Masterful French chef Raymond Blanc – the supremo behind Michelin grandee Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons – is a self-appointed ambassador for la gastronomie française, and has done a fine job with this Bournemouth outpost of his admirably accessible upmarket chain.
Open seven days a week, Brasserie Blanc Bournemouth takes up residence in the Marriott Highcliff Hotel, in a clifftop space which overlooks the city. The restaurant also benefits from an enviable outdoor terrace, which can be used for alfresco dining on warmer days. The terrace also welcomes well-behaved four-legged friends, should you want to bring your pooch along to breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner.
While the outdoor space is all about serene white tones and clean lines, the dining room inside is a much smarter proposition, decked out in shades of royal blue and deep red, as well as featuring striped blue and white flooring, plush curved banquettes and chic light fixtures. On Brasserie Blanc Bournemouth’s menu, you can expect to find a seasonally changing offering that sings to a distinctive Gallic provincial chanson.
If you visit in the morning, you can tuck into virtuous breakfast dishes such as smoked salmon and scrambled eggs or smashed avocado on toasted sourdough, while there’s cinnamon French toast for those feeling indulgent. Later in the day, the menu moves on to French classics such as moules frites and a cheese soufflé, although there are also a few international flourishes – think Indian-spiced samosas and paella topped with red mullet fillet and king prawns.
For dessert, try rounding off your meal with classic puddings such as sticky toffee pudding or Bramley apple and pear crumble. There are plenty of special menus to take advantage of too, including a child-friendly offering for when the children are in two and an excellent value Sunday lunch (two courses for £20).