Café Rouge (London)

Advantages: Friendly, good menu choice, tasty food, reasonably priced
Disadvantages: Long wait to order

A rare evening without children in tow (we love them dearly), my boyfriend (grown-up manfriend really) and I had an evening to ourselves. On spec, we decided to go out to eat. We chose Cafe Rouge (Finchley Branch, Leisure Way, Finchley, London, N12 0QZ, Tel: 0208 446 4777). ****** Why did we choose Cafe Rouge, Finchley? ******* Well, because it is 3 minutes' walk from my significant other's abode, and neither of us would agree to driving!. ******* ...
..."Restaurant/Bar/Cafe" chain, owned by Tragus Holdings Ltd. Cafe Rouge has been in existence since 1999, and there are over 70 branches in the UK (several of these in London. You can find out more about Cafe Rouge on their website (http://www.caferouge.co.uk), but it doesn't seem to be the easiest of sites to navigate (tip: look at the options at the very bottom of the screen, and select "home" first). ******* OK, so, Cafe Rouge - Finchley Branch ... Read review

Advantages: Extensive menu, good wine list, pleasant atmosphere
Disadvantages: A chain

Cafe Rouge is a chain of bar/restaurants found throughout London. I have eaten in them on several occasions, one off of St Christopher's Place and another in the heart of Soho. The trouble with chains is that the quality varies from one restaurant to another, depending on the chefs. But with Cafe Rouge you can be pretty confident of getting a decent, reasonably priced meal in whatever branch you choose. It is not cheap but neither is it a rip-off. ...
...food can be classified as French, at least in style. There are simple meals for those who just want to snack alongside full meals. There is a choice of meats as well as vegetarian fare and, as you would expect with a French theme, the wine list is respectable enough. Service is generally friendly and efficient. You will not get the type of night out you would expect from a one-off restaurant but this is certainly one of the better chains around. ... Read review

Advantages: Great for kids and parents alike
Disadvantages: none

Being a couple who loved to go out to dinner me and my partner thought that we would have to cut back drastically when our daughter was born then we discovered the Cafe Rouge. Not only do they serve great food but they are very accomidating to children and even have little activity packs for your little ones containing masks,pictures to colour and crayons. They are very good value for money and the three of us have starter main and desert plus wine ...
...menu of which my little one finds the spagghetti pomodoro very tasty and the ice cream even more so. She also finds the balloon she recieves everytime amazing,i personally find the choc brownies with cream and ice cream irresistable. A very friendly atmosphere with plenty of other familys eating and drinking,excellent staff and service in all the different branches we've been to and although they are all over the place they all have their own personality ... Read review

Advantages: good food, good prices
Disadvantages: a bit arty--take themselves too seriously

I've been to Cafe Rouge quite a few times, both for a meal and for hot drinks only, and I have to say that every time has been enjoyable. The meals are different enough from other places that you feel you are in a unique restaurant, and the food is presented somewhat artistically so you feel you are not it a Little Chef, and yet the prices are very reasonable. The hot drinks are decent, but a bit on the pricey side. I would say Cafe Rouge is a good ... Read review

Advantages: Central location
Disadvantages: Indifferent food, indifferent staff

...Let's get one thing straight from the start. I am not a picky eater. I will quite happily (well, obliviously) consume half-stale toast for breakfast, or an indifferent cheese sandwich for lunch. So when I go to a restaurant, and notice the food ain't great, you know there is a problem. Café Rouge is currently part of the Whitbread leisure group, if that means anything to you. In other words, it's a chain restaurant. To tell the truth, I didn't realise this at first because the place bends over backwards to appear as if it is a stand-alone concern. I understand there are 16 or so Café Rouge branches in London, but only one in Edinburgh, and my impressions may not be an experience echoed elsewhere. My office used to be just around the corner from Café Rouge in Edinburgh, and visited on many separate occasions, usually... Read review

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Advantages: Vibrant cosmopolitan city. Lots of celebrities to see
Disadvantages: Expensive

..., helped make Hugh Grant on international star and was a smash hit around the world. The churches used included the chapel of the Royal Naval College in Greenwich, South East London and the couple enjoyed their "how many lovers" conversation in the Café Rouge restaurant on Wellington Street, London. Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins were the main stars in Howard's End and this greatly acclaimed adaptation of E.M. Forster's novel used a number of London locations such as the famous department store, Fortnum & Mason's, St. James's Court Hotel, Victoria Square, Admiralty Arch and St. Pancras Station. The 1998 movie, Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels and starring Jason Flemyng directed by Guy Ritchie and Dexter Fletcher was very much a London-based epic with locations such as Borough Market, Bethnal Green Town Hall and Staples Market, Camden... Read review

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Advantages: Surprisingly good food
Disadvantages: Chain restaurant syndrome

...and pushing the last vestiges of doubt to one side, we went in. I need not of worried for I found the whole dining experience to be most enjoyable. ~ L'Histoire ~ Café Rouge were first introduced in the UK in 1989 by the Whitbread Group. They were sold to Tragus Holdings in 2002. Tragus are based in London and are currently one of the largest independently owned restaurant chains in the country, serving over 10 millions meals a year. They have 155 sites throughout the UK with Café Rouge being the largest chain. Others in the Tragus portfolio include Bella Italia, Mamma Amalfi, Amalfi, Abbaye, Oriel and Leadenhall Wine Bars. There are over 80 Café Rouges throughout UK but only 1 in Scotland (Edinburgh). There are only about 15 in the North and the Midlands and the rest of them are in either London or the South. If you want to find... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful