The Refectory Cafe
The Refectory Cafe
Tofu, broccoli, red onions, tumeric, lime.
Local cage free eggs with fresh avocado, tomatoes, sharp cheddar, salsa fresca.
Two local, cage-free eggs, your way, buttermilk-fried chicken breast, choice of toast or a biscuit.
Coconut milk, organic flour, cinnamon.
Fresh local eggs, a variety of vegetables.
Fresh local eggs, breakfast meats in a delicate housemade crust!
Housemade challah fruit garnish, maple syrup and powdered sugar.
Fresh fruit garnish, 100% maple syrup!
2 local cage-free eggs your way, choose applewood smoked bacon, turkey, or pork sausage, potatoes, fresh veggies, or cheesy grits and toast.
Fresh housemade biscuit!
Local ninth street bakery 7- grain bread.
Boar's head bacon, fresh avocado spread, tomato and red onion on toasted local ninth street bakery 7- grain bread.
Two fresh local eggs your way, fresh avocado, microgreens on toasted local 9th street bakery 7-grain bread.
Cream cheese, tomato, red onion and capers on toasted 9th Street Bakery artisan baguette.
Fresh avocado spread, tomato and red onion on toasted local ninth street bakery 7- grain bread.
Cucumber, beet, carrot, apple, lemon, ginger.
Kale, romaine, cucumber, ginger, lime, mint, cilantro, parsley, honeydew.
Orange, cayenne, lemon, cucumber, apple, ginger.
Fresh green smoothie made with green apple, kale, spinach and avocado.
Greek yogurt, honey, vanilla, 2% milk.
Scrambled eggs, bacon, toast and fruit garnish.
Gluten-friendly, vegan. Tomatoes, cucumbers, Parmesan on a bed of organic mixed greens with your choice of dressing.
Gluten-friendly. On a bed of local mixed greens, tomatoes and cucumbers.
Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian. Crisp romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, feta, kalamata olivesand balsamic vinaigrette.
Romaine, tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, avocado, local eggs.
Gluten-friendly. Grilled chicken, blue cheese crumbles, avocado, applewood bacon, tomato, local eggs.
Gluten-friendly, vegan.
Gluten-friendly. Chopped bacon, lettuce and tomato with your favorite dressing.
Gluten-friendly. Over a salad of arugula, fennel and apple with housemade champagne vinaigrette.
Gluten-friendly, vegan. Tomatoes, cucumbers, Parmesan on a bed of organic mixed greens with your choice of dressing.
Contains nuts, gluten-free, vegetarian. Tangerine segments, soy, walnuts, dried cranberries.
Gluten-free, vegetarian. Romaine, grated Parmesan, housemade garlic croutons.
Gluten-free, vegetarian. Romaine, grated Parmesan, housemade garlic croutons.
Spicy gumbo with chicken and andouille sausage.
Gluten-friendly. Spicy green chicken soup.
Vegetarian. Savory, creamy, chunky tomato basil soup.
Spicy gumbo with chicken and andouille sausage.
Gluten-friendly, vegan. Our award-winning, signature vegan chili with beans and a soy-based meat replacement.
Vegetarian. Savory, creamy, chunky tomato basil soup.
Gluten-friendly, vegan. Creamy potato leek soup.
Dairy-free, gluten-friendly, vegan. Our award-winning, signature vegan chili with beans and a soy-based meat replacement.
Gluten-friendly. Spicy green chicken soup.
Gluten-friendly, vegan. Creamy potato leek soup.
Contains nuts. House specialty! With avocado, housemade cole slaw and sriracha on toasted housemade brioche.
Contains nuts, vegan. Pickled red onions, wheat bun, vegan cashew aioli.
With sriracha aioli.
With lettuce and tomato.
Contains nuts, vegetarian. A healthy blend of ground veggies!
Tomato, red onion on ninth street 7 grain bread.
Tomato, spinach, mozzarella, pesto, ciabatta.
Turkey, ham, bacon, cheddar, swiss, lettuce, tomato on toasted bread.
Housemade roast beef, havarti cheese, cremini mushrooms, caramelized onions and horseradish mayo on our housemade focaccia bread.
Vegetarian. Fresh local eggs, a variety of vegetables and breakfast meats in a delicate housemade crust!
Boar's head corned beef or turkey, sauerkraut, swiss cheese Russian dressing on grilled 9th street bakery rye bread.
Spicy remoulade, lettuce, tomato, housemade slaw on a grilled roll.
Slow-cooked boneless ribs with havarti cheese on a toasted roll or try the low-carb version with fresh spinach.
Vegetarian. Boar's head cheddar, monterey jack on sour dough bread.
Tuna salad, tomatoes, cheddar on sourdough bread.
Boar's head bacon, lettuce, tomato on your choice of bread toasted.
Gluten-friendly, vegan. Choose a kale or garden salad as your side. A fragrantly spiced, slow-cooked lentil stew served over brown rice with grilled naan. Naan is not vegan or gluten-free.
Tomato, red onion on ninth street bakery 7-grain bread.
A Southern favorite! Warm 100% maple syrup.
On toasted English muffin, poached local eggs, hollandaise, potatoes and the fresh veggie of the day.
Fresh local eggs, a variety of vegetables and breakfast meats in a delicate housemade crust!
Toastadas with slow cooked pulled short ribs, 2 local eggs your way, black beans, special sauce and salsa.
Filet mignon and eggs your way with potatoes.
Tomato, red onion on ninth street bakery 7-grain bread.
Chef's housemade challah with fresh fruit garnish, warm maple syrup and powdered sugar.
Fresh local eggs, a variety of vegetables and breakfast meats in a delicate housemade crust!
Vegan. Tofu, broccoli, red onions, tumeric, lime.
Two local, cage-free eggs, your way, buttermilk-fried chicken breast, choice of toast or a biscuit.
Vegan. Coconut milk, organic flour, cinnamon.
Vegetarian. Fresh latta's farm cage-free eggs, veggies, cheesesand meat, please check specials board.
Fresh fruit garnish and maple syrup.
Two local cage-free eggs your way, choose applewood smoked bacon or local sausage, potatoes, fresh veggies, or cheesy grits and sourdough, rye or wheat toast.
Vegetarian. Cream cheese, tomato, red onionand capers on toasted 9th street bakery artisan baguette.
Gluten-free, vegetarian. Romaine, grated Parmesan, housemade garlic croutons.
Gluten-friendly, vegan. Tomatoes, cucumbers, Parmesan on a bed of organic mixed greens with your choice of dressing.
Gluten-friendly. Grilled chicken, blue cheese crumbles, avocado, applewood bacon, tomato, local eggs.
Gluten-free, vegetarian. Romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, kalamata olives, pepperoncini.
Slow-cooked boneless ribs with havarti cheese on a toasted roll or try the low-carb version with fresh spinach.
Contains nuts, gluten-free, vegetarian. Tangerine segments, soy, walnuts, dried cranberries.
Gluten-free, vegetarian. Romaine, grated Parmesan, housemade garlic croutons.
Gluten-friendly, vegan. Tomatoes, cucumbers, Parmesan on a bed of organic mixed greens with your choice of dressing.
Boar's head cheddar and monterey jack on sourdough, whole wheat or rye.
Gluten-friendly, vegan.
Spicy gumbo with chicken and andouille sausage.
Gluten-friendly. Spicy green chicken soup.
Vegetarian. Savory, creamy, chunky tomato basil soup.
Gluten-friendly, vegan. Creamy potato leek soup.
Vegetarian. Savory, creamy, chunky tomato basil soup.
Spicy gumbo with chicken and andouille sausage.
Gluten-friendly, vegan. Creamy potato leek soup.
Gluten-friendly, vegan. Our award-winning, signature vegan chili with beans and a soy-based meat replacement.
Dairy-free, gluten-friendly, vegan. Our award-winning, signature vegan chili with beans and a soy-based meat replacement.
Gluten-friendly. Spicy green chicken soup.
Cucumber, beet, carrot, apple, lemon, ginger.
Kale, romaine, cucumber, ginger, lime, mint, cilantro, parsley, honeydew.
Orange, cayenne, lemon, cucumber, apple, ginger.
Local greens, grilled chicken, applewood smoked bacon, blue cheese crumbles, local eggs, avocado, tomatoes.
Romaine, grated Parmesan, housemade garlic croutons.
Gluten-friendly. Organic spring mix, goat cheese, fennel, grape tomatoes, pickled shallots, red wine vinaigrette.
Romaine, grated Parmesan, housemade garlic croutons.
Gluten-friendly, vegan. Tomatoes, cucumbers, Parmesan on a bed of organic mixed greens with your choice of dressing.
Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian. Tangerine segments, soy, walnuts, dried cranberries.
Gluten-friendly, vegan. Tomatoes, cucumbers, Parmesan on a bed of organic mixed greens with your choice of dressing.
Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian. Tangerine segments, soy, walnuts, dried cranberries.
Gluten-free, vegetarian. A selection of cheeses, housemade red pepper jam, housemade orange marmalade, toasted 9th street bakery baguette.
Available on 5 pm. Gluten-free. Grilled octopus served over a lentil salad.
Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian. Olives marinated in citrus, thyme, extra-virgin olive oil, bay leaf and rosemary with toasted marcona almonds.
Gluten-friendly. Cornmeal breaded calamari, lemon aioli, sea salt.
North Carolina shrimp tempura-battered and fried with a sweet and sour ginger dipping sauce.
Dairy-free, gluten-friendly, vegan. Flash-fried, unbreaded brussels sprouts tossed in a hoisin-tamari glaze.
Vegetarian. Lemon caper aioli.
Gluten-free. Steamed prince edward island mussels, lemon, white wine, butter, capers, tomatoes, shallots, toasted crostini.
Gluten-free. Arugula, shaved fennel, apple, pico de gallo, lemon-herb vinaigrette.
Gluten-free, shellfish allergy. Tenderloin, crab cake, remoulade, grilled broccoli, potato puree, bordelaise sauce.
Prince edward island mussels served over linguine and a spicy version of our housemade marinara sauce.
Shrimp, parsley, garlic, lemon, butter, grape tomato, arugula.
Gluten-free, vegetarian. Lemon, thyme, peas, asparagus, cremini mushrooms, garlic, caramelized shallots, buffalo Parmesan.
Housemade beef sauce, linguine, olive oil toast.
Housemade marinara, linguine.
Cremini mushrooms, penne.
Gluten-free, shellfish allergy. Tenderloin, crab cake, remoulade, grilled broccoli, potato puree, bordelaise sauce.
Shellfish allergy. 2 jumbo lump cakes, remoulade, bibb lettuce, French beans, mashed potatoes.
Au jus, French beans, mashed potatoes.
Chicken roasted in rosemary and herbs, mashed potatoes, seared brussels sprouts.
Local beef tenderloin, grilled broccoli, potato puree, bordelaise sauce.
Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian. Classic Indian yellow lentil stew, brown rice, grilled naan.
Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian. Caramelized brussels sprouts, red quinoa, dried cherries, toasted almonds, cider vinaigrette, maple syrup.
Gluten-free, vegan. Spicy yellow curry, tofu, cilantro, mint, garlic, brown rice.
Cheese platter
Fall Walnut Gnocchi
Huevos Rancheros Brunch
Cherry pie
Buttermilk Chicken and Waffles Brunch
Fresh flowers on the table
Tofu Scramble (to-go)
Shrimp & Grits
Speckled Trout Dip
Rise and Shine
Special appetizer lamb meatballs served on an orange marmalade topped with shoestring fried sweet potatoes and kale
Beets with pomegranate reduction
people working on their laptops
Roasted Pumpkin Alfredo
Great brunch with Bae...
outside
interior
Premium Mimosa Flight
Tables adorned with fresh flowers in fall colors
interior
interior, sushi and sashimi
Fried Brussel sprouts which the server said was they're number one appetizer
Tuna Melt Sandwich
Cheese Plate-we liked this but the almonds were old.
Kim G.
Jun 2, 2024
I had a feeling when I arrived during Sunday brunch it would be busy. My feeling was spot on. I actually didn't have a hard time finding a parking space. As you walk in the front door, pay attention to the left. There is a small hostess station. A sign will tell you whether you should seat yourself or wait to be seated. Once you are either given a table or find a table, grab a menu and order at the counter. They have seating inside and out. I imagine if you come during a time where you seat yourself, you will need to find a way to claim your table somehow while you order your food. Luckily we were seated. They provide silverware and napkins at the counter after you order. I ordered the Rise and Shine breakfast. It came with eggs. I chose pork sausage, grits and a biscuit. The eggs were cooked perfectly. The sausage was delicious. The grits were the highlight of the meal. The biscuit was not as fluffy as I expected it to be. My daughter said her French toast was amazing. I know it was good, because she came home and told the rest of our family about it. The French toast was very thick, topped with fresh strawberries and the maple syrup enhanced the taste. They had to-go soups and desserts ready behind the counter. What a lovely place. Simple and good. This is my second time going and I will definitely visit again.
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Mike B.
Aug 25, 2024
Delicious brunch at this freestanding spot in Durham.Order at the counter, they bring you the food. Pro tip - remember the table number you're sitting at, they ask you when you order.Varied menu of unique and interesting choices. Service is quick, about 10 minutes from order to service. Tried an heirloom tomato and pesto sandwich. 7-grain bread is filled with slices of gorgeous ripe tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Its slathered with pesto and drizzled with balsamic. Then pressed in a waffle maker. The pesto/tomato combo is mouthwatering. The cheese is gooey, creamy and fresh. Not your standard grilled cheese Sammy - this is definitely up a few notches.Also tried eggs benedict with smoked salmon. Perfectly poached eggs perched atop thinly sliced lox on a toasted English muffin. Hollandaise sauce drizzled over the top. To me it could have used a little more hollandaise and the hollandaise could have been a little tangier. But that's minor - this was very good.Roasted potatoes and veggies to accompany the benedict.... These were great...as many veggies as potatoes, chunked and roasted. A good choice (among several in the area) for brunch. Go!
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Marsha S.
May 11, 2024
I miss the previous hostess manager! She was great and played a part in The Refectory being one of the best places in town to eat brunch. I'd eaten there for years, and she had the best approach and always seemed to be enjoying herself, and it was contagious!! Tragically for The Refectory, she's left, and so has her enthusiasm. The new hostess/manager has a completely different demeanor, and I have to say she falls short when it comes to pleasantness and concern for customers. The service has declined, with forgotten orders, and poor attitudes from staff, and somehow the food isn't as good. I recently had chili that I swear came from a can - wasn't even chili really. Maybe the staff misses her too. I've gone back three times in the hope that it was just a coincidence, but it's just not as good as it was.What a shame.
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Becky B.
May 5, 2024
I can't even wrap my head around this place. I'm generously giving two stars because the food was okay. Just okay. We went for brunch this Sunday. It wasn't busy. We liked the ambiance and were looking forward to the food we ordered: Huevos Rancheros $16Lemon Ricotta pancakes $14 w a side of eggs $4Breakfast bowl $13It's like diner food. The huevos rancheros were good but really just like two chalupas with eggs, black beans and meat, with a bit of pico and jalapeño on top. Lemon Ricotta pancakes were just two regular pancakes missing the blueberries we had added. The waitress even argued that the blueberries were cooked inside, although you could clearly tell that there weren't any at all. They did remedy this by bringing a dish of blueberries, about an ounce or so, then bringing out a whole new order of pancakes, which was great. The thing is, each of those pancakes cost SEVEN DOLLARS each and while they were good, they were not anything spectacular for that price.I had the breakfast bowl. It was a bowl of grits with cheddar cheese topped with two eggs and some crumbled bacon-maybe the equivalent of one slice. For THIRTEEN DOLLARS. Hey, I love good food and will happily fork over $$ for good food, but when I the food is basic and plain, I cannot justify it at all. We won't return.
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JJ D.
Jul 20, 2024
Refectory Cafe is a popular brunch spot in Durham with plenty of seating inside. You order at the cash register, which can take a while during prime brunch hours, and your food comes out to your table. We ordered the Shrimp and Grits, Tuna Melt, and the Spicy Chicken & Andouille Sausage Gumbo. The Shrimp and Grits was a bit too oily for our liking, leaving a heavy feeling in our stomachs. Additionally, the shrimp was rather tough and chewy. The Tuna Melt was pretty standard, though we wish it would've come out hot/warm instead of cold. The Gumbo actually wasn't spicy but had a decent serving of chicken in it. Overall, we weren't wowed by our experience at Refectory Cafe despite its high traffic on a Sunday.
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Jaden B.
Sep 14, 2024
Came to town for a wedding in Durham. Plenty of good breakfast and lunch options. The Rise & Shine breakfast was perfect.
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Tim G.
Sep 25, 2024
A surprisingly fabulous spot. Interesting and varied menu of superlative items. Our party of five all loved their selections. Equally great service. Morgan, ask.
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Jaime S.
Feb 3, 2024
My friend and I came here for brunch on a Saturday afternoon around noon. It was rather busy and we didn't have a reservation, so we were ok to sit outside on the heated open patio. It was a decent day for the winter, the sun was out. You get in the line, like at a cafeteria and order your food. At the start of the line are soups and other hot prepared stuff, then there is a dessert case and a pastry case....everything looked so good. You then order everything at the register, and they bring it out to your table. Fostine at the register was great! Neither of us had been there before, so she was super helpful helping us narrow down our choices! The Signature Lemon Ricotta Pancakes were love at first bite. I had them add blueberries and omg! The presentation is basic, but as good as they were it didn't need any extra presentation. My friend had the signature breakfast and subbed the breakfast potatoes for sweet potato fries, which was awesome that she could. I couldn't resist the desserts, so I ordered a ginger snap cookie and lemon bar for later. Both were yummy. Everything was very good. I'm looking forward to going back and trying more things. They are open for dinner too. I also saw that they have wine dinners, so I'm excited to check one out!
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Lauren M.
Sep 2, 2023
I can't believe I've lived in the area for so long but this is my first visit to The Refectory Cafe. We sat outside and you can order from the QR code on the table. I had the Carolina Cobb Salad and it was so filling and delicious. A little bit on the pricier side for lunch, but a great portion. Staff were very attentive and checked on us multiple times even while we were sitting outside. FYI - Their sodas are not fountain sodas. If you're like me I prefer a fountain soda, it was a bottled soda.
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Colin B.
Sep 1, 2024
Wow! Best breakfast/lunch we've had in a long time. And barely any line on a Sunday morning, either!
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