Diners' Choice: Great for brunch restaurants in Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill

OpenTable

Updated 05 May 2025

Looking for restaurants that are great for brunch in Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Nasher Cafe at Duke University

4.8

4.8 (865)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Durham

About the restaurant

The 125-seat indoor/outdoor Nasher Cafe overlooks the garden and sits adjacent to the Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen "Corridor Pin" sculpture, providing a serene and beautiful ambience. The Nasher Cafe offers local and sustainable products forged into creative lunch, brunch and dinner menus. Guests can experience a world class museum as well as restaurant in one stop.

Top review

Anthony

Dined on 8 May 2025

I’ve had lunch here twice and both times the service and food has been excellent.

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4.8

4.8 (6059)

$30 and under

Farm-to-table

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Get ready for a delightful culinary journey at Irregardless! A beloved gem in downtown Raleigh serving fresh, seasonal vegetarian delights + carnivore options. Locally owned and bursting with flavor, our menu promises an unforgettable experience.

Join us for lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch! Our menu offers something for everyone.

Top review

Melissa

Dined on 13 May 2025

Love this restaurant. Food and service is always good and the place is adorable inside.

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Carolina Brewery - Pittsboro

4.8

4.8 (122)

$30 and under

Southern

Chapel Hill

About the restaurant

Carolina Brewery is a brewpub located in Pittsboro, North Carolina that specializes in serving craft beers and American pub fare. The restaurant features a lively atmosphere with a full bar, patio and numerous televisions broadcasting sporting events. Carolina Brewery in Pittsboro serves lunch and dinner daily and offers a variety of menu items made using fresh, in season fruits and vegetables and locally raised beef. The restaurant offers an extensive menu of starters, soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, typical pub fare and desserts. Featured entrées at Carolina Brewery in Pittsboro include chicken mac and cheese, down East BBQ plate, crab cakes, shrimp and grits and fish and chips.

Top review

DebbieVIP

Dined on 29 Apr 2025

Great food and service. Friendly server. My family loves the specials menu. Today we had the chicken soup and burger.

Refectory Cafe

4.8

4.8 (968)

$30 and under

American

Durham

About the restaurant

Established in 2005, The Refectory Cafe was the first “Green” restaurant on the Duke campus and was located at the Duke Divinity and Law Schools. Now located just 2 miles from Duke's West Campus, The award-winning Refectory Cafe continues to be the restaurant where omnivores, vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free folks happily share a table together in the same facility. Every diet classification can delight in delicious, satisfying, creative food from a common menu, while enjoying the health benefits of consuming clean food, minimally processed.

Appreciate the Award winning flavor and creativity of our Executive Chef Jake Miles & Pastry Chef Rosa Redel.

MOST RECENT AWARDS: 2023-2025
2023 #4 Independent Restaurant in the STATE (Southern Living Magazine)
TripAdvisor #1 / #2
Best Brunch
Best Wine List
Best Pie
Best Vegan
Best Vegetarian
Best Patio Dining

We look forward to serving you! You will love the food and our team!

Top review

LarryVIP

Dined 4 days ago

The food was great as usual. Our table was ready when we arrived and the service was great.

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Experience

Another Incredible Italian Wine Dinner

Simply Crepes Cafe of Raleigh

4.8

4.8 (206)

$30 and under

American

Raleigh

About the restaurant

A full-service restaurant and bar. Offers progressively traditional, French Canadian farmhouse vibes. Scratch-made comfort food is handcrafted in our kitchen using fresh meats, produce, signature sauces and dressings.

Menu Musings: Nosh on some of fan favorites for breakfast like French toast, Maple Sausage Stackers, oatmeal creme brulee, simply strawberry crepes. Lunch can be healthy! Many gluten and dairy free options. Try a Mediterranean Chicken (or make it vegetarian with tofu). Vegan friends love the Thai Curry Crepe. Food Network has featured our Rugby Crepe on The Best Thing I Ever Ate. Try it, is it the best?! Come for dinner and grab a burger or fried chicken sandwich. After dinner nutella dessert crepes - yes!

Top review

Cam

Dined on 11 May 2025

Great meal and great service. The brussel sprouts were amazing!

It's A Southern Thing Ellis Crossings

4.8

4.8 (64)

$30 and under

Southern

Durham

About the restaurant

It's A Southern Thing is our owner's personal love letter to The South. We've proudly served Downtown Durham since 2017 and are thrilled to expand and open up our second location here at Ellis Crossing. Known for our unique take on traditional Southern fair, we welcome you with a laid back atmosphere, Southern hospitality, delicious craft cocktails and thoughtfully created, scratch made dishes. From our best-selling Shrimp and Grits to Sweet Tea Brined Pork Chops, Fried Green Tomatoes, Collard Greens, Chicken and Waffle Skewers and everything in between, you will find familiar flavors presented in an original way. Offering brunch and dinner seven days a week, with extended bar hours and a private dining area for small functions, we invite you to come in, stay a while and let us show you why so many customers love being part of our It's A Southern Thing family.

Top review

Dennise

Dined on 20 Apr 2025

It's always a good time at It's a Southern Thing at Ellis Road. Bernard is great! It was a perfect way to celebrate our Mom's birthday. The food was delicious and beautiful. We walked right in for our reservation. It was a good evening...will definitely be back soon

Coffee Bar at The Durham

4.7

4.7 (545)

$30 and under

American

Durham

About the restaurant

The Coffee Bar at The Durham is a morning-to-night gathering place where days begin with breakfast and Counter Culture coffee, afternoons invite co-working and casual meetings over salads and sandwiches, and evenings unfold with classic cocktails, spirit-free drinks, and shareable plates. It’s low-key — order at the bar, then settle into a book, puzzle, or board game with friends. With a welcoming atmosphere and room to gather, it’s an ideal spot for clubs and meetups to come together. Light-filled by day, cozy by night, it’s not quite a coffee shop, not quite a bar — it’s the perfect in-between.

Reservations available via Open Table for Brunch and Special Events or Contact our sales team at 919-768-8831 to reserve space in advance for your club or meeting.

Top review

LizVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Amazing brunch! The coffee milk and potatoes were amazing. Could not have been better.

It's a Southern Thing - Downtown Durham

4.7

4.7 (288)

$30 and under

Southern

Durham

About the restaurant

It's A Southern Thing is our owner's personal love letter to The South. Known for our unique take on traditional Southern fair, we welcome you with a laid back atmosphere, Southern hospitality, delicious craft cocktails and thoughtfully created, scratch made dishes. From our best-selling Shrimp and Grits to Sweet Tea Brined Pork Chops, Fried Green Tomatoes, Collard Greens, Chicken and Waffle Skewers and everything in between, you will find familiar flavors presented in an original way. Offering lunch Monday through Friday, brunch on weekends and dinner service seven nights a week, we invite you to come in, stay a while and let us show you why so many customers love being part of our It's A Southern Thing family.

Top review

Ceci

Dined on 21 Apr 2025

This is our go-to place when we attend events at DPAC. Fewer than 3 minutes away. Food and drink are on point. My favorite is I Hate Tequila, Said No Juan Ever! Highly recommend! Reservations and dining early are your best bet.

NCMA Cafe

4.7

4.7 (499)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Catering Works is proud to present NCMACafe, located at the North Carolina Museum of Art WEST BUILDING. Our menu features a variety of Southern-inspired fare with International influence. Premium wines, crafted coffee drinks and in February of 2023, the long-awaited return of weekend brunch at the Museum of Art.

Top review

Brenda

Dined 4 days ago

My guests and I dined here for brunch and both the good and service were outstanding! Brenda Jones

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Popular dish

Tarragon Chicken Salad Plate

Popular dish

Irish Chicken Salad Melt

East Cafe

4.6

4.6 (93)

$30 and under

American

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Enjoy lunch with the most breath taking view in Raleigh, the Museum Park at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Located in C level of the East Building, the East Café offers a variety of sandwiches, salads, and Barista crafted coffee and tea beverages. Indoor and patio seating!

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 24 Mar 2025

Attended a tea event at East Cafe, and it was an absolute delight! The staff was incredibly welcoming and attentive, making the experience even more enjoyable. The food was beyond expectations—beautifully prepared and full of flavor. The cucumber mint cilantro tea sandwich was my favorite savory option, and the lavender honey scone was so delicious. But the real highlight was the tea itself—a true experience that showcased quality and tradition. Highly recommend for anyone looking to indulge in a unique and memorable tea event! Had the best time catching up with old friends, and can’t wait to bring my mom for the Mother’s Day tea event.

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