Cote Brasserie - Watford in Watford

Regrettably, the quality of the food has taken a noticeable downturn. My partner and I were particularly disappointed when our tea and coffee were served with skimmed milk, leaving our drinks lacking the creaminess we enjoy. However, the real letdown came with the breakfast. The meal was pale, unappetising, and almost completely devoid of flavour—certainly not worth the price we paid. This was especially disheartening, as we’ve had enjoyable meals here in the past. On a positive note, the service remains commendable, but sadly, it isn’t enough to make up for the overall disappointment.

Excellent experience. From the welcome to the dishes, including the management of food allergies and the dessert not à la carte but pleasantly provided by the team, we do not regret our choice of restaurant at any time.

On the Watford side, we ate well, and the staff were particularly attentive to allergies, adapting the dishes to meet everyone's needs. Really attentive service which made the experience even more enjoyable.

Great food, friendly staff, and cosy setting

Thoroughly enjoyed dinner with my mum to celebrate her birthday. Staff were really lovely and their service definitely justified a charge, it added to our evening. They generously treated both of us to a glass of celebratory fizz which was a lovely surprise and made the evening particularly special. Food was great - beef bourguignon here is significantly better than that which I've had in other branches of Cote.

I used to really enjoy cote breakfast but it has gone massively downhill. They only had 2 members of staff on a busy Saturday morning. We ordered some coffee which came after about 20 minutes and was lukewarm and not very nice. The cost cutting on the breakfast is also clear. Food took about an hour to arrive. My poached egg was completely cooked through and had a weird taste. The harissa beans were so dry. Bacon really fatty rashers now instead of what it used to be. Wouldn’t bother with cote at all, go to Cassio lounge next door it’s miles better.

Breakfast was mediocre. I had the Cote breakfast. They forgot to bring the haricot beans. The Moroccan lady who served us was really nice. I score her a 0 in customer service. She hovered around us as if she couldn't wait for us to leave. At one point I had to ask her if there was time limit per visit. The restaurant, by the way, was empty. Mediocre food, terrible service.

Good food. Acceptable prices....I will recommended.

I used to really like this restaurant but it seems to have changed. I went at lunchtime and it was empty apart from one other table. The menu has changed since I last visited, hardly any vegetarian dishes now. I had a butternut squash tarte tatin which was awful. It was a pile of grey/brown slop, nothing discernable in it, on a soggy bit of pastry. I gave it a good go but it was inedible. The side salad was a bowl of lettuce drenched in salad dressing. On the plus side, my husband enjoyed his steak and chips and the staff were nice. I wouldn’t visit again.

Amazing food, and excellent value for money ,also the staff very friendly and helpful ,the variety of the menu very we recommend.

Great food, went with a group of 20. Lovely cocktails and food was delicious - especially the mussels!

Great place food good. Service excellent and staff very friendly. Will definitely be back.

First time here and surprised that it was not very busy. A delightful manager explained that people eat much earlier since COVID. The only reason for the 4 star for atmosphere was the lack of customers in what is a large restaurant. The photos show that we had only starter portions on our dishes and were more than generous and for excellent food. Unlike so many now trying to influence our national tipping level, only 10% was added and very happy to pay! Value for money in this world we now live in.

Always a great time at Cote. The dinner & cocktails were amazing and Andreea was a very welcoming and helpful host. Thoroughly recommend!

Sat 15 - 20 mins no one acknowledged us or took our order. They then sat a table next to us and took their order before ours. Left after that.

Camelia and Meringa provided very good costumer service. Welcoming atmosphere and food was great. We will be back soon.

Fantastic service as always by Andreea Ivan. Always a fabulous welcome without fail. Thank you and looking forward to seeing you again 😊

Lovely food, a little quiet but it was a tuesday. Drinks were great, staff really cool.

Lovely food service and environment. Also do small carafes of wine

Delightful breakfast and gluten free , total win-win :)

Delightful breakfast and gluten free , total win-win :)

Lovely staff and the food was really nice and fresh

Lovely staff and the food was really nice and fresh

The Restaurant was full. Holidays & Watford playing at home. Staffing level was inadequate. Should have been 6 at least serving for the number of customers Just 3. They were not to blame polite & apologetic but an hour wait from starter to main course. Also needs a makeover. Cote are normally good.

Went for lunch on a Saturday. Place seemed to be in meltdown. From entering to first course arriving was over 1 hour 10 mins. When the food came it was cold and overcooked.

The manager was rude to us. Food and atmosphere was alright, cleanliness to be improved. Been to other Côte branches and this one we will definitely not re visit

The food was OK but nothing special. We started with some olives but were surprised at the very small serving. I had mussels as a main course and they were quite well cooked in a pleasant sauce. There were a lot of them. They came with some chips, which were not proper chips but scrawny things (which I was then charged for!). Bread woud have been expected but none was provided. My partner ordered from the Pris Fixe menu. It is a limited menu: she ordered chicken but was subsequently told there was none available. Reluctantly she chose the minute steak. It was not good, very thin and rather tasteless. Prior to that she had the chacutierie board. That was OK although, again, the bread was a problem, the portion that came with it was very meagre. The price of drinks was outrageous. Almost £12 for 250ml of wine -- and not particularly good wine at that. All in all, a very expensive meal for mediocre food and extortionately overpriced wine. Poor value for money. Won't be going back.

Food here is amazing, delicious and I loved it. Service was really good and staff were friendly too. I loved the salad bowl items. It perfectly done and filling as well. Had elderflower drinks and beer for drinks. Would like to go again. Much appreciated.

took half an hour just to get an avocado toast with poached eggs and it was cold when it was finally served. waiting for the bill took another 10 minutes

First time coming here, Really bad food really bad atmosphere, I will never come back

We had breakfast here, the food was good but the price compared to with the portion they offer you in other places it is a bit high..the place was nice

Quality of food and originality of the menu were outstanding.

Great food great atmosphere very clean & the food I could not fault would highly recommend very clean staff were very helpful a nice place to test & refuel

Stopped in for a bite to eat very clean & well set out food was fabulous & very filling staff were very courteous & made you feel welcome easy access for wheelchairs & a very good selection of food & meals the service was outstanding would go again & recommend

Our anniversary dinner at Côte was amazing, the food & drinks were great, the staff were kind, hospitable and so attentive. Kindly give us some Prosecco to celebrate our anniversary! I will definitely be returning soon & recommend to anyone!!!

Great food and customer service realy enjoyed my experience here.

Wonderful food shame we had the place to ourselves. Expensive but great for a treat

Wow what a disappointment. Sticky tables. Food that we had to eat only because we were already starving. Beans are under cooked, avocado is old substitute, orange juice is not fresh or squeezed or natural. Egges are pre made, bread is sad. The waitress was nice…but the level of disgust we had on our face should have been enough for her to understand we are super not pleased. But didn’t want to make a fuss as we did eat what we had served. But really I feel like we desecrated our bodies just because we were so hungry. (P.S our daughter waited for an hour for a French Toast). Of course we did not receive any compensation. Only after we commented something was adjusted on the bill… But really, somebody needs to rethink this place. For sure not deserve 4 stars

Excellent attention, good food, wine and details. I will return there for sure.

Always delicious food! Have had several dishes over the years and it never disappints. Thank you!

I had a great time here. The breakfast was delicious, and the staff was friendly. I will definitely be coming back!

Food was delicious, drinks were delicious and service was excellent. Thank you to all at Cote.

Waste of money. Walking in and seeing how few people were there on a Saturday night at 7:45 should have been the warning to run. Ordered ratatouille and the haricot beans were ad hard as bullets. Nothing special. When plates were left uneaten there was no enquiry about why.

If you are fortunate enough to have Neringa or Suet take your order you are in for a treat. There knowledge of the food and drinks menu is exceptional! Always smiling they ensure that everyone has a great time and exceptional food.

Excellent fish and steak frites but unfortunately overcooked sirloin. Otherwise an enjoyable meal, and a good option if you are looking for something a little nicer in what feels like a run-down area.

Came on Sunday 16 June. Service was very slow.

Nice pub. Nice atmosphere. Would return if I'm in the area.

After an interminable wait for a tuna nicoise (how long can it take to overcook tuna?), I wasn't given the bill just asked to tap only to discover service had already been added. A bit to dissembling frankly. I wasn't expecting quite such an authentically Parisieene experience. Ok? yes, over priced? yes, A franchise which is only acceptable if the franchisee makes it work. This one should be ashamed of herself.

Wow, Just amazing food and amazing staff, Give them a pay rise, Thank you so much, See you very soon!!!

This is not the first time visiting the restaurant, and have always returned due to the great food, lovely atmosphere, and above all the attentiveness and friendliness of the team, especially the servers. We were served by a lovely gentleman with an amazing beard, Vet Boykinov, who was friendly, professional and attentive, without being overbearing. An absolutely great experience.

Called in for breakfast today and was met by lovely friendly staff. Seated in a booth with my friends and the place looked clean and comfortable. Only 2 waitresses on so a slight delay but it didn’t detract from the experience. I enjoyed my Cote breakfast and the produce was quality and very tasty. Beautiful poached eggs. Excellent service throughout and I would recommend Cote Brassiere.

Nice calming atmosphere. The staff were lovely and checked up on me and my partner. They were also knowledgeable about the food. Extra bonus for returning belongings we left!!! I had the lamp rump spring special for my main and it was delicious!! Starters were lovely too. Would total recommend for a nice relaxing evening

Very impressed with the complete service as a whole with a large party to accommodate. Thank you to the staff at Watford for providing the birthday girl with a special treat!

Visited for a midweek lunch with my wife. Faultless service, pleasant relaxing atmosphere only to be spoilt by substandard food. Ordered a ribeye steak cooked rare with herby salad and fries. Steak arrived medium-well with a 'herby salad' which literally consisted of a bunch of flat leaf parsley and three thin slices of red onion on top of them. Might pop back for a coffee from time to time but the quality of the food has really put us off.

The food was great the team very attentive knowledgeable and polite the atmosphere was beautiful we stayed outside because the weather was beautiful and there was live music coming from somewhere it was lovely definitely coming back and recommending to everyone.

Very friendly staff who upon overhearing that we had dropped in for a bite to eat on my birthday, whilst on our way to an evening out, Surprised me with a Birthday cake. The service is always of the highest quality and the Menu and drinks choice is second to none. I would and have recommended this Cote branch to family and friends.

Food was good but service was slower than I had hoped, even though inside it was very quiet and there weren't many customers in.

Experienced a lovely flavoursome dinner. The food was enjoyed by all and James was a great waiter. Will definitely come again in the near future.

Nice food especially the baked camembert 😋 The service is very professional and nice and we want to thank particularly the commis waiter Owolabi Ayouba Okoro, he was helpful, smiling and gave us very good advices and all in French! Great experience for us French, to come to a French brasserie in England and hear French spoken. Thank you very much 😊

Very friendly staff, food was fine. Only I ordered a medium steak, but it was well done. Otherwise good

Cote Restaurant is a cozy spot nestled in the heart of the city, with warm lighting and rustic decor that sets the perfect ambiance for a delightful dining experience. From the moment we walked in, the manager (Edgaras) greeted us with a warm smile and ensured that we were seated comfortably. Throughout our meal, the waiter ( Svet) and the Manager (Edgaras ) were attentive and friendly, offering helpful suggestions and making sure our glasses were never empty. As for the food, it was absolutely fantastic! Each dish was expertly prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients, and the flavors were simply divine. And let's not forget about dessert – the creme caramel was the perfect sweet ending to a memorable meal. Overall, Cote Restaurant exceeded my expectations in every way. The combination of delicious food, impeccable service, and charming ambiance makes it a must-visit for anyone looking for an unforgettable dining experience."

Had a lovely meal. Restaurant was full and the food was delicious. Neringa deserves a huge shout for helping with the order and great service. Keep it up 👏

Delicious food when it arrived. Great choice of main menu dishes and especially the fixed price menu. We were a bit rushed for the theatre, so food was slow coming out but the waiter was so very lovely. Very patient with a very large group.

Great meal, great food, great wine recommendation by our waitress, great asparagus in breadcrumbs starter, great onion soup, great rib eye steak, great moules, great apple tarte tatin, great coffee. Overall it was great.

First time I visited at the Cote and my experience is excellent 💯,Food was so delicious and also service was so quick, specially staff was very kind and helpful, the ambience was very amazing feels like heaven,I personally recommend this restaurant specially watford. Thank you so much for everything.

Nice to have Cote in Watford. A reliable choice. Fair price. Waiting staff are particularly good in this branch.

We really enjoyed the food and the casual atmosphere in the restaurant. We will definitely coming back there with the family. Especially to mention the waiter Fabio N, he was very kind & attentive with us during the service and advised what was the best food options available. Great experience, thank you!

The staff were good but the food was slow to come out and what I would call small portions, it doesn’t need to be huge for brunch but the smoked salmon on seeded bread was tiny. Food was distinctly average, I’d go somewhere else next time. As another reviewer stated the halls to the toilets are incredibly slippery. Safety hazard

Very disappointed. Staff were pretty useless, and they don’t take cash!! The hallways up the stairs to the toilets was very slippery, an absolute health hazard!

A great evening of enjoyable food with fantastic service.

...another good experience at Côte Watford..

Absolute rubbish, overpriced junk food that represents poor value for money. Really disappointing experience. It amazes me that Cote has not gone out of business.

Nice place for a lunch in middle of Watford mall!

When ever we go to Watford we go to Cote good food pleasant staff and good happy atmosphere

We come here often, and Svet Boykinov always makes us feel welcome and looks after us very well. The food is always incredible, and the portions and pricing is fair. Best restaurant in the area, we look forward to coming here again!

Amazing atmosphere and great service from Svet Boykinov who made our visit at the restaurant an amazing experience with great service and a friendly smile

Sea food broth with no prawns ? Really not good enough.

I went to have lunch with a group from the company, and I ordered a well-done steak. However, when the food arrived, the steak was dry as a sole, accompanied by wilted lettuce and potatoes. The meal seemed like it had been cooked for hours and reheated. The service was not very professional, and the taste of the food was awful – tough and old meat.

This is place REFUSES cash!!! I hope that they experience a very long power supply outage of a few weeks minimum. Then they might have regretted their decision to go CASHLESS. Come on, Mon Ami, you can do far better than that.

This place REFUSES to take cash!!! I just hope that they experience a decently long power supply outage of a few weeks minimum. Then they might have regretted being completely CASHLESS. Come on, Mon Ami, you can seriously do better than that.

An excellent restaurant with great food and a wonderful lively atmosphere. The staff are first class and the place is well kept

Was pleasantly surprised when visiting this restaurant with a group of friends. Service was very good and efficient and the food quality was much better than expected.

Friendly staff always a warm welcome

Have been a few times the quality of food has gone down but the price has increased was going to have a birthday party for 12 family but have changed venue

Excellent restaurant. Service and friendliness of all staff first class. Delivery of courses perfectly timed and not rushed. Very enjoyable relaxed atmosphere. Perfectly tender Calamari and excellent Ribeye Steak. An overall excellent experience and significantly ahead of the mediocrity of other restaurants.

French style restaurant chain. Decent interiors, good menu, wine and beer at not mad money.

Update: Despite being short of staff, this restaurant is awesome. Went here again last week. As i knew, i would be returning after my last experience. Now im looking at returning for my birthday next month, which should be nice. Thank you to Ed. Jessica. Neringa. Alwin. Violeta. Lewis and abdul. - previous review. A massive thanks to this restaurant. I came here for a friends wedding meal. The staff are awesome, and the cook is amazing. Due to dietary needs, i never eat steak, but today, i made an exception for the first time in 17 years (yes, seriously!). Kasper made an awesome mean steak with fries, so tasty well cooked (my preference, i can't do medium) and tender. Made my day. Thank you, Kasper. Emilia and Andreea, awesome service. On point. Well organised and we were warm welcomes. Thank you both. Cosy and clean restaurant. Def a new favourite for myself in the future.

Cote Watford is our favourite town centre restaurant - lovely team and we enjoyed the Alpine menu.

This was my first visit to Cote in ten years. My previous experiences were not great. We eat out a lot and it was suggested we go to Cote. I begrudgingly agreed. It was excellent. Service superb, menu so much better than all the other chain restaurants. Prices sensible which meant we had a nicer bottle of wine! Will be returning. And soon. Ps only marked atmosphere as a 3* as it was a wet, miserable Tuesday in January when we visited.

Came here for a company Christmas meal. I controversially got the steak and it was cooked to perfection. Portions were on the small side but that is to be expected with the quality. Only real issue was we felt mislead when choosing the wine and ended up buying several bottles that were alot more expensive than what we thought which was a shock at the end. Great food and good service though, was impressed.

We consistently choose the Watford and St Albans branches of Cote for family outings, as they consistently provide exceptional food and a delightful atmosphere. Additionally, the Windsor branch has become our preferred destination for quarterly ladies' nights with friends, offering superb cuisine and a charming riverside setting. We highly recommend these branches for a memorable dining experience.

Fantastic experience from beginning to end. They were very accommodating to us bringing our new born baby. Ed took good care of us throughout

The quality of the food was good, the service could be better it was a little slow and some sides were missed off the order, however these were issued free.

Food was ok, nothing special and the service was a little slow. The staff were super friendly and the atmosphere was good. Decent option if you need breakfast in Watford.

Aatiyah was very friendly and warm throughout our time, food was delicious aswell. Deco and vibe was pleasent and festive. Really loved it.

A great lunch. I had the parfait then the beef bourguignon and both were delicious. The staff were very courteous and attentive. I would recommend cote to others for lunch.

Nice place, went for Christmas lunch. Service was late due to a system issues but the staff were doing their best. When the food did arrive it was nice and fresh. May visit again in the new year.

Vom Service bis zur Küche war alles bestens. Großes Lob

We had a work Christmas meal there last night and it was lovely. Great atmosphere, very friendly and efficient staff and delicious food. Loved it!

2nd visit and no regrets. The lunch menu doesn't fail , good quality food that tastes good. The service was great the staff were funny and entertaining , really made us laugh! Definitely recommend.