The Cafe Rouge chain of upmarket, French-style brasseries aims to bring inexpensive Parisian style to the provinces – and generally speaking, their mission is successful. Decor (dark wood, polished brass, banquette seating, etc) gives every branch a timeless, familiar look. And while food is committed to a franchise formula, someone in CR HQ keeps a keen eye on quality control – the chefs may not be Novelli, but neither are they pretending to be. As a result, classics such as onion soup, croque monsieur and steak frites tend to be more reliable choices than anything from the specials board, but there’s a decent wine list and children are well provided for with their own special menus. At the Bath branch, head for the tables in the big bay windows at the front or tucked away right at the back if you want a quiet experience; dreadful acoustics make for a constant cacophony of clattering at peak times, when service suffers too.

This restaurant is in:
A-Z • Business restaurants • Family-friendly restaurants • Party venues