Cote Brasserie, Leeds

There are already Yorkshire branches of Cote Brasserie in Harrogate and York so it is no surprise to discover that the restaurant has recently opened in Leeds Trinity Centre.

The first floor of the centre where the new Cote Brasserie is situated has plenty of dining opportunities and with the cinema just by the side of the restaurant you could easily have a meal before visiting.

Usually you will find Cote Brasserie on the high street not in a shopping centre. The restaurant is so new that it is not even listed on the shopping centre or store guides.

The Leeds restaurant is a very large one. When we visited on a mid- week night the restaurant seemed to be very quiet. Something this particular Cote Brasserie has that others I have visited were lacking is ambiance.

Service was excellent: it was pleasing to be offered to sit on a table for four rather than not have much space on a table for two.

There is the normal a la carte menu but we went for the September Lunch and Early Evening Menu which is available everyday from 12 noon to 7pm. The menu is available too in other months although it will vary slightly.

With this menu you can have one main course and a drink for £10.95 or two courses for £10.95 whilst 3 courses cost £12.95.

The starters on the menu include such items as Tomato soup, Egg Benedict and Mousse de Canard.

I went for the Golden Beetroot which came with fraiche dressing and hazelnuts and pea shoots. This tangy starter seemed to be very popular. My partner chose the Mackerel Rillettes served with fine herbs, lemon and toasted sourdough.

Nicely presented, the smoked mackerel had that distinctive taste which you tend to get with mackerel.

For my main the Cote Burger (an 8oz burger) came in a brioche bun with tomato, baby gem lettuce, red onion, frites and cornichons. I would suggest that you add the bacon and Comte cheese as although the burger tasted exceptionally meaty, the addition of bacon and cheese made it even tastier.

My partner decided on the Chicken Breast which was served with roasted vegetables, thyme and a creamy whole grain mustard sauce. The general opinion was that the chicken had been cooked just right with it being a large helping.

Other dishes for mains include Plaice Fillet, Roast Seabass and Toulouse sausages.

I thought that my dessert of Crumble aux Peches was a good reason alone to visit the restaurant. Served warm, the peach compote with Normandy butter crumble and vanilla ice cream was a pure delight. It was so good I could easily have had another helping!

My partner decided upon the Seasonal fruit pavlova. The homemade meringues apparently made all the difference to the dessert. Served with peach, apple, raspberry and blackberry pavlova with Chantilly cream it soon disappeared from sight.

It had been a substantial meal and it felt like you had eaten by the time you had finished.

Great atmosphere, good service, delicious food and excellent value if you go for the lunch and early evening menu.

Cote Brasserie, 4.14 Trinity Leeds, Albion Street, Leeds, LS1 5AY
Telephone 0113 3223 177
www.cote-restaurants.co.uk