Visit La Garrigue, arguably the most authentic French restaurant in town and be transported into the Languedoc region of France. Enjoy the food, sample the 'Terroir wines' and the warm service. Winner 'Les Routiers Guide; Scottish restaurant of the year'.
Café Français
- Food served: Mon–Sun noon–10pm
- Bar open: Mon–Sun noon–midnight
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 11
- Also offers: Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access, Outdoor tables (smokers welcome)
- Capacity: 96
- Largest group: 96
- Open since: 2007
- Average price 2 courses:
£8.50 (set lunch)
£15 (evening meal) - House wine: £12.90 per bottle
This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 – in the shops now or buy online.
Extravagantly fitted out fin de siècle style, with globe lamps and brass railings aplenty, Café Français exudes an informal class that draws a steady trade, perhaps due to its flexible menu. There's a big selection of crêpes, salads and baguettes and a three-course prix-fixe at a traffic-stopping £11.50. But those just after coffee and cake are also happily accommodated by the polite staff, dressed in the traditional 'penguin' style. Art nouveau images plaster the walls around the mezzanine, while the Gallicisms are raised just short of twee by the accordion-lite soundtrack. While the wine list is a little short, the à la carte is brimming with French staples. A large starter pot of moules marinières has nicely meaty mussels in a simple garlic and onion liquor. A similarly hefty portion of boeuf bourguignon, with delicious cubes of marinated meat, is rather let down by a watery stock. The cassoulet is more flavoursome, packed with beans and herby sausage (but little of the advertised duck) in a vinegary tomato sauce that's good for bread dipping. A caramel-filled crêpe drizzled with melted chocolate and a raspberry reduction makes for a lavish finish.
- High point: Continental atmosphere
- Low point: Dishes can be a little bland
Comments
- 1. GazW, Glasgow – 5 July 2008, 11:37pm
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Recently visited this restaurant with a party of 10 guests. Although I am more than happy to visit expensive restaurants, I expect that the food matches the price paid. Cafe Francais is quite pricey so I was looking forward to an enjoyable meal. The menu was not particularly extensive and upon ordering were made aware that a particular dish was unavailable, being early on a friday night I felt this was unusual. Starters were ordered I chose soup of the day (leek and potato) which was fine however others who had the squid felt that the squid was particularly poor and another was left dissapointed that his scallops where few and far between, so to speak. Main meals ordered where predominantly steaks, absolute terrible choice. The french fries (or Pommes Frites) were unsatisfyingly similar to those purchased out of a McDonalds restaurant. The peppercorn sauce had no consistency (the San Miguel lager looked thicker). These complaints where unanimous amongst all 8 of the customers eating steak. 2 out of 8 where satisfied with their steak however the other 6 felt that they fell well below standards that even a cheap restaurant would provide. In particular one customer ordered a med/well done steak, the steak that was supplied was still pink. Allowing for the chance that a small error may have occured she asked if her steak could be further cooked as she could not eat a rare steak. A new steak was provided that was pinker than the original one, her trust and patience ran out, coupled with the obvious disappointment and the fact that the rest of us had almost finished our meals she decided that she would not want another and resorted to waiting till we left and picked something up out a local takeaway. The service provided by the waiting staff was satisfactory. The bill provided to us stated £280 which included £28 (10%) service charge. Being with well educated company we are aware that this is an optional fee and is no way legally binding, due to the concerns we had with the meal we indicated that we would not wish to pay this service charge and woud instead leave a tip we considered appropriate. It became clear that the staff where unimpressed and left a cold atmosphere towards us, we paid £260 cash and where going to leave £10 tip (by adding £2 to the change), however we where never given the chance as they never returned our change, instead of any further hassle or aggrevation we decided to leave hastily and cut our losses. There is an abundant amount of good restaurants in the area such as Chow, La Riviera or Balbir's avoid this place at all costs. Terrible value for money!
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- 3. debs, Glasgow – 28 July 2008, 11:17am
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I visited the restaurant on Saturday night with my boyfriend.
Re Gaz's review....you were with a party of 10, had 2 courses and the bill was £260? Thats £23 a head. Really good French restaurants are much dearer than that.
My boyfriend had the scallops, which he was happy with. I had the Coq Au Vin which was lovely and he had the steak with the Cafe De Paris butter sauce. The steak was really well cooked.
We then shared the Crepe Normandy, which was filled with apple and caramel and covered in chocolate sauce.
To drink we had half a bottle of red wine, a bottle of cider and 2 coffees.
The bill came to £50, which was great value for money for what we had. When I read the reviews for this place I wasnt going to go, but Im glad I did. I had looked at the menu before we went, and for the price I wasn't expecting Michelin stuff!
If I was going out for an occasion I'd maybe try the other French place in the area, La Vallee Blanche. But for a very reasonably priced meal I'd definately return to Cafe Francais!
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