B’Est French restaurant has only been opened since 2005 but has the feel of having been there forever. It is full of higgledy piggledy charm with eclectic evocations of France throughout. I have lunched there on several occasions over the years and have always found the food to be of a high standard, of excellent value and served with politeness.
This visit was a pre- Christmas get together of a party of three and once again I can happily report that there was no Festive hike in the set lunch menu price of £7.50 for 2 courses and £8.90 for 3 courses.
While perusing the menu, we were served with an ample plate of crunchy, toasted garlic bread. This was a pre-festive treat so a glass of moderately priced house wine each was in order along with my usual tap water. This takes the final bill beyond the £10, but the food bill is what is important here and that stays within my limit, with even the coffee making it just slightly over £10.
Pea and ham soup was the choice of A. who was impressed at the chopped parsley garnish. The plate was hot and full of this warming green starter that went down well with that garlic bread. K. chose the mozzarella stuffed char grilled aubergine that was beautifully sliced and rolled to hold the succulent cheese inside. It was served with a cherry tomato chutney that seemed to compliment the dish both visually and in terms of taste. It was hard to resist the mixed seafood gratin that came served in a scallop. The fish pieces were chunky and the creamy sauce just the right texture. It was an unusual and satisfying wee dish.
For mains, A. chose the cod. The generous and tender portion arrived on a bed of olive mash with nicely steamed green beans and carrots and a light and flavoursome garlic sauce. K’s choice of grilled chicken breast cut butterfly style came with finely shredded lettuce and roast tatties and a ratatouille of courgette and pepper, that pleasantly looked more like glazed and roasted vegetables than the potage that ratatouille can be.
For me, a good home-made ravioli is a real treat and my dish comprised five generous pasta cushions stuffed with Ricotta cheese. They sat on a butternut squash and sweet potato purée that was soft succulent and delicious and an interesting change from a sauce. All the dishes were artfully and attractively presented and thoroughly enjoyed by my wee party.
The desserts menu was nicely varied and we respectively went for vanilla crème brulée, the warm dark rich chocolate cake with ice cream and chocolate crêpe with ice cream. What can I say except they were exactly what they said they were and more. Plates were cleared and lips smacked all round! Coffees finished off this thoroughly gratifying lunch.