French Restaurants

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Restaurants reviewed on this page:

* Cafe Rouge
* Elm Hill Brasserie

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Guest Review!!! 14th July 2007 - Elm Hill Brasserie (Mary Lamb - Norwich)

2, Elm Hill, Norwich, Norfolk NR3 1HN
Tel: 01603 624847

Smoking: No

Parking: No. Nearest car park St. Andrews. Would suggest walk or taxi.

Have just had a very disappointing meal and experience during our first (and probably only) meal here. It might not have been ‘only’ if the proprietor had dealt with the circumstances differently.

I was taking my husband out for an anniversary meal and our calves liver starters were very nice. (However we had already been served a warm bottle of water.)

We both ordered a leg of chicken and on cutting in to my husband’s, he realised that it was bloody on the inside. As we were perfectly happy otherwise, he very discreetly pointed this out to the waiter who took it away and offered him something else from the menu. Because of the delay in cooking, however, it meant that he ended up eating alone as I had already finished mine. I ‘finished’ mine although it too was difficult to cut in to and I had to leave a lot of it uneaten on the bone. I write this trusting I won’t get food poisoning tonight!! I can perfectly accept that mistakes can be made, but when it came to querying the bill my husband, who had also very quietly pointed out to the waitress when she came to collect my plate that it, too, appeared undercooked, was told that there would be no reduction as something else had been offered. In fact he argued that it was overcooked!! There was no acknowledgement that my husband had had to eat his main course alone! He also suggested we should have said something at the time about mine (which of course we very quietly had!). We had had no desire to cause a rumpus and indeed did not do so. The proprietor, rather than apologising for our inconvenience and simply making it a ‘feel good’ experience by not charging us for the main course or something like that , made a real issue of it and became tense and argumentative. Instead of a ‘can do’attitude – he seemed to resent the presence of new customers trying them out. When we simply said ‘OK but we won’t be coming back’, his answer was ‘I think that’s a good idea’. How depressing is that. I hope you do put this on the site and leave people to draw their own conclusions. Perhaps this sort of attitude is the reason places close….

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20th May 2006 - Elm Hill Brasserie

2, Elm Hill, Norwich, Norfolk NR3 1HN
Tel: 01603 624847

Smoking: No

Parking: No. Nearest car park St. Andrews. Would suggest walk or taxi.

Elm Hill Brasserie, or whatever it's been called in its various incarnations over the years, is set in what I think is a perfect spot. Up the cobbled streets towards Elm Hill at the intersection of three lanes, it is quiet, just the right size and overall very romantic. Various people have taken it on, but it has seemed to have been closed down and empty more often than not. It was screaming out for the right people to take it over. Now I think it probably has.
We had looked at the menu whilst passing quite a few times and always found it interesting but had always had something else on. We saw the menu today while shopping, liked everything on it, spoke to the chef/owner and managed to bag the last table. I don't know why, but I felt comforted that it was going to be full and that we'd managed to just get in.
Bizarrely, we were quite excited about going here. The chef had told us to more-or-less ignore the menu in the window as almost everything was sold out and it would be almost completely different this evening. How often can you say you're going to a restaurant where you'll be eating from a completely new menu constructed that day? It really didn't let us down. In fact, I may have to say it was one of the best meals I've had in a long time, certainly in Norwich and one of the best overall dining experiences. I can't think of a single criticism, which is very unusual for me. I'm actually really looking forward to going back again in the near future.
We were met and sat by a really polite and cheery lady, brought menus and water and left very much to our own devices for the next ten minutes, which I really liked. Sometimes you can feel 'pressured' into ordering your meal but we felt entirely relaxed. I really loved the menus. Yes, they were slightly different to the ones we'd looked at earlier but I loved the way each meal was described. I also loved the fact everything was so basic but sounded fantastic. It was a really quite difficult to choose what we wanted. I would've eaten everything on there, which again is highly unusual.
The atmosphere was just right with the music at the perfect level and didn't spoil or get lost in the hum of conversation in the room.
The service was excellent. Really friendly and efficient but not in an intrusive way. Menus were brought and plates were taken at the perfect speed and she even had time for a lenghty conversation about food and the restaurant in general, which I thought was lovely.
The food was top class. I loved the way it was presented so basically and just let the ingrediants and what was on the plate do the talking. Along with the perfect bottle of white wine - Sancerre from the special's board - which we were helped to choose, it made for a really special meal.

I had: For starter I had the oxtail terrine served with melba toast, a 'dollop' (the chef's words) of horseradish and a dash of basil pesto. Sensational. One of the best appetisers I have ever had. Beauitfully braised oxtail, with the crispness of the toast and the sharpness of the horseradish complimenting each other wonderfully. Really woke the palate up and had me ready for more.
I also got to try Catherine's Petatou. For those of you - like me - who have never heard of it, it is an 'off-warm' potato salad with black olives, thyme, cream and balsamic vinegar topped with grilled goat's cheese. It tasted as good as it sounds.
For main course, I had a really hard time choosing. However, I went for the turbot because it was a brand new entry on the menu, suggesting it was very fresh and because I'd never tried it. It came on a bed of buttered leeks and a hollandaise sauce accompanied by new potatoes. I'm running out of words to describe the food but this was just bloody amazing. Incredibly fresh, gleaming white fish complimented by perfectly cooked leeks and lovely earthy potatoes, with a perfect sauce. I loved the way it wasn't dressed up to be anything else. Just good ingrediants, cooked well, put on a plate. Execellent.
I also got to try Catherine's 'hand' of pork, which I'd nevr even heard of, let alone tried. Wow. Melt in the mouth meat, really delicious. I kept trying to sneak some more but she was having none of it.
For dessert, again we had another agonising decision to make. I ended up going for the fresh raspberry and lime zest crème brulee. This was pretty damn amazing and maybe, just maybe, better than a panna cotta to finish a meal. Perfectly hard topping that made a satisfying cracking sound when you put your spoon in, which led to a beautifully light custard tasting of sharp and refreshing summer fruits. Very very good. I've thought about it again and again and I can't find a single thing wrong with the meal we had. Definitely a first.

Rating:

Food ***** Service ***** Atmosphere ***** Menu ***** Wine/Drinks *****

OVERALL = *****

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18th December 2004 - Cafe Rouge

Tel: 01603 624230

Smoking: Yes (designated area)

Parking: No - nearest parking St. Andrews Street

I was on holiday this week. I didn't go anywhere, I just had a week to take off before Christmas. Yesterday, I helped out my friend (and manager of Cafe Rouge) Jane by doing a lunchtime shift as she was short-staffed. How many restaurant reviewers can say that? Having served the food for a day, I quite fancied eating it too.
As always, we had excellent service and a friendly welcome. The ambience was just right with the lights dimmed down and French music playing at just the right level. I know it's a chain but I can't help like coming here. I find it a very comfortable place to come and eat and drink.
I have complained about the food here before I know, but tonight's meal was really very good indeed. After three courses and two bottles of wine, we left full, contented and more than a little drunk...

I had: For starter I had the terrine maison. A chicken liver pate with an onion marmalade and a big chunk of french bread. I have only quite recently got into pate and suddenly can't get enough of it. This was delicious. The pate was nice and 'gamey', the bread just baked and the marmalade complimented it all perfectly.
For main course, I had the chicken breast wrapped in bacon, filled with brie. It also came with green beans and rissoulet potatoes. I'd really fancied this all day and it didn't disappoint. Really juicy chicken, crispy bacon and a good sauce.
For dessert I had the tarte tatin, which was as good as always.

Rating:

Food **** Service ***** Atmosphere **** Menu *** Drinks/Wine ****

OVERALL = ****