by dudette » Thu Mar 20, 2014 1:00 pm
Oh dear, very sorry to see that this thread has been hijacked by people having an argument about a separate issue.
To get back to Chez Bruce, I was there last night and yet again had a great meal with great service. I just don't get people who say CB is overpriced. It's £45 for three dinner courses - that's three one-Michelin starred courses. You could easily pay £10 for a starter, £25 for a main and £10 for a pud in a bog standard restaurant (albeit with pretensions). A plate of stir-fried pak choy at Good Earth (which we also like) is about £7. The way I see it is could I cook this food (I'm an average chef) myself? I reckon I could rustle up most of what gets served in most of the restaurants in Nappy Valley - but Chez Bruce food? No way. And if you don't want to pay the mark up for wine (and let's face it all restaurants do it - it's how they make their money) you can buy it by the glass. They have an amazing wine list by the way and the sommeliers are always very helpful.
Also, let's be clear, this is a one Michelin starred restaurant. There's quite a difference between that and a two or three starred one. You don't get amuse bouche and a waiter reeling off a list of what you're about to eat; and the ingredients aren't as exotic as they are at the fancier places. But some of the most memorable food I've ever had has been at Chez Bruce, and it's utterly consistent. I agree some of the food on the menu is quite plain - if you have soup, followed by steak and chips or cod and mash, followed by creme brulee, you're maybe going to think it's not that special (albeit beautifully cooked). But branch out to some of their other offerings and hopefully you'll see the skill of the chefs (and actually the garlic soup that they did a few years back was one of the most exquisite things I've ever eaten).
Also don't forget that one man's (or woman's!) cramped tables is another man's 'atmosphere'. It always has a much buzzier feel than the ultra posh establishments which can sometimes have a tendency to feel like a funeral parlour - all hushed tones.
Forget the Michelin star - Bruce Poole designed this as a neighbourhood restaurant and he wants locals to use it. We almost always get a good table because they seem to have a list of their regular customers' names and phone numbers (and by regular we go about three or four times a year).
It's just a great, great restaurant so if you've not tried it please don't be put off by what other people have written. I have to say all my local friends have been and I've never heard anyone say a bad thing about it, so I'm really surprised at some of the comments here. But chacun a son gout as they (probably don't) say in France - I went to Le Gavroche a couple of years ago and don't think I'll be hurrying back any time soon.
Oh dear, very sorry to see that this thread has been hijacked by people having an argument about a separate issue.
To get back to Chez Bruce, I was there last night and yet again had a great meal with great service. I just don't get people who say CB is overpriced. It's £45 for three dinner courses - that's three one-Michelin starred courses. You could easily pay £10 for a starter, £25 for a main and £10 for a pud in a bog standard restaurant (albeit with pretensions). A plate of stir-fried pak choy at Good Earth (which we also like) is about £7. The way I see it is could I cook this food (I'm an average chef) myself? I reckon I could rustle up most of what gets served in most of the restaurants in Nappy Valley - but Chez Bruce food? No way. And if you don't want to pay the mark up for wine (and let's face it all restaurants do it - it's how they make their money) you can buy it by the glass. They have an amazing wine list by the way and the sommeliers are always very helpful.
Also, let's be clear, this is a [i]one[/i] Michelin starred restaurant. There's quite a difference between that and a two or three starred one. You don't get amuse bouche and a waiter reeling off a list of what you're about to eat; and the ingredients aren't as exotic as they are at the fancier places. But some of the most memorable food I've ever had has been at Chez Bruce, and it's utterly consistent. I agree some of the food on the menu is quite plain - if you have soup, followed by steak and chips or cod and mash, followed by creme brulee, you're maybe going to think it's not that special (albeit beautifully cooked). But branch out to some of their other offerings and hopefully you'll see the skill of the chefs (and actually the garlic soup that they did a few years back was one of the most exquisite things I've ever eaten).
Also don't forget that one man's (or woman's!) cramped tables is another man's 'atmosphere'. It always has a much buzzier feel than the ultra posh establishments which can sometimes have a tendency to feel like a funeral parlour - all hushed tones.
Forget the Michelin star - Bruce Poole designed this as a neighbourhood restaurant and he wants locals to use it. We almost always get a good table because they seem to have a list of their regular customers' names and phone numbers (and by regular we go about three or four times a year).
It's just a great, great restaurant so if you've not tried it please don't be put off by what other people have written. I have to say all my local friends have been and I've never heard anyone say a bad thing about it, so I'm really surprised at some of the comments here. But chacun a son gout as they (probably don't) say in France - I went to Le Gavroche a couple of years ago and don't think I'll be hurrying back any time soon.