Rainy mid week get together with my girlfriend Tanya took place at Le Grand Cirque. Entering is all a bit dramatic with a heavy, velvet curtain shrouding the dining room. You're taken behind the curtain and there it is...I guess it's meant to be the "ta dah" moment.
It's nice enough but I'm not sure if the black curtain helps as it raises the expectations and the dining room whilst pleasant enough is another dining room and I can't say it's super special. The plant pots at Gazi are probably more special than this space.
We were shown to our table for two - I felt like I was seated at a bar really as the table felt small but it was comfortable enough.
It took a while before we were given menus and for our order to be taken. We were meant to return the table after two hours and really this delay didn't help. I also have to concede that I was also 10 minutes late but anyway, we were never pressured to release the table and were in fact encouraged to linger over dessert.
It's nice enough but I'm not sure if the black curtain helps as it raises the expectations and the dining room whilst pleasant enough is another dining room and I can't say it's super special. The plant pots at Gazi are probably more special than this space.
We were shown to our table for two - I felt like I was seated at a bar really as the table felt small but it was comfortable enough.
It took a while before we were given menus and for our order to be taken. We were meant to return the table after two hours and really this delay didn't help. I also have to concede that I was also 10 minutes late but anyway, we were never pressured to release the table and were in fact encouraged to linger over dessert.
We started off with one of the dips and we chose the beetroot one which had some cumin flavours in it and was enjoyable with the crispy croutony toasts. We also enjoyed the ham and cheese croquettes that came on some cauliflower puree. The croquettes were piping hot, crunchy on the outside and gooey on the inside and yes, I would order these again. I think my favourite Melbourne croquettes is the cheese and jalopeno one at Huxtable but these were good too.
We shared the braised beef cheeks and also ordered side dishes of mashed potato and the peas and bacon. Very French bistro. The pot of beef cheek was certainly big enough for two especially with the two generous side dishes.The beef was tender and in the pot were mushrooms and carrots. Flavour wise, I felt it was still a little but sharp from the red wine and could do with a touch more seasoning. The liquid was still a little runny.
The side dishes were delicious though. Buttery, creamy mash and buttery peas with salty chunky bacon bits and sweet onion. I could have just eaten the side dishes!
I really liked the fact that we could share one main course and there's no judging by the wait staff that we're ordering too little. This makes it good value for money. I always envisaged this restaurant to be simple French bistro fayre and Manu was more the face of it and just helps with the promo side of things. And that's what it is. It's not cutting edge cuisine or twists on classics. It's pretty conservative but what I had was enjoyable enough.
Service throughout was attentive and friendly enough except for the initial long wait for menus.
For dessert, there's a trayful of petit fours that you can do a pick and mix with. We shared one just for a mouthful of sweetness as that mash had really filled us up. Great to leave on a sweet note though.
The side dishes were delicious though. Buttery, creamy mash and buttery peas with salty chunky bacon bits and sweet onion. I could have just eaten the side dishes!
I really liked the fact that we could share one main course and there's no judging by the wait staff that we're ordering too little. This makes it good value for money. I always envisaged this restaurant to be simple French bistro fayre and Manu was more the face of it and just helps with the promo side of things. And that's what it is. It's not cutting edge cuisine or twists on classics. It's pretty conservative but what I had was enjoyable enough.
Service throughout was attentive and friendly enough except for the initial long wait for menus.
For dessert, there's a trayful of petit fours that you can do a pick and mix with. We shared one just for a mouthful of sweetness as that mash had really filled us up. Great to leave on a sweet note though.
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