Summer has arrived!
This time I ventured further south to try out the newly launched Summer Menu at the Parisian-style bistro, Cafe Rouge in Dulwich.
The popular Park Hall Road location boasts a quaint garden area which is perfect for some relaxing al fresco summer dining – it’s also shaded so you can still dine outside if the weather happens to take a turn. You just can never tell with the temperamental British weather …
We started with a couple of Gin Blooms, which comes in a variety of floral and fruity flavours: Elderflower, Grapefruit and Orange, Cucumber and Watermelon, and Green Tea and Lemongrass. For those looking for something a bit more innocent (a.k.a. alcohol-free), they also have arrange of refreshing mocktails.
For starters, I ordered the Panier de Champignons which was sautéed chestnut mushrooms in a cèpe & garlic sauce, served in delicious light and flaky vol-au-vent – a really enjoyable dish if you love mushrooms as much as I do. The Camembert has always been one of my favourites from the main menu, a crunchy breaded outer coating with a warm and ooze-y centre – a cheese lover’s dream.
For our mains, we opted for more hearty, meatier options. I do love a schnitzel, and really enjoyed the Pork Schnitzel that was coated in crispy, golden breadcrumbs, served with a refreshing celeriac and cabbage slaw, baby watercress and frites.
We requested for the 5oz ‘Minute’ Rump (35 day aged British rump steak) to be cooked medium rare so it was still pink in the middle, which you can choose to have with fries or house salad. You can request for some garlic butter on the side, or add on other sauces such as beef dripping Merlot gravy and Béarnaise.
And finally for dessert, we shared the Raspberry Parfait with sweet white chocolate sauce and salted caramel pistachios, that was highly recommended by the lovely manager – a lovely cooling dessert, that was not too sweet, and ideal for warm summer days.
Alongside their extensive main a la carte menu, Cafe Rouge also currently offer a Summer Set Menu everyday from 12noon onwards, where you can enjoy two courses for a bargain price of £12.95 (with and additional £3.00 to include dessert).
There are plenty of other tasty seasonal dishes on the menu which you can browse here.
Or even better – find your closest cafe Rouge by clicking on this link to enjoy some good value, wholesome French food.
The Cheekster, signing out x
The meal was complimentary, but views remain my own.
