Café Rouge is a popular French bistro situated in the well-heeled Westbourne district of Bournemouth. Prepare yourself for a warm welcome from the friendly team, whether you’re popping in for a morning Croque Monsieur and coffee or a slap-up steak dinner after work.
Parisienne chic
The restaurant is smartly designed in the style of a Parisienne bistro. It’s full of cosy corners where you can settle down with the morning newspaper or enjoy a catch-up with friends or even conduct a business meeting. If you love to stay connected or you’re here with the laptop, make sure you log on to the free WiFi.
If you’re in the mood for a food with a touch of finesse to start the day, the Café Rouge breakfast menu will put you on the right track. It’s served until 12pm on weekdays and a leisurely 1pm on the weekends if you’re enjoying a slower start.
Healthy start
Perhaps you’ll be tempted by the fluffy pancakes and flaky pastries or you’d prefer a traditional cooked breakfast.
Take your pick of the croques, take the ‘on toast’ option or opt for a light and healthy fruit option all washed down with a warm coffee, hot chocolate or tea or perhaps one of the ‘mocktails’ such as French Garden Fizz, a fusion of elderflower petals, fresh mint, lemon and lime juice.
The main daytime menu offers a mix of classic and contemporary dishes inspired by original French recipes. You won’t be disappointed to find a whole host of traditional French favourites on there, including Moules Mariniere (mussels), steak frites (steak and chips), Poulet Breton (Brittany chicken) and Confit de Canard (duck).
Light bites and budget options
Café Rouge also offers an impressive (and too tempting) selection of light bites, snacks and pastries, plus a decent line-up of croques (open sandwiches), baguettes and salads.
Café Rouge also caters for diners on a budget with a £13.50 seasonal prix fixe menu served from 12pm to closing every day, or £10.50 if you can bear to resist the pudding option!
The main menu is stuffed with tempting dishes celebrating the different regions of France.
You’ve got your bread and nibbles to keep you going before the soups and starters, which of course features the inevitable escargots (snails). If you fancy a lighter bite, there’s a tempting selection of salads including the colourful bistro and lip-smacking tuna nicoise on offer.
French favourites
If you’ve still got room for the main event, the menu is packed with French favourites including a tagine (a Moroccan-style stew), beouf bourguignon, a bouillabase (Provencal fish stew) and the traditional and hearty lamb cassoulet (hearty meat and bean stew).
Lunch plates are available until 5pm every day, listing classic French snacks including various croques (monsieur, madame or champignon, perhaps), baguettes and even a casse-croute ‘lunch board, featuring bread, cheese, ham, chutney and a glass of red or white wine.’
Pass the cheese(board!)
For dessert, perhaps you could be tempted by a naughty fondant aux chocolats, tarte aux pommes (apple tarte) and the inevitable selection de fromages (an artisan cheeseboard!)
Café Rouge in Westbourne as a venue is deceptively roomy, accommodating 140 covers altogether in the main restaurant and light and airy sunroom.
There are baby change facilities and accessible toilet on the ground floor, making it an inviting destination for most.
Live entertainment
While Café Rouge is a great venue for dining, you can easily make a night of it with monthly live music nights. Entertainers generally provide a classy jazz, voice and acoustic soundtrack to your meal – ample entertainment but discrete enough not to detract from your company.
You won’t be surprised to discover that Café Rouge has an impressively stocked and extensive French wine cellar if you fancy a cheeky glass of Beaujolais, Sauvignon Blanc or Champagne. The majority of the wine list hails from France, with a selection of cocktails, aperetifs, beers, mocktails and soft drinks too.
For any occasion
Café Rouge is also a great venue for your party or private event. You can hire out an area of the restaurant or whole sunroom to make your event a real occasion. There is also a private courtyard if you want your very own space.
Whether you’re a seasoned visitor to French cuisine or you’re tempted in by the welcoming design and tempting menu, Café Rouge will make you feel at home. Why not visit the website and reserve your table today?