Rue Cler

A Parisian-style neighborhood restaurant in downtown Durham, NC. Since 2006, Rue Cler has proudly served the community of downtown Durham.

We bring the freshest southeastern ingredients to our diverse clientele, offering simple, classic preparations, in the style of a Parisian neighborhood restaurant. Our dinner menu is updated frequently, with a focus on seasonal, local products. We have an extensive, award-winning wine list, with selections from France and the US, including rare bottles. We gladly accept reservations, so give us a call today!

11/17/2023

Bon week-end! New to the menu and perfect for this gray evening: Braised beef shortrib with celery root purée, apple horseradish crème fraiche, and marrow toast. Join us—santé!

09/06/2023

Are you heading to a DPAC show soon? Make it a full experience with a delightful dinner at Rue Cler before the show. Let us set the stage for your evening!

Why join us before the curtain rises?

🍽️ Theater-Friendly Menu: We'll help you choose a dinner that's both delicious and time-conscious. Whether you want a single course or the full prix fixe menu, we'll guide you to selections that will have you pleasantly full for the show.

⌛ Timely Dining: We respect your plans. Dine with ease, knowing you'll have ample time to get to your theater seat.

🅿️ Smart Parking: Instead of fighting the crowds, park in the brand-new city deck at the corner of Rigsbee and the Downtown Loop. We're only a block away, and you'll have easy egress after the show, too!

Reserve Your Experience 📌
Our space fills up quickly during theater season. Book online now to ensure a seamless evening. And don’t forget to mention your theater outing so we can time things just right.

Looking forward to adding a touch of gourmet to your theater night! Book here: https://resy.com/cities/rdu/rue-cler

08/04/2021

This Thursday’s Tasting: Island Wines
5-8pm $10

Typically when we think of the world's great wine regions a couple of classic imagines come to mind: a bucolic setting with rolling hills and a landscape peppered with ancient structures and salt-of-the-earth laborers working the land. Or maybe it's a château in Bordeaux or a modern architectural masterpiece in California overlooking endless rows of vines.

Images of cactus, active volcanoes and steep oceanside cliffs probably aren't at the top of the list.

But that is starting to change as we've seen an increased amount of quality in areas that until recently were best known as vacation destinations rather than serious wine.

Join us this Thursday (5-8pm $10) as we taste a range of wines from Sicily, Sardinia and the Canary Islands.

We will pour:

Mancini Vermentino di Gallura Sardegna 2019 $21/17.85
Bermejos Malvasia Volcanica Seco Lanzarote, Canary Islands 2020 $28/23.80
Dolores Cabrera Rosado "Araucaria" Tenerife, Canary Islands 2020 $26/22.10
Tajinaste Listan Negro Tenerife, Canary Islands 2019 $27/22.95
Occhipinti "SP68 Rosso" Vittoria, Sicily 2020 $35/29.75

06/04/2021

Upcoming Thursday Tastings

Rosenthal Wine Merchant Tasting
Thursday, June 10 5-8pm $10

Joe Frederick of RWM will be here, pouring a selection of Rue Cler classics imported by famed New York City importer, Neal Rosenthal.

We will pour (all wines listed with Special Event discounted pricing):

Romain Chamot Aprémont, Savoie 2019 $18.70
Joseph Dorbon Trousseau, Arbois 2018 $35.70
Domaine La Manarine Le Carignan, Vin de Pays de Vaucluse 2019 $14.45
Château Moulin de Tricot Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux 2017 $34.85
Château Haut-Segottes Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux 2017 $36.55

Our other upcoming Thursday tastings and dinners are:

New California Tasting
Thursday, June 17 5-8pm $10

We will explore a lineup of up-and-coming California producers, who are inspired by the classic wine regions of Europe.

Summer Wines Dinner & Tasting
Thursday, June 24 5-8pm

We will pour a seasonal selection of wines, from Durham-based importer Proof Wine & Spirits, perfect for all of your summertime needs ($10).
We will also offer a flight to pair with a special Prix Fixe menu, focusing on seasonal produce and dishes.

All wines featured in our Thursday Tastings are available for retail purchase at Special Event prices.

We hope to see you soon,

The Rue Cler Team
401 E. Chapel Hill St.
Durham, NC 27701
919.682.8844
rueclerdurham.com (http://www.rueclerdurham.com)

Upcoming Thursday Tastings Click here for an update from Rue Cler!

Upcoming Tastings and Dinners 05/29/2021

Upcoming Events including Thursday Tastings

Presqui'le Wine Dinner & Tasting
Tuesday, June 1 5-9pm

We will host Tony Cha, Director of National Sales at Presqu'ile Winery in California’s Santa Maria Valley.

In our main dining room, we will offer a flight of Presqu’ile Estate wines ($29) to be paired with a special Prix Fixe menu ($59) which will also be available à la carte. All wines in the flight will also be available by the glass. Additionally, we will pour a lineup of Presqu’ile’s entry-level wines in our Private Dining Room for an informal tasting (5-8pm $10).

All wines will be available for retail purchase at special-event pricing. Reservations are recommended but not necessary for dining. No reservations needed for side room tasting. Please visit our rueclerdurham.www (http://www.rueclerdurham.www) to secure a table.

We will pour and have available for retail purchase:

Tasting in Private Dining Room (Retail Price/Special-Event Pricing)

Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Maria Valley 2020 $26/$22.10
Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley 2019 $20/$17
Rose of Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley 2020 $24/$20.40
Pinot Noir, Santa Barbra County 2019 $23/$19.55
Syrah, Santa Barbra County 2019 $22/$18.70

Prix Fixe Pairing ($29) & By The Glass (half/full)

Rosé of Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley 2020 $6.50/$13
Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley “Estate Vineyard” 2018 $10.50/$21
Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley “Estate Vineyard” 2018 $13/$26

Our other upcoming Thursday tastings and dinners are:

Rosenthal Wine Merchant Tasting
Thursday, June 10 5-8pm $10

Joe Frederick of RWM will be here, pouring a selection of Rue Cler classics imported by famed New York City importer, Neal Rosenthal.

New California Tasting
Thursday, June 17 5-8pm $10

We will explore a lineup of up-and-coming California producers, who are inspired by the classic wine regions of Europe.

Summer Wines Dinner & Tasting
Thursday, June 24 5-8pm

We will pour a seasonal selection of wines, from Durham-based importer Proof Wine & Spirits, perfect for all of your summertime needs ($10).
We will also offer a flight to pair with a special Prix Fixe menu, focusing on seasonal produce and dishes.

Upcoming Tastings and Dinners Click here for an update from Rue Cler!

Presqui'le Wine Dinner & Tasting Tuesday, June 1 5-9pm 05/27/2021

Presqui'le Wine Dinner & Tasting Tuesday, June 1 5-9pm

We are happy to announce our first wine event since reopening!

Next Tuesday, June 1 5-9pm we will host Tony Cha, Director of National Sales at Presqu'ile Winery in California’s Santa Maria Valley.

In our main dining room, we will offer a flight of Presqu’ile Estate wines ($29) to be paired with a special Prix Fixe menu ($59) which will also be available à la carte. All wines in the flight will also be available by the glass. Additionally, we will pour a lineup of Presqu’ile’s entry-level wines in our Private Dining Room for an informal tasting (5-8pm $10).

All wines will be available for retail purchase at special-event pricing. Reservations are recommended but not necessary for dining. No reservations needed for side room tasting. Please visit our rueclerdurham.www (http://www.rueclerdurham.www) to secure a table.

We will pour and have available for retail purchase:

Tasting in Private Dining Room (Retail Price/Special-Event Pricing)

Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Maria Valley 2020 $26/$22.10
Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley 2019 $20/$17
Rose of Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley 2020 $24/$20.40
Pinot Noir, Santa Barbra County 2019 $23/$19.55
Syrah, Santa Barbra County 2019 $22/$18.70

Prix Fixe Pairing ($29) & By The Glass (half/full)

Rosé of Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley 2020 $6.50/$13
Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley “Estate Vineyard” 2018 $10.50/$21
Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley “Estate Vineyard” 2018 $13/$26

Presqui'le Wine Dinner & Tasting Tuesday, June 1 5-9pm Click here for an update from Rue Cler!

Photos from Rue Cler's post 05/27/2021

We are happy to announce our first wine event since reopening!

Next Tuesday, June 1 5-9pm we will host Tony Cha, Director of National Sales at Presqu'ile Winery in California’s Santa Maria Valley.

In our main dining room, we will offer a flight of Presqu’ile Estate wines ($29) to be paired with a special Prix Fixe menu ($59) which will also be available à la carte. All wines in the flight will also be available by the glass. Additionally, we will pour a lineup of Presqu’ile’s entry-level wines in our Private Dining Room for an informal tasting (5-8pm $10).

All wines will be available for retail purchase at special-event pricing. Reservations are recommended but not necessary for dining. No reservations needed for side room tasting.

We will pour:

Tasting in Private Dining Room 5-8pm $10 Retail Price/Special-Event Pricing

Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Maria Valley 2020 $26/$22.10
Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley 2019 $20/$17
Rose of Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley 2020 $24/$20.40
Pinot Noir, Santa Barbra County 2019 $23/$19.55
Syrah, Santa Barbra County 2019 $22/$18.70

Prix Fixe Pairing ($29) & By The Glass (half/full)

Rosé of Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley 2020 $6.50/$13
Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley “Estate Vineyard” 2018 $10.50/$21
Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley “Estate Vineyard” 2018 $13/$26

05/22/2021

We have had such a blast reopening and are thrilled to be seating at near capacity once again. Come join the fun by securing a reservation. Simply visit our website to join the fun. www.rueclerdurham.com

05/13/2021

We’re hiring!

If interested please drop off a resume in person after 3pm Tuesday-Saturday or email your resume to:
[email protected]

05/13/2021

We’re hiring!
If interested please drop off a resume after 3pm Tuesday-Saturday or email your resume to:

[email protected]

03/20/2021

Guess what thyme it is? An old favorite returns. We are accepting reservations for indoor dining. Give us a call to book a table.

A Quick Update from the Folks at Rue Cler 03/18/2021

We just had to share!

We are taking reservations by phone (919-682-8844) for our March 23rd reopening! We are excited to have guests again. Make your reservations to enjoy some of your old favorites; the menu will be available in the next days.

We will take the necessary precautions to help keep everyone safe. That includes spaced out seatings, masks, sanitizer stations and plenty of handwashing. We look forward to seeing you soon.
As always, thanks for your tremendous support!

A Quick Update from the Folks at Rue Cler Click here for an update from Rue Cler!

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Address


401 E Chapel Hill St
Durham, NC
27701

Opening Hours

Tuesday 5pm - 9pm
Wednesday 5pm - 9pm
Thursday 5pm - 9pm
Friday 5pm - 9pm
Saturday 5pm - 10pm

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