Durham restaurant recommendations.

[So]

We are in Durham for a Saturday night in a few weeks time. Where to eat please?

Fish and / or grill or Italian is good. In the centre of the city.

[Jack-flash]

Zen bar , great place

[So]

Jack-flash said:

Zen bar , great place

Thanks but we may have some children with us and Thai won't be popular.

[Toyoda]

Akarsu Turkish restaurant is really good. Otherwise you're talking all the usual chain stuff like ask, zizzi, la tasca etc.

Finbarrs is the best in durham but may be no good if you've got the kids. It's a 15 min walk or 2 min taxi ride out of the centre.

[So]

Toyoda said:

Akarsu Turkish restaurant is really good. Otherwise you're talking all the usual chain stuff like ask, zizzi, la tasca etc.

Finbarrs is the best in durham but may be no good if you've got the kids. It's a 15 min walk or 2 min taxi ride out of the centre.

Great thanks

[Jack-flash]

If kids are present tango for burgers and there not to be confused with the others there amazing and a great place

[So]

Toyoda said:

Akarsu Turkish restaurant is really good. Otherwise you're talking all the usual chain stuff like ask, zizzi, la tasca etc.

Finbarrs is the best in durham but may be no good if you've got the kids. It's a 15 min walk or 2 min taxi ride out of the centre.

Akarsu booked and we will try some of the other suggestions whilst there.

[bomb]

http://lebaneat.co.uk/

Ensure you book a table. Great food. 'Busy' atmosphere. Right near city centre just near Cathedral.

[So]

bomb said:

http://lebaneat.co.uk/

Ensure you book a table. Great food. 'Busy' atmosphere. Right near city centre just near Cathedral.

We are back now.

I don't mean to offend anyone whose home is Durham, but the city has a standard of food and service I haven't experienced since the 1980s.

Akarsu was OK, and I use that term advisedly, nowhere else we experienced was.

A place called Chapter served us room temperature white wine. They had no cold white wine but gave us ice cubes. Then they asked everyone to leave at 5.20 because they were closing at 5.30. The chap on the next table had been served warm lager. He didn't fancy ice cubes.

We moved on to Tango, the service was glacially slow. The food was grim.

Even Bills was poor and Bills is usually basically competent everywhere.

The hotel was very good though. Hotel Indigo. Very plush, good breakfast and cheap.

[Toyoda]

So said:

We are back now.

I don't mean to offend anyone whose home is Durham, but the city has a standard of food and service I haven't experienced since the 1980s.

Akarsu was OK, and I use that term advisedly, nowhere else we experienced was.

A place called Chapter served us room temperature white wine. They had no cold white wine but gave us ice cubes. Then they asked everyone to leave at 5.20 because they were closing at 5.30. The chap on the next table had been served warm lager. He didn't fancy ice cubes.

We moved on to Tango, the service was glacially slow. The food was grim.

Even Bills was poor and Bills is usually basically competent everywhere.

The hotel was very good though. Hotel Indigo. Very plush, good breakfast and cheap.

Shame to hear that but the only saving grace is I recommended the least worst of the places you went to! Akarsu is pretty basic inside but the food is nice, some would say that sums up the country of the cuisine it cooks. Finbarrs would have probably met your expectations but as I said at the time, it's a bit fancy if you've got young children with you. Zen was also a good shout but again it was discounted due to the children's preferences. I gather there's a Marco Pierre White steakhouse attached to the hotel you stayed in, but I've heard too many bad reports about that place, plus they're booked well in advance.

As for your other experiences, ice cubes with your lager is unforgiveable! I must say, as someone who lives relatively locally to the city, I haven't been to Chapters or Bills and although I've walked past them, they're not places I hear of friends visiting. Maybe they're more for the passing tourist trade and hence don't really care about repeat custom. It's no excuse though, and a shame your visit to the city wasn't exactly enhanced by the local eateries. At least the weather was good!

[So]

Toyoda

The recommendation was genuinely appreciated and I didn’t want to appear in any way ungrateful. It was just surprising that was all.

It’s a shame if the MPW place is poor, it’s a beautiful building. The breakfast was very good.

[ray von]

Should've gone on www.readytogo.net apparently there's nowhere to eat in Durham

[bomb]

Durham is a massive 'University' City. Consequently it caters mainly for students, who enjoy fast food, and chain style eateries. Service can be hit or miss ( mainly miss!).

Pity you had a poor experience.