The authentic Dunstable french taste (Cafe Rouge)

Member Name: jamescridland

Product:	Cafe Rouge
Date:	20/04/01 (122 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Um.

Disadvantages: Bad service, uncomfortable surroundings, expensive food

Yup, that's where their head office is - sunny Dunstable, just off the M1. It's owned by Whitbread, who also own Beefeater, Bella Pasta, Pizza Hut, and Costa.

Now, even if I didn't know that, I'd think there was something afoot. I've been in a few Café Rouge places, and not really thought much of it.

I went into the local one here in North London, and I've also been to one in Sheffield a few times. And, well, it's authentic enough. The waiters are as surly and as non-helpful as Parisian restauranteurs, and the prices certainly are on a par with Paris. Ah, let's spend over £6 on what is actually just a cheesey toasted ham sandwich, shall we? Yup, that makes perfect sense. Or not.

Cafe Rouge's style is like that of a stereotypical Parisian bar - which, to me at least, seems cold. Bare wooden floors, uncomfortable chairs, rather odd piped music, and the one in North London seemed to have an irritating flashing light right next to our table, which told the waitress or waiter that some food was congealing in the food lift, so please take it to the table. Annoying? I should co-co. Not only that, it could easily trigger a fit in people with epilepsy.

The thing I like about our local italian eatery is that we can order in italian. If you speak French, don't even try it in a Café Rouge. Authentic they might be, but you'll just get a "huh?" from the staff. If, that is, you can get their attention.

We found it difficult to get served, impossible to ask for extra drinks, and I had to stand up and accost a waitress for our bill after all efforts at staring at her, waving, making little "pen and paper" signs, putting our coats on, etc, failed.

Still, we might have got a bad few. If you want the local Café Rouge to you, www.caferouge.co.uk has all the details. But I wouldn't hurry.

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