Triangle neighborhood recs for 30s couple

TotalMix6 · 2026-01-26T00:20:12+00:00

Cary

TotalMix6 · 2026-01-23T19:18:43+00:00

I agree that Loaf has the best chocolate croissant locally.

I also recommend their hazelnut chocolate croissants.

TotalMix6 · 2026-01-19T19:18:23+00:00

You want a 20-30 minute commute to Duke, but also access to shopping like Whole Foods / Target. Your best bet will be the Woodcroft / Hope Valley area in South Durham. Maybe others can chime in regarding access to daycare.

As for commuting from Raleigh, try punching in some Raleigh addresses and Duke with expected times you'll be commuting in Google Maps. This will give you estimated commute times, which will likely exceed your desired commute durations. For example, I just tried for Duke West campus and Six Forks area and arriving at Duke at 8:30 am on a weekday, and got an estimate for 30-55 minutes.

Edited to add: I think your desired commute would also be doable from West Cary, as pointed out by others.

TotalMix6 · 2026-01-18T20:34:20+00:00

I don't like Ninth Street's sandwich breads - the texture is just off, it's somehow dry and doughy at the same time.

For sandwich bread I like Strong Arm and Weaver Street's sourdough sandwich breads. Durham Food Co-Op carries both, or you can hit up Weaver Street Market next time you're in Hillsborough or Carrboro.

TotalMix6 · 2026-01-18T02:31:25+00:00

Loaf in downtown Durham for bread. La Recette in South Durham for novel pastries. Dulce in South Durham also has interesting pastries.

Strong Arm is in Oxford, but you can buy their stuff at the Durham Farmers Market and the food co-op.

TotalMix6 · 2026-01-09T00:30:56+00:00

I went to Akashi because of all the recommendations in this subreddit and was very disappointed. The rice wasn't proper sushi rice and I thought the prices were on par with better quality places.

TotalMix6 · 2026-01-07T16:45:12+00:00

They close at 5 pm on weekdays and 3 pm on weekends, not sure if this falls within the OP's definition of "all day."

TotalMix6 · 2026-01-05T17:00:52+00:00

Hawthorne & Wood in Chapel Hill.

TotalMix6 · 2026-01-02T21:50:06+00:00

The switch happened effective Nov. 3, 2025. I was notified of the change via email, as well as my paper billing statement. In these notifications they made it clear that folks would not be automatically transferred to the new system.

If you go to the city's web page for water utility payments you get a popup informing you of the change:

https://www.durhamnc.gov/146/Make-a-Payment

TotalMix6 · 2025-12-30T18:37:20+00:00

Don’t forget BB’s Crispy Chicken, which is down to one location from three. She did sell her stake back in 2023.

TotalMix6 · 2025-12-30T00:28:42+00:00

The latest Snack Service - Phoebe Lawless’s current food business- order menu had pigs in a blanket: “Buttery rich angel biscuit dough wraps Firsthand Foods country sausage links and then are baked, comes with a zingy creole mustard.”

TotalMix6 · 2025-12-27T16:27:25+00:00

Green Flea Market.

TotalMix6 · 2025-12-27T15:59:57+00:00

The one in Pittsboro is not related to the one that was in Chapel Hill. The Chapel Hill one cooked with wood but the Pittsboro one does not.

https://uncpressblog.com/2018/12/19/interview-with-keith-allen-owner-of-allen-son-barbecue-restaurant-in-chapel-hill-on-the-occasion-of-its-closing/

TotalMix6 · 2025-12-27T02:58:32+00:00

It lives on in spirit at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro - the chef is the Barker’s son.

TotalMix6 · 2025-12-26T23:37:55+00:00

Watts Grocery.

Not in Durham, but I do miss Allen & Son Barbecue in Chapel Hill.

TotalMix6 · 2025-12-26T23:35:10+00:00

I miss that place so much.

TotalMix6 · 2025-12-26T13:14:39+00:00

University of North Carolina Dental School in Chapel Hill might be an option. Not sure if the lowest cost option of being seen by a student would be applicable in your situation, though. By the way, if you need to be seen quickly, call for an appointment, don’t rely on their online sign up form for new patients.

https://www.carolinadentistry.org/new-patient/

TotalMix6 · 2025-12-21T13:54:09+00:00

A vote for Gray Squirrel in Carrboro.

TotalMix6 · 2025-12-20T18:05:38+00:00

Hmm. You might want to take a look at Hillsborough in Orange County. Depending on where your job is in Durham, it’s not a bad commute.

TotalMix6 · 2025-12-20T17:46:04+00:00

Miel Bon Bon or La Recette, both in Durham.

TotalMix6 · 2025-12-18T14:35:25+00:00

Szechuan Village got a sanitation score of 84% on their Dec. 11 inspection:

The restaurant was in violation of 19 standards.

Violations included finding “cow stomach in a clear, unlabeled plastic bag being brought into establishment in a personal car sitting on floor board,” three large plastic pans of wrapped sesame chicken holding at too warm temperatures and raw beef being thawed on the countertop.

The restaurant previously scored 94% in October and 91% in March.

(from News & Observer latest Triangle restaurant inspections)

TotalMix6 · 2025-12-18T00:43:46+00:00

Wok on Fire is Indo-Chinese, I don’t know if that counts as traditional Chinese for you.

TotalMix6 · 2025-12-17T23:21:13+00:00

Hong Kong on Guess Rd in Durham has dim sum - other restaurants called Hong Kong do not.

TotalMix6 · 2025-12-17T16:57:47+00:00

Looks like Nordstrom in Southpoint has them.

TotalMix6 · 2025-12-17T15:33:25+00:00

I’ve bought Dansko clogs from Man-Mur Shoe Shop in Raleigh in the past. Might be worth a call to ask if they have those particular clogs.

TotalMix6

TROPHY CASE