Chic, Parisian-style Café Rouge offers diners a little slice of Gallic life. Join the commuters who call into Chelmsford’s Café Rouge for an early-evening meal and some well-earned down time, or pop along for a leisurely meal with the family after a night at the local cinema. Colchester’s small but perfectly formed café is just a stone’s thrown from the castle and the Mercury Theatre, making it great for day-trippers and ideal for pre-show meals. At the famous Lakeside Shopping Centre, Café Rouge occupies a prime position and boasts a large terrace overlooking the lake for alfresco dining in the sunshine. The Loughton restaurant is easily found on the High Street, and boasts a first-floor private dining room for party bookings.
Whichever Café Rouge you choose, relax with the papers over breakfast and tuck into Continental pastries or a French favourite of smoked ham and Gruyère cheese croque, topped with a fried egg. The breakfast menu is complemented by a selection of fresh juices and fine French coffees.
If dining at lunchtime or in the evening, experience the delights of the core menu, which features everything from the lightest of snacks to hearty rustic French staples. If you’re on the move, plats rapides are the ideal choice, with a range of dishes from just £7.95. The great-value prix-fixe lunch menu is available from noon until 5pm every day, at £6.50 for one course or £8.50 for two. If opting for a three-course French feast, start with classic moules marinières, continue with boeuf Bourguignon and finish with a tangy tarte au citron. Of course there are also sandwiches, salads, nibbles and moules aplenty. To complement all of this fine food, the staggering range of quality wine listed at Café Rouge is an oenophile’s dream. Café Rouge really is bringing a little of ‘la belle vie française’ to your corner of the UK.