Cote (Kensington)

The family went for a celebratory supper there recently, and it worked out very well. Everyone enjoyed what they chose, the atmosphere was buzzy without being oppressive and the service coped pretty efficiently with a full restaurant.

The price is what you have to pay these days in Kensington for a mid-range restaurant, so overall, I would recommend it - I have eaten breakfast, lunch and supper there, and this branch, at least, hasn't let me down yet.
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James - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, December 16, 2011

I went to the branch in Chiswick and was very impressed so decided to try the Kensington branch and hoped it would be as good if not better.

No complaints at all, it offered excellent tasty food with truly exceptional service from the staff, you actually forget you are in a reasonably priced small chain restaurant as the food and service are so good.

Can't recommend the Cote restaurants more highly, give them a go you won't regret it.
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, December 21, 2010

A welcome addition to the neighbourhood. Food is fabulous and the service is wonderful. Our new favourite spot.
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, December 08, 2010

The best fillet steak I have ever tasted in Britain, incredibly tender, terrifically savoury, cooked perfectly - off the charts wonderful. I had read here on London Eating people had enjoyed the steak at Cote, normally I would have something more elaborate in a restaurant, something I woudn't easily be able to cook at home, but I thought I'd give the steak a whirl, and it was fab. Started with the moules which were great, but had to flag down a passing waiter for some bread as our waitress had seemed to have disappeared without bringing it to us. Apart from that slight glitch in the service it was great, cheerful and prompt. Fantastic value and set in a cute coartyard off High Street Kensington, with a menu where everything sounds tempting, we are looking forward to our next visit!
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Kik
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, August 24, 2010

A friend and I booked a table for another friends birthday for 6.30 (on a monday) and arrived early, at 6.15. we were seated immediately and the restaurant was fairly quiet, with only the outside tables full as it was a very warm day.

we were greeted warmly and ordered quickly. we ordered bread and calamari to share to start, and then 3 set menus of steak frites and 2 creme caramel and 1 chocolate pot. our starters came very quickly, maybe 5-10 minutes later, and they were delicious.

our mains then came after a short wait and the steak was amazing - very soft and served pink. the chips were crispy and a lovely flavour.

when we ordered dessert, the restaurant was getting much busier but our service was still fast. the desserts were also lovely and the perfect amount to finish the meal.

the complimentary water provided on the table was also much appreciated as we were all thirsty from the heat and they were regularly replaced!

service was excellent throughout, all the staff were very friendly and attentive without being overbearing. the bill for 3 (albeit without any drinks apart from the water) came to £48. we were all very impressed and will definitely be revisiting.
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9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Monday, June 28, 2010

Since my last review, I have been as good as my word and had breakfast here twice, most recently yesterday.

It is relatively inexpensive and quite delicious; had the weather been warmer, we could easily have eaten outside, but the interior is perfectly nice and the staff are charming and efficient.

My only criticism is that they had no orange marmalade yesterday, only apricot. The chain may have a french name, but this is England - what do they think they are doing?
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James - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, May 28, 2010

I had never been to this restaurant or any other from the chain before a lunch for five of us on Friday.

We had a very nice meal in a well located restaurant (pedestrianised outside) at a price that did not break my host's bank. The set lunch was excellent value, the water was provided free (although in irritatingly small, heavy earthenware pots, so that you never knew if one was empty by looking or holding) and the a la carte steak that I had was delicious and cooked as requested, with high quality chips.

My only criticism is that the most of the staff on duty that day had a relatively poor command of English, but they were pleasant and helpful.

I am told that the restaurant serves the best breakfast in town, so I have planned a visit during April, with luck when the sun is shining and we can eat it at a table outside, undisturbed by traffic.
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James - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Not bad at all, certainly better than the dear-god-can-you-believe-this-awfulness Bellinis which used to be on this site. What they do best: steak frites (Chez Gerard, come here and see how it is done). The free-range roast chicken is good, although not quite up to Cafe Anglais standards. The fish pasta. The pissaladiere.

Yes there is a bit of annoying up-selling ('bread and olives sir??') but really you can't complain when you can get away with lunch for two, in W8, with a bottle of wine, for £35. And they give you tap water without asking. What more could you want?
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mike
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, July 22, 2009

we went to Cote Kensington yesterday afternoon, what a disappointment! We were really looking forward to the great food, but we didn't even have chance to try it, and we left! - we went to the next door italian instead.. the reason is very simple - we didn't get any service at All!

When we arrived the restaurant, there is one table avaliable outside, but DIRTY. we sat down, and wait, nobody show up.. so after a few minutes, I went to the bar, (just in case no one saw us sit down) the male at bar said to me 'yes, you are free to sit anywhere"ok.. I sat back to the table, no follow up, no menu at all.. after another few minutes, I have to go back inside again, this time, I asked for the menu. the male is chatting to someone, and laughing without even trying to get me a menu, and the waitress said to me that she will bring the menu to the table. she left menu with us on the dirty table. Again, we wait and wait after we study the menu, NO one show up... We have to return the menu and left!

totally disappointed....
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Moogly - View all reviews by this user
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, June 01, 2009

Went for lunch on a bank holiday monday.

The menu is interesting,but I couldn't help feeling a lot was of the re-heat or microwave variety,like cassoulet or lamb shank-these require lots of prep time and the empty restaurant did not inspire one to believe that these were carefully simmering for the requisite hours.There are lots of extra charges to drive the bill up,such as bread;olives;etc.,and you are relentlessly subjected to "sell-up" -"what no bread?" "what no vegetables?"by the waitress.As the dishes come with vegetables ,why would you order even more?The wine is poorly chosen and served-the French reds that should have been served "frais" were warm,and needed an ice bucket to get them down to the right temperature.The food is a mixed bag.My cod goujons were inedible and tasted rancid(old oil?) the fries were awful too-sent back the lot.The cassoulet was watery and had the wrong beans and no meat was easily found-a terrible sin against that proud dish of south west France.The steak was just a grilled steak and not really worth the price.People around us seemed to order the cheap fixed price menu,and if you stick to that and order nothing else,you will eat something warm ,indistinguishable and inexpensive.If you order a la carte ,you will get something warm,indistinguishable or even off,but at greater expense.

French people should storm this place and burn it down as it is an effrontery to France.
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C.Elder
3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, May 05, 2009