The Perfectly Simple Brasserie

Price: appox £21 Per Head | Where: 45-47 Parson’s Green Lane, Fulham, London, SW6 4HH | Tel: 020 7736 8444 | cote-restaurants.co.uk

The amount of times Côte Brasserie is mentioned as the best value restaurant for quality food is a testament to it being true. The statement is upheld if you were to eat there at any time, but arrive, sit and choose your two (at £9.95) or three (at £11.90) courses before 19:00 and you’ll receive the best restaurant deal you’ll ever find.

“Do you want to do an early supper at Côte this evening?”, “As in before 7… yeah I do! Meet there at 6.30”., I’m writing this after spending the evening with the The Gentleman’s Journal’s founder, Harry Jarman, in one of Côte’s busiest locations.

Sitting down, we decided on three courses, both enticed by the price and our greediness for the selection of food. The before 19:00 deal involves a choice of four starters, four main courses, and four puddings, while the full, after 19:00 menu, offers a wider selection.

With a bottle of the house red wine (Lagarde from Chile at £14.50) on the table and in our glasses, we were well set for the comfortable, delicious, and very affordable hour-and-a-half we were to spend.

Sharply on to ordering the food, both of our attentions were grabbed by the cherry tomatoes, avocado, and rocket salad as a starter. With a small and simple plate of tasty healthiness starting us off, we were well set up for what was to come.

Again our eyes picked out the same option for the main. A generous-sized grilled, breaded and then cooked in the oven chicken breast with a ruffle of rocket and a lemon slice to juice on the top was brought forward.

As we talked, knowing this review was coming, we shared our thoughts to why Côte has become such a success. The panoramic from our table shared with us businessmen grabbing an early meal, mothers and daughters catching up, an elderly lady reading a book with her dog by her side, and a party of six twenty-somethings. These are just but a few of the categories of customers Côte attracts. It relaxes the customer in the company they have, the food they’ll receive, and the price they’ll pay. It’s success is to provide home comforts; the easy feeling of your mother’s cooking but with better food, probably.

Finally our orders followed different paths at the puddings. A difficult and struggled decision, I found the answer with the iced berries with white chocolate sauce. Delicious and again so simple. The classically French crème brûlée was chosen by Harry. When home and writing, my sister – and eating-food fanatic – gave guidance in describing the untried crème brûlée; “You crack the layer into heaven”. Whether or not you think it makes sense, it indicates the enjoyment it gives.

Finishing up at £21 each, comfortably full and very satisfied, the conclusion was simple. Côte is the most accessible and easy, but quality place available. It easily leaps to a higher league than it’s fellow chain restaurants that exist. Côte Brasserie simply has ‘it’. cote-restaurants.co.uk

By Billy Jenks

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