Papas Grille

I am not sure what the status is of the Papas Grille. We went there today (7÷9÷2012).
The windows are all covered with brown paper and there was no sign of activity. I would say that this place has been closed for quite a while and there was no sign to indicate if and when it would reopen. If it was being renovated and closed temporarily you would expect a sign stating that along with the expected date to open. My guess is that this place is closed for good and will not reopen anywhere.

We had dinner here, again, last night. We met with my daughter and her friend. All four meals were excellent, the service was efficient but not rushed. Everyone was friendly and the prices were appropriate. I really enjoy this place.

It might have been an off night, but the service was slow, our appetizers arrived 20 minutes prior to our drink orders, and our food was unimpressive.

Four of us went here for the first time this past Friday night. It was not crowded at all. The location is very off putting, as it is in a strip mall and they are doing major construction on Hillandale, right in front of it, but once you are inside, it is a very nice place. It is all the way at the end past the mexican restaurant. We decided to just get small plates/​tapas for dinner and my partner and I loved our choices. We split the medley of spreads, the mushroom and artichoke bruschetta and the seared scallops on a bed of lentils and quinoa, All three were excellent and we were quite full, so three should be plenty to split between two average people, I would think. Our friends were not quite so fortunate, they had saganaki cheese flambé, the baked manouri cheese (yes they have a cheese thing) and the spanikopita. I don’t know that they loved any of it like we loved all three of our dishes, but they did like the second two. The cheese flambé just tasted like pizza cheese with a slight sweet taste to it, though the presentation was kind of cool. I think the spanikopita was good though, it just isn’t my favorite thing anywhere. The medley of spreads and the scallops were definitely the top two things that were ordered, both were fantastic with the bruschetta not too far behind. Service was very good, our waitress was informative and checked on us frequently, so I have to give this place 5 stars. I can’t wait to go back and try some of the other dishes.

A Hidden Gem Serving Delicious Tapas
Visit: December 4
Since Andy and I don’t get to Durham often, we I decided to try a new place on Sunday evening before attending the cool Unilocal Mobsters and Molls Elite event at The Roxy. We were looking for a restaurant serving tapas because we wanted a light meal before the party. From our search on Unilocal,we found Papas Grille, which was one of the only places listed in the search results that was open on a Sunday night. We rely heavily on our Garmin Nuvi (GPS) to direct us to new places but it was easy to find Papas. It is conveniently located off Hillandale Road from 147. Unfortunately, Hillandale Road is undergoing major construction so it was difficult finding an entrance into the little strip mall. I’m glad I read the reviews before driving to Papas especially the ones that commented on the strip mall scene because it is not very attractive or inviting. About a third or half of the businesses are empty particularly near Papas. Our waitress, Jennifer, told us that Duke Medical has plans to occupy the row of empty spaces next to Papas and should improve the look and the visitor traffic. Papas is close to Duke Hospital and several hotels. Since we arrived in the early evening at about 5:30 pm, there were only 2 tables filled. The other couple was from out of town to have surgery at Duke. Jennifer was patient and kind talking with the visitors.
My eyes popped out of my head as I was perusing the menu. Wow, lots and lots of tapas all with very yummy and delicious descriptions… so many to choose from. Since I was a little cool in my sleeveless fringe dress, I started with a cup of the soup of the day, which was a potato soup. Hmm, hmm good! It was a light cream based soup that had been blended (no potato chunks). It was hearty, rich, and a little salty. Since it was served very hot, it warmed me up pleasantly. Andy and I decided to share the Greek salad and Flash Seared Sea Scallops. Jennifer asked if we wanted the plate or bowl of salad in which the plate was smaller than the bowl. We wanted light so we picked the plate size portion. However, we thought it was large, plenty to share piled high with romaine lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sliced green peppers, red beets, cukes, artichokes, Kalamata olives (with pits), and tangy feta crumbles. This fresh veggie ensemble was dressed with a tasty balsamic vinaigrette that had a nice little zing to it. A fabulous olive oil concoction containing fresh herbs and hot pepper flakes accompanied thin slices of toasted bread. The oil dip was not spicy hot even though there was some red pepper flakes floating in the savory olive oil. It was so good that Andy and I kept dipping bread until it was all gone. The seared scallop tapas blew me away. The chef clearly displayed his culinary skills with this dish. Two medium sized scallops were seared to perfection which were served over a curried lentil and quinoa pilaf artfully drizzled with a spicy olive vinaigrette. This dish rocked! The lentil and quinoa made a hearty pairing but the pilaf had this subtle curry and lemon sauce which was so light wonderfully accenting the delicate scallops. The hint of the spicy and salty vinaigrette sent this dish to the stratosphere.
Jennifer was attentive and personable. She also told us that she could offer us any coffee drink we wanted since the proprietors of Papas Grille also own the café next door, Front Street Café. Cool perk (no pun intended)! I did glance at the cocktail and wine menu, which were quite extensive. It was a great dining experience and I look forward to enjoying a glass of Greek wine as well as other tapas and an entrée or two. So make a date to discover this hidden gem.

A neighbor recommended we try Papas Grille, so we went after the Duke-​FSU game Saturday night. Boy, what a pleasant experience! We were seated quickly; the wait staff were very helpful and pleasant; they were able to accommodate most any request you could make; the dining room was very attractive; the seating was comfortable; it was sufficiently quiet to have a conversation around your table; the food… ah…the food was killer! We had the pita with a medley of spreads, the Cioppino, a customized prima vera entrée, and spanish paella. Amazing tastes and aromas. The desserts (one Crème Brulee, one chocolate cake, and one glass of Port) were great. This was probably the most pleasant surprise we’ve had in Durham. We’ll definitely return… hopefully soon, as writing this revue stirs up tasty memories!

4.5 stars! I’m not huge on Greek food, so I haven’t had this as a priority on my list; but hubby had a coupon, and the Unilocal reviews certainly speak for themselves… I studied the menu in advance and there were a lot of interesting-​sounding small plates. We decided to do several of those rather than each an entrée.
When we arrived, I took in the dressier-​than-​the-​strip-​mall-​suggests space and was glad I’d tossed on a frock for the occasion. The bar stretches off to the list and looks to be a very inviting place to order tapas-​style over a glass of wine or something from their martini list. The dining room is white-​cloth with scattered four-​tops and some cute curved banquette booths with wall partitions dividing you from neighboring parties. I loved that they had some Sinatra and Bing Crosby stuff in the background — my fave kind of dinner music!
The bread they start you off with is delightful, as is the dipping dish (well, what I had of it… my husband greedily folded his slice up into a ball and sopped up most of it in a hearty dunk. The stuff I deal with, ladies… ;)
On our table:
Portuguese octopus: It’s a… tentacle. You can really taste the grilled flavor, and the flavor is a little like scallops, consistency is chewy like squid. Not my favorite, but Phil liked it.
Cheese flambee with pita: Ordered this based on recommendations here. The flambee is a nice little show! The cheese would be plenty for four people… with just two of us it was a little much. I also didn’t think that this was very special. I probably wouldn’t order it again.
Soup of the day (spicy crab): Plenty for the two of us to share — we both enjoyed it! A nice complex spice with crab and soft, cooked-​down veggies. Thick and perfect for the cold weather today. Also paired nice with our cab.
Spanikopita: I loved it! Four pieces of flaky pastry, stuffed with cheese and spinach and served with a nice tzatziki sauce.
Lamb lollipchops: Three chops, great cuts, cooked rare. Served with a clinatro sauce. Very nice.
Baklava: Four pieces served with little dollops of whipped cream and strawberry slivers. Moist, and not too sweet. A must to finish with!
Our server was great — knew the specials by heart, made sure to get all our plates out at the same time, and didn’t bat an eye at our coupon. Though we did get notified of an autograt (20% — certainly deserved!). Our only nit was that we didn’t get dinner plates (and didn’t think to ask for them)… but as we tried to eat our buffet of tapas on the tiny app plates that are served with the bread, we ended up making quite a mess. We’re not normally so sloppy — I swear!

Astounding, right down to the music.

You should run — not walk to Papas. I was of the crowd who had no expectations of this dimly lit, somewhat sleepy-​looking eatery and was blown away. I ordered the salmon, which is most often a ho-​hum dish and uttered «wow» about ten times. It was perfectly cooked with the most delicious glaze and beautifully presented. My husband had the spaghetti bolognese and it was piping hot and incredibly tasty. Though we were full, we decided to test the chef once more with dessert, opting for the freshly prepared baklava. Best I’ve ever had… delicious. Frankly the best meal I’ve had in the Triangle in quite some time, prepared with care and attention to detail.
I should also point out that I’ve lived in Durham over four years in a nearby neighborhood and have never heard anyone speak of this place. How is this possible? The shopping center where Papas is located has seen better days, but don’t let that fool you. Give it a try.

Papas is – As Good as it gets.
You know what they say…“when you have no expectations you are usually blown away by the greatness of what you experience”. This place did that to me. The company was of Annie was special, as we had not seen each other for a couple years, and it was my first trip back to the Raleigh area in 3 years.
Let me first tell you that the service of «Shelly» at this place was the best service I have experienced in an establishment that I can ever remember. Friendly, intelligent, helpful and honest and this is only her part time job. She is an EMT/​firewoman.
The menu is unique and offers true regional favorites. Shelly advised the lamb could not be beat and she was right on with that one.
The atmosphere is wonderful… the experience — what you always want in a quaint off the beaten path location.
Don’t pass this place up… make it a point to visit and you will go back again. I wish I lived closer, it would be a regular place for me.

I happened to find this restaurant during a quick visit to Durham, and so glad I did. I walked in without a reservation on a Thursday night and was immediately accomodated. The hostess and two servers were very gracious, and allowed me to sample a Greek wine before ordering. The lamb was perfection, and very well presented. The atmostphere was relaxed, with pleasant ambient lighting. I could enjoy my dinner while collecting my thoughts for the next day. Papas Grille is located within walking distance of a few hotels in the area, and is a good selection for travelers.

This place was very good… nice atmosphere and staff and very good food. Their sweet tea is brewed with cinnamon which is delicious! As an appetizer we got the hummus and other various dip plate, served with pita bread and crackers and then I got a soup and salad for dinner. I agree that the avolgmeno was delicious!

«Hands-​down best Greek in town, wonderful service»
I’ve been here 3 – 4 times now, and each time, I’ve left thinking this place is absolutely phenomenal. Tonight, I went with the whole family (wife + 10 and 5-​year-​old kids) for the first time. I was nervous because this is an «upscale» restaurant that they wouldn’t accommodate the kids well. My fears were completely unfounded.
First, on the food– absolutely fantastic all around. The bread that came to the table was great. The saganaki appetizer was the best in town– perfectly prepared and a hint of sweetness to it. My spinach salad starter was delicious– the sun dried tomato vinaigrette and nuts complemented the perfect spinach leaves wonderfully. My main dish was moussaka– came in a small casserole dish unlike most places, and the lamb melted in your mouth alongside t he zucchini and eggplant. My wife had a lovely shrimp dish with vegetables over risotto– big in portion (lots of shrimp) and scrumptious. I had tiramisu for dessert– delicious as always– and my wife & kids split an order of chocolate dessert crepes topped with banana ice cream.
But the food was not the only positive– the service was amazing. As we were seated, my daughter asked the server if they had taramosalata, as she loves that. The server said no. However, when she came to take our order, we were surprised that the server had gone on the internet to look up what was in taramosalata and suggested various similar dishes that they did have. They accommodated my five-​year-​old son by immediately saying that, although they do not have a kids’ menu, they can fix any sort of pasta dish for him if we describe it, or a standard like chicken fingers, grilled cheese, etc. He ended up getting soup and grilled cheese (on delicious sourdough bread) — I tried a bite, and it was GOOD! I also sneakily told the server that it was my wife’s birthday dinner (true), and she brought us the tiramisu for free and with a candle in it. VERY nice– I ate it just because (fortunately for me!) my wife isn’t crazy about tiramisu.
The restaurant itself is very nice– nice lighting (slightly dim without being at all dark), good décor, very comfortable booths, and good spacing from others dining.
I can’t say enough good things about this place. It’s not cheap, but if you want the best Greek food in town (better than Nikos and Spartacus, even though I love both of those places), and want to be truly pampered as a customer, this place is a winner. And they took our reservation from OpenTable via Unilocal!
PS– Oddly, the prices on their menu online are significantly (several dollars) higher than the prices we paid there… kind of weird that it’s CHEAPER at the restaurant… and for dinner on a Saturday? Maybe they dropped prices because of the recession?

Great food at expensive prices. Their cheese flambee is amazing, the ostrich medallions delicious, and the lamb chops on a bed of mashed potatoes heaven.
The service is usually great, except when they are busy don’t even bother going as the service grinds to a halt. Luckily it is rarely busy, typically on the big romantic or family holidays (so don’t go during Valentine’s, Mother’s, or Duke Homecoming).

Meat dishes are on the pricey side for the Triangle – from $ 32 – 36 per meat entrée. Pastas are more reasonable around $ 20.
The avolgmeno soup was delicious. I ordered the Pasta al Papa which was also very good. The seafood was not overdone and portions were generous.

One of the only remaining Hellenic (Greek/​Mediterranean) places in Durham. The other one, Taverna Nikos (in Brightleaf Square) closed down.
The setting is not particularly Mediterranean. The food is reasonably good. The dishes are authentic enough and modern spins on old classics. You can get nice vine leaves (Dolmares) here.
There are function rooms out back and service is generally pretty good.
A decent enough restaurant to earn a second visit from me.
Desserts are pretty creative.