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Food - It's a Southern Thing - Downtown Durham, Durham, NC

It's a Southern Thing - Downtown Durham

4.4 (344)
$30 and under
Southern
605 W Main St, Durham, NC 27701

About this restaurant

  • Great for brunch
  • Good for special occasions
  • Lively
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 our Famed Smoked Chicken Wings, 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.

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Southern, Barbecue, Comfort Food
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 10:30 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Fri 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Sat, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Private party facilities
    Perfect for business groups, meetings, parties, graduation, wedding rehearsals, etc. (up to 55 people)Lunch Events: $250 minimumMonday through Wednesday Dinner Events: $500 minimumThursday through Saturday Dinner Events: $750 minimumAll minimums are pretax and excludes gratuity 20%Minimums are subject to change: For holidays or special events
  • Neighborhood
    Durham
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at It's a Southern Thing - Downtown Durham.

4.4

4.4
(344)
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.2Ambience
  • 4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

344 Reviews
  1. Tiffany

    Tampa3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 28, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food consistent as usual. Bottomless mims always a treat and service was exceptional

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  2. Joe Gold

    Washington DC8 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on June 19, 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    HVAC system did not work properly and the climate was warm making difficult to enjoy the meal.

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  3. Sharon

    Raleigh1 review

    4.0

    Dined on June 6, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was so fresh and well prepared. We went for a birthday brunch and had a great time. The atmosphere was nice and the energy was great. My only issue was that the temperature inside the restaurant was a bit warm for a 90 degree day.

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  4. Andrew

    San Francisco2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 31, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I grew up in Durham and live close by. I took my mother for her 94th Birthday brunch on a Sunday morning at 11. The restaurant was filling up and a bit noisy, however the service and food were outstanding. Our server Akin R. was the most polite, informative and tentative person I have encountered in a long time. His descriptions of the meals would make your mouth water. We ordered the garden omelet, crab cake bene and the chicken fried steak with a side of collard greens and two (2) Bloody Mary (Spicey and not so spicey). The food and drinks were off the chart. I would highly recommend this establishment to anyone who enjoys southern style food, drinks and hospitality.

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  5. Suzanne

    New York City13 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 30, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great service and atmosphere! Highly recommend the shrimp and grits

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  6. Anne

    Philadelphia8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 30, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    WE loved It's A Southern Thing in Durham! The staff was friendly and goes out of their way for you. I don't eat meat so I usually have Shrimp and Grits, however, they had a plant based Fried Chicken Sandwich and usually, the "chicken" is usually mushy. The server said it was very good and crispy. She was right! It was delicious! A lot of their entrees are offered without meat. Only bad thing was we ordered Banana Pudding and Key Lime Pie which I heard were fabulous and they were out of it! So if you are interested, order it early! As it happens, we went back for brunch and they had it. Absolutely a must have!

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  7. Alicia

    Raleigh1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 12, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our servers were wonderfully accommodating and patient with my parents, of which my father had recently suffered a stroke and can’t see on his left side. I was beyond pleased with the service and the food was scrumptious.

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  8. Julia

    South Carolina1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 27, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great, friendly service. Good food that was ready in a good time. Prices were expected, no surprise. Overall a great experience

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  9. Jennifer Gold

    Coastal Georgia7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 25, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very friendly and welcoming staff. Food was amazing! Biscuits had a crispy buttery golden outside with cloud like fluffy delicious inside. The raspberry jam was pure raspberry flavor and not all sugar. The best home fries we have had- tender chunks with wonderful seasoning that was NOT spicy just incredibly flavorful. Each bite was crispy with a slight crunch as home fries should be. The historic building added charm. We sat on the small patio that overlooked the lawns of the apartments within the same building complex. We live an hour away, but we will return for weekend brunch or dinner in the future. It is so worth the drive and the prices were very good for all you get in portions and flavor! This is a must go!

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  10. pat Gold

    Chicago42 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 20, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was terrific and only surpassed by the service. I highly recommend the catfish, my wife the smoked chicken and my son the fried green tomatoes. Drinks were also fantastic.

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Southern, Barbecue, Comfort Food
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 10:30 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Fri 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Sat, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Private party facilities
    Perfect for business groups, meetings, parties, graduation, wedding rehearsals, etc. (up to 55 people)Lunch Events: $250 minimumMonday through Wednesday Dinner Events: $500 minimumThursday through Saturday Dinner Events: $750 minimumAll minimums are pretax and excludes gratuity 20%Minimums are subject to change: For holidays or special events
  • Neighborhood
    Durham
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

Come hungry, guests consistently describe the portions as generous, with several reviews calling the serving sizes huge, ample, or large.

Yes, It's a Southern Thing is a fine pick for date night; multiple guests used it for romantic outings and praised the clean space, attentive service, and satisfying plates.

Sunday brunch (served 10:00 am–2:00 pm) is a guest favorite, expect bottomless mimosas and a lively weekend brunch; for a quieter visit, early Sunday dinner can feel more relaxed.

It's a Southern Thing feels homey and characterful, guests praise its cozy Southern charm and historic-building setting, with an open-kitchen vibe, a lively bar with TVs, and a patio that adds outdoor character.

Yes, It's a Southern Thing is family-friendly: guests regularly bring children and grandchildren and describe it as a fun spot for family dinners and brunches.

Yes, It's a Southern Thing's downtown Durham spot has outdoor seating; guests frequently mention dining on the small patio and enjoying meals and drinks there.

It's a Southern Thing shines at weekend brunch (Sat–Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm) when the bottomless mimosas are a highlight; for a quieter visit, early Sunday dinner often feels more relaxed.

It's a Southern Thing offers a dining room, a full bar area, and an outdoor patio where guests can sit and enjoy their meal.

The patio is dog-friendly, guests report dining outside with their dogs and enjoying the patio seating.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill
  4. Durham
  5. Durham

Permanently Closed

This restaurant is permanently closed.

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