Brasserie Blanc
9 Belvedere Road, Southbank, London SE1 8YP
Telephone: 020 7202 8470
When you ask people to name a famous chef or a famous restaurant, one on the tip of everyone’s tongue would be Raymond Blanc and his 2 Michelin Starred restaurant Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons. Raymond is unique in that he is an entirely self taught chef, but he has taught or employed some of the best, including Heston Blumenthal and Marco Pierre White, and he has created many fabulous tastes and food combinations.
The first of the Brasserie Blancs was opened in Oxford in 1996 and was initially named Le Petit Blanc, but in 2003 this, and the other three in the growing chain, became part of the Loch Fyne Restaurant group, but Raymond still maintains a share in the business and continues to be involved in creating new menus and developing the chef and kitchen teams. This enables the French philosophy of “good food being central to good living” to be maintained, and to keep providing food that can be enjoyed by everyone – “from the time-conscious business person to those looking for a welcoming family restaurant”. The chain has gone from strength to strength and is now in a number of locations, but that attention to detail and pride in the food that Raymond initiated remains in every location.
My wife and I visited one of the newer restaurant’s situated a mere stone’s throw from Waterloo Station, the London Eye, the Royal Festival Hall and all of the cultural attractions of the Southbank. The restaurant boasts a lovely little terrace at the front which caters equally well for patrons who want to enjoy a few drinks prior to dining, or for those workers who fancy a few drinks to unwind after a hard day at the office before making their way home from Waterloo. Once you have enjoyed your drink you descend into the restaurant which has a lovely buzz of people enjoying themselves in a relaxed but professional atmosphere. Although underground, the décor and lighting gives the feeling that there is more space than there actually is, and a warmth that helps you to feel as if you were in a Parisian brasserie.
The menu is simple but caters for every taste, and follows the simple mantra that customers will return again and again if the food is flavoursome, caters for everyone in your party, and is keenly priced. The entreès are split between the classiques which remain on the menu regardless of the time of year, and the seasonal offerings. My wife chose one of her favourite dishes, the cheese Souflèe (£7.50) with a mature cheddar sauce, and was rewarded with a warm smooth gooey cheesy centre once she broke through the crispy outer layer, and I was torn between the Mediterranean Fish Soup (£7.90), and the Potted Cromer Crab (£9.50), but was pleased I chose the Crab, as the clean crab was perfectly supported by the fresh avocado, shallot and coriander guacamole and some toasted pain de campagne. The selection for the main course, or Plats as we are at a brasserie, is extensive, and for me that is a problem, because as you know, I have difficulty in deciding (!), but for parties it is perfect as there is something for everyone. As with most Brasseries there is the mandatory Steak Frites (£19.90) with a 9oz Cornish Rump Steak, French fries and ‘Café de Paris’ herb and mustard butter, but as it was a typical English spring day (i.e. cold!) I plumped for a Boeuf Bourguignon (£18.50) and my wife a Boeuf Stroganoff (£14.50). The Bourguignon was hale and hearty and almost rustic, with meaty and tender beef sitting proudly on light and creamy mash, all topped with a rich red wine sauce and large lardons and baby onions, an absolute delight on a cold day. The stroganoff also boasted tender beef but here it was bathing in a slightly tangy creamy sauce, all on top of fluffy rice and again a real treat.
After a short break just to allow our first two courses to go down, and to enjoy a few sips of our lovely South African Chenin Blanc (£19.95), we turned our attention to the desserts. The Baked Alaska flambèed with Cointreau (£13 for 2 people) tempted us, but my wife remembered the lovely souflèe starter and opted for the Pistachio Souflèe (£7.50) which was equally as good as the first, and I went for the Chocolate & Almond Torte (with Vanilla ice cream and crème Anglaise (£6.50). This had everything I love in a chocolate dessert, as the melting rich molton chocolate taste burst onto my tongue, and was offset by the creamy vanilla ice cream and the light Crème Anglaise.
Because of its location, Brasserie Blanc has many pre-theatre offerings, but this is more than just a stop off before the theatre. It is a welcoming family restaurant which will appeal to all ages and tastes.
