Restaurant Eden

With all due respect I post this comment to inform readers that they should disregard all postings on this page prior to 2009 as they were for Restaurant Starlu which closed in 12/2007. All reviews prior to 2009 are for Restaurant Starlu, not Restaurant Eden. more

i have rarely eaten a meal that i consider inedible. The staff was apologetic. The restaurant had few customers. We were quite disappointed in that the menu looked quite appetizing. The snapper and meatloaf entree were beyond a simple miss. Pros: friendly staff Cons: worse meal in years more

Starlu has closed. Sam Poley, the former owner/chef of this great place, is now a part of Durham Catering Co. in Durham. Cons: It closed more

If you are young and fashionable, Starlu wants YOU!! Pros: Good food, reasonable prices. Cons: It seems like every night is a bingo night. more

I work in the Starlu building, and, therefore, have eaten at this restaurant many, many times for lunch and dinner. The menu is very limited - the theory being that as it rotates regularly fewer choices are needed. However, it does not seem to rotate very often and there seems to be a struggle to find new burgers for each new menu. Some of the burger choices have been really strange - like the pork burger stuffed with pork barbeque. The salad dressing is never good - sometimes it's really salty, sometimes it's really mustardy, and sometimes it just tastes like oil. The focacia bread is also very salty. Some of the entrees are nice, but usually when dining at Starlu, at least one person at my table has had an entree that was not satisfactory. The staff really varies - some waiters are attentive and almost friendly, but others are surly and disappear once they take your order (our office joke is that it's like dining in France, but without the good food!). One birght spot is the desserts - they are consistenly good. Also, I could recommend Starlu for private meetings - they have a nice meeting room and the staff and food are much better than in the 'public' restaurant. Overall though, I think the emphasis at Starlu is 90% atmosphere and 10% food. Pros: Good dining for private meetings Cons: Overpriced, bland food with inconsistent service more

I took our neighborhood dining out group there one evening and everyone loved their meal. The atmosphere is relaxing, upscale, but not over the top. Food was fantastic! Probably one of the best restaurants we have been too in the triangle area in the past year. Can't wait to go back again! A great value! Pros: atmostphere, food, good for groups Cons: hard to find more

Same menu MONTHS at a time, dry or over-salted entrees. Service is commendable, and the appetizers were very good. With so many great new dining options in the Triangle, Starlu isn't a ""must."" Pros: appetizers, service Cons: entrees more

I've been going to Starlu since they opened and I love it! I've tried every burger version Sam has come up with (the tuna was my fave!) and most apps and entrees. I can't say I've tried them all, because he rotates new things onto the menu all the time. It shocks me that anyone would describe Starlu as anything less than an EXCELLENT value. The food is fresh and creatively presented and I can dine there without spending a penny more than any of the mid-range chain restaurants in town, but unlike those chains, it feels like I'm doing something special. Starlu is a great place to sit at the bar with a drink and get a little work done via the high-speed wireless connection. Pros: Food, Atmosphere, Value more

I've never written a restaurant review before, and I'm writing this one to try to offset some of the negatives I've seen in a few other reviews, which appear to be based on a single visit, or vague generalities, or both. If you go to Starlu, or any restaurant that reflects its owner's vision rather than the lowest common taste denominator, try to leave your preconceptions and predelictions at the door. And if you don't like the food, tell us why we might not like it. Otherwise, it's just your personal opinion, and Starlu deserves better than that. more

The dining room is very comfortable and attractive. The menu is extremely appealing. The wine list is good and fairly priced. Service was friendly and helpful. Unfortunately the food was mediocre at best. Two of our party of four had been several months prior and felt there had been a decline in the quality of the food. The bread was very good as were the steaks, however, the other seafood entrees, the three shared appetizers and our desserts were all rather bland and unremarkable. All in all, a very disappointing experience. more

I've introduced a dozen friends to Starlu and we've all enjoyed the food and service. The menu is unique and varying dishes are consistently good. The manager has thought about the nice touches, like comfortable seating, attractive lighting, softened butter for the homemade breads. We have found it difficult to get seated at peak dinner times and weekends, but the bar is pleasant while you wait. By the way almost any wine they offer is good and they provide a charitable donation by the glass/bottle for some selections. more

Wonderful food.Had the Escolar and the pork chop.Super.Tried about four appies and were all dee-lish,esp the summer rolls.Like the wine list being divided by price.great flavours and value. Pros: food, wines, value Cons: decor was stark more

I read the reviews in the paper and go to check out the new places. This place continues the trend of overrated restaurants. The food I have tried ranges from not bad to poor. Service has been good, then non-existent. The interior is nice and I like the open kitchen, but the bright florescent lights should have been addressed. The prices are high considering the quality received. Overall, the experiences have been average at best. Pros: interior Cons: food, service more

My husband was slightly underdressed for a white tablecloth environment, however the crowd in general seemed to be of the white collar after-work set and not necessarily the fancy set whom I'm sure would be in attendance on the weekends. The food was good, but not necessarily mouthwatering. The babyback ribs I ordered, just didn't have the mouth-watering appeal of those you'd get at a greasy spoon, but they were just good. On my next visit I'll try something specialty and see if I'm any more impressed. Pros: Delicious breads, Unique food treatment, Excellent decor Cons: Skimpy side dishes more

Wow! Everything was delicious. Calamari, salad, fresh tuna burger with miso mayonaise, ribeye with blue cheesecake, carrot cake w/carrot ice cream and on and on. We all enjoyed the modern, comfortable atmosphere and the food was terrific as was the overall pricing. We will certainly be back to taste items from their seasonal menu. If a friend hadn't already been, I'm not sure we would have ever found this place. It's on the back of a commercial building near the SuperTarget in Durham off of 15-501. I'd say map it out, it's worth the search. Pros: great food, great ambience Cons: obscure location more

Nice ambiance reminiscent of an upscale California bistro. Looks and feels hip, with a blazer-wearing crowd. A place you might take a business associate, but not a date. The bar is a nice size and was quite crowded when we went on a Saturday night. However we were disappointed to find that that this place gets by on its looks. Our bartender did not know how to make classic drinks, and the food was uninspired and overpriced. It was nice to try once but there are better values in town. Pros: Atmosphere Cons: Expensive, Average food more

The food at the Restaurant Starlu is great. It's unusual, healthful, and attractive. The ambience is upscale. I went on a Friday evening, early. They told us the table at which we would be eating was reserved an hour and a half from when we arrived. That probably wasn't necessary to mention. I guess next time we will get reservations ourselves. Our waiter seemed tired and sad. The staff in general did not smile or seem friendly, but they were very efficient. The Starlu does a nice thing and collects money for charity. But I had to ask the desk clerk twice which charity in particular they were collecting for. Maybe these folks are under too much pressure since the Starlu is new. Overall though I would recommend The Starlu. We spent $45.00 for three people which isn't too bad for a really good meal in a pretty swanky place. Pros: great food, healthful, ample parking Cons: reservations, tired, stressed staff more

Restaurant STARLU has quickly become a place where the staff knows me by name. The menu can accomodate any food mood from wanting a little something after work to the saturday night out with a new date. The staff is warm and you usually see the chef/owner on the floor welcoming his guests and thanking them for joining his crew for the night. It really is like going over a great friend's house for a dinner that leaves you raving for days...sure to not disappoint. Pros: Great value, Warm service, Excellent food Cons: Hard to find more

This is some of the best food I've had in the area. Wonderful service, and a really great atmosphere. Pros: Amazing food, Wonderful Service more

Starlu serves extremely tasty food. Everything--stocks, condiments, , is made from fresh ingridients. Sam Poley has done Durham a service by opening this restaurant. It is nice to find really, really good food at a decent price. Chef Poley has a great sense of flavor and has created some delicious dishes to include on his constantly changing menu. The clam chowder and lavender creme brulee are incredible. Diners will be hard pressed to find better flavor and service at this price Pros: Flavors, service, value more