Fabulous Restaurants

Durham: Watts Grocery

Watts Grocery is actually an acclaimed neighborhood restaurant in Durham, NC.  The name is derived from the Watts-Hillandale neighborhood where Chef Amy Tornquist grew up and Watts Street Grocery, a favorite childhood stop for candy and snacks. But what’s most distinctive is Amy’s use of local ingredients, many raised, caught, smoked, pickled or cured within a two-hour radius of Durham, and how she weaves them into her cooking.

Tornquists’ locally-created seasonal dishes have been treasured by fans of her catering company, Sage & Swift Gourmet Catering Company, for years. And now, at Watts Grocery, she is bringing customers and friends to her table every day.

The menu is a mix of class favorites and Carolina tradition, defined by what is grown locally and seasonally. On her lunch menu, loyal fans will discover her famous Ploughman’s Lunch, composed of local cheese, housemade paté and Pop’s Bakery breads, as well as Fried Catfish and Oyster Po’ Boys, a BLT Salad and housemade pimento cheese that benefits from a splash of bourbon.

At dinner, Tournquist doesn’t stray far from her focus on sustainability as her grass-fed beef burgers are doused with homemade catsup and buttermilk fried chicken features local chickens. Cakes, pies, cupcakes and cookies spill onto the bar, reminding diners of childhood favorites. Also, the chocolate chess, sweet potato and lemon meringue pies may be the best you’ve tasted since you were knee-high.

The open-air restaurant seats 70 in the dining room and 30 at the bar. It’s comfortable and casual, like Tornquist’s home, with family photographs and paintings by her husband and chef-partner at Sage & Swift, Jeremy Kerman, on the brick walls.

Watts Grocery
1116 Broad Street, near Club Boulevard
Durham, NC  27705
(919) 416-5040

Hours
Open for lunch and dinner every day except Monday. Brunch on Sunday and a late night menu Thursdays through Saturdays.

By Jennifer Noble Kelly

added: December 16, 2008

updated: March 26, 2009