Cafe Rouge – Birmingham Mailbox

It’s one of any number in the city/​country, café rouge is one massive chain after all, but it’s nice being able to look out over the canal, either from inside or outside.
Food is what you would expect, accessible French made to please the widest possible tastes and does a pretty decent job of that and is perfectly tasty (the duck croquettes were a good starter, with a surprisingly generous amount of duck in them) .
Key here is to get hold one of their endless deals, regularly 30% off food which really does make it something of a bargain!

As others have said, you know what you’re going to get with Café Rouge. It’s inoffensive, safe and crowd pleasing and these are not bad things if you are in a rush, don’t know the area or are with family perhaps. Saying that, I don’t know how great it is for veggies– there’s not a huge amount on the main menu. Gluten free options were clearly labelled though.
My Mum got me a gift card for Christmas and I’d had a code for 30% off so it seemed like a good opportunity to get some dinner in miserable January. Edd and I had booked a table but it wasn’t necessary as the Mailbox site is so big. We spotted that they sell apéritif cocktails so we both had a French 85– gin, sparkling wine and lemon juice. The waitress had no idea what this was and it took a while to get to us. This was in no way her fault, it just highlights the lack of training. When our drinks arrived they were pleasant enough (and only £5 each) but lacked the refinement you would get in a quality independent restaurant.
Will probably stick to glasses of champagne next time!
Anyway, you aren’t at Café Rouge for cocktails. I had king prawns to start. I think they have updated the recipe since last time because they were much better. I had about five or six king prawns, heads removed but shells on. They were piping hot and served in a white wine, garlic and chilli sauce. The chilli heat could have been stronger, but I could definitely taste it. It came with a good amount of bread for dunking too. Loved this!
For my main I had the demi poulet. I always have this or the duck at Café Rouge as I know I’ll always be happy. Half a roast chicken with crispy skin and a herby garlic butter, served with frites and (randomly) a little pot of gravy. The gravy was nice to dip my chips into but I didn’t think it went well with the herby chicken.
Although our waitress was lacking drinks knowledge (I’ll say it again, not her fault) she was super helpful throughout, bringing me extra napkins with my prawns and offering suggestions for the rest of our evening.

I have never actually eaten at a Café Rouge before! I always hear good things from friends and family so today I decided it was time to do it.
A friend and I popped in for lunch earlier today as we had a voucher sent to us for a cheeky 40% discount on main meals. Having a look over the menu I quickly picked out the goats cheese and beetroot salad while my vegetarian friend went for the camembert baguette served with fries. She did mention that there was a slight lack of vegetarian options on the menu so this could be a bad restaurant choice for those avoiding meat. The food we had came quickly and was very nicely presented. Everything tasted great and our waiter was accommodating and chatty.
When we got the bill our discount had not been taken off, we questioned the total and it was quickly adjusted. At a little under £10 each for lunch with a drink … how can you complain at that. I don’t think I will be rushing back here without a discount code or voucher, but overall a good lunch.

It’s another cookie cutter venue that offers a french menu. You know what you’re going to get when you go to a Café Rouge, and this venue is no exception.
I went along to see the refurbished venue, and I think it was about time that it had a spruce up.
I would say that Café Rouge don’t do well for dietary requirements. There is some effort to offer something, but the menu isn’t designed in such a way that makes a choice easy for a gluten free, or dairy free diet without the help of a server running back and forth to the kitchen.
As with all chain restaurants, I use them in emergencies when I need a crowd pleaser.

There is no surprise at café rouge. This is a chain restaurant so you know what to expect: everyday French style dishes at a reasonable price. Nothing gastronomic but it will feed you at a reasonable price.
The duck confit and loup de Mer were actually quite good.
A sure bet when you are hungry and want something with a French flair and you don’t want to break the bank.

Me and a friend of mine decided to go to Café Rouge since I had got a voucher through from Tesco. The décor and ambience I think is very quaint and contemporary, really makes you feel like you’re in a continental environment. Plus, the restuarant is in the busy Mailbox area and this only adds to the feel of the place.
The service from start to finish was faultless, it was very attentive and I really felt like I was cared for as a customer. I had a steak which was cooked nicely, cannot fault the food. We shared some ‘PAIN À L’AIL À PARTAGE’ which I would highly recommend as it was both nice and perfect for sharing.
I think the prices are fairly reasonable for what you get too, so no complaints there. We tipped £5 between us as we thought it was a very nice experience. Highly recommended!

Friendly service, food is well presented, freshly cooked and tasty, but the chicken supreme meant we all had to wait longer than normal. The food is quite pricey, and please remember that the service charge is optional.

Although I’m not fond of the food, this particular Café Roge restaurant is at a great location. Sitting above the canals, at the Mailbox, it gives customers a generous view of Birmingham’s canal side.
A little on the pricey side, but it does some tasty desserts and the breakfast menu isn’t too bad.