Criterion

The owner of this place knows what he’s doing and is so damn friendly and knowledgeable that it made for a wonderful experience. Truly a master of his craft, and one of the best bark experiences I’ve had in years. Thanks for the lessons in scotch, sir.

This has always been our go-​to spot to get a beer in Durham. This evening was particularly enjoyable because of Ben, our bartender. He took amazing care of us and it was very clear that he takes great pride in his work. The beer & whiskey list is thoughtfully curated. It’s unassuming, unpretentious and high quality in every way.

someone pooped and didn’t flush. this is an otherwise great place to drink. Unilocal sucks!

Great service, cozy bar, and clean bathroom. The bartender also made a great perfect vodka martini and saved us from the rainstorm.

I came here for drinks on Sunday. Relaxed atmosphere… No loud music or weird lighting or anything like that. The booths were tiny, but comfortable enough. If you’re fat, you’d probably not be able to fit at the booths and would have to sit outside. I also feel like it’d be uncomfortable to eat there, ’cause the tables are so tiny.
Cocktails were OK. The beer selection was good, and the prices for the beer were ok… Not as good as they in initially seem; the glasses are small… I think half-​pints, but I could be wrong.
The bartender, tall bigger guy with a beard, was unfriendly and made me feel rushed and burdensome.
It was an OK enough place to stay for a couple hours, but I’d not come back here.

Beautiful décor and nice seating situation-​wooden booths, deco chandeliers, tin ceilings. This would be a nice date spot. I came here with a few friends and it was the perfect atmosphere to chill and converse.
The bartender with tattoos and a beard was really rude-​acted like he was doing me a favor. Maybe he was just having a bad day. It took him forever to make our drinks, but they were delicious and very strong. $ 9-​$ 10 per cocktail, and definitely worth it.

I’ve been to a lot of places in Durham and Criterion is a favorite. Great atmosphere and one of the best quiet places to grab a good brew in Durham. Bring a book or a group of friends and enjoy!

I stopped in here with a friend early-​ish on Saturday night to check out what they did with what used to be ‘Whiskey’, an upscale, art deco/​vintagey bar that at one time allowed cigar smoking inside (GASP! but it was kind of cool).
So Criterion seems to mostly be the same concept as Whiskey, in my humble opinion. They’ve added some neat light fixtures and a row of wooden booths along the left wall, but its still dark and sort of art deco/​vintagey. The bartenders were easily recognizable as old favorites from Bull McCabes and maybe one I’ve seen at The Fed?
Anyways, I thought Criterion was still a cool bar that I’ll probably go to again, but I really was sort of disappointed that they didn’t come up with a new concept after closing Whiskey, though? I was left wondering what the point was in the name change? Overall it’s a laid back bar with a great beer and liquor selection that is reasonably priced without too much pretense.

Stopped in here after having some tapas nearby yesterday night (weds). We were greeted by an awesome bartender named Jay. I have a thing about bartenders and they usually make or break a place for me. I also haven’t had the greatest experiences with them here in NC since I relocated from NYC, but Jay was excellent, and inviting and made a killer martini and manhattan. My manhattan was perfect, and had a brandied cherry! So good.
Had great music + ambience. Found out some of the wood that makes up the wonderful booths is reclaimed from the damaged beach areas in NYC after the hurricanes. Very cool. Details were definitely paid attention to in this bar, from the copper lined wooden booths to the drink ingredients. Happy to have found a new local spot. I’ll have to come back and try other nights.

This place is rockin’. Killer beer list. Love the wood and the lighting. Great ambience, music, lack of annoying barfolk.
Can get a little loud — but not in a panic-​attack-​inducing club way.

Stopped by the new Criterion after leaving dinner in the area, and so glad I stopped by! No wait, nice bartender and loved the atmosphere. The décor that they redid is on the edge of urban trendy and vintage industrial. I would add a little more character still, but since the place is still very new, I have no doubt about what more will come.
The bar area is big, with plushy stools and a giant collection of beer options. I love beer, so no argument here. Lots of liquor, perfect for a Manhattan or Horse’s Neck or just a good olé «neat» whiskey. I got the Southern Tier IPA for only $ 5 and couldn’t even make up my mind for my next choice.
Clean bathrooms, dim lighting, and the seating area is perfect for a private conversation. The tables are divided in little «cubicle» like dividers so you can actually chat and hear each other, without hearing other people complaining about their day!
I didn’t see a cocktail list, which is totally fine. At first I thought, «Ok well San Diego bars (where I’m from) always have a home-​cocktail list». But since when does every bar need their own special drinks list when you’re just there for a good buzz to ease off a hard day’s work? Sometimes, you just come across places that have a wall full of liquor, ready to serve what YOU want. That’s right, you just call the shots. Your problem? Knowing what you wanna throw back.
I definitely think a stop at Criterion is worth your while. Easy, chill without hassle and why not?! And super cheap beer (be sure to check their special!) I’ll be going back again soon.

This is a bar in a solid part of downtown durham. It gets a couple stars for that alone! It smells like wood inside, which I consider to be a great compliment to the selection of whiskeys. It’s kind of a man’s bar… Very dark inside, several beers on draft, many liquor store, but no «froo froo» fruity cocktails. Lots of awesome booths, so good for date night. We came on a Tuesday night, so definitely not busy, but also not lonely. The beers seemed cheap enough, although they were somewhat lukewarm. I’d definitely come back if I’m doing dinner in the area or headed to a DPAC show.
It’s not the best bar I’ve ever been to, but it’s a step above a dive and is a good foundation for building up this area. Worth going to if you’re in the neighborhood!

I didn’t get to see the space or the menu when this spot was Whiskey (and I’m sad that I missed that opportunity), but I definitely enjoy Criterion as it is now!
They bartender (s) are knowledgable and helpful with whiskey/​scotch/​bourbon selections although there are a few staples that are missing (Oban 14, Balvenie (any year), and Maker’s 46). I’ve popped in the evenings, late night, and mid day and it never gets so loud that you can’t hear your company speaking.

I really like how they’ve redone the place — there are rows of tall wooden booths in the back for more intimate hangouts, and lots of open space in front of the bar, if you’re with a larger group. In the warmer months, you can grab a seat at a bench out front. Dame’s is a couple of doors down, so if you’re waiting on a table, try popping in Criterion for a drink! Great beer selection and I got a cider for $ 2 last night. I repeat, $ 2.

I stopped in to check out Criterion around 5 on a weekday. I like what they’ve done with the space, but I did not like the bartender’s reluctance to make me a cocktail. When I asked if they had a cocktail menu, the bartender said no, that they are trying to get away from the «cocktail trend» or something of that nature. (Oh boy…) «But, you stock hard liquor,» I said, as I peered upon rows and rows of various liquor bottles. «Yeah, well, I can make you an Old Fashioned, a Manhattan, or a Negroni, but I can’t make you a French 75. I don’t want to mess with lemon or limes,» he said. (I never asked for a French 75 so I don’t know why he brought that up. I guess I have a «French 75» look.) «OK, so no citrus?» I asked. «Right,» he responded. So I ordered a Negroni, one of my favorite drinks, curiously thinking, «What’s he going to garnish this with?» He proceeded to make me a great Negroni that was only $ 7.50 (very reasonable) and that was garnished with (wait for it) an orange peel. So, I guess they do have citrus. I thought «I’m getting mixed messages here.»
I want to give the place a higher rating, but the bartender’s anti-​cocktail attitude was really off-​putting. Yes, I drink beer. I drink really good beer. But sometimes I’m in the mood for a cocktail, and even if I had no knowledge of the former occupant of this space, the beautiful wooden bar and art deco light fixtures would still get me jonesing for a cocktail. The reluctance of a bar to make me a drink that they are clearly able to make and that I’m prepared to pay 9 or 10 bucks for — when there’s only 2 or 3 people in the place — is just bizarre. Why stock hard liquor if you don’t want to serve it? If you want to focus on beer but offer some simple, classic cocktails, then fine, do that. Why not write a short cocktail list on the board and be done with it? Why the cocktail hate?