Dame’s Chicken & Waffles

Dame’s Chicken & Waffles

Few Triangle restaurants are as woven into Durham’s food story as Dame’s Chicken & Waffles. A locally founded, Black-owned Southern kitchen, Dame’s turned a Jazz Age classic into a homegrown institution — and made its flavored “shmears” famous along the way. Today the Durham location pours out golden waffles and crackling fried chicken from 455 S Driver St, in the historic Golden Belt district of East Durham.

A Durham Original

Dame’s began as Blue Mountain Catering before owners Damion “Dame” Moore and Randy Wadsworth rebranded and opened their first storefront in downtown Durham in 2012. The concept nods to the early history of chicken and waffles, a pairing largely credited to the jazz clubs of 1940s Harlem, and the restaurant leans into that heritage with jazz-themed décor and a warm, unpretentious welcome. What started as a single Bull City spot has since grown into several locations across North Carolina, including Greensboro, but Durham remains the heart of the brand.

The Famous Shmears

Ask any regular what sets Dame’s apart and the answer is almost always the same — the shmears. These house-made flavored butters were dreamed up by Dame and Beth Wadsworth, and they transform an already-great waffle into something memorable. There are seven varieties in all: maple-pecan, the runaway favorite, followed by peach-apricot, then strawberry-crème, chocolate-hazelnut, blueberry, vanilla-almond and orange-honeycomb. A pat melting into the nooks of a hot waffle is the signature Dame’s experience, and it is the reason the shmears have their own devoted following.

What to Order

The menu is built around a lineup of chicken-and-waffle “inspirations,” each pairing a specific waffle, chicken preparation and shmear. Newcomers gravitate toward What a Classy Hen, a fried chicken cutlet with a classic Belgian waffle and vanilla-almond shmear, or the Frizzled Fowl, panko-crusted chicken finished with blueberry shmear and a house plum sauce. Beyond the namesake dish, the kitchen turns out true Southern comfort food — shrimp and grits, fried catfish, collard greens and other soulful sides. Vegan waffles built on an oatmeal-and-applesauce base are a quiet staff favorite, so plant-based diners are not left out of the fun. Prices land squarely in the approachable range, which is part of why the place stays packed with students, families and downtown workers alike. If it is your first visit, keep it simple: pick one chicken inspiration, add a shmear or two, and let the kitchen do the rest.

Finding the Golden Belt Location

The Durham restaurant now anchors the Golden Belt complex at 455 S Driver St, a revitalized former textile mill just east of downtown that has become one of the city’s most characterful gathering spots. The setting suits Dame’s — brick, history and a neighborhood energy that matches the food. There is a mix of dine-in seating, plus takeout, delivery and catering for larger gatherings. Weekend mornings draw a crowd, so it is worth planning around the rush if you want a table without a wait. The surrounding campus of shops, studios and events makes it easy to turn a meal into an afternoon, and the location keeps Dame’s close to the downtown core it has called home since day one.

Hours and Visiting

Dame’s serves seven days a week, though hours shift through the week. Sunday and Monday run a shorter brunch-style window, midweek days stretch a little later, and Friday and Saturday keep the kitchen open into the evening for those who want chicken and waffles for dinner. The restaurant is currently open and operating at the Golden Belt address. You can reach the team at (919) 682-9235, order online through the official website, or book ahead when you are bringing a group. Whether you are a longtime Bull City regular or a first-timer chasing that maple-pecan shmear, Dame’s delivers a taste of Durham that is, as the restaurant likes to say, almost world-famous.