My thoughts exactly, but it's been a while since I attended Duke, so my information is a bit dated.

Well known and loved in the area is Bullock's Bar-B-Que, but I think many of the recommendations in the DiningBuzz thread on Bar-B-Que restaurants would surpass it.

Last time I was there, the Washington-Duke Inn (and golf course) rented what were described as pretty nice rooms, virtually on the Duke (West) Campus. Don't know about its restaurant.

There is (or was) a pretty well known steakhouse not too far out of town. I don't remember the name, but it was established by someone who was falsely imprisoned using his settlement proceeds after he was released(someone local probably will be able to ID it based on that description).

Don't know if it will do any good, but try searching the South and DiningBuzz fora for Durham and Chapel Hill.