Eating My Way Through Durham

Rue Cler

Best Of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Amazing crepes"

Brunch at Rue Cler Photo - Rue Cler, Durham, North Carolina

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On the second morning of our visit to Durham, Saturday, we headed downtown to give Rue Cler a try. As part of my press trip, I had choices about where we would dine and this restaurant just sounded amazing to me. Since we had been very busy visiting some of the sights on Friday we hadn't had much of a chance to get our bearing. We had no idea where to park. I did know where the tourism office was so we parked there. In actuality, it would have been much more practical to park in the parking garage across the street from the restaurant but I knew there was free parking at the tourist office so we just walked the short distance to the restaurant.They were expecting us so even though the res...Read More

On the second morning of our visit to Durham, Saturday, we headed downtown to give Rue Cler a try. As part of my press trip, I had choices about where we would dine and this restaurant just sounded amazing to me. Since we had been very busy visiting some of the sights on Friday we hadn't had much of a chance to get our bearing. We had no idea where to park. I did know where the tourism office was so we parked there. In actuality, it would have been much more practical to park in the parking garage across the street from the restaurant but I knew there was free parking at the tourist office so we just walked the short distance to the restaurant.

They were expecting us so even though the restaurant was packed we were able to get a seat. It helps to have friends in influential places, lol. We were seated close to the front and side widows so we had great views of the street and could people watch while we were waiting for our food. The decor is wine related with wine bottles featured prominently.

We started off sharing a basket of beignets. They were lovely. They were sweet, fluffy and dusted with confectionary sugar, a perfect start to our breakfast/brunch. They have a very nice brunch menu with plenty of choices. I decided that the French toast sounded too good to pass up. They were served with fresh berries and real maple syrup. Al and Joe both had egg dishes and local sausage. The potatoes were very good French fries. Now after having had the beignet and then our meals not to mention plenty of coffee, you would imagine that we would be through but no. We had the sample the raspberry crepes.

OMG, it was wonderful. We split one because in all honesty were stuffed. It was a really good size and filled with raspberries and whipped cream. Truly amazing. If I lived in Durham, I could see myself coming here every weekend to enjoy this brunch.

Beyond brunch, they also serve lunch and dinner. In addition to the restaurant, there is a bakery where you can get a variety of delicious pastries and some good coffee. All in all, we loved this place and highly recommend it to anyone who is visiting the area. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on May 23, 2012

Rue Cler
401 East Chapel Hill St.
Durham 27701
(919) 682-8844

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Foster's Market

Best Of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Good Food-Confusing Place"

Foster's Market Photo - Foster's Market, Durham, North Carolina

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Foster's Market was the place that we chose for our Sunday morning breakfast. It is located way out of town and is not a typical restaurant by a long shot. It is part country store, part gourmet store and lastly part cafeteria. Not cafeteria like in a big city, no chrome and trays etc. but if you are looking for table service a lot of pampering this is absolutely not the place for you. If you are easily confused, the same can be said.I like to think that we are pretty much on top of just about everything and we were pretty confused. We came in the side door. You are looking at the registers and counters. It isn’t at all clear what you are supposed to do. Try not to be distracted by the c...Read More

Foster's Market was the place that we chose for our Sunday morning breakfast. It is located way out of town and is not a typical restaurant by a long shot. It is part country store, part gourmet store and lastly part cafeteria. Not cafeteria like in a big city, no chrome and trays etc. but if you are looking for table service a lot of pampering this is absolutely not the place for you. If you are easily confused, the same can be said.

I like to think that we are pretty much on top of just about everything and we were pretty confused. We came in the side door. You are looking at the registers and counters. It isn’t at all clear what you are supposed to do. Try not to be distracted by the case of delicious baked goods and go around to where the blackboard is hanging from the ceiling. This is where you are going to see what the specials are and where you will place your order. There are the usual breakfast items, a daily omelet special, breakfast biscuit, breakfast buritto and tacos, pancakes and bagels.

I saw a bagel with peanut butter banana and honey on the board. That sounded like something I would enjoy sinking my teeth into so along with coffee and orange juice it is what I ordered. Actually it was a good thing I chose a lighter meal since I decided to try a smoothie later since that is one of their specialties.

Joe ordered the children’s portion of pancakes which on this day was a peach pecan pancake and Al had an omelet. You place your order at the counter and then get your own coffee and try to find a table. On a Sunday, and this was in February that was not an easy task. It was about 11am not early in the morning and while we did find a place to sit, it was not really a relaxing sort of place to enjoy breakfast. When our orders were ready, young people came through the room shouting names to give you your order. I got my food quite a bit faster than Al or Joe. The food was good. Good enough for the rushed feeling and total lack of atmosphere, no. I might try here again for breakfast but it would be during the week when I would feel as if my enjoying a second or third cup of coffee wasn’t going to keep others from finding a place to sit.

The store also has lots of interesting things to look at but there are tables in front of some of them and I felt as if I was disturbing the people who were sitting there. The idea here is good, the food is good and we got a crumb bun to go that was great but the practical application of the concept doesn’t work all that well, at least for me. It didn’t seem to bother the other people who were dining here and there were droves of them. There is plenty of free parking and there is space outdoors for dining.
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Member Rating 3 out of 5 on September 29, 2011

Foster's Market
2694 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd
Durham, North Carolina 27707
(919) 489-3944

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Vin Rouge

Best Of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "A Neighborhood French Bistro"

Lemon Tart Photo - Vin Rouge, Durham, North Carolina

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Tucked away in what looks like a strip mall building, the exterior of this restaurant is not going to impress. Of course, it was winter and the outdoor dining was not happening so that may very well have affected the first impression. Once inside it is warm and has a very eclectic look. The area where we were seated had what I refer to as the French bordello feel. How do I know what a French bordello looks like you ask? A very good question, movies are what I use as my point of reference. We were in a corner and there was a large mirror propped up near us. The walls were dark red and the lamps had lace on them, it had a romantic feel. There was a decorative fireplace in the room with can...Read More

Tucked away in what looks like a strip mall building, the exterior of this restaurant is not going to impress. Of course, it was winter and the outdoor dining was not happening so that may very well have affected the first impression.

Once inside it is warm and has a very eclectic look. The area where we were seated had what I refer to as the French bordello feel. How do I know what a French bordello looks like you ask? A very good question, movies are what I use as my point of reference. We were in a corner and there was a large mirror propped up near us. The walls were dark red and the lamps had lace on them, it had a romantic feel. There was a decorative fireplace in the room with candles burning on the mantle. It was Valentine weekend so perhaps this décor reflected that.

We arrived a little early, even before they had opened. They were very nice to seat us while they had their last minute staff meeting before the dinner crowds arrived. It was enlightening to hear them go over the specials so that the wait staff could answer any questions. The menu had so many great offerings that it was difficult to choose. We want to sample a few different things to get a good idea of what they are all about.

The chef sent us an appetizer to sample. It was rabbit sausage over spaetzel. This was an amazing dish, divine really and that knowing that I am almost religiously opposed to eating rabbit. The sauce had such good flavor that we all just dug right in and polished it off. The sausage had rosemary and apple in it which is a very good combination with the lapin.

When you are first seated you are given some French bread and tapenade, which I loved. I ordered the potato soup as my appetizer and the curry mussels and frites as my meal. Al & Joe had the potato soups as well and of course steak and frites.

The soup was perfect for a winter meal, it had horseradish in it which added a nice pop and warmed me from the inside out. The curry had just the right amount of heat to make the mussels sing. There is nothing quite as good as French fries when they are done right and these were perfect, just what you would expect from a French restaurant. The hanger steak was cooked perfectly and had great flavor. We were very happy with the delicious food and service was stellar in spite of how busy the restaurant was.

We were almost too full to go for the dessert, almost not quite. Joe had chocolate ice cream, Al had the apple bread pudding and I had the lemon tart. It was gorgeous and the top had been hit with the blow torch and crisped like a crème brulee. We had cups of coffee and franking just about waddled out the door. Not however, before had a chance to talk to the manager and take a short tour around the building.

They had added another room inside to compensate for the lost space when it is too cold to dine outdoors. They want to be known as a neighborhood bistro, the place you go every week not just for special occasions. They have added a raw bar and also a wine list to compliment the fish. French wine makes up their wine list.

Their menu is driven by what is freshest seasonally and the specials will reflect what is available right now. Executive chef Matt Kelly has done a wonderful job of making dining at Vin Rouge very special and having done so once, you will want to make this your go to restaurant.

To see the full menu, check out their website http://www.vinrougerestaurant.com/index.html
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 27, 2011

Vin Rouge
2010 Hillsbourough Road
Durham, North Carolina 27705
(919) 416-0406

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Nosh

Best Of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Eclectic Food Stuffs"

Piper and Wendy Photo - Nosh, Durham, North Carolina

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Being unfamiliar with Durham, I thought that Nosh was located out in the middle of nowhere. I could not have been more wrong, it is very close to Duke University. Its location on the backside of an upscale strip mall however can make it a little challenging to find the first time. Not to worry, once you find it, you won’t ever forget where it is. Nosh is on the upper level and has an outdoor dining area. Inside it has an industrial feel with high ceilings and exposed duct work. The colors are bright and it has a very welcoming feel. There is a counter where you can order coffee drinks and more to go but we were going to sit down and find out what they are all about. Wendy and P...Read More

Being unfamiliar with Durham, I thought that Nosh was located out in the middle of nowhere. I could not have been more wrong, it is very close to Duke University. Its location on the backside of an upscale strip mall however can make it a little challenging to find the first time. Not to worry, once you find it, you won’t ever forget where it is.

Nosh is on the upper level and has an outdoor dining area. Inside it has an industrial feel with high ceilings and exposed duct work. The colors are bright and it has a very welcoming feel. There is a counter where you can order coffee drinks and more to go but we were going to sit down and find out what they are all about.

Wendy and Piper have been in business together for quite some time. This is their second restaurant in Durham. They still have the very successful Piper’s in the Park http://www.pipersinthepark.com/ . Finding a name for the new venture was a challenge, they wanted a one word name, finally agreeing on Nosh, and as they say, the rest is history.

As many things as possible are made from scratch here. All the salad dressings are homemade. Many of the menu items are named for either people they know or pets.The goal was to provide the quality of food and level of service that they would want if they were eating out, they have succeeded.

Due to the fact that it was the Sunday before Valentine’s Day, they had a special Brunch menu but the regular menu was also available. We had already had breakfast but let me tell you, an order of French toast went by and the smell was so tantalizing that I was almost ready to have breakfast again. I asked out waitress what the most popular dish was and she suggest a Rocket Salad with chicken which I decided sounded just perfect to me. It is mesclun greens served with balsamic vinaigrette which I have to say was probably the best one I have ever tasted. I asked Wendy what the secret was and she told me honey, well listen up all you cooks out there, put honey in your balsamic dressing because it is killer. The homemade cracker that comes with it is also outstanding, that is attention to detail at its best.

My salad was amazing, perfect really and the homemade croutons added just the perfect amount of crunch. We decided to share a dessert of chocolate cake. Your Momma has something to worry about, this cake is as good as any I have ever made myself. They also make their own kettle chips with dipping sauce; I ordered some to go so that we could nosh on them later at our hotel. Good idea. They were great even a couple hours later; one can only imagine how great they would have been warm.

Joe had the Half and Half which is a bowl of soup and half of a sandwich. It was a homemade tomato soup and a tuna salad sandwich. Al decided to go for the Buckster ‘s Beef, which is a wrap with slice beef, cheddar, caramelized onions and mesclun salad. They both cleaned their plates.

Nosh offers free Wi-Fi access which is always a big draw. I was talking to our waitress and she told me she was a recent arrival in Durham. She had eaten here and liked it so much that she decided to work here. That alone says something.

Nosh has been around a while now, and it is not a secret among those who know good food. Even if you have to wait for a seat, come, it is well worth waiting for this fresh and innovated take on some of your old favorites. While you are there, pick up a bag of their homemade spiced candied walnuts to go, they are a perfect combination of sweet and spice. This restaurant lives up to its name, Nosh, Eclectic Food Stuffs.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 30, 2011

Nosh
2812 Erwin Road
Durham, North Carolina 27705
9193834747

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Piedmont Restaurant

Best Of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Delicioius Food With Great Atmosphere"

Al's soup Photo - Piedmont Restaurant, Durham, North Carolina

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Located in a downtown warehouse, this restaurant has a great location. There is a large parking lot across the streets which give you one less thing to worry about. We came here the Saturday night before Valentine’s Day. It was a very busy night all over Durham and Piedmont was no exception. I have to say right off that we had the worst table in the house. You know the one; every restaurant has it, right next to the door to the kitchen. Guess what; here it doesn’t take away from your experience at all. Yes it was a little busier than some of the tables along the wall but we never felt as if we were not getting the total Piedmont dining experience. Reservations really are a must...Read More

Located in a downtown warehouse, this restaurant has a great location. There is a large parking lot across the streets which give you one less thing to worry about. We came here the Saturday night before Valentine’s Day. It was a very busy night all over Durham and Piedmont was no exception.

I have to say right off that we had the worst table in the house. You know the one; every restaurant has it, right next to the door to the kitchen. Guess what; here it doesn’t take away from your experience at all. Yes it was a little busier than some of the tables along the wall but we never felt as if we were not getting the total Piedmont dining experience.

Reservations really are a must at this restaurant. We had no wait at all when we arrived; our table was waiting for us. We had an early reservation, the restaurant filled up quickly. The noise level can be a little high because of the high ceilings but it was manageable. We had our menu which was printed on heavy parchment paper right away and some crusty bread and butter followed quickly.

The menu is eclectic, while I know this is a very over used word, it fits here. The appetizers run the gamut from roasted pork belly, chicken liver pate to a mushroom duxelle. We chose none of these. I ordered the beets, braised leeks, shaved fennel, and sour cream horseradish tarragon. Yes that is what it said, it was as I assumed a salad but it was stacked. It was a great combination of flavors, the sweet beets with the licorice flavored fennel and those lightly oniony leeks kicked it up a notch with the horseradish and tarragon, a very successful dish. My husband had the caramelized onion, roasted beef broth, Asiago crouton which was basically a really great French onion soup with a kicking piece of bread and cheese. Our friend also had the beet salad.

For my main course I chose the North Carolina flounder, cauliflower puree, salsa verde, frisee apple salad. It sounds a lot more complicated than it was. When I first saw my dish I thought, good thing they serve dessert. It seemed to be a petit portion. Well either my perception is wrong or my appetite has shrunk and I think we know the answer to that. It was the perfect size and every piece of it was perfect, I would eat that flounder again any day. It was pan seared perfectly. Al ordered the pork loin, cabbage, shallots, cider vinegar, tenderloin bacon and dried fig sauce. The pork was perfectly cooked, the cabbage had a pleasant bite from the vinegar and that fig sauce, frankly it made me want to lick his plate it was so delicious.
Joe had the rabbit saddle, turnip potatoes rosti, mustard greens with pumpkin seed coulis. He cleaned his plate, enough said. The timing at Piedmont is absolutely perfect. Our waiter was flawless, we never felt as if we were waiting to get our food. Service was seamless.

Now after my crack about thinking I would be hungry after finishing my 2nd course I found myself near to bursting. The dessert menu was so tempting however, that we had to try something. They do offer both sweet and cheese options. I was tempted to go with the cheese which can be order as one, two or all three choices. Instead I ordered the pecan praline soufflé vanilla bean ice cream and caramel sauce. It was a little piece of heaven. The soufflé so light and that caramel sauce was the perfect cover for the ice cream. Al had the chocolate caramel pot de crème with chocolate cookies and Joe had the Coffee granite, Chantilly cream and shortbread. We all had a cup of coffee and polished off those desserts with a smile on our faces.

We waddled across the street to our car all fat and full vowing to return the next time we are in Durham. This is a lovely restaurant with a wide open feel, perfect service and dishes that are as beautiful as they are delicious. I could not find one thing to complain about.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 30, 2011

Piedmont Restaurant
401 Foster Street
Durham, North Carolina
919-683-1213

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