We tried Bullring French restaurant Rouge - and it was oh lala!

It was the 90s hotspot for the world famous singleton Bridget Jones.

Our Bridge loved a trip to the French favourite which could be found on high streets up and down the country.

But Cafe Rouge has had a bit of a rough time recently with a number of venues closing amid the pandemic.

However the popular restaurant at the Bullring has stood the test and time - and even had a relaunch.

It’s dropped the Cafe and is now proudly known as Rouge - and that’s not all.

We popped along for an afternoon visit during the Easter break to check out the latest menu and interior.

With the sunny weather we were delighted to note that the outdoor terrace is still open. The dainty blue and white chairs bringing a stylish splash of colour to the welcoming area.

Sadly the Birmingham weather being what it is meant we couldn’t sit out for long.

What is Rouge at the Bullring like inside?

Inside Rouge we found a buzzing atmosphere with plenty of chatter and a big bonjour from our hosts.

Thankfully there was no smoking as there was back in the day after the chain first opened in 1989 when occasional chain smoker Bridget Jones used to visit.

The airy interior was bright and cheery, with a splash of panache and a nod to its Parisian influence.

What is the food and drink like?

The Rouge rebrand is aimed at introducing new ranges - like signature Champagne cocktails - alongside the traditional French cuisine that it’s renowned for such as the Beef Bourguignon and Bouillabaisse.

Although these days those are now labelled up with the amount of calories in each dish, which can be a help or hindrance, depending on your outlook.

After an busy Easter featuring plenty of chocolate it was good to see a range of delicious dishes with a range of options.

Our meal began with a Passionfruit Martini and an Elderflower St-Germain Spritz - delicately garnished with fruit and a little cheese, oh, la, la!

For starters there was so much to choose from with French onion soup, chicken liver pate and calamari.

However we opted for Garlic Mushrooms which just oozed with flavour on delightfully, squishy toasted sourdough. My friend chose the beetroot tartine and was equally impressed.

For my main I was delighted with my seabass on a bed of crushed potato - with just 535 calories it was hearty and healthy. My friend chose the Jack Fruit tagine which was cooked with butternut squash, carrots, chickpea and sultanas and served with couscous and topped with vegan mint yogurt, pomegranate and toasted almonds - and still only 515 calories.

We managed to balance this healthy calorie content with a couple of glasses French sauvignon blanc - which I can thoroughly recommend.

Go back again?

If you’re in town and fancy some quality food in a pleasant environment then Rouge Brasserie is the place to go. It’s no wonder it has stood the test of time with so many delicious French staples to choose from in this pleasantly updated Parisian inspired venue. I reckon Bridget Jones would still like it.

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