bistrot pierre, nottingham.

For a French inspired experience in the heart of Nottingham, Bistrot Pierre and their new seasonal menu is a must-try. Established in 1994, Bistrot Pierre bring French style cuisine to your table, freshly prepared and at an affordable price. The restaurant straight away hits you with a Francais feel, with vibrant retro prints, low lighting and framed mirrors, reminiscent of Parisian cafes. 

The menu has all the classic French dishes, from Minute Steak to Potato Dauphinoise and Camembert to Beef Bourguignon, with French wines to boot. However there are also dishes from further afield, with hints of France here and there. Think Eton Mess, Deep Fried Brie and Spicy Prawns. They even have a Sunday Roast, which proved popular, as well as truly surprising me.

For starter we had Goan King Prawns and Fritôt de Brie, which came in a crisp rosemary crumb with plum chutney. I have admittedly sampled their Deep Fried Brie before at the Derby branch, and praise the consistency of the dish. So moreish, gooey and everything you'd want from fried cheese. Although not traditional French flavours, the prawns were impressively large with a zesty salad of coriander and red chillies.

For main, it had to be Steak-Frites for me. Particularly as it came with lashing of roasted garlic and rosemary butter. The bavette cut was cooked just as I'd like, with a firm and charred exterior, staying juicy and pink within. The thin fries were crispy too - highly recommended for dipping in the delicious butter. My dining companion went for the Roast Chicken Sunday Dinner, as it was a Sunday afterall. The stray from classic French cuisine was inspired by the incredible Yorkshire puddings flying past on neighbouring tables. It was worth the risk, and it turns out Bistot Pierre do a great Sunday lunch. Bravo! In my opinion though, it needed more of a French twist, such as Lyonaise or dauphinoise potatoes, a gratin or ratatouille.

For dessert, it was my choice that took on a bit of British inspiration: a Eton Mess. A more luxurious take on the classic, it had crushed pistachios and strawberry ice cream. The other side of the table enjoyed a Vanilla Panna Cotta with a mixed berry compôte, which was light and creamy against the tart sauce. In all, it came to £18.95 for three courses, each. Which is excellent given the amount of food we had.

Overall, the three course lunch menu is great value and has some excellent options - whether you love French food or not. I can't praise the staff enough, either, who, although they knew I was there for a review, all provided consistent and commendable customer service throughout - to myself and other diners. As well as being friendly and attentive, they are also knowledgeable about the menu and are always on the ball, for example asking for drinks with mains or an extra plate. With prix fixe lunch starting at £10.95 and, £12.95 and £14.95 for 3 courses respectively, it's great value too.

If you haven't already been, why not take a flick through the latest seasonal dishes and surprise yourself? 

Have you been along to the Nottingham Bistrot Pierre, or another one in the UK? Do you enjoy French food, or a French twist on a dish? 

For a review of the Derby restaurant, you can also head here.

Bistrot Pierre

13-17 Milton St

Nottingham 

NG1 3EN

0115 941 2850

(Make sure you check their website for opening times rather than Google as it fails to show they are open at lunch times)

I was invited for a complimentary meal at Bistrot Pierre for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I wasn't expected to write a positive review or otherwise.