Food Review: Cafe Rouge Mailbox New Summer Menu

Cafe Rouge has quietly had a facelift. Along with all the new and exciting developments happening at The Mailbox, which incidentally should be re-opening soon, the French bistro chain has been refreshed and now has a separate private dining area.

They've also launched a new Summer menu at the same time, and I was able to try what's new at a tasting event at Cafe Rouge Birmingham Mailbox.

I love Cafe Rouge, mainly for their perfectly cooked steaks (minute steak medium thank you). However, they do also offer French classics such as Confit de Canard and Boeuf Bourguignon and switch things up with new dishes every six months.

Taking a seat in the new private dining area, we started off the tasting menu with a Plateau a Partager. This included Rouge Olives with cornichons, caper berries and roquito chillies, charcuterie, pate, goats cheese and rocket salad and would ordinarily come with bread (I had mine without to make it gluten free).

I was then very generously treated to full sized versions of three of the new summer dishes on the menu, in my case the Crevettes, Super Salade with smoked salmon, butternut squash, beetroot, artichoke and chicory and also the Filet De Saumon. The Super Salade was my favourite out of the two salmon dishes as I just loved the combination of sweet butternut squash, vinegary artichoke and smoked salmon. The Filet De Saumon was served with Asparagus, baby plum tomatoes and pea shoots which all made for a very light and healthy meal. I also thoroughly enjoyed the prawns which were huge! Perhaps not as healthy, these were however delicious and served shell-on.

To round off the evening, we were also able to indulge in a trio of mini desserts including the Strawberry and Black Pepper Sorbet, Fondant aux Chocolats and of course, Creme Brulee. Although the Chocolate Fondant was sadly not gluten free, I was able to eat the other two desserts. The Creme Brulee was exactly as you'd expect from Creme Brulee and the sorbet tasted purely of strawberry to me, so perhaps we were served a different sorbet.

I did also indulge in a glass of Prosecco (it would be rude not to) which was delightful and there was a wide range of drinks from speciality French beers to that French favourite Orangina available too.

The new Cafe Rouge menu is a mix of French classics and lighter summer dishes that are perfect for lighter evenings.

Thank you to Cafe Rouge for inviting me!

*I was invited to dine as a guest of Cafe Rouge