Ryan Barnes | Staff Writer

Upperclassmen know the woes of on-campus dining and freshmen are quickly learning. The first full week of classes is over and Fountain is probably on your list of places to avoid. If you aren’t an athlete, Case-where rumor has it they serve steak, lobster, and sushi on occasion-is off limits after lunch. Clark…we won’t even discuss Clark.

So next week you are probably going to resort to frivolously spending those board bucks-   excuse me, “Dining Dollars” at every other place on campus. Port City Java, Wolf Pack Subs, The Wolves Den, Chick-Fil-A, and Taco Bell…did I miss anything? When those dining dollars start running low, however, that’s when the ramen noodle struggle begins.

However, if you’re looking to add a little variety to your dinning experience, look no further than Dame’s Chicken and Waffles!

In 2012 Dame’s Chicken and Waffles was named “Best in The Triangle”  for comfort food by The Independent Weekly. I learned about Dame’s through a N.C. State student’s Instagram posts. The food looked amazing. So, I decided to make a trip down Highway 40 to see if the food tasted as good as it looked.

Those Instagrams didn’t do Dame’s any justice. I ordered the “What a Classy Hen?”a basic combo that includes a classic waffle topped with a chicken breast cutlet. Every entrée also comes with one side and a shmear, which is like a flavored butter. I ordered a side of triple cheese and macaroni and the vanilla-almond shmear.

When the waitress brought my plate to the table, I didn’t really know where to start. I wasn’t sure if I should eat the chicken and waffle separately or together. The idea of mixing chicken, butter, waffles and syrup seemed like a stomachache in the making. However, after some not-so-careful consideration I ended up having a “you only live once” (YOLO) moment and drizzled the entire plate in syrup anyway.


The first bite, and every bite after that, touched my soul. The people at the next table were probably giving me the side eye because I was putting in work on that plate like I hadn’t eaten all week.

In the aftermath of my savagery I still had a lot of food left over, so I boxed it up and took it back to campus. I had reheated chicken and waffles for breakfast before class the next morning. Judge me if you wish!

Overall, my dining experience at Dame’s was
excellent. The food was amazing and the service was great. The portion sizes were very generous (the waffle was almost bigger than the plate!), and everything came out hot and fresh.

I would definitely visit Dame’s again in the future, and I would recommend them to anyone curious enough to try chicken and waffles together. You won’t be disappointed!

For those not interested in chicken and waffles, Dame’s offers other options like salmon, grilled chicken dishes, shrimp n’ grits, and several gourmet salads. There is also a stocked bar for the 21 -and-up crowd to enjoy.

Dame’s Chicken & Waffles is located at 317 W. Main St. in Durham. It’s phone number is (919)682-9235, call and make a reservation for you and your friends!

You can also visit their website (www.dameschickenwaffles.com) to see a full menu, pictures, and their operating hours. Dame’s is like a 25-30 minute drive from N.C. State’s campus, but it will be worth the gas!

For those who live in the Greensboro area, a Dame’s Chicken and Waffles recently opened near you! The new location can be found at 301 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.