FOOD + DRINK
Cafe Rouge
AT BLUEWATER
WALKING INTO CAFÉ ROUGE IN BLUEWATER JUST FEELS GOOD . YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HOPE TO EXPECT FROM THE TRUSTED CHAIN AND IT ’ S AN IMMEDIATELY APPEALING KIND OF PLACE THAT MAKES YOU FEEL BOTH WELCOME AND RELAXED . THE FOOD HERE MAY BE OFFERED AT A VERY REASONABLE PRICE , BUT THE SIGNATURE LOOK OF THE RESTAURANT – DEEP REDS , NATURAL DARK WOODS , FRENCH BISTRO DÉCOR , AND FRIENDLY , ATTENTIVE STAFF – MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ’ RE DINING OUT IN A MUCH MORE WALLET-WEAKENING ESTABLISHMENT . THANKFULLY , YOUR BANK BALANCE WON ’ T SUFFER AND THE SERVICE , FOOD AND GENERAL AMBIENCE WILL IMPRESS . BY LISAMARIE LAMB
Café Rouge is a renowned family friendly place , serving up delicious food to suit every palate . There are balloons , which are always a winner with children , and there ’ s an activity page and colouring on the kids ’ menu too , so it ’ s all set up to make for a leisurely meal as a family . It ’ s just as lovely for couples , larger groups , or even if you fancied stepping out and eating on your own – you ’ ll be well looked after .
Starters then … and what a start it was . My choice was the soupe à l ' oignon . This rustic French onion soup was thick and tasty , served with sourdough croutons and a big melting wedge of Emmental cheese on the top . It warmed me through completely and I enjoyed every perfectly seasoned mouthful . My guest decided to be adventurous choosing escargots to start . Neither of us was sure what to expect , but the tasty little morsels that arrived – herb-crusted and baked with bacon , shallots , mushrooms ,
thyme , and a nice wallop of garlic butter – were incredible , proving that you don ’ t have to cross the Channel to eat excellent French food .
The main course was more tricky to choose . The menu is large with lots of tasty sounding dishes , but I opted to go vegetarian because , despite being a dyed-in-thewool omnivore , I couldn ’ t resist the crêpe au four . A baked crepe filled to the brim with spinach , mushrooms ( both Portobello and chestnut ), shallots , garlic , Emmental and a Mornay and cepe sauce , it came with either salad or ‘ frites ’ and I went for the chips .. another thing I can ’ t resist . Full of flavour and different from what I ’ d normally choose , I polished it off happily . My guest chose the much meatier Rouge burger – a six-ounce Black Angus beef burger in a toasted brioche bun – to which he added chargrilled bacon . It looked amazing , but I didn ’ t get to try it ; he enjoyed it far too much .
We had made it to dessert , and , because there is always room for dessert , we immediately said yes when asked if we wanted to look at the menu . I ’ d already spotted what I was going to have – the raspberry parfait : smooth raspberry parfait with white chocolate sauce and salted caramel pistachios , and it didn ’ t take long for my guest to choose his last course : tarte aux pommes – warm apple tart with tarte tatin ice cream . Both extremely satisfying to the last bite .
Café Rouge has a full and delicious menu of food choices , but it ’ s more than the food that makes this place feel so comfortable ; it ’ s that certain je ne sais quois that really does it in the end .
Café Rouge Bluewater Shopping Centre Lower Thames Walk Greenhithe DA9 9SJ 01322 624427 www . caferouge . com
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