When I started writing this series, I asked my friends to help me create a list of restaurants, good or bad, to review. I received a wide-variety of suggestions, but one restaurant popped up in the positive column multiple times.
Rue Cler, oft described as Durham’s “premiere French restaurant,” is located in downtown Durham. Renowned for its fresh beignets (donuts sprinkled with sugar), the eatery is well known for its brunch menu. They also offer lunch and dinner menus. The restaurant is classified as upscale, and the menu is priced as such. However, prices vary greatly depending on what you order and when you order, meaning if you go for brunch, lunch, or dinner.
Given the upscale nature of Rue Cler, I wanted to wait for a celebratory occasion before heading out on this nom-venture. With the arrival of October, however, came my birthday and the appointment of one of my closest friend’s as line monitor. Celebrations were in order, so I figured…why not celebrate with dinner at Rue Cler?
Two days before our intended dinner date, I called the restaurant to make our reservation. Rachel, the employee I spoke with, was friendly and accommodating. She wasn’t sure our party of 12 would be able to sit at one table, but she told me, in more words or less, that she would make it happen. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of that, but I appreciated her determination.
Rachel definitely made it happen because we were pleasantly greeted by a table for 12 when we entered the restaurant. I was immediately struck by the calm, inviting atmosphere in the restaurant. The dining space seemed small, but it didn’t feel cramped at all. With its relaxed and intimate vibe, Rue Cler would be an ideal spot for a cozy date night.
The host showed us to our table as soon as we walked in, but our waiter took time in taking our drink orders. (One note to keep in mind on the drinks – soda refills are not free since the restaurant uses soda cans.) However, what our waiter lacked in timing, he made up for in amiability. Since many of my dining companions and I can’t speak French, we had issues reading the menu. Most of it is decipherable, but our waiter patiently explained the workings of the menu and answered all of our questions.
During dinner, Rue Cler offers a changing fixed price menu and entrées, such as steak frites and moules frites, as a la carte options. The fixed price menu gives consumers the opportunity to construct a three-course meal for $30. The a la carte menu allows patrons to enjoy a classic French entrée at a lesser cost. Furthermore, the entire menu is flexible. Our waiter described it to us like this, “The prix fixe and the a la carte headings are just that, headings. In reality, you can choose just one item from the prix fixe menu and have it as your sole entrée or you can mix and match whatever you like.” This made it much easier for the vegetarians in our party to place their orders. Before our waiter’s clarification, we weren’t sure if there were enough satisfying vegetarian options on the menu. Though I still think my vegetarian friends didn’t get enough to eat, they assure me that they did and that they thoroughly enjoyed their food. Even so, I would suggest looking at the menu online, no matter if you’re a vegetarian or non-vegetarian, to make sure you see enough options that entice you. I especially recommend doing so because the dinner menu at Rue Cler is rather small and depending on your palate, limited.
I decided to spring for the three-course meal. I started off with a butternut squash soup. It was absolutely nommilicious. Thick and rich with flavor, the soup was the perfect first-course. A few minutes later, I received my second course - duck confit cheese tart with mixed greens. I must admit that I was startled when my food first appeared. I thought I had ordered just a mixed greens salad. Turns out, I lightly skimmed over the part of the menu that mentioned the duck. It was a pleasant surprise for me because I like duck. The tart was also delicious and the greens were dressed in just the right amount of dressing. Finally, I received my last course, which was a flatiron steak with brussel sprouts and pommes puree (French for mashed potatoes, but pommes puree just sounds so much classier). Oh. My. Gosh. Words can’t capture the deliciousness of that steak. I may be a little bit biased since I had been craving steak for a few days, but even from my most objective standpoint, I will say that was a great steak.
Some of my companions ordered from the a la carte menu, and their meal was brought out with the last course. This method makes sense, but I also felt a little strange eating two courses while some of my buddies had yet to receive their food. However, this awkwardness gave rise to the most important feature of any shared dining experience – sharing! The portions were perfectly sized. I left dinner feeling completely satisfied but not bloated. However, I’m not sure I can say the same for some of my male dining companions. While the girls seemed happily content, the guys grumbled a bit about not getting enough food, especially for the price.
Rue Cler is not far from campus, but unless you’re feeling ambitious, it is a bit of a walk. MapQuest estimates the walk from East Campus to take about 30 minutes. However, the restaurant is a quick seven-minute drive from West Campus, even shorter from East or Central. Parking is abundant and free in the parking garage across the street. You might need to pull a parking ticket at the entrance of the garage, but Rue Cler validates parking for its customers.
All things considered, Rue Cler is definitely a place worth checking out at least once. If not for dinner, then head over for brunch or lunch. Keep the prices and limited menu in mind, but don’t miss out on the opportunity to eat at one of Durham’s most highly regarded (with good reason) eateries!
Rue Cler Website and Menu: http://www.ruecler-durham.com/
Driving Directions from West Campus: http://www.mapquest.com/#f0eec888b9cb2374758a1c44
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