As my last experience wasn’t too bad, when I needed to get a meal recently I did try Café Rouge one more time.
After my last meal, back then I said:
So despite my reservations I in the end had a good meal, good service and may go again.
One of my main issue (and it would appear I am not alone in this) with Café Rouge is not necessarily with the food, but with the service.
I have had issues with the food so still not entirely confident with the chain.
However there is something I really like about the concept behind Café Rouge, the idea of a French bistro is very appealing and the menu always sounds nice.
So having had a reasonably positive experience last time I felt quite positive about this visit. I did go safe though and I went with the steak I had last time, the Bavette. I did as the menu recommended ordered the steak rare. The Bavette is a flank steak so if cooked medium or well done it will be a tougher than say a sirloin cooked to medium.
So what of the result?
Well it was very nice and the fries were good too. I don’t think it was as good as before, but was still tasty and full of flavour.
Alongside I had a side salad, that was much more than just lettuce. In there was red onion, olives and green beans.
To wash it down, I had a glass of Cotes du Rhone, full bodied and full of fruity flavours.
So what of the service?
Well I think I was lucky in that I went in quite late and the place was quite empty, only three tables with diners. They were also at the end of their meals, whereas mine had just begun. So the waiting staff were basically waiting on me!
Overall, not a too bad an experience, good food and good service; in other words what it should be every time I go to Café Rouge and should be the rule not the exception.