While taking a mini-break from the NuSol Natural Hair Expo, we decided to find a spot in downtown Durham, NC to grab a bite to eat. As we walked down the street discussing what we had a taste for, a passerby suggested we try Beyu Caffe – she had just finished dining there and she was very convincing that the food was delicious.

As we stepped in, the first thing we saw was the dessert display case, and we knew we were in for a treat. We found a nice table and had a seat. It’s always a good sign when a restaurant is turning over tables, everyone is smiling as their food arrives, and everyone is smiling as they are leaving as well. According to their website www.beyucaffe.com, “Beyu Caffe (pronounced be-you) is an American coffeehouse, bistro and bar located in the heart of downtown Durham’s 5-Points area. We provide atmosphere, entertainment, great food, a full bar, and of course the coffeehouse experience with excellent coffee and teas. Our mission is simple: to provide an experience where you can simply “be-you.”

As we drooled over the menu, it was hard to decide on exactly what to have – we wanted it all! Our waitress suggested the Cajun Drunken Shrimp for me, described as their “signature Cajun dish. Jumbo shrimp sauteed and bathed in a rich beer broth, finished with butter and rosemary, and topped with saffron rice” and only $10.50. Fellow blogger Ashley of Curly Cubaminican chose the same dish. What I liked about the dish was that it didn’t scream BEER like I was worried it would. The shrimp were tender, and even though there were only four, they were very large. The saffron rice was very flavorful, and I was satisfied – not stuffed – just as the waitress promised.

For my cousin, the waitress suggested the Chicken McLovin sandwich, which consisted of grilled chicken breast topped with bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado, mozarella cheese, and herbed mayo served on a ciabatta roll with a side of french fries for $8.95. Now, I was too busy enjoying my own food to ask her how her food was, but being that she finished it all I can only assume it was good 🙂

We also decided to enjoy a cocktail, and while our waitress made a few suggestions, we all went with the Absolut Strawberry Lemonade. I was expecting something very sweet like most non-alcoholic strawberry lemonade drinks are. However, because this was made with freshly squeezed lemon juice, it actually had a tart kick to it that made the vodka stand out. I know everyone doesn’t like ‘fruity’ drinks, but don’t necessarily want a drink that’s super strong either, so if you are one of those people, this is a great drink for you. Besides the fresh sliced strawberries, there really wasn’t much else strawberry about it so that’s probably the only bad thing I have to say.

As we were finishing up our meal and drinks, and chatting about our expo experience, we noticed the place had gotten packed and our waitress was busy. A nice gentleman came over to our table to fill up our water glasses, and he just so happened to mention that he was the owner, Dorian “DJ” Bolden. It’s always a pleasant surprise to not only have the owner on the premises and talking to guests, but actually serving the guests. I really enjoyed the Beyu Caffe, and I think you will too if you are ever in the Durham area and need a bite to eat.