Elmo's Diner Reviews

So great to find a diner similar to the places we used to frequent in my college days in New Jersey!! Lox and bagels for Sunday brunch. Food so good, no time for food pics .

Yummy! Family's first time visiting Durham and this place came highly recommended to us from many locals. It was fantastic.

Amazing food! Reasonable price and amazing quality. Waitress was great

Fun diner experience. The Hummus is amazing and breakfast dishes are usually my favorite.

Great, simple burger options, friendly staff, low prices and family friendly. I've gotta come back for the breakfast apparently. Voted best in Durham County two years in a row

Classic diner food two blocks away from Duke University. What's not to love!

Great local place to eat. They are friendly and the food is very good

Amazing dinner I went for breakfast and the place was very organized very clean and friendly servers and they're taking all the precautions ensuring no one gets sick with the virus

Very nice atmosphere, employees are very respectful, food is very good.My wife and I have had breakfast and dinner. Both menus were outstanding. Great place.

Shepard's pie was one of the lunch specials today and it was on point. The ceasar salad was also delicious. Quick, attentive, service and delicious inexpensive breakfast and lunch food. Definitely recommend.

We really enjoy visiting this diner when in Raleigh Durham. It is always a great experience with good food.

Should you go here? Yes if:
- You've got kids under 10 and don't want a theme park of a restaurant, just to get them some good spaghetti and still have a salmon sandwich yourself.
- You're on a first date and want to keep it low-key, avoiding "fancy."
- You're in the mood for comfort food.
You should not go here if:
- It's Saturday and you want a table in less than 15'
- You want a white-tablecloth-and-faint-Mozart dining ambience.
- You're looking for a "___ (burger, sandwich, etc) to end all others."
- You don't want to hear toddlers yelling in the same restaurant as you.
So it's a diner. A diner done well. It's not the best damn burger you'll ever put in your mouth--but it is so good enough. And it's local. And it does have a few beers and wines. And they have a lot of kid-pleasing food, and don't kick you out if your 5 year old wants to make a very loud "yelp review" IRL.
My "usual" is their huevos rancheros, which means an open tortilla with a bunch of black beans, salsa, cheddar, and scrambled eggs--only I like to order it with an over-easy egg and let that yolk get all up in there.

Incredibly fast service, great food, good atmosphere. Highly recommend.

Our experience was so horrible here we ended up walking out. The expectation is that you keep a mask on BETWEEN BITES while at your own table, though tables are spaced socially distanced apart. We wore masks the correct way when entering + remained socially distant and were still loudly mask-shamed by an employee to the point where other patrons looked at us. We will never return here. Absolutely unreasonable atmosphere.

Customer service was A+ on a very hectic day like Mothers Day! FOOD AWESOME!!

shrimp and grits are to die for! it's always entertaining seeing Duke doctors drinking beer and yelling jokes at 8am because they just ended their shift while you're eating breakfast...

Delicious smoked salmon begal and breakfast burrito. I ve become a regular customer.

Fantastic coffee, brunch and dinner. Favorites are the pancake specials, corned beef, sante fe bowl and pretty much anything made with their seasoned black beans and salsa is delicious.

Food delicious, prices extraordinarily low. And lightning fast service. Fantastic place!!!

Can get busy, especially on weekends for breakfast and brunch. Come early, be prepared to wait, and don t eat here if you re in a rush. Good location, nice staff, good food. It s been a Durham staple for years and I eat here every time I m in town. Chocolate Chip Pancakes are great, as is pretty much all of the breakfast food! Highly recommended so long as you don t hate having to wait for a while.

One of the best places in the ninth street area for lunch and dinner.

Had breakfast for lunch. The biscuits we're hard and the hash browns we're burnt. Bet breakfast early would be better.

Vibrant atmosphere and delicious diner food. I've been going here for well over a decade. It's always a happy place.

Excellent dinner with family style booths, tables or sit at the counter. Had the sweet potato & black bean burrito with side of black beans ( can also get rice). Great service & had the blackberry cobbler (hot) with ice cream.

Diverse menu, and the food is always delicious. Love the family-friendly atmosphere, and the staff is always friendly and welcoming. Try the Greek grilled cheese, chilaquiles, or any of the many rotating specials.

They serve brealfast all day. Welcoming atmosphere & they serve great food. We will be going back!

I use to come here when I was a kid. The food is still great and the service is very friendly. I recommend having the quiche

A personal favorite since I was a kid. Always fresh and classic diner food with the occasional surprise mixed in. You're gonna wanna bring your entire family here one by one so you can try every dish.

Veggie burger was undercooked otherwise food was ok. Waitress was great and wait time for food was fine.

This was my first visit to Elmo's Diner. Really like the mom and pop feel of the place. Had the baked french toast after a recommendation from the people sitting next to me at the counter. Would want to try something else the next time.

Good food, Good service, but expensive. Paid about $18 for a breakfast. Not a fancy place.

Is ok, I wish they had used fresh red and green peppers with onions in my omeltte. The home fries where way two dry. I had a to go order.

Fun breakfast or lunch joint in Durham. Fast, friendly service but don't expect a new york style diner experience although some dishes suggest it. Food was hot, fresh and unremarkable.

Great food and serving staff! Our families stand-by for comfort food.

We go here often and always enjoy the good food, great service and friendly neighborhood atmosphere. An all around good time and affordable.

Always consistent, always quick. Greek Grilled Cheese and The Trifecta are my go to orders.

Delicious food. Service was pretty fast for our group of 6.

Love love love this diner! From mimosas to burgers, everything is awesome. Love the staff too! Best diner in durham!

A Durham tradition. Cozy, warm, laid back. Interesting menu. Nice servers. Good prices. Parking can be a problem on busy days.

Good food, good service...will definitely return!!!

Always a great breakfast. They're working hard to make people feel comfortable.

There's just something about Elmo's . . . it's warm, comforting, and friendly. The staff is always great, the food is delicious and the portions are large!

Probably my favorite thing is that the food isn't at all greasy and oily like your standard diner fare. The home fries in particular are amazing!

The restaurant is nice and clean, service was decent, but our omlettes were nasty. Both people in my party got omlettes with raw vegetables. I had 3 different vegetables in my omlette and all of them were raw to the point the bell peppers were crunchy. They also weren't mixed in at all with the egg and cheese just piled in there. Really gross.

Great food, affordable, and great, friendly service

It's a diner. Good selection of meals.
We had breakfast at 11:15. Omlets. Wester and build your own. I had the home fries and Lynn had grits. Very good omlets and potatoes. Grits "nothing to write home about". Good coffee. Good service. I'd happily eat here again and I do recommend the place.

Tons of food variety and great options for carnivores and Vegetarians/Vegans alike

Food was good. Service was decent. Price was right. We'll be back.

Was driving to Atlanta Georgia googled this place and decided to stop there because of the good reviews. This place is amazing. The food is amazing and most of all the service is probably the best I ve ever had. If I m traveling I will make it a point to stop at Elmo s Diner. Great staff!

Awesome food and cool atmosphere. Good for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Limited vegan and vegetarian options.

Busy yet well run diner with decent food at good prices. Expect a wait during meal times.

We eat here for breakfast everytime we stay in Raleigh always a reason just to go to Raleigh!!!

I've enjoyed Elmo's every single time. When out-of-towners come to visit, this is always at the top of our list. It does get pretty busy during certain times of the day, but the wait has never been too long. And they've got lots of seating and hot coffee for the wait. Staff is quick and friendly and the food is delicious.

Go for the breakfast food.

Almost always have a line, but the food doesn't match the hype. It's two blocks away and I'll still drive across town for other options.

Miss the burger.

Elmo's is one of my favorite places to eat in Durham. The food is almost always fantastic (on rare occasions it is just okay). I usually get blueberry waffles with a side of bacon and eggs if I'm feeling breakfast-y, or the vegetarian taco salad if I'm not. Prices are reasonable and I love the earthy diner-vibe. The food is always fresh, service is always terrific. It's very, very crowded on the weekends and even during the week, so be sure to plan ahead and leave yourself enough time! Love, love, love Elmo's!