We dined here tonight in a large group and had the best time. We had outstanding service from servers who went above and beyond to make us comfortable. They provided fantastic recommendations for the best wine and food selections. It was a great experience from start to finish and I won't hesitate to return. Highly recommend. read more

Overall, what a lovely family experience! We made reservations for a Sunday night (earlier today) for a family of four. We reserved for the covered outdoor seating, and we were sat outside on the patio. What we ordered (food-wise): Escargot Onion Soup Traditional Mussels Frites Bouillabaisse Salmon NY Strip + Frites Creme Brulee Overall, good food. Escargot were good size. Onion Soup was nice and cheesy, good amount of bread + onions, not salty, and a bit on the sweet side. Mussels (traditional) were super tasty, some plump, some small. Frites were so good, even after becoming cold. Bouillabaisse was such a good portion for the price. Salmon seemed to be on the small size, but cooked perfectly (they also let me substitute carbs for a small side salad which was really just lettuce), and the dijon sauce was really good. NY Strip was a just a tad bit overcooked (we asked for medium rare), but still good, and a nice size portion. Creme Brulee was the star of the show! Service was unrushed, extremely friendly. The waiter was so great with explaining the dishes, giving us recommendations for drinks, etc. We would definitely come back! read more

I went her with my husband and another couple. We sat in the back room. Very cozy and the decor gives a great atmosphere. The service is wonderful. The wine list was very nice. They start you off with olive tapenade (delicious)! Next we had crab legs, very fresh. I had steak, my husband had liver, my friends had the pork chop and another steak. We were all very happy with our food. Everything was cooked to perfection. We bought do olive tapenade to go, it's made at the restaurant. Delicious Highly recommend! read more

Wow. They have realily lost a step or five. They're living on brand recognition unfortunately. We dined here twice in the past three weeks, including today for brunch. Service was ok, not great. The food was unfortunately really poor. It was 45 mins from order to table, cold and unappetizing. The formerly excellent frites were soggy, cold and worse than McDonald's. We may go back again but probably not. I used to love this place. read more

Pleasant staff with friendly welcomes inside a "shabby chic" establishment. The mixed green salad was nice, the dressing was extremely acidic, but I prefer that in a vinaigrette. Would definitely get it again. The trout amandine was nice, fish cane away from the skin easily. Haricot vert was cook properly, but the ends weren't cut off so the presentation was something to be desired. The potato puree was the star of the plate. read more

Went here for my bday last weekend. LOVED IT! A friend has raved about this place for a while now and loves their steak tartare. We called ahead for a reservation, which was kind of last minute and they were very accommodating. Originally had outside available only but once we arrived we asked and they got us inside. Great atmosphere, great wait staff, and delicious food. I always try to have oysters on my bday and they had them. Also tried the tartare because why not and it was great! Btw not sure that's a regular menu item so don't hate me if it's not available when you go, but if it is try it. Will definitely be back. read more

Vin Rouge - Oysters - French Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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We visited Vin Rouge for dinner the other night. The food and service were excellent. This was our second time dining here and it was just as good as the firs. If you're looking for French food, look no further. read more

Added a star for fantastic service. I asked our waiter if they had mojitos... he wasn't sure if they had fresh mint but assured me he could run 'next door' to grab some mint for us! Came back with FRESH mint in his hand and got us three mojitos. :) That alone is FANTASTIC!! also had the Salade Nicoise, the funa is fresh and delicious, not drenched in dressing and a good variety in the salad itself. yum! Pomme frites also delicious! read more

Vin Rouge - fresh bought mint for my mojito and a delicious salade nicoise - French Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We went to Vin Rouge for a romantic date night in late January. The ambiance was lovely and cozy, even though the table we were at was quite small. Our server was Kate, and she was the best server I have ever experienced. She was knowledgeable about all the food, made wine and drink recommendations, and answered all of our questions. We got escargot, and an assortment of cheeses to share. Both were delectable, and Kate made excellent choices for our cheeses based on a short conversation with us about our preferences. For our entrees, I got the poisson du jour which was a halibut that was cooked to perfection in a rich broth. My fiancé got Côtes De Porc and he has been dreaming of it since. For dessert we had a warm apple bread pudding. Kate recommended an apple brandy to pair with it and it was incredible. Overall, I would love to return for future birthdays, a romantic night out, or small family celebrations. The parking was also easy which was a major plus! read more

A+ for trying but they clearly overextended themselves on New Years Eve. We showed up for our 6:30 reservation, didn't get our appetizers until almost 8 and painstakingly finished dessert 2.5 hours later, after 9pm. We were fortunate to have a server that could understand our pain and offered to comp a round of drinks, but it unfortunately did not make up for the lackluster quality of food. We were working off a prix fix menu so it was not your typical experience, but I really took issue with the fact that they didn't serve us what we ordered. Ex. #1, my wife ordered the filet, but was served a strip steak. I was a little suspicious after our waitress told a table near us there were no filets available about 10 minutes after she ordered, but to serve us an inferior cut of meat and expect us to be ignorant to it was a bit much. My food was fine, save for the wait and the fact my appetizer of mussels and fries came out in two separate waves, but the caramel creme dessert was a disgusting sugary flan. I also would have been okay with the poor quality here, but it did not even come with the berries and mint that it was advertised with... I felt like this was either negligence or blatant misdirection. All in all, I am sure this restaurant is decent, but the experience we had would not ever make me want to return. read more

Vin Rouge has been around for as long as I can remember! I recently had dinner there with my book club (maybe 9 people) on a weeknight, and the place was slammed! So glad we had a reservation. The service was wonderful. Our server was helpful with the specials and answering questions. She was also very patient with such a big party and allowing us to get separate checks, including splitting a bottle of wine! I can't imagine how annoying that must have been. :) The bread before the meal was served with a delicious olive tapenade for dipping. It was so tasty! Everyone's food looked fantastic and I heard nothing but rave reviews. I ordered the steak frites with blue cheese butter. It was a very generous portion, cooked perfectly, and served with a side salad. I was so torn about what to order while perusing the menu, and I ended up having no regrets in my choice. I would definitely return to Vin Rouge! read more

Came here for date night with my husband and was pleasantly surprised by the nice interior. It feels small but it's pretty and a nice setting for a date. They bring bread and an olive tapenade for you to munch on that's pretty good, considering I only care for black olives. The wait staff was friendly. My husband ordered the mussels and escargot. I ordered the onion soup and trout amandine. Everything was very salty. Even for my husband, who adds salt to pretty much everything. The onion soup tasted a little like they used a bouillon cube to make it. The mashed potatoes were soooo salty. The fish was good and having a bite of the fish, green beans, and potatoes made the salt tolerable. My husband thought both of his dishes were "fine". Overall I wouldn't eat here again. Parking is also pretty tight and limited. read more

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This was my first time at Vin Rouge, but not my last for sure! I tried two new to me dishes- the escargot and the calves liver. Both dishes were hearty and absolutely delicious. The escargot was a surprising flavor but nonetheless very good. The calves liver was the star of the show, absolutely. It came with onions and large chunks of bacon that gave the dish way more flavor than I expected. The mashed potato side was also delicious and creamy. My party all ordered different things and shared. The steak frites was a second favorite. Overall, this place is delicious and I will be back. read more

Absolutely romantic and delicious French cuisine. I just had only one small complaint. The appetizers were wonderful. The escargot was so brilliantly done I felt like I was in France. The salmon was cooked to perfection. Most of all the waitress, Kate - she had that perfect balance of being available and not being intrusive. Her ideas about pairings with the wine and dessert as well as the meal we're on point. She made my anniversary dinner so enjoyable. And now, for the only complaint I have. I had worked on OpenTable, I specifically stated that it was an anniversary dinner. I specifically asked for a romantic table for two. They put us in the corner where the lighting fixtures and water pipe weee so intrusive that it was impossible to get an anniversary picture. As well as my wife bumped her head on the light switch several times. She was a trooper and didn't complain, but if you make reservations on open table - and request a romantic table, BE SPECIFIC. You want to table that can actually provide a good setting for pictures and also that the date does not get a bump on her head. There were plenty of other tables available with more romantic lighting. So I am confused as to why they gave us an awful table. read more

An absolute gem! A true French experience in Durham. I've been 10-15 times over the past 5 years and I've yet to be disappointed. read more

Vin Rouge - 3 Three Cheese Plate and Chicken Liver Pate - French Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

First trip to this classic French bistro. Ambience in the dining room was perfect - relaxed vibe with excellent service. Food lived up to our expectations-the sauce on my sea bass was other-worldly; hanger steaks tender, flavorful and cooked perfectly. Prices were fair. Very generous pour on wines by the glass; the Beaujolais was outstanding. This is a terrific restaurant for those who love an authentic French bistro experience. read more

Delicious Sunday brunch. Croque madame was great. Fantastic service. I look forward to coming back!

We attended the 20th anniversary event and we were deeply disappointed . Upon arrival we found that there weren't any seats available and we made a special request. The promotion said hors d'oeuvres would be available; we saw no one walking around with any. The food consisted of a small selection of beef and two different sides, one being macaroni and cheese. The oysters were tough to come by and the cheese selection was average at best. This was the one time they could showcase what they've accomplished in 20 years and it failed in our assumption. $60 per head (2 of us) didn't include drinks; that was another $40 for wine we get at Wegman's for $12. A pure money- grab on their part. read more

This is one of my top favorite restaurants in Durham. It is fancier, and in a very cool building. You can sit inside or outside and the decor gives very classic old French feels. I personally believe it is the best mac & cheese served in Durham and they prepare their steak well. Pictured is the Croque Madame which was served with a very delicious sauce and crispy french fries. I've also gotten their French onion soup which is delightful and they have a great dessert menu. Overall I highly recommend this restaurant should be visited if people are visiting Durham. read more

Vin Rouge - Screenshot of the picture I took for my personal food Instagram account. - French Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

What a lovely dinner. My husband and I were in town from Charlotte and were able to enjoy dinner before our drive back. Escargot, mussels, the trout and filet, all delicious. Thank you for such a great evening, we rarely get date nights like this anymore. Also, our server was Alex read more

Absolutely delicious! Warm rustic environment with wonderful service. I have visited twice and both experiences were amazing. I will be back. read more

Vin Rouge - French Onion Soup - French Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Super great local place in downtown Durham, my friend who is local know all the staff and they really took great care of us. The sweatbread app was very tasty and the clams were good but the garlic sauce they were cooked were outstanding. The food is excellent, they let us bring our own while which we shared with them, they graciously waived the corkage fee. Nice place and looking forward to coming back on my next trip to RTP. read more

I remembered this placed fondly, and having not been here for a while, I decided to come back with a friend. Sadly, I was disappointed. I ordered the Eggs Oscars again, expecting it to be just as good as when I last tasted them. Perhaps this is why people say the sequel is never as good as the original. There was much less asparagus this time, and the fries were on the soggy side. But here are the two things that truly disappointed me: There was not enough sauce on the eggs, asparagus and muffin, making the meal terribly dry; when I asked if I could have a little bit more sauce on the side, however, I was told that I have to pay extra for it. I said, "Even if it's as dry as this?" "Yes." My friend thought it was ridiculous, especially given that this was a nice restaurant. This is something that Rue Cler would never do - put insufficient sauce on the eggs and then ask you to pay more for sauce. Meh, I've experienced better. read more

We went to brunch and were led immediately to our table. The room was very comfortable and appointed with photos of French actors & actresses. Our waiter took our drink orders first while we decided our brunch selection. The selections were all appealing but we finally narrowed down our choices. I had a Gruyère & mushroom omelette that came with a side salad & lyonnaise potatoes and I had ordered a Bloody Mary. The other two people ordered the eggs Benedict with hollandaise on the side and a side of fruit. One had a mimosa & the other had a French 72. The last one in our group had the mushroom & Gruyère omelette as well & a French 72. Every dish was very good & we enjoyed it very much without being rushed. Since this was a Sunday we had reservations that were secured two weeks prior. The only problem you will have is deciding on your entree since all were wonderful. read more

Vin Rouge is a traditional French establishment located in Durham, NC. They have done a good job converting their outdoor patio space into a pleasant area for outdoor dining. They have also written their food menu on chalk boards to minimize contact. Unfortunately, they haven't done the same for their wine menu which somewhat defeats the purpose. I would recommend using an online format as other establishments are employing to eliminate this issue. To start, we were brought out a role of bread and a lovely olive and olive oil dipping sauce. The sauce was very good, although the bread itself was cold and nondescript. For the food, we started off with the escargot and the sautéed sweetmeats. I had high expectations fo these dishes as both are French classics. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed by both. The escargot was served in a basil/garlic butter sauce that had an unusual and pungent taste. I didn't love it. As for the sweetmeats, this was a very heavy almost Souther style dish with a thick cheesy crepe, a mushroom alfredo-like sauce and breaded sweetmeats. It wasn't bad but lacked the refinement I expect from French cuisine. For the entrees, we had the steak frites and the bouillabaise. The steak frites was a highlight, very tasty and well-cooked. The bouillabaise was a collection of clams, mussels, fish, and shrimp in a thick saffron broth. It was a decent dish but not very remarkable. As for the service, my main complaint here was that our waiter was consistently placing his hands near our faces and leaning over us to reach our food. While of course in regular times this is normal practice, given the current circumstances we would have like a better system to minimize contact. Again, I understand the difficulties, but I have had other dining experiences that have been able to more safely address the clients by only approaching the table from the further side. Overall, Vin Rouge did their best to provide an authentic French experience, but I found it somewhat lacking in the refinement and elegance I associate with French cuisine. I won't be rushing back. read more

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Good food, great service, tasty wine, beautiful outdoor seating. I will have to say though, do be careful of the salt content. If your doctor has prescribed you a low sodium diet, this is probably not the place you should be eating at. The salad nicoise was impressively filling, the steaks done right, the rotisserie chicken juicy and the chocolate mousse divine. read more

Been here twice now and both times were outstanding. The bartenders really knew every aspect out the dishes they recommended and were good for a perfect wine pairing too. The food is very traditional French bistro fare executed very well. Several if the dishes reminded me of dinners in Provence. Definitely becoming a favorite in the area. read more

My cousin had Vin Rouge host her rehearsal dinner and welcome drinks. All of the staff was extremely welcoming and friendly. Consummate professionals one and all. read more

One of the best meals I've had in awhile! Pork chop and Mac and cheese was the best. Delicious.

Delicious food! The caramelized onion quiche was particularly great! Our waiter was beyond fantastic! She was super friendly and social without being overbearing. She forgot to bring some ketchup, which I wasn't upset about at all, but she still brought out fresh fries unprompted just to make sure we could have warm fries. They also have a great covered, heated outdoor area that we ate with a great ambiance. We will definitely be back! read more

I have been to vin rouge several times and have had a great experience each time. The wine list helped me find my very favorite wine! This is a great place for drinks with friends and for a romantic dinner out. I tend to do the cheese plate and wine, and I went recently for brunch for the first time. I had the French toast and my husband had the eggs benedictine and we didn't even talk for a while because it was so good! The heated patio is very handy right now! read more

It was delicious. On a cold snowy evening I ventured off here after almost everything was closed and I was so happy I did. We order the shrimp appetizer which I recommend dipping in the bread so delicious!!! Then Dijon salmon with fries. Perfectly cooked and seriously that sauce. And they did me right by there fries, even good cold and reheated. Definitely a place to venture off for cozy Yummie meal. read more

This is the 2nd time we have been here and had to park in the back. This is really revolting just thinking about how their kitchen must look when they have no shame leaving this for everyone to see. Especially the flies coming into my vehicle. I will not be back. read more

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Have heard about vin rouge for a very long time and finally made it out for a Sunday brunch on Easter . When we called they said there reservations were full ( which was expected ) but informed us that patio and bar area is available for walk ins and actually as soon as we showed up we were seated at a table with no wait ! There were a few groups of people waiting but probably because they were a group ! Food : amazing ! The salad was perfectly dressed with some delicious dressing ! Best fries I've had in a long time and my smoked salmon was perfectly smoked ! The decor and ambiance is perfectly done , so well that you forget for a minute that you're in NC and possibly at a restaurant in a far away land ! Would definitely recommend to anyone . Also service was excellent ! Fast quick service ! read more

Service and ambiance are great. Wine list is very impressive. Food is ok. Snails were disappointing - somewhat tasteless and lacking enough garlic and butter. Steak frites - frites were good but huge hunk of unseasoned beef with no sizzle on outside. Bernaise sauce was fine. Mussels were better than my first visit. I think of a classic French beet salad as primarily beautifully seasoned beets with a bit of cheese etc on top. Here was a massive green salad with unseasoned steamed sliced beets thrown into it. I believe French cooking is small portions with big taste. Here is big portions with small taste. Won't be rushing back.... read more

Looking from the outside you would never expect to find such a romantic, intimate, cozy inside. Much more seating than I would have thought as well. We started with some wine for wife and beer for me. Various options in water. All great. Appetizers was a goat cheese and onion quiche with side salad and escargot with butter for dipping. Both was delicious. Entrees was the steak and fries cooked perfectly and pork served with a gravy and mashed potatoes with red cabbage. For dessert the mousse was perfection! read more

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I was really excited to try this restaurant. I had heard a lot of good things and wanted to do a 1 year anniversary dinner here. I will say the entrees were great and so was the bread pudding. The service was horrible and made me feel unwelcome. When we arrived, the hostess was incredibly rude. Once we were seated, she did not offer us water or anything as she did for all other tables she seated near us. When it came to our server, he never checked in on us. We had an appetizer that we hardly touched because it was not what he had described, and there was nothing done to make sure we were happy. We sat through the tables next to us being cycled out twice before we got our food. We noticed that all the other tables were getting their food immediately and notably more attentive service from the save server. It was really terrible considering we did this as a one year/Valentine's Day dinner and we told the restaurant that this was what it was for. No extra care was taken it making it a positive experience. It's hard to not feel like it was personal considering I'm in a same-sex relationship and all of the other couples near us were different sex. The service was so notably different between us and the other tables near us that it made us feel very unwelcome and uncomfortable. read more

Outstanding food and ambiance. Service was ok but crowded apps and salads + waiting too long for the check needed improvement.

Durham, where have you been hiding this gem?!? A friend took me here for their $25 prefixe deal. It's available Sunday through Thursday from 5:30-6:30pm; it's a tight window but totally worth it! As long as you place your order by 6:30, you're good. The service was impeccable; I don't speak a lick of French and our server spent ample time translating the menu and giving helpful wine recommendations. They were also super accommodating. Now the food... excuse me while I wipe this drool real quick. We started with the mixed green salad, which was delicious (lardons are essentially fatty bacon bits btw). I ordered the Hanger Steak, which was a slightly small but perfectly moist and seasoned cut of blue cheese drizzled goodness. The Gratin de Macaroni (Mac'n'Cheese) comes in a personal ceramic dish with gruyere cheese baked into an appealing crust on top, with excess dripping off the sides as if the dish was unable to withstand its cheesy bounty and then...bacon. For dessert, I'm not a huge lemon tart fan but I did try it and it was tasty. But the Apple Bread Pudding...a moist cube of apple, bread, pudding fusion so perfectly combined you can't tell the pieces apart, served on a pond of some illicit caramel goodness that I honestly wanted to lick off the plate...but I'm classy...topped with a dollop of whipped cream that seeps into the pudding and combines with the sauce and coats the melting white chocolate chips on the plate. I mean...it was okay, I guess ;) read more

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Great ambiance and very good food! Probably one of my top pics in Durham. Book ahead!