Location: Pop's (603 W. Main Street, Durham NC)
Overall Rating: 4
Food: 5
Drinks: (didn't try any)
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended for: First dates, second dates,
casual dinners with significant others, meals out with friends and family.
For
a second date, I recently went to Pop’s for a Sunday night dinner (6:30pm). I
was excited to go because, I am ashamed to admit, I hadn’t been since they
moved locations two years ago. Parking was easy (my date scored us a
spot without having to circle), and the location definitely has curb appeal.
Inside, the hostess asked us if we’d like to sit in the dining area or
at one of the high tops in the bar section. My date deferred to me, and I chose
the high top because it was next to the window and had a pleasant view.
My entrée choice was the gnocchi with duck meatballs, and it was fantastic.
The gnocchi was good, but what really delighted my tongue were the meatballs.
Not always a huge fan of duck, I was very happy to discover this was delicious.
(My date went with the salmon, but we weren’t at that “level” where I was going
to ask to try his food, though the thought briefly crossed my mind. He seemed
to love it, and didn’t leave a bit on his plate, so I’m going to assume it was
equally as good as the gnocchi and duck meatballs.)
Being a Sunday night and having gone out with friends the night before,
I opted to pass on having wine with dinner, so unfortunately I don’t have
anything to say in that department. Perhaps a future date (sadly, with someone
else – we lacked a “spark,” which I use as code for “anything to talk about”)
will afford me this opportunity?
The atmosphere was pleasant, though not particularly romantic, which
was fine by me as it was only a second date. The walls were painted red, which
seems a bit obvious for an Italian restaurant, but it did look nice. Because it
was earlier in the evening, it was very light out, so that may have contributed
to the casual feel. I think it might have felt a tad more intimate if I had
chosen a table in the main dining area rather than the bar. The bar was great
in that it had a lovely view and there was a TV so I could glimpse college
basketball highlights between the long and boring pauses in conversation
as we focused on eating rather than talking. The huge drawback of sitting at
the bar is that it’s right next to the open kitchen, so there is a TON of
noise. I sometimes have random hearing trouble, so when that was combined with
a soft-spoken waiter, it made things a little difficult. Plus, it’s hard enough
talking on an awkward second date, so it would have been nice to be
somewhere a little quieter. Oh well, you live and learn, and I take full
responsibility for our seating choice.
It was a great meal, a good location, and has good date seating options,
even though we didn’t take advantage of them. I would give this date location
four out of five stars.
