Café Rouge Westwood Cross Thanet Review
Café Rouge
Westwood Cross, Thanet
Reviewed by Louise Asekokhai
I was asked to review this restaurant as it had recently opened and they requested I try the Prix Fixe menu which included a starter and main meal for £12.95 each, dessert was an additional £3.95. There was a choice of 3 starters, 5 mains and 3 desserts.
Westwood Cross is a Shopping precinct in Thanet in Kent. There are cinemas, shops, casino and quite a few restaurants. There is plenty of free parking close to the restaurant.
The restaurant is large, light and airy with a real French feel nicely decorated with ornate lighting.
It was very quiet when we arrived for lunch at 12.30 on a Tuesday. We were shown to our table and the waitress was very polite and helpful. The waitress had good knowledge of the menu and was happy to answer any questions. Our order was taken quickly and we received our drinks and starters very quickly.
I opted for CHAMPIGNONS À L’AIL: chestnut mushrooms in cèpe & garlic sauce on rye toast and my companion has SOUPE À L’OIGNON French onion soup with Gruyère and croutons.
I enjoyed my starter although it was a bit cold and the toast was a bit soggy but the mushrooms were very tasty. My companion said her soup was delicious and very hot.
Our waitress asked several times if we were enjoying our meal and tidied up our plates as soon as we had finished. For the main course I chose DEMI POULET: a half roast chicken marinated in garlic, thyme and black pepper with wild rocket, thyme jus and frites. This was lovely, the frites were thin and crispy, the chicken was flavoursome and there was plenty on my plate. My companion went for the SALADE DE POULET: warm chargrilled chicken breast salad with bacon lardons, avocado, baby gem, tomatoes and free-range egg, served with French vinaigrette on the side which again was a generous size and she assured me it was very tasty.
We opted to have some bread as an extra with the meal, we were served a large pate of French bread and butter, I would have liked the bread to be warm but it was cold.
We were pretty full up but we could resist trying the French desserts I had CRÈME BRÛLÉE: caramelised vanilla crème with strawberry and black pepper sorbet which was really nice with a lovely vanilla flavour and very creamy and my companion had TARTE AU CITRON: lemon tarte with crème fraiche which I tasted and thought was lovely, it looked homemade and was very moreish.
I think it was excellent value as the food was very enjoyable and a very good standard.
Overall the service was good, although towards the end of the meal it was not as attentive as at the beginning, the staff became occupied as during our meal the restaurant filled up suddenly and got quite busy so we did not get served by the same waitress as we had throughout most of the meal.
The restaurant was clean and smart and the toilets were beautifully kept with nice soaps and hand creams.
We paid the bill without checking it adequately but realised later on that we had been over charged by about £5.00, I think the reduced dessert price was not incorporated correctly.
I enjoyed the meal and the restaurant was clean, staff friendly and looked attractive with French touches and nice lights.
Overall I give it 4/5 as during the busy time the service was not as good and we were overcharged on the bill.
Rating: 4/5
For more information, to view menus or to book a table visit www.caferouge.com.
Cafe Rouge, 1A Westwood Cross , Margate Rd, Broadstairs, CT10 2QA | 01843 808943
