An ongoing love affair with French food led Michael Grahamslaw to one of Newcastle's standout chain restaurants on a scorching Bank Holiday Weekend.
Côte Brasserie is one of the city’s few French restaurants and has really offered diners something different since opening around five years ago. Occupying the former Barclays Bank site in the heart of the city, striped canopies create a distinctly French exterior whilst inside the dining area exudes that trademark brasserie chic. On arrival, the place was absolute bustling with its lunchtime offering and extensive wine list clearly proving a hit with punters.
The restaurant’s showstopping a la carte menu showcases a tantalising array of brasserie classics whilst there’s also good value available through the week on a prix fixe menu with two courses available for £14.95 and three for £18.95.
In addition to this, there’s a 35-bottle strong wine list with an impressive 14 of these available by the glass. We picked out a lovely, smooth Bordeaux rouge along with a bowl of spicy olives and a fougasse provencal garlic bread to pick on.
Following on, I chose the traditional crab maison – a delightful blend of tender crab meat, avocado, capers, red onion and mayonnaise. My wife Lisa meanwhile enjoyed fresh, wispy smoked salmon with pistou crème fraiche and a fennel and apple salad.
Main courses also found their mark. Lisa chose the luxe Poulet Breton – a rich poultry dish originating from Brittany in Northern France. This comprised half a chargrilled chicken cooked in a cider-based sauce with Dijon mustard, leeks, thyme and onion and served with pomme frites and wild rocket. With many big flavours vying for attention, this was when the wine really came into play and our bottle of rouge set off my classic eye steak frites exquisitely. An extra helping of roasted vegetables completed this pretty picture.
This had already been a superb meal yet we rounded off with real aplomb with a pair of table-tappingly good desserts. Lisa chose the strawberry and basil pavlova with peach & raspberry compote, crème fraiche and meringue whilst I opted for the Crème Caramel – traditional-set vanilla pod custard with dark caramel and cream. Inspired by restaurants in Paris, Côte Brasserie champions all-day dining with its sumptuous A la Carte menu perfect for special occasions or winning business lunches. available in addition to its cheaper fixed price menu. Amidst the current cost of living crisis, the restaurant offers an affordable alternative.
This is also a venue which likes to shake up its offering with ever-changing seasonal specials sure to feature some sprightly, summery dishes now well into the warmer weather. At Côte Brasserie then, we have something of a rarity. A chain restaurant with that added je ne sais quoi!
