Cote Opiniones 

We went to Cote in Woking, following a Saturday Matinee at the Theatre as a party of 6. Firstly the once, great French inspired menu has dwindled to a very generic one page menu. If the 'less is more theory' is to work then the quality has to be up there. Sadly, the consistent quality of Cote has disappeared. We were charged a small fortune for the Fillet steak (£40) which were all served with wilted/limp greens on the side, looked to be plated by a toddler and the waiting staff had no idea which steaks were rare or medium. The sides were worse. The food and service are now a distant shadow of its former qualities. We won't be returning, such a shame... another one bites the dust.

I have eaten at Cote Brasserie many times over the years. Also introduced some friends. Very disappointed experience at the one in Welwyn Garden City. Complete menú change. Many of my favourites are removed from the minimal menu, including salmon croquettes, roast potatoes. All their cocktails were fizzy. All quite boring. Ordered a second glass of wine but it didn’t arrive so requested it be removed from the bill. I wouldn’t go back there again.

It’s actually a nice restaurant, the team is quick, friendly, and helpful, except for one person. I didn’t catch his name, unfortunately, but there was an older man with grey hair whose service was below standard:
- When we ordered our first drink, I told him that the sparkling water was not meant to replace the regular bottle of still water given to all tables, and that I’d like that as well, but he forgot to bring it.
- I told him that my nephew doesn’t speak English, yet he kept talking to him in English and even joked that he could ask whatever he wanted since my nephew wouldn’t understand. I found this rather rude.
- I asked him for the dessert menu, which he also forgot; luckily, one of the women serving nearby asked if we wanted it.
- Later, the man came back and asked whether he had brought the menu, but by then, we had already finished dessert.
- Overall, his behaviour was rather arrogant and unfriendly.

So while the restaurant itself is lovely, and I’d happily return with friends, I’d prefer not to be served by him again.

Awful lunch for four at the Sloane Square Cote yesterday. (Cote recently taken over by the Karali Group we learn). The service was appalling - every time we needed anything (e.g. ordering, drinks etc.) we had to wave for a server - none came to check if we needed anything and then at the end our coffee was sitting on the bar getting cold for a good ten minutes while two servers chatted to each other near the till. Again, I had to get their attention. Apart from the service being awful (and unfriendly), the food has gone right off - very average - soggy chips especially. They are very busy in that branch, mostly with tourists and obviously don't care about local people. I thought something was different about the whole place, and now see that it has been taken over by the Karali Group. Also I see they have received many bad reviews recently which just get generic meaningless replies. Will not be returning to Cote again - sad because it used to be quite reliable.

I ate at Cote York earlier this week. Having eaten happily at Cote over many years, the latest experience was disappointing. They seem to be trying to make it work by cutting corners and slashing the menu, while charging unrealistically high prices for a substandard offering. Specific problems were: vegetable tarte tatin lukewarm; nonsensical menu apparently offering complimentary frites with mains but the staff claiming only if you order a dish already coming with frites; and a side order of peppercorn sauce arriving when the steak was almost finished, subsequently removed from the bill.

October 2025 Winchester.
I never thought I'd leave a bad review for Côte as I've been using their restaurants for fourteen years, including their home-delivery service during lockdown. However it's all changed.
They advertise Frites outside the front door of the restaurant in huge letter but they don't serve them. They no longer serve those lovely thin, crisp French fries they're so famous for. It's now false advertising. They're just serving boring chips, not French and not nice at all. We left most of them, a thing unknown when they served their real French fries.
All the usual well-known signature dishes are gone. Why?? It's what Côte was known for and what people mainly ordered. What was wrong with Poulet Grillē, except that it was popular? Who's arrogance was it to change everything and think they know better? Obviously it's someone who's never experienced the successful and loved days of the original Côte.
We've no idea why anyone would pay millions of pounds to buy a strong brand and then change it all, as obviously it's strong because people like it. They're shooting themselves in the proverbial foot. It makes no business sense.
Staff are lovely but suffering under all the complaints and trying to make lame excuses for the changes. They seem to be disengaged and I'm not surprised. We waited ages for our main course. I eventually got up to ask where it was. To be honest it was so cold in there we'd got to the point where we wanted to go and get into the warmth of the car. When I pointed out we hadn't got our food they blamed the chef and said he didn't tell them he'd had to cook it again due to an error. It's a sign of decline when they blame each other. No, the serving staff were at fault, not the chef. They should have noticed we hadn't got our food and checked as to what was going on but no one even looked at us.
Many branches are closing but I think the whole chain will go down if this continues and the menu doesn't return to what paying customers want. The change of ownership is slaughtering the brand and the years of work behind its original success. Many people were complaining about the menu, not just us. They won't be returning.
We're not returning either, until 'Côte' becomes Côte again. It shouldn't be allowed to keep the name as it's misrepresentation.

I used to be a regular customer at Côte and used to eat there several times a month. It was my firm favourite for family get-togethers, birthdays and anniversaries, and I even continued to support them with ordering 'Côte at Home' during the pandemic. Then, they went on to close both our nearest branches in Highgate and Hampstead (despite the Hampstead branch always being busy and buzzing - bad choice in my opinion).

Given the new menu and their recent rebrand and push of their 'Icons' offer on social, I went into their London Bridge branch yesterday for old times' sake (as this was one of my favourite branches along with St Martin's Lane due to the river views). I really regret that decision.

As I came in, no one was there to greet me. After waiting and looking around, someone came from behind the bar and when I asked to be seated upstairs (for the nice river views) told me upstairs was closed, when very obviously it wasn't, as people were sitting there dining.

He then took me to a table at the far end of the downstairs bit, which looked rather dull, dark and depressing. Not the usual Côte atmosphere I was so fond of.

Then a very friendly and nice waiter came along with the menu. The menu was entirely overhauled with some of my favourites having been scrapped (such as Poulet Grille). The waiter told me 'Children eat free'. That was all he said on the matter, no further explanation.

When I asked about the Icons menu where one of their Icons is offered for 10 pounds, the guy from the bar came over to tell me this was two month ago and no longer the case. They made such a big deal out of it on Social Media just to keep it for less than two months? I checked and it was launched 1st September.

Anyways, since I couldn't find my favourite dish on the menu, and have previously had issues with my steak either not being well-done or rather dry and overcooked, I decided to steer clear of those and ordered what I knew: a French Onion Soup and a side of Gratin Dauphinois.

For my child (who allegedly was eating for free as it stood) I ordered a mash and some cucumber and carrot sticks as a starter, and the Pasta with tomato sauce, peas and carrots.

The mash was great and my daughter ate it all up. She also had a nibble at the cucumber sticks, but the pasta dish looked so unappealing she didn't even touch it.

My food was ok, but not to the usual high standard. The gratin arrived not looking quite set (the potatoes looked like they were swimming in the cream sauce, and it tasted far too garlicky).

When I asked for Coke, they only had Pepsi, which really isn't the same.

At the end, when I asked for the bill, the waiter after a conversation with his manager came over and asked me whether I have the code for 'children eating free'. I naturally was perplexed, as he hadn't told me about any code being needed when he had initially declared children would eat free. He said without the code he couldn't do anything for me. I then went on their website, scrambling to get a code, and when I presented it to him, he came back saying it didn't work as I didn't have a main but instead only a starter and side dish (this had not been mentioned and was also not stated anywhere on the menu). I asked why he had asked me for a code then, and he said he thought it would work. Quite telling that even their own staff seems to be confused about this.

Since he'd given me misleading information and not advised me correctly and also didn't seem very apologetic about it, leading to me having to pay an unexpected 8 pounds for a children's menu (where as I said, the main pasta dish was so unappealing it went untouched), I asked to take of the OPTIONAL 12.5 % service charge. It was very obvious the waiter did not like this decision and didn't find it fair, but I disagree, as he should have given the full picture about how the offer works, and not tell me at the end.

Overall it was a very unpleasant, disappointing and confusing experience, and I'm most definitely not going back. Côte Brasserie have lost a loyal customer, who ate there regularly for 10 years.

The food was nothing to write home about and not worth the 30 pounds spent. They need to be clearer about their offers, ideally on the menu and make sure their staff understands them.

I can only echo what everyone else is saying! Very disappointing.

I have eaten at Cote many, many times over the years so I was a bit surprised when I was handed the menu. Hugely slimmed down and more expensive (£5.50 for 4 tender broccoli stems). Don't get me started on seeing pasta on the menu! The wine menu is also slimmed down and nothing under £30.

I hadn't realised that it had changed ownership (a quick 'Google' after seeing the menus) but was happy to give it a go assuming it would be same quality. I wish I hadn't. It was poor.

I totally understand that the new owners would need to try something new - be it with price or quantity, given it clearly wasn't a viable business - but to pay more for less choice and poorer quality is dreadful and pure profiteering.

I also don't really understand who their target audience is now. 'Bottomless' chips (they are not frites either)??

Unfortunately, I will be doing what a lot of previous return customers will be doing and voting with my feet. Such a shame.

Cotes in Guildford has lost it....
Used to feel I was in Paris!!!
Not anymore...
Shrinkflation in action.....
Decreased quality,choice and style..

Not just my opinion....it's a fact.
All One Star reviews...
You don't get it....

Very disappointing. I have been going to Cote for years but yesterday was a different experience. The menu was limited and, it seemed, a little more expensive. I was told new owners had made changes. Regrettably, the changes are not for the better. I was also told food came in from France. I have no idea if this happened before, but if true, then why? What is wrong with British produce? Not happy with this principle. Not happy generally, either as service was slow, so overall, a poor experience. I am not keen to return unless things do change and we get something more like what it used to be for so long. Goodbye, Cote.

Richmond-upon-Thames, Cote Restaurant. October 2025
This was one of the worst meals we have endured for a very long time! Food was very basic, not like other branches of Cote. Staff were ok but didn't follow up when complaint made, in fact avoided our table! The restaurant itself is not only tired but dirty. Stains on the floor from spills wiped but not washed. The seat in booths had ripped pvc and the toilets were very poor, not only dirty but falling to pieces - literally. No paper or way to dry your hands. A very basic need. In a very upmarket area with an awful attitude to its customers. How has this place not been closed by environmental health is a worry.

As we walked in, the table was setup as a cafe, all piled up in the middle of the table. Not the feel of a descent every day restaurant it once was. Given that the chain was taken over by an american company in Oct 25, I am not surprised at all!
The food menu reminded me of, well, some basic american diner. This is not what Cote should be, and not a place I will visit again. The quality and quantity is no longer there.
The wine menu was also reduced massively!
Bye Bye Cote!

Cote was always a reliable, great option for my family. As a nice alternative to the numerous high street Italians, the menu always went down well, I didn’t realized it had changed and have just forked out for an excessively priced and poor meal. The menu is dreadful with no decent options. Seeing pasta there was jarring (there are enough pasta places) and bottomless chips?! Any parent taking their kids there for an over priced meal shouldn’t be happy with overloading them with salt and fat. Unbelievably disappointing and won’t be back. Sad after years of being a favourite.

I went to the bury st Edmund’s restaurant yesterday (Saturday 25th) the breakfast was incredible probably the best French toast I have ever had!

We could see the staff were working extremely hard as it was incredibly busy and quite honestly we’re dealing with an extremely large difficult party! They handled themselves so well and are an asset to your company!

I can’t wait to return and try the granola bowls!

I have eaten at Cote many times over the years and as recently as June I've enjoyed a meal here. I was unaware of the ownership/menu changes so while the service was still good, last night's experience in Shrewsbury came as an unwelcome surprise.

The menu has been reduced to a single A4 card, and several of the staple options removed or replaced by pasta dishes. Despite a change in presentation style the crab maison starter was still serviceable, but we had to send the confit pork belly back as it was not crispy at all. When it was returned, it soon became apparent there was little to no meat and we were left chasing blubber around the plate.

It's a shame as Cote was one of the last reliable chain restaurants in town, but appears to be going the same way as the rest.

As a family we have been coming to Cote regularly for many years, last night was the last. The shrunken menu is dumbed down to burgers, pasta, chicken and chips...stuff like that. Very small portions, not cooked well and very expensive for what it is. Only 5 bottles of white wine to choose from and all about £30 plus. The price hike/drop in value is enormous! Moules the size of a starter (£18). Half chicken and chips (£23) Dry chicken, poor quality but endless chips and a bit of rocket to fill the big empty space on the plate. Side dishes are miniscule and Tuna now grilled not seared and overcooked. There is no French influence here at all unfortunately, even the staff were embarrassed by it all.
So enjoy your year of profit at our expense Cote. Then swiftly followed by the inevitable slide into closures and oblivion, all brought upon by mismanagement greed. How sad!

Haven't been to cote for some time but it used to have a decent French inspired menu. Went to St Martins cote in London tonight. It was packed with pre theatre goers. A captive audience. Service is fast and reasonably good. Food is pretty awful. Their set menu has very few options. We paid £8 extra for a sirloin steak which was relatively small with a few fries and overcooked for medium and medium rare. The idea of flowing fries was definitely not evident as nothing was offered. I saw the linguine with seafood which was served on a plate and not a bowl. The size of portions was not commensurate with the price. A rather cheap cote de Gascogne for over £30 is a rip off even for London. There are so many great restaurants in Covent Garden and soho such as prix fixe. Avoid if you can.
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Basically just bring back the old menu!
Always look forward to lunch at Cote but went recently with a friend and it was terrible! The new style half chicken was awful, I can only describe the skin as flacid and greasy and the chicken was tasteless and dry.
The new menu was confusing, there was no fish to speak of, all their lovely little French dishes were gone and were replaced with Pasta!
There are so few French restaurants on the high street, so why introduce this when you can get Italian Pasta anywhere?
Cote is normally our go to restaurant, the food is always just right and is good value. The service is also first class at Bury St Edmunds as it was that day but I feel sorry for the staff dealing with all their grumpy customers at the moment.
We won’t be coming back until things change!

Wow ! What and who has happened to Cote??!! Once a classy French style restaurant serving classic dishes well made and good value for money now a menu half the size, prices hiked, bottomless fries (oven chips - very classy!) and £22 for dry tasteless chicken and chips served with no garnish - Sadly nandoes does chicken better !! This is not Cote - even the waiting staff were embarrassed to serve us . Hopefully Cote will take all these reviews of the dreadful new menu and make changes quickly before they lose their loyal customers . Feels like budget cafe food with inflated prices lol going off their name :( Just cancelled our Xmas meal here this year …

Delightful staff and service as always in our local, Blackheath SE London Côte, BUT…

… a new high in the “We’re right, you’re wrong ..” style of online marketing? We’ve loved our local Côte, and liked the email newsletters (especially as they often offer free drinks!) but their recent weeks’ style has been weirdly apologetic with phrases like “ we’d lost our way “ to justify a new menu. Implying we (the customers) were mugs for previously putting up with great, authentic but now abandoned dishes like Breton Fish Stew and Poulet Grille? And that the (new?) Executive Chef has swooped in to save us with new alternatives like bottomless chips, Pasta and Burgers!

But today’s email disses the dissenters even more harshly, dictating that;
“ Our new French Roast Chicken is here...and it’s cluckin’ good.
We know you’ve been missing your Poulet Breton and old favourite Poulet Grillé. We’ve heard every “bring it back!” and every wistful sigh.
But our Executive Chef Steve is confident that our new French Roast Chicken is even better…”

So there. All you whingeing customers are wrong. We, or rather “Steve” is right!

Ok, yes, the new chicken is terrific. And so generous that I had to doggy bag a quarter home. No way could I cope with more chips? Although I guess if I wanted to be a cynical cheapskate, we could split a Demi Poulet and a mountain of Frites between two? Which would make up for them dropping our favourite House Wine from Languedoc so now we pay almost a fiver more for booze?

But no matter; we won’t cluck off, we’ll still visit weekly, and receive the same brilliant service from Kornelia, Chiara, Adrian, Naseem, Paul and all their wonderful waiters, commis and kitchen magicians at Côte Blackheath