Bistro Lotte

Fantastic! A quaint bistro that's worth the walk just out of the centre. Lovely atmosphere with an extremely quaffable house wine. The buckwheat pancakes are delicious and cater for the many of us with a gluten or wheat intolerance. Fabulous specials board and service with a smile. What more could you ask for?

It was He Who Must Be Obeyed's birthday, a large one that I won't mention, and we had booked a table here for some food that evening. We had looked at it previously but had been unable to get there. If there is any downside to Bistro Lotte, it would be parking. Make sure you can find somewhere close to park, there are other car parks within walking distance but some are up and down, which could be a concern. Once in, we were seated quickly, and left to peruse the menu. There was a good range of veggie options, and gluten free if that is your thing. They also had a specials board - that sold out during our evening. I started with a mocktail - can't remember what went in to it - apart from agave syrup - but it was refreshing and delightful. The Mr opted for a Martini, again made very well and no complaints from us! Starters arrived and we had opted for the double cooked cheese soufflé and the baked camembert. Both of which were lovely. For main I chose the buckwheat gallete and the Mr opted for mussels in lemongrass, chilli, ginger & coriander. My main was piping hot and covered in cheese. I have to admit that it was amazing, but I couldn't finish it. It was full of onions, mushrooms and spinach, and was a little larger than I thought it would be. I felt guilty for sending some back - but it was a little too much for me. The Mr, on the other hand, worked his way through the mussels as if there was no tomorrow! His only complaint was that there was no spoon to sup up the juices... takes all sorts. Dessert was a simple affair of apple and caramel crepes, with vanilla ice cream, and I had a creme brulé. Both of which were sweet, creamy and the perfect end to a meal. We also grabbed a bottle of wine, during the meal, which was finished at home. Overall it was a fantastic experience. It's not the largest looking venue, but they seemed to keep bringing in people and finding space for them. The food was superb. The atmosphere was buzzing - something we've missed over the last couple of years. If you're in the area looking for delicious food, and can get a table, I wholeheartedly recommend this gem of a restaurant.