Tobacco Road Sports Cafe

Outstanding service you couldn't ask for more. I believe our waitress was Emily and she was beyond excellent. We have never eaten here before which she recommended the 2 chicken breasts on top of mashed potatoes, with grilled veggies and a honey gravy and my with had the shrimp and grits which she couldn't stop talking about. WOW!!! I know you usually only give 5 stars for the service and food but I would give at least a million stars. Usually we don't eat desert but it was highly recommend to get the brownie with vanilla ice cream, a little chocolate sauce and cherries. Really it melted in your mouth and the brownie was slightly warm which really topped it off. I highly recommend anyone and everyone to go and enjoy the atmosphere, the outstanding service and the wonderful food. Best of all it is not expensive which really surprised us.

I ordered a strawberry avocado salad that was light and refreshing. Didn’t weigh heavy on the stomach. Our waiter was very courteous and patient. This was the perfect place to go before a DPAC show! Ambience was nice, kinda an upscale version of a sports bar.

Tobacco Sports Cafe is one of the best dining spots in Durham. The atmosphere strikes a perfect balance between laid-back and lively. On my recent visit , Jada was my server, and she truly elevated the experience. She was attentive, personable, and gave excellent recommendations encouraging me to try the salmon and the country chicken. Both dishes were outstanding the salmon was tender and flavorful, while the country chicken was comforting with just the right seasoning. Beyond the food, the service overall felt organized and professional, and the restaurant had a welcoming energy from the moment I walked in. I’ll definitely be coming back!

Wonderful experience! We came in from out of town to celebrate with my co-workers and the hostess and staff were extremely attentive & helpful! Food was good, service was friendly, and ambience was incredible!! Thanks for making a memorable evening!

This place was phenomenal! We had just left The Wiz broadway show at DPAC and wanted a little something to eat. This was perfect! We had the steak tacos and some fruit. The flavor of the tacos was amazing. My sister got fries and they were also good. A little similar to Five Guys but not as potatoe-y. It took a while for someone to come and serve us but everything else was good. The prices are also not too bad.

Great customer service. Lauren was great. On the contrary, the food is mediocre 😕. Buffalo egg rolls are good. Crab 🦀 cakes missed the mark. And please stay away from the fried green tomatoes 🍅... 🗑!! The atmosphere is really nice and the price points are good 👍🏾, so yeah, you get what you pay for, so to speak. Happy 😊 eating.

Came with a large group of 30+ people. Service was pretty slow but everybody was friendly and helpful. Even though the food was just okay, we all enjoyed the experience.

Had our Fantasy Football draft night here (2025). Nice venue. Good food & beverage options. We were in a private room, free Wifi access & AC outlets available. Waiter was attentive & pleasant - good service. Beer, wings/sauces, sliders, chips/salsa I had were good 👍 Nice parking deck adjacent but there was an event at DPAC (?) & parking was $10! FYI - others in my group told attendants that they were going to Tobacco Road (not the event) & didn't have to pay. Didn't dawn on me to do that... Bummer 😕

I ordered a strawberry avocado salad that was light and refreshing. Didn't weigh heavy on the stomach. Our waiter was very courteous and patient. This was the perfect place to go before a DPAC show! Ambience was nice, kinda an upscale version of a sports bar.

The Tobacco Road Sports Cafe is on the Tobacco Road Campus and in the outfield of the Durham Bulls Stadium. I dined here before a performance at the Durham Performing Arts Center as I am trying to add some variety to my pre-show dining. The restaurant is large so I was able to walk in and be seated. There is inside and outside seating. The menu is large and had a good variety. I went with the mac n cheese. It was ok and I would have liked it better with a smaller portion and paired with something else. I liked it at first but it was too much of it for me. So next time, I will try something else.

This place is well situated for anyone who loves sports, it backs onto the Durham Bulls stadium and even if you came here just for drinks you could enjoy it while catching some of the game. The inside is modern and well designed with a huge video wall displaying multiple sporting events. This place isn't overly noisy (at least the time we were there) though probably considered by most as a sports bar. The service was ok, seemed a little slow at times however overall our order was correct. We'd come back in the future.

Always a vibe coming to Tobacoo Road sports cafe, great views of the Bulls stadium, great service..fast and friendly and even better food!

Ordered the "Down East Nachos" for takeout and they were delicious! They packed everything separately and that was greatly appreciated so the chips didnt get soggy. HUGE portion size. Only negative is unnecessary charges on the bill of a credit card surcharge & a take out charge.

This place looked closed from the outside on a Friday around noon as I was walking up but when I walked inside there was a decent crowd, I wasn't sure what to expect given the mixed Yelp reviews but the farm salad was really good with lots of fresh vegetables and tasty croutons and a good balsamic dressing, The ultimate nachos were better than most places and I appreciated the cheese was well melted and the ground beef had lots of flavor. We were hungry but still were only able to finish half of it. Service was friendly and they have lots of TVs for sports when games are on. They're right next to the baseball park so it's probably the perfect place to go before or after a game. I enjoyed this place and would come back if I'm in the area.

pretty good lunch spot! the mushroom swiss burger & fried green tomato were very good . the texas pete dusted tots stole the show. super filling. The restaurant is pretty large and sits right in the durham bulls stadium. our server was a little slow with service but he got us what we needed.

Went here for a football game since the previous bad we went to had poor satellite reception. This place was very busy but our waiter was more than attentive to us. We got our food pretty fast after ordering. My daughter ordered some BBQ nachos and she loved them - my boyfriend and I ordered regular nachos with beef which were also really good (and pictured here). Not a huge selection of beers but it was a decent list. My only complaint is that we were seated behind the rows of chairs where all the large TVs were - not a terrible spot but I had a pretty big pole in front of my view so I had to look around a bit. Again, not a huge problem.

We stopped for dinner on a Saturday night and it wasn't busy at all. We were finally seated and our waiter was prompt. We ordered beers and the waiter was super knowledgeable and made great recommendations. As for the food, the salad was decent but any customizations we asked for were ignored. Wings were decent as were the fries. Overall the orders not being quite right were annoying but the service was good and the food too. Very dark inside, but huge bar and tons of TVs.

Definitely a sports bar. I had a strawberry avocado salad. There is nothing very much if you are gluten free although they make some accommodations like just leaving out the bread on a sandwich! There is not enough lettuce but good flavor. My husband had a Philly Cheesesteak ordered with no grilled onions or peppers, subbed white cheddar and raw onion and tomato with well well done French fries. Sandwich was good but not enough meat... not much to it. This so definitely a place to drink. Outside balcony is great but food just C.

If you are looking for a decent bar and classic food and bites this is a solid choice to go with. Parking has never been an issue to get here and service is on average pretty quick and friendly. The place is vibrant and plays loud music while having multiple monitors running sport events at all times. Overall the food quality is ok and the prices are justifiable!

Went to Dinner here tonight and our waitress was a young lady name Brooklyn! Let me tell you that she was absolutely the best ever! Her Attitude and enthusiasm was out of this world! She had us laughing all night. Very knowledgeable about the menu aswell. I had the Surf & Surf and it was great! The whole sport bar was just amazing! Service 10,Food 10, atmosphere 10! If you go ask for Brooklyn you won't be Disappointed!

Delicious food. Good service. Fun atmosphere. Fabulous view of the ball park. Came here for a date night before a show at DPAC and had a wonderful time. Love that they had several good options for vegetarians and husband loved the pasta Alfredo primavera. The salmon was amazing. Asparagus could have used some extra seasoning or olive oil but wasn't bad. And I so wish they had given us a dessert menu as we saw someone order a brownie with icecream on top that looked delicious though maybe it's on a secret menu we don't know about? At any rate, we loved our experience and would highly recommend!

BROOKLYN OUR hostesses was the Mostous. She suggestedthe best line up of beers and got us a up front row seat at their outdoor seating area to watch the bulls play ball. This cute girl made out visit to the city excellent. We were from Texas on a business trip to Chemtek and dined at this fabulous restaurant two night out of our stay. Great food and lots of Beers made for a great experience!

This was my first time at Tobacco Road Sports Café, and unfortunately, it was a bad experience. Our waitress had a distasteful attitude the entire time, barely checked on us, and made a rude comment to my friend, suggesting they order less food so they could leave a better tip when we were leaving. Completely unprofessional. I understand that busy nights can be stressful, but basic respect and professionalism should still be maintained. I hope management addresses this behavior, as it left a negative impression on me.

Food and service are good, but for the life of me, I cannot understand why the server would bring out glasses of water for our party of eight EACH WITH A PLASTIC STRAW?! Why do businesses do this? If they won't offer paper straws can't they at least ASK the customers if they WANT a straw or put them on the table? It would help their bottom line and make a teeny, tiny dent toward helping our sick planet. Even a MAGA freak should be able to get onboard with this policy.

Doordashed the chicken tenders and they were sooo good! They were big and well seasoned. Would def recommend!

We arrived before the Saturday evening crowd so we were able to get a large table perfect for our group of eight. Our server was attentive and took very good care of us throughout our stay. Every cocktail any of us ordered was done perfectly. Our beers were cold and drafts poured properly. The food on the other hand was mediocre. The chicken wings, for example, were at room temperature. I got 5 appetizers for the table and they were all eaten though. I'd go back here again and it's definitely a good place for groups.

Tobacco Road is in the DPAC complex with LOTS to see. When attending a concert, we walked through the river area, caged basketball court, and around by the baseball stadium to get to Tobacco Road. TR is the PERFECT place to post up and grab a drink before a DPAC event/show. If you're into watching a/your team play, try and lock down one of the round booths facing the TV wall. Seriously, we haven't seen a wall like this since Caesar's (Vegas). There was a LOT going on with all the Sunday NFL games. Price point perfectly matches the food. We had all the greatest bar food hits, burgers, tacos, cheesesteaks, ribs, etc. All were solid choices. Service and hosts were friendly and accomodating. We look forward to our next concert, game, and/or downtown Durham stroll.

I stopped here on my way to DPAC for a concert. It was very convenient location and we were able to walk in and immediately get a table. The menu was vast and had many options. Out of the things we ordered, the best was definitely the buffalo chicken eggroll. It came with a blue cheese, but I also got a side of ranch. The egg roll flavor was absolutely amazing. It was a little spicy with some of the buffalo sauce, but the ranch helped with that. The ranch was a little runnier than I usually like, but it was still tasty. I ordered the Cobb salad and it was OK. I got the chicken on top and there was a lot of chicken, but it wasn't very seasoned. The salad was big but I think because the ranch wasn't the best it just didn't hit 100%. The salad usually comes with blue cheese, but I don't like blue cheese so I got the ranch. I wonder if it would be better with a more flavorful dressing. My dad got the steak and he said it was good but it wasn't cooked as much as he wanted it (which is saying a lot) and the coffee rub on the steak was a little overpowering. But the service was wonderful and the atmosphere was very nice. I would definitely go back and try something other than a salad. Maybe that just wasn't the best thing to order. Maybe some sort of sandwich or wrap would be more of their thing. I still have hope because the buffalo chicken eggrolls were so good.

Food order for 6 people was served sporadically. Each person received their food 10 minutes apart. Person who ordered a turkey wrap was served last after everyone else was done eating and a turkey wrap doesn't need to be cooked! Food isn't good enough to return.

I feel like this is one of the spots you have to visit in Durham at least once just to say you've been there. Grab a beer, sit back and enjoy the views of Bull Stadium. The beer and cocktail selection is pretty good and the food is just okay. The service I would say is pretty average as well. It's a good spot to watch a game, but don't expect to have your taste buds explode. Got their Surf & Surf and my fiancé had the sirloin. Everything was decent, could have used more flavor and seasoning for the sides. But for a steak, seafood and a beer, the total was only $50 so I would say you get what you pay for.

Everything was just absolutely horrible. Pulled pork sandwich was dreadful and tasteless. Chicken sandwich was caked with spice.

My daughter and I decided to check out Tobacco Road Sports Cafe on Super Bowl Sunday night after seeing a great show at DPAC. We were seated right away, surprisingly since the game was still on. There's lots of seating options which is awesome. Shy was our server and she was rather attentive even having so many tables on such a busy night. We both ordered sliders since it was late and we just needed something on our stomachs. I ordered the pulled pork sliders & she ordered the hot chicken sliders. They came out pretty quickly. I'd say they were both pretty good. The pulled pork ones were better once I asked for bbq sauce. The hot chicken was exactly that, but had a pretty good flavor. It's a great space to hang out and watch what's on tv, they have so many TVs. I didn't see their drink menu, but I'm sure they had a lot of great selections. The menu had a good amount of variety, I'd come back.

We came here on a non game day, got a seat on the patio, and LOVED the food. We had the Down East Nachos and Durham Bull burger and ohhhhhhhh yum. Excellent. Food is 5/5. View and atmosphere was 5/5. Service was not as good, we didn't have silverware for the longest time. But the waiter was friendly nonetheless. Can't wait to come back here and try more. PS- nachos can totally be split between two people. We had enough at dinner for one, and took home leftovers for two meals with it!

Was such a cool place to eat in Durham! Ate this back in march so there was no Durham Bulls game going on but, we still ate outside. The heaters outside were so hot and toasty. The food was very good and overall a great place to grab a great meal. Even though we were in Durham...GO UNC!!

We love this sports bar, especially before and after DPAC shows, but it can be hard to get in. It's popular for good reason. The food has been especially terrific lately and the menu has a really nice variety. I have fallen madly in love with their Salmon with mashed taters and roasted veggies. The lemon sauce is so good! Husband has tried a bunch of their sandwiches. He was very pleased with his latest Burger, a swiss mushroom one with Tater Tots. Their nachos are killer and so big that two of us can't finish one order for a meal. We've gotten lucky with great Servers in the dining room and at the Bar. Love all the different types of seating, the recliners, booths, regular tables...indoor and outdoor seats. Bar is a great place to land also. They do not take reservations, but do have call ahead.

Okay, so we will break this down into sections: The good: The atmosphere was great, couldn't ask for a better place to watch the game or the fight. Inside and outside seating options, recliners, tv facing booths, clean and well lit bathrooms, the host staff were welcoming and accommodating. The drink, the Carolina Hurricane ( was well made and a great price) the sirloin steak was delicious, the mashed potatoes were good, the tacos were delicious, and the brownie sundae was phenomenal. The bad: The taquitos were not very good at all. 4 taquitos for $11 that were burnt to the point of not really being able to taste them besides tasting the char and the stuff on top; however, we could make out a distinct taste of black beans and my husband hates beans. We knew they were supposed to be chicken and still tore the stuffing out of them to try to decipher what the completely brown and mushy mess inside was and sure enough it was black beans with some type of mystery meat. The veggies with the steak were an excellent flavor but extremely under steamed. The carrots were so hard they taste like they cut them and laid them under a heat lamp a few minutes and laid them on the plate. The ugly: The handicap entrance doesn't come into the front of the restaurant and we couldn't see it from the front, on the way out we tried to find it to see how convenient it was but it was a bit confusing how to get to it, the main entrance is a mildly steep set of stairs, so handicap accessibility is there, but getting to the hostess station once you get in isn't super convenient. Waitstaff was friendly, but in an almost forced way. In the hour and a half we were there I got 3 refills and the first one I had to ask twice for and I finally got it after my glass being completely empty for over 20 minutes. The other 2 came within the last 15 minutes of us being there and one was after we were half way done with dessert and I still had half a cup left as it was. The refills only began coming out after one of the servers possibly heard me mentioning needing to not to forget to take a picture of the dessert for my Yelp! review. We tipped well, as usual, which may have been a shock since when we were seated and looking over the menu we told the server it was our first time trying them and we were having a hard time deciding and we got hit with it we really can't afford much to share a plate of nachos. I don't know that it was meant the way that it seemed, but the way it was stated came across wrong. Overall, most of the food and service was good so I still give 4 stars. It would have been 5 for sure without the bad and the ugly. It's definitely worth a try, I am hoping none of these issues are the standard and we're just one off scenarios.

It depends on what you're looking for. Was it edible? Sure. Is there anything interesting on the bar menu? No. My main, distilled point is: I found a lack of fresh ingredients. It gave me "rescue this restaurant" reality TV vibes, it seemed like a lot of microwaved food. Which is a lane, and people like that. I had the hot honey drizzled chicken. It was somewhat lackluster. I expected really crispy friend chicken breading. I expected silky white gravy, with cracked peppercorn. I expected some kind of quality vegetable on the side. What I experienced was a steamy soggy chicken breading (and that's fine, sure, go off, 3 stars), stodgy matte gravy that had solidified and was a sickly gray, and the vegetable was a cauliflower broccoli mix that seemed microwaved/steamed. The resounding word I keep echoing in my mind is, "fiiine". It's fine. If you like that, go wild, don't let me stop you. The covered patio was cool, there's some cute holiday lighting present right now, and there are no shortage of overhead heaters that were VERY HOT haha the night I was there, so much so we asked them to be turned off. Bathrooms were clean. And the servers were overwhelmed but basically fine. I ordered neat whiskey (Tennessee whiskey) because a lot of the cocktail menu seemed to be sugary concoctions ("and that's fine," I tell myself) and the beer list was pretty unremarkable ("and that's also fine"). I don't remember anything about the wine list, maybe that's where this place really shines, but based on the cocktails and beer, I'd say it's perfectly fine, serviceable but nothing that's gonna blow your socks off. So the overarching theme of this place was: It's fine.

Some of my coworkers and I visited this restaurant today for our team luncheon. We were seated, given our menus, and asked if we wanted anything to drink in a timely manner. The restaurant was fairly empty, so we didn't have any competing noises or anything that would distract us from our moment. Our server was pleasant and knowledgeable. She helped to maintain a good atmosphere. She also checked on us periodically. For the most part, everyone enjoyed their meal; however, one person ordered a salmon dish but was never asked how she wanted the salmon cooked. The salmon was more rare than she liked it, but she did not want to send it back. My spicy dry rub wings were fantastic! The spicy flavor was not overpowering. The wings were seasoned well, had the right level of crisp and texture, and were a decent size. The portion was good for a lunch-size plate. I could have used more blue cheese dressing though. The amount of sauce provided with the wings was not sufficient.

Service is great! So many tvs and they can offer large group space. Catch a bulls game on the patio!!

Great food, great drinks, great price. The service is top tier. It can get loud at times, but not to the point where it's insufferable.

Great burgers and beer! Also, overlooks Durham Bulls Stadium. Dined there as a family on Saturday evening and got to listen to a concert after we dined on the patio. Lots of TV's playing sports games inside if the big game is being televised while you dine. They have a generous selection of craft beers, custom brews and non-alcoholic options. The burgers were awesome! We will definitely return.

Don't eat here the food is not very good. It's like bad bar food. The view of the baseball field is very nice. But the food is gross. Service was okay.

The Cobb Salad that was served to us had chicken that was over cooked and tough/chewy. The service was good and no complaints. Loved that this place truly represents a sports bar.

This is your typical-run-of-the-mill sports bar. I came here with a large group for dinner and we had a great time. I liked how they had a separate dining area for lager groups where we could all gather. Location wise, it's a very convenient place to grab a bite if you're a baseball fan as it is attached to the Durham Bulls baseball stadium. Food and drinks were average. I ordered a burger and it was your typical burger... as expected. I also ordered the Carolina Hurricane and it was a good cocktail on the sweeter side. Drinks were a bit overpriced but it's something I expected due to the location. I don't have any complaints about the food or drinks, but I don't have anything I would rave about either (hence the three star review). Overall, I think it's a convenient place to get dinner before a game, but I wouldn't come back unless it was for a Bulls game.

The waiter jokingly told us they had the best water in Durham. I did check that claim and it seemed pretty average. The view, though. That's a "best in Durham." The restaurants patio overlooks the Durham Bulls park just a few feet down from that infamous Bull. This is my second time here and both times the food has been "good." Nothing as memorable as the view of the stadium. I went with the bbq bacon burger. It was good, but nothing life changing. The fries were kind of a miss with little seasoning and no crispiness. They were out of at least 3 or 4 sides.

Excellent food! Fun music! Great golf, hockey, and basketball games on the giant TV's. Superb service! Exciting upbeat atmosphere.

Conveniently located near Dpac as well as view of Durham bulls is this popular sports bar cafe. Very reasonably priced, and a very popular place in the heart of downtown Durham. Prices range between $10-20ish. Score! We came before a show at Dpac so decided to sit at bar. Lucky for us there were 3 stools together. They have 2 outdoor patios as well as indoor seating. Our bartender took great care of us and got our drinks right away. The pimms cup is a gin drink and very refreshing! I ordered the fried green tomato appetizer and it was savory and crispy. Comes with goat cheese and a pesto basil sauce on a bed of greens. Tasted fresh and would definitely order this again. We got in and out in plenty of time to walk the few steps to Dpac for the show.

A lot of fun, TVs all over and great place to go before a Bulls game to watch Batting Practice on the patio. Parking kinda sucks but that goes for any thing in the stadium/American Tobacco area. Food is good but feels kind of limited for my taste at the price point. Service is great but food can take a longer than it should on busier nights.

So many TVs and definitely a great place to watch sports! They have any and every sporting event on the screen for you. I was here for a family party and then stayed to watch World Cup Soccer. The friendly staff and service were greatly appreciated. I also really liked the food. The bbq chicken and peach cobbler were my favorite food items. They also have a great selection of beer, wine and liquor. Also, the restaurant's location (attached to the ballpark) make it a must visit! Overall I was impressed with this place and definitely recommend it!

Food and service was 5 star. This place was recommended and did not disappoint. Plan to return.

Went downtown for a professional development. Had the caesar salad and it was not my favorite. A lot of dressing and a lot of lemon tha overpowered the dressing. I got grilled chicken that was a little on the over grilled side. Bright side we sat outside and had a great view of the ballpark!

Great restaurant, always enjoy the food and the view of the Bulls game. I highly recommend the Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls on the appetizers list. Chicken, cheese, scallions, Buffalo sauce, and sun dried tomato bleu is to me the best thing on the menu, especially with a beer. I can also recommend the Buffalo chicken sandwich as being very hearty. I will say it's best to be at the bar. My most recent trip, sat for 15 minutes at a booth and didn't get any service. Moved to the bar and had an order in within 2 minutes

No thank you. That is all. Had the hurricane drink which was the best part of the meal The pork belly tacos were so basic Probably just your typical sports bar, I guess

I wanted to like this place because it's in a really cool location but was very disappointed. The fried green tomato appetizer was good but the rest of the food was meh. I got charged $2 for switching the type of cheese on my burger. The cheesesteak was dry and the coleslaw and creamed corn were both not very good. The service was also bad. We were waiting around for our check for a very long time when it was not busy at the restaurant. I'd save your money.

I have mixed feelings with this review. The food was delicious and reasonably priced. The waitress was good at her job. So basing on those 2 things it was a 5 star rating. Here is the problem. We had a reservation for 8 people at 5:30 Saturday- unfortunately the hostess did not have us on the list. She offered to get the manager to see how to handle (I did not ask for manager she immediately said let me get my manager to see what we can do). Some time went by, another hostess came over and I heard her say the manager refused to come over as they didn't want to deal with it. Thankfully this hostess, Thai (i don't know her spelling of her name) was so nice - i explained it was my birthday and we were going to a show at DPAC....she said let me see what I can do for you and thankfully she was able to seat us and we had a fabulous meal. I subtracted 2 stars for the manager shirking her duties but honestly I feel like that should subtract the full 5 but the food was so good and the hostess was so wonderful I just can't give them a 0. Shame on the manager though.

Wanted a quick bite to eat before going to DPAC!! We ordered to go also because this place is usually busy before a play. I literally stopped the bartender to ask for suggestions and she didn't seem upset. She gave me a couple AND told me what was in them. We drank our drinks at the bar and took our plate to eat outside. The drinks didn't disappoint nor did the food. I am overly full. How will I make it through this play?

Total disaster. Went at 5:30 on a Saturday night and was told 30 minutes. Lots of tables open and we waited patiently and after 45 minutes we went and asked about our table. Was then told it would another 30-45 minutes and that they made a mistake with the original time. We would have left had we know it would that long. Finally find a manager that gave us one of the many open tables. We sat down and it took another 15 minute's before anyone showed up. We placed our food order right away and waited for 45 minutes for a salad, tacos and a cheese steak. Overall, 2 1/2 hours for cold food and we couldn't wait to get out. Plenty of staff, plenty of tables. No reason for the long waits.