Marylebone is no stranger to a positive French influence on its environs, with the original Madame Tussauds wax museum being located here, rumours the name ‘Marylebone’ is of French origin (Mary-le-Bow), and, of course, Cote Brasserie Marylebone’s position in the heart of the area. Just off the high-street, the restaurant is ideally suited for a quick entrance and a deliberately slow exit.
Something else that is slow is the way the chef cooks the beef bourguignon, for six hours, until it is rich and tender, with sweetness arising from the carrots and nuttiness from the mushrooms. Something that won’t be slow will be your experience eating it, as you try to resist the temptation to wolf it down, but surely fail. The people behind Cote Brasserie are Francophiles, they treat their food with attention to detail to ensure its authenticity, and the result is the production of high-quality meals that you’re sure to enjoy.
Perhaps the beef bourguignon isn’t to your fancy, perhaps you’re a vegan or a vegetarian, don’t fear, the menu is comprehensive and varied. See the chickpea tabouleh for example: roasted root vegetables, chickpeas, grilled broccolini and roasted seeds, served with red rice and a dairy-free harissa yoghurt. Warm, with a little tingle of spice from the harissa, but mellowed by the yoghurt to create a dish with a well-rounded collection of flavours.
Whether you’ve made plans and a reservation to enjoy an evening meal at Cote Brasserie Marylebone, or you’ve taken the fancy while on a walk in Regent or Hyde Park and chanced a walk-in, it is a friendly and hospitable restaurant. The leather benches and mirrored walls provide a pleasant, gentle atmosphere, and you’ll almost feel as if you were in Paris, not London. A warm coffee, a cool glass of wine, or a hearty French meal awaits you, your family, and your friends.