Cote Brasserie

On a lovely day in Basingstoke, I decided to visit Cote Brasserie, a charming French restaurant that has gained quite a reputation in the UK. Nestled near Festival Place, it’s known for its authentic French cuisine, and I was excited to try it for the first time on my channel. As I walked in, I noticed the restaurant was quieter than I expected, which surprised me given its popularity.

The menu presented a delightful selection, from starters and mains to classic French dishes and indulgent desserts. I opted for the French onion soup (£7.75) to start, followed by the confit duck a la Ronge (£18.95) for my main course. The fixed-price menus caught my eye too, offering two courses for £17.95 and three for £21.95—a great option if you’re looking for value.

When my French onion soup arrived, it was beautifully presented, with slices of sourdough baguette melting under a layer of gooey cheese. The rich, beef broth base was comforting and indulgent, although I found it slightly lacking in the intense flavours I hoped for compared to other versions I’ve had before. The portion was smaller than I anticipated, which was a bit disappointing, especially with such a hearty dish.

Next came my confit duck, served atop Savoy cabbage with a side of gratin dauphinois potatoes. The duck was tender and bursting with flavour, complemented nicely by the sweetness of the cabbage and oranges. However, much like the soup, the portion size left me questioning whether it justified the price tag. It was undeniably rich and satisfying, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that the value could be better, especially when dining à la carte.

For dessert, I chose the strawberry and elderflower crème brûlée (£7.95), having skipped the cheese board—I was just too “cheesed out” at that point. The brûlée was a sweet delight, with a lovely tartness from the strawberries that balanced the sweetness perfectly. However, I was disappointed that I couldn’t detect any basil flavour, which was listed on the menu.

After calculating the total of £34.65 for my meal, I felt a mix of satisfaction and a twinge of frustration. While the quality of the food was commendable, I couldn’t help but think that sticking to the set menus would offer much better value for money. Ultimately, I would rate Cote Brasserie a solid 7.5 out of 10. The experience was enjoyable, and the service was excellent, so I would certainly consider returning—especially if I opted for the set menus next time. I’d love to hear about your experiences at Cote Brasserie, so feel free to share them in the comments!