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39 Rue de Jean
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Trendy, Upscale
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
72 reviews for 39 Rue de Jean
Review Highlights
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"Everything is good but the mussels are to die for." In 24 reviews -
"The goat cheese appetizer was incredible." In 7 reviews -
"...in all that delicious rich cream sauce and the table bread..." In 4 reviews
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72 reviews in English
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Review from Michael C.
Tampa, FL
5/6/2012
For our second night in Charleston and my mother's birthday, my family decided upon 39 Rue de Jean. Now she's a huge fan of French food, whereas I'll eat it, but it is not my favorite European cuisine. That being said, this restaurant was excellent.
Now the one thing I would like to mention is that for some reason the restaurant has sushi. And no, I don't mean in a French Fusion type of sushi, I mean standard rolls. I have no idea why, but my sister mentioned that it makes an affordable option (and one of the few things she's had here prior to this meal).
Regardless, our family dug in - we got an order of the Aioli Mussels and had trouble trying to not drink down the delicious broth. They were cooked perfectly, were huge and again the simple broth was soon being sopped up by the fresh French bread they cut for you.
For the main course my mother got the Coq au Vin, which was so tender she had trouble picking it up with her fork; My sister settled on the Shrimp Provencal, a nice pasta dish (but alas I am not a fan of fennel). My father and I both got the daily special - the bouillabaisse. If you think the mussels are great, now have a whole seafood stew in a garlicy broth.
We also couldn't forget the dessert - a nice, rich chocolate to compliment the seafood stew we had just consumed.
Again, not the biggest fan of French, but this restaurant has great ambiance, selection, food and staff. Would recommend for a romantic dinner, or something new to try. -
Review from Steven H.
4/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great spot for a casual lunch. Was there with my kids on Easter Sunday just after we arrived in Charleston. We had a cheese omelet, a turkey sandwich and a burger with gruyere cheese. They were all good, but the burger was just outstanding. Perfectly formed and cooked, well-seasoned and simply delicious. The fries were tasty and crisp, but oddly lukewarm.
Service was warm and competent. The restaurant itself is an attractive, high-ceilinged room with exposed brick walls. Nicely done. -
Review from Sarah W.
Centreville, VA
3/20/2012
Pretty good french food. I ordered the wrong dish (I got an omelet with brie and forgot that I hate brie cheese)
My friends benedicts looked amazing and my friend loved her croque madame/monsuier??
I'd love to come back (next time i'm in town - I live in DC), and get something that matters, like mussles or the benedicts.
This place reminds me of Mon Ami Gabi (a french bistro chain in the DC area) -
Review from Eli G.
Yes this is a French spot, and yes... they serve sushi. I could end it there, but I won't.
Overall it was an okay meal, but paled in comparison to Husk. Again, I was with a good sharing crowd and got to try a lot.
Foie Gras: Good portion for the price and it was cooked perfectly.
Beef Tartare: Lovely.
Charcuterie: All good here.
Sweetbreads: Not the best preparation, definitely needed to be fried more.
Escargots: The garlic butter was magically bland.
Mussels: The broth was flavorless.
My Pork Chop: I debated my entrée for a while and when the server pushed me to the pork I agreed. But sadly it was overcooked and on the bland side and lacked any amazing crust.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
No need to come back here. -
Review from Matt R.
4/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Enjoyed a very French meal on the outdoor patio one evening while in Charleston for business. I ate the braised rabbit with potatoes dauphinoise. The rabbit had a dijon cream sauce which was very tasty. I actually didn't care too much for the potatoes (essentially fancy scallopped potatoes). I found them bland and light on the cheese, though the top layer was nice and crispy. Also had the poached pears for dessert. Very nice meal!
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Review from Dekun P.
Atlanta, GA
4/8/2012
I recently went to Charleston for a vacation and stumble upon this place. Price is pretty good for lunch - big bowl of mussels in white wine sauce for $14. The sauce had intense flavor yet it is not greasy at same time. I picked the mussels and soaked up the sauce with some good ole french bread. It also has sushi offering, which my girlfriend ordered. From the look of it, it seems fresh and delicious.
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Review from Walter S.
Florence, SC
1/2/2012
We stopped through for a late supper in this old favorite place, still great.
Our party had wine, mushroom soup, mussels, shrimp, and the most amazing cheeseburger anywhere, followed by a chocolate pudding that was, well, full of chocolate.
I appreciate the fact that you can get an amazing meal for as little as $10. Servers are great, and the antiqued mirrors on the walls look great in the background of snapshots, especially in daylight. -
Review from Jessica S.
Bethlehem, PA
8/23/2011
We sat outside on a very lovely evening. Candles on the table provided for a romantic (though not uptight) atmosphere.
Our waitress who seemed rather disinterested and cold started off on the wrong foot from the beginning by sloppy water-pouring that got my boyfriend's phone wet-- I understand that accidents happen but she did not even apologize.
Then I explained to her that there are several dishes that look really good but I prefer to avoid dishes with lots of cream or butter. Her response "It will be hard to find dishes without cream or butter in French cuisine." I found that rude and inappropriate. I was looking for suggestions not this sort of wise remark.
I decided to just order an appetizer: watermelon and goat cheese salad. My boyfriend ordered trout. Before our food arrived, we were given bread (certainly nothing to rave about) but our waitress did not provide us with bread plates as the other tables had been given.
Our food arrived, salvaging our experience to a degree. My watermelon and goat cheese salad was refreshing, fresh and tasty. My boyfriend's trout was also well-seasoned and flavorful. We were pleased with our food.
After finishing our meal, the waitress brought out our check and we thanked her. We got no "thank you" or even smile in response.
Overall, our waitress ruined what would have been an otherwise enjoyable dining experience. I would give our dining experience a 1 or 2. Had it not been for the miserable service, I would have given it a 4 or 5. -
Review from Susie G.
Mt Pleasant, SC
6/25/2011 4 photos
It's been awhile since we've had a "not so great" dining experience, but today we had one.
39 Rue de Jean is styled after a French Brasserie and features a moderately sized restaurant and bar. Antique mirrors dot the walls, globe lighting hangs from the ceiling and the restaurant has dark red leather booths and a lot of dark wood. Not exactly what I was expecting, but hey, I've never been to France.
Seated in a booth in the center of the restaurant, the restaurant had a nice energy to it. Our server, whose name we never got, was efficient and upbeat. Now let's talk about the food.
Okay, so we made a big mistake, actually a couple of them. When we first arrived I saw long loaves of French bread being sliced for tables. "Great", I thought, "This is a French restaurant, so that's got to be good." When placing our order my husband ordered the Crispy Veal Sweetbreads. Hmm, I thought, this is going to be a big carb-filled lunch, but I liked the creativity.
The French bread was a big disappointment. How can a French restaurant not serve great French bread? Rue De Jean did just that. The bread was dry and seemed to be stale. "That's Okay, I thought, more 'sweetbreads' are on the way."
On the menu, the Crispy Veal Sweetbreads were described as having Mozzarella cheese cavatappi, Serrano ham and a Gruyere mornay. So how my husband ever thought that this was going to be a "sweetbread" is beyond me. But when they were served I was up for the challenge.
A small rectangular plate held two battered and deep fried "veal things" (we didn't know what they were at the time), and a small pile of what appeared to be cavatappi Mac 'n cheese. Boy, we were in for a surprise.
The "sweetbreads" had a funky taste to them and a very odd flavor. Obviously they were something that you had to have a taste for. When our server came by I asked, "What part of the animal is this?" Imagine my surprise when she said "The thymus gland". That's not something I would generally order. My bad (actually my husband's bad). Down went the fork and knife! We then started to eat the Mac 'n cheese to cleanse our palates, and it was just terrible. First, it was barely warm and looked like something that was dished out of a chafing dish at a cafeteria, second it contained not one piece of Serrano ham as advertised, and third, the cheese was nonexistent. If we had not been trying to get the taste of the sweetbreads out of our mouths we would have passed on the mac and cheese altogether.
As we waited for our lunch, which seemed to take awhile, a nearby waiter was asked how the Braised Beef Sandwich was. His answer was, "Out of this world." We thought that was a good sign as my husband had ordered this for lunch. I ordered the Nicoise Salade Traditionale which was to be served with haricot verts (French green beans), hard boiled eggs, potatoes and Nicoise olives with tuna. Our server told us that they cook the tuna "French style" and so if I wanted it a bit more done, medium would not be the right choice, and suggested I order it medium well which I did.
The Braised Beef sandwich had a great flavor to it. However, it was served on a roll with a thinly sliced top and a disproportionately large bottom making it impossible to eat without making a mess. The Pommes Frittes were just OK. Again I'm thinking French restaurant, good French fries. Not so much. Even though we overheard that the sandwich was "out of this world" unfortunately it remained in this stratosphere.
My Nicoise Salad looked beautiful. Fresh greens, red tomato quarters, quartered hard boiled eggs, Nicoise olives and haricot verts filled the plate. But one cut into the tuna revealed that it was close to medium rare versus what I had ordered. Since the restaurant was now somewhat busy we waited a bit for our server to return and she quickly took the tuna back to the kitchen to have it cooked a little longer. Once again I find myself waiting for lunch while my husband eats.
My tuna returned in about four minutes. At least it gave me hope that it wasn't microwaved, which it wasn't. That's the good news. The bad news is that the tuna was flavorless. What a shame. The salad itself was delicious, but the tuna floundered.
So get this..... As were leaving, we saw another couple receive the Veal Sweetbreads. On their plate sat this beautiful, toasted, cheese laden mound of cavatappi that oozed cheese when one of the patrons took a bite of it. This was hardly the congealed, lukewarm mess that we received.
I know many people like 39 Rue de Jean, and I'm certain that many will disagree with my opinion, but I just don't understand their infatuation with this place. Having never been to France, 39 Rue de Jean gave me no desire to do so. -
Review from K B.
Mableton, GA
2/19/2012
Rue de Jean was highly recommended by our carriage ride tour guide and it didn't disappoint. I had the cavatelli pasta with scallops, which was one of the best scallop dishes I've had in a long time. Creamy and flavorful but not too heavy. I had to force myself to stop eating so I'd have some left for later. My husband had the pork chops brittany, which was good and well prepared, but flavor wise, not as punchy as the scallops. No problems with service, our waiter was attentive and pleasant. We would definitely go back in the future.
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Review from Rachel M.
Charleston, SC
10/26/2011 2 photos
I recently went here for brunch and ordered the Charleston Eggs. The eggs were a perfectly imperfect shape, topped with creamy hollandaise, and cooked brilliantly. The crab cakes had potential, although I found them somewhat over cooked and a little dry. The English muffin was the perfect amount of toasted--just enough for a soft added crunch to compliment the combination of flavors. My one main complaint was the asparagus. There was clearly no attention put into the making of this side dish. They came steamed with a light drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt, desperately longing for a little seasoning or even a hint of lemon zest.
We also got the spicy tuna roll. Visually I wasn't uber impressed with the presentation; the roll was a bit messy and seemed to be missing the "spicy" part of the "spicy tuna roll." There was way too much rice and, although the orange sauce that came with it was tasty, there wasn't anything special about it. Note to self; when dining at a French restaurant, stick with French food...
For a Full Review, please visit http://www.CharlestonC... -
Review from Kathleen M.
Frankfort, IL
3/10/2011
Mais oui, je l'aime bien.
I had to start out with a little French because the French aspect is what made me nervous. Did I really want to try French? In Charleston? Shouldn"t I be eating seafood and y'alling with a local place?
Mais non, ma cherie.
39 Rue de Jean was a great place - wonderful space, great feel and the Mayor's wife was even having lunch here, must be good! (I know, I am quite the eavesdropper.)
We were just going to have a light lunch but it started thundering and what the heck, we did what the French do - we lingered. I had the fried goat cheese salad - magnifique and my husband had the potato soup which he adored. We both had a Croque Monsieur which were wonderful. The lingering then turned into Lattes and splitting a Vacherin - great way to avoid the rain and satisfy the Francophone in me.
I know, I should be only eating low country fare but this was so good, I gave myself special dispensation.
Give this place an F2 - for French and Fabulous!Listed in: Vacay in the SE, Cuisine Française
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Review from Justin M.
Atlanta, GA
1/3/2012
Our concierge sent us here. It was the fourth restaurant he tried to get us into, but these were last minute reservations on a Friday night of a holiday weekend. I didn't have high hopes. The atmosphere is a little dated and the menu is a little scattered (duck confit and California rolls on the same menu) Thankfully, the food was decent. The Chicken Francaise was really tasty - the skin was perfectly rendered and crispy. Goat cheese salad was good but not amazing. 3.5 stars, but rounding up for service: we asked to split an entree and the kitchen sent out 2 separately plated half portions.
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Review from Michael S.
Dallas, TX
12/19/2011
late night menu is great if you want to eat something after 10 PM. Service is good. They have sushi on the late night menu but it is nothing to get excited about. The better things on their menu are french influenced (onion soup). the braised beef and other beef items on the menu are good. Would have liked to see some better beer selections on the list but i made do with what was on tap.
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Review from Stacey B.
Charleston, SC
4/5/2011
Ah, Rue is one of my all-time favorites. All I can say is, don't ever change the recipes.
Favorite Dish: the Pistou Mussels set aside the Mescaline Salad with Goat Cheese and Red Wine Vinegarette.
As its name suggests, Rue de Jean, which is on John Street in Charleston, is totally French. And delicious (try their french fried potatos)! The super tiny cafe tables in the bar area leave room for desire in the way of space, yet this little piece of Paris in the South, full of mirrors, tile and wood, is a scrumptious gem smack dab in the middle of everything cool near upper King Street. Oh, and did I mention the sushi? It's uh-mazing!!
Love you, Rue. Don't ever leave me. -
Review from Nicole P.
Charleston, SC
1/11/2011
I've come here a few times for wine and desserts, but finally came in to have brunch last weekend, and am so glad I did. Although I wasn't a huge fan of their escargot (which I normally go crazy for-- I can't figure out what I didn't really like about these, though), their omelette de campagne (which had duck confit, goat cheese, and swiss cheese) was absolutely delicious... although i had to take a nap shortly after eating.
the service was a little slow, but overall a good time. -
Review from Jim D.
7/13/2010
Entered 39 Rue de Jean in the middle of the week for lunch a tad unsure because we were the only patrons in the enormous space. The interior is well decorated with what you would find in a typical Parisian brasserie, from the antiqued wall mirrors down to the dishtowel napkins. But where was everyone?!
There's quite a variety of menu options including several types of sushi. I know, how French. Any apprehensions we had were quickly erased as soon as the food arrived. Excellent crusty French bread to start, followed by my delicious order of salmon Béarnaise and my friend's rich, nutty quiche du jour (Gruyère and truffles). Both dishes were superb. By the time our meals arrived, the restaurant was picking up quite a bit.
Service was almost as timely as it is in France - annoyingly slow. Our server, Jamie, was cheery and warm but inattentive. A lunch that could have taken 30-40 minutes lasted well over an hour. Zut alors! It wouldn't have been so bad were we in France, but this sure isn't France, now is it? Non, pas du tout.
Despite the poor service, this place is fantastique. -
Review from Jamie M.
1/28/2009
I had been craving mussels for some time and 39 Rue sounded like the best place in Charleston to get them. After checking out the menu online my boyfriend said we had to come on Friday night when the special was tuna au poivre. We arrived around six and the place was already getting full, by 7 it was packed and I'm not sure there was a table left. They do take reservations though, which we will probably do next time, just to be safe. I was also surprised how many young children (5-8 years of age) that were there that night. I overhead one of them ordering a grilled cheese...so jealous. There was quite the crowd at the bar and between them and all the full tables it does get very loud. Probably wouldn't plan a quiet, romantic dinner here unless you come early or late.
I ordered a bowl of the mussels in the vegetable cream sauce. I wasn't quite sure how big the bowl would be, but I lucked out, there were at least 16 huge mussels! Add in all that delicious rich cream sauce and the table bread and I was stuffed. My boyfriend really enjoyed his tuna, he kept commenting on how the plate was the perfect portion.
We also ordered some of the pots de creme au chocolat. Now I don't speak French but there was this French restaurant in DC that closed recently that used to serve this fabulous pot of hot chocolate, that was baked in the oven. The menu described this "pots" as a "baked chocolate cream" so I was kind of hoping it was hot chocolate. It wasn't, and it's my bad for not asking the waiter, but it was still good. It was actually just a little dish of chocolate custard, very rich and very nummy.
Service was fabulous for the first half of the meal but after our entrees the restaurant got super busy and there were a few gaps in service, not enough to cause a huge issue though. -
Review from Bill H.
4/12/2009
This place is awesome. I had Easter brunch here with my lady friend and her parents. The restaurant was surprisingly empty, given the occasion.
The food is delicious. I was served one of the best soft-shelled crab dished I've had, a fried crab po' boy. Very meaty, very delicious. I also highly recommend the fries -- well-seasoned, crispy, and light on the grease.
My girlfriend ordered perfectly-cooked mussels in a light garlic sauce. I'd recommend those as well.
Our waiter was funny and quick, service was generally good.
I can't wait to go back here. -
Review from Tommy V.
Mount Pleasant, SC
9/6/2006 1 photo
I was very impressed with Rue de Jean. The food was delicious all around. I highly recommend their potato soup with truffle oil. The restaurant was larger than I expected and also has seating outside in a nice alley. Their menu had a lot of variety with french classics, different types of steaks, muscles, and even some sushi.
I felt like the quality of the food justified the price.Listed in: Dining Favorites
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Review from Jennifer M.
Columbia, SC
10/20/2011
Our family stopped here on a recent trip to Charleston not knowing anything about the restaurant or what to expect.
Walking into the restaurant was like being instantly transported to Paris. The decor is beautiful! We were seated towards the back of the restaurant, and despite being near the bathrooms, we had plenty of privacy and I did not feel like we were bothered at all by our location.
As it was Sunday morning, we had the brunch menu to choose from. I ordered the Omelette de Campagne, which was stuffed with goat cheese and duck confit. It was delicious! My husband got the Ham and Cheese Omelette and also loved it. We ordered the Pasta with Cauliflower Cream Sauce for our kids and they both devoured the entire serving and said they loved it. All of our entrees were served with fries which were also very good.
My only complaint would be the service. It took an extremely long time for our food to come out and once it did, we never saw our server again. As we were in town to do some sightseeing, we would have like to have had a faster meal.
All in all, though, the food was great and we would go there again. -
Review from Angel E.
Mobile, AL
5/15/2010
As one of the previous reviewers mentioned, the yelp map is incorrect. The restaurant is located between King and Meeting street; next door to its sister restaurant - Coast.
The restaurant was right next door to our hotel (the historic Hampton Inn) and that's how we found it and that's why we ate there twice.
Our 1st experience was European -- escargot (a little tough but acceptable, ok bread, fake American butter); bass with polenta
and asparagus (bass over salted to my taste --- I go easy on salt, personal choice; polenta - dry; asparagus - I like it smaller and younger); mussels in butter/ garlic sauce ( very good). Kenwood Merlot -- economical, predictable, drinkable.
On our 2nd visit, we ordered Lamb tenderloin for appetizer (excellent! wish the sauce was not so mayonnaisey though); soup of the day was roasted tomato with fennel (ok; too much sugar and too much salt; didn't taste any fennel; it would pass though if it was Campbell's canned tomato soup).
As for the main course, we went for sushi ----- why on Earth one would serve sushi in a French restaurant? and why did we fall for it???? --- we ordered 3 rolls :
1. salmon & cream cheese 8 pcs (good quality salmon, cream cheese -too heavy and salty; ruined it);
2. spicy tuna 8 pcs --- it was served with that sweet chili sauce that they normally serve with spring rolls; not my personal favorite -- too sweet; yuck
3.crunchy crab 6 pcs-- good flavor; size of a futomaki rather than sushi. very rich and filling.
4. seaweed salad --- fresh and delish, a huge serving enough to share between a few ppl.
Pinot noir ($32) -- drinkable.
All in all, nice atmosphere that makes you put up with some of the imperfections (especially if the weather is right and you can seat outside); my advice -- stick to classics; if something is not up to par - let your server know; the service is pretty decent, by the way. -
Review from Annie R.
10/25/2009
Rue has the BEST burger in Charleston, which ok is not what you would come into a french place for but it is fresh and amazing.
I love the atmosphere here, the bar can be fun, a lot of older men hang around here to pick up younger (willing) women, so there is that side of it for sure. BUT the bartenders are amazing, and very attentive.
This is definitely worth the trip. It is really a 3.5 in my book. The sushi is random I agree, but it is actually good sushi even if it is seemingly out of place. Another favorite the bouillabaisse which they have on Sunday nights. -
Review from Bill A.
Raleigh, NC
10/4/2011
Perhaps the best cheeseburger I've ever had. Huge, seasoned well, cooked to order (rare) with gruyere cheese and housemade bearnaise. The french fries were great too: fried right, so they were crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, and not over-salted.
Service was fine, and I definitely didn't experience the surliness that a couple of other reviewers experienced. I think it is a fair observation to make, generally, that it is hard to find food on a French restaurant's menu that does not contain either butter or cream.
Everyone else in my group seemed satisfied with their dinners, and i was one of several to have ordered the burger. I left the place very satisfied. -
Review from Mikell B.
Phoenix, AZ
3/18/2009
Ah, Rue. You are a Sunday brunch tradition, and I could live off of your bloody mary's alone.
I've been to brunch and lunch here more times than I could count, and the food rarely lets me down. Their grilled cheese is rich, ooey gooey, and divine. My fiancee almost always has their burger, which they cook to a perfect medium rare. The fries are incredible--cooked in duck fat, and full of flavor. People rave about the mussels, but I've had bad mussels at Rue enough to have learned my lesson. It's never a whole bowl of bad mussels, just two or three, but those little rancid guys spoil the bowl.
If you come for brunch, do yourself a favor and have at least one bloody mary. They'll make it just how you like it, and they only cost $5.
My only gripe with Rue de Jean is its hit or miss service. Sometimes it is spot-on, but then there's the time that I ordered my beloved grilled cheese, was served 3/4 of a sandwich, and upon asking the server what happened, had her shrug and walk away. Not offer to have the kitchen make me an extra bit of sandwich, not ask if there was anything she could do to fix it. I won't get into other stories...
Go for the food and roll the dice on the service, it's worth it. -
Review from Emmett D.
Seattle, WA
5/27/2009
Casual French place with gas lanterns out front, brick walled interior, paper tablecloths, aged (filthy?) mirrors, aim for a romantic feel. Our server was quick to bring us a large pitcher of water, much appreciated on a warm Charleston evening. The menu has a good variety of classic French dishes, American dishes, and Sushi? The Sushi seems out of place at a place called RUE DE JEAN, but I guess that's what people want.
My dad, eating extraordinaire he is, says the French Fries here are the best he's ever had. We started with a cocktail shaker full of them, and they were perfectly fried and delicious. I followed with the Mesclun salad, a bit large and overly dressed but fresh strawberries were a nice touch.
Main course I went for the Braised Lamb Shank, with Figs and Parsnips. The waiter highly recommended all of the Braised dishes as some of their best, and the lamb didn't disappoint. It was fall off the bone delicious, well-balanced sauce. The parsnips and figs were savory and good. My mother had the Red Snapper, their whole fish special that day, and it was one of the best fish entrees I've had in a long time. Growing up in the South and now living out West, I really miss Gulf and Atlantic fish sometimes, and this delivered. The balsamic butter sauce was a really simple but nice sauce to flavor the fish.
My Manhattan was well-made, not too sweet. The Sancerre my father ordered was a great white. I was less impressed my glass of Bordeaux. We skipped dessert as we were off to Spoleto. It was a fantastic meal, would love to return next time I'm in town. -
Review from Kate M.
Minneapolis, MN
5/13/2008
Great spot to have a leisurely lunch with exceptional, simple (and I say that as a compliment) French food. It just felt like a place where you should start the experience off with some good champagne, so we really had no choice in that matter.... The three cheese quiche of the day with greens on the side was too good to pass up- crunchy, buttery crust with a blend of light, yet flavorful cheeses and egg.
If it's nice out, try to sit outside on the alley/walkway. There is great people-watching and it is adequately shaded. Our waiter was charming also, which fit in with the atmosphere perfectly. -
Review from Jason D.
Charleston, SC
6/14/2009
I heard so many great things about this place but my experience was so lackluster that chances of me going back are pretty low.
The service wasn't good at all. We had a zombie for a waiter. Not the kind from 28 days later, but you know the stammering type from old zombie flicks. He barely could construct a full sentence and when he did, he seemed like he was elsewhere. Okay so the dude is having a bad day, I'll give him that. However, it took him over twenty minutes to bring a single glass of wine or even take our order, after it took him fifteen minutes to even acknowledge we were even there.
I heard great things about the "Steak and Fries" so I ordered that, in a reasonable amount of time, (for as busy as it was) I received the dish, and the steak wasn't even cooked the way I asked for it. The steak wasn't bad tasting but it didn't have anything that made it stand out. The fries were pretty much the standard that you could get at Five Guys, except these were loaded with salt.
The atmosphere is pretty nice though. And if you do go to this place during peak hours then I suggest you eat outside because the place overall is pretty deafening inside.
Anyway, chances of me going back are slim to none, but have at if you are in the downtown area. -
Review from jennings r.
Charleston, SC
Updated - 1/24/2012
I have had mixed results for dining at Rue de Jean. I went last Saturday night to meet some friends visiting from Pennsylvania, and the place was packed. The result was that service was somewhat slow, but I ordered the Basque Shrimp which was cooked with tomatoes, onions, and peppers and served on a bed of fluffy rice. It was fabulous!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/19/2011
I had to laugh when I read Mark's review; I, too, had noticed that odd absence of a bread plate in… Read more »
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Review from Charles S.
La Jolla, CA
12/31/2009
After a false start with the seating, our group of 11 had a great meal and a great time. 39 Rue de Jean produces tasty bistro food, not gourmet delicacies for foodies. Just good food at a good price.
Here's the back story. Aware that almost no restaurant anywhere can successfully serve large groups, I scoured the Yelp reviews for Charleston and chose 39 Rue de Jean for our Sunday dinner. (Trattoria Lucca was closed.) I called over a week in advance to make the reservation. When we arrived we were seated immediately -- but at a table setting that was too small for 11 people. The waitress with the attitude said she couldn't add a two-top. Ditto the hostess . Finally the manager, a very pleasant young man, moved an additional table to ours, added a tablecloth and "voila," suddenly there was plenty of room.
Apart from that, the evening was great. All 11 meals actually arrived at the same time and were hot. Three of us went for the specialty -- moules et pommes frites, a.k.a. mussels and Belgian-style double-fried French fries. Stella d'Artois on tap. What could be better? Each of the three argued that our broth was better than the other two. But the fact is that all three sauces -- the provencal, pistou and aioli -- were terrific.
We must have had something else but all I can remember is mussels, fries and beer.
In DC I'd have given Rue de Jean four stars, in small town America it would have gotten five. But the competition is pretty tough in Chuck-town. Four for the food. Minus one for the irritating cock up with the table.
BTW the Yelp map for 39 Rue de Jean is incorrect. It's at 39 John Street between Meeting and King. The map shows it between Elizabeth and Meeting. 39 John Street = 39 Rue de Jean. Wink. Wink. -
Review from Whit R.
2/12/2007
If you like mussels then push people out of the way to get to Rue De Jean. Damn! The mussels in garlic butter here are off the chain y'all. Get yourself a nice bottle of wine, a group of good friends and fill your belly.
There's plenty of other good stuff on the menu. I've had many good meals here over the years, although at the moment only the mussels come to mind.
The bar is very cool and the guys behind it know their stuff. Always a good time at Rue, although it can be tough on the wallet (on a date you can spend $100 for dinner and drinks here noooooo problem). Great place for a date, though better with a bunch of folks. Reservations recommended.Listed in: What to see and do in…
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Review from Whitney R.
Brooklyn, NY
6/24/2010
On a wedding-vacation in Charleston, my friends and I went to Rue de Jean for a fancy dinner out. I can hardly explain the wonderful tastes that are created here!
For starters, we shared an order of beef tartare ($12.99). I had never tried anything like it, and since it is raw meat, it doesn't seem safe to try just anywhere. It came with a small raw egg (maybe quail?) that was to be poured over it. The texture and taste were delicious.
For my entree, I was in the mood for sea food (given that I was in the right city for it), and ordered 6 oysters (p.d) with a side of seaweed salad ($2.99), and a bowl of muscles prepared with Pistou sauce ($9.99). All were fresh and amazing. Since I was on vacation and felt that I should lavish in the sea food, I had eaten oysters at another restaurant in Charleston a couple days before. The quality of the oysters at Rue de Jean was significantly better. The presentation was also nicer, which is a sure sign that this place was up a few notches from the other. Also the flavor of the Pistou sauce was beyond description. I tried to eat it as slowly as possible so I could "keep eating" it, and wanted to drink from the bowl afterward... and I would have too, if it weren't totally inappropriate.
I can't remember what my friends got because I was so absorbed in my own meal, but I do remember that they all enjoyed theirs as well. I highly recommend visiting Rue de Jean for fine dining if you are in the Charleston area, with a solid 5 stars. Oh yeah, and don't forget to try the Vacherin ($7.00) for dessert- Mmmm... -
Review from Lauren P.
Whenever I go to Charleston to visit my parents and we are downtown doing a little shopping, often times we find ourselves at this charming little restaurant! And 39 Rue de Jean does not dissappoint! If you are like me and like your beef so rare that a vet would give it a 50/50 chance, this is the place to go! The French inspired cuisine c'est tre bon, and the decor has the feel of a French bistro. Definitely worth checking out if you are in the area!
Listed in: C-Town!
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Review from Hank M.
Charleston, SC
2/11/2010
Wow. Scored tickets to Rent playing at the theater next door, and decided to look for somewhere to stumble to the musical from. Little did we know that we would be experiencing a fantastic meal.
We started off with a little sushi - spicy tuna rolls. For a place that really doesn't publicize itself as a sushi joint, it wasn't bad. Actually, it was really tasty. The lady had some mussels and raved about them and their sauce.
Moved on to the rabbit after that - completely blown away. Incredible flavor and taste. Perfectly prepared. A+
Sat next to a couple that was clearly on their first date - the awkwardness and nervousness were pretty obvious. Pretty classic actually. Fun to watch.
The decor of this place is a great selling point as well. Just modern enough, but it captures a lot of the French charm as well. Good blend. -
Review from Zanne C.
West Hollywood, CA
5/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
I feel like as I write this there should be a little Victrola on the table beside me playing "Les Champs-Élysées" in the background.
I came here not knowing what to expect, I was sort of on an itinerary with some of my family and, voilà, this restaurant was included. When I was escorted inside, I found the place to be bustling, vibrant! The interior is eclectic, and has those little touches of Paris, mirrors with that ageing patina, dark, rich wood accents, and I think I might have spotted a couple of those famous No. 14 chairs so indicative of decor of the Bistros around France. I could tell this was definitely one close to the heart of locals and visitors alike, always a good sign. When we were seated I perused the menu and saw that my options were going to be a bit limited since I'm a pescetarian (but I knew that going in, since it was a French restaurant, no biggie). To start with, we all sampled the artisanal cheese plate, it was very good and a nice prelude to the meal. I decided on the Spicy Tuna Roll, in lieu of an appetizer; And I must say the tuna roll, without a doubt, was NOT the greatest. It tasted like the sushi one would pick up at their local supermarket, you know, in that little area between the bread and the sliced cold cuts? In fact, I was rather befuddled to why they'd try to diversify their menu to include sushi, it seemed counterproductive. Nonetheless, I'd recommend trying other sushi restaurants in the area if that's what you desire. However, the Cavatelli Pasta with Seared Scallops, did me in. I have had hundreds and hundreds of scallop dishes in my day, and let me tell you, these were the best, absolutely THE best scallops I've ever had in my life. They were seared to perfection, buttery and the sun dried tomato sauce was rich and decadent, the pasta perfectly cooked. Everyone was envious of the plate. I'm sitting here trying to figure out what else everyone had because I didn't look up until I the carnage was complete! It's hands down their best dish, I wouldn't have to experience another thing, it's like true love...you know it when you see it. My brother had the Duck Confit, I know this because his dish came with a potato croquet. He let me have a couple of bites of the delicious golden disk, and I had to stop myself from virtually pillaging it off his plate. It is something I would definitely have à la carte, perhaps as a small app (if they'll allow me!). My father had the short ribs, my mother and sister the Local Shrimp and Sweet Corn and my sister-in-law had the flounder. All enjoyed their meals, from what I hear, but like I said, too busy with my Cavatelli to care! We all had dessert, which were fine. Our waiter was nice and gave sensible suggestions to everyone. Drinks were tended to timely and the service was very casual and efficient.
When I come back, and I AM coming back, 39 Rue de Jean will be on my own itinerary. I've definitely found a new favorite in a different city! I am confused whether to give four or five stars. In reality, it's really four, sort of good to average, but my dish was so good, I'm giving Rue a five! This place truly has something about it that reaches to every palate. I'm not saying it is the pinnacle of French cuisine in Charleston (or anywhere for that matter), but thanks to its ambience, service and offerings, it's definitely won a place in my tummy. Bon Appétit y'all! -
Review from Heather G.
Mount Pleasant, SC
10/5/2006
Update: I knocked this down to 3 stars b/c over the last year or two their dishes have become very, very inconsistent. One day the Salmon Bernaisse is lovely, the next it's too salty to eat. The Chicken Francaise (my fav) ranges in quantity, preparation and flavor - though it has never been bad, it has been very different from one sitting to the next. All in all, it has become a bit of a gamble, but one I am usually willing to take.
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Rue de Jean is excellent. They serve a nice assortment of traditional French appetizers and entrees. I am still not sold on the idea of going to a French restaurant for sushi, so I just skip that portion of the menu. They have an impressive cordial and port selection and their chicken francaise is quite good. I can also highly recommend their smoky coq au vin. Their salad Lyonaisse is not to be missed.
If you're lucky, you can finish off your meal with the pots du creme au chocolat or the chocolate pate because that is truly heaven. -
Review from Drew P.
Charleston, SC
8/7/2011
I find Rue de Jean to be very average at best. This is the second time I've been there with the same results. The actual restaurant is beautiful and has a great vibe.
As for the food, I ordered the sweetbreads for an app and was quite disappointed. The sweetbreads were 90% batter and the "mac and cheese" it came with was very chewy and tasted microwaved.
I got the trout for an entree, and it came out beautiful but thats where it stopped. The sides (pilaf and julliened veggies) were virtually tasteless and the trout was ok but exremely salty.
My wife got some sushi and a seaweed salad...both were very good otherwise I would have only gone with two stars. There are much better restaurants around, skip this one. -
Review from Brent R.
Charleston, SC
10/27/2008
Rue is a great choice, though I prefer it for lunch. As the night goes on, Rue turns into more of a bar than a restaurant and the noise can be deafening.
I have to agree with everyone else that the mussels are fantastic. I'm also a fan of their sushi. Their french onion soup is a meal in itself.
Even the pickiest eaters while find something that they love here. Some friends were visiting and enjoyed dinner so much, they demanded to go back for brunch the next day. -
Review from Michael B.
Santa Rosa, CA
4/1/2011
Everything is good but the mussels are to die for. Order the bowl to share and let the bread soak for the ultimate experience. They have about 6 different styles and they are all good but I really cant stop going back to the white wine shallot, the veggie cream is also killer along with the curry and pistou
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Review from Senior H.
Jamaica Plain, MA
5/12/2010
Pretty people and decent drinks... This place gets packed. Good luck with getting a table if you don't reserve ahead.
I had the brasserie burger medium rare with Gruyére and bacon lardons. It was perfection. Cows were invented so we could have this burger.
