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restaurant review Cote Kingston Espresso martini crêpe

Restaurant review Côte Kingston

Restaurant review Côte Kingston

We try the new seasonal menu at the popular French bistro

Stroll along Kingston Riverside on a sunny lunchtime and you’ll find an enclave of al fresco eateries all buzzing with diners, drinking up the view of the Thames along with a chilled glass of something. It’s quite the place to be and always seems to be thronging whatever day of the week. Good to see we’re taking a rocket leaf out of the book of our Continental counterparts who have no qualms about lingering over lunch.

We headed to Côte, which offers plenty of outdoor tables on its large terrace. I’ve visited several times before and have always liked it for its fair pricing (the set menus are great value) and its take on the typical French brasserie.

There are always the staples such as steak frites but also a seasonally changing menu. We settled in with a glass of very decent Provence rose and the most excellent light fluffy Provençal garlic bread while looking through the options.

We spied a tuna Nicoise at a nearby table, which looked wonderful with fresh tuna. Also new is a celeriac fricassee and monkfish Normande.

Confit duck is one of my most favourite dishes ever – and it was on offer as a salad starter. I enjoyed the crispness of the shredded meat, alongside a heap of fresh green salad and a foil of orange segments. My dining companion tried the new pea and olive tartlet – an assembly of tapenade, tomatoes, roasted pine nuts and rocket on top of a pastry shell. It was simple and fresh tasting but we felt it needed a hit of something extra to make it really zing.

We both love a good steak and the Côte de Boeuf for two was just too good an opportunity to miss. And it was an absolute joyous treat. The beef is dry-aged for 30 days and matured in Côte’s Himalayan rock salt ageing room. The meat arrived perfectly seared on the outside and medium rare, as requested, within. Served with homemade truffle hollandaise, crispy frites and a side of tomato salad and green beans, it was all outstanding.

Sadly we were too full for dessert but options include espresso martini crêpes; strawberry and basil pavlova and chocolate and salted caramel tart.

Great staff – attentive to the needs of a busy lunchtime crowd – wonderful views, and a top notch steak. If you’re hankering after a taste of Provence, head here on a sunny day.

Cote Kingston, 6 Riverside Walk.