June's review of Cote Tavistock Street

Twas a snowy night in Covent Garden but on walking into COTE could have been like walking into the (not so) little neighbourhood Parisian bistro. Well, actually the welcome was warmer than I had anticipated when I chose one of the Plats du Jour: in consisitency/content the Breton fish stew was excellent but was it overspiced? I did not know that there was, somewherer on the Breton coastline, a village of Indian fishermens' grannies who have, over the centuries, been producing a local delicacy of fish curry stew, but, apparently, there is. The overpowering taste of spice completely killed any, but any, taste of fish. Anyway, it was very cold outside so maybe this recipe is only brought out if the temerature is below freezing.

That said, the rillette was quite excellent, succulant and tasty, and the the anchovy pissaladerie was as good as I have had in London. Even the fougasse was light and moist., with a dusting of fresh herbs. The mid range end of the wine list produced a decent merlot

Service, pleasant and attentive, save for a little local excentricity of trying to serve a gin with soda rather than tonic (perhaps those world trotting grannies again had now moved to the bar?)

However, all in all, this first meal here for three of us was a success, and we all will return. This restaurant moves above the usual Covent Garden tourist tat with an interesting menu and decent ambience. A find.