2 The Light, The Headrow,
Leeds,
LS1 8TL
(0113) 2461620
The ViewLeeds Review
Cafe Rouge is a pleasant restaurant serving pleasant French food...sounds good. It’s just a shame that the view is a shopping centre.
The Venue
Nestled in the corner of the Light, next to Nandos and Starbucks, you could be forgiven for giving this a wide berth if you’re a little uncomfortable with brand overload. The cafe is thoughtfully decorated, with every detail catered for in an attempt to create a pleasant Parisian cafe feel. And it works, to a certain extent.
It does look nice, the stylish French mirrors and small bistro tables and chairs make it pretty. But the novelty is tainted somewhat by the fact that you are in a shopping and cinema complex and this unfortunately means that the terrace area becomes filled with the ubiquitous hordes of popcorn wielding, screeching kids.
The People
The staff are well dressed, French-style, of course, and are pleasant if not the most knowledgable. With the cinema in the same vicinity it’s inevitable that the place fills up with cinema goers. During the afternoon there are a few business lunches taking place but the majority of customers are families and kids parties grabbing a bite to eat after a Disney movie.
However, unlike Nandos next door, Cafe Rouge attracts slightly older and better behaved groups so this keeps disruptions at least to a bearable level. Weekends get busy and can be a bit unpleasantly loud in the terrace seating area.
The Food
There is a reason why chain restaurants are so successful. Cafe Rouge does serve good food, not great but it’s rare to leave disappointed. The croque monsieur here is delicious with creamy gruyere cheese (£6.95) but a little close to being overdone.
Main meals are quite pricey and the chef has recommended a wine to go with various dishes. Beef bourguignon (£12.50) with a glass of Cotes du Rhone AC (£3.95) will set you back £16.45. Those who want nice food without having to think about it are catered for here, which should appeal to families especially as they have a specific menu just for children.
Other signature dishes include moules, great with crusty French bread (£5.95). Or there's the typically French bistro steak frites (served with delicious thin, stringy French fries- £14.95) topped with peppercorn sauce (£1.95).
The tarte tatin (£4.95) is an excellent way to finish the meal, and the desserts are certainly worth leaving a space for (starting from £3.75 upwards). A good breakfast menu and set-menu ensures that Cafe Rouge covers all angles.
The Drink
A comprehensive drinks list is proof that it's OK to relax and have a coffee or a glass of wine, Parisian style. People-watching here might not be as interesting as in Paris but there is a scattering of broadsheets to keep you interested if you get bored.
A well-stocked, predominantly French wine list is available starting at £12.75 a bottle and a list of beers (Kronenbourg and Stella Artois £2.95 for a small bottle) and ciders (Cidre Breton is £3.25) add to the menu. Interesting soft drinks (Orangina £2) and a list of all the favourite hot drinks (hot chocolate £ 2.25) complete the drinks list.
The Last Word
A little taste of Parisian cafe life inside a shopping centre. Not the best Cafe Rouge you'll visit but the food is good as standard. Great for families before heading to the pictures.
Cafe Rouge has been reviewed by 1 users