A MENU THAT MAKES CHOOSING HARD AND GOING BACK EASY

By Tanya Howard | Founder, The Live Review London · @glamglitzlondon | Press Invite

I do love a menu where I can immediately spot about ten things I want to order. Especially when there’s no shortage of seafood options calling my name. And that was exactly the case when I visited Côte Brasserie Barbican. This was my first visit to Côte Brasserie, and what a perfect time to visit. Why? Because they recently unveiled their biggest menu transformation in its history.

The menu refresh brings back some old favourites alongside new dishes and a few firsts for the French brasserie. From steak and burgers to seafood and lighter dishes, there is certainly plenty to choose from. They’ve even created their own take on the British classic fish and chips with Plaice Frites. Which will have chip fans rejoicing as it comes with free flow frites.

WHEN EVERYTHING ON THE STARTER MENU IS CALLING YOUR NAME

We chose the Fougasse, a Provençal sharing sourdough garlic bread with garlic butter. The bread was lovely and soft, with just enough texture to make it satisfying without being so crusty that you’re fighting with it. It was an easy tear and share dish that makes it a great table dish. I did expect the garlic butter to come as a side dip, but I’m presuming it was glazed onto the bread.

We also ordered the Sautéed Scallops with cauliflower purée, sauce vierge and pea shoots, adding the crispy Savoie ham. Scallops always feel like a bit of a treat when you’re eating out, so I was very happy to see these arrive. They were delicious, and the crispy ham was a really nice addition that worked well with the scallops. My friend was particularly impressed with the sauce and was happily mopping up what was left on the plate.

I could have happily ordered half the starters menu, but we decided to pick one dish from the ‘For The Table’ section and one starter to share. Looking back, I’m very glad we did because the portion sizes across the menu are seriously generous. Neither dish felt like a token starter that leaves you wondering where the rest of your meal is. Sharing was definitely the right call here.

SEAFOOD WILL FOREVER WIN ME OVER

For my main, I went for the Crab & Prawn Linguine from the Lighter Mains section. There was a good amount of seafood throughout the pasta, and the chilli gave it a lovely little kick without overpowering the dish. I would argue this is not what I would consider a lighter main as you get a substantial portion. No complaints here though, more of an FYI, because I would absolutely order this again.

My friend went for the Plaice Frites, one of Côte’s new additions with the menu refresh. The panko crusted fish was particularly crispy and came with crushed petit pois, housemade tartare sauce and free-flow frites. Now, the free-flow chips sound exciting, but the portions are already so good that I can’t imagine many making it through several refills. My friend only managed one portion, but if you are a serious chip fan, it’s a great addition.

THE PART WHERE WE PRETENDED WE WEREN’T FULL

We were both pretty full following this, but as the saying goes, there is always room for dessert. I’m sure there’s scientific proof that it’s a different part of the stomach… well, that’s why my sister always tells me. We ordered the Tarte au Citron with raspberries and crème Chantilly to share. Unfortunately, this was the one part of the meal that didn’t quite hit the mark for us. The Chantilly had melted by the time it arrived, leaving more puddle than the creamy topping I was expecting. However, I can’t hold them responsible for us dining in a heatwave.

Ironically, the tart itself was more tart than I expected, and the top was very crispy. It was giving more crème brûlée than lemon tart. I would have preferred a smoother, softer finish. It wasn’t necessarily a bad dish, but it just wasn’t the one for me. One person’s disappointing dessert is another person’s favourite, so don’t let me fully dissuade you.

Alongside the food, we tried a couple of the cocktails. I went for the Passionfruit Martini, but it was a little too sweet. I think the pineapple juice was largely responsible for most of that. My friend went for the Raspberry Mojito, which I tried despite not normally being a big fan of mojitos. I’m not particularly keen on mint, but the raspberry flavour made this much more enjoyable than I expected.

ONE VISIT WAS NEVER GOING TO BE ENOUGH

One thing I really liked about Côte was the amount of choice. It is the sort of menu that works particularly well for groups because everyone can find something they fancy. Even when you’re all craving completely different things. There’s no need for anyone to settle for something they don’t fancy just because someone else wants something different.

There were several dishes I was tempted by but had to save for another visit. The Baked Camembert with Provençal chilli compote and seeded sourdough is very much calling my name, but not my friends. Of course, the seafood starters all called to me; Garlic & Chilli King Prawns, Calamari and Potted Crab. Then there’s the Duck Confit, one of the returning guest favourites. I’ll stop there as I’m making myself hungry.

Côte isn’t the cheapest chain restaurant of its kind, but the portion sizes help make it feel like good value. Everything we ordered was well made and filling, and the staff were welcoming and helpful. Not only do I need to return to try some of the above, I also have another reason… They do a Free-Flowing Fizz Brunch, and we all know how much I love a bottomless brunch.

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