
This is a great casual hangout for a beer, drink, and some good food in downtown Durham. The food is southern influenced, but new. Come here with friends on a nice night and sit at the tables outdoors. Perfect location ... close to all that's happening in town.
(5)Erika U.
The brunch buffet gets four stars! Since, I was here once before for dinner and found the food to be lackluster, I've rated Geer St at 3 stars. The back patio is great and they took our reservation for 8 people without a problem.
(3)Jim X.
Geer St. Garden is a winner. Fresh tastes, prompt service, and an inviting atmosphere all come together for a memorable experience. This is a great place to go on a date, maybe even a double as prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is casual and fun. Personally, I'd recommend the fish tacos. Grilled white fish lightly seasoned with fresh lime juice and herbs atop warm corn tortillas served with a side of homemade pico de gallo, cole slaw, and fresh sour cream. Absolutely delicious. Also, anything on the "specials" menu is bomb as well. Solid 4 stars.
(4)Gabe S.
Great outdoor atmosphere. Had the spinach salad and it was decent. Needs maybe apples or another fruit. The dressing needs to have seeds removed. The service is amazing. An all around team environment. The vegetable plate is great and is a good variety. The Mac and cheese is a little pricey for what you get. Pumpkin soup looks great but tastes average.
(4)N H.
Had really high hopes for this place after hearing good things from friends and reviews. Not sure I understand why everyone loves it so much...the patio smelled like sewage. I don't care how good someone's food is, if you feel like you're sitting next to an outhouse, it's not that enjoyable. We tried to give them the benefit of the doubt, thinking maybe Motorco was having a backup or something, but then we went over to Motorco for a beer and the bathrooms were fine.
(1)Jessica K.
Tasty, great service and location, can't ask for more. I had the Southern Veggie Plate, they give you plenty, so it was two meals for me, some of the best greens I've ever had. It was lunch on a beautiful day, I was seated, served and rung out in a nice flow.
(5)Jacob J.
Great location, feel and decor. Beer on tap fresh. And a good selection. Good rye days special, which was average, meaning disappointment for Durham. Hence only 4 stars.
(4)Mohamed N.
"Good but pricey and not exceptional for dinner" I'm reviewing this as a "restaurant" and not as a "bar", so please weigh accordingly. We came twice in a row-- once on a Friday night at 6pm and were told we couldn't get a table for 45 minutes. We came back Saturday at 5:30pm. I was a little surprised-- the temperature was in the 50's, yet they immediately seated us outside without asking if we were OK with that, and when we complained that it was chilly, they said there were no seats inside. I understand on the one hand, and we did just bear it outside, but it was a little presumptuous without asking us. That set the tone for the rest of dinner, too. Positives: + The taste of my main dish was excellent-- I really liked the 3 grilled fish tacos. They were prepared well and came with jalapeño, salsa, pico de gallo, sour cream, and guacamole (for an extra cost). No sides or accompaniments (e.g., beans), though-- just the three tacos. Two of us in the party had the tamales (chicken or veg)-- tasty on both counts. The last of us had the roasted vegetable sandwich, and she reported it was "good." + Speed. We got our food exceptionally fast-- within 10 minutes probably. This was good given the uncomfortable temperature outside. Negatives: - Price. My three fish tacos, with no side at all, was $14.50 before tax and tip. They were great, but not sure they were THAT great, and certainly not totally filling. The tamale plate came with a whopping TWO tamales and cost $11. We get tamales that are absolutely the same (very good) quality from a lady with a truck who's often parked on Lasalle Ave in the mornings for $1.25 each. Geer St Garden doesn't have a kids' menu (or really many options good for kids), so we asked if my son could have one tamale instead-- they accommodated... for $8! - Sides. Many dishes came with none. The tamales came with black beans, but they literally tasted like they were poured straight out of a can onto the plate. The sandwich came with a salad, but not an impressive one. - Service. Disclaimer-- the person we presume to be the manager was quite nice and checked on us a few times. Our waitress was not particularly warm, never checked on us at all, never refilled our drinks, etc. The host told us he'd let us know when a table opened up inside so we could move and warm up, but he never did, even though we saw people leave. - Cleanliness. Yeah, OK, it's partly a bar, so cleanliness may not be anticipated to be perfect, but our outside table was somewhat dirty, and the men's bathroom was not stocked. Synopsis: As a restaurant-- good main dish food, and fast, but very pricey for what we got, and not an excellent experience overall. 2-3 star border, but I can't really say "A-OK" on this, so I have to go with 2 stars. I would be willing to go back, but it would not be high on my list to do so.
(2)Sreejib S.
We went there for lunch while visiting Duke. The pub is located in an industrial neighborhood and looks it is in some sort of converted store. Most of the patrons were on their 20s and seemed to hanging out with their laptops and music even after they had finished their food. While the onerous is small, they have a big patio which for winter was covered and had strong heaters. Service was poor and food nothing memorable. The server forgot our appetizers and fast a long delay brought our mains out. When we complained,they got the appetizers and took it off the final bill. For mains, I had the Bratwurst sandwich, in which the mustard overwhelmed all other taste and flavors.
(2)Christina L.
Daily Special Sweet Corn Risotto Corn Cakes with a Roasted Fennel and Tomato Salad - Two beautiful risotto corn cakes, about the diameter of a typical coffee mug. Absolutely love the risotto corn cakes - 2 is not enough! Dense on the inside, perfectly crisp on the outside. Wish they are larger in size. Vegetables include large, fresh chunks of tomatoes, artichokes, and herbs. The size of the chunks overwhelms the dish a bit. The vegetables make up the majority of the plate, rather than the risotto corn cakes. Grilled Fish Tacos - Three tacos, includes coleslaw, salsa verde, pico de gallo, crema and lime for $13, added guacamole for an additional $1.50. Again, very fresh tomatoes used in the pico de gallo, mildly spicy. Salsa verde is quite spicy. Fish is just a sliver, but tasty. Seems like more of an appetizer than an entree, but that's just my opinion on tacos in general. Also, with so many dipping options and only 3 fish tacos, I felt conflicted. Daily Special - Chicken Fried Steak with Mushroom Gravy, Corn on the Cob, and Sweet Potato Hash - Includes corn on the cob (half), mushrooms in a creamy gravy, chopped carrots, and green onions. Chicken fried steak was nice and tender. This place is easy to miss. It's right on the corner, but it doesn't look impressive from the outside. There's a gravel parking lot adjacent to the restaurant, but it's small so might need to park on the street because it fills up quick. They have both indoor and outdoor seating available, but I came here when it was raining, so I sat indoors. I wasn't impressed at all by the interior because it appeared smaller and more hipster than I expected, but their colorful plating is much better than their venue presentation. I was mostly disappointed by the portions of the dishes, but the taste wasn't bad. It would be nice if the main item of each dish was better represented on the dish -- it should be the star of the dish, rather than shadowed over by the sides/vegetables. Staff is okay, though a couple of the staff seemed more concerned with chatting with each other than serving the needs of customers.
(3)John M.
OK. I was hungry. Plus I was eating by myself. But I just had a surprisingly great dinner here while sitting at the bar. The special was some crazy sounding smoked tomato ravioli. But wow! Very interesting, rich, and welcoming. I paired this with the hush puppies and a High Wire IPA. Outstanding! I have had several excellent meals here. I think they seem to shine with their veggie based dishes. Plus, of course, their varied and creative beer options. This is/was one of the last places to find Ponysaurus (out this time, but hopefully they can get more), and they seem to always have good local beers along with some stellar national winners on tap. Comfy place. I like the outside area, as others have said here. But the atmos sitting at the bar, with the garage door open and the sun setting over your left shoulder... I almost forgot about my day in my end-time reverie.
(4)Meredith D.
Thank goodness somewhere near Fullsteam Brewery is open to eat lunch on a Sunday. After awkwardly trying to park in their little lot, bf gave up and parked on the street, which worked just as well. We were lucky to get one of the last booths in the front as opposed to the bar or outside (wayy too loud and hot for that, respectively). The menu didn't thrill me, but we each found something delicious to try. My Cobb salad was the biggest mound of food I have ever seen. Had I know there would be that much cheese, I would have asked for it on the side. I was soooo jealous of bf's Fried Chicken salad. That chicken was cooked so well! Mine was good, but his was more flavorful, and I would get his next time instead. Our service wasn't the best. I think our server was busy and forgot about us serveral times. Bf had to ask the hostess for more coffee. Also, when we asked for boxes to-go and said no dessert, we hoped our server would bring the check at the same time. When she didn't, we couldn't find her for the longest time and we were very much ready to go. We had to ask the hostess and then another server to help us find her. By the time she brought it by, we were ready to jet. Overall, a fine place to go when there isn't anywhere else (aka Sundays). Edit: This was my 100th review! Woot!
(3)Sua Y.
the piles.. and Ruben sandwich... soo good... good price...
(4)Reese C.
I'm still in pain after eating here. ;) On a 'Durham Day", we popped in here and I fell in love. Tiny place indoors and very laid back; but the back patio is fantastic. It was too humid to sit outside though. The menu offers up delicious twists on typical Southern fare. Personally I opted for the Grilled Pimento Cheese Sandwich, but.... I added bacon to mine. Go big or go home. It was amazing. One can't get pimento cheese in the desert and I miss it. I opted to get the fries on the side with the wasabi mayo dipping sauce. Delish! WArning: these portions are enormous and I couldn't finish. I wish I had split with a friend who got the same. The hushpuppies were delicious and I'm not quite sure what they put in the butter, but damn. See where I'm going here... bacon, pimento cheese, fried dough dipped in butter. Good god , but so worth it. My friends are huge fans of "The Pile". Fries, fried chicken, bacon, gravy, oh hell I have no idea what was on that hot mess of a plate but it was divine. Lastly the beer selection was fantastic. Great selection of craft beers and only $5 a pint. sweet.
(4)Nathan C.
Great ambience. Tasty sauces with the fries.
(5)Matthew C.
For crying out loud, please change the menu. You've had pretty much the same menu since you opened a couple years ago and frankly, it's getting old. I want to come back, but I can't justify having the same old items I've had time and again. Every time I check out the website, I hope for a revised menu. Sadly, it's the same one every...single...time. Get inspired and add some new stuff.
(2)Lacie B.
Food and atmosphere were great. Cozy lighting on the patio made for a perfect date night. Service was a little slow We had the fries with srirachanaise and hot chili sauce. I had grilled pimento cheese and my boyfriend had the eggplant parm. Food was tasty and portions were perfect.
(4)Lauren H.
This place was overall pretty okay to me. I came here for a family member's birthday. I am not in any rush to go back. Our party of 8 got to Geer Street at 6 and were told we could take their biggest table as long as we were finished by the time they had another reservation, 7:30. This was not a problem for us as we planned to just eat dinner. Considering this, I expected quick service but service was really slow. There were not many people in the place but it still took a long time for the server to take our orders and at the end of the meal to bring the check. We finally got the checks and were able to leave just as the other party was standing by waiting for their table. I ordered the tamale plate with chicken. Two tamales were served over black beans. They were pretty good but not outstanding. My husband ordered the Cobb salad which was good. A lot of members of our party got burgers which I was told were good. I did like their selection of beers including a lot of local ones. The outdoor seating area looked very nice but unfortunately it was raining on the night we were here. Overall not a bad spot but service does have room for improvement.
(3)Tori H.
This is a nice place to eat lunch or go with a group. I was impressed at how quickly we received our food when there were a lot of people that arrived all at once. I loved the outdoor seating. It's just really relaxed. I can imagine it being a hot place to eat in the summer time though..especially if you aren't in the shade! I had the burger and it was aight. The deviled eggs were good but not as good as my homemade ones ;-) I would really give this place 3 1/2 stars. Server was really nice and had great vibes...but I think they had a lot of people to attend to.... so it took a long time to get refills, etc. I would def return but not sure if I'd put it in my lunch rotation..maybe though!
(3)Katie R.
The pile is great greasy food for drunk people. Their cheese sauce is great. Imagine everything you order to be $1 more than you want to pay and a bit less delicious than you expect. Limited selection. But a good place to sit outside and late night.
(3)Kate Y.
We sat outside on the patio and enjoyed the garden view and the quiet fans. I had a great avocado, cucmber, tomato sandwich with basil mayo and side salad. My husband's pimento cheese sandwich was warm and savory, and my daughter enjoyed the burger. The service was prompt and the food was delicious.
(4)Amanda S.
this is by far one of my most favorite restaurants! everything from their fries to their tamales are incredible. the staff are nice and the family style tables make a wonderful atmosphere. you can sit inside the restaurant, the inside/outdoor porch, or they even have a few tables outside that we sat at next to flowers. it truly is such an inviting place to be and you can't help but to have really great prices to go with the tremendously delicious food! i would absolutely recommend anyone to come by Geer St. Garden -- you won't be disappointed!
(5)Dale H.
Well, we finally made it back for another lunch. This time we got there before 12 and grabbed a seat inside near the front door. We started with an appetizer of fried green tomatoes and they were great. They were crispy and just a little bit tart, the way I like'em. I had the crab cakes. They were delicious. The side of spring potato salad didn't do much for me (it was served way too cold) and the asparagus was just "OK". Next time I might just get a couple of orders of the fried green tomatoes and the crab cakes without the sides. That would've been just right. My friend ordered the fried fish tacos without the taco part - he's one of those fussy "no carb" people - and said that they were delicious. He also enjoyed the variety of sauces and slaw that came with it. The service was a bit slow because right after we got there they started filling up really fast. It wasn't a big deal for us because we enjoyed the atmosphere and had some time to talk. The manager (?) checked on us after a bit and got the kitchen to jump on our order. Overall, the service was great. It was also nice that they were playing The Beatles the entire time we were there! I'm a solid fan. I'll be back.
(4)Nina B.
Ambiance is dim and cozy with a rustic feel. The staff were attentive and pleasant. While the food is decent, I felt that it was extremely overpriced for the quantity and quality. I had the grilled fish tacos, and they really didn't seem special enough to justify the $14 price tag for three tacos -- they weren't anything out of the ordinary, and it was an additional $1.50 for a small sauce cup of guacamole. I likely won't return because equally good or better food can be had in Durham for a lower price.
(2)Kuanyu C.
I now gain a newfound favorite in Geer St. Garden--Sunday Brunch Buffet. Thanks to all the yelpers that showed up today, we descended on GSG buffet line and attacked like hungry wolves... well, at least Romin and myself did; other folks are more civil, and some even put greens on the plate. I'll have to say with bacon potato hash, with side of crispy bacon strips, and French toast, biscuit&gravy, deviled eggs, and spinach quiche, the brunch buffet has everything fatty and starch-filled to cure a hangover, particularly stemmed from a rather strong fig old-fashioned the night before. Buffet come with water and coffee, but can you really have brunch without mimosa or Bloody Mary? I think not. Good thing is, Geer St. Garden has a Bloody Mary self-serve bar; you can put anything you want in your glass, I liked mine with green and black olives and pickled okra (no green beans so okra will have to do.)
(5)Yaw O.
I didnt particularly love the food. everything was meh. another reviewer said it right its a food truck without the truck. id add without the tasty food. on the bright side the hours are great.
(2)Romin B.
Hooray for a UYE brunch buffet! It's always exciting to try a new buffet and Geer St. did not let me down. From the biscuits and gravy to the bacon hash and the hand-made sausage patties, I enjoyed just about everything on my plate. It's not a gigantic selection, but it's got enough of your classic breakfast items, including french toast, grits, eggs, bacon and quiche. I remember seeing someone make their own sausage biscuit, and having already cleaned about 4 plates, I cursed myself for not thinking of that before. $11 covers the buffet and includes coffee, sweet tea, and/or soda, which is a pretty solid deal. For dessert I finished things up with some banana pudding and plenty of fresh fruit, also part of the buffet. I really don't have any complaints. There wasn't anything too imaginative or particularly mind blowing, which is the main thing putting it short of 5 stars for me, but Geer St. Garden has discovered the cure for the hangover and it's on display every Sunday on their brunch buffet.
(4)Jacob R.
It's a very unique restaurant. It's very cozy inside & the back patio is fantastic. I have really enjoyed their take on southern classics & the beer selection is right up my alley. After checking it out several times and trying almost everything on the menu, I'd advice that you STAY AWAY from anything they fry. The potential is there, but everything has always come WAAAAAY over fried. The fish tacos (better grilled) are superb when you include the salsa verde, slaw, & crema. The hushpuppies were almost black, thank God for the jalapeños in them to restore flavor. The fried chicken lacked flavor all together, on top of being over fried, but when drench w/ mashed potatoes & gravy, is palatable. I continue to visit because of the drinks & atmosphere.
(3)Laurie V.
Whiskey Business - Habanero Bourbon, Ginger & Lemon Juice Frisco - Bourbon, B & B, Muddled Lemon & Bitters I had the first one, my friend had the latter. We enjoyed them immensely! The food is really yummy too. They had a special that night- Oxtail soup, so I opted for that. I was not disappointed a bit! Very tasty, rich and delicious. This restaurant is in the "misunderstood" part of Durham, near the old Durham Athletic Stadium. It is, however, close to Fullsteam Brewery, so we were able to walk right over there after dinner. I usually find these spots that are off-the-beaten-path, but I had not stumbled upon this gem until the other night. I am not sure how I missed it! If you are fortunate enough to stumble upon it, give it a go!
(4)Nancy A.
Excellent place to stop for a casual yet delicious meal. Menu items were creative and beautifully prepared using fresh, local ingredients. Sat on the patio under a tent, enjoying our meal and some wine. Great casual atmosphere for groups, couples and families. Will definitely be back!
(4)Alice W.
Love this place. When it's nice out, the outdoor seating is casual but nice w/ pretty lights all around. Love the fish tacos, arugula salad, the "pile" and the key lime pie. Portions are big and filling. Be ready for a long wait Friday nights and brunch time.
(4)Michael S.
Not so great; seems to have lost it's edge...cool atmosphere doesn't really make up for so-so food, dirty utensils/plates and mediocre service...too many better options in Durham
(2)Dave P.
I enjoy beer so was excited at the thought of a beer garden in Durham but the use of the term "beer garden" is extremely loose here. It's a small patio (good luck getting a seat...one hour wait on a random Tuesday evening) where you can drink beer. I think TGI Fridays has the same. Maybe chubbys tacos? I think Durham just needs more restaurants/bars with al fresco options because that's the only reason I can think of coming back here. Don't expect a nice beer list either, or even a good amount of average beer. I think there were 10 beers I saw and the only local beers were the boring standards you see everywhere else, probably even the local TGI Fridays. Had the only sandwich on the menu which sounded risky but still wanted it because everything else seemed fried. The sandwich had brie, arugula and bacon. They should consider taking it off the menu. Wife had the enchilada (maybe tamale?) and while it had a decent flavor it was small and standard for a tamale. What did it come with? Basically warm black beans straight out the can with no seasoning. Major let down. 1.5 stars. Step it up, Durham.
(1)N. W.
Cold beer, good food, warm outdoor patio, and reasonable prices. Highly recommended for a casual night out.
(3)Jenny M.
As usual, I must preface this with the note that I am not a foodie and am, in fact, extremely picky and obnoxiously awful when it comes to eating out. Everything must be plain. I hate flavors and sauces and condiments! Aaaaaaah. Anyway, I had my first Geer St. experience recently for a late lunch with some friends I hadn't seen in a while. We were seated outside and shared a picnic table with others but you couldn't hardly notice you're sitting near strangers. The only problem I had was the ability to slide into my seat without flashing everyone (whoops short dress alert!). Service was slow, but even at 2pm it was still pretty busy. However, our drink orders and food orders were completely correct and that is something to applaud. I was disappointed in my fries: way overcooked. But I'm just being picky because I'm generally picky anyway. We ended up sitting there for a few hours, drinking and socializing. The atmosphere is very conducive to this, and time suddenly flew by and it was almost 5pm. I'm a fan of any place where you can settle in and have great conversation for hours without feeling like you have to relocate someplace else. This place nailed it.
(4)Kenny P.
Just ate at Geer St on Memorial Day. My friend, Melissa and I shared the arugula salad with fried chicken and the Reuben sandwich. Everything was delicious and the staff was very courteous and attentive. We sat outside on the patio and when it started to get a little too hot, our server gladly let us move to a shadier spot! On another occasion, though, I had ordered the chicken wings and was disappointed at how saucy they were. Tasty though!
(4)Naomi K.
Gotta hit up this place while the weather is still good. The warm weather is great for outdoor dining just for a little while longer. Get the daily soup special or something else thats filling. A Good selection of beers and cocktails to chose from. Convenient to the local business- hot coffee, a good play, a fresh brew or some dance spots.
(4)Emma A.
Great space! Wish I was able to get outdoor seating, because it was a beautiful day. Unfortunately everything was taken. However, I was not disappointed by the decor of the inside. Rustic and hip, with a variety of texture and architectural styles in the store, it's really a place where you can get comfortable. I has the tomato gazpacho, and I didn't like it. Sadly. I wanted so much to like it, but it had too much olive oil. Fortunately, I was with a group and samples plenty of other foods. I had the cheesy jalepeno hushpuppies, great idea, but not enough jalepeno! A little on the dry side, but hey, they were still good. I did love the vegetable dish, I can't remember the name, but it had lima beans and a bunch of other things, sooo flavorful. Also, the fries with the curry mayo was different and delicious. I'll return and try other things, maybe next time they'll wow me.
(3)Mark W.
Geer street garden is a great discovery on the Duke street side of town, with exceptional service and good food and drinks. The interior is a little on the small side and fills up quickly, but they do have a fairly large covered outdoor section with picnic tables and heat lamps as well. This is one of my favorite aspects of the place because they welcome dogs in this section, and our waitress even brought out a water bowl for the dog we were taking care of. As far as the food goes, the sauces are definitely my highlight, whether you get them with an order of french fries or "The Pile". I highly recommend the Srirachanaise, even if you're not into mayonnaise based sauces. All of the sauces are worth trying, so I would also recommend coming with a big group and ordering a couple piles and fries to snack on with your drinks. The sandwich items are also excellent , although the portion size on the veggie baguette is a little small. I haven't been hugely impressed with the non-sandwich entree items that I've tried, and I think that may be their biggest weakness since these also tend to be more expensive. The deviled eggs aren't as good as Parker & Otis, and I wouldn't really recommend them as an appetizer over the fries, but it's nice that you can order something different. As with any restaurant, the service varies by who you get as your server and how busy they are, but I've always come away with a positive service experience over the last few months. The food is better than I would have expected from a pub style restaurant, but there is definitely a lot of competition in Durham. I expect Geer street garden to enter into my list of regulars, and I would definitely recommend it for casual dinner or drinks.
(4)Liana L.
I've only been to Geer St. Garden twice, but I've had overwhelmingly positive experiences both times. I always try to make it back here when I'm in Durham. The first time I came here, I got the deviled eggs to share with Sharon P. and Marquise E. (The food was mainly just for Sharon and me; Marquise wasn't very hungry. So don't think of ordering just an appetizer and an entrée for 3 people - the portions are big, but not that big). I greatly enjoyed deviled eggs, but I generally never order them because they're pretty easy to make at home. So ... they were good, but that's just my personal preference. The special, which were 2 black-eyed pea cakes on a bed of salad, was phenomenal. Really delicious, well-crafted, and did not make me feel like I was missing meat at all. That's my thumbs-up for a great vegetarian dish. The second time I came here, I split the infamous Pile with Greg H. and Ting-Ting Z. We totally underestimated how enormous it would be. We got the garlic aioli and the srirachanaise, both of which were amaaazing. I hadn't realized that it also came with the cheddar sauce and the cheese with gravy (duh, says so on the menu), but it felt obscene to be eating such a ridiculous mound of fried foods with such droolworthy sauces. I don't regret it - such perfectly fried, crispy chicken, generous portions of fries (mostly fries, I think), and bacon sprinkled throughout ... oh gosh I'm hungry. :( Because we hadn't anticipated the portions, Ting-Ting and I also split the crab cakes. They were definitely better than most crab cakes I've had (with the exception of Yuca Bar's in NYC), but I think I must resign myself to the fact that I am not a huge fan of crab cakes. Really good nonetheless, but I think I would opt for the pimento cheese with salad next time. After all, how can I not get the pile again? And I'd need to balance that out with some healthy goodies. I sat indoors the first time (Durham heat, sigh) and outside the second time; Geer St. Garden just has this great vibe for hanging out and lingering. The service is attentive without being overbearing and it's just very comfortable to sit and talk. My friends got beers both times, and they enjoyed them. I've never been here as a bar, but I can imagine that it'd be great for that, too.
(5)David W.
This is such a good option for a good casual meal and some good drinks while catching up. I love the salami and cheese board and it always is a nice way to start out an extended dining and drinking session with plenty of time to chat. The service here is truly excellent! I appreciate that the menu is simple. I often feel overwhelmed with overly extensive menus. There are delicious cocktails, a solid wine selection, craft brews, and PBR, so everyone should be able to get what they want. I can't get enough of the Whiskey Business which is a very spicy whiskey and ginger cocktail made with habanero bourbon and fresh ginger. It was perfect on cold winter days, but continued to be awesome as the weather warmed up! I've found this a great place to meet friends to grab a bite before going out drinking as well as a perfect option to bring my parents when they visit.
(5)Antonia M.
I really adore Geer Street Garden. From the worn brick exterior, to the fabulous picnic table-laden patio, to the incredible food, and last - but not least - the wonderful drinks, it's a lovely place to hang out in downtown Durham. Until yesterday, I'd been for lunch and for dinner, but had never had their brunch. And I was definitely missing out. So...the best parts about this place: -very cool (but small) interior space - converted garage area, with exposed brick and neat windows -one of the best patio areas around -awesome wait staff - slightly eclectic, and small community friendly -despite the quite-small menu, I've enjoyed everything I've eaten here -drinks (try the Ginger Rogers) I haven't yet tried The Pile. But it's on my list. As for brunch - it's served buffet-style. And there are plenty of choices - your quintessential breakfast foods, with a Geer Street flair. Nothing was mind-blowing, but the set up and the atmosphere is going to make this one of my new favorite brunch spots in town.
(4)Kristen K.
Met a friend for dinner and immediately loved the place. The location is great and easily found a place to park. The picnic tables were great and really made you feel at home. Great selection of beers and were cold when brought out. The burgers were great and the service was excellent. Will definitely be returning here.
(4)Lindsay S.
This. In the balmy months, just about nothing else will do. Wear a summer dress, order a great local beer (or sazerac, which I have it on good authority is delicious), refuse to sit anywhere but the unbelievable patio, and just marinate as the sun goes down. This is the best outside seating in town, hands down. Picnic-style seating means you'll end up sitting with folks you don't know, but you might make some great new friends! The building blocks the setting sun, so you never have so squint while talking to your dinner partner. And, oh, the LOCATION. After dinner, walk over to Fullsteam for more drinking, or to Motorco for a show. It can't be beat. The menu is small but never disappoints. The specials are seasonal and local, and usually offer veggie options. Last time, I tried a fresh pasta in a butter sauce with grilled asparagus and chanterelles. Delicious. They also have a lovely grilled veggie sandwich. I usually tend to go on weeknights or fairly early on weekends, so as to avoid the crowds. Because it's such a small place, the waits can get fairly long, especially on beautiful evenings. But it's worth it, really.
(5)Kristina A.
Come hungry. Even though they have plenty of lighter options, I find it impossible to ignore items like pimento grilled cheese sandwiches, the pile (you must share it with at least three other people or risk immediate food coma), and so on. I love what they did with a formerly boarded up building. The outdoor seating (recently expanded!) and the general ambiance of the place is great and reminds me of home (Portland, OR). I like that the menu is short and sweet -- no frills. Drinks are solid. The absolute best part about this place has actually been the staff. Everyone is always friendly, but not fake. Recently, when my husband and I brought his mother here for dinner (she was visiting from out of town), our server was INSANELY patient and humored all of her quirky questions and commentary. If it wouldn't have been weird, I would have hugged him. Please stay wonderful.
(5)Anthony M.
Now that I live in this area I figured I needed to make sure I reviewed this place so I came again to grab a quick dinner. The experience solidified my opinion of the place. I like hanging out there, the food isn't bad but not at all exceptional enough to be worth what you pay. I've gotten the southern vegetable platter before which is a mix of inexpensive options like collard greens, pinto beans and hush puppies that I enjoyed but they have the audacity to charge 14 dollars for. Yesterday I had the burger with a side salad and for a enjoyable moderately sized burger with simple toppings and no cheese the meal was still 11. I enjoy having a beer in their beer garden and I like the vibe of the place I'm general but I can't honestly recommend it as a place to go for dinner. Stick with a beer and maybe an appetizer of fries with their nice array of dipping sauces.
(3)Tracy D.
My daughter and I had a late lunch there; she had the reuben with fried, and I had the fried chicken with mash potatoes and gravy, and collards. The food was good but the sangria was awesome! I will definitely return for several more glasses!
(4)Mike O.
This place is pretty sweet. Nice booze list and menu. It was a cold spring evening when I visited here, and the inside was packed. We sat on the picnic tables in the back, which I imagine are awesome when the weather is nice. But it was so cold! They do have heaters, which is good, but they are so strong even when turned to low that your cheeks feel sunburnt while your legs feel frostbit. The service here was middling, but it probably didn't help that my company and I made mediocre jokes. Heads up, if you sit outside, you'll be packed in much like you would in busy, urban restaurants. If you're not used to that, it feels like you have no privacy. I would definitely come back here though.
(4)Debra N.
Love the atmosphere but the food was average, sadly. Great drink selection and outdoor seating so I really wanted the food to be stellar. Had the grilled fish tacos, which were good, but I'm a CA fish taco snob. The other folks at the table thought food was OK.
(3)Andrea P.
Brunch here the other day; the four of us scored a cute little corner of the restaurant, where we proceeded to sample most of the menu. The Sriracha-naise was a big hit with the group, as was the Reuben sandwich (!! - having passed the "I just ate one of you last week in Brooklyn" test), the vegetable stew, and the fried green tomatoes--the most succulent I'd ever eaten! The beer menu was lacking if you're a fan of dark/stout beers, as I am, but there's Motorco, Fullsteam, et al nearby if you still need to be satisfied. This place is another cute Durham spot, for sure, though I think it combines a whole lot of local elements that are good without necessarily creating anything new.
(3)E S.
We like Geer Street quite a bit. It is close to us. It's a nice spot in a converted gas station. The staff are great. We enjoy Wednesdays with $3.50 drafts. But all the food is just okay. We've had all the salads, the deviled eggs, the fish tacos, the burger, the pile, the corned beef sandwich, the tamales, the pimento cheese, the key lime pie, the ice cream sandwich. The best thing I've eaten there was a sweet potato nacho / tostada dish, which is no longer offered. I wish the menu were more inspired.
(3)Erica S.
Absolutely Fabulous! I had the fried chicken plate with collard greens and sweet potato hash and my friend had the "pile". The food is great! My friend had the Whiskey Business drink...very good and different. I will be back.
(5)Andrew D.
If you happen to find yourself in this peculiar situation -- ...you went to Motorco/Fullsteam thinking there was going to be a world of food trucks, but it turned out all that was there was those dumplings, and you drank a few beers and now you're hungry as hell... -- then "The Pile", which is like nachos with french fries for chips, is really going to hit the spot. Also, as Barbara Bush once said, "There's no such thing as a bad Deviled Egg".
(4)Alejandro B.
I'm not sure if I was approaching this place as a restaurant when I should have just regarded it as a bar that sells food. It was packed when I went, we were waiting for about 30 minutes which was fine, we were told so at the entrance. We're finally seated and order. Their special for the day, gnocchi with apples, pecans and gorgonzola in a béchamel sauce sounds delicious and I order that with a side of fried green tomatoes. I've had better fried green tomatoes at a stand at the State Fair. Don't get me wrong, they were good and tangy and had a kick to them, but they were not all that crispy. When the entrees came out I received the wrong one (fish tacos) and thus had to wait a bit more for my food. The gnocchi itself was good, but there was no strong flavor present: no garlic, no black pepper, no herbs. It was a rather bland dish, very uninspiring and a bit expensive for what it was ($12). It had strong potential but I honestly should have gone with the burger. It was a busy night and our waitress apologized, and I was not charged for my side, which was a good move on their part. If I come back, it would be just for drinks because the food leaves lot to be desired.
(2)C M.
This place has potential, but fails in execution. I ate the cucumber-avocado sandwich and the burger. The sandwich was too much cucumber and not enough avocado. Avocado, in my opinion, adds the flavor. Cukes are just a cooling addition. I also ordered bacon and they either forgot to add it or just provided so little bacon I couldnt taste. The burger, otoh, tasted good. And it is local and pasture-raised. Two thumbs up to that. They have a nice outdoor-dining experience. But I felt like they were trying too hard to be something else somewhere else (Portland, Berkeley, etc.) Plus this isht ain't cheap.
(3)Double D.
A group of friends and I went to GSG the other night and I can say that I mostly likely wont be back for dinner anytime soon. The salad I received for $4.00 dollars was basically a pile of extremely under dressed lettuce with 2 lug nuts that I think were carrots. The pimento cheese was not as creamy as I like and the toast points were basically stale toasted bread piled on the plate haphazardly. My other friends ordered wings (didn't hear any complaints), The Pile (It was about 90% fries and 10% fried chicken, jalapenos and cheese) and deviled eggs (I was told that the eggs did not taste fresh and weren't that good.) The service was friendly and efficient and the waitress was nice enough to comp my salad after I told her how sad it was. Like another friend of mine said in another review, "I really wanted to love this place, but it falls short in a lot of ways."
(2)Sarah P.
Favorite place to have a couple beers and some delicious food in Durham on the weekends. Fantastic beer patio (HEATED in the winter!) and really superb food. Small menu means each dish is absolutely perfect every time it comes out.
(5)Greg S.
As a recent resident in Durham that moved over from Raleigh, we have had a good time trying new places in the area. There are great fancier restaurants and good local values as well. However, Geer St Garden is probably my favorite standby restaurant where I know it will be a good atmosphere with great food and beverage selections at a decent value. I highly recommend the porch when it's nice out, and it is worth the wait. With Fullsteam brewery and Motorco around the corner, you can put your name down and walk around to see everything. The wait staff has been generally down to earth and attentive, you can tell they enjoy the food and area just as much. Food-wise, my favorite is the burger with pimento cheese and a fried egg, but the nightly specials are usually great as well.
(4)Alisa M.
We have twice returned, each time missing dinner but spooning up dessert: banana pudding, key lime pie, and the chocolate brownie a la mode. Some of the neighboring beer gardens missed the mark for winter and had us turning on our heels to a cold and empty warehouse feel; Geer St. Garden made sure to keep things inviting with a warm ambiance serving great food and drinks year-round!
(5)Raymond O.
Only in downtown Durham can an old service station be transformed into a Garden. Great atmosphere for hanging out, (especially on the patio when the weather is right) and the staff is pretty friendly (I've never had any particular issues with service). I like their eclectic menu but as others have said not everything is a home run. My recommendations are the Reuben and "The Pile", although after consuming the two, I would feel compelled to cross the road to Crossfit and drop 100 burpees as penance - maybe 200. One of the few places I know with Dale's Pale Ale on draught (Oskar Blues now brews in Brevard!) and they have a pretty solid beer and drink selection. I do find it a little ironic that they serve Fullsteam beer when you could walk over to the brewery itself but I can appreciate the local solidarity. Their Sunday brunch is pretty good too.
(4)Crystal E.
Brought my parents here when they were visiting from PA. Dad agrees: best. Reuben. ever. They also let you get a side salad AND split the entree FOR NO EXTRA CHARGE. I repeat: FOR NO EXTRA CHARGE. Such good service. Also: dog friendly = yay.
(5)K. M.
My husband and I love Geer Street for the inviting atmosphere and the great service. I used to get the Whiskey Business regularly, which is a spicy ginger cocktail. They've taken it off the menu, but there are some innovative, tasty new drinks that are equally as refreshing! The burger is not my absolute favorite but it is dependably good. And most of the time the fried chicken really hits the spot! Oh, and we love that we can bring our dogs to the patio!
(4)Grace B.
I had the opportunity to check this place out a few weeks ago. My friends and I walked over after grabbing a beer at Fullsteam. There was ample seating outside, several picnic tables were joined together for community style seating but there were smaller tables as well. The bar was very cool, I loved the atmosphere - casual and quaint. They had the old garage doors up, it was a perfect night outside and the cool breeze felt nice. They have a great selection of local beers on tap, which always wins points with me. The service was superb! I ordered the Reuben and a salad, both were quite tasty. I'll definitely visit again, it's great for grabbing drinks with friends or having dinner with your significant other.
(5)Kat M.
I went to Geer St after it had only been open a couple of days and didn't want to review it without giving it a chance to really get on its feet. Now that it's been open a couple of months, I feel fine giving it a three star review. I love its proximity to Fullsteam and MotorCo. I love the communal seating in the big patio, which makes it great for bringing all your friends. I like how they have lots of food and dessert options so you can just stay here all night. I have had really wonderful servers who didn't skimp on my diet coke refills (I know, that is the least of everybody else's worries but I think it's a good indicator of if your server is paying attention to your table). As far as the food goes: I would order both "the Pile" and the deviled eggs again. I have ordered the seasonal veggie stew with the polenta and the fish tacos. Both were pretty bland and made me sad that I hadn't just ordered more fries. My vegetarian friend was unimpressed with the cucumber and avocado sandwich. Not enough cheese and she didn't get a bacon add-on( bc she's a vegetarian). The brat and the reuben got two thumbs up from the meat eaters. The burgers down the table looked really delicious if you eat red meat. We also got the brownie with vanilla ice cream and salty caramel sauce. That was the dessert our server recommended and I thought it was pretty delicious. I would order it again if that says anything. I will keep coming back to Geer St. It's right by my house, and I really prefer to eat food with my beers so it's my kind of place. I will also keep my fingers crossed that they improve the vegetarian dishes so I don't just eat the Pile again and again.
(3)Katie T.
Since I had missed the opportunity to visit Geer Street before leaving out of town, I opted to celebrate my birthday here as my boyfriend had patiently waited until my return to venture to this much-anticipated new Durham delight. We were worried it might be too warm outside but took the risk anyway, and it paid off tremendously. The patio was comfortable and some of the other concerns voiced in other reviews didn't have the same effect on us. We had excellent conversation; the service was quick and friendly. After scoping out the beer list, we opted for a Mother Earth Endless River and Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA (both great, and our server allowed me to try the Mother Earth prior to ordering, which again was quick). The patio was full when we arrived a little after 6pm. The tables were comfortable and quite large; we did not end up having anyone else sit at our table, but we saw others get seated by other parties, and no one seemed to mind. Most important part: the food, of course! I ordered the fish tacos (which our server indicated was a good choice) and my boyfriend ordered the burger with bacon and pimento cheese. Our server did not ask him how he would like his burger prepared, as other reviewers have also indicated. This was the disappointing part of Geer Street, which is never a good start for a restaurant! The fish tacos were okay. The tortillas were tasty and the slaws and salsa were nice additions. But, the fish itself was too fishy; the tartar-like dressing inside smothered most of the taste. And tacos were it. No other sides included. The burger patty itself was fairly forgettable (we both agreed Bull City or Tribeca's burger meat was much more flavorful). The bun earned a thumbs up as it was nice and crispy. The pimento cheese had melted nicely and the burger held together well. The cheese did overwhelm the burger. The bacon was crisp but again, nothing super special. The fries accompanying the burger were good but they were all nubs! I have to say that if I'm going to eat fries, I want them longer than the nail of my pinky finger. So, for almost a $40 meal, I would say Geer Street was not worth it. I had leaned toward trying to the Bratwurst first, which I wish I would have in retrospect. It would be nice to see GSG sponsor a pint night (pints are $5), especially for local brews, since Fullsteam is just around the corner. It may turn into our place to grab a drink before a game, just not a bite to eat to go with it.
(3)Tiffany C.
Geer Street Garden has quite a bit going for it. The outdoor patio is lovely and not at all overcrowded, though the long communal tables do make it packed with people on the warmer nights. The menu isn't particularly inventive, in my opinion, but it's solid true-blue American food that serves more as background munchies as you catch up with good friends. In this respect, GSG is a winner for the last minute lazy dinner get together with friends (or a post-dinner meetup when everyone's just in it for the beer.) The disappointing part, of course, is everything else. The food is kind of pricey and not necessarily deserving of it. I ordered the fish tacos, which were pretty tasty but not $14+ tasty (is anything outside of metropolitan SF/NY/Chicago/Seattle, really?) Additionally, the service on a Thursday night was unbearably slow even with most patrons filtered out by 8 pm. The servers disappear and reappear at whim and by the time you finally grab one, desperately, you'll end up squeezing in about 7 requests of which only 2 will be fulfilled, possibly inaccurately and definitely glacially. In theory, GSG is hip, fun, late-night friendly, and dependable. In practice, GSG is best avoided unless you have time to kill, an interest in the foliage and decor, and a rather full stomach.
(3)Christina C.
So it's been a long time since I've been to Geer St Garden and now I remember why...this place is really just ok. The food is definitely lacking. I remember last time I got the Reuben sandwich (just ok) and today I got the fish tacos (just ok). Overall I'm underwhelmed. It's not that anything was really bad, but I'm definitely in NO rush to return. For my other gluten free eaters out there...they do have gluten free bread and batter so you have some options (not that the menu is that big to begin with). No separate gf menu so you just have to talk it out with your server. The only thing I love about this place is the outdoor seating - huge picnic tables and it's covered so you don't risk skin cancer. Wish they had better food so I could hang out here more often!
(3)Stephanie H.
This place was amazing, I loved the Bacon, Brie & Avocado Baguette. It was a beautiful afternoon to sit outside too. The wait was 45 minutes but who cares, I was able to get a beer at Fullsteam and they texted me once the table was ready.
(4)Rich B.
Pretty casual place that is open late-ish. Staff was nice and the service was speedy. Large groups work well here especially outside where there are long tables. The menu offers a nice combo of bar-fare and elevated southern. My two notes: what's up with the beer list? It's all NC beers (cool) but primarily from the eastern part of the state (hmmm). We tasted through a good number of the options, and there were no standouts. Where's the western end of the state? The burger is pretty lackluster. Thin-ish patty and overcooked. I'd be interested to know where they source the burgers from.
(3)Charlie F.
We let our dog sit under the long communal picnic benches in the weather-protected outdoor area and share a friend chicken arugula salad and a reuben. And, they have Torch Pilsner on draft. What more do you need?
(4)Taylor L.
Who's the ice queen? Oh, it's the hostess. Why do restaurants let frigid people greet people? Maybe it's a rehab program to instill pleasantry in the unpleasant. Maybe it's a psych experiment-- for what purpose, I don't know. It just doesn't make sense. Despite the less than enthusiastic welcome, dinner turned out to be a wonderful time. Hip ambiance, speedy service. I had AMAZING fennel and goat cheese raviolis. Like stupendous. Perfectly moist, delicate, aromatic. (And now for the sh-t sandwich.) Beer menu was not that impressive. The jalapeno hush puppies were dry and meh (code word for bland). The pile was over rated-- gluttonous, really, but I guess that's the point. Reservations only for large groups (I think parties greater than 8, or was it 12?). Oh and the hostess, but you already know my beef with her. (End with a compliment to sandwich the criticism.) Great proximity to additional bar and music options for post-dinner variété.
(4)Steve M.
Awesome large group dining experience in their covered outdoor area. We split "The Pile" and some hushpuppies -- all delicious. My main was a mountainous Cobb salad that was perfect for the 90-deg weather we were having that evening. A couple of Dale's Pale Ales from new area addition Oskar Blues, and I was a very happy guy! Our server was also attentive and on her game. One plus of Geer Street is that they must be used to the college crowd in this area -- our server didn't bat an eye when our table split checks 4 ways. They will actually split a check way more times than that, per the menu. Major thumbs up for accommodating the grad student crowd with ease. We will definitely be back.
(4)Susan Z.
Geer Street is so hit & miss that I only go now for drinks and their tried and true brunch. They often run out of their specials. Great outdoor space that is usable pretty much year round. One time I paid $13 for a fried seafood special that was a small basket and included 3 pieces of deep fried lemon wedges. Do you know how disappointing it is to expect a deep-fried shrimp or scallop and instead get a mouthful of mushy lemon juice? Sadly, thanks to Geer St, I do. In fact, my last few memories of eating food at Geer St. has been so disappointing and culminated in the deep fried lemons with the exception of their Sunday AYCE brunch. Their brunch is pretty reliable and decent bang for buck. I don't eat pork and usually there's enough food there that I leave stuffed full of southern food!
(3)Rose L.
I always love grabbing a drink at Geer Street Garden. It's small but has a great atmosphere and if you know what to order, great food. One thing that set's Geer St. apart is the Sunday brunch--it's cheap and all you can eat, although I find the flavor lacking in most of the dishes served. However, they have pretty fancy Bloody Mary's. Although the atmosphere is great, some of the food just needs a flavor boost--for example the deviled egg appetizer. The "pile" will kill you early but is chalk full of hangover killers. The burger is classic and hits the spot. I love that they do specials often and they have a heated outdoor area on chilly days. If you're touring our great city of Durham, calories don't count, so I'd definitely recommend trying our The Pile: fries, jalapeños, chicken, cheese, etc. with more sauces then you'll know what to do with!
(3)Nicholas S.
The décor and atmosphere was really appealing. The outdoor seating area has an open arrangement and nice lighting at night. It was really relaxing and enjoyable. That being said, my boyfriend and I felt our meals were very average. I had a burger and fries and he has the fish tacos. They tasted average, but for the price, I felt they fell short. I feel at that price they should be premium/deluxe burgers-- not plain. He felt the same about his fish tacos. I think the worst part about the experience was the service. Our waitress came over only to take our order and give us our check. We wait significantly after finishing our meal to get our check. I had to get up and find a manager to request the check because we had not even seen our waitress in awhile. The manager wasn't even apologetic about it. I try not to hold the waitress' service again the restaurant's' rating, but I do the manager's reaction.
(3)Rebecca L.
What a cute little spot! Great food; nice selection of drinks. This would be a great place to take a small group after work for some snacks and beverages. Great outdoor area, small cute indoor. The pile and the burgers are delicious!
(4)Jessica P.
Adorable local fare with picnic style outdoor seating in the back. I came with the large group and everyone enjoyed their food except for maybe the fish tacos which were more of a mixed review. Also, we had lots of food allergies at the table and they were super careful and accommodating.
(3)Blair K.
If I was writing based on my lunch, I'd probably give it a 2, but I have to let the other meals that I saw raise it a bit. I had the fish tacos, which were eh... they were fried catfish, which by itself would have been good, but all of the other fixins were cold. It came with cold ramikins of bland slaw, bland pico de gallo, bland cold crema, bland "salsa", and on coldish corn tortillas. I would definitely not order it again. However, we started the meal with "the pile", which was a delicious plate of decadence (chopped fried chicked, french fries, cheese, bacon, jalepenos, and a bunch of sauces). Also everybody elses food looked pretty good, and I was told the brie and avacado sanwhich with bacon was very good.
(3)Brian R.
O Belly! my belly! our fearful trip is done; The car has weather'd every rack of NC roadwork, the prize we sought is won; The food is near, the bells I hear, the people of Yelp all exulting, While follow eyes on my steady plate of fries, the portion grim and daring: But O eyes! eyes! eyes! how large you were. O the straining material of thine pride, Here at the bar I lie, Fallen cold and dead. The "Pile" fries were good. It's a plate of fries topped with cheese, chicken and gravy. You can choose two additional side sauces. I found those were not needed in addition to the gravy, kind of overkill. Definitely enough food for two in this appetizer. Ambiance, mheh. I found the collection of people inside a rather homogeneous collection of the too cool, too hip crowd that is pervasive of the Durham scene.
(3)Lance J.
Terrible food terrible service. Won't ever come back to this place and don't waste your time here.
(1)Nikki C.
I just scrolled through all the Yelp Reviews for Geer St., wondering how it is possible that I haven't reviewed it! Before we talk about food or atmosphere or booze, let's talk about the important things: THE MOTHER F-ING BRUNCH. *you must get brunch here* (pause, and repeat for dramatic effect) YOU MUST GET BRUNCH HERE. The brunch is Sundays from 11:00am-2:00pm. I recommend showing up at about 11:59am, if you are a drink-while-brunching sort of bruncher. Treat yourself to a bloody mary, loosen your belt, and then welcome yourself to the big leagues. The brunch has everything you could want in a classic southern affair: biscuits and gravy, french toast, bacon, eggs, hash browns with MORE bacon, fruit and coffee, and that awesome banana pudding made with vanilla wafers (you KNOW what I'm talking about). It's only $13ish, and is easily the best brunch I've had in the state of North Carolina. My only suggestion? Geer St., let's add a Saturday brunch to the schedule. Now, if you aren't obsessed with brunch, they also have good regular time food. There's a grilled pimento cheese sandwich, which is to die for, and a fried chicken and arugula entree). I normally don't like arugula because it's too bitter, but Geer St. has some kind of special crack cocaine arugula that keeps me coming back for more. I've just realized that I've never had a drink here (besides the aforementioned bloody marys) but my husband always seems happy with the beer selection. They are also AWESOME about large parties. We made reservations for 24 for brunch the day after our wedding, and they were super cool about it. Since brunch is "serve yourself" I guess it doesn't really impact them, there's only light waiter service. But if you have family in town, lots of friends, etc., they are definitely the place to go. Now, one more detail. I don't know what it is (probably the crack cocaine arugula) but I feel like Geer St. has an abundance of really adorable and pretty well behaved toddlers with attractive parents. So if you are trying to avoid a baby conversation with your spouse, *this place is not for you*. You will fall into the cute baby trap every time. Like I said, I don't know what it is about Geer St (it's actually probably not the arugula, its probably the awesome outdoor seating and wide stroller accommodating isles), but there are always tons of adorable children here during child-appropriate hours. You have been warned.
(5)Matt J.
I enjoy the food for the most part, good bar and very nice staff! I usually grab the Brie & Avocado Baguette and I'm never disappointed. The Reuben is the best I've had in the area...Delicious. The Sunday brunch with Bloody Mary's is always a fun satisfying time. I really enjoy the outdoor sitting area.
(4)Mickey D.
Alright, so they shouldn't get credit for the weather, but sitting on the patio on a perfect spring day probably makes things taste better. It didn't hurt that my fish tacos, grilled but in such a way as to make them slightly crispy and delicious, were among the best I've had. Actually, I'll go on record here and say that all fish tacos should be prepared just like these, forever. I'd eat fish more if I could get it to come off the grill or out of the pan like this. I was entirely prepared to order one of their delicious-sounding (Can something really sound delicious? Do ears have taste buds? And is it even sound if I'm reading it silently on a menu?) cocktails when a quick scan of the draft list turned up the Ponysaurus Fig Saison. Sold. And I win at menu. So go here on a beautiful day. Eat the fish tacos. Drink the Ponysaurus. Be a winner.
(4)Ron W.
Geer Street Garden, located off of Riggsbee, this hipster haven is a comfortable neighborhood bar and hang-out spot. I've been in this area plenty given Fullsteam Brewery and Motorco but for some reason, never really stopped in this place. Finally I did and while the visit was ok, it wasn't enough to make me want to come back again, quickly. Geer Street Garden is truly an outdoorsy type spot. While they have a smallish interior with bar, they've got a large patio and ability to open up some large sliding garage doors to give the space an airy feel. I ordered up the fried chicken with mashies and collards which was just ok. Chicken was a bit over-fried, a dry (only white meat), the mashies were probably from a box and the collards were ok. While Geer Street Garden focuses on simple Southern eats, I still expect better than this. So yeah, I'd come back for a beer or to meet up with people but the food didn't impress me on my first visit. Will need to get back and try some other items but it's an uphill climb from here for me. But rock on Geer Street Garden, because even if the food is just ok, you're still a cool spot in a cool location...
(3)Morgan N.
Love this place. Great variety on the menu. Southern Comfort food meets fish tacos. Inside is trendy/chic AND most importantly great service! I would recommend this place again and again!
(5)Nobel V.
Let me say that this place does make you feel you are in a garden. With that, I did not mind that there were a few flies flying around. The ambiance here is an outdoor type of feel, as there is outside seating in the patio with long benches to eat, hangout, have a drink, and mingle with other people there, especially when its at night. Since I ate here during the day with a few friends and it was hot, I decided to eat inside. The best part about the food here is the appetizer called "The Pile". "The Pile" is defined as this: French fries with jalapenos, bacon, cheese, gravy, and TOPPED with pieces of fried chicken. In addition to that, you get extra cheese and gravy sauces, WITH the choice of two additional sauces! Now that's a deal. This Pile can be split with three to four people with ease and nobody will be disappointed. The mixture of flavors is great and you can pick many different sauces that can additionally satisfy you and your friend's taste buds. As for the other food, I had the jalapeno hush puppies which were delish and my main meal was the fried fish tacos. The tacos were good, but pail in comparison to The Pile since my expectations were soooo high.Do not get me wrong though, I was fully satisfied eating those fish tacos. They also have many local beers on tap, as well as bottled beers and wine, so I definitely need to come back here at night, drink a few beers, and munch on "The Pile" once again.
(4)Jaimey H.
Why have I never tried Pimento Cheese before??? No, seriously why have I never tried this??? I came to Geer St. on whim during Spring Break because I always see a fellow yelper Donald H. posting great pics of local Durham food. When I saw his picture of the grilled cheese sandwich at Geer, I knew I had to try it. I was a little hesitant because I had never had pimento cheese before, but after one bite I was a believer. The cheese was creamy and the bread was grilled just right (no one likes a burnt grilled cheese). I also ordered the green salad that came with walnuts, green apples, and a nice light dijon vinaigrette. I didn't care for the walnuts because they were too salty and I wished they were candied or sweeter, but overall the entire meal was great. So great, I plan on dragging my study group here for lunch and hopefully brunch when the weather gets warmer.
(4)J V.
What a cool place. Great outdoor patio, very nice, fast servers and great food. Not a place to go multiple times a week. It's a little expensive just to take the family out, but the kids love the food too and that says a lot. We'll be back and back and back.
(4)donya s.
I have been to Geer Street many times, the service is good, the food is always tasty and it has a nice atmosphere. I would definitely recommend it. The only thing I would say is don't order the deviled eggs. I have at least 4 times and gave up because they were always really dry, but the specials are always super yummy.
(4)Scott S.
The "beer garden/gastropub" concept seemed well executed and the restaurant looked clean and appealing. I wish I could comment on the food, but can't since we finally left after being ignored by the servers. Here's what happened: we went for lunch (around 1pm). The place was not crowded and the hostess seated us in the front room by the window, immediately. She was not friendly, but she did bring us water and said a server would be by to take our orders shortly. We waited at least fifteen minutes while two different servers checked on the other three tables in the area multiple times. Despite the fact that the restaurant was uncrowded, neither of the servers noticed our arrival and it was clear that the hostess had not informed them. Perhaps we should have been more patient, and if it had been a busy day I wouldn't have thought fifteen minutes was all that long. But it wasn't busy, and it just felt clear that we were being ignored. The menu looked good, though, and if I still lived in the area and hadn't just been visiting I'd be willing to give it another go. Ended up having a lovely lunch at Toast, as always. Sorry, Geer Street Garden, try to have friendlier staff and better service.
(1)Eve P.
The pimento cheese here is delicious. I'm from the South and always hesitate to suggest that someone not from the South try the somewhat disconcerting substance. However, now that I've had it at Geer Street, I recommend theirs with confidence. Makes me proud! The patio and fried chicken salad are also worth going for.
(4)Ryan D.
Geer St is a great spot for a quick brunch. When you show up, you are promptly seated, asked to pay at the bar, and then can hit up the buffet line. You can usually find quiche, hash, breakfast potatoes, biscuits, french toast, salad, deviled eggs, banana pudding, hand formed sausage patties, and more. You really can't beat the quality and taste for the price. Also unlike a lot of the Sunday brunch spots in Durham, you usually can get in right away if you are willing to sit outside. Others in the area can easily be a 30 minute wait.
(4)Deepak S.
Great atmosphere and location. Funky setup that makes it interesting. Food was fresh, but small menu and not veggie friendly.
(3)Brian C.
I want to love this place. good location, cool building, nice waitstaff, high quality ingredients, but like many of the restaurants in the "new and improved" Durham scene, everything on the menu is about $2-$3 too expensive. dang. the food is OK, but i keep coming back to the price, which makes the completely OK food seem not worth it. So, I'll probably come back, but maybe just to sit outside and have a beer.
(3)Dan C.
DON'T go for the food OR the service. Maybe go for the drinks or the atmosphere. Food was mediocre at best, service was abysmal.
(2)Christina G.
If you live in Durham, be prepared to start spending a portion of your paycheck here. Yup, it's unavoidable. You're going to fall in love with the converted interior and the awesome patio (complete with hooks on the tables to secure your grateful dog) [1]. Hubby and I are already plotting walking here with our youngest (dog) [2] for a weekend quaff. But I also envision an after-Fullsteam late night visit to inhale the ridiculous (and amazing) "Pile": it sounds like perfect hangover prevention. Tonight, we opted for the Farmhand Foods brat and kraut, and burger with cheese. The brat was my fave -- it's served on different bread than the Sausage Wagon uses; it's softer and tends not to overwhelm the meat as much. It also has a better bread-to-meat ratio. UPDATE: I ordered the brat on 5/30 and it appeared to be different bread -- very hotdog bun like -- disappointing compared to the hoagie-ish bread from before =( They didn't ask what degree I wanted my burger cooked (though I later overhead another server ask the neighboring table). Interestingly, she requested medium-rare and was told they couldn't go less than medium. However, my burger was definitely *rare.* I actually didn't eat part of it, since my cook-everything-dead father has instilled the fear of God in me when it comes to pink meat. I opted for srirachanaise (a wonderful mix of Sriracha and mayo) to go with my fries. Both the fries and beef could have benefited from a lighter hand with the salt shaker. But everything was tasty and reasonably priced. The beer list (lots of locals on draft and bottle) was pretty solid. But this evening, I ordered the Durhamite -- a black tea and lemonade mixture spiked with vodka. It tasted a bit SweeTart-y, refreshing, and while not wholly indicative of Durham to me, I'd definitely order it again! Shout out to Kun P who was checking it out tonight as well. Always nice to make an unexpected yelper acquaintance offline =) ---- [1] the patio utilizes communal picnic tables, not unlike Bull City Burger [2] we have two (dogs), and the oldest can be a real bastard out in public
(4)Claudine D.
I don't know why it took me so long to visit but when I finally got a chance to have lunch here, it didn't disappoint. I had the roasted veggie sandwich with olive tapenade and goat cheese, fries and prosecco. It was a gorgeous fall day -- perfect for sitting outside at their picnic tables. Service was friendly and fast. I'll definitely return and bring the family next time.
(4)B M.
So awesome. A beer garden with excellent food, great drink list, and very cool layout and atmosphere. Just go.
(5)