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Drum roll please. For my 200th review, I want to gush about the fantastic Durham dining scene and my visit to Nana's. We took my folks here for my mother's birthday while visiting for Thanksgiving and it was amazing.
The menu at Nana's is top notch with many gourmet selections to choose from. The cuisine took advantage of seasonal and local offerings that complimented every delicious dish. We started with a beet and goat cheese salad and scallop risotto. Both were great. Our entrees were Venison with root vegetables and potatoes, Grouper and New York strip steak. All were perfectly cooked and very tasty. Never had leg venison before, but it was just like the loin and not at all gamey. We had a few nice bottles of Pinot Noir that went very nicely with this delectable meal.
We finished with the Pumpkin cake and ice cream of the day. Both were a tasty end to a great evening. Service was excellent, but they could have been a bit better with their timing.
Based on the chef's reputation, we chose this as our one dinner in the Triangle. The restaurant is poorly located between two streets and parking was much too sparse for a full house. We were seated promptly, but were given a menu with the wrong wine list.
We decided on the 5-course tasting menu. Most of which was fantastic, except for the scallop dish. Curiously enough, mine came out cool, while the girlfriend's was just warm enough. There's nothing I hate more than an undercooked dish. However, dessert almost made up for it. The apple butter souffle and anglaise were absolutely divine.
Our waitress was great, a little overzealous, but that kind of enthusiasm is missing these days.
3 and 3/4 stars for the great menu and concept, but undercooked scallop is unforgivable. The flavors were there and each preparation was unique, so I will definitely be back.
*NOTE* I am writing this over a year after the fact, so the review won't be as detailed as my other, more current, reviews.
As a special treat over the New Year's 2007-2008 holiday, I went with a group of friends for a "high end dinner" on a Saturday night to Nana's--a restaurant they had been to before and highly recommended.
Our entire group opted for the five course chef's tasting menu with wine pairings. (I knew I wouldn't be thrilled with the wine because I am not a big wine drinker, but I wanted to try it for the full experience.) Needless to say I would do the chef's tasting again in a heartbeat, but would skip the wine completely.
The most interesting thing for me was that just reading the menu wasn't that appealing to me--foie gras, escargot, root vegetables, grouper, cabbage, etc... It honestly didn't sound that appealing. But OH MY GOD was everything DELICIOUS! Aside from the venison dish, I actually think my favorite was the cold foie gras appetizer! Who would have ever guessed? (I had never eaten it before and now I want it again and again.)
The service was excellent--we enjoyed many laughs with our waiter--and courses were served promptly. All of our many questions were answered with ease and our requests for substitutions were handled with grace.
I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
A restaurant proves its mettle when it's good even when it doesn't have to be...meaning: we were a captive audience (a private party of about 20 fabulous friends) and could have been served the usual rubber chicken and mediocre wine. Instead, our rowdy, chatty, catching-up-with-old-friends group were treated to high-quality food and REALLY excellent wine, great service, and a lovely atmosphere.
We had the use of a private dining room separated from the restaurant; a warm and intimate space with some interesting light fixtures (namely a slightly hipper remake of the upstate New York iconic grape-cluster chandelier). Upon arrival, as I were busy mingling, laughing, and catching up, I was magically provided with a glass of one of the finest red wines I'd had in a long time (and, upon telling my waiter I wasn't driving, this lovely glass was refilled a variety of times).
We were all able to select from groups of three appetizers, first course, and dessert. My appetizer was the shrimp risotto, much envied by my abstemious table-mates who had picked the frisee salad. They were rightfully jealous, but I will say that the rich rice dish put a crimp in my appetite and I wasn't able to finish either my main course or dessert.
The entree was the flank steak, cooked rare and tender, on a polenta medallion with fresh steamed local (and organic) vegetables on the side. Delicious! Dessert was a creamy and light creme brulee I was barely able to dent.
Of course part of my warm feeling about this place blends in with the overall experience of good friends, great conversations, and much laughter. We lingered for hours, stood up for impromptu testimonials, and left laughing in the crisp autumn air.
I didn't appreciate the Triangle much when I lived there...but then I was younger and in need of a more metropolitan environment. Now...I see the beauty of living somewhere where businesses last more than six months, where people invite you to their homes at a moment's notice, and where you can pick up the thread of a conversation as if you'd only been gone seven minutes and not seven years.
It was nice to see how much Durham has grown and prospered but in many ways stayed the same. Some of my memories of the place were bittersweet, but most were good, and it's comforting to know that should I want to leave the big exciting city, there's a not-so-sleepy little town with great food and truly nice people who'll have my sorry carcass.
I'm pleased to report that the hype is true! It's always risky going to see a raved-about, highly anticipated movie (Da Vinci Code, anyone?) because you're generally setting yourself up for disappointment in one form or another. The same is true, I think, of restaurants. So the fact that I've somehow missed out on an evening at Nana's in all the years I've lived here, despite all the glory it's routinely given, meant almost surely that my expectations would be too high by now for them to meet.
We reserved a table on a weeknight (unnecessary, it turned out, since there were only a few other tables present). We were celebrating my beau's fab new job (only adding to the pressure of requiring a near-flawless meal). The building is separated into 3 rooms. A spacious bar straight ahead, and 2 small rooms to the left. We got a cozy table in the corner. Our server was young, sweet, and helpful. We asked for wine recommendations to pair with our meal and he asked good questions about our tastes and preferences and suggested two wines; I liked what we chose so much, I scribbled the name down!
I ordered the chicken (which is not the sort of thing I'd usually get at a restaurant like this, but it was delicious all the same) and my date got the filet. We didn't do dessert since we had cake waiting at home, but the sorbets and torte sounded yummy and I'll be back to try them. We each got a coffee-liqueur drink; these weren't outrageously expensive and were a great digestif. Our poor server tripped on the way over to the table and the platter and drinks came tumbling down; but the shrapnel didn't hit us and the replacement drinks came out quickly, so it was fine. Warm with the wine and coffee, we stayed and chatted for a long time -- right up until after closing -- but the servers did not once interrupt us or make us feel like we needed to rush out; I really appreciated that little detail.
So yes; come here and see for yourself Nana's many delights. As I said, I'm raring to return for some dessert and even just to check out the bar scene.
First off, most incredible piece of foccacia that I have ever eaten.
Our server was awesome, totally sympathized with us on all of the mediocre fare in Carrboro. Plus one star for that alone.
Apps were awesome. Braised lamb with house made gnocchi and super light tuna carpaccio were both fantastic, esp. the lamb. I am always a sucker for anything super rich and flavorful and that was it.
We were, however, disappointed with the entrees. One entree was worth four stars--snapper with a crab/veal/red wine reduction, but the side of limp sauteed veggies was a little boring--could have used some sort of a starch to mop up that sauce. Other entree--duck wrapped in prosciutto with farro and squash, was just okay. Duck was overcooked, farro was blah, and olive sauce with prosciutto and duck was too much savory, I really could have used a sweet splash of flavor.
Desserts--key lime tartlett and homemade chocolate chip cookies with cookie dough ice cream were really good.
All in all, I would maybe try it again, though for $120 kinda makes me just want to cook at home. (sigh)
A true 5 star eatery actually exists in Durham.
I try not to review any place unless I have been there at least twice but will have to make an exception for Nana's.
The food is really impressive and would rate Scott Howell in the same league as Steven Pyle and Eric Ripert.
If mom made brussel sprouts the way they are made here I would have eaten all my vegetables.
I had the Prosciutto wrap duck breast while my dining partner ordered the lamb loin. Both were well prepared and booming with flavor. Pared with a Pinot Noit from a good wine list it made for a great meal.
Wait staff is extremely professional and attentive. It can get noisy when the restaurant is full but it shouldn't detract unless you are looking for a quiet evening.
Reservations are highly recommended.
Wow. With a James Beard dinner under his belt, a 9.6 CitySearch (http://triangle.cityse...) rating, and a Wine & Spectator award, I'm surprised Nana's hasn't gotten a write up in Yelp yet. What's going on, yelpers??
This place is A-mazing. Truly. Tasting Menu + Wine Pairing for less than $100. How great is that? And the quality?
Oh. My. God.
Foie Gras. Lobster Ravioli. Prosciutto Duck Confit. Kobe Beef. Banana Nut Souffle.
Words truly cannot express the joy I felt. I wish I didn't discover this gem on the last day of my trip. Darn. Better luck tomorrow, I suppose...
This is a gem of restaurant in the Triangle. Led by Scott Howell and a team of knowledgeable wait staff and sommelier, the food here is consistently splendid. You certainly pay for the indulgence however, the food has never failed to impress the two times we've been here.
This is definitely a date spot. Just watch you pocket. It's might feel awfully light after you visit here.
Nana's is the type of place that makes you love the fact you live in the Triangle. It would be a high-quality restaurant in the biggest of cities, yet you can enjoy it as your own local gem. Scott Howell and his staff know how to prepare wonderful meals and complement the meals with the type of service that you would expect when eating such great food.
Though I don't live in the Triangle anymore, unfortunately, Nana's will be at the top of my list when I visit for the first time since my departure. It was always THE special occasion restaurant for me when I lived there. If you are there and appreciate excellent food, you need to try Nana's.
The *only* negative about Nana's is the location, situated on the curve of a merging intersection, in an area of town that remains a bit transitional. But I find that often the best local places have the most quirky locations, perhaps reflecting that the proprietor had more passion than money to start the place, but that passion and word-of-mouth often win out. That is definitely true here. And the actual place itself has a great ambience with an open contemporary design.
The service is exceptionally friendly and professional, absolutely top-rate, and comes across as truly concerned about the customer and the dining experience.
The food is sublime. It's not always mind-blowing (but sometimes it truly is!) but it's always well-prepared, and if there ever is a problem, just tell the waitstaff and they'll jump to it and get the problem corrected. In fact, they seem to often notice a less-than-ecstatic response and act on it before any displeasure even needs to be voiced. Plus, if the kitchen is at all slow, the chef will often deliver the food to the table and check-in with diners for feedback, and he's been doing that at this location for over 15 years... that's someone who loves what he does for a living! In short, you never have to even remotely worry about the possibility of the kitchen spitting in your food if you send something back!
Well, I jest... and yet, some higher-end places can have that "holier than thy palate" vibe, but not here. It's upscale, but friendly and approachable. And as for high-end, their prices are on par with the area's better restaurants, and actually less expensive than a number of others that provide less-consistent fare and sub-par service in comparison.
In short, it's a must-try for the area; refined dining with an upscale but laid-back vibe, amazing service, great food... and oh, save room for dessert... if they have the hazelnut souffle, grab it! Great place for a special occasion or a no-occasion treat.
SMOKE, SMOKE and MORE SMOKE. Apparently, depsite the focus on quality ingredients, cooking skill and ambiance, the folks at Nana's are most concerned with making smokers feel welcome inside. Yes inside. This is 2007 and this is North Carolina. The idea of a $100 plus meal for two in a smoked-filled atmosphere (the smoky bar is open to the dining room) is unacceptable. I suppose the food was good but when I smelled cigar smoke, I could only think of how quickly I could leave. It's amazing that I am eveing writing this but then I suppose that this really is a hick town in a hick state and no amount of pinot, foi or truffle will mask that fact. The area prides itsef on culinary artistry and Nana's is often referred to in "hushed tones" alongside "Magnolia Grill". As both places are smokers' havens, skip them both and patronize establishments that have everyone's comfort in mind.
We went here for homeboy's birthday. It was a really nice, special meal. The waitstaff was very attentive, and the meals were expertly prepared. Wish the bread were warm though! Who likes noshing on cold bread? Not me. Otherwise, probably the best restaurant in the area. Will be back for our next big celebration.
my husband and i just moved to durham and we had a gift certificate to nana's. overall, we were very happy with the food and we were glad that durham has this restaurant.
the bread that they have is home made and very good.
we had a gnocci as an app. it was probably the least liked out of the meal because we found it to be bland.
i had the risotto (which was an app that i asked to be an entree portion) and that was very tasty.
my husband had the steak and that was excellent. the flavors were wonderful and the steak was cooked well.
the dessert was a puff pastry with peaches a la mode and the pastry was a little uncooked in the middle but otherwise fantastic.
the service was excellent, almost too good as 5 different people asked if we wanted more bread.
we would definately go back.
Durham, NC
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