Graduation week, July 2018.
Matt and I could finally celebrate 3 long years of study – with many meals out!
Matt’s family and mine went out for dinner together – and being a larger group of 7, I knew picking Cote Brasserie as the restaurant of choice would not disappoint.
Cote has a wonderfully varied menu, with lighter mains, set menu deals and additional seasonal specials. Better still, what I love about Cote in Exeter is its intimate atmosphere.
In the daytime, Cote is a beautiful two-storey restaurant looking out onto Exeter Cathedral. In the evening, soft ambient lighting and the buzz of a busy restaurant make for a lovely evening.
Between us all, there were several orders of the calamari with a roasted garlic aioli, crab mayonnaise with avocado and toasted sourdough and one charcuterie board with smoked duck, duck rillettes and Jambon de savoie ham.
My Mum and I thoroughly enjoyed the crab, having fancied something light. The calamari was lovely and the charceuterie was a generous board of smoked delights.
Having visited Cote a few times before, the customer service is always great – and today was no exception. Being right in the middle of grad week, there was a constant flow of people into the restaurant, but nonetheless the staff were friendly and attentive throughout.
Straight onto mains, and we all went for something different.
Despite my love of meat, I opted for the chargrilled salmon with ratatouille and a lemon juice and olive oil dressing. The salmon was perfectly tender and the ratatouille was rich – but I was a little disappointed there wasn’t more of it.
Popular on our table was the Poulet grille: chargrilled chicken breast wrapped in Parma ham, with roasted cherry tomato and green beans on a mustard and herb mash. This is a classic satisfying dish at Cote, with warm and homely French flavours.
The rest of us ordered the half chargrilled Poulet breton and the roasted duck breast with gratin potato and a cherry sauce. Both were delicious – the chicken had a fresh parsley and garlic dressing and the duck was exceptionally tender and the gratin rich and creamy.
Despite having a lovely range of desserts, we were all stuffed and opted for a coffee and tea instead.
In all, Cote made for a buzzing but intimate dinner – perfect for couples and big groups alike. If you’re looking for a sophisticated celebratory group meal or a romantic dinner, Cote Brasserie is a lovely choice for an evening meal.
The Culinary Carousel 