Let's cut to the chase: duck confit crepes and beignets. They are POPPIN'. Duck confit crepe: not your typical brunch dish, but man does it combine the best of two french bangers: duck confit & crepes. The duck confit has a beautiful, juicy sear on it, its saltiness is complemented by the salad and crepe, and little fries add a delightful crunch to it. It's actually hella filling. Now, brunch is not complete without carbs, and alas, we have the beignets. You'll definitely be a fan of these if you like doughy, dense, heavier beignets. They have just the right ratio of crunchy shell and soft, warm interior. We always get a dozen to go, but they're absolutely KILLER if you get 'em fresh. You'll also want a reservation if you're trying to eat at peak brunch hours, this place is especially poppin' if there's a big Duke weekend going on (parent's weekend, move in/out...) I'll be back to eat a dish that's not duck confit crepe or beignets, but if I had to stick to just those two orders, I'd be pretty content. read more

I don't know how it's taken me so long to write a review for Rue Cler - this is probably my number one brunch spot in Durham. Good sized venue with a clean, warm vibe. I've always had great experiences with the waitstaff. If you're coming for weekend breakfast/brunch you'll probably want a reservation, at least between 10 and 1. If you're looking for an extensive run-through of the Rue Cler menu, you won't find it in this review. Rue Cler is a place where I've found my perfect order and stick to it every time: Start with a cup of black coffee. Their lattes etc are good too, but plain coffee always does it for me. Order of beignets. It's basically an excuse to eat donuts for breakfast. Their beignets are pretty good; only complaint is sometimes they're a little too chewy. Finally, my tried-and-true, one of my top five dishes in all of Durham - the duck confit crepe. A deliciously savory crepe filled with rich, tender duck, spinach, and pomme frites. This thing is so damn good. Get it with a side of fries because why not? Live a little! I no longer live is Durham, but Rue Cler is on my short list of places I always make sure I get to when I'm back in the Durty D. read more

Service was great, food was good but a little pricey, and atmosphere was so so. I think for the amount of money they're charging, they can step up the restaurant decor and atmosphere a bit. If it wasn't for the great servers and relatively good food, probably would have been disappointed. read more

If you like beignets then you need to come here, basically asap. They have a larger and a smaller order, but the four of us who came here for brunch easily finished the larger order and although calorie wise we would not need more beignets, our tastebuds very much did! They were so fluffy and sweet and delicious and addicting. But how could you not like fried carbs with powdered sugar on them? I also got their french onion soup which happens to be one of my favorite dishes of all time. And they did give my fav dish a pretty nice presentation. The cheese was nice and melted, the onions were great, I just wish I had a slightly bigger bowl of it for the cost. Other got brunch crepes which they loved, but they also were not the largest of portions. So without those tasty tasty beignets, not sure the men in our group in particular would have been full enough? Maybe this is how french food eaters have to be though---to make up for the butter and fried bread, you have to have smaller portions for the other parts of the meal? But for a spot that takes reservations for brunch, the service was nice and friendly, the decor and ambiance is nice and inviting, and those beignets are going to keep me coming back here... read more

The food itself and the service was good, but the portions were on the smaller side for the prices from the brunch menu. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but there are other options in the area for similar food. It is a very cute restaurant though and worth trying! read more

Rue Cler - French Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Who wouldn't like a restaurant that starts out a meal with freshly made beignets? We had the omelette with asparagus, bacon, cherry tomatoes and Gruyere cheese - fresh and fantastic. My daughter had the blueberry french toast and loved it. The service was very good. Even the hostess helped to ensure that our water and coffee were consistently full. The only downside was the noise level - but with good food like this, I can understand why the place was packed. This was a fantastic Easter brunch and we'll definitely return. read more

Rue Cler - Blueberry French toast - French Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I think I was in on an off night, I'll try Rue again sometime in the future to see if it was an anomaly based on the other reviews here. A few observations, it was a prime weekend night and the place was almost full. There seemed to be a shortage of qualified waitstaff (there were bussers who could refill waters and clear plates, the hostess was also setting tables and the owner - I suspect - was running food). We weren't in any rush or hurry, so the slow pace of service (taking orders, delivering plates, checking on diners, etc...) wasn't really an issue. I ordered from the prix fixe menu and started with the cucumber soup with crab, The broth was good, it had a little twang to it which I am still trying to figure out - the crab was more of a dusting than a component. The next course was the mushroom duck tart with a salad, this was the highlight of the dinner by far. The duck meat was plentiful and tender. The salad was plainly dressed, and a contrast to the tart. If I could have gotten a plate sized serving of just the tart, I would consider adding another star. My main course was the duck and unfortunately it was waaaay over cooked. I worked in kitchens for many years and know how duck must be pampered. Once it has been drained of its juices, it moves to the leathery stage pretty quick. That is what happened here. Some of the meat was so dry it had developed sharpened ends. I suspect that just as the restaurant was short staffed in the front of the house, the same was true in the kitchen. I lived in New Orleans for awhile and figured I'd have to give the beignets a shot. They came out hot and soft. The dough was a little chewy and you could tell the fryer oil was getting close to the end of its life. It didn't necessarily impart a burnt taste, but you absolutely got the charcoally after taste. The server was very nice when she had a spare moment to check on us, the owner seemed polite and the hostess smiled when we arrived. I feel bad giving them less than four stars, but I also have to be honest that this visit was less than expected. read more

The food and service were very good. My only hesitation to give it 5 stars is that they brought out my second course before I had finished my first. On the other hand, my partner in dining had finished her first course and the wait person said that he did not want her to sit there with no food while I was eating. On the first hand, my second course was asparagus which would have gotten cold if I'd finished my first course (chicken liver paté) first. And what was apple sauce doing on a plate of paté? It's my paté and I'll cry if I want to... The coq au vin was delicious as was my partner's flounder. No room for dessert. A glass of Sancerre cost $13 but was very good. read more

Not worth the effort. There are far better places in Chapel Hill / Durham to have an enchanted meal. The atmosphere is compact and the wait staff were unfriendly during our 4 person meal. The spacing was crowded and the staffs stress for Sunday brunch just rubbed us the wrong way on an otherwise calm morning. read more

A bit disappointed in the menu and uninspired dishes. Just got back from France and was expecting that level of attention to detail in food. Sigh. Won't be back. Will have to return to France for the flavors. read more

Brought my GF here last night... I had reservations for 1900 through Yelp. It was still quiet and they just sat us right away. 2 top in the back corner, one independent chair and a seat on the extended bench along the back wall. The table was decent sized and not cluttered. I don't remember hearing music. Which I like because 9:10 it's too damn loud. We were both happy with the atmosphere and table. The menu was very easy to read and understand. Our waiter explained everything in great detail. We both did the Prix Fixe ($35 each) 3 course dinner. I also chose to get the special for my main course for $10 extra ($45) which was a Lamb T Bone Chop. The food was absolutely on point. We both made sure to order different items so we could try lots of things. We loved it all. The portions were not small and dainty like you might expect at some French restaurants... but they were still plated beautifully. My Lamp Chop was as big as my fist and cooked to a proper medium... with a few medium rare areas around the bone... prefect. The waiter also matched our wine with our meals very nicely. read more

If you're feeling fancy and indulgent, what's better than a weekend brunch at Rue Cler? My go-to at RC is the duck confit crepe. First of all, it's unique enough because duck isn't found very often here in Durham. Second, the duck meat is cooked very well, tender, juicy, and seasoned just the right amount. The combination of the savory meat, sauce and the slightly sweet fluffy crepe is perfect for brunch which instantly wakes up your palette. Third, the portion size is great. You really get your money's worth with the amount of duck meat you get. The fries can be a bit over cooked sometimes, though most of the times they're golden, crispy and perfect. The house dipping sauce is light and complements the fries really well. As for the beignets: yes Rue Cler's beignets are good, but not AMAZING that you're regret life if you didn't get them. If you're feeling like it, some extra fried goodness that's light, sugary and fried to perfection would definitely make your day better! read more

The food was good but not great. I had the Chicken Paillard but the chicken was dry and the dressing was oily and bland. The breakfast potatoes however, were well seasoned, just cold. My friend's veggie crepes did look amazing. I have 2 comments. The host put us at the worst seats in the restaurant despite the fact that there were a lot of available tables and I had made a reservation. FYI, do not put the Black people in the back near the kitchen! It makes us feel some kind of way. Another woman of color was seated directly next to us despite all the open tables. Coincidence? Perhaps Also, the servers were haughty. When I asked the server to heat up my cold potatoes, he returned them with attitude. Then, he did not appear again until he brought the bill - that he did without speaking. He did not thank us for our patronage or inquire as to if whether we needed anything else. Having said all this, the venue is pleasant and it's a cool spot. I'll be back for a second try - as long as they give me a decent table. read more

Extremely mediocre food and unfriendly waitstaff. I ordered the French onion soup, which tasted like pure salt, and the mussels with fries. The fries were hit or miss; mine were over cooked but my friend's were good (food was quite hit/miss and unreliable). Also, about half of my mussels were sealed shut, and when I told the waiter he said that they were fine. Instead of owning up to the mistake and correcting the issue, the wait staff lied to my face. I will not be returning and do not advise others to visit. I've experienced better quality food and more accommodating service at much less expensive restaurants. If you're looking for a French restaurant in Durham, I'd recommend Vin Rogue. read more

First, the Oefs Rue Cler at brunch were delicious, and made for a great brunch with a dear friend. Small complaint, we were charged $1 for honey with our coffee and they really rationed it out. If I could give a 1/2 star I'd give 4-1/2 stars. We enjoyed our Sunday morning there. read more

I feel like a 2 star rating is harsh but the; Meh. I've experienced better is how I felt. Let me explain... I am a lover of French food and was excited to see if Rue Cler could hold a candle to my beloved Vin Rouge. We dined on a Tuesday night during Triangle Restaurant Week to enjoy the discounted (-$5) three course meal RC normally offers. I love how their menu changes month to month to take advantage of seasonal offerings but also keeps some main French staples on the menu regularly. Atmosphere was nice and offered several tables overlooking the street. Bar service was outstanding but our waitress Erica was a bit overwhelmed with the amount of tables she covered. She was all apologies and chalked it up to most of her section being sat at once. Regardless we had to wait way too long to get drinks. Love me a basket of bread with some salted butter which held us over until our first course arrived. My salad was nice with the use of fresh pea shoots but overall it was a bit bland. The same could be said for the crab cakes that came next. My tuna steak was nicely cooked but again bland with nothing really wowing me. I did try some of the chicken liver pate which was creamy and delicious. I also had a bite of my girlfriends Steak (NY Strip) Frites with Béarnaise which was cooked well and the sauce was divine but overall I feel Vin Rouge blows Rue Cler out the water. If Rue Cler was the only French restaurant in town I would rate them higher but with superior competition right down the road that offers better food at comparable prices I doubt I will return. read more

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Great French cuisine. A reservation is a must! My table had the duck magnet, coq au vin, duck confit, marinated olives and escargot. We paired it with a medium bodied red wine and found it all to be so delicious. Each of us thought that our order was by far the most delicious. The chef checked in on us and knew us by our orders. Will be returning! read more

Rue Clear I still want more!!! I finally had the opportunity to check out Rue Cler this week for a lunch meeting. Although I desperately wanted the mussels I decided to order the Chicken Paillard and get some greens in. The Chicken Paillard was delicious served on top of lettuce dressed with a champagne vinaigrette. The chicken had melted brie on top and the salad was dressed with lots of crispy onion rings. I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant it's just the right size and not to noisy. The host and waitress were great. They offer some great specials including a soup of the day and a fish of the day. The lunch menu consists of some great entree choices with some of your favorite french dishes like steak frites and Coq au Vin. They also have a large variety of crepes to choose from that all come with fries or a salad, I was tempted by the duck confit crepe. The crepes are a great choice for lunch at only $9 it's quite a treat. The couple next to me ordered the beignets and I almost stole one right off the table, but I'll just need to wait till my next visit. I'm definitely returning to try the mussels and happy to see that they are also offered at dinner time and brunch. read more

Oh boy. Rue Cler is bomb. I went for dinner with a couple of friends, one of whom lives in San Francisco, and even he declared that the meal was excellent, delicious, any other positive superlative you can think of. $30 for this prix fixe is absolutely criminal considering the absolute scrumptiousness of the meal. Let's break down Rue Cler's fabulousness, mmkay? First course: Frisee with real pieces of bacon, frittes, cracked black pepper - this was outstanding. A little heavy on the olive oil but that didn't detract from the taste. Second course: Asparagus with egg and bernaise - yummy, i'm still having dreams about it. Could have used a pinch of salt but again, a small quibble. Also tried my friends' onion tartlette and house made egg noodles. Definitely recommend the asparagus or egg noodles over the tartlette. Third course: Tomato braised beef short ribs, sauteed greens, and other gastronomic happiness - this was delish. Incredible. No bones at all and the meat was the most tender I've ever tasted. Added salt & pepper (i like condiments) and the meal was very flavorful. Greens were the perfect compliment to the beef. Had bites of the duck and flounder. Not a huge fan of duck but this one was very good. The flounder was crisp, buttery, and just a delight! Dessert: Terrine au chocolat. Succulent, RICH, halfway between fudge and cream. Goodness, this was amazing. Had bites of the crepe and the creme brulee - both are to die for. Wine: We got the cheapest bottle on the menu. A pinot '08. Nose full of raspberries and a bit of strawberry. Spicy, fruity, light, awesome. The decor is upscale loft warehouse. The lighting was perfect. And one of the male servers was super cute (always a plus)! Our server was very attentive asking us how we liked the meal and overall very polite. Verdict: I cannot WAIT to come back here for brunch (or dinner or lunch or a late night snack). Under $50 for three courses, wine, and dessert for a meal like this is why I love NC so much! read more

This French bistro makes me feel like I'm back in Paris! My first time there and service was excellent! You need to make reservations or sit at the bar if you don't have reservations depending on availability. I hope to be back in Durham soon! read more

Rue Cler - French Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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We had a terrible experience at Rue Cler this evening and I cannot see myself ever going back. Background: They have been running a LivingSocial for the past few months, clearly putting great stress on the back and front of the house. Still, that is no excuse for the unprofessional service we received from the host this evening. We've been trying for days to make reservation with no success: They have stopped answering their phones; do not take reservations online; the outgoing message says don't bother leaving a message because they won't honor reservations left on voicemail. (Call it and you'll see what I mean.) When we tried to walk in this evening at 9:15 pm, they said (rudely, coldly) no tables were available tonight and no slots left until after the voucher expires. And they would not extend the voucher, despite our efforts to get a table over the past days. We asked if we could take out - they said no. We asked if we could sit at the bar - no. We asked if we could stand by for a table - no. The host offered to provide the owner's email address and went back to the kitchen, presumably to get it. He came back and said - you guessed it, no. There is no excuse for treating customers this way. LivingSocial is supposed to help businesses acquire new customers in the hopes that they'll keep them. In this case, Rue Cler's mismanagement of the deal completely alienated us and ensured they will never see our custom in the future. read more

We had a fantastic date night at Rue Cler before a show at The Carolina Theater. The fixed menu was perfect! Scallops were the best I've ever had, so soft and buttery. Crystal was a fantastic server and her wine recommendation was perfect! read more

HOLY MOTHER OF YUM. I'M SO STUFFED. Most of the reviews are of brunches/dinners, but finally! Here's a review on lunch! I don't think the beignets need another review about how awesome they were, but here it is. They were piping hot from the fryer, with just the right amt of powdered & granulated sugars covered. My friend said that she could use more sugar, I guess that depends. They had lovely yeast holes in them, so MAN SO GOOD. BEST PART OF THE MEAL. We had the duck confit crepe. I thought the filling was spectacular. The duck was amazingly seasoned. the spinach and pommes frites added not only additional well complimented flavours, but also texture. I was iffy about the crepe. I like my crepes more cooked. The crepes wasn't cooked as thoroughly as I have hoped, therefore there was a over abundance of egg taste. It made me a teeny weeny nauseous after the crepe. The side salad was a romaine based lettuce salad. The mussels and frites were satisfactory. Eventhough the dish had a side of lemon bearnaise sauce, the broth could have used more lemon to eliminate the "fishy" taste of the mussels. It was good nevertheless. The sauce complimented the mussels well. Without the sauce, eh. The fries were delicious! It was lightly salted and shoe string. It had that fresh potato taste. Not the processed frozen mumbo jumbo. YUMS. The service was really good. Our server was very attentive and never had us impatiently waiting for anything. I think he was laughing at how two girls pummeled all that food or how many times we say "YUM!" too loud. WOMEN VERSUS FOOD. WOMEN WON. with the help of good food of course. :) read more

I always enjoy Rue Cler. It reminds me of love and sunshine dust. It's like Paris in the rain...minus all the French people. If you have $15 on you and you are in Durham, go to Rue Cler for their (I have no idea what the French words are for it) French Word French Word Chicken dish. It's divine. Then get the Chocolate dish, spelled "Chocalat" in French...it'll melt your eyeballs straight out of your dome....in a good way. If you have any questions or would like to learn French, please contact Rosetta Stone at 800.767.3882 Au revoir read more

As good as it gets... sure why not. The chicken melted in my mouth and it's the best french onion soup I've had in the south so far. Why haven't I reviewed this place yet? Well, the answer to that is simple - it's Jon's fault. Turns out, this place is open for more than just brunch. Why I believe Jon? I do not know. I decided to drag Jon and my lazy butt out late friday night (which is apparently a trend among the ladies) to be adventurous. There was quite a long wait, even at 8 at night, so we opted to dine at the bar with some other folk. Totally worth it. I got the roast chicken, cooked perfectly and quite flavorful while remaining light. I started with a french onion soup - I can never pass those up. And I have to say I was very delighted. Jon had the pea soup, which was actaully quite fresh tasting, but not my favorite thing to eat. Nonetheless, it was full of smashed peas and ham and would probably drive a pea soup fan wild. On my next visit, I plan to add some mussels to the mix - the couple next to me ordered a set and they smelled and looked fabulous! FYI - brush up on your french, the menu is true to its roots read more

It pains me to say so, but... Rue Cler done fell off. A couple years ago, this place was my favorite restaurant in Derm. Everything, from the service to the menu to the ingredients to the value, straight on down to the bread, was awesome. These days, the Rue is struggling. The table was pushed too close to its neighbor, the hostess left us to separate them ourselves. The bread was kinda stale. The server was rushed and rude. The tomato soup was good, the one bright spot. But the duck confit just tasted sad. And the pork loin was rubber. All this at a price point of $30 per person, not counting wine. You know it's bad when you've started composing your Yelp review in your head while you're still at dinner. When the food is good, you get so involved in the meal that the idea of writing a review doesn't even enter until the next day. Please come back, Rue Cler. We miss you. read more

When it comes to dining, the French know a thing or two. Based on the reviews of my fellow yelpers, I made reservations for Rue Cler and set out for my first proper night out in the Dirty D. Yes, I've tried Mellow Mushroom, Tobacco Road, etc, but I've never been to a locale establishment and experienced what Durham is all about. We were not disappointed. They offer a nighty prix fix menu for $30, which was just the perfect amount of food, which allowed us to enjoy a little gelato at the show (DPAC) later. I let the server know we were headed to see a show and thus needed to be out by around 7pm and she had us out in just the right time. The service was a little spotty, but nothing to be concerned about. All courses were prepared to perfection and very tastey. It's hard to tell from the menu, but the food is thoughtfully prepared. You don't be disappointed. As for ambience, it's minimal, but charming. Very French if you will. read more

Go for lunch- it's significantly less expensive. And be sure to purchase a dozen beignets for take away- you'll thank yourself the next morning. I love everything served by this chic French restaurant in the heart of Durham, NC (!), especially the crepes and anything with scallops, asparagus or mushrooms. If you like lunch, return on a special occasion with a special friend for dinner and eat your fill. Oh, and don't forget the coffee. read more

I finally had something other than beignets here, so I can finally review Rue Cler. Their beignets are fantastic, better than Papa Mojo's. Their brunch is pretty good, my friend & I agreed that their omelets were better than Watts Grocery (same exact filling, too). Their omelets also comes with a nice little side salad. Rue Cler's omelets beats Watts and Guglhupf. When we first arrived brunch, we were seated at the bar and promptly ignored for a good 10 minutes. No water, not even a nod to acknowledge us or a word for us to wait a bit. We decided to get a dozen beignets and both of us got omelets.. We kept waiting, nothing happened. Eventually, I stared really really hard at the manager and he asked if we were being helped; we weren't. He apologized and we were quickly given waters/service after that. Our dozen beignets arrived, it wasn't as hot & fresh as when I get them from the Rue Cler cafe on the side. I think they'd be cooling a bit too long. Still good, though. Here's the kicker, the manager came over and told us the beignets were on the house because of the long wait! Rue Cler, you have won in my books! So despite the fact we waited a long time in the beginning, we left feeling very happy with our service and food. It was a great brunch! read more

Visited for Sunday Brunch with a two hours advance reservation from yelp, good thing there was still openings. Parking: there's a garage right across the street. We arrived about 10 mins early and were seated immediately. The waitress was quick to take order. My friend ordered the Farmer's Breakfast (eggs, sausage links, something else and fresh fruit). I had the Duck confit crepe. Can't speak for her Farmer's breakfast, but I love my Duck confit crepe. The duck meat was fall-off-the-bone soft and juicy. It came with a side of salad that was VERY well-marinated, yet the lettuce was still crunchy. I felt like the duck confit was a bit salty though, I wish it had just a bit less salt. This was also the experience of another friend, so maybe it wasn't just my palate. Hence the 4 stars instead of 5. Service was great. The waitress was very nice, quick, and she came back a couple times to check on us. Will come back. read more

I've gone to Rue Cler brunch twice. The first time blew my mind--the beignets were heavenly, the service was great, and the dishes were delicious. That was about a year ago. A few weeks ago, I went again and was disappointed. The beignets were really dense and overly fried. The menu was the same as it had been--note that there aren't great vegetarian options--and I decided to try something new. Instead of going for the French toast again (a great choice)--I tried the salmon. L'escalope de saumon is essentially just a piece of salmon over potatoes. The fish was cooked super well, but the sauce and butter on it was so overwhelming that I couldn't finish more than half of the dish. Try Rue Cler for another meal, but know that brunch isn't all it's cracked up to be. read more

Great spot. Food & service were excellent. Throngs of people outside waiting or being turned away, but we had reservations and were seated immediately despite being a few minutes late. $30-ish prix fixe, but they itemize everything out, and you can mix and match from the a la carte section. Some of my party stuck to the prix fixe menu and others veered slightly--regardless, each of us ended up a hair or so under $30 for our 3 courses. I especially liked the asparagus and poached egg with bearnaise sauce. The mini croque monsieur with flank steak was good, as was the coq au vin and soupe a'loignon. L'escalope de saumon was nicely cooked, but I'd already gotten my fill of bearnaise earlier and thus didn't find it special. The 25-minute prep time for the poulet roti was no matter--they timed our courses so nicely we didn't even notice. Others have mentioned slow service, but I found it perfectly timed on this very busy night during a Living Social redemption crunch. Highly recommended. read more

Finally happened into this oft-talked about French restaurant for dinner (see my previous review for my take on brunch). They do a pre-fixe menu for $30 that offers a selection among three different dishes per course. What I never realized before visiting is that you can also choose to order 1 or 2 of the three items, if you want, and they will price your bill accordingly. There's also an ala carte menu of salads, frites, and other side items. Phil and I both ordered different first and second courses, agreeing to split them halfway through. (Sharing: a big step for me, guys!) I started with the potato leek puree -- a soup that's garnished with just a little olive oil and chives. I thought it was hearty, comforting, and yum. Phil found it bland. He had gotten a dish with tomato, beets, bleu cheese, bacon, and I forget what else. Damn, their bacon is good. I was happy to see it make another appearance in the second course -- Phil's tart, that was a casserole of sorts -- sliced potato topped with onion, bacon, and a layer of melted gooey cheese. My second dish was asparagus served with a sunny-side egg and bernaise. The asparagus was nice and tender, and the bernaise sauce was good enough to drink. I finished with housemade garlic sausage (yum), topped with cooked-down apple (brilliant), and paired with a kale & fennel pasta (love). Phil was less pleased with his entree, beef loin -- the only disappointment of the evening -- it equated to a country-fried steak, according to him. We had not saved room for dessert (dang); but did enjoy something off the wine list, which is a pageful of French wines (as you might expect) that includes quite a few affordable-priced options (which you may not expect). Service was great, helpful and prompt. Lives up to its reputation for being one of the can't-miss culinary options in downtown Durham. read more

I went here this morning and had some passable French brunch food. This smallish restaurant is located in downtown Durham so street parking abounds. The inside of the building is a mix of unimproved concrete walls and maps of northern France and black and white artistic photos. There was very little wait to get a table but the place appeared quite short staffed. Getting drinks, ordering, waiting for food and waiting for the check was painfully slow. The beignets were as good as fried dough with sugar on top can get- amazing! I got there frites rue cler: fires with bacon, chevre and one fried/one runny egg on top. My wife got some Bearnaise coated egg, asparagus and ham open faced sandwich. I thought both meals were pretty good though they lacked any sort of side or salad- strange for 11 dollar plates. The prices were off-putting as was the terribly slow service, but the waitstaff was friendlyish. read more

My dear friend and fellow foodie from New York came to visit me and I asked myself - Where can I take her to eat that could actually trump any of the wonderful restaurants she has to choose from in New York? Quite honestly, Rue Cler was the only thing I could think of at the time. I'd never tried it before, but heard great reviews about it from friends and thought that her visit was as good a time as any to try their food. Brunch seemed to be popular here, so that's what we went for. The first thing I noticed about their brunch menu was the fact that everything on it was pretty heavy. The heart attack kind of heavy. Definitely not the place you want to be at if you're just looking for a fruit cup or yogurt. I ordered the frites rue cler, which consists of french fries topped with bacon, gruyere cheese and two fried eggs. I'm pretty sure I clogged an artery just reading the description of this dish on the menu, but I figured if I was going to die eating this, at least I was going to die happy. It was phenomenal. If there was a right way to cook french fries/pomme frites, this was it. Normally, I would douse a gallon of ketchup on my french fries, but this dish just didn't need it. The gruyere cheese complimented this dish really well, giving it a ton of flavor. The bacon definitely helped too. My friend got the frisee salad, since that was the "lighest" thing on the menu. The frisee had lardons in it, which are basically cubes of pork fat, which basically negated any nutritional value in that salad. But, oh well. Their orange juice was really fresh and not at all too tart, which is something I love. Lastly, we got the beignets, which were also really well cooked. The consistency was perfect with powdered sugar to top it off. You really need to try this if you plan on visiting Rue Cler. The only thing keeping this place from getting 5 stars was the mediocre service, the crappy table we got near the door with everyone crowding around our table and the fact that they had no hot sauce for me to douse on my eggs :'( What restaurant doesn't have hot sauce?! read more

I have been patronizing this Restaurant since soon after it's inception. Happy to say they have been always evolving. There may have been some down days. However, they are incredibly, consistently, extremely delicious. Portion sizes for brunch are very large-shareable. Highly Recommend!!!!!! read more

There are certain foods that make you close your eyes, shrug and throw your head back sensually, and say Mmmm. Additionally, you get a slight adrenaline rush and your heart kips a little beat because oh, good God this food is delicious. Damn you Rue Cler, I have a little food crush. Rue Cler had me at Moules-frites. Fragrant and mild, steamed and bathed in white wine with garlic and shallots sauce, I devoured those delectable mussels quite swiftly along with the ubiquitous golden and crispy (perfect) fries. My bff ordered the quiche with country ham, spinach, and gruyère - I loved the little side salad it's paired with. Rave reviews from the former S.O about the Oeufs Rue Cler; a play on Eggs Benedict and top notch. For our non-Francophiles, Rue Cler does have the standard breakfasty brunchy items like eggs and sausage available, just off menu. The bffs former S.O was so inclined and raves about as well. Like an impossibly chic French woman, with a certain je ne sais quoi I could (and am going to) ramble on (avec un accent aussi n'est pas?) about all the wonderful food items, I'm GOING to try: the Tuna Niçoise, the Omelette du Jour, Pan Seared John Dory, Poisson du Jour, Coq au Vin..... read more

Everything here is delicious: beignets, mussles, croque madame, crepes, omelets, you name it. Come for brunch, but make a reservation ahead of time, which is conveniently done through Yelp. My favorite was duck confit crepe. It was stuffed with tender flavorful duck like a burrito. I definitely did not need those 2 over easy eggs I asked with it, but they were tasty nevertheless. Their fries are thin and crispy and served with seasoned mayo, delicious! I will definitely be back at brunch and probably for dinner, can't wait to try more delicious options. read more

Based on food alone, Rue Cler would get 5 stars. Everything I've ever put in my mouth here has been incredible. The prix fix menu has always done right by me. However, service can be a bit slow. The wait staff are friendly, courteous and definitely have had some good training. But our waiters have always seemed to be too busy (despite it being a small place, with seemingly enough staff members). It's not slow in that 'enjoy your meal and relax' way - which I can appreciate. It's more along the lines of 'I really want to order now, and where is my drink?' However, the service is by no means bad. And because of how fabulous the food is, it would never stop me from recommending Rue Cler. By the way, make a reservation. read more

I've been to Rue Cler twice so far. Once for brunch and once for dinner, I would recommend going for either meal. At brunch I had my favorite meal of croque madame. It was deliciously made and the mimosa was light and refreshing as well. Filling with the side salad. For dinner, I decided to have my graduation dinner here which was a pre fixe at 40 dollars a head. Initially I was upset about it but after having the meal I felt it was an excellent value. My sister had cold vegetable based soup that she loved. I had the most un-nutritious salad ever made: there was a salad of bitter greens with bacon, fries and cheese on top. Of course it tasted fantastic but I doubt it should be called a salad. For our meals I had the steak, my cousin had the chicken and my mom had the fish. We all finished our plates. Everything was great. The only down fall to the meal was our desserts. None of us are really into desserts so we weren't too disappointed. The mint ice cream/gelato tasted like toothpaste. ery very minty. And the other two desserts were nothing to write home about. Overall, I have had two great experiences as the small Rue Cler and suggest it to anyone who wants a nice meal. read more