Picture the scene: Poulet Breton and frites – warm and satisfying – the sun is shining down on your face, creeping through the fluttering gaps in the leaves of a silver birch tree that canopies your table, a look to your left and the Thames slowly flows your way, lined with greenery; turn your head right and the sight of Kingston Bridge arching across is in view. This is the experience to be had at Cote Brasserie Kingston (sunshine not guaranteed).
Poulet Breton is just one example of the menu at this restaurant, the commitment it has to traditional French cooking leads to a veritable cornucopia of a gourmet, gallic, gastronomical experience. Steaks are a speciality here: ribeye, fillet, sirloin, and steak frites – a reliable favourite of many patrons. Beef Bourguignon, slow cooked for six hours and served with pomme puree, if you want to pretend for a moment that the Thames is the Loire. If the sight of boats swaying in the gentle current directs your appetite toward fish, try a roast sea bass fillet, with braised fennel, in a Champagne beurre blanc and tomato concasse.
All wines are French, with a choice of six Champagnes to choose from, by the bottle or by the glass. The red and white wines are divided by their character, so you can match the choice to your mood or your dish. Dessert wines, cognac, and port are all available too. If you want something weaker, soft drinks, coffees, tea, and hot chocolate are all options too.
If the sound of that glass of Champagne appealed to you, then Cote Brasserie Kingston’s offer for a Champagne brunch may appeal more. A breakfast or a light main can be elevated by a glass of Baron de Marck Champagne and a juice or hot drink for a competitive price. This restaurant really is an opportunity to get a slice of luxury, but for non-luxurious expense.