Name: cote-restaurants.co.uk
Telephone: 000000000
Rating: 2.3

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Wadsworth Guest

1 year ago

Poor Food Quality & Food Poisoning (Used to be great)

Like many of the other reviewers I too have been going to Côte for years. About 16 years. The service has always been impeccable and now in Bishop’s Stortford we’ve got to know several of the staff more personally too.However the past year or two, there has been a noticeable drop in food quality compared to a relatively static price point which has always been pricey. But very worth it historically in my honest opinion. Now, don’t get me wrong, I get everyone has been struggling (individuals and businesses) with the cost of living and inflation. So obviously something has to be sacrificed when procurement and transport of produce increases. Whether this can be resolved with changes in portion size or finding cheaper but inventive ways to make more affordable food feel worth the price, to ensure staff are paid well and Cote’s net profit doesn’t take a hit, is certainly a sensible thought. Now I’m no expert, but I think it’s worth a mention. The Green Man outside of Chelmsford has noticeably made cutbacks without changing its prices, but this kind of thinking still makes what you are eating feel very special there. Which is why it has remained one of our go-tos too. And in the end that is likely what most customers are paying for.Unfortunately the latter part of 2024 is where a drop in food quality, likely a supply chain change, has become very noticeable at Côte. With the price feeling exorbitant compared to the dish presented in front of you. Essentially the same thing as before, but less of it and it doesn’t taste half as good. It seems to be, IF there has been a change in management in recent years (I could be wrong just referencing a comment below and I’m being too lazy to Google) they have clearly rested on their laurels, and just left the menu to what everyone knows. At this point, a sorry flashback sparks into my mind and all I can hear are the grumpy, shouty words of Gordon Ramsey telling a failing US restaurant they are doing it all wrong and this is why they have no customers. Something to reflect on. Some examples of this: a full English breakfast that’s sitting in beige-y sauce and seen better days. Steak that’s proportionately more fat than protein. Bread that’s stale and cut so thin you think someone was doing their best to show off their ham cutting skills.So why am I moaning about this now? Well let me tell you. As I sit here on ‘the lav’ managing my latest spell of norovirus symptoms, this has reminded of a visit to you on the 1st August 2024. So to pass the time and distract myself from my current dilemma I thought to expand on the aforementioned.My wife and I visited for her birthday and ordered the exact same thing. I believe a French breakfast, expect one little detail which I persisted with out of duty and something she’d rather swap out for a wedgie.The boudin noir! (“What’s that?” Some dear reader may be asking. It’s a sausage 🌭 made with blood🩸)Now, I’ve always been partial to a bit of black pudding, and in this case, it’s French cousin from across the pond. But after eating said meal, and not getting round to eating much else in the subsequent few hours. I was rewarded with a vomiting spell 🤢 proceeded by a very violent answer from the other end for several hours 💩. After discussing with a GP, classic food poisoning. Having said all that, this may have deterred me from ever eating anything mixed with blood again (probably a good idea let’s face it), but I still went to Côte a month later. I was once again disappointed, thankfully by not food poisoning, but by a paltry meat cuts platter with a fancy, yet moldy carrot.So I don’t know. I’d be silly to say “I’d never go to Côte again! ✊ Kaa-plaaa!” But a bit like a good relationship that has soured, I may try it again in the future. But certainly no time soon. When there’s a Franco Manca next door, where for a third of the price, your kids eat for free and the pizza has maintained its standard, that feels like a treat that Côte currently can’t keep pace with. And if I fancy some more elaborate French cuisine, for £20 I can use an online butchers and buy several steaks and make my own sides and peppercorn sauce at home and know it’ll be a lot better. Plus with a lot of leftovers. But it’s sad. Because like many I don’t mind now and the paying more to avoid all that logistics as long, as relative to the price, it feels ‘special’!So, Dear Côte. Take the above as constructive criticism. There’s a reason I’m saying it because many others are likely thinking it and potentially not returning to your doors. And please above all else, don’t send me a “here’s an inbox address we get the interns to check now again for feedback”. I’ve said what I need to already 😬

Date of experience: Aug 01, 2024

Iona Guest

4 years ago

Cote Very Good Which Ever One You Go To !

Cote is by far the best chain / restaurant.We have visited both our local one in Shrewsbury, along with the new one in Lewes, and have been to quite a few others in the past.The service is always very good, the restaurants always have a nice look to them, they are not full of kids and just have a nice feel to them.The food is very nice with a great choice unlike a lot of places today, well done !