Restaurant Review - Brasserie Blanc

With under two weeks till MiniF2's due date, I was starting to look somewhat whale-like; with a bowling ball for a belly and a considerable waddle, MrF and I decided to have a final night off before our lives are turned upside down all over again. Having visited Brasserie Blanc recently for an 'off duty' (read as not reviewing) lunch and being very impressed, we decided on a return visit - this time with my reviewing head firmly on.

So grandparents babysitting and table reserved for 7.30, we were out the house as quick as our little legs could carry us... clearly a night off had been long overdue! A quick drink in The Jericho Tavern and we were ready for a lovely dinner.

The first thing that's noticeable about Brasserie Blanc is the service - the front of house staff are impeccably well trained, with an air of elegant ease about them. The décor is understated and tasteful, with well-worn candles draped in skirts of wax, black and white pictures of Monsieur Blanc in the kitchen, cool cream walls, dark wooden tables, low lighting and white linens.

With the front half of the restaurant already full (by 7.30 - very impressive!), we made our way to the rear of the building, with the kitchen in sight; comfortable settled and drinks ordered we spent a good ten minutes debating how many courses to attempt - I'm pleased to say the final agreement three. Welllllllll, it may be a while till we get to splurge!

MrF's selection was Chicken Liver Parfait (from the specials), Rack of English Lamb with Lemon and Herb Puy Lentils (£18.90), followed by ice cream (£1.50 per scoop); I decided on Burgundian Snails in Garlic Herb Butter (£7.80 - a big favourite of mine), followed by Confit Duck (also from the specials), then the Cherry Almond Tart served with Crème Anglaise, Toasted Pistachios and Almonds (£6.65).

Chicken Liver Parfait with Toasted Baguette and Chutney

Burgundian Snails in Garlic Herb Butter

The Chicken Liver Parfait looked beautiful - smooth and silky, a tempting reminder of what I would joyfully be allowed to eat again in a matter of weeks; MrF assures me it was good, and with the speed it was consumed I would certainly assume so. The Snails were delightful, if a little too hot to eat for some time; I was possibly just starting my dish as MrF was finishing his! Initial heat aside, the delicious garlic and herb butter made for a wonderful rich accompaniment to the earthy snails and crisp baguette - I could have easily eaten twice the amount and not lost interest.

Rack of English Lamb with Lemon and Herb Puy Lentils

Confit Duck with Potato Cake, Vegetables and Cherries

Moving onto our mains, the lamb looked absolutely stunning - blushing pink and cooked just perfectly, served up on a tantalisingly soft mash and juicy lentil broth, MrF was a happy boy. As for me, I was blissfully tucking into my moist confit duck which was almost falling off the bone; the potato cake was a buttery-soft, delicious treat; the plump cherries an enjoyable addition; the vegetables a touch beyond al dente; all tied together by a delicate buttery jus.... Beautiful.

Cherry Almond Tart served with Crème Anglaise, Toasted Pistachios and Almonds
Excuse the picture, the lighting was somewhat low by this point!

With a little room still left, I tucked in happily to my Cherry and Almond tart, while MrF, being completely predictable, dug into his ice cream. Both enjoyable, well-prepared, high quality desserts, without evoking exaggerated feelings of delight. To a large degree, this sums up our meal well; you can tell all the ingredients are of high quality, the food is prepared to an exacting standard, the food tastes great, the service is beyond reproach, all in all a highly professional restaurant. However, there was no singular dish that left me reeling with desire to eat it immediately again, or gush about it to friends and family.

Don't underestimate the importance of substance over style though - and substance is something which Brasserie Blanc has aplenty, with care and consideration apparent throughout. I can see this becoming a regular 'date venue' for MrF and I...

Overall Score: 8.5/10 

Brasserie Blanc
71- 72 Walton Street
Oxford
OX2 6AG
Twitter: @brasserieblanc
Facebook: @Brasserie-Blanc-Oxford
Website: www.brasserieblanc.com/french-restaurant/locations/oxford.php
Phone: 01865 510 999