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Norwich
Café Rouge - Norwich

“Bienvenue” to a little pocket of France. Café Rouge has something for everyone – from petit dejeuner, to a bistro style lunch with friends, afternoon tea and à la carte dining. All is served with French style and panache in a relaxed ambience suitable for just about any occasion.

Relax with the morning papers and a café au lait, meet friends for lunch and enjoy a croque monsieur, indulge yourself with a brioche and pot of tea, celebrate with a glass of kir. Romance, entertain, relax and experience that je ne sais quoi of French know-how that makes Café Rouge such a popular choice.

The weekday Prix Fixe menu is available between midday and 5pm and offers superb value at £7.95 for two courses. On the day of my visit this menu included deep fried whitebait served with lime and coriander mayonnaise, wild boar sausages served with herb mash and crème brûlée. Light meals such as salads, croques and baguettes are available throughout the day.

Café Rouge would be quite at home on the Champs Elysee. Guests relax over an after work drink as you walk through to a large restaurant space studded with the red glow of candlelight. The drinks menu is extensive and includes cidre Breton, citron presse, and a range of predominantly French wines sourced from smaller vineyards.

Staff are friendly and knowledgeable and recommend the daily specials alongside an enticing menu of French classics. We started with the moules du Café Rouge, a fragrant white wine, garlic and cream sauce bursting with mussels served with a baton du pain. Vegetarians are well catered for and hors d’oeuvres included deep fried Camembert and baked mushrooms filled with garlic and spinach finished with melted raclette cheese.

Both our main courses had a rustic hearty quality to them – braised rack of lamb and confit de canard – meat that melted off the bone, accompanied by dauphinoise potatoes and green beans – good honest food with a rich and satisfying blend of flavours. We finished with tarte aux abricots and tarte tatin – warm caramelised apple tart served with vanilla ice cream.

It is the quality French food, warm welcome and guaranteed hospitality that makes Café Rouge perfect for the bon vivant in us all.

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