Eat at Rue Cler

On Saturday night, we did, and it was a marvelous meal. Rue Cler, which sits on the corner of a pleasant but, on that night, largely deserted downtown Durham street, offers both a very reasonably priced ($25) three-course, prix fixe menu and a la carte options. All four of us opted for the prix fixe menu, though we did add a side of pommes frites, cheese course, dessert, and so on. The frites were easily among the best, if not the best, in the Triangle, and they came with a bearnaise sauce that was perfect.

I had a tomato consomme that was light and perfect and flavorful, pork confit in a crepe-like roll under a marvelous sauce, and for my entree rabbit in two forms: a few perfect bites of loin and a small tart. Happy mouth.

My only complaints were that the cheese course--two tasty but not superb slabs--was not up to the rest of the menu and that even at 7:50 p.m. they were already out of a dessert we wanted to try.

Those are minor issues, however; this place is excellent. If you're anywhere near Durham and looking for a good place to eat, go here or to Piedmont, and you'll be glad you did.