George's Garage
737 Ninth Street
TEL 919-286-4131

This is one of the centerpieces of Durham's "Restaurant Row," a neighborhood centered around the 700 block of Ninth Street that's devoted to eateries in all price categories. George's Garage occupies the redbrick premises of what was originally conceived as a food store, but whose trussed, industrial-style ceilings evoke a glamorized version of an auto repair shop. Come here for one of the widest varieties of food options available under one roof in Durham. An excellent array of sushi, visible inside a glass case, is served with a minimum of fuss at the long bartop area. A conventional liquor bar, decorated with Southern memorabilia, occupies a distant end of the place. And in between are dining tables, an open-to-view kitchen, and a bakery serving very fresh breads, rolls, and pastries. During the lunch hour, the biggest luncheon buffet in Durham sprawls abundantly along one wall of the place (whatever you select costs $6.50 a lb.; the average luncheon weighs about 1 1/2 lb.) In addition to sushi, food items are mostly Southern-style and international preparations. Try grilled Australia-derived rack of lamb marinated in herbs and garlic; grilled pork chops served with sweet potatoes and balsamic apple chutney; blackened mahimahi with a cucumber-flavored yogurt sauce; or a "Calabash Platter" piled high with fried catfish, oysters, jumbo shrimp, scallops, and lemon-flavored risotto. Any of these can be prefaced with fresh oysters, fried calamari, or a flavorful version of New England clam chowder.

Reservations: Reservations not necessary

Opening Hours: Market/bakery daily 9am-9pm; self-serve lunch buffets daily 11am-4pm (takeout available till 7pm); restaurant Sun-Thurs 5-10pm (till 11pm Fri-Sat)