Cafe Review - Patisserie Valerie, Western Road, Hove

Patisserie Valerie, Western Road, Hove

My friend Carol lives opposite this patisserie and has wanted to try the delicacies she sees in the window each day for about a year!  She suggested that we meet for a catch up there.

I should have had a coffee but we have a fantastic coffee maker at home.  (Which has just prompted me to go and make my own before it cools too much.  Splash of gingerbread syrup smells lush and makes me long for crisp autumn days...)

Look at my good intentions to finish off my juices from my detox too!

Doesn't quite work like that, does it!

 

So we met outside Patisserie Valerie at 3pm yesterday.  I went straight to the counter to order only to receive strange looks.  I realised that it must be table service and asked to confirm.  Overall, the service was not good.  Lack of smiles and friendliness was a let down.

 

This French café had a variety of items on the menu that did not scream French to me at all.  The Patisserie section was small in comparison to the rest of foods they offer. Online menu

 

I ordered an peach ice tea which was overly priced at £2.50 a glass.  It was good but didn't go very far.

 

My friend ordered a hot chocolate with cream, which did look good.  When the waiter asked if she would like cream, she giggled in delight of being rebellious in ignoring calories.  He did not look amused but gave a smirk as he walked away. 

 

I ordered a black forest gateaux, having loved this 80s treat as a child.  Carol ordered a double chocolate gateaux with a profiterole on top.  She let me try some and she DEFINITELY made the better choice.  The presentation of both gateaux were beautifully presented.

 

I put this on Facebook and it got a few "ooo"s and "ahhh"s from some girlfriends. 

I was disappointed in the taste of my gateaux.  It was all cream.  And cream that had been put between the sponge a few hours (if not days) before and didn't taste fresh.  The cherries were boozy - nothing wrong with that - but I wanted chocolate and cherries with some cream; not cream with some discreetly tasting chocolate sponge and a few cherries. 

The overall cost for 2 pieces of cake and 2 drinks was almost £15.  It was pricey.  The café looks so lovely and I have wanted to gaze at their window display every time I take the bus past there. 

I would go again but not have the same gateaux and I would have to wait for pay day...!  Oh, and maybe not eat all day before I go.

Overall rating 6/10

Service - 5/10
Cleanliness - 8/10
Presentation - 9/10
Taste - 7/10
Authenticity - 7/10

 

Brighton tea shop

This morning I met my Aunt at the Mock Turtle teashop in the North Lanes, Brighton.

Quintessentially British in layout but purely Polish in service!!! ;-)

Everything was served on the vintage blue china, as you can see in the photograph.

It was quaint and cosy for the blustery, although sunny, winter catch up.

Recommended for tourists and cosy days like this one.

The array of teapots and cakes made it cosy and appealing to the mix of people in there.

Seating in limited as the place is so small but the coffee was good, which is just what I needed.  Unfortunately I didn't have any food - another time, dear Mock Turtle!  But here is a review if you want to see it...   http://www.qype.co.uk/place/34609-The-Mock-Turtle-Tea-Shop-Brighton

And a couple more photos.  Have you seen the size of those doughnuts?? That's what she said! ;-)

Le Rendez-vous your restaurant review here!

So much to talk about today!

I'll start with food as that is a very good place to start ;-)
for my lunch today I, hand-on-heart, had the best meal I've had for about a year.
I know what kind of food I like and this was it.
My Dad and I went to a Christmas market today - more about that later.
Afterwards, he said that he knew of a place for us to have lunch.  As we walked, I kept trying to guess where it was and he wouldn't say.
The place was Le Rendez-Vous on Camden Road in Tunbridge Wells.

This quaint restaurant, with it's sweet wooden tables and chairs, chalk board menu down one wall and open kitchen to see all the delicious meals being made, had a warmth to it that made me wish there was an armchair for me to pretend reading while I actually people-watched!

My Dad chose an Italian platter to start for us to share.  It was a platter of £6 heaven. Smoked cheese, Parmesan, salami, Parma ham, artichokes, sun blushed tomatoes, olives, oil and balsamic vinegar and a slice of ciabatta each to mop up the goodness.  Having been in North Carolina for a couple of years I have been lacking in Italian foods like this that are a particular favourite of mine.  Seriously, every mouthful.....HEAVEN!!

I then chose the slow roasted pork belly with "frites" and vegetables.  The meat was melt-in-the-mouth and soaked in a tasty gravy.  The frites - perfect.  The vegetables - no broccoli or carrots in site.  (These are vegetables that are usually cooked plain here and bore me!)  Instead I had courgettes, green beans and spring greens.  All together delectable and even writing about it makes my mouth water.

Why no photos you ask??

I'm sorry readers..... My eyes are obviously bigger than my brain which would have taken shots of these platefuls.

That is not all though!!! Oh no!!

For dessert I had sticky toffee pudding.  (My Dad had brownies.  Very bitter and not as oozing as true American brownies, I'm afraid). 

The pudding came with a caramel sauce and ice cream.  Perfect texture.  Perfect ooziness.  (That a word?? Oh well.)

Overall, the meal was better than any I've had for a while.  It was also washed down the Sauvignon Blanc.  Another favourite of mine.  Despite it being French..... de-lish.

Meal for 2 = £54.  So that is 3 courses and half a bottle of wine for £27 each.  In all honesty..... great value.  I will, without a doubt, go back to Le Rendez-Vous for food again.

Can you recommend any restaurants in the area?  Go for it!!

Eating out is such a treat in England that I want to know where to go for a particularly good meal!