Cheltenham's poshest restaurant? (Brasserie Blanc (Cheltenham))

Member Name: luke1081

Product:	Brasserie Blanc (Cheltenham)
Date:	08/01/09 (134 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great food with some class

Disadvantages: A blit clinical looking

They don't get much classier than this. Brasserie Blanc, or Le Petit Blanc as it is better known (that was its former name), forms part of The Queen's Hotel, one of the grandest and most expensive hotels in Cheltenham.

Located on the ground floor, to the right of the hotel lobby, the restaurant serves the best in finest French cuisine. It is one of Raymond Blanc's restaurants - a renowned French chef who has business interests throughout the world.

The restaurant itself is posh and attracts a high class of clinetele -businessmen and women, as well as high-flying suited and booted individuals. They will raise an eyebrow if you try and wear jeans and trainers in, though they are not expressly banned as such. The bar area is clean, swish and shiny - modern and efficient, with a heart mix of ales and wines, at a premium. Make no mistake. this ia a wine bar really, where ordering a pint of Fosters will make you look common! There are leather sofas throughout, though most people prefer to stand by the bar looking dapper, as if they had just come from a day at the races.

The restaurant area is also posh but extremely bland, small and lacking in any realy character. Quite disappointing. I was surprised considering the reputation (not to mention the cost) of eating out here. The bistro area resembles more of a waiting room than anything else with perfectly square-on tables and chairs, equidistant to each other, looking more like a railway carriage than anything else. There is not much to look at around the restaurant but, for the most part, it is couples eating here - so you would hope they were looking at each other!

Waiters and waitresses are friendly; many of them foreign. They are efficient and highly-trained the dinner service. The food itself is as you would expect from any French restaurant - expensive with some ridiculously small portions. Do be aware of the price though and maybe avoid some of the dearer starters. A small bottle of water cost me £3.

All in all, a must-see for all Cheltonians, but there are nicer restaurants out there with more character and atmosphere. It just felt a little clinicial and white-washed for my liking.

Summary: An expensive treat