The food and wine were excellent. The only thing that was a little disappointing was how crispy the bread was on the cheese platter. The bead was a bit too thick to be cracker like and too crispy to be enjoyable as bread.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Liliana Gerardo
I love the food and the service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jose Martinez
I have a philosophy that a few specific traits make a restaurant truly great. There are certain elements that elevate a place from simply “good” to unforgettable. Ask any stranger what draws them to their favorite spot—sometimes it’s a complex five-course meal layered with flavor and depth. Other times, it’s as simple as a bold cup of coffee, warm as the smiles shared across booths in a diner.
But most importantly, there has to be passion.
Rue Cler has become one of my favorite restaurants in downtown Durham. But this isn’t a post about the restaurant as a whole—it’s about a very special person. Ken, the pastry chef, shares his heart with us in every dessert he creates. From the crisp, caramelized tops of his crème brûlée to the glossy reflection of his chocolate sauce, it’s as if he chips away a piece of his soul with each dish he serves.
A personal favorite of mine is his take on the Paris-Brest. It’s beautiful—almost too beautiful to eat. As tempting as it is to just sit and admire its presence, this is the kind of art made to be indulged in, savored, written about, and hopefully done justice in words. It feels as though Ken plays with sugar clouds at his fingertips, bringing them down to the canvas before him to create the perfect cream for this masterpiece.
I’ve met many people during my time in North Carolina—some good, others amazing. Ken is indescribable, and he wouldn’t want it any other way. Don’t just stumble upon Rue Cler one evening. Seek it out. Find yourself in one of the most quaint, French rustic-inspired restaurants, and indulge—then yearn for it, as such things deserve to be yearned for.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Zel
Over an hour to get our food and the place was empty. 18% mandatory tip 😒 The food was excellent and the drinks were ok.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 3
truhma truhma
Frankly, Rue Cler always exceeds our expectations. Chef Todd's food is always fantastic and innovative in the best of ways - no altering a classic recipe just to say he has - and I consider the constantly changing with the seasons prefixe meal to be a bargain given the food on offer and a choice of three dishes in each of the three courses. Ken's desserts are not to be missed - the Paris-Brest is the kind of dessert where you start eyeing the plates of the people dining with you when yours is sadly 'gone'. They also have a great wine list by the bottle and the glass suitable for all budget ranges. Last but by no means least, I have to compliment the friendliness and professionalism of the front of house staff which adds to the overall dining experience making for a very relaxed and lovely atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nick C
My wife and I had a last-minute change of plans on Wednesday night and found ourselves downtown. Rue Cler had a couple of open seats at the bar. The atmosphere was incredible -- every single person greeted us and talked to us (including the chef). Our meals were amazing -- I'm vegetarian, and normally the vegetarian entree is an afterthought, but the vegetarian dish on the menu was hands-down the best vegetarian entree I've ever had, anywhere. We stayed for a few hours and felt like we had slipped into some far-off place--the food and drinks were perfect, the atmosphere was warm and friendly (every regular who came in was greeted by name by all the staff), and it was just a rare perfect meal at a restaurant. Thank you so much -- can't wait to come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mario Alex Gonzalez
French cuisine can be hard to get right, but Rue Cler executes to perfection. From the first dish all the way through every entree, the kitchen is able to season and cook their magnificent and authentic creations to perfection. The escargot were a surefire highlight, and nothing disappointed. If you love french cuisine and are in Durham, come here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kimberly Slentz-Kesler
Delicious food, excellent service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
robert a
Really good food with a cozy atmosphere. Escargot and the foie gras were next level!
Best food, wine, and service I've had in a long time. Everything was wonderful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jessica Griffin
Amazing service, amazing food. Waiter Bennett was knowledgeable and attentive. The sole was some of the best I’ve had.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Wade Tulk
A great experience. Espresso martini was fabulous. Food was amazing. Service was great. Will return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
George Lucaci
Our server (Trent) was excellent, though his helpers were a bit unaccommodating to a few very minor requests.
The atmosphere was what we wanted, which was authentic with enough space for all.
The salad verte was truly excellent and the baguette was perfectly warm.
I had the steak frites entree, (as did my wife), the fries were excellent (not easy to do ) but the steak was not just tough but almost inedible. (Both steaks!). I wanted to give it back but we were with friends and I thought it better not to be “that guy.”
Anyway, they need to source better cuts of beef. My fault for not returning the uncuttable steak. Probably just an off night.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
jBj
LOVED our experience here. Walked in on a Friday night and was seated at the bar, food and drinks were incredible. Will definitely be back
The food and wine were excellent. The only thing that was a little disappointing was how crispy the bread was on the cheese platter. The bead was a bit too thick to be cracker like and too crispy to be enjoyable as bread.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love the food and the service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I have a philosophy that a few specific traits make a restaurant truly great. There are certain elements that elevate a place from simply “good” to unforgettable. Ask any stranger what draws them to their favorite spot—sometimes it’s a complex five-course meal layered with flavor and depth. Other times, it’s as simple as a bold cup of coffee, warm as the smiles shared across booths in a diner.
But most importantly, there has to be passion.
Rue Cler has become one of my favorite restaurants in downtown Durham. But this isn’t a post about the restaurant as a whole—it’s about a very special person. Ken, the pastry chef, shares his heart with us in every dessert he creates. From the crisp, caramelized tops of his crème brûlée to the glossy reflection of his chocolate sauce, it’s as if he chips away a piece of his soul with each dish he serves.
A personal favorite of mine is his take on the Paris-Brest. It’s beautiful—almost too beautiful to eat. As tempting as it is to just sit and admire its presence, this is the kind of art made to be indulged in, savored, written about, and hopefully done justice in words. It feels as though Ken plays with sugar clouds at his fingertips, bringing them down to the canvas before him to create the perfect cream for this masterpiece.
I’ve met many people during my time in North Carolina—some good, others amazing. Ken is indescribable, and he wouldn’t want it any other way. Don’t just stumble upon Rue Cler one evening. Seek it out. Find yourself in one of the most quaint, French rustic-inspired restaurants, and indulge—then yearn for it, as such things deserve to be yearned for.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Over an hour to get our food and the place was empty. 18% mandatory tip 😒 The food was excellent and the drinks were ok.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 3
Frankly, Rue Cler always exceeds our expectations. Chef Todd's food is always fantastic and innovative in the best of ways - no altering a classic recipe just to say he has - and I consider the constantly changing with the seasons prefixe meal to be a bargain given the food on offer and a choice of three dishes in each of the three courses.
Ken's desserts are not to be missed - the Paris-Brest is the kind of dessert where you start eyeing the plates of the people dining with you when yours is sadly 'gone'.
They also have a great wine list by the bottle and the glass suitable for all budget ranges.
Last but by no means least, I have to compliment the friendliness and professionalism of the front of house staff which adds to the overall dining experience making for a very relaxed and lovely atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My wife and I had a last-minute change of plans on Wednesday night and found ourselves downtown. Rue Cler had a couple of open seats at the bar. The atmosphere was incredible -- every single person greeted us and talked to us (including the chef). Our meals were amazing -- I'm vegetarian, and normally the vegetarian entree is an afterthought, but the vegetarian dish on the menu was hands-down the best vegetarian entree I've ever had, anywhere. We stayed for a few hours and felt like we had slipped into some far-off place--the food and drinks were perfect, the atmosphere was warm and friendly (every regular who came in was greeted by name by all the staff), and it was just a rare perfect meal at a restaurant. Thank you so much -- can't wait to come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
French cuisine can be hard to get right, but Rue Cler executes to perfection. From the first dish all the way through every entree, the kitchen is able to season and cook their magnificent and authentic creations to perfection. The escargot were a surefire highlight, and nothing disappointed. If you love french cuisine and are in Durham, come here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious food, excellent service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Really good food with a cozy atmosphere. Escargot and the foie gras were next level!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Savory Beignets, Creme Brulee, Scallops
Service was excellent and the food was good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Best food, wine, and service I've had in a long time. Everything was wonderful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing service, amazing food. Waiter Bennett was knowledgeable and attentive. The sole was some of the best I’ve had.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
A great experience. Espresso martini was fabulous. Food was amazing. Service was great. Will return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Our server (Trent) was excellent, though his helpers were a bit unaccommodating to a few very minor requests.
The atmosphere was what we wanted, which was authentic with enough space for all.
The salad verte was truly excellent and the baguette was perfectly warm.
I had the steak frites entree, (as did my wife), the fries were excellent (not easy to do ) but the steak was not just tough but almost inedible. (Both steaks!). I wanted to give it back but we were with friends and I thought it better not to be “that guy.”
Anyway, they need to source better cuts of beef. My fault for not returning the uncuttable steak. Probably just an off night.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
LOVED our experience here. Walked in on a Friday night and was seated at the bar, food and drinks were incredible. Will definitely be back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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