Cote Brasserie- Barbican in Islington

Always great food and fantastic service

Reliable quality, helpful staff and the fixed menu is good value for the location. Had a long group lunch. The atmosphere suffers when busy because it gets very noisy. The huge glass windows reflect the sound, which leads to people needing to shout across their table to be heard. Once it empties out the volume reduces and it is pleasant again. Busy periods do seem to lead to staff overload and mistakes in orders. Avoid the crepe dessert as it was stone cold.

This was a brilliant experience. The staff were very accommodating, especially Giacomo who fitted us in without a booking and was friendly and helpful.

We went with my 3 year old daughter. The staff were amazing. The steak frites is a classic. I also had the chicken liver parfait to start. I could have eaten a bucket of it, it was so tasty.

Fab experience. Christina was fantastic a waitress. She was patient and served us over a 4-5 hour period with nothing but kindness and politeness. We asked advice and she was helpful with my group of friends deciding on portions of meals , a la carte and desserts. As it was a celebration for my 60th birthday, Christina and Aris were both delightful and provided me with a gorgeous melt in the mouth brownie with a candle to celebrate my birthday as well as toffee sauce and some fruit. What a lovely gesture. Aris was great in helping us as we waited too long for our teas as well as after dinner drinks. One of my friends had to complain as the more senior manager was not helping. Aris and Christina were a real asset to your company ! Spent a thoroughly wonderful afternoon celebrating my 60th birthday with good friends, great staff and lovely ambiance. Thank you so much . Make sure that Aris and Christina get our best wishes.

Service was godawful, waitress didn't smile once in the entire Service, Really unfriendly. never asked how our food was, our food arrived at completely different times and she didn't even apologize. Food was great though

I booked the table for our company to entertain a VIP visitor for lunch. The waiter Giacomo was very attentive and and made sure that at every stage of the meal we where satisfied with the food and service. I cannot fault the food , Service and the Atmosphere. My Directors were impressed and the VIP enjoyed his meal. We will defiantly be returning. Alan Maund.

Came here with work on a lunch. The service was impeccable, especially regarding my allergies, I was very well looked after by Giacomo. The food was excellent for the price point. I thoroughly recommend.

Had the steak frites. The meat was quite chewy and had lots of gristle. My friends had the same meal.and their meat wasnt like this. Have been to restaurant at st Pauls before and think I prefer it there.

Went to explore the Barbican area (well worth a visit). Had two courses in Cote as the chain is always reliable. Very good service and the food was well presented and delicious.

Great restaurant, I just arrived from a trip and there was an employee named Edu who served me in my native language (Portuguese), he was excellent. I will recommend it to friends and family

Perfect experience. Best service

Wonderful gluten free menu. Niçoise salad was fresh and delicious. Tasty Gluten free Pilsner too.

Was around the Barbican center during the week and decided on a nearby Cote by late lunch. Decided to take advantage of the two courses for £16.95. Went for the steak and chips for the main course and plum clafoutis (baked plums and vanilla ice cream) for dessert. Overall very tasty and great service!

Great welcome, great food, great music - perfect ☺

After a long search we decided on this lovely restaurant. The food was excellent, the service very friendly and attentive. We were all satisfied!

good restaurant, nice staff, delicious food, everything at the highest level!

Food was good. Service was very hectic even though there was not a lot going on. I’ve been to a couple of Côte around London and this one was worse than usual. Wouldn’t let us split the bill for whatever reason.

We had dinner here recently. And my goodness! It was a truly amazing experience. We were amazed at how chic the restaurant appeared❤️. Vini was the host and he was really kind and amiable. He escorted us to our table and made sure we felt special because it was our anniversary. We felt quite honoured since we were given a glass of champagne to commemorate the occasion. There were plenty of good options on the large menu. Everything looked so nice that it was difficult to decide what to eat. We had excellent service and were well-cared for over our entire stay. I would absolutely eat here every day if I were close by. Thank you Cote Barbican for this amazing experience❤️

Visited Cote, Barbican for lunch. I find the place really good. Food was good and well presented. In case if it’s busy, you may have to wait bit longer for food. Try it.

I had a lunch and stayed for dinner as well. The atmosphere was great and the welcoming even more, I think the guys name was Aris. He helped me also with the menu and he knew how to answer every and each question of mine. Very friendly and professional with a big smile! I was later served by a guy called Jemal, he was polite and friendly and very fast I have to say! The food all in all was great, but not as salty as I usually prefer it to be. But that’s very objective. It got quite busy later on and a bit loud for my own taste. All in all a great experience though, would definitely recommend. Quality and price match 100%.

I recently visited Cote Barbican for breakfast, and I must say, it was a delightful experience from start to finish. I ordered the Eggs Benedict, and it was simply delicious. The eggs were perfectly poached, the hollandaise sauce was rich and flavourful, and the muffin was toasted to perfection. What truly elevated my experience, however, was the exceptional service provided by Domas. From the moment I walked in, he made me feel welcomed and valued as a customer. He was attentive, friendly, and went above and beyond to ensure that my dining experience was nothing short of fantastic. Overall, I highly recommend Cote for anyone looking for delicious breakfast options and outstanding service.

Pre-booked for lunch. We were served by an Inexperienced waiter who made a few errors with our order, which wasn’t a huge problem until the point at which our food arrived. When the errors were raised with another member of staff, he was clearly unhappy at having to return two dishes to the kitchen in order for our order to be corrected. This made me feel very uncomfortable. Wasn’t impressed by his attitude. Interesting to note that I received a cancellation of booking email around the same time of the issue, which left me thinking ‘they don’t want a review’. I wasn’t going to bother writing one until that happened! It’s a shame, as I’ve been here before and had such a positive experience.

Nice place, fiendly stuff and relaxed atmosphere!

Stayed for a couple of days in London and friends invited me to visit “Cote” at the Barbican. It was a Wednesday evening and surprisingly the entire restaurant was full of people. We were greeted friendly by the staff and seated at the bar. The prices on the menu are very reasonable. Large selection of different dishes and drinks. I also want to thank bartender Anastasia, who served us with attention and a smile on her face! Would definitely come back here for lunch or dinner! ❤️

An amazing atmosphere, very friendly and kindly stuff. Here you can try variety of breakfasts,lunches and dinners. A nice place for meeting with friends or colleagues.

The overall experience was ok, but nothing really standed out. We ordered a charcuterie board to share between 2 people and this was served only with one slice of bread, we ended out eating ham on its own.

My friend and I received a free kir royale as I signed up to the newsletter. This is my favourite Cote as the ambience, decor and team are brilliant. A special mention to Sam the manager and Giacomo our server. It was a birthday lunch and they presented me with a brownie with ice cream and a candle and sang happy birthday. A lovely gesture and a really enjoyable lunch. Steak frites very good value.

Thank you Giacomo for being so attentive on our anniversary dinner!

Very fancy, glad I never brought my ex-wife here

We had a fantastic pre theatre meal. The food was well cooked and very tasty. The tartiflette and cote de boeuf were particularly tasty. Cafe gourmand was a great selection. The staff were attentive and helpful. Overall really great meal.

Great pre-concert meal. Busy, lively, great food, great service (thank you Beaula)

Nice place with great food for a good price. I had the lamb and it was amazing.

Good food at a reasonable price ,service very good .

Great space, great service, good food , very reasonably priced. Recommended.

Such an amazing service and atmosphere, I really recommend this cafe to everyone! Thank you so much

Spent time in Barbican over the weekend and ate at Cotè Barbican for each meal from Friday to Sunday..Why? Because the food was absolutely delicious. Each meal came out piping hot and full of flavour. Added to that, was the friendliness and professionalism of the staff. Tatiana and Aris peticularly made an impression on us.... both were very welcoming and did such an excellent job. We will definitely be going back.

Lovely food - my favourite is their beef bourguignon😍

Very poor neighbour - constantly in breach of the planning conditions with regard to noisy deliveries and removal of class bottles early in the morning and late at night. Management is always reluctant to address this issue. Very shoddy organisation - certainly wouldn’t want to eat there.

One of my favourite restaurants in London. Lovely staff, food, drinks - everything is great.

payment only by card, they do not inform in advance that you cannot pay in cash. I do not recommend . you're going ok

Giacomo was our server for the night absolute pleasure meeting him very welcoming and couldn’t do enough for us. Great place to visit for some food amazing fast service food can within 10 minutes of ordering!

The food is always very good at the branch and the staff are very friendly.

Had a lovely pre concert dinner here. Loved the Breton fish stew and my friend's steak looked good, too. Great atmosphere, nice wine menu, friendly service.

Wonderful location for the Barbican. Up to Côte's usual high standards. Brilliant staff who looked after us well. . Can't recommend it enough

The perfectly cooked steak was a delight, tender and flavourful, paired excellently with the Merlot wine. Nora's exceptional customer service elevated the dining experience, making it truly memorable. Her attention to detail and warm demeanour added a special touch to our evening. Will definitely be back!

Incredible food and service. We will be back.

Barbican Cote is close to our office and makes a nice place to go for a special lunch. Today was a celebratory lunch for 4 and we were served by Gia Como. He did a good job. As it is January we qualified for a free glass of champagne each too which was a bonus. The food was very nice and the restaurant was nice and busy.

We enjoyed our lunch at Cote yesterday. What we loved was the restaurant's atmosphere and environment, friendly staff and of course, the quality of the food. We loved the burger, the onion soup, and the quiche. But the side dish of garlic vegetables seemed a bit cold, we'd prefer it to be warmer. We were glad that the food we had ordered came at the right time, so we were able to go to the theatre on time.

I often visit the Cóte restaurant at the Barbican. And every time he surprises me more and more. The first thing I want to say is the friendly people. From the very door you will be greeted by smiling staff who will seat you at your table. The drink menu is very convenient and extensive. There is a large selection of cocktails, wine and other various drinks. There is also a varied selection of main dishes. The food here is amazing, very tasty french onion soup for starter and chicken gratin for main. I can definitely say that this is the most delicious chicken roast I have ever tasted. Also here is very interesting and beautiful presentation of dishes, which really surprise. The atmosphere in the restaurant is very calm, despite the fact that there are always a lot of people. The staff will be very attentive to you and will do everything to make your evening wonderful! I would like to really thank the waiter Jem, who always serves at the highest level. He will always help with choosing drinks and food to suit your taste! An ideal place for lunch with friends or a late dinner. I am very pleased with my experience in this restaurant and will definitely come back more often! I highly recommend this restaurant!

Good french cuisine with a very nice and relax atmosphere.

I love Cote! I'm eating in Cote for almost 15 years now. The food is always amazing! I love every location, and the atmosphere is so elegant. However, comfortable like at home. Barbican, this time surprise me, happily. I had an amazing service from Giacomo. It is so rare to find waiters that are still paying such nice attention and care in the customers without being too invasive. Well done, Cote Barbican!

Sehr schneller und aufmerksamer Service von Giacomo - vielen Dank!

Giacomo is one of the best waiter I have ever met. He made the service and experience so pleasant

Was with 9 Yr old grandson. All very hood

Lovely breakfast with attentive staff

Decent, friendly staff. Tasty food and drinks

Classic French dishes simply presented and Reasonably priced considering the location. The portions are a little on the small side. Would still recommend

We had to wait a few minutes for a waiter to allocate us a table as it was rather busy. Our table was a little close to the neighbouring one so we had to move it ourselves. When ordering, the waiter forgot to enquire about drinks but their complimentary water was excellent. The steak frites were good (the frites especially) and the calamari was perfectly crispy with a lovely dip. Great ambience with quiet music - would come again.

when the waiter came he was rushing me so i couldnt even think about what i wanted to order, so i just picked something because i felt pressured and uncomfortable. they gave us dry bread with olives with no butter so i didnt like it. the chicken that i got was extremely dry and i could only eat like 1 bite of it. also the fries were dry and they didnt give me any sauce with it. dessert was okay i guess but nothing special. it wasn’t worth the money. i feel like i shouldnt have paid for the food bc it was so bad and i regret not just walking away without paying.

The beef bourguignon was melt in your mouth good. The Cafe Gourmand was delicious and the staff was friendly. Book a table from 5pm when there’s a performance at The Barbican. Many people without were turned away while we were there.

Nicely decorated for Christmas. Good menu. Food tasty. Good service.

Service was fast & friendly, and the food was tasty. Great for a pre or post theatre meal as it's only a short stroll from The Barbican. Would visit again when next in that area.

Attended prior to visit to Barbican centre. Very busy but excellent food and attentive service. Note service was quite slow due to number of diners so if you are going pre-theatre factor in plenty of time.

Great restaurant , good service and food

Service vey friendly and staff was delightful thank you

Pretty basic brasserie at the Barbican Centre offering most of the French classics. We had a mushroom bourguignon and a roasted lamb rump. Bizarrely, our waitress refused my request to have the latter served rare saying that "we only recommend it served medium"! Food was OK and there are some decent wine offerings.

Adequate pre-theatre dinner in a reliable chain. Greeted well and given a good table in a booth on arrival. Service felt a bit reluctant after that. We had to wait fifteen minutes to order our food when the place was largely empty (it was completely full soon after). I saw the manageress refuse to help one member of staff who was holding a huge tray of plates for another waiter who was nowhere to be seen. Chain of command and all that, but how mean! It would have taken seconds. Food was fine - great reports of the sea bream. French onion soup was good, but what a shame there was so little of it. My chicken gratin was substantial, tasty and fell off the bone although there were parts of it that has dried out and gone a bit crunchy. Desserts consistently good. They made the coffee and left it on the bar going cold for a while. Our waiter repeatedly looked at it and did nothing until I got up and explained that it was probably ours. That said, we were on and out in good time for the theatre, and I would go there again.

Arrived to London for Christmas. We were so surprised that on December 24, literally all closed for dinner, all the restaurants and cafes. It is simply impossible to have dinner. We live in Dubai and could not imagine this is happening. We were really happy when the doors of this hospitable restaurant were open and they welcomed us. We ordered Chateaubriand steak and snacks. The food was delicious. The steak was a little too well done, but it’s trifles. I thank the restaurant for its wonderful, humane staff! Merry Christmas 🎄

Very polite and nice staff, the food is great, loved the atmosphere of the place, it's quite big so doesn't feel crowded.

Mixed service - doorman was friendly and welcoming. Waitress was the opposite.

Amazing food. Very tasty. Service. It’s very good. To.

We’ve visited Côte Barbican a couple of days ago to have some food before a show, and the experience was fantastic! At the beginning we were shocked with how busy the place was - and I meant it! But well done to the team and the lovely waitress who served us, because even though it felt like there was not a single table available, they delivered outstanding service and great food! My partner is vegetarian and was utterly happy with his mushroom bourguignon. I was thrilled with their breton fish stew. We had a bottle of their Cote de Provence rosé wine and it was superb. We will definitely come back soon! But for brunch next time.

This is not my first time coming to Côte, I’ve been to one in London Bridge and in Soho, but this one feels way much more welcoming! A lovely atmosphere and the restaurant looks sharp! I’ve heard from the manager they had a big refurb last year - the bar right at the entrance is stunning. Food wise, we were surprised and left with our bellies full! We decided to try their Côte de Boeuf and good thing we did! It was superb!! The waiter recommend a nice full body red wine to go with it and we couldn’t be happier. They also have a nice dessert menu, full of French classics, but unfortunately and sadly we didn’t have any room left! Now we’ll have to come back. A really good experience overall!! Thanks guys!

Me and my friends were walking around the Barbican towers and we decided to have some food at Côte. We weren’t sure if it would work out because usually bookings are mandatory, but we were super lucky to get there before the dinner busy time, so the manager got us a nice table by the window! Already a good start. And the good surprises kept coming! The waitress, Nora, who served us is such a charming and lovely girl! We had a couple of doubts and my friend is celiac, but she managed to do an outstanding service! Very confident and well prepared. Also, big shout out to the restaurant for having a full gluten free menu with lots of tasty options! Her food had little flags, marking it as GF, so she was thrilled with how serious they take this subject there. Well done!! We had starters, main courses and dessert, and everything was superb! The profiteroles were out of this world! I had to take away half of it home since it’s a sharing dish, but no regrets! Worth every bite. Too bad none of us were drinking that day so we could try their extent wine selection!

Great food and attentive service. Only negative was that it was very noisy with a lively office party group nearby.

Very pleasant chain restaurant, this one has lovely staff and a nice atmosphere but I just think it’s all very overpriced. Ordered the fish pie ‘Fish Parmentier’ £16.50, nice and tasty but tiny! Literally, 3 tablespoons of fish pie served in a tiny, shallow oval dish, about 1.5cm in depth. It really was just a bog standard couple scoops of fish in cream, I was starving afterwards. I will say, however the dessert of ‘Pear and Almond Financier’ was gorgeous and a little more worth the £7.95 price tag. All in all, fine for convenience but you could easily eat so much better in London for this price. Acceptable but underwhelming and you’ll leave feeling a bit short changed

I recently dined at this restaurant and was thoroughly impressed with the exceptional service. Our waiter, Nora, exhibited a remarkable level of attentiveness and professionalism throughout the entire meal, ensuring our dining experience was delightful. Alex, another member of the service team, was equally outstanding. He provided insightful recommendations and went the extra mile to make us feel genuinely cared for. A special mention goes to the talented bartender, Gaurav, who crafted exquisite drinks with precision. His expertise added an extra layer of enjoyment to our evening. Overall, the service from Nora, Alex, and Gaurav was impeccable, contributing significantly to a memorable dining experience. In addition, I'd like to acknowledge the commendable contributions of managers Vincenzo and Eduardo. Their leadership undoubtedly played a crucial role in maintaining the high standards of service that made our dining experience truly delightful. I highly recommend this restaurant for those seeking not only delectable dishes but also exceptional service.

So first of staff and environment nice, they sorted us out even though they were busy. Food though.... I dunno portions seemed much smaller than usual, my onion soup bown was like 1/3 filled... Usually I leave cote full but this time.... Hmmm I dunno

W have just had our office Christmas party here and I have to say that the service was really unacceptable. When we arrived the table was not ready at the time we booked (which we were fine with as we know it is a busy period and got drinks in the meantime anyway) but then, when we were finally seated, it took ages to get our food. So long that one of our colleagues had to leave before being able to eat (the restaurant had received our order before we arrived), yet we did not complain and try to enjoy our time together. When the dessert arrived, we had been in the restaurant for over 2h and so they told us that we could not have any drink with our dessert. I went to talk to the manager explaining that the only reason why we were still at the table after 2.30 was because it took ages to get our main (and not because it took us time to order as we ordered beforehand). I talked to the manager asking for us to be able to get a drink wit our dessert given that the situation was their fault (so not asking for a lot). His response was to tell me off and reply that they were already very generous to let us stay at the table for more than 2h while their policy was for guests to have the table for 2h max (even if after 2h we still had not received all the meal we had ordered - so the only reason why we were still there was because of their service!). After telling me off and threatening me to not bring the dessert we had ordered and were desperately waiting for like every other parts of the meal because I dared complaining about the service, they finally accepted to make a gesture. Very terrible experience and awful manager who clearly does not have the skills required for a restaurant manager. We understand that problems can happen and that is why we never complained about the delay but complained about the fact that we could not have a drink with our dessert because they took ages to bring our order and their reaction was unacceptable.

Waited 30mins for out drinks, an hour for our food. Nothing came out right, it was just a mess.

Very nice place for a quick lunch. The service is also very good which is surprising for a French restaurant ;)

I had a fantastic experience at Côte on Saturday, December 9th. Having visited various locations by the company, I must say this one surpassed them all. The Christmas decorations were unparalleled, creating a festive atmosphere that was truly magical. The service was exceptional, with our waiter Alex providing excellent suggestions and making us feel right at home. Managers Jenny and Aris were incredibly accommodating, taking the time to ensure our needs were met. The entire team, from the skilled bartender to the chefs and diligent food delivery staff, contributed to a flawless dining experience. Our party of six unanimously agreed on a 5/5 rating, and I'm eagerly anticipating my next visit. I highly recommend this Côte branch for a memorable and delightful dining experience!

Enjoyed a delicious vegetarian dinner here. Starter was a light and flavourful cheese souffle with an accompanying country mustard sauce (rather thoughfuly, this comes in a separate mini jug so if you're not taken by it, you can eat the souffle as is!). My main was a hearty mushroom bourginon which although slightly on the small side was very tasty and very comforting on a cold winter's night! Dessert was tarte tatin shared with a friend - deliciously caramel. Will return.

I visited Cote Barbican with a supplier and some work colleagues on Tuesday evening. The restaurant was fairly busy on arrival. We had reserved a long table for 10 which was ready when we arrived. The initial service was pretty slow and we had to flag down someone to order drinks, however this was understandable due to how busy the place was. On browsing the drinks menu I noticed there are no drinks on tap here so I took a chance at the bottled larger called Meteror. I was pleasantly surprised by this refreshment, not overly gassy, and arrived nicely chilled. For mains I ordered the Steak Frites, and it didn’t disappoint. Lovely piece of meat cooked to perfection with a dollop of garlic butter rolling around on top. The atmosphere in the restaurant was great, quiet music, people chatting and have a great time, and a lovely aroma of food around the place. I will definitely be coming back to one of these restaurants in the near future. Highly recommended.

Good food and great for a Christmas party

Very busy when we visited, food very good. Ideal venue for a meal if you are going to the Barbican.

Food was great. Had the Xmas 3 course menu. Wasn't too busy but service was so slow. Some of us got so fed up waiting for dessert decided to skip it but still got charged. Still gave it 4 stars as we still had a great night.

Good service but not natural environment items like trees, or designed items. But easily accessible with good food and drinks in competitive prices

I’m recommending this restaurant to all of my friends, it’s a perfect place to stay relax and enjoy. I will comeback with all my family.

Thank you very much for the wonderful atmosphere created yesterday at the event! The food was delicious and the service impeccable

This was a disappointing visit. The food was mediocre! My chicken breast was dry and tasteless, yet the salad leaves were drenched in dressing. My colleague’s minute steak was tasteless and hard to cut. The decor gives the impression of a French bistro, but it was anything but a bistro. The food appears to be pre-made and then heated up before served. Nevertheless, our waiter was very attentive and friendly. He deserves 5 stars.

We love coming here due the staff being very friendly and professional but also food is good as we expect, we wil come back

Amazing place, with a really good vibe, food and service!

I absolutely live this place! The staff, atmosphere and food is amazing! I always take my friends and family there because we just love Cote Barbican! And also the decor is stunning! 😍

Love the tuna salad and crème caramel

Second time in this restaurant; great food and ambiance but today got asked to leave as they need the table My bill was more than 120 pounds...i argued this is a manegment problem regarding their own bookings and client shouldnt be asked to leave especially with such a bill I was told that they informed me prior to seating which wasnt the case, the waiter "insisted" i was told so even though 2 of us clients said no. This unfortunatly would be he last time i come here. I really hope this will motivate the owners to inprove the service

On Sunday 13th November I called Cote Barbican to reserve a table for dinner for the 16th at 6.15pm before we went to a concert at the Barbican. I received a text confirmation of my reservation. I arrived there on a wet windy night and was told that there was a private party and there was no table for me. I said that I had a confirmation from them and that this formed a contract between us - I was here where was my table? "Most Unfortunate" was the best they could say! - but they could send us to a nearby restaurant. I was rudely hustled outside the restaurant into the rain to wait for my Husband. Whilst I was waiting i checked my phone and found the text. I went back inside where the same man tried to rudely hustled back outside - I said there was no way i was going outside to discuss their problem but was almost pushed to get out - the man saying that he would get me a taxi. I refused as my husband had not arrived. Obviously we would not be able to attend the concert if we had to find another restaurant . I found the whole episode immensely distressing, the man - rude and unapologetic. I found the whole episode immensely distressing, the man - rude and unapologetic andI left feeling absolutely furious to be treated in such a manner!!!!! Where is Courtesy? Obviously NOT at COTE BRASSERIE BARBICAN!!!

Thank you guys very nice food and atmosphere.

Lovely food and people thank you