Tyler’s Restaurant & Taproom
324 Blackwell St, Durham, NC, 27701
Tyler’s Restaurant & Taproom Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Durham for healthy meals suggestion.
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Visit below restaurant in Durham for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
324 Blackwell St
Durham, NC, 27701 - Phone (919) 433-0345
- Website https://www.tylerstaproom.com/locations/durham/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Garage
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Music : Background
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Ashley W.
After stopping by all of the "Best of the Triangle" booths and snatching up the fun and yummy goodies, my friends and I dropped in to grab some drinks and munchies. We entered the fairly empty restaurant, and the host told us we could sit wherever we want in the "Beer Garden". So, we wander outside and pick a spot, and... wait. The host failed to mention that we had to order everything at the bar -- he said that a server would come by (never happened). After 5 minutes, one of my friends approached a waitress about it, and she instructed us to order at the bar -- as well as suggesting we sit closer to the bar so we got served faster. My boyfriend ordered for us at the bar, amidst the heavy crowd. It took about 20-30 minutes to get our food -- which wasn't too bad. There was just no real wait-service because they were short-staffed. My boyfriend ordered the "Pim Burger" (pimiento cheese, fried green tomato, bacon) paired with a watermelon beer, I ordered fried pickles, and my friend ordered sweet potato fries. The "Pim Burger" was the BEST burger my boyfriend and I have EVER tasted. You could really taste how fresh the meat was -- top quality. The potato roll was on point -- pairing nicely with the crispy bacon, crunchy fried green tomatoes, and the ooey-gooey pimiento cheese that waterfalled off both sides of the sandwich. A bite of this burger had me closing my eyes in foodie-ecstasy -- that's how you know true Southern soul-food. No condiments were needed -- and that's a big deal coming from a girl who's dated a guy who loves pouring hot sauce on everything! The garlic fries were a perfect side (those were dipped in ketchup). The 21st Amendment "Hell or High Watermelon" wheat beer was awesome. A nice overtone of watermelon -- smooth, light, and crisp. My fried pickles were okay, but they were too thick and the breading needed improvement. They were soft, not crispy. The sweet potato fries were ON POINT -- perfectly cut with large chunks of sea salt. YUUUM Next time, I will order a Pim Burger all to myself! Maybe with an extra bowl of pimiento cheese... Omnomnom.
(4)Eric K.
We drove to Durham from Charlotte for a show at DPAC. We arrived really early, so we walked around the (desolate) downtown area, looking for dinner options. We then walked through the old Lucky Strike cigarette factory area and came across Tyler's, along with a few other restaurants. Tyler's looked the most appealing -- both atmosphere-wise and menu-wise. There were a lot of excellent choices on the menu. We started with the Fried Cheese Curds as an appetizer, although there were a lot of other appealing choices as well. We went with the cheese curds because it's rare to find these on a menu...or anywhere in NC. They literally melted in your mouth. Yum! I finally decided on getting their Bacon Bleu burger as an entree. The jalapenos on top made it extra spicy! The bacon that it came with wasn't your ordinary bacon. It was VERY thick, which made it harder to chew and bite so you didn't pull it off the entire sandwich, but it was a unique addition and delicious, too. The bleu cheese was melted bleu, not a messy dressing. It came with garlic fries on the side, and noticing that they had gravy fries as an appetizer, I ordered a side of their stout gravy (50 cents extra) to go with it. It was a good choice. The beer-flavored gravy added more awesomeness to the already flavorful fries. My partner ordered the shrimp and grits. They had a great smoky flavor, too, with bits of bacon added. Unfortunately, I can't review their beer selection, as we didn't have any. I wanted to stay awake for (and not have to pee during) the show we were going to see. Sorry, beer lovers! Tyler's was a great choice, and I'd recommend it to anyone before or after going to DPAC or a Bulls game.
(5)Kelly M.
Visited the Durham location of Tyler's last weekend. As far as decor, I like the one in Raleigh better, but this one was cool too. The speakeasy in the back was a fun place to hangout, with pool tables, games and music playing loudly over the speakers. Good place to spend a Friday night with friends hanging out and having some beers. Which brings me to my next point, beer. That is the reason you come to Tyler's (the food is just ok, which I'll get too, but the beer is what's up). Tyler's has a huge beer menu complete with several specialty and seasonal options. Unfortunately that night they were out of all their seasonal and specialty beers except one. Those are not good odds Tyler's. There were still plenty of other choices, including an extensive bottle list and I decided on an Allagash White, my favorite fall back beer when I don't know what else to choose. Now on to the food. It was ok, nothing to write home about. Definitely your typical bar food. We started with the Carolina nachos, which were not so Carolina style but more of pulled pork piled on top of chips, smothered in hot sauce and cheese. I am a firm believer that anything can be made better with hot sauce, and it definitely did help these nachos, but they really could have used some more. Maybe a topping or two (Jalapeños, tomatoes, onions, sour cream) you know the usuals for nachos, they were too plain. For dinner I got the Fried green tomato and pimento cheese sandwich with a side of chips. I've had the garlic fries before and am not a fan, so I opted out of that side. The sandwich was good, I ate half and enjoyed the other half for lunch the next day. I will probably be back to Tyler's at some point, I want to get one of the tables where you pour your own drafts, but I'll probably just go to drink not eat. Hopefully next time they keep some beers around long enough for me to get a taste!
(4)Sophia K.
Hmm. I wanted to really like this place. Loved the ambiance: open floor plan, cozy booths and big windows, just what I like. The beer selection was undoubtedly great, though I am not a beer enthusiast. Unfortunately Tyler's lost points on both food and service. I ordered a sandwich on focaccia bread. They were all out, but no one told me and they just brought me my sandwich on a hamburger bun without asking. My water glass was empty for the entire duration of our meal, and we had to ask multiple times for food we had ordered. My boyfriend's beer and my side salad came after we were done eating our entrees. The food wasn't bad, but I could certainly have made what I ordered at home. If someone wants to watch a game here and eat nachos I'd be down, but I won't be back for a sit-down meal.
(3)Tyler N.
Okay, bar food. Not a spectacular menu. Fish tacos were mediocre at best, big portion but one haddock stick per. Garlic fries were great! Out of three different beers I asked for they were out of two:(
(3)Jaimey H.
Grabbed a quick bite to eat and drink at the bar before a Law Review meeting with some other staff editors, and I really liked the place. Even though the bar area was crowded, we found seats quickly and were served even quicker. Since I am not a beer drinker I opted for a well drink instead and I wasn't disappointed. What is even better, once the bartender found out I wasn't a beer drinker he was able to select a few for me to try based off the well drink I ordered. That was great since they were all free samples (free=winning), but it wasn't so great for me going into a meeting afterwards (bad law student, but smart to have a DD). I will def come back and try the beer I did like and also to get some of those tasty garlic fries.
(4)Kimberly W.
Love this place ! We were visiting from out of town and tried this with friends before the Bulls game. Yum. Great beer selection and yummy burgers !
(5)Paula E.
I have to admit that the garlic fries are good here, as others have suggested. Bring your mints because you will smell like garlic all night. I can't comment on the beers as neither of us are fans of it, but as far as the food goes it could have been much better. The burger I had was pretty standard. Mike had the Mac and cheese which tasted like it was out of the box! Very noisy and not somewhere we would return to. But decent I am sure for drinks and fries
(3)Jonathon L.
The drink menu is bigger than the food menu! Lot of beers to choose from. The food is excellent also.
(5)Alexander G.
Arrived after a Bulls game and our server has been sat 4 times over and we expected the experience to be poor, it was quite different. Marcus was quick and attentive and made good suggestions. drinks were served first and then maybe a 15 minute wait from for our mains and sides (which I wanted go come out separate, but we understood Marcus was quad sat and wanted to lift some pressure) that came at the same time. We were so happy and he made it a point to ask our names and told us when he works. All this before he had any idea what the total check was going to be or the amount of the tip. I have passed by here way too many times to not have eaten here. The menu is more fresh and inventive than Carolina Ale House and the quality is better too.
(4)Helena K.
Tyler's is a great place to hit up before or after the Bulls' game and was---until Tobacco Road came along---my number one pick for doing just that. The food's great, the beer selection absolutely cannot be beat and, whether you're in the dining room or at the bar, it's a fun crowd. I've been here for dinner countless times and also many, many times just to drink. I highly recommend Tyler's nachos with four-bean vegetarian chili. The standard pear salad--with fresh mixed greens, candied pecans, pears, Gorgonzola, red onions, with spicy mustard vinaigrette--is also far better than good. And their beer selection is nothing short of phenomenal. I recommend the French Broad Wee Heavy-er. They also have tons and tons of outdoor seating, which just continues to expand in the summer. They've got beer outside, and food, and ice cream; it's awesome. The service is laid back and, while perhaps not the friendliest, is efficient enough. I do like the bartenders, with a special shout out to Lindsay, who is as rad as it gets.
(4)Stephanie E.
Tylers is pretty "meh." At least they are consistently "meh." The reason we still go back is the large space in the back, pool tables, various bar games, and a great beer selection. Anytime I go for food though, I remember that Tylers is always disappointing in the food and service department. We went for dinner last night. The wait wasn't too bad considering huge 4th of July crowds. We already had drinks when we sat so our server told us he would be back with water. We eventually had to ask again for the water and were served warm water with no ice. The server put the warm ice-less waters down and walked away. When I managed to flag him down again to ask for water with ice (a novel request), he informed me that they had run out of ice. Really guys? But, stuff happens and thats ok. This silly part of it is that he didn't just say that when he gave us the waters. "Hey sorry about the lack of ice, they are bringing some in ASAP and I will bring you new waters," rather than pretend it is normal to serve warm water on a 100 degree day. Aside from that, relatively slow service with little personality, and mediocre food. Not the best place for dining. I will stick to pool and drinks from now on.
(2)Liwei Y.
Looots and looots of good beer selections. Sometimes, I am not in a huge stout beer mood so I like how there are lots of cider choices. It gets pretty crowded at this place because lots of people come here for drinks. Never tried the food here so I can't comment on that, but definitely recommend this place for beer.
(4)Josh H.
This place has gone out of its way to earn a downgrade. It seems every time I've been by in the last few months, the first two beers I order are the German Special Yeah We're Out of That. If it's on the menu, it should be in a keg somewhere on the premesis most of the time. Tobacco Road's list is much smaller, but it's well considered, and more importantly, available. And the food is several orders of magnitude superior.
(1)Loren W.
Good place to grab a beer before or after a Bulls game. Good on the weekends.
(3)Rachel D.
Great place to grab drinks with friends! Awesome beer selection, and good happy hour specials. Don't miss the fried pickles - they're the best I've ever had!
(4)Bendice G.
We love to come here for a beer and sit outside to enjoy the tobacco campus. Food is good, nothing great that stands out, but beer selection is awesome. Every time we go our server recommends a new beer to try! Staff is always welcoming and great for kids!
(4)Andrew M.
Well what to say about this place. Overall this is a decent spot BUT the wait staff is extremely pushy and stupid, at least the 1 I had fit this category. I asked her what the dessert specials or menu's were or any specials for that matter and shed say " uh.. let me check". she asked waay to many times about how food tasted, especially after the first bite ( something I really hate ). Otherwise my only other gripe is if u get a Reuben Burger dont expect it to look like a proper Reuben. ( meaning they put the sauce on the side instead of on the burger) . My only thought was the cooks need to go to New England to learn how to make a proper Reuben. But thats just me, OTHERWISE on a positive note they definately have it waay on the mark for a white chocolate chip Blondie. THAT was amazing, along with the garlic fries so yes the food itself is why Im giving it a 4.
(4)Molly K.
We ate at Tyler's in Durham on Sunday, 11/20th. We loved our waitress and food was very good. We were very unhappy about two things. One person ordered a kir royal. when it arrived it was as red as a red wine. It is a small amount 1 teaspoons of chambourd with a glass of champagne . Generally it is a color of white wine. When this was mentioned, we were told that is how the bartender makes it. When another person was hoping to order a glass of hummingbird beer that is made in Burlington at Red Oak, what he received was a very sweet undrinkable glass of beer. We were told that the manager refused to take it back. We asked to speak to him. He is the big guy with a beard. He was very rude. This is first review that I have ever written. He was defensive and blamed first us and then the waitress for not understanding what we ordered. He did say finally that he would send a free dessert but first told us that he would not help us. His attitude was horrible. We had an over 100.00 bill. We are talking about a 4.00 glass of wine. He was really horrible and I can promise that if his attitude is the same as others, there will be a huge problem when you open in Seaboard's in Raleigh. Service is as important as food. The awful KirRoyal was never even mentioned. Please if you are serving brunch and all of the selection of beer, know that most customer's want good food and great service. You get a Bplus on food and an F on manager service.
(3)Bob T.
I stopped in Durham on my way down to the outer banks. I was going to go to a Durham Bulls game and this place was right next store. Phenomenal selection of beer. It has to be the best in the city. The other cool thing was that each beer had it's own glass from the microbrewery that created it. Ate some hot wing, and boy, they were hot alright, so be warned. Great experience if you like great beer and great people.
(5)Robert O.
The best things about Tyler's are the beer selection and the facility. The outdoor area is nice (you can sit in the front if you do not want to be around smoke or on the side if you prefer to smoke) and the inside is cool--there are two areas, the restaurant in front and the speakeasy in the back. The food is decent for bar food. This is a great place for happy hour on a Friday evening.
(4)Will C.
Great garlic fries and burgers. A very fun place for playing pool, grabbing some beers, and happy hour before the Bulls. The on-tap beer menu is world-class.
(5)Ben M.
Tyler's is one of those places that is whatever you want it to be. You want to have a nice dinner out? Tyler's. You want to spend a night out with the guys drinking yourselves silly? Tyler's. You want a casual dinner? Tyler's. You want to spend a nice evening outside trying a new beer and taking in the American Tobacco Campus scene? Tyler's. Steak? Got it. Dinner salad? You bet. Burger? Of course. The restaurant area, with all of the atmosphere that comes with the old warehouse awesome that's become a downtown Durham standard, lends itself to whatever dining atmosphere you want to have. You'll find just as many folks on date night or business meetings as you will random collections of t-shirted folks taking in a pre-Bulls meal. In the back, there's the Speakeasy section. The Speakeasy feels much more like a sports bar and can transform whatever the dinner section of the evening was to a more beer-focused night out in Durham. I do enjoy going out with a large group and having the fish and chips in the dining area before retiring to the back with the football fans to take in a game and a few extra pints from their pretty impressive and diverse list. Because it can be so many things at once, Tyler's might not be my first choice for anything specific...but it makes a helluva default in Durham.
(4)Eve P.
I'm always excited when people say we're meeting at Tyler's. It's just one of those places that is always comfortable, welcoming, and yummy - a good combination. Most recently, I had the pear salad and was pleasantly surprised. The mustard vinaigrette was a perfect compliment to the fresh greens and thinly sliced pears. I replaced the gorgonzola with parmesan, which worked out well. The absolute highlight was the candied walnuts - yum! It was like eating dessert with my salad. They were generous with all the ingredients - one of the best salads I've had. I've also had great burgers and fries here, and I love the whole American Tobacco atmosphere.
(4)Thomas N.
Great beer selection. Very impressed with some rare beers on tap and bottle. Good dessert.
(4)Steve B.
Fan of the beers and the Southerness of the variety of fried food offerings. Regularly get the Southern Chicken Salad. I'm also a big fan of the garlic fries. Given that I hail from the great state of Michigan, I really like the fact that they have Bell's (Kalamazoo, MI brewery) beers on tap - especially Oberon in the summer.
(4)Marisa M.
I love Tylers for their HUGE beer selection and also their unusual items you can't get anywhere else. The menu is good, I've liked everything I've had, although there are not a ton of vegetarian friendly items if that is something you're concerned about. The Speakeasy in the back is great too, with pool, foosball, jukebox, etc. Service is friendly and good, even when it's busy.
(4)Ven O.
Beers and drink selection is great but the food is below standards. Ordered the grilled beer chicken sandwich. It was a very thin piece of meat and low quality as well...was expecting much better from what I heard about this place. Only good for drinks and not food.
(2)Jessica W.
I had the pear salad and steak with a spicy mustard. It so good. I left feeling full but not stuffed. The pear blended so well with the blue cheese it melted in my mouth. I ate at the bar - which had a great selection of beers. Later on I played pool in the back. It was a great place for adults to hang out and have some fun but is a kid-friendly environment.
(5)a. a.
Delicious, delicious burgers -- I've been delighted with the food the two or three times I've been here since moving to the area. THe frustrating thing about this joint is the noise -- there's no way to have any kind of conversation without shrieking at one another during busy hours. Being something of an old lady before my time, the noise is what keeps me from going back -- but the food surely is delicious.
(3)Caroline Z.
Tyler's has an excellent selection of beers and tasty pub-type food - a fun place to spend an evening or happy hour, especially if the weather's nice and you can get a table outside. I like the munchy food - nachos, wings, etc - better than the dinner food, but they have pretty decent burgers, sandwiches, and fish and chips. Tyler's is also a great place for parties - if you're looking for rent-able space for a casual event, the Speakeasy area is very nice for a large group. It has a bar, pool and foosball tables, and large TVs with comfy leather couches. Their catering/party menu is good - I've both hosted and attended parties here and was very satisfied each time. There are two other Tyler's locations, in Carrboro and Apex. I haven't been to the Apex restaurant. Durham is more spacious than Carrboro, both in terms of dining space and event rooms, plus it has outdoor seating in the American Tobacco courtyard area, which is a big plus.
(4)Jillian T.
Ok so Tyler's Taproom would have easily gotten a 4, maybe even a 5 in my book based on the food, because its tasty and exactly what you would expect from this place. However the service is disappointing to say the least. The hostess was on point and really friendly. She gets a 5, her counterpart was a guy who just seemed uninterested in hosting. He did not bother to greet us and instead walked away without a word and let her do the work. Call me crazy but the first face you see and interact with when you walk in makes an impression...his was not a good one. Let me also preface this review with the fact that this place was DEAD. We were there for a later lunch and sat outside. The food: I ordered the western burger with the garlic fries, the burger was great! However, our server Adrian did not ask how I wanted it cooked and apparently disregarded my request for a light medium. It was too well done to enjoy the quality of the meat, which the menu made a point of emphasizing. My friend ordered the fish tacos, she said they were good, but slightly over-battered. We split the brownie with ice-cream which was pretty darn good:) fresh ice-cream that wasn't frost bitten and a warm brownie with whipped cream! Delicious. To sum it up: The kitchen was on point with great food, that came out quickly! The service: Our server was nice, however she was at the end of her shift so she was very rushed to get us out of there. We on the other had wanted to stay a while. We had other people joining us, and were ready to try out the myriad of drinks they had to offer! She did not come to the table at all to ask if we needed a refill on drinks... went a whole meal with one Cheerwine:( not cool. Especially since they filled it to the brim with ice and it was gone quick. Adrian then asked if we would mind "cashing out" with her after our brownie and our first round of drinks. We figured lets let her go and just start a tab with a new waitress since she obviously did not want to be there. We tipped her pretty well since we felt like she was not having the best of days and it was slow (our tip between three of us was about 28%, considering the service it was more than fair) THERE WAS NEVER A SECOND WAITRESS! I went in and asked for a new menu (Adrian took ours) the host was supposed to send someone else out, never did. We were having great conversation and enjoyed the weather so we took it upon ourselves to just go to and from the bar when we wanted an alcoholic drink. A little while later, the manager came out and said "you guys are fine now, but in 15-20 minutes when we get busy you'll have to go". THE PLACE WAS DEAD! Only two or three other groups were at the other outside tables. It would have taken a long while to us even coming close to holding the table hostage, and we go out A LOT so we wouldn't do that, we know what its like to wait for a table. The inside was empty. WHY ASK US TO LEAVE? We were spending money and doing all the work ourselves! -----MR. MANAGER, why not ask us if we needed anything else? Another drink perhaps? Not sure the owner would appreciate the way you handled this, because you were only effective in getting us leave and never wanting to return. There are so many other options on the ATC, yours is definitely on my do not return list for now, unfortunately do in part to your servers (I think we could have forgiven that though, a bad day is understandable) but mostly in part to the manager, we felt offended to be quite honest. You had the ability to be more tactful and failed. You were in no danger of losing business on another table because of us. So buyer beware, the food is good but you can't count on a good time thanks to the mismanagement of this establishment.
(2)Randy H.
Come here for the beer selection first, and food as an afterthought. My gf and I went after catching a show at DPAC. She ordered the lemonade and the Cuban sandwhich. I ordered garlic fries and the Mac and cheese with pulled pork and bacon (as well as several beers). The Mac and cheese was pretty good. It was what I hoped it would be- nothing better nothing worse. The portion size was average to small. The Cuban sandwich was pathetic. I wish I had a picture of it, it had one thin slice of ham and maybe a spoonful of pulled pork, and served on a..... Hotdog bun? I don't know, but it was definitely smashed together on the George Foreman it was cooked on. She never got the chance to complain, because our waitress didn't come back until we were done. She only ate it to stave off the hunger. Oh, and the lemonade? Awful. Tasted like it was made yesterday, and sweetened with country time lemonade powder. The waitress did take that off the bill, though. The beer was great though.
(2)Matt W.
Great sweet potato fries and beer selection. Nachos and cole slaw were pretty good. BBQ Dinner was eh (too salty and not enough sauce), blackened salmon salad was eh. The sausage sandwich came out cold! Had to send back! Pasta sucked! They were fast though...almost too fast. I wouldnt come back.
(2)Lauren P.
Pickle chips! Okay, seriously, I'm a huge fan of Tylers. I've been regular to the Durham location since 2005. They have excellent beer on tap and pretty decent bar food. This place is your typical bar. It's American style food, with decent ingredients and they're more than willing to accomodate your order to the best of their abilities. The waitstaff is general fun and I always see it packed before/after DPAC shows and Bulls' games. If you plan to stop by here before an event, make sure to leave yourself plenty of time - the place is busy. And, the waitstaff is really cool about helping you pick out a beer. There are so many on tap that your server can help you decide what goes with what you want to eat or can help you choose one based off of another beer you like. (Note: There are no Budweiser products at Tylers) They recently opened an outdoor beer garden, which I'm super excited about. Now, when the Speakeasy Bar is busy and packed with the people watching the games, those of us that want a mixed drink or one of the options of beers on tap, have a second choice. The seating outside now makes it a lot more pleasant to sit and enjoy and chat with friends. To the people that have complained about the food: it's pub food. Don't expect fancy filet mignon or duck confit, the place serves fried pickle chips (which are fantastic!) and pretty much everything comes with "french fries or chips." If you like garlic, you'll love Tylers. If you want a comfort meal with a good beer, you'll adore Tylers. It's good eating at a pretty decent price for the night. I've eaten most everything on the menu, and there are only a handful of items that I wouldn't order again. But stick to the standards and you'll be fine! And one last note - the desserts are locally made. All of them are delicious, definitely try the blondie...it's my favorite.
(4)Jesse T.
So I just did the Brooklyn Beer Dinner. It was absolutly amazeing! The salad was the best I ever had, the duck was awesome and there are no words to discribe the chocolate pound cake for desert. Thank you Derek!
(5)Holly C.
my friend & i decided to try tyler's in durham for an out-of-chapel-hill Saturday night dining experience. we were both starving and thought it would be nice to get an appetizer at the bar while we waited for our table. when we sat down at the bar, the bartender kept asking if we wanted a drink...we said that we were tired and really hungry and needed a minute. we looked at the appetizer menu and were extremely under-whelmed...i've never actually looked at an appetizer menu and saw literally nothing that would interest me--sure, there were standard items like nachos, but that is extremely boring and not creative at all. we decided to try these fried & battered sausage "corndog"-esque things, which were ok, but we were glad we got the order of 2 instead of 4. after being basically hassled by the bartender, my friend ordered a beer he mixed & "recommended" for her (failing to mention the $2 subcharge). I don't drink beer, but $7.50 for a beer seems like entirely too much to me. when our buzzer went off, we paid our tab and went to our outdoor table, which was awkwardly located out and around the restaurant. it was nice however, because we were located away from the royal-blue clad duke students that were there. we were both in the mood for BBQ and saw "eastern" style BBQ on the menu. yes! my friend decided to order the sandwich with fries (no garlic) and i went with the plate because i wanted the green and fried macaroni (instead of cole slaw). our food came out pretty fast, which was great, because we were starving. i went to taste my BBQ and...tomato? instead of the vinegary taste i was expecting in my BBQ i tasted some weird, sweet, tomato flavors...as in western style BBQ. my friend felt the same way. i asked for more sauce, hoping that would help, but upon further inspection, noticed that the sauce definitely had a red hue to it. while i wasn't expecting the world's greatest BBQ because i wasn't at a BBQ-specific restaurant, i was very surprised that they would call that BBQ eastern when it was very not. my friend offered me one of her fries and it tasted like...fried air...if that makes sense. my greens weren't seasoned at all, but i will say, the fried macaroni was very good. neither of us ate much of our food, and i was a little surprised that our waiter did not ask us if everything was okay/do a better job at being attentive to the fact that we barely ate anything. he probably knew the BBQ was awful too and wasn't even surprised. we ended up going to chick-fil-a for my friend to get a chicken sandwich. i got an ice cream cone. this was the best part of our night, food-wise....
(1)Ed S.
I recently visited this location for an after-work event. It was a game night at the ballpark so the place was packed. However, even though they were busy, the service was friendly and efficient. The food was very good -- especially the garlic knots. Those who suggested them on yelp, thanks!
(4)Denise B.
We go here a lot for dinner before shows at the DPAC. It is always a lively place and sometimes you may have to wait a short time for a seat. We find the food to be very good and the beer selection is awesome. The fare is typical for bar food but they have some good twists to them.
(5)B R.
First time at Tyler's and had a great time. It is in an excellent location close to the Durham Bulls ball park and the Durham Performing Arts Center. We tried the fried green tomato & pimento cheese sandwich (yummy but could hsve used more pimento cheese), garlic fries (excellent), and chicken fried chicken (very good). For dessert, we had the chocolate stout brownie....it was heavenly. The wait staff was very nice. the atmosphere is very relaxing and the food is unique. We can't wait to come back.
(4)Nathanael G.
Outdoor atmosphere is great. Sitting by the water feature and enjoying a Dark and Stormy is fantastic. Have been here a number of times over the years and it is always consistent.
(4)Kristie T.
It was my 1st time visiting Tyler's last night before going to see a show at the DPAC. We got there early to avoid a crowd because there was a Durham Bulls game starting at about the same time, and the place was only 1/4 full when we sat down. While the food came out quick, our order came out wrong, twice. My burger was missing it's sauce and it took our waitress about 10 minutes to get some. Otherwise, the food was decent. Nothing extraordinary, but for bar food it will do. Service was pretty horrible. Our waitress was slow and inattentive. When dessert came, we still had all our plates from our appetizer and entrees sitting on the table, and instead of removing them, our waitress shoved them out of the way just enough to place the dessert down. In order to eat we had to manually stack up our dishes and put them to the side. Not acceptable in my opinion. Not once was I offered a refill on my coke, even though it was empty 1/2way through my meal. I'm generally a 20%-25% tipper, and she got less than 15% even with a 1/2 empty restaurant. I really wanted to like Tyler's, but if I'm catching a game or a show in the tobacco district I'll stick with Mellow Mushroom or The Cuban Revolution next time.
(2)Danni D.
Enormous selection of beers on tap? Check. Selection runs the gambit of color, weight, region, and ABV? Check. At least some beer on Nitro? Check (and swoon). There were 4 when I was there! Knowledgeable barkeep that can discuss beer selection? Check. Decent food to lay a right proper beer foundation? Check. What a great place to grab a couple of pints after work. Being mildly OCD (self-diagnosed), I also love that every beer comes in its own proper logo-adorned glass. By beer three, you need the reminder of what you're drinking. This Tyler's (there are two) is located in the American Tobacco district. The interior is massive, wood-beamed, warm and masculine. In addition to the wonderful beer selection, there was an impressive amount of salt-and-pepper eye candy knocking back a pint or two as well. All the better.
(5)Marvin S.
My wife and I visited Tylers in Durham today. We have been a few times before in the last year or two, so we are familiar with the place and have never had any problems.... until this time 'round. Maybe the fates were in town to test us all, I am not sure. But this experience was a disaster. First, we were seated by Kim, a very pleasant and always smiling waitress. If you get to Tylers on Sundays, ask to be seated at one of Kims table. She will move heaven and Earth to be sure you are a-ok. And so my food review should not be held against her..... We decided to start off with the wings, hand seasoned house special. But they did not have 'em ready (they are supposedly ready at 5 pm, we were there at 4:15 pm). So we got the salt and pepper wings with BBQ on the side (side note, the BBQ is awesome). The wings came and they were not very appealing to the eye, but tasty. My wife ordered the Portabella Mushroom sandwich and I ordered the Kilbasa sausage w/ kraut and a side salad. Her salad arrived and everything looked fine, although they were kinda stingy with the mushroom. However my plate arrived and I was a little taken back at first. The Kilbasa looked little more than a smoke sausage, and was rather bland. Not sure if they were scared of spices or maybe that was not ready until 5 pm too. So I took a couple of bites of that and skipped to the salad. The Salad is fresh, according to the manager Patrick. And he must have been right that it was fresh.... so fresh in fact that it came with a bug!! A live little hoppity hop hop bug. The second I saw that, well, dinner was over for me! Have they EVER heard of washing their lettuce and giving it an ice bath BEFORE serving to the customer? So there I was, sitting and staring at a live little creature kinda walking/skipping from a leaf of lettuce to my half eaten sausage, at which time I killed it with my sausage and demanded to see the Manager. Patrick came over and apologize, which was nice, but then either unintentionally or was out and out clueless, made a comment in a moment that, quite honestly up to that point, was mildly irritating. I mean, things happen. I get that. But when he said, "Its just a little bug....:" really? He kept talking but I was just floored by the first part of his statement and that a manager was telling this to a customer. He could have stopped right there and I would have just walked out. JUST a LITTLE bug? If it were on the menu, if I had ordered bug with my salad, he might have a case. But he seemed a little flippant, clueless or both. At the end of this entire episode, underwhelming smoked sausage trying to be passed off as Kilbasa, unavailable me nu items and bugs with the salad, my meal was comped and her salad was comped. too. It was a bad experience not made better (at first) by the manager. Kim was awesome throughout though.... so again, you want good service, see Kim. And just be aware that their salad is fresh (they get it from the local farmers market) , just be sure when you order it to inspect it first. You never know what "extra" might be included in that salad. Will we be back? Yeah, probably. Why? We've been there a few times in the last few years and never ever had such things happen. So we'll give 'em another chance, no hesitation there. We'll just be sure of when we go and from what we get, inspect thoroughly.
(2)Toni S.
Despite open tables it always seems to be a 30 minute wait for a table here. We've given up on it many a time given pressing DPAC schedule. But tonight we opted for bar seating which was perfect. We were short for time and in the mood for good beer and small plates. We each got a pint. Their beer selection is good. We ordered three small plates to share. Seared tuna, pimento cheese and pretzels. Don't pass up on the pretzels. They are the best. Tuna was good but Hubby happened into a rogue piece of wasabi or horseradish that took his breath (and voice) away for some period of time. This was odd given the rest of the dish wasn't hot at all. Service was good in the bar. Though that means we walked up and ordered at the bar and they brought the food to the table. It was prompt and they checked on us bringing water and such. It was better service than I expected. Prices are in the to be expected range. Overall decent food, good service, surly hostess and good beer. Ok pre-show spot for some food.
(3)Lauren W.
I Like the selection, I love their burgers, and the friend chicken is great. I find the Wings a little Meh, but Most people like them My few complaints I have never had an outstanding waiter or waitress, last time I went my tea was empty more then it was full It is a little loud, sometimes I had trouble hearing the person in front of me. Sometimes the fries have a little to much garlic on it... not always the same
(4)Braxton M.
LOVE Tyler's! Great atmosphere. Bring the family during the day, and bring your buddies at night. The outdoor seating is spectacular. Huge umbrellas for those ridiculous sunny days in NC. Great selection of beer and wine, and lots of ginger-ale for me! My last visit here was before a Durham Bulls game yesterday, and I tried the chili cheese fries. To die for, and they had this garlic kick that was awesome too. Good food, great service, all around great place to visit in Downtown Durham, NC.
(5)Mike S.
Beer on tap from everywhere, from Maine to Washington (the state, not the city!)
(4)Douglas T.
The ribs are tougher than some beef jerky I've had. Definitely not recommended. The beer selection is quite nice, including a couple of different ciders on tap. The down side - you can't build your own flight. They've only got some pre-built flights with no subs. Not what I'd expect from a tap room. The low quality of food and lack of build your own bring this down to 2 stars. Service and beer selections would otherwise have made this a top pick.
(2)Hitomi Y.
Good location and enjoyable beer selections. If you are a beer lover, this is the place you should go. This place is good for casual drinking.
(4)Antonia M.
Here's my scoop, on a place I frequent often... The beer selection is huge. HUGE. Tons on tap and more in bottles. Beer drinkers won't be disappointed! The atmosphere is great - a lovely rustic, warehouse feel bringing out the best of it's American Tobacco Campus location. The Speakeasy next door (attached via a corridor) has pool and games to keep the evening/late-night crew entertained. And they've got an outdoor patio area, complete with a few TVs and bar, for nice-weather days (my favorite). Go here for the beer and go here for the atmosphere. The food - it's fine, and sometimes it's better than other times good, but it's never 'great'. And the service - hit and miss. I can't forget: Foursquare'ers - check in here, and get free Garlic Fries!
(3)Duke C.
This is my goto place for pre-show / pre-game dining in the American Tobacco factory. Always busy but usually can get a table within a reasonable amount of time. I agree with the other reviewers - great drink list and average food menu. Nothing mind blowing from a food perspective - other than the spicy pear salad. It is DELICIOUS. By far my favorite thing on the menu. Also, if you can catch the fried green tomatoes on special they are worth trying. On the drinks - I like that they carry local beers on tap and I am a big fan of their tasting 'flights'.
(3)Rebecca H.
I love Tyler's beer list and the beer cheese. The food is good, a little above average. Overall, this place is a great restaurant/bar to bring friends and have a good time. The outdoor bar is nice in war weather. The Tobacco Campus area is just really neat to walk around. The parking is very convenient. Prices are reasonable.
(4)Jessica H.
Love the atmosphere here! Whether it's sitting outside on a sweltering summer day, drinking a cold beer; or cuddling in the big wooden booths surrounded by tiny lights around Christmastime, this is a fun dinner place! The beer selection is phenomenal. The fried pickles are a must-try. The fried olives, fried peppers and wings are also great. If you check in with 4 Square you get a free order or garlic fries. The main courses (sandwiches, salads, burgers, etc.) were all very nice. Good quality bar food at its best. The service is also awesome. Our server was friendly, helpful, and didn't rush our group at all. We came in with friends from out of town and were pleased to be able to hang out for several hours.
(4)Latesha H.
A few girlfriends and I went here after a night out. We decided to sit outside since it was in the upper 70's..gotta love NC in the fall!! We all had the $7 build your burger which was the bomb! ($1.00 to add cheese or add'l toppings like grilled mushrooms & onions, bacon, slaw etc). Our waiter was etremely busy that night, I guess it was mostly due to the beautiful weather no one wanted to sit inside, so the patio was packed! It took a little longer for our drinks to arrive, but we were in no hurry. Our waiter was almost running from table to table, but he was a sweetheart & the service was good. This was my first time at this location which I enjoyed... can't wait to go back.
(4)Mary S.
A favorite of ours, Tyler's has great beer and food. It's unique to the area (there are 3 in the Triangle). Pint night is a must-- it's on Wed. in Durham, but the one in Carrboro has it on Tuesdays. Not only do you get to try out something new, but you take the glass home, and they're usually pretty cool. Their burgers are great, I like the blue cheese burger the most. But their garlic fries are the reason I come!! (besides the good beer and atmosphere.) They are a must. ***Little known fact: If you check in with foursquare on your smartphone, they'll give you a free appetizer of garlic fries!
(5)Michael H.
Tyler's is located smack-dab in the middle of the American Tobacco complex, and location alone gets it a few stars. Tyler's is a classic pre-show "go-to" spot for folks heading over to DPAC, so be warned that it may be standing room only. The pub fare is pretty good and the atmosphere is electric on a busy night, and I imagine that it's a fantastic place for young techies to go during the day when they need to get out of the office with a laptop tucked under their arm.
(4)Carla R.
We went to Tyler's for lunch today before a show at DPAC. We stopped by and looked at the menu out front before we went in. I got a "build a burger" with the home made potato chips. I decided against the garlic fries and because I could smell the ones at the table across from us (a little too garlicky for my taste), and I already know I like sweet potato fries and The chips sounded like a nice change. They were hot and fresh and very good. I ordered a side of ranch to dip them in. The burger was just a burger and nothing to really blog about. The chicken fried chicken sounded good but you can't order it until after 5PM so..... It was OK I am guessing it's a little better than most "bar food" joints. Service was good, and it was very clean in there. I will try something else next time I go.
(3)T R.
Great selection of beer. Staff needs to be more attentive. My glass of carlsberg was empty way too long. Chili cheeze fries were great. I had a full rack of Memphis ribs. Funny thing is that one slab was fall off the bone delicious. The other slab was tough and cheery. Skip the ribs. My wife had a chiken pot pie that she picked thru the frozen vegetables. Fresh would have made it a great dish. We were ok with the place until the entree came out. Go to drink and eat some where else.
(1)Danny A.
Tyler's has a great atmosphere and outdoor seating, but I've always found the food to be overpriced and not very good. Beer selection is pretty good but I wasn't wow'd really. Again you are looking at ~$5 per pint which is above average cost-wise. I don't know I think I was hoping for more.
(2)D D.
Really liked the laid back attitude. We could actually have a cross table conversation without yelling. The comments about the garlic fries being great is spot on. They are the BEST that Ive had to date. Honestly I would drive the hour it took to get there again just to eat these. Next we shared the Blue Cheese Nachos, fried pickles and beer dip and chips. With the exception of the latter, they never stood a chance and were quickly devoured as well. We all agreed that the beer dip tasted like velveeta with beer in it. Chips were good though. Next came the entrees. Cheese Pimento sandwich and fries (Rated high by the borne and breed country girl who ordered it) Shrimp and Grits. Folks if you are offered a last meal before you leave this earth...PICK THIS. My wife ordered it and I couldn't stop sampling it. In fact I ate her leftovers the next day. Drunken Pork Belly. What ca I say? I ordered it and it was great. A LARGE sandwich I could only eat half (probably although pre meal tapas) The House Burger. Again great in the opinion of the diner. But large Wait staff 100% couldn't ask for better service Food, get the munchies and split entrees they really give you your monies worth. Beer Stay with the monthly house Ale. I had the Dark side sampler and wasnt impressed. Others had the Ale sampler and switched to domestic. We will be back.
(4)Kaitlin S.
I've been here a few times, and the things I have consistently loved are (1) the beer selection and (2) the soft pretzel appetizer (served with their beer queso and mustard-- soo good). I like that you can ask for samples of the beer, but usually when I do it takes awhile to get the sample. Wait service is generally average. I really like the pear salad here (I had it with steak on top)-- I'd been meaning to try it for awhile and I was glad when I finally did. Other than that I haven't had any entrees here that I really enjoyed. The pot pie was ok. The Old West burger was bland. The pork chops with potatoes and spinach (a seasonal special) was pretty awful-- the pork chops were oddly stiff/hard. If you're looking for a place to get beer and appetizers, Tyler's is awesome. If you're looking for a great entree, I'd recommend going someplace else.
(3)Dawn B.
Great place to go for outside seating! Located inside the American Tobacco Campus and right next to the "little river", it's a great setting to take in a pre-game pint or have a business lunch. Fast and reliable service. Decent food.
(3)Mike B.
Best beer selection around. Cool staff. Solid food. Try the honey jalapeno wings. They are killer.
(5)Jeffrey D.
This place was a real disappointment. Had to order four different beers from the menu before we found one they actually had. Really?! Isn't this supposed to be their specialty? Each time took 15 minutes for the waiter to come back from, even though they were not busy (over half the tables were empty). The brat was meh, no crunch to the skin and the bun tasted like a Food Lion hot dog bun. Sweet potato fries were heavily salted with pretzel salt, and I had to knock half of it off to eat them. All in all, stay away from this place unless you're already drunk and just don't care anymore.
(1)Roll T.
Let's just cut through all the crap and get to the gist of this place. If you have any appreciation for beer, you are more than likely going to be satisfied with a trip to Tyler's Restaurant & Taproom. The problem here is that if you expect anything more out of this place other than great beer, you might be let down (I wasn't). Since I was here to watch football and drink beer, it ended up being a win when I got both of those along with good service and tasty fried food. If you are looking for incredibly rare taps, my suggestion is to move from Durham. You aren't going to find a place with 200 Belgian beers on tap (and if I so happen to be speaking out of my ass, please let me know because that would be spectacular... both literally and figuratively). What you will find is Delirium Tremens (sorry Kevin L, no Nocturnum), Fat Tire (yes Justin C, FAT TIRE!!!), Hoptoberfest, and some beer that I thought was made by the Brooklyn Beer company with a crazy name like Destructor. Too bad my recollection of the name is hazy because it was an incredibly hoppy beer that instantly would have ranked in the top 10% of beers I have sampled. My attempts at online research? Fail. Oh well. Stupid memory killed by beer. Servers were friendly here. They made a number of attempts to place a game of interest only to those who hail from Texas onto one of their TVs and kept other attempts to move on to another game from happening simply because one semi-inebriated customer was watching. Thank you Tyler's staff! You rock. For all the people complaining about the food, I was just happy to see fried pickles cut thin (not that spear shit you find at some places) served with ranch dressing on the menu. No complaints here. That was awesome. I'd definitely go back here for beer. Sure, if you are looking for huge HDTV's and football, this probably isn't your best choice. But if you just want to throw back some interesting beers and you aren't too worried about an atmosphere that reads like it came straight from the pages of the Great American Restaurant chain, you'll be fine.
(4)Meghan B.
I finally ate at Tyler's last week after Duke's homecoming game (I previously only had a couple nights featuring tequila, foosball and Hofbrau pints, but that's another story). Food was nothing special, but I'm not a huge fan of the typical bar menus. I wasn't that hungry when I went, so had the blackened salmon salad.. It was good (definitely not great though). The amount of salmon on it was ABSURD, which wasn't a bad thing. :) I took a box home of just salmon and ate it for lunch the next two days. I love the ambience at Tyler's more than the food. It's pretty successful at attracting a wide variety of people and events -- sports fans, pre-theater crowds, family birthday gatherings, and Duke undergrads on first dates all fit in. The beer selection basically rocks (duh). The bartenders will let you taste from the wall 'o taps to your little heart's content until you find one that suits your tastes. I think they have close to 40 beers on tap from all over the world, and they just rolled out their selection of Oktoberfest and pumpkin ales which were quite tasty.
(4)Paul W.
Beer list is extensive, but you have to physically read the taps or continue to question the unattentive bartender because the bound beer list is so out of date. Why do these places try to bind up a list when it changes so ioften. Food is mediocre
(2)James N.
I just don't get the Tyler's thing. It seems like every time I'm with people and they can't figure out where to go for food, someone eventually says Tyler's. The location is swell. They have a nice patio area. They have an excellent beer selection (with PBR available for discriminating customers). Those of us who think the quality of the food is more important than the digs that they are being served in, will never be satisfied here. The problem here is that there are so many better options (e.g. the Federal, Bull McCabes) for quality local food in the downtown area. Tyler's hamburgers are noticeably expensive for a preformed patty with, admittedly, interesting toppings (The old west is good, for a $9 hamburger). Beyond that, I've eaten many different menu items, but can't for the life of me, remember any of them. The best thing about the menu is the fries. If you're just going to drink, 5 stars. If you want food, too, eat before you go.
(3)Dave S.
I like tyler's. It can be crazy crowded (never, never go with a big group), but the beer selection is excellent. The food is great. It isn't too expensive either. The food used to be just average, but the last two times I have gone it was really, really good. The deep fried peppers were probably one of the best things I have ever eaten. The burgers here are good too: orders of magnitude better than Bull City Burgers and Brewery. The thing keeping this from a 5 star is how slow the service can be. It has been better the last 2 times I went, and our waiter was new the last time so he struggled a bit, but my early experiences with Tyler's involved a LOT of waiting. And then more waiting. And then more waiting. As I said, that seems to be better now. Overall verdict: definitely go here. Expect to wait a bit. Expect to drink good beer and eat good food. Expect to have the service be worse than the rest of the experience.
(4)Lisa K.
Usually I come to this place for lunch. The food is descent but the service is kind of slow. They usually will be quick about taking your order but slow in following up after you get your food and realize you are missing something. Also, they seem to always get your order wrong. Nothing major, just forget to put sauce on the side or left a tomato on the sandwich when you specifically ask not to have it. I would go if you are short in time and tight on cash. The food is good enough to go back for.
(3)Kat M.
So everyone know about Tyler's for all the beers on tap and the delicious friend pickles. Somehow I just manage to forget about it. I went to watch Duke play in the final four here last night and had a great time! They had the TVs set up outside and multiple bartenders at the patio bar. Even though it got very busy, the bartenders were still really friendly and attentive. Not to mention they serve locopops out there! It was like a dream come true! I was double fisting w a pint and a locopop, while watching the game! Awesome! As for the food, I agree the fries are not as good as Dain's. However, I love the Portobello sandwich when I am eschewing meat and the spicy chicken wings when I am feeling carnivorous. They also have some pretty good special salads. And again: fried pickles! Tylers is a good solid option for a group bc there is something for everyone.
(4)Mike B.
Pint nights on Wednesdays are pretty well locked in on my calendar. Aside from whoever selecting the beers having a predilection for citrusy IPAs, the beers have been good to great. An occasional stinker better have a cool glass, e.g. Rogue Chipotle. Good To average menu selections and love the hummus with veggies or chili nachos for starters. The wings are good,despite what other reviews say - try the 3 beer sauce. If you don't like the pint of the week, their extensive beer menu will have something you like. Personally, I get a Gaffel kolsch or Warsteiner Dunkel, but there plenty more to try, including the flites.
(4)Sean W.
I've been to Tyler's many times and have been owing it a rating for a long time. I asked for a beer list... I was brought a giant tome labeled "Beer Bible." It's kind of padded to make it seem more absurd. My wife loves the pear salad, and I love going to Durham Bulls baseball games before or after. The beer list is the best you will find in Durham, and up with Flying Saucer in Raleigh for the best beer list in the triangle and depending on the day, maybe even better than Saucer. They hit all the craft styles, focus on American but also have a few Belgians and other Europeans. I love how they serve many of the beers in the correct glassware from the brewer and the glasses are always room temperature. The food is a good deal and generally good, but the beer list is certainly the main draw. Awesome building and location in the cool Tobacco District.
(4)Serena S.
Good for drinks, not as much for food. I've had their beef brisket plate, chicken pot pie, Tyler's Carolina nachos, garlic fries, etc. etc. Many opportunities to prove how good their food is, only to make me say "ehh..." at the end of every meal. You can tell that the beef brisket was frozen before it landed on my plate and for $13, I just expected a little bit more. The chicken pot pie isn't bad, but grossly overpriced. It was $10 for the pot pie - no sides, no nothing - and it wasn't any bigger than the frozen kind you get from Marie Callendar's. As busy as this place gets, service is great. Expect a wait on weekends, since this location is located in downtown Durham. And since downtown Durham is about the size of an elementary school playground, all the action is pretty much centered around Tyler's and a few other restaurants nearby. They have a wide selection of beers and cocktails here. So if you want to skip out on the food and just come for the drinks, I'd definitely recommend that you do that instead. There's also an area where you can have a few beers and play some pool too. They have outdoor seating here too!
(3)Amy H.
Great location, good food, and LOTS OF BEER. I've only been once, so can only comment on the two dishes my companion and I had. But boy, what a meal! I had the blackened crab cakes with fries. The crab cakes were moist and bursting with flavor. The mayo was also delicious. I'm a huge fan of french fries and these were well seasoned and crisp. The other dish was the pear salad... one of my favorite salad combinations. Crisp lettuce topped with salty cheese, sweet and crunchy walnuts, refreshing pears, and tangy dressing; a perfect summertime treat! The location is also great, nestled in the American Tobacco Campus. A must-try in Durham!
(4)Luis A.
Delicious field green salad. Huge selection of draft and bottled beer. Staff is friendly and quick. Abita beer!!! Turbodog and Andy
(4)C. V.
I didn't really like the salad. Friendly service, though.
(2)Anitra B.
Try their Crispin Cider and the turkey burger!! AWESOME!! #repeatcustomer
(4)Brad G.
This technically isn't an update of my review of Tyler's; it's actually a review of the Speakeasy. Speakeasy is the bar in back of Tyler's that, while sharing the same physical address, has its own separate personality. Tyler's is a restaurant with a (well-stocked) bar; the Speakeasy is a bar that just happens to serve up very good food. The Speakeasy boasts couches, pool tables, loads of TVs,a jukebox, and some pretty decent drink specials. The taps behind the bar showcase a variety of drafts not often seen at your local sports bar - lots of specialty brews, local favorites, and seasonals that will always give you something new to taste when you stop in. During the week, the evening crowd is similar to what you'll find in Tyler's: winding-down professionals, college-age kids, and a few lone locals just mulling the world's problems over a Hefeweizen. It's a generally fun crowd, but doesn't get too packed. You will also find that smoking - unlike in Tyler's - is allowed, but it hasn't ever been very smoky when I've been. The drink prices are decent for the variety Speakeasy offers, and there are some pretty good specials. Thursday nights, they offer 28 ounce Sierra Nevada Pale Ale for $6 - a heck of a deal for those who want a large quantity of alcohol on the cheap, but don't want to go the domestic-swill route. Speakeasy also takes advantage of the Tyler's heritage when it comes to food - their appetizer menu has some tasty variations on classic bar food. I recently tried the chicken fingers tossed in teriyaki-Thai chili wing sauce, and they were fantastic. The sauce has a perfect balance of the teriyaki sweetness and chili spices - it's one of the best I've ever tasted. And for only $5.95, it's no more than you'd pay for a similar (but far less spectacular) dish at other local bars. Tyler's and the Speakeasy may be in the same building, but they really are two different worlds. Fortunately for us, both of those worlds are pretty darn good.
(4)George L.
Come here on Wednesday for their $5 pint night (you get to keep the glass too!). The beer selection here is extensive, and the atmosphere here is very chill (the Tobacco District in general just has a nice feel to it). As for food, the nachos were pretty good, as were their garlic fries.
(4)D C.
Nice ambience in a cool part of town. Good food. The garlic fries are particularly delicious. I absolutely love them. Overall Great place to grab a drink or dinner.
(4)Doug H.
Gets 5 stars just for the beer selection which is 2nd to none. The food is some of the best bar food around
(5)Dan R.
Looking for a great place to hangout with some friends then look no further. Tyler's has a great relaxed atmosphere that lends itself well to catching up. Hungry as well? Their menu features items that "stick to your bones" which is great for cold winter days. Thirsty? The bar has an excellent selection of beer on tap that will please even the pickiest palates. Not sure what you like or looking to try something new? Just ask the excellent bar staff. Looking for dessert? Try a Young's Double Chocolate or a Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout.... Not what you had in mind? Try a beer milkshake, half Duck Rabbit Milk Stout and half Young's Double Chocolate... its not on the menu but if you ask nice and they might make one for you...
(4)Adriana K.
I think this is the place to go for beer. I did not have beer. Therefore, I may have a skewed perception. Pork nachos hit the spot and the meat was flavorful with a spicy sauce. Wasn't too impressed with my cocktail,but what can you expect? The interior was spacious and open, I liked that. We were on the patio and had all kinds of people serving us, and the service was fine. Good place to have a group of people getting drinks - or so it seemed to me :)
(3)Roxanne D.
We have been to Tyler's in both Durham and Carrboro and they never disappoint! Amazing beer selections (even if they were out of the one beer I wanted to try today!) and great food. The service is always good, friendly and fast and they do aim to please. When I found out they were out of the beer I wanted I was disappointed. I'm a dark beer fan and the sweeter the better. Our waitress brought a couple of tasters she thought I might like and one hit the nail on the head! We like both locations but especially love the Tobacco Campus location's outside seating area where our pooch can join us! If you love good beer and having lots of different ones to choose from then you have to go to Tyler's!
(4)Perry H.
I've been to Tyler's many times and if I was rating the bar alone I'd have to give it 5 stars - they probably have the best beer selection in Durham. Unfortunately, I've eaten here each time I've visited...which made me go to the 2 star vote. On looks alone, I feel they have the best "pub style" menu in Durham - loads of appetizers, daily specials, entrees, sandwiches, wings, etc. The problem is - none of them are very good. I my trips, either my wife or myself have had the veggie quesadilla, the fish & chips, pulled pork sandwich, wings, and fried pickles (among other things I can't recall). The fish & chips have to be the most pathetic version I've ever had, honestly, I'd take Captain D's over this any day of the week. The pulled pork was dry and cold. The quesadilla was cold and the cheese dried-up as if it had been nuked. The wings are okay, but it was as if they strained the bleu cheese (and watered it down) before serving it - not good. Bottom line - its a great place to go have some drinks, they have tv's, a back room with pool tables, etc. Stop by before the Durham Bulls game and enjoy the outdoor seating also. BUT, whatever you do, eat before or at the game...
(2)G A.
Great portabella sandwich and service was awesome.
(5)Sweet T.
I like this place because it is extremely convenient for grabbing a beer with friends. There is always room for you somewhere, great beer and munchies if necessary. It probably would not be my neighborhood bar of choice...but I don't live in that neighborhood anyway. The Food is probably okay (based upon the Carrboro location) but I don't go for the food, I go for the beer and the setting. I eat because I'm hungry. The Beer selection is hard to beat. Lots of draft. They take it serious. The Setting is pretty cool. Tyler's is the anchor restaurant of the historic American Tobacco District and they are doing pretty well. With tons of seating indoors and out they can handle the Durham Bulls or Music on the Lawn crowds no problem. Inside the decor is subdued and nice with lots of wood. They have a decent bar area and a bonus bar in the back room with pool tables and a device that measures your punching power and bone density at the same time. Outside is open air with lots to look at: water features, a big old Lucky Strike water tower and plenty of people moving through. The Location is convenient to the DPAC, Bulls games, of course, and downtown is a hop and a skip away. Loads of easy parking. I don't know the nightly scene very well so I'll just keep my mouth shut...
(3)Caroline R.
Tyler's is a chill place with great food and great beer. I've been to Tyler's as a couple, in a group of friends, and in a large business group -- both for dinner and just for beers. It's a great place to just relax with friends or your significant other. The urban remodeled-warehouse feel is fun. There are usually several families there: because it's a casual, somewhat noisy environment to begin with, it's actually quite kid-friendly. The food is good, solid pub food. They make their own garlic fries, which are amazing -- not the bland frozen fries you get with burgers most places. They also offer vegetarian options, including excellent sandwiches and salads. And yes -- the fried pickle chips are yum. The beer list is incredible. If you love great beer, you'll love Tyler's. The list changes seasonally, so you get to try new things. Prices range from the normal beer prices for this area, up to glass-of-wine prices for particularly fancy beers. They will sometimes run out of certain beers -- a hazard of a long beer list -- but the servers are knowledgeable about the beers and can recommend alternatives. There is a bar with plenty of seating, where you can order any of the beers. There is a more "sports bar" area in the back room, with pool tables and a more limited selection of beer. Servers have always been fast and friendly, even with large groups. Once our credit card was accidentally double-charged, but when we called the manager, he refunded our money immediately. The average wait time for a table for two on a Friday or Saturday night is about 15-20 minutes. During the week, there's generally not a wait at all. The only negative is that Tyler's gets super-crowded on baseball nights, or nights when there's a concert at American Tobacco Complex. We've been quoted wait times of well over an hour in those situations, and have always decided to go elsewhere. Parking is usually free, but on baseball nights all nearby parking decks charge money -- bummer. I avoid going to Tyler's on these nights. But if you're already attending a concert or a baseball game, it might be worth braving the crowds. (If you're nervous about downtown Durham, don't be. The American Tobacco Complex is populated and safe.)
(5)Ch T.
[Very dog friendly!] This is one of the top places I like to take my dog with for dinner. At this tyler's location, there is plenty of patio and picnic table seating, so even on a crowded day you're still likely to find a place to sit with your dog. And the way it's set up, there are lots of 'end' tables if your dog is a little hyper (like mine) and you want to sit sort of 'out of the way'. The staff is quick to give attention to your dog, and bring out (or suggest) a bowl of ice water for them without you needing to ask for it. They also don't seem to mind if you tie your dog's leash to the railing while you're playing corn hole (though this probably only works if your dog is well behaved. Mine is waaay too excited to meet new people and would pull all the time). As far as the food, we do like the food here. Garlic fries are a must, the burger combinations are interesting, plenty of beers on tap, and they have some non-boring salads (I especially like the pear, gorgonzola and walnut salad, sometimes I add bacon). We rarely have trouble with service - been there at least a dozen times and can only think of one instance where service was a little slow.
(5)Angela C.
Great beer selection, which you would expect from a taproom. Always had great service and the atmosphere is awesome (especially the backroom). Their food is nothing to really write home about, so that's why 4 instead of 5 stars.
(4)Salena R.
Love Love Love this place!!! Garlic fries awesome!! Shrimp Po Boy delicious!!! Employees fantastic!!! Beer selection GREAT!!!
(5)Chad T.
This was the second stop on my bar hopping night last night. The waiter was really great and very personable. Not much to the resturant decore but the place was well lit!!! I had a Cherry Caipirnha cocktail which was 10.50. They couldn't full make it due to them being out of limes, but I still wanted to try it for the brown sugar syrup it was suppose to have in it. It wasnt that good but at least I tried a new drink. I give this place 3 stars for the great waiter and the beer glasses that my friend got when he ordered the beer special. (it came with glasses to keep.)
(3)Dennis O.
Ordered the wedge salad tonight. They should change the name to "The Pyramid Salad". A wedge salad is a quarter head of iceberg lettuce. This was an eighth. They split the wedge in half. Tyler's, if your margins are that thin charge another dollar and serve an honest portion.
(2)Melissa P.
I love Tyler's for their location and their ambiance. I've been coming here for 10 years and that's not going to stop. But c'mon guys--update your beer list more than every month...or three! Without fail, every time I come here, it takes 2-5 tries for me to find a beer that's on your menu that you're not out of. This is especially frustrating when someone goes to the bar to order for me, and after they're told you don't have what I want, nor do you have the back-up choice that I so wisely advised my orderer of--then they have to come back to me, and then I have to go wait in line, again, to run down options #3-5 until I find something you're not out of. If I wanted a Coors Light that was guaranteed to be on top, I wouldn't have rode my bike 10 miles to come visit you. Fail! (but I still love you guys)!
(3)Sua Y.
Originally, I gave 4 start, but lowered it to 3 star now. Their loaded nacho, carolina nacho and garlic fries deserve 5 star. Their main dishes are disappointing. Not so tasty. Plus, somewhat mildly warm-cold. I would go there again to enjoy pub style food, but not much of dinner plates.
(3)Jennifer H.
I really wasn't planning on going out but felt the urge to stop on my way home from work for a beer. I opted for Tyler's because it's close to home and they have a great beer selection. I was greeted politely upon sitting at the bar and was provided with both the beer and food menus. I felt compelled to look at the beer menu even though I always end up with one of my "staple choices". I had an allegash white and it hit the spot! I also ordered the fried green tomato with pimento cheese blt on sourdough with a side of their amazing garlic fries! I left feeling more than satisfied. I would suggest they reconsider the price of the sandwich-I thought $9 was a bit much...
(4)Abby G.
Tyler's is always our go-to for late drinks and socializing. All their bartenders are awesome and friendly and are always so accommodating when we bring our dog. Food is decent but I would rather just drink my calories
(4)Mike M.
My wife and I went here last Friday the food was pretty good service was excellent. I was looking forward to the homemade pimento cheese and was not impressed the rest of my meal was good.
(4)Josh B.
Nachos are a staple in my regular eating out fare, so I always have to try them wherever I go. The quality of the Carolina Nachos, in particular, stand out above many nachos. For one, the chips stay firm and do not become soggy. It's really difficult for any restaurant to avoid this, so it's only a major plus in this case for Tyler's Taproom. The service is optimal; generally pleasant servers and they really have a fun personality. You can tell that Tyler's looks to hire a certain type of person to represent their brand, so it's appreciated as it shapes the taproom culture. I look forward to my next plate of Carolina Nachos.
(5)Matt B.
This was the fourth time I've been to Tyler's (the first being about 1.5 years ago) and it has gotten progressively worse every time. This last time (yesterday) was the official last time. Was told there was going to be a 20 minute wait for a table (no problem... we'll have a drink at the bar). After 30 minutes I went to check on the table and was told (rather curtly by the hostesses) that it would be another 10 and that if we were in a hurry we should just order from the bar. Eventually we were seated, the service was pretty bad, everything we asked for was treated like it was a hassle to him, and he moved at the pace just short of comatose. The food has also gotten progressively worse since the first time. All fried items were soggy, and everything else seemed sloppily thrown together. Such a far departure from our first couple of experiences. It's a shame. To qualify my opinion... I have nearly 2 decades in the industry as a chef/manager, and now, consultant.
(1)Natacha S.
I love going to Tyler's Taproom. I have gone in a few times and have not been disappointed by the food, service and atmosphere. The beer is fantastic, especially the local beers they offer. The food is super tasty and comes out of the kitchen pretty quickly! Most recently I celebrated my birthday there with friends in the back room which has a separate bar, pool tables, tables/seating and shuffle board. The best part was I didn't need a reservation and the tables are nice and long, perfect for a group! We were about 10 and the long tables were great for our group to come and go and eat as we pleased. The place in general is huge and there are always tables. It is also well located at the Tobacco Campus and right by the Bulls Stadium!
(5)Jim E.
Nothing special about this place. I had 3 appetizers for dinner all were OK as bar food. Despite there being 3 bartenders, I had to ask for a drink every time i wanted one. They were nice enough people but seed like they would all rather be somewhere else. I was reading previous Yelp bad reviews to another patron and one of the bartenders overheard. She said. That sounds about right. The tender waiting on me first never mentioned her shift was over. She just took off. Another patron was asked to leave after complaining about bad service. Nice people but bad management. If this place wasn't so close to Durham Bulls stadium, I doubt they would last long. I visited during the ACC baseball tournament.
(2)Shane K.
Normally I will only order pulled pork from a BBQ restaurant. I went out on a limb and order the Carolina BBQ Plate. What an awesome surprise... This is now my go to here. Pulled pork was seasoned perfectly and the mustard greens were on point. I think next time I will sub the mashed potatoes for my fries though, I tried my wife's and they were really good. My only issue is that they literally give you two bites of coleslaw.
(4)Heywood J.
Great beer selection and pretty good service. Get a pretzel with dipping sauce.
(3)Bradford S.
There is a wall of beer taps! Yes, an entire wall (I grew up WAY too close to Wisconsin to not have that affect me). Tyler's originated in Carrboro, but is more urban and spacious in their Durham locale. The food and service are consistently good. It's the kind of place to go... when you can't decide where to go (you know!?).... and it is cool enough to take friends and safe enough that you could take your family when they are in town (well, at least my folks -- see Wisconsin reference above). We go often enough that they know us by name -- so tell 'em I said "Hi!".
(4)Lila Z.
beer galore. a great place to hang out with friends after a long day. plenty of seating and decent space near the bar if you want to just stand. the food is quite good.
(4)Paige T.
Pint night-what a concept! Not to mention a really good excuse to get a group of friends out on a Wednesday night. The Tyler's at the American Tobacco Campus is mostly a really pleasant experience, especially right now when the weather is so nice. Sitting out on the patio underneath the twinkly lights is delightful. However, there was an unfortunate hint of chlorine stink in the air, presumably from the aesthetically pleasing, if not toxic, artificial stream flowing nearby. There is ample seating at this Tyler's, therefore, lots of big parties and rowdy groups, which leads to, one can only expect, less than stellar service. Once a server does come around, s/he is usually quite nice and just obviously overwhelmed. You have their attention, now order, quick! We'll have a round of Rogue Dead Guy Ale (the Pint Night beer selection of the night), a portobello sandwich and two pulled-pork sandwiches, please. Our food was served up quite promptly. Now I must say, the sandwich was slightly underwhelming, no Allen & Son, but boy does Tyler's fry up a tasty French fry---YU-UM! Garlic-y, salted and crisped to perfection. I am not afraid to admit that I devoured my fantastic fries, as well as my okay pulled pork sandwich. I was always taught to clean my plate :P
(4)Kristin C.
Best fries ever! And great selection of beers. Sat in the large outdoor seating area. Good service.
(4)Jeff C.
Great selection of beers. The fish tacos are particularly delicious!
(5)Neil S.
I smile when thinking of going to Tyler's in Durham. The staff is very friendly and remember us each time. The beer selection and pub-food is very good. The atmosphere is rustic-urban (rennovated historic tobacco space-converted to new restaurant). High ceilings and wooden beams soar overhead. There's usually a lively crowd of people of all ages and backgrounds. Parking is plentiful with the multi-level deck next door. The most amazing urban water feature- a stream adn series of water falls cascades steps from the front entrance. I reccomment the Old West Burger, garlic fries or the blackened salmon salad.
(4)Michael B.
If you like frat-tastic table games (and the guys that come with them) in a bar with a decent beer selection then yes. If you want decent bar food, Durham has better.
(3)Bob M.
We visited TTR last night for dinner after voting. We have only lived in the Durham area for a little over a year, but have enjoyed this restaurant on several occasions in the past. It is situated in the Tobacco District right next to the new Bull's stadium, and has always done a good business during the summer, especially on game days. The first thing we noticed last night was that it was packed! Shortly after we were seated at around 7 pm they filled the last available table and the hostess began giving out beepers. This is a large restaurant and I have never seen them close to full before. Granted, it was raining so there was no outdoor seating, but there had to be over 200 dinner patrons plus the bar crowd inside. This is unusual for any restaurant in downtown Durham on a weeknight, based on my experience. The new menus that our server handed us gave the first clue as to the increased popularity. The menu is bigger, with more complex selections than when we last visited in September of this year. We didn't try any of the interesting sounding appetizers, but did have several different entrees. I had a Philadelphia Burger, which came with sauteed onions, mushrooms and Provolone cheese. It was cooked well done, and could have used a few more onions and mushrooms, but was still very enjoyable. I imagine the burgers are all cooked well done for safety's sake, but I will ask if I can get it medium next time, just to see if they will accommodate. I chose the garlic fries with my sandwich. The other option is the potato chips made in-house. The garlic adds a wonderful flavor dimension to this side dish. The rest of my family ordered off the seasonal menu. My wife had the pan seared cod over gnocchi. The fish was done perfectly, as were the gnocchi. These two ingredients were finished with a delicate but very tasty selection of herbs and just the right amount of butter. This dish was very good and Char highly recommends it. Mom had the salad with sweet potato hash browns and candied pecans. it came with a generous amount of thinly shaved cheese and a tasty sweet and sour dressing. It was garnished with some sweet potato waffle chips. The salad was very good and not too filling and the portion was huge, so we took the remainder home for another meal. We finished with two dessert selections. Mom ordered the apple betty without the suggested scoop of ice cream. This was a mistake, since the dish is made with sour apples and really needs a sweet topping. Char and I split the pumpkin cheese cake. It came as a small round serving rather than a wedge from a large cake. This made the entire cake very consistent and enjoyable. There was no dry, chewy outer crust layer to deal with. The texture was light and creamy, with some chopped nuts mixed in the filling. This selection also had a nice balance of sweetness and spices. The service was fast and friendly, though the wait staff was very busy. The noise level was pretty high due to the size of the crowd and the hard interior surfaces of the building. If they remain this popular they may want to think about improving the acoustics of the dining area. The new menu seems inspired and better executed by the kitchen than on our previous visits. We will definitely be back to sample more of the items and would love to hear from others about their recent experiences.
(4)Tracy A.
Many great beers on tap. I had a decent burger here for lunch and a local beer during my recent vacation in Durham, NC. If I had more time in Durham, I would have hung out here more.
(4)Sean B.
Best place to relax and unwind in the Triangle. Great beers on tap and great southern food. It is always an enjoyable experience here.
(5)Margaret Farland F.
This place is perfect for the beer lover. They have tons of beer on tap and many more bottles available. Their bar food is also very good. I cannot speak for the full dinner menu but I love their appetizers. The fried pickles are my favorite! The beer and cheese dip is not that great.
(4)Gina C.
I came here on Saturday night with my friends from Durham. This is a beer lovers paradise! It had so many beers on tap. There was also a menu book for the beers. Too bad I'm not a beer drinker. We ordered the calamari as an app. They were small and too chewy. I ordered the philly burger. You can't go wrong with a burger. I enjoyed it. Other people in my party ordered the fish and chips, french dip, and pear salad. The fish and chips was a cod fish which was meaty, lightly breaded, and seasoned. The best dish was the pear salad. It was delicious with all the flavors of the pear, candied walnuts, and gorgonzola's cheese all on top of a mixed green salad. That was my favorite dish. The place is very laid back and the service was very good.
(4)Ivan E.
Ate here in June for the last time. Our family moved West and we were in Durham to pick up a car and drive to California. It was a baseball night and the ballpark was jammed, as was the parking garage, but we did find a spot. There was a wait at Tylers, but the place was jammed with people. The weather was good, but warm and muggy. We had the pulled pork sandwich. It was filled with meat and the sauce was tangy and sweet at the same time. If in Durham Tyler's is a good place to stop.
(4)Nick L.
Decent service and atmosphere, but I'm pretty sure the burgers that everyone raves about are frozen processed patties, a la Bubba's Burgers. That definitely wasn't freshly ground beef.
(2)Josh S.
High ceilings, wooded interior, and large bar and restaurant areas make Tyler's a cool place to stop for food or drinks. The place has 60 beers on tap, as well as other interesting drinks. I tried Meade for the first time here :) Pool tables and foosball also make this a great place to grab a drink and hang out. Also a good place to eat. The food is standard American fair (burgers, fish tacos, Cobb salad), but it's good and moderately priced. Tyler's has an optional outside seating area in the Tobacco district courtyard when the weather is nice.
(4)Rachit S.
I have had lunch and dinner here on two separate occasions. The food is delicious and portions are good. Highly recommended if you are in the American Tobacco area.
(4)Kelly M.
Tyler's has been a lunchtime staple for me for a couple of years. They've got a great, diverse selection of beers on tap and more than adequate food...especially the fried pickles and french dip sandwich and buffalo wings. Plus pool tables in the back.
(4)Paul G.
It's a great place to go with your drinking buddy. "Pint night Wednesdays," which normally happens around 5:30 or later in the evening, is pretty cool: you get to try a different advertised beer and also get to keep the glass. My favorite trophy beer glass is from DogfishHead. The all out nacho plate comes is huge so it's best to share with two other buddies. The waitresses are really attentive, cheerfully peppy, and remember the regulars.
(4)Michael W.
once again, my fellow yelpers lead me to a great place. let's get one thing clear, you come to Tyler's for the beer. there are pages and pages of choices. it's a beer-lover's paradise. everything else is icing on the cake. the food was great for bar food. i had the fish and chips. while it wasn't anything to write home about, it complimented my beer(s) nicely. the real treat were the garlic fries. wow! easily some of the best garlic fries i've ever had hands down. portions were big without being ridiculous. i actually didn't finish mine (a rarity for me), but i did have an appetizer of fried pickle chips as well. and if you're a pickle fan, try those as well. they're great! service was on par. nothing phenomenal, and there were a few times i found myself thinking 'where the heck is my waitress?', but nothing i would complain about. there was no wait on a Sunday night at dinner time, but the pouring rain probably helped there. the last pleasant surprise was to find the restaurant has an entire seperate bar in the back, something i only noticed when i went to use the restrooms. there's tons of pool tables, foosball tables, a big screen TV, and all sorts of other good bar stuff. it looks like an awesome place to meet some friends for happy hour before walking across the street to a Bulls game. i'm holding back from the 5th star only because i reserve that for places that i find to be over the top. this place was very good, but not phenomenal. still, it's one we'll keep on our rotation from now on. oh, and to anyone here familiar with Gordon Biersch on the west coast, this place is pretty much the same idea but with a different ambiance. but Tyler's garlic fries beat Gordon's any day.
(4)Meghan C.
With more than 50 craft and specialty beers on tap and a great selection of American bar fare, Tyler's never disappoints. The Philly burger is one of the best I've had, and the garlic fries are amazing. Even if you're not up for a full meal, Tyler's is a great place to meet for drinks and appetizers - the fried pickles are a personal favorite. Two thumbs up!
(4)Tina N.
We're not from the area so we're pretty much counting on Yelp to lead us. Who doesn't like beer so we were sure that if the food sucked, we had beer, so there's that. Confession.. I've never has pimento cheese (don't laugh at me) so when the hubby suggested we share the Pim burger, I was skeptical. When it came out ( lightening fast btw ) with the amazing aroma of the garlic fries on. the plate, I couldn't wait to dig in. Burger, bacon, fried green tomato & pimento cheese is a pretty sick combination & the crunch that the tomato & bacon gives a nice dimension to the burger. Oh & those garlic fries.. Real garlic pieces on your plate. Delicious! Service was fast & friendly and the vibe inside was pretty cool. If I lived in the area I would keep coming back.
(5)Dessari L.
My husband works at ATC so we pop in Tyler's fairly often. He loves the Chicken and Cheese Sliders, pimento cheese and fried chicken on a biscuit! Tonight, I had the Drunken Pork Belly sandwich with Garlic Fries. Garlic fries are awesome-fresh and hand cut. The only not wonderful thing tonight was the Pear Lemongrass Collins. It tasted like a regular Tom Collins, nothing special. Their beer menu is spectacular but the cocktail menu needs work for sure.
(4)Rose L.
You don't go to Tyler's for the food, you go there for the atmosphere and the craft beer selection. One of three restaurants located directly in the heart of Tobacco Campus, Tyler's is the pre-party place before and after anything happening on campus or any Durham Bulls Game. They've got lots of options atmosphere-wise: patio seating outside with hanging lights, a bar and lots of picnic table seating, inside with waiter service, at the bar in the main area with bartender service OR, and possibly my favorite tied with the outside bar, the BACKBAR [they actually have a Yelp page of their own!]. The backbar has games: pool, shuffleboard and the random collection of come and go arcade games. You can order food here and get great draft beer. The bartenders at the back bar don't give a sh*t about anything, they are hardcore and give you what you want with no smiles [they will ID you even if you're 50 years old too, without batting an eye]. Note: While Tyler's had THREE bars (inside, backbar and outside), the selection differs from bar to bar. Don't ask for something you had at the front bar at the back bar, you might piss someone off. They will QUICKLY let you know that they don't have the same draft lists. If you're at Tobacco Campus, Tyler's is pretty much the place to go, LARGE, great draft list, and the garlic fries I can vouch for as being legit [save your money and go downtown for actual food, really, I've tried it all!] Just know what you're going to get ahead of time, it's what I've just described for you.
(3)Karman K.
So last night we had just about the perfect summer night chillin in the beer garden with a great selection of drinks and dinner options from blackened catfish to grilled portabella sandwiches. I had the falaffel sandwich which was a little dry but nothing some tzatzikki and feta couldn't fix. It came with a fresh green salad which was a little small but tasty with the balsamic. My husband had the garlic fries and phew, you have to watch yourself with those. Despite slower service on a really busy Saturday night and forgetting a few things from an order for a table of six, we had a great experience. We've played pool in the past there and usually they have corn hole out too. And of course, you can't beat the American Tobacco District - it's beautiful and quintessential Durham. Love! :)
(4)Lola S.
Really nice atmosphere, but the service could be better. I had to flag down a waitress and it was not busy. Maybe it was because we were seated outside? But then again, it was the staff who sat us outside so... I had new orleans shrimp, pretty good. Fries were delicious. They didn't have the summer cocktails listed on the menu, so i ordered a moscow mule that was refreshing but was weak. It's a good, not great place.
(3)Sam P.
I came here with some friends on Saturday night while checking out Durham. First, we had about a 45 min wait. I didn't really mind because I got to walk around a little and check out the others places in this campus. After making a lap around we went up to the bar, had a drink, and then our table was ready. The atmosphere was pretty awesome. The place was packed as the Duke-Syracuse game was going. It was a little cold to sit outside but with a bar and tables out there I'm sure it's fun when it's warmer out. We were seated in the middle of the restaurant, and I was a little disappointed that we didn't have a great view of any of the TVs. Basically anywhere else in the restaurant and we would've seen them just fine. The drink menu is extensive with an impressive tap list. The bar had taps extended 20-25 feet. The food is typical pub food. My burger wasn't bad, but the garlic fries were really good. I felt like I needed to take a shower afterwards, though, the garlic was so strong. The service was timely but not particularly friendly. A member of my party noted that the staff seemed a little off and I agreed. Looking around the restaurant, none of the staff seemed particularly happy nor did they seem to get along well. In summary, the drinks get a definite 5 and the food gets a 3. It's a great place to grab a drink, watch the game, and hang out with friends.
(4)Anthony S.
Incredible, seemingly never ending BOOK of available beers & some great food make this a must stop before a Bulls game!
(4)Leigh F.
Only came for a quick drink - will come back and try again. Pros -Great location, easy to park and walk to Tyler's -Lots of people and TVs
(3)Sarah M.
Draft list is disorganized and not up to date. Most of the beers on tap were not even listed. Also more than I was expecting to pay.
(3)Matty B.
I've been embroiled in a love-hate relationship with Tyler's over the years, and we're currently in a revival of our honeymoon phase so maybe it's best to take my review with a grain of salt? When I first moved to the Triangle area, I would frequent Tyler's (particularly on pint nights) with a group of friends. I remember having a lot of fun and generally enjoying myself, but the relationship became lukewarm as time progressed. I began experimenting with other local bars and typically looked the other way in shame when passing Tyler's as I made my way through the American Tobacco Campus. Recently, however, I've returned to the familiarity offered by Tyler's and its extensive draft beer list, solid (albeit not spectacular) pub food, and outside seating amidst the beautiful American Tobacco Campus. Seriously, I don't know why I got a bit down on this establishment for a while. The highlight is clearly the wide and diverse draft beer selection that they offer with frequently rotating seasonal brews. Plus they offer some pretty cool sample flights. As an added bonus, the bartenders are usually fairly knowledgeable and helpful should you not know what you want or are overwhelmed by the numerous beverage choices. As I mentioned, the food isn't great but it's definitely not bad either. The nachos probably warrant a "meh" as do the fish tacos, but the mac & cheese, chicken pot pie, and sweet potato fries are all well above average. Just give it a little bit of extra time should you order the pot pie! On a winter or fall day, the four bean chili provides a nice kick and warms you up. The outdoor seating is spectacular and string lights give it a nice touch when you're sitting out enjoying a brew on a beautiful evening. The Speakeasy on the back side of the bar offers up numerous pool tables, another decently sized bar, and a punching bag machine that seemingly taunts every drunk patron. Pint nights are Wednesday nights at this location, and you get to keep your glass after paying essentially full price for a pint of beer. (Yes, much of my glassware has been provided by Tyler's) This is also a decent spot to watch a game, although you must be prepared to watch it over the bar (unless you're in one of the front private rooms). Expect a wait should you arrive near the dinner hour when there's either a Bulls game or a DPAC event, as Tyler's is a very popular pre-show or pre-game stop. In the end, Tyler's is a solid choice especially if you're looking to enjoy a beer outside. I'm sorry I strayed away for so long, but I promise to make it up to you!
(4)Katie H.
Love this place! Especially this Durham location. I always bring out of town guests here to give them a little taste of North Carolina. Great indoor and outdoor space to dine. So many beers on tap (obviously given the restaurant name). Amazing garlic fries. My suggestion: order the fried green tomato, bacon, pimento cheese sandwich. You won't be sorry!
(5)Gabe S.
Food was decent. We had the beer queso and blue cheese burger. The garlic fries tasted like the end of the batch and had way too much garlic on them. Our server dougie was great. Busy during lunch time. we sat outside and enjoyed the atmosphere. They have a great inside atmosphere as well. We would definitely go again.
(4)Dustin W.
Pretty good food before going to a concert at the DPAC. Cool atmosphere and offers outdoor seating. Good beer selection. We got beer queso for an appetizer, fish and chips, chicken fried chicken for our meals.
(4)Katherine K.
I love going to Tyler's! So do my kids... And my husband... At least they should as much as I like to! Fantastic beers on tap all year long, knowledgeable wait staff can point you in the right direction according to your tastes. Don't know much about beers? Well, that's not a problem at all! Just choose your "flight" and you'll get a chance to sample several different options. Their menu has something for everyone in your party. I especially enjoy the fried pickles and the garlic fries. When I'm trying to behave myself dietarily, I usually make the choice between one or the other. But sometimes, I do enjoy both at the same meal. A note on the garlic fries: you WILL reek of garlic for quite awhile after enjoying them, but it is entirely worth it. I have managed to narrow down my sandwich favorites to a top three: the Herb Chicken, the Carolina Cuban, and the Fried Green Tomato & Pimento Cheese (which is essentially a BLT with pizzazz). The Old West Burger is also a great option, with barbecue sauce and crisp onion strings. Their indoor dining is true to what you'd expect out of a taproom, and there is a "speakeasy" in the back which doesn't quite fit the bill of what a true illicit liquor provider once was but I think the name probably sounded trendy at the time. I most enjoy the outdoor dining option, with tables located on the main thoroughfare of the American Tobacco Campus. It's great to people watch while you enjoy fabulous food and beer!
(5)Jake S.
The food is subpar at best, however, the beers in stock are always fantastic! Great drinks. Decent food.
(3)Rohit T.
So I love Tyler's normally, but this review pertains to their monthly beer dinners. I would argue that they are the best deal in all of the triangle. The food is AMAZING and is all off-menu (our most recent dinner featured shrimp ceviche with heirloom tomato salad, trio of smoked pork with house smoked pork loin, pulled pork and bacon with peach puree bbq sauce apple compute and spicy dijon respectively, seared scallops with sweet corn and cilantro/jalapeno puree, duck confit with sweet potato risotto and spicy collard greens, and pumpkin mousse with chocolate ganache, pumpkin puree and cookie crumble). Derek, the chef, is an incredible talent. Each course was unbelievable. And was perfectly paired with beers from Sierra Nevada. In any other city, this meal would easily run $150 a person. Fortunately in the Bull City it's only $45, which is a STEAL. They don't advertise these events other than in the restaurant, so if you hear about one you'd be wise to sign up and go.
(5)Jay G.
Hmm for a bar these guys have a lot of rules on where you can stand when watching a game on TV Lol but overall we had a pretty good experience here. We came here with some of my MBA class about 20 of us to watch the FIFA World Cup. Didnt have a chance to eat but they got a great selection of beer. I stuck to belgium brews but each one i had was better than the previous one. They have a speakeasy in the back (not sure how its a speakeasy since everyone knows about it and its pretty open) with a projector and a couple of pool tables so a pretty good spot to kick it. Come with a crowd, have a brew and hang loose
(4)Grant C.
The house made beer queso as an appetizer is really good. Also the beer selection is almost endless local nc beers as well as your typical domestics. The chicken pot pie is awesome as well. Great service too.
(5)M M.
The food is just OK but the restaurant is in the nicely renovated tobacco campus. Nice for taking guests from out of town. They also have a bar with pool open late in the back. Excellent beer selection.
(4)Akansha S.
Heads up for the garlic fries, Nachos and burgers ! Everything made to perfection. The servers are very polite and so loved the service too. We sat outside so it was just amazing. With the beautiful water fleeing around; the entire experience was great ! Definitely recommend going there; sit and talk for ages and enjoy your nice meal with beer :)
(4)Joseph S.
Excellent place for a night out! It's a great and beautiful area - a must for those visiting Durham
(4)Nick D.
You know it takes some sort of act of Congress for me to write a review after a very long hiatus, but sadly Tyler's did it. I believe the establishment has really fallen from grace, seeing as both the food and service are nothing to write home about any more. When Tyler's first joined the Tobacco Campus it was the bee's knees. Now I feel like the management and staff have given up on creating a enjoyable atmosphere, and resigned to being the place for a bar. Instead of going to Tyler's, grad some higher quality tastier food over at the Sports Cafe.
(3)Janelle B.
Great place for a quick bite. The atmosphere is fun. Good sandwiches. Awesome garlic fries and a generous portion of them.
(3)Caroline B.
Absolutely disappointed gross food. Rude service I don't think I've had a worse meal Cold food the waitress acted pissed when I spoke up. She jerked the plate off table fast The ranch dressing had a dill taste to it. Who does that??? By the way if you charge 4.00 for stupid popcorn can we get it hot?? My children are still bitching how horrible it was
(1)Andrew W.
Tyler's can be a great spot to grab a brew and some apps. It is one of the nicest sports bar chains in the Triangle. Plus, you get a whole book of beers to choose from! This is one of the busiest locations because of its proximity to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and the Durham Performing Arts Center. It's also a popular lunch spot for those working in the American Tobacco Historic District. My favorite part of this location is the outdoor bar, which is a great place to pre-game before the Bulls on a summer evening. If it's a busy night, I highly recommend scoping out the front bar inside. The front bar has a line to order beer & food, so you don't have to worry about competing with cute girls. You pick up your drinks at the bar right after you pay, and the food is delivered to your seat. My favorite things to order at Tyler's are the garlic fries (usually available with a Foursquare checkin - am I allowed to say that on Yelp?), the fried pickles, the fish tacos, and the shrimp & grits. But, I have ordered sandwiches and burgers that came out less-than-stellar (overcooked, or bland). They used to have a delicious salmon burger back in the day, but I guess I was the only one that would order it :-(
(3)Sarah L.
Great environment inside the American tobacco campus and right across from DPAC. Family friendly. Lots of seatings available. Loved sitting outside beside the waterfall. Draft beer selection had perfect choices from all over the state!
(4)Chris K.
As time has passed I don't think it's quite as good as it used to be. On my recent visit the fries were overfried and the burger was too. Our waiter could have been more congenial, but I guess he didn't want to be, but it didn't make a very good impression overall on our out of town guest. Next time I think we'll pass and go elsewhere.
(2)Jim H.
Good food, pleasant environment (Sunday evening). Food was very good, priced well. Service was good, not excellent.
(4)Tracy D.
Had the pork belly sandwich. ..DELICIOUS! I sat outside nice atmosphere inside and out
(4)Melissa C.
I love the atmosphere, the service, and the food! It's a great place to go to watch a game.
(5)Jessica H.
Came on a Friday night and only waited 10 minutes to be seated. The waiter was good and our food was brought out quick. I ordered the biscuit sliders with fried chicken and pimento cheese. Oh my stars, it was so good! The pork rinds were our appetizer, but they were hot and sizzling when they arrived on the table. Then I ordered the Apple Betty and my dad ordered banana pudding and both were delicious! Will definitely come back.
(5)Ashley W.
We have eaten here several times before shows at DPAC. The food is average but the location is convenient and they have a good beer list. On show nights it gets crowded so we try to arrive before 6:30.
(3)Tommy A.
Beer, that is the main reason that you come to Tyler's Tap Room. If you do not like Beer, especially the deliciousness that is craft beer, you might as well stay away. For as long as I have lived in the Triangle and gone to Durham Bulls games I have gone to Tyler's Taproom, which makes sense of course, considering it is right across the street. I have eaten here more than a few times, and while the food is tasty and they have a great selection, as I mentioned I go there for the beer. If you are with a large group get there as soon as you can as it can get busy, especially before a Bulls Game. Personally I enjoy sitting at the bar because it is easier to get another beer when you run out. All of the bartenders as well as most of the staff are very knowledgeable, although they will at times give you a bad recommendation. While they will sometimes give you bad advice, they usually will give you a taste of the beer you are asking about before you dive it for the full pint. Tyler's has a great selection of draft beers, usually more local brew than national, which to me is a huge plus. Usually when I go I try to get different beers each time, and so far I have had no problem doing just that. If you really want to have a good time with some friends try to get one of the Draft Tables where they have a certain beer on tap at the table. You drink as much as you want and just pay for the total you pour, adds a little fun to it.
(4)Scott W.
Excellent food. The garlic fries are things of absolute beauty. A little noisy.
(4)Lauren R.
I've been to Tyler's on two occasions and the service was just awful. I thought the first trip was a fluke, but really, no one looks happy to work there. Everything is slow and I feel like I'm just as miserable as the waiters and hostess staff when I eat there... And I'd love to say that the food makes up for the crappy service, but the menu is nothing special. We've had appetizers, sammies, and burgers. Nothing stands out. The burgers and pulled pork sandwich that we had, today, were especially dry. Our appetizers arrived luke warm. Okay, okay. Tyler's has a good beer selection. Guess what? So does Costco -- and the next time I think about going to Tylers, I'll go buy beer and have dinner at my house.
(1)J B.
It is unfortunate. It is a GREAT location after attending a show at DEPAC. However, they stay open till 10 on a show night and when the show gets out at 930 they want your ass outta the seat. My waitress (African American with tattoos) didn't know what desserts they have and the menu said ASK WAITRESS. Food was average. Manager and wait staff didn't wanna be there till 10. He was rude to two other customers within my hearing distance.
(2)Justin T.
I stumbled upon this place by complete accident and I have to say, I'm glad I did. The atmosphere is great, the food is top notch, the service is lightening fast, and the beer is delicious!
(5)Tony M.
Great place to stop off and get a cold one. Love the food and the people.
(5)Mary Jane S.
This is great as a bar and as a restaurant. They have the best selection of beers in Durham and a solid food menu. The bar has a great atmosphere. Perfect for relaxing on a weekend or watching a game.
(5)Stephen S.
Always had great service and food. Love the atmosphere inside and out. Love the beer selection!
(5)Michael C.
Awesome first visit! Beer special - Purple Haze was awesome. Many varieties of beers on tap and in bottle. Chicken fried chicken entree was excellent. Great burgers, perfectly seasoned. Nice spot there on the American Tobacco Trail in Durham. Reasonable prices, great staff, excellent food and spirits! Will definitely be back!
(4)Bryce B.
A beer drinkers restaurant, Tyler's offers up a strong lineup of excellent microbrews (each served in their corresponding logo glassware) and solid pub grub-style eats. It can get pretty crowded, especially during Duke games or after local Bulls (minor league) baseball. If the weather is nice, try getting a table outside. If you are not interested in eating anything more than appetizers, try the Speakeasy, which is a separate bar attached to Tyler's. There you'll find a relaxed bar environment with comfortable seating, pool, TVs and other distractions. The only downside here is that smoking is allowed here.
(4)Jared M.
This place is really good for brewery food. The fish and chips are a great choice. The tartar sauce was different than any other I've tasted. The pimento cheese fries were out of this world. Garlic fries are also good. Plenty of seating and the atmosphere of American Tobacco is really cool. I didn't get any beers because it was lunch, but they have a huge selection of craft beers. I'll be back.
(5)Chandler V.
I've been here quite a bit over the years that it has been open. Its a great place when it isn't so busy, you can get a beer relatively quickly and they always have a decent selection. However, on a night where it is more than half full it is a nightmare. First off, the recording of what they are out of has gotten worse over the years, to the point where I only order from the bar. One night we got a table with a group of friends and 4 straight beers we ordered (off the menu no less) they were out of, and each time the server came back to tell us that, so it took nearly 30 minutes to even figure out a beer to get. I don't even know why they bother with a draft menu as it is wrong nearly every time we go. Secondly, the food is just ok, nothing spectacular, but better than some bar food I have had. They used to have a more adventuresome menu in the past but it has gotten more typical bar food in the last few years sadly (remember the salmon burger anyone?). When it is all said and done, you just go here for the beer, but if they can't even get that right, why bother?
(2)doug h.
I've always liked Tyler's, good beer selection and decent food. Our last visit reassured me they are back on top their game. They've finally added back the NFL package which give's the fans a nearby option if Tobacco Road is packed. The service was above par, which, in the past, always made me hesitate on coming back here. Glad to have Tyler's back as viable beer/food/NFL games option.
(4)Adam S.
I've eaten at Tyler's about 4 times over the last 3 years, and I'm sad to say the quality and portions have both decreased. I got buffalo wings and they were just OK. Fried pickles starter which is still good, but the portion size had shrunk quite a bit. My wife got the mushroom pot pie which was just OK. My daughter got mac and cheese, which was good but overpriced. I'll echo another comment that the beer I wanted was not available. Frustrating.
(2)Shannon W.
While visiting Durham, we ran across this restaurant. We decided to be adventurous and order several things we normally wouldn't try. The fish tacos are amazing and coming from someone who doesn't care for fish. The Shrimp and grits were also another good one. The service was excellent and very friendly and helpful. I would make a trip back down here again just to come to this place.
(4)Dana R.
Outstanding fish tacos, great beer selection, fun beer flights, nice location, no complaints. I visited this restaurant for a friend's birthday while I was with my sister in NC and it was one of the highlights of my trip. When the bar ran out of the glasses and containers for the beer flights, our server rounded up empty ones from other tables and washed them herself so we could have our flights! the location inside the American Tobacco Campus gave us a great opportunity for a photo shoot. Loved it! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Rob F.
Casual yet unique food menu. The mustard greens were amazing and I don't even like them! Great selection of beers and menu price is good between $9-$12 range. It's in a great location too. Would definitely recommend it!
(4)Hunter B.
This is the first place I visited when moving to Durham. Great burger spot, tons of outdoor seating and not to mention the excellent beer choices. Tyler's is a must visit not only for the food and serve your self beer tables, but also for its location in the heart if the American Tobacco.
(5)Rebecca R.
Tyler's is a great place to hang out. They have much to offer to people of all ages. They are located in a great location at the tobacco campus though wouldn't recommend going on a game day as it can be packed. I really like the seating outside near the water which can make for a great date spot on a nice day. If you like a busier atmosphere they have an outdoor bar area which is great for people watching. The front part of Tyler's is family friendly and a nice restaurant. They have very tasty food such as BBQ and meatloaf. They also have a fully stocked bar with many beer options on draft. It is very open but can be cold during the summer so bring a sweater. The back half is the speakeasy. It is the entertainment aspect of the restaurant. They of course have a fully stocked bar as well as pool tables (pay by the hour), foosball tables, an area to watch games, a jukebox, and some arcade games. During the weekends it can be very busy in here though Sunday night is a great time to go if you want to play pool. Red chalk is used on the pool cues so beware of getting it on you. This is a great place to go to hang out with friends and the first place I think of when thinking of somewhere to hang out in Durham.
(4)Sarah K.
Ok so I have been on the fence about Tyler's for awhile now. On one hand I like their beer menu but on the other, service is consistently bad. BUT! My most recent visit set it in stone for me. I do not like Tyler's. Previously, I had refrained from ordering food on most visits simply because it took too long. I had just stuck with the beer menu and just wanted my glass refilled when empty. Not too much to ask but obviously hard to do at Tyler's. Long waits between beers just made me want to leave so I never spent a lot of time here. This past weekend I just wanted to grab quick takeout. So I phoned ahead like any normal person would. No answer, just a message saying to leave a message. Ok, so after calling and calling I finally decide to leave a message but the voice-mail is full. While I was trying to call, I was on my way over there so by this point I am at the Tobacco Campus and decide to just go ahead and go inside to order. I go inside, stand at the front desk for several minutes waiting for the hostess. Several servers pass by me. A guy in a button up (manager?) also by passes me. No one even says hello. She finally comes and I ask where do I place a take out order? I mentioned that I had tried to call but she ignores this and just sends me back to the bar. Awesome. So I go to the bar and sit and try to get someone to notice me but that doesn't happen for awhile. By the time the male bartender gets to me, he can pretty much see from my face that I am not happy. He asks my order and I ask if they take to-go orders over the phone. He says yes and obviously I tell him my story and he replies that it is the hostess' job to answer the phone and maybe it was too loud too hear. The female bartender beside him also pipes in and says the same. He says that he is only responsible for what he does and can't do anything about the hostess. I look and say that the restaurant isn't busy in the least bit and not answering the phone is no excuse. I then give him my order which was super duper simple but I had to repeat it several times. So while sitting there waiting, no one asked if I wanted a drink or anything. I did notice that a server came up to the female bartender and tell her that the guest wanted no ice. She handed him a fork and said, "they won't notice anyways". I seriously should have taken a photo of this guy picking the ice out with a fork. Wtf? So long story short, bad experience and not going back. I would have been happy if someone would have just addressed my issue and said sorry instead of playing dumb and moving on.
(2)Sarah P.
Good place to get a beer and play cards. The building is very attractive and they have nice tables outside. However, it's difficult to know what to order beer-wise unless you sit at the bar and can look at the taps. Their beer menu basically says it has lots of options and rotationals so ask your server. It would be much more convenient if they just printed a new tap menu every week or two cause its hard to listen to a whole slew of options and actually figure out which you may want. The food is lacking. Seriously, don't even try it. Just stick to beer. The service was pretty good. Very friendly employees.
(2)Kuanyu C.
Tylers Taproom here in the Tabacco Campus has an entirely different atmosphere from the one in Raleigh on Seaboard Ave. First of all, there is outside seating, and with weather like these few weeks had been, it's quite popular for folks to grab a table outside. Everything inside still quite familiar to me; the reserved-required individual tap tables, the numerous draft brews on tap behind the bar, and the pool tables that are more popular here; I swear I have never been able to play here. This place, at time, is more than crowded; even with one bar outside and two more inside, if you are not assertive you might be dry for a while. So step in, yell at your bartenders (in a polite way.) Everyone thinks this is the greatest place to come after a DPAC show or Durham Bulls game; I gotta tell ya, I feel the exact opposite. I don't like to deal with the crowd here; sometimes it is less than savory.
(3)Helen A.
Here with my family .. Having lunch . I had the fish taco's they were filling and yummy. The bloody Mary's were spicy good. Our server was attentive.. Prices are a little high for lunch
(4)Briana H.
This place is AMAZING!!! The atmosphere is great and open but still intimate. All of the staff are very friendly and ready to serve. The food is so tasty. I have yet to be disappointed by a dish. The chicken fried chicken is amazing, the cheesesteak is amazing. Everything I had here is just amazing. I can't comment on the beer which I think this is what it's known for. I do not drink but everyone there seemed to enjoy themselves. Quick, speedy, and friendly services and superb food and generous portions make for a fantastic dining experience.
(5)Michelle S.
Food 2-3. Servce: 3-4. Drinks: 3. Ambiance: 4...so I'll give it a 3. Overall I was disappointed with the food and drinks as this place is located in a great area and has a really good vibe. My meal wasn't bad. But I did end up leaving most of my fries and make note that I NEVER leave food behind and I LOVE fries and hate fried foods. That being said me leaving my fries is a BIG deal. They were so greasy you could squeeze the oils out of them, definitely not what a good fry should feel like. I got the Carolina Cuban and I liked that it was light and flavored well but you can't really go wrong with toasted bread with ham and mustard and pickles and pork. It's the go to quick and tasty staple in any household. There was barely any meat in it. Hubby got the Buffalo chicken sandwich and said it was 'ok'. Now on to drinks. They didn't have flights available because they didn't have the glassware. Huh? But you're a taproom. You pride yourself in beer. I barely drink beer and when I do am excited to taste a few before committing to one. Oh well. I'll have wine I guess, it's cheaper than your beer and you happened to have Chimay red and blue but not my favorite, white. Then my next favorite, Rogue hazelnut brown is only offered in n 22 oz. Hmmm. Anyway, service was solid, ambiance was nice so overall I'd return for drinks with a group, but may eat ahead of time or will go when I'm not being particularly picky about having a great meal.
(3)Amanda W.
Came in on a busy night (NCAA Tournament) and found a spot in the bar area. We ordered the pork belly sandwich and a burger. Both pretty tasty. Sauces were not amazing. Garlic fries fantastic as always. Bar service was surprisingly efficient and friendly. Considering this is called a Taproom I would assume they would have an up to date draft menu. Instead they decided to be lazy and mention what they MIGHT have. Please keep an up to date menu so patrons don't have to squint to see what you have available. People will order more beer if you do this. Spend the extra time and it will pay off. Rant finished. Otherwise a good experience but not great. Probably will come back at some point.
(3)Nick G.
I have frequented the Carrboro location which I really enjoy, but my first visit to this location left me underwhelmed. Despite being only half full, we had to wait to be seated. The server took forever to take our order, and we subsequently discovered our order - just nachos - hadn't even been placed. The server told us the manager would "take care of it" and we eventually got our food. Apparently everywhere else in the world that means "we're sorry, it's on us" but at Tyler's we were still charged. They were out of a number of beers we wanted, and even managed to mess up the calculation of the bill. I will not be going back to this location. Ever. They are awful.
(1)Meredith D.
I've been to other Tyler's around the Triangle over a span of about six years, and while I never like them that much, I keep trying new locations for some reason. I'd come here if I only want to drink beer and someone else I was with really wanted to come. It's a great beer list. But a lot of places in the Triangle area have great beer lists now, especially since NC beers are so delicious. I came to this location in October. I was picking up a race packet in the middle of the Tobacco Campus and realized I was starving for lunch. We wanted to watch some football, too, so Tyler's seemed like a good idea instead of going home. The TVs are only around the bar, though, so we were kind of far away even though we said we wanted to be able to watch a game. Maybe I should have known my turkey sandwich would be buttery bread i.e. soggy with tons and tons of salty turkey, but I don't know... I just wanted it to be better. I think bf liked his BBQ sandwich. The garlic french fries are really good, though, but not worth coming for for me. I'd rather go to other similar bars in the area first.
(2)Andrea A.
I really enjoyed lunch at Tyler's. Although it's hard to make a statement with a grilled chicken salad I'm fairly sure the Ranch was homemade and the overall quality high. Great tavern look and beer selection; 'bar food' but good bar food. I'd definitely return here, day or night.
(4)Kathryn E.
Ahhhh...it's spring....which means it's a perfect time to go grab a beer and chillax out in the outside dining area at Tylers. The atmosphere is perfect for a later afternoon or evening dinner, drink, and relaxing night out. I haven't actually eaten here in recent memory but the food last night (our table tried fried pickles, cobb salad, meatloaf, shrimp n grits, bbq plate, and burgers) was actually...wait for it....awesome! I was surprisingly satisfied with the flavor and quality of the food. Pair that with some cold, refreshing beverages and BOOM- you have a great night out. Beware of baseball season- the madness will ensue. In the meantime, enjoy a night outdoors with some local flavor.
(4)Matt K.
Is it really state law to cook a burger medium-well? That's what the Tyler's waitress told me, but I am skeptical. (EDIT: according to an article I found on HuffPo through Google, internal temp of 155 degrees is the law, so I guess at least medium+ is) Either way, the burger was just OK. The highlight was the toppings, and not really the actual burger which ended up a bit dry. Apparently the burgers are new to the menu (again, according to the waitress) and they had lots of different styles with interesting topping combos. On the positive, I loved the poutine fries (eh?) and there were plenty of good looking apps on the menu. It was hard to choose. The beer selection is what this place is known for too. The beer flight was a good way to try a few things without getting tipsy. Also, I want to say our waitress did a good job and was very attentive. Full disclosure, we actually wanted to go somewhere else for dinner, but it was packed with people watching the NFL playoff games. I think Tyler's is great for a drink and some apps or snacks, but the meals are just OK.
(3)Mari H.
I don't get out to Tyler's nearly as often as I should. It's roomy, open, the service rocks, the food is exactly as described and the drinks are excellent. Oh, and there's an insane number of beers on tap. Tyler's is a great place to go if you're just feeling like you want to hang out with some friends, have no one complain, or feel like the place didn't live up to expectations. The low key nature of the place in the middle of what might be the most pretentious of Durham's downtown playground is really unique and chill. The patio seating and outdoor decor really make this a great place to take a group who can appreciate the beer selection and relax. ...they also make a fabulous Mojito.
(4)X X.
I know a lot of people who like this place but I just don't get it. The food is a bit overpriced and And underwhelming. The service needs major improvement. We were there on a very light Saturday night yet we couldn't seem to get drink refills. We were given the excuse of "well the bar is super busy". Ok fine but why can't you refill my sweet tea without the bartender. For what's its worth the bar didn't look busy at all from where we sat. I won't be going back. Too many better places to eat in Durham.
(2)Tobin B.
Lets just skip right passed the marketing decision to serve food in buckets...... Well, maybe not. The last time serving food in buckets was amusing was 1983 when Mr. Creosote agreed to a "wafer" thin mint in the "Meaning of Life". In addition to a disturbing visual of service buckets of food to humans, the food further down in the bucket continues to cook because of the heat captured in the vessel. The food is mediocre. They have some sparks of genius on the menu. The pimento cheese is quite good. It is difficult to find well done pimento cheese. The problem is how sparingly they use it. When ordering an item highlighting the pimento cheese, it seems appropriate to "feature" it as an ingredient. Its was like they felt bad that you ordered it. The service was pretty clueless as well. In sticking with the Mr Creosote them, we actually ordered another round of food because the first one missed the mark. We actually thought it might by our ordering so we did not make an issue of it. We agreed to split some items just to explore the menu some more. The second round was also a miss. When the waitress showed back up (we think she might have gone on vacation) the table is filled with plates. All the meals had a bite or two missing. Her only inquiry was, "So, do you guys want some to-go boxes?" The extra star comes from two important points. 1. Good beer selection goes a long way. 2. Fresh Chicharrones (see also line 1) goes a long way......but there is no reason to put them in a bucket.
(2)Steve M.
There is a great beer selection which is expected. The food really depends on what you order. The garlic fries and sweet potato fries are great, while the salads are so-so. Oddly enough I think the Raleigh Tyler's has better quality food. Service has always been good (if not sometimes a bit too much).
(3)Margie V.
We come for the ever-changing beer menu which features an interesting mix brews. The food is hit or miss. Service is good. Atmosphere is very good.
(3)Carrie N.
I feel like I will forever be updating my review of Tyler's. Seems like they took away the customizable burgers and replaced it with customizable macaroni and cheese. Now, because of the fluidity to the order, the mac and cheese is not baked, so it has a lighter consistency to it. You'll definitely get your dairy fix, but it comes out more like a bowl of pasta in a thicker cheese sauce than a heavy helping of dense traditional mac and cheese. While it's not on the menu, my server added their vegetarian chili instead of meat - and the combination was really delicious! Which reminds me, the service: I'm so on the fence about them! I mean, I've had some really n00b servers there - who I've never seen again! - but I've also had some really fantastic servers. It's a tough one to call, but thankfully I've never had a server there who was unforgivably sad.
(4)Cassy S.
I so don't want to do this, but I feel I have to because my last several visits have been a disappointment. Tyler's is supposed to be a bar with an extensive selection of good beer on tap. I'm prone to hyperbole at times, but I'm not exaggerating when I say my last 4 visits to this bar have been an irritating experience (yet, I still go because I work in the A.T.C.). Two reasons: 1. I go through the beer menu, my heart set on a certain beer, and WHAM, "Sorry, we are out of that one." I go to my follow-up choice, and, you guessed it, "Oh, we don't have that one any more. This is the norm now. We ate here last Friday, and this was indeed my experience, again. Not just me. My husband had to go with a 4th choice, and my sister had to go to her 2nd choice. Each of us ordering different beers, so it wasn't like we all wanted the same beer. I count this as being "out of" or "no longer have this" 6 beers. This is the straw that whacked the camel in his proverbial back. 2. The service is hit or miss. I've had to hunt down our server on more than one occasion, just to get the bill, then wait another 3 days to pay, etc. The food is what it is. It is OK pub food, and I've never hated anything I've ordered, so my expectations aren't high. If I wanted a 5-star dinner, I would go elsewhere. What does bother me is the beer. Please update your beer menu with what you ACTUALLY have. I took this wording directly from their website: "Tyler's Durham offers 60 of the finest craft and specialty import beers on tap." I'm guessing that 60 is a stretch right now. You don't have to have a gazillion beers on tap, just have SOME beer on tap.
(2)Joel B.
Beers and dinner with my team. Pretty cool location. Used to be part of a tobacco factory now repurposed for many businesses, shops, and restaurants. Tyler's has a ton of beers to choose from -- made my head swoon but I was ok after I had a Delirium Tremens Belgian beer. Will go back the next time I'm in the area.
(5)Becky H.
We stopped into Tyler's while exploring the Tobacco Campus. Having no idea what to expect, we had a perfect experience. Our waiter had a great knowledge about their beer menu & suggested several brews based on what we usually drink elsewhere. We tried 3 new beers and all were fantastic. Our meal consisted of just appetizers. I had the fries poutine. They are handcut fries with cheese curds & gravy. Hands down the best fries I have ever had. Definitely stop by Tyler's & enjoy a local brew, and some fries poutine!
(5)Walt B.
Below average This is the 2nd time and 2nd Tyler's location (Durham & Raleigh) Both disappointing Durham did not have the first three things on the menu that I asked for And the waitress was a snot Raleigh couldn't give me a medium rare burger Offered me only well done "Supposedly some law" It was tasteless , juiceless and overpriced But+++ for the beer selection. When they have it in stock
(2)Chip R.
So I've reviewed the Tyler's Taproom already in Apex and this one in Durham has a gaggle of reviews, but wanted to get my review in here as well. Having gone here for several occasions including work dinners and casual drink/eats, I have enjoyed every time I have stopped by here in Durham. I wish I could give it 4.5 stars, but 4 will do. First of all, love the space. There's a lot of seating. Even more so in warmer months with the huge amount of outdoor seating available. I like the casual warehouse kind of feel to it. I enjoy spending time back in the Speakeasy more than the dining area for the most part. Either part, however, is a nice place to hang out. As everyone points out, and rightly so, this place has a very large extensive beer list...nay, a beer book, to refer to when you order your frosty tasty beverage. There's something for everyone in that book. I am usually satisfied with my Unibroue Ephemere, that I can't get just out anywhere but places like Tyler's. Beer selection=two thumbs up plus. The food, it's pretty good, not gourmet but it's pretty good for bar food standards. The boneless pork chops special I had there Sunday night was good eatin'. Plus, how can you not like free garlic fries that you can get with your foursquare check-in (so many check-ins, so many apps...)? And they have Locopops! My pomegranate-tangerine Locopop was the perfect ending to a good night. In short, great beer selection, pretty good eats, and nice place...I like it.
(4)Ali R.
Tyler's has a GREAT beer list and the food is pretty decent as well! I like the pulled pork sandwich and the sweet potato fries. It's a good place to watch sports but that's about it. It gets too loud on the weekends to carry on a conversation!
(3)John L.
THAT is a beer list. Having been to the Carrboro Tyler's, I knew to expect a decent selection of beers. What I didn't realize was how many beers that would be. For one thing, the Tyler's list is long... really long. The only other place in the Triangle that I've been to that has a list this long (that requires its own book) is Carrboro's Milltown. So that's a lot of beer. There are also a lot of great possible places to sit: the side with the line of taps has lots of great seating, the other side has games including arcade games and pool, and the outside seems to have a good amount of seating, perfect for live performances and milling about before/after Bulls games. So yes, this place is a win, with great beer and convenient parking in the giant lot next door. (on a side note, Tyler's also has a Foursquare Deal for free garlic fries with a check-in... while I may primarily focus on Yelp check-ins (and how they turned my iPod app from Red to Gold :) ), the Foursquare deal is quite good)
(4)Elizabeth F.
We came into Tyler's just after a Durham Bulls game for a nightcap as it looked like a very happening place. Our server was fast and friendly. Plus we received a free order of (huge) fries as they were running a special on FourSquare. As part of a renovated tobacco warehouse, the place is big and spacious but still retains the feel of a pub. They have a great outdoor space, too. But I will wait until the weather cools down a bit to take a seat there. While we did not have anything other than a beer and awesome fries, we certainly would come again for a pre or post DB ball game treat.
(4)Claudine D.
What I like from Tyler's: fried oyster po'boy sammie blackened salmon salad fish tacos tuna melt with sweet potato fries Service can be inconsistent -- can be slow while seated in the restaurant, but can be super fast when seated at the patio during happy hour. Go figure. To-go orders are made up fairly quickly. Regardless of the service, the food is good and it's a great place for drinks after work, especially if you're right there at ATC.
(4)Minnow N.
I've only eaten at the bar at Tyler's but they've always been accommodating to us stressed out grad students, so a solid 4 stars for them. we usually take up one small bar table for a couple hours but they don't seem to mind. The food is very good (tuna melt- yum!) and the sweet potato fries are also very good. Drinks are solid. beer selection is abundant and the foo foo drinks also mixed deliciously! I love that it's close to the parking lot and very convenient. Service is friendly and prompt. great convenient place if youre just itching to get a quick drink.
(4)James S.
Typically I like Tyler's, tonight was not there night. Do NOT!! Order fish tacos... There was no fish on them what so ever. Also, ordered sweet potato fries with my fish tacos. Yeah, didn't get that either. Really disappointed in my meal, especially because I brought a group of folks I work with from out of town to show them a little bit of Durham. This experience caused me to never want dinner from Tyler's again. Tobacco Road here I come.
(2)Chase A.
With the updated menu, the Monte Cristo is now served every day during lunch, not just once a week. Oh happy day! It's not the greatest Monte Cristo, but since it's the only one I've found in Durham that's quite a good thing anyway. It hits the sweet-n-savory spot. Chicken fried chicken was ok. The stuff at Top of the Hill is better, and I'm sure other places do it better too. The strange thing was they put sausage gravy on it. I can see that on the potatoes, but not so much on the chicken. As everyone has figured out, this is a place to come for beer with a side of food, not the other way around. In fact I dare say it's *the* place. With that in mind, by all means drink up. The current offering of Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout is delish, and at a mere $4 a pint for a 9.0% brew. I recently met Tyler, who strikes me as a good guy who cares about feedback and has an obvious passion for what he does. And not surprisingly, he knows a &%^$ ton about beer. Giving business to good owners always gives me a little more satisfaction, and tips my review balance toward 4 stars.
(4)Harold B.
Used to love 'em, but the attitude of service at Tyler's has gone down hill in recent years, since they realized they have a captive audience---those wishing to grab a burger before a Bull's game or a DPAC show. They'll seat you if you look like you might spend enough. Otherwise, go away. Also noticed that they are now posted against the peaceful and law-abiding carrying concealed. So, if some felon or whack job starts shootin' up the place, don't expect to be able to protect your family. High risk. Mellow Mushroom is right down the sidewalk. Good pizza, and not posted against family protection.
(2)Jessica P.
After reading a ton of the reviews, I completely agree with the main point most Yelpers make: Awesome bar / not so hot restaurant. First the bar: I am pretty confident that the beer selection at Tyler's is the best in Durham. They are constantly changing seasonal beers on tap (always offer about 6-8) and have a way impressive beer bottle list (Jolly Pumpkin? I challenge you to find that at another restaurant in the Triangle). They also make some mean cocktails. Bartenders are always super friendly! And pool!!! I suck at pool, but I love to play and am getting better. They have 5 tables, and it usually doesn't get too crowded if you go early in the day or early in the week. The restaurant: Meh. It's pub grub, and the items on their menu can be pretty hit or miss. The fried pickle chips are ALWAYS a hit. Seriously, they are perfect (some places really can't do it well - you'd think it's a pretty easy dish, but...). I really don't explore the menu much, I usually get vegetarian chili. It's pretty good. I don't know how it leaves a hot aftertaste, but doesn't taste too spicy.
(4)Kim H.
Love this place for big casual company outings. You have good beer, good food, and a big game room of pool etc to have team building events. The price point is great and you def fits within a company budget. Just be aware the outside bar doesn't have nearly as good selection of beers as the inside bars. Love the location in the Bull Durham stadium area.
(4)Kevin M.
I have been here as well as the one in downtown Raleigh many times for lunch and for dinner. I have always enjoyed my experience. The beer selection is great, The food is also very good and a decent price. It is a festive environment and a good place to go with friends and hangout. The only meal that I have had there that I would not recommend is the Shepherd's Pie as I felt is was lacking in flavor. I love there garlic fries and chips.
(4)Ed C.
My experience at Tyler's has been mixed, and I hate that... coz I want to like the place a lot. It's true their beer selection is amazing. Their food can be, too. But sometimes the service is sketchy. The other night, several friends and I had a fabulous meal, but it took our waiter four or five tries to give us the correct checks--and it wasn't like it was a complicated deal. At other times, though, the service is awesome. I do think that when a restaurant serves Pepsi products, they start out at a disadvantage. I know some will disagree, but when an establishment serves Pepsi, they're saying they don't have to serve the best. I can't help it, I'm a diet Coke fan! That said, I've had some of their catering items. And their pimento cheese biscuits are to die for.
(3)Craig T.
I've been to Tyler's Taproom twice. I went last night after the Durham Bulls game. I love the atmosphere! There is a front bar, back bar, pool tables, and a large outdoor area. The beer selection is huge. If you're a beer fan, I highly recommend it. I have never ordered any food, so I can't speak to that. My biggest complaint is that the bar was very understaffed on both of my visits. Getting a beer or a refill takes an eternity. Expect to stand at the bar for over 15 minutes just to be noticed. The bartenders seem to be working as hard as they can, but there were only 2 bartenders for an entire room of people. I would give Tyler's a five-star rating if it weren't for the ridiculously slow service I've experienced on both of my visits. They desperately need to double the number of bartenders working on the weekends. Many of the customers in my vicinity were noticeably angry about the service.
(4)Eric D.
I visited Tyler's several times for lunch while I was in the area, as it was close, had decent food and acceptable service. If I wrote this review after one visit, it would have garnished a 4 star rating, but with my repeated visits the menu quickly became long in the tooth. Atmosphere - Old factory, brick, exposed beams, concrete flooring, booth and table seating, busy, touristy, garlic, spacious Service - Friendly, conversational, sometimes slow, helpful Food - Most of the menu consisted of something fried...like southern bar food. I had the pulled pork sandwich several times and on my last visit I had the Carolina Cuban sandwich. I mainly stuck w/ the pulled pork sandwich because it was pretty good the first time and nothing else really appealed to me on the lunch menu that mostly consisted of either a burger or a deep fried something or other. The pork was fairly lean and the vinegar based sauce was a little tangy but not memorable. The Carolina Cuban I had on my last visit was pretty good. It consisted of pulled pork, smoked ham, pickles and Swiss cheese on a pressed bun. Not as good as my favorite and first Cuban sandwich I ever had in South Beach Miami, but a close fourth. The really good thing at Tyler's is their garlic fries. Especially if the are well seasoned. I say this as the fries were inconsistent in garlic intensity on each visit. To give the fries their glorious taste they appear to use freshly crushed garlic cloves, which permeates the restaurant upon your arrival. Price - Sandwich, garlic fries and a tea/soda $11...a little pricey. Overall - While Tyler's may on the surface appear to be a tourist trap it is a decent place to grab a meal and if you Strike it Lucky (go there and look at the water tower) the garlic fries may be perfectly seasoned.
(3)Avery C.
I would give a 1 but being game night it was busy so will say 2, but I don't think the game made much difference. We visited just before a bulls game so I'm going to let the poor service by the hostess slide. We arrived at 6:05 and I could personally see 7 open tables but was told there would be a 15 minute wait. We finally got seated at 6:45 so much for 15 minutes. I got a Tyler's burger which they won't make medium rare. Will say I have had better burgers at burger king for a fraction of the cost. Also got an order of garlic fries which were cold and under seasoned. Could have had a better and cheaper meal at the game and not missed the opening inning.
(2)Meg A.
I like the food (mostly) but the service has gone way downhill. You have to open a separate tab at any of the three bars, and the bartenders aren't very nice. Staff seem stressed and not very happy.
(2)Molly B.
Tyler's is a decent place to grab food or a beer with some friends. It is located in the nice American Tobacco complex. The space is very large but annoyingly they do not take reservations unless it is for a large private party / event. It'd be great for group dinners etc. if not for that. The food at Tyler's is standard decent bar food. It's been a while since I've eaten here, and I don't remember having a particularly lasting impression (good or bad). It's hard to ruin bar food if you ask me, but I'd say Sati's probably has them beat. There is ample parking in the nearby garage. Also it's not walkable from Duke so if you are looking to avoid swarms of undergrads this is perhaps a good place (versus 9th or Main Streets). For a tap room / bar it has a fairly classy vibe (this is no dive), but it's super loud sometimes. Come to Tyler's for the beer selection. Dozens of brews on tap, and the bartenders are knowledgeable. They offer several flights so you can try multiple without breaking the bank or getting hammered. They have a regular pint night (used to be Wednesdays, not sure; I would contact them to see) where you get to keep the signature glass for each beer you try. Overall generally worth a visit.
(3)Jim H.
Worse pulled pork sandwich I've ever eaten. This is marked on their menu as a specialty. Orange grease oozed from my sandwich and puddled on my plate. Sadly I was hosting a business colleague from out of town. He got the same thing but was a good sport about it. At least the service was friendly and they were able to serve good beer.
(1)Brad M.
Met a friend for beers to watch Carolina/Louisville game at the bar. The two stars were for beers and service at the bar ONLY I got the fish tacos and side of succotash to go...it was crap food!!!! First of all don't call your fish tacos..."tacos" when it's "wrapped" in a flour tortilla and drowned in whatever sauce you use! The succotash actually had good flavor...but I only got about TWO TABLESPOONS in my to-go cup. I'm pretty easy to please when I'm out even though I'm a foodie but I could have made this meal twice as good at home! Will frequent if ever for beers...but that will be it. Seriously can't believe I just spent money for what I ate...maybe the game was distracting the kitchen crew?!?
(2)Korrie B.
The crab cake sandwich is gone. Our hearts are broken. The fish tacos and beer selection are still worth the visit but Tyler's lost its spot as our go to "I don't want to cook dinner" spot. =(
(4)Jason W.
If I rated this place in just the beer selection I would give it a 4.5, but the food is mediocre in my humble opinion. Food: Adequate for bar grub. The burgers are the standard fair; the fried pickles and chips and cheese make for a decent snack with tasty beer. Beer: Great selection of local and national brews. The beer menu looks like a wine list at a swanky restaurant, if you can't find what you want on tap its usual in a bottle. Service: Bar service is usually fast and efficient, the restaurant service is often semi-friendly and relatively speedy. Atmosphere: I like the factory feeling of the whole tobacco complex, and Tyler's certainly accentuates it more than some of the other local restaurants. Where Tyler's shines is their patio area, open, busy, running water, and mostly shaded - great place to hang out on a summer evening. Parking: Plenty of it in the adjacent decks during the evening. This is a good place to grab a good beer, enjoy a patio night, or to hang out before a ball game.
(3)Jane W.
After having been to all the Tyler's in the Triangle, I think that this one is my favorite. It wins based on the Brightleaf location and HUGE outdoor space/beer garden. I love having a place in town that not only has an extensive and sometimes exotic beer list, but also has really good food! My personal faves from the menu include the beer queso, the pizzas, the blackened salmon sandwich and anything else that is served with garlic fries!! I also get a kick out of seeing the waiter's face when I order a veggie burger with blue cheese and bacon..... it is pretty awesome! My personal faves from the beer list include any of the Belgian selections, Kasteel Rouge which has been a regular feature, and the best is in the fall when PUMPKIN beer dominates the list! Definitely give the beer garden a try on a Friday night when there is music at Brightleaf and enjoy a cool crowd of people with great music in the background.
(4)Katie P.
I spend a lot of time at the American Tobacco complex. Tyler's is my go-to spot for lunch. Love their 1/2 sandwich, 1/2 soup special at lunch. The veggie chili is to-die-for good. Caesar salad with steak - also a standby for dinner. Check in on Foursquare and get some free garlic fries! Seriously - the beer selection's good. I've never had a problem with the service. Tyler's is reliable.
(4)G G.
I've been to Tyler's in Durham several times before and have always had fairly good experiences. However, I had dinner there with a friend last night, and while the food was decent, our service was terrible. Our server, Erick, would disappear for long periods of time, and we sat there for 30 minutes before even getting a chance to order our meals. At this point, he didn't bother to write down any part of our orders, and when the food was brought out (by another server), both of our meals were not as we had ordered them. We waited until our food was practically room temperature for him to show up again to correct the orders. When I asked for salad dressing for my side salad (crazy, right?!), he seemed to have an attitude about it. Forgive me for expecting a salad to actually come with dressing. We ate our meals, got our checks, and got out of there as quickly as we could with such slow and inattentive service. Apparently, while I was in the restroom, he brought out two free pint glasses to the table as an "apology" for such terrible service, although he had already informed me at the beginning of the meal that the beer I ordered came with a free glass. Again, the food is usually pretty good and the service usually isn't this bad, so I'd probably go back and just ask not to be seated in Erick's section again. Hence giving them two stars instead of only one. I understand that they were pretty busy due to an event at DPAC, but I've never been there on a weekend for dinner when it wasn't busy. Additionally, if you know you're really busy, wouldn't you write down customers' orders to make sure you put them in correctly?
(2)Amy M.
Blech. Terrible. We've been to Tyler's three times and today will be the last. The service was ridiculous, just ridiculous. Our waiter seemed put out by even the smallest requests like, say, water or actual food. He disappeared for 20 minutes after each request. And the food was lousy. We waited at our table for over an hour for crappy food and WARM beer. A taproom with warm beer. The "nachos" were like something from a school cafeteria, I'm not really sure how to best describe the coagulated cheese, giant pile of shredded lettuce, and two black beans. The fish "tacos" are fish mixed with mayonnaise rolled in a flour tortilla. It was foul. Do yourself a favor and go to G2B or City Beverage if you want beer and decent food. Or go across the way from Tyler's to Cuban Revolution.
(1)Lara S.
Can't say enough about how much I liked this place. The atmosphere is casual and it's in a great setting on the Tobacco Campus. I had the Pimento Burger topped with a fried green tomato. Is pimento cheese a southern thing? I've encountered it at so many places since I've moved here. Not that I'm complaining :) Amazingly good combination and the garlic fries were baked to perfection. I'm only sad I didn't get to try the Bacon popcorn. Sounds interesting. Service was great. Attentive with drinks, friendly, and recommended some good dishes.
(4)Alex S.
4 stars for the location and the service! It's great to enjoy summer at the American Tobacco Campus. Nice shade/streams/waterfalls/fountains/sculptures/Âlucky strike. Seating was quick and they were pretty flexible. Waitress was nice and helpful. I also really liked the beer menu... gives a description for everything and very clear. The food wasn't spectacular. I got the fish tacos but they were just mostly slaw, a little fried fish, wrapped in store-bought tortillas. The portion was filling and it was pretty cheap overall though. Their fries were meh. I also tried some of the macaroni and cheese (with barbecue pork) -- it was really good. My beer glass had some sort of nasty gunk caked into the inside, and I almost drank from that spot... guess they didn't wash it out well enough. But the waitress gave me a new one, and I'm not the kind of person to make a scene just to get the meal on the house... Anyways, fun place to chill and great location make up for the mediocre food.
(4)J D.
Great beer selection, I love the pool hall,and the food is amazingly delicious. Try the garlic fries!
(4)Hannah R.
I have had excellent experiences at Tyler's but I have also had terrible experiences. The service is a bit unpredictable. The bartenders offer terrific service but that cannot be said for the servers. I prefer to sit at the bar so I can assure myself excellent service. The beer selection is amazing with the seasonal selection changing regularly. The outdoor bar is large and terrific. The speakeasy offers a more casual atmosphere. The ATC is a beautiful setting and parking is never an issue with the parking garage next to Tyler's.
(3)Christina G.
I'm between three and four stars, but going with three mostly because on my last two visits, they've been out of SO much of their seasonal and specialty beer menu. Tonight, there was only one remaining option -- out of a beer list of ~10. That's so disappointing because Tyler's curates some really awesome beer lists. Of course, they still have a good selection of other beers on draft; and the bottle and Belgian options are particularly strong. I also love the varied flights you can get. Since my 2008 review, I've had the opportunity to dine a few more times here. And while I don't think most of the food is exceptional, it's pretty solidly prepared pub grub. Skip the nachos (the Carolina version was just a mound of pork on tortillas, coated in hot sauce over a pool of watery weird melted 'cheese'). But if you're not in the mood for a burger or sandwich, get the mac n' cheese. It's delicious! In contrast, excellent cheese used in it. And you can opt to get add-ins for an extra fee (like Farmhand Foods sausage, chicken, or house-smoked bacon). Service is typically good. And expect crowds, since it's a popular choice near DPAC and DBAP. If you're looking for just drinks, good music, and pool tables, check out the separate room Speakeasy. In the summer, enjoy the biergarten in the courtyard. Versatile and crowd-pleasing. I just wish their kegs didn't kick so much!
(3)Matt F.
Huge beer selection, plenty of outdoor seating, nice interior, love the location at tobacco campus. Got a pretty good crab cake sandwich and an Art of Darkness beer they had on draft. Kind of want to try one of their tap tables on game day. Pretty solid and reasonably priced. Definitely heading back.
(4)Dale H.
I've occasionally been to Tyler's for lunch over the last few years and I've always gotten the same thing every time I go ... because it is so very good! I always order the Creamy Caesar Salad with Steak (medium rare). It is always outstanding. The steak is cooked to perfection, the croutons are light and fluffy, the dressing is delicious and they have just enough olives and Parmesan cheese. I should probably try something else but this is what I crave. The atmosphere is generally pretty nice. I really like the bare brick / neon / industrial thing but it does get loud when they're busy. The service is generally pretty good too ... although today our waiter was training someone new and they stopped by the table 6 or 7 times to ask how things were. (We wondered what was next - are they gonna have a seat next to us and ask after every bite?) :) I say give them a try. I know I'll be back again when I crave another one of those salads.
(4)Jessica L.
Absolutely in love. Awesome food - I don't think I've had anything bad. Also, the drink selection is wonderful.
(5)Pat F.
Came here on a Thursday night before a show at the DPAC. It got crowded in a hurry after we arrived--we were lucky! Our server was friendly and knowledgeable, recommending the Warsteiner Dunkel for my BF, which was a big hit. I got the French dip sandwich (yet again), because I'm addicted to it, and BF got the Bleu Cheese Burger, his current addiction. Both were done just as we like them. Good experience, as always! P.S. noticed that the deep-fried olives were gone from the menu--what gives?
(4)G L R.
My husband and I dined here recently for the first time. It was a nice weekend evening. We sat outside. First, the outside atmosphere on a nice evening is great! I loved being right in American Tobacco. Second, the food was very good. We are fans of all of the Tyler's we have been to. I really liked how this locations menu offered items from the Durham Farmers Market. Such a nice touch! As always everything was good. They have a very good beer list. Prices are fair! I'll be happy to return to this location of Tyler's.
(5)Andrew L.
I want to like this place I really do...the staff are nice, food is pretty good, and the place has a nice lay out... BUT, they REALLY need to step up their game on what they actually have as far as beer goes. For a place they had a wall of taps, it seems menu is never up to date, and when it is, I'll often have to ask for 3-4 different beers and be told no each time before landing on something they have in stock. I've had this experience a few times now--if this is something they can resolve, I'm happy to update it. But as of now, it's a serious problem.
(2)Ryan B.
They recently changed their menu... I have been to Tyler's at least 20 times and love the pear salad as well as the bbq plate. The pear salad now has a different dressing and certainly isn't the same. The bbq plate is gone now. The pint nights allow for some good glass gifts as well as trying some different beers. Service is fine, but seem to have a pretty high turnover (I haven't seen the same server twice at lunch.
(3)Bruce G.
I've been to this Tyler's location a few times over the years, usually tied in to when I am at American Tobacco for a D-Bulls game. Most recently, I stopped in with some friends when their was a rain delay for the game. First off, I love the location and think this is a neat place visually. I am not a huge micro-brew connoisseur, so I don't really know too much about that, but they seem to have a decent selection of Summer ales and wheat beers which is what I prefer. I wish I could give higher marks to their food, but my food experience at Tyler's has been ok at best. I would kind of compare their food to Carolina Ale House if you have been to one of those. They have a pretty wide selection of apps and dishes with a slant towards sports pub type fair (fish and chips, chicken strips, burgers etc.). On my most recent visit I went with my go to fish and chips and they were decent, but not as good as I have had at some Irish pubs. The fish was a bit soggy and lacked taste I thought. I went with the garlic fries as a side and they were good and very plentiful, but they were sitting at the bottom of the fish which made them soggy quickly. The cole slaw side was good, but they give you just a little sampling. I think this Tyler's will be an decent stop for me when I am at a D-Bulls game, but not a place I would regularly visit, at least not for the food.
(3)Jay B.
Pathetic portion on the Shrimp sandwich, flippant attitude by the waitress. After arguing about powdered sugar on the Monte Cristo last week (they said it isn't made that way... OK?), wouldn't be in a hurry to come back.
(1)Greg K.
I'm an unabashed Tyler's fan. It's a cool spot right in the American Tobacco district, super convenient to DPAC, Durham Bulls and a short walk downtown. They offer a great beer list, ample seating and even have a nice patio/outdoors area that's dog-friendly. Tyler's food is probably its weakest point, but it's certainly not bad, landing somewhere between good and average. Their burgers are tasty, and I've enjoyed their Drunken Pork Belly sandwich on more than one occasion, despite a rather lean helping of the belly. The garlic fries are always a winner for an appetizer too. Frankly, the main reason to visit Tyler's is for the beer. They have a terrific list, rotate new taps and sometimes entire breweries fairly frequently and their bartenders are typically knowledgeable and helpful.
(4)Jeff S.
Wicked Weed beers on tap? Yes, please! I brought in 5 out-of-towners who had never been to Durham before. We headed back to the speak easy bit of the bar, and grabbed a pool table. The tables and cues are in dire need of maintenance - but you know what? We didn't come to play pool. Monday Night Football on a big screen and beers, we had fun. And I didn't look like a schmuck. I was a bit hungry and picked up the meat and cheese plate. Very good! Bartenders got slammed with some big group of convention/meeting goers right after we arrived, but our service was great throughout the night.
(4)Andrea P.
This place continues to get worse, unless you're trying to figure out what not-to-do. Why give this place your money when there are better places in town that care more about their customers? + I ordered the pear salad with chicken. The salad was brought out unmixed (thanks for at least cutting the fruit for me?) - I could practically see the sterile measuring cups used to portion out my meal from the restaurant's supplies - and sans chicken. It was like having a date pick out the economy menus and walk you through the cost of each thing you could order, and then still mess up in choosing what you like. As if that weren't bad enough, the waitress decided that the best course of action was to take my plate back and add the chicken on top, so I got to sit there for several minutes, the rest of my table's food cooling, and wait. Way to mess up basic hospitality. + The food was not very flavorful, and just a let-down. + The restaurant had plenty of open tables and it was not near closing, yet the waiter dropped off our check and proceeded to hover over us until we paid. We made a joke about it and he snapped back but continued to linger. He was terrible. + Nobody at this location knows anything about their beer! We tried to talk sour beer - we wanted to try something new - but had no one to review this with.
(1)Lori R.
I am so surprised to see that I haven't reviewed this before, but then again a lot of the time this place is too packed to get in! So on this recent Friday night we were fortunate to be there early enough before a DPAC show to actually get in. We started with a glass of chardonnay for me and a Founder's Porter for Husband, along with the Beer Queso. This was a happy way to start! Loved the jalapenos in the queso. Husband liked his porter and I was happy with my wine. Husband ordered the PIM burger, while I opted for the schezwan wings with asian slaw. Husband rated his burger a 3 out of 5...pimiento cheese was pretty lost with the burger, and the tomato was fairly tasteless. My wings were yummy (tasted like 5-spice), but the "asian slaw" was just a little cabbage almost lost under the wings. Husband switched to a tasty stout at some point, while I warmed up with a tasty red. And we opted to share a pumpkin cheesecake dessert. This was surprisingly light (like a mousse) and really yummy! Our Server Gal was great and didn't make us feel rushed even though they were quite busy. TIP: If they are too busy and you can't get in before a show, do know there is a bar area with a side entrance in the back where we have gotten food as well as drinks.
(4)Jill M.
Not impressed cold beer but mediocre food. Would have done as well to eat at the ballpark.
(2)Chris P.
Nice place planted in the middle of the tobacco district. Food was good and they carry a nice craft beer selection. The inside of the restaurant was nice also. My only big complaint is we ran into a server who was a "gotcha" type. Let me explain. My wife and I are not from the area. We order two drinks and are asked for our IDs. No big deal, I give mine to her. After about 10-15 agonizing seconds of her looking the ID over she asks me "is this you?" I, thinking she was joking answer that yes that is me while chuckling a bit. She hands my ID back to me. She then checks my wife's ID. My ID is newer than her's as I had mine renewed recently. She questions the difference in the two IDs like one of us were carrying a fake! After I try to explain to her that mine is newer she then asks my wife to remove her sunglasses to verify it is In fact her on the photo. After she looks her over she rubs the ID (checking for a fake maybe?) she looks like she is about to ask for mine again to check the differences in the two but thankfully leaves it at that. If I would have been asked for my ID again I probably wouldn't have stayed. I didn't just turn 21 yesterday (but wish I still looked it!) but have no problem giving my ID to a bartender, server etc. This however was ridiculous. I have never encountered an issue like this before. We've been on vacation the week leading up to this and never had an issue at any other establishments. She seems to pride herself on finding those drinking under age and using fake IDs.
(4)Joe F.
I expected more form Tyler's based on other review. Generally speaking, it was good, but more ordinary rather than extraordinary. The Caesar salad was your run of the mill offering. It did the job, but didn't have a uniqueness to it. The nacho starter was good, but again didn't wow our party. The shrimp po boy had five medium crunchy shrimp, with a tasty remoulade sauce. Next time we are in Durham, we may look to try Tobacco Road.
(3)Yeshanth J.
Good selection of domestic and european beers. They used to have free garlic fries(which is good!) for a yelp check-in but they dont have it anymore :(. A good spread of vegetarian dishes. Highly recommend "The Portabello" and "Fried Green Tomato" sandwich for the vegetarians. The Grilled Salmon can be good on some days. They need more room to stock domestic beers. The ones on the menu don't necessarily translate into availability of the same. It's a nice place for large groups. Bottomline: Good for large group of friends, nice beer collection and palatable dishes.
(4)Txarli M.
A place not to go to if you are a tourist coming from outside the United States. They won't accept European driving license as a proof of age. Even when explained we can't carry our passports around all the time the waitress wouldn't take it (and I'm 26!). There's a thick line between asking for a proof of age and being welcoming visitors. Way to encourage tourism!
(1)Christophe C.
Come here for beer, but not much else. Been here twice now and the food has been sub par. Sorry honey, but that is not queso. That is nacho cheese dip, obviously. Nasty at that. Food is meh.
(2)Magnus H.
I work at the American Tobacco Campus so I'm very keen to have good food nearby. As far as the on-campus fare goes, Tyler's is king. Though they don't really have much competition. Tyler's has a large indoor seating area, with a smaller area off to the side that I *think* can be closed off as a private area. The front restaurant space has a bar with a fairly substantial array of beers on tap. There is also a large back room, the Speakeasy, with its own bar (also with a large variety of draught beer), plenty of high top tables, pool tables, jukebox, etc. There is regular table seating out in front of the restaurant out on the sidewalk. There's a pretty good number of tables out there, and even during the busy weekday lunch hour, it's usually not hard to get a table out there for up to 4 people. The outdoor seating is adjacent to the campus' water feature, which is pleasant. Around the side there is a substantial beer garden. There is a bar out here but with a very limited number of (usually very good) beers on draught. Lots of long tables with bench seats. This is where big groups can meet and enjoy beers. You can get food service out there but usually you have to order at the bar and they'll bring the food out to you. The regular servers are usually really good, personable, attentive. Every now and then someone new comes through that you just know isn't going to work out, and they don't. But the regulars always provide a good dining experience. The menu, on the surface, appears to have a large variety. I honestly have a hard time picking from more than a small number of options, especially during the lunch hour, because there is definitely a skew towards the kinds of dishes that are supposed to make you drink more beer. There are a few non-spicy, non-salty dishes on the menu if you look around. I particularly like the herbed chicken sandwich or the roasted portobello for lunch. You're usually offered fries, garlic fries (always a crowd pleaser here), or sweet potato fries. Now what I'm about to tell you is something that isn't on the menu: ask for garlic sweet potato fries. The garlic is just what the sweet potato needs to offset the sweetness. Though it's not on the menu, it really should be. My only other beef with the menu is that the meals are geared towards the American habit of overindulging. If Tyler's were to mix things up at all, I'd love to see more of a tapas approach where you have small plates and big plates, and can mix & match to your liking. The food itself is usually quite good and consistent in quality and presentation. The kitchen staff there is either well-trained and/or has a low turnover. We need more restaurants like Tyler's on campus. Luva was an awkward fit, serving very expensive lunches to a customer base of office workers that didn't really flock to it. They are gone. Cuban Revolution? I really don't understand how their badly mismanaged business endures. Saladelia is always a risk for food poisoning (but I still eat there once or twice a week anyway... desperation?) Mellow Mushroom is the only other restaurant on campus worth a damn, but I never eat there because it's already heavily used for office catering (too much of a good thing). Crossing Blackwell St., any of the sit-down restaurants are overpriced for fleecing the ballpark crowd. But Tyler's has figured it out. It's priced about right, quality is consistently appropriate, service is friendly... any entrepreneurs looking to open shop on campus would do well to appreciate what they're doing right.
(4)Neal A.
Wings were average but the beer really shines. Our bartender was awesome and after talking to him for a bit he went in the back and brought out samples of John Paul Jones Peanut Butter and Raspberry Jelly Stout. We were talking about peanut butter beers but he didn't have to do that! Prices seem pretty reasonable for what they offer. Plus their mass market beers on tap are my two favorites: PBR and Yuengling!
(4)Katie G.
Have visited here 3x and lived it. The garlic fries are great, blt with fried green tomatoes is outstanding and the fried pickles are the best. My husband loved the drunken pork belly sandwich too. Nice beer selection and of course a great location
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