After my first visit to this restaurant, I emailed some feedback to the owners of Rue Cler. They never replied. Here are a few excerpts: \r
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My friend, ordered the crab croquettes and the porc confit and I had the steak frites. The croquettes were filled with mayonnaise in excessive proportions. If you are going to put caper in the croquettes, it should appear in the menu or at least the waiter/waitress should mention it! Although caper is used in French cuisine, it is almost a rule that it should be mentioned in the name of the recipes such as in ""Aile de raie aux capres""... Neither of us cared for the appetizer after the first bite.\r
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Another faux-pas on the menu, the description of the pork confit reads as if it were served with a tartelette on the side. We were taken aback by the seemingly complex yet unsophisticated tartelette. The soft flavor of the confit vanished completely as it was covered by the heavy butter crust of the tartelette. Harmonizing meat and crust isn't unheard of but this kind of culinary pirouette is usually better accomplished with a pate feuilletee such as in the ""bouchee a la reine"". \r
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A word on service. The website said that we wouldn't find ""snobby waiters"" at Rue Cler. That's fine with us since we don't like snobby waiters either. That said we appreciate being helped by waiters who have some education about the food that they serve. Gentle manners don't hurt either. \r
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Being French I feel offended by the interpretation that Rue Cler makes of ""the passion for French food & wine"" (website). No French cook would combine ingredients in the same disastrous combinations as you attempted or else they would go bankrupt. I thought that rue Cler would be the place to enjoy a fine dinner. [...] I have yet to be convinced.
Pros: downtown durham, large room, somewhat convivial
Cons: food, service, price, TV
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