L'Eglise Restaurant Francais

After the snows earlier in the week the restaurant is piping hot, for arrivals off the sidewalk. A welcome greeting, our coats are taken and we head inside the neatly laid out space. Typically French in style with globe lighting, brown leather banquette to the right, round-back chairs and wood tables trimmed in metal. Photos and mirrors adorn the walls and for midweek there is a gentle hubbub of activity as the evening progresses.

 

Not my first trip, after an alcoholic Sunday lunch sampling the big special, the ‘Cote be Boeuf’ (£44 for 2), then party mood for 7 on New Years Eve, neither a fair test of true character, but enough to confirm that it works well with attentive and charming staff.

 

Way out west beyond the big ‘Tesco’ it’s situated on the south side of the street just beyond Hove Library, another world for folk from Kemp Town but a worthy of a trip.

 

We kick off with a couple of straight tonics (as someone is driving), the menu, a specials sheet, wine list, and Tapenade to enliven the taste buds. There’s a ‘plat du jour’, so Wednesday is Cassoulet, that’s a must to try then. Whilst making up our minds the saucer is replaced by the indomitable fresh French bread and butter.

 

8 Hors d’Oeuvres range in price from £5.75 for a wonderful ‘smooth Duck liver and Madeira pate’, my choice for the evening, upwards to £7.50 for a selection of French cured meats, topped out by the Steak Tartare at £8.50. Sir sampled a delicate ‘Tartiflette’, a cheese, potato and bacon gratin, apparently a dish reminiscent from apres ski ?

 

8 Entrees, a couple of specials, with ’Poisson ‘ or ‘Plat’ du Jour provides plenty of choice. My classic ‘Cassoulet Toulousain’ at £14.95 with pork, duck and Toulouse sausage was excellent. Sir stuck with a favourite ‘Confit de Canard’ £13.95 and totally cleared the plate. Other dishes ranged from £10.75 for ‘Polenta Provencale’ to the ‘Coq au Vin’ at £13.95.

 

Tap water arrived in a chilled bottle with a corona style top, and we chose a very reasonable bottle of ‘house’ red, £13.95 for the ‘L’eglise cuvee de Patron’. 9 other whites from £14.60 to £37.75, (four under £20); the reds rise from £15.75 to £40.45.

 

For dessert, I tried the special, £5.75 for a ‘Souffle glace au Pavot’, A tower of whipped ice cream with poppy seed top and fruit coulis. Sir stuck with his favourite, a dinky Crème Brulee £4.95, that’s dinky when compared with others in town; but no less tasty. Prices range from £4.50 for ‘Iles flottant’ to £6.50 for a TarteTatin.

 

In addition to the wines there are listings for Liqueurs, Eau de Vie, Digestifs, Premium D’s and Cognacs. Something to accompany your coffee, rounding off a thoroughly entertaining evening. Background music did not intrude, the other 5 tables were evenly spread around the space available and the bill for 2 with wine and tonics ran out 5p short of £70.