Montparnasse

Reviews

• Great food, but lacked the wow factor

  I'd heard only great things about Bistro Montparnasse in Southsea, so I was really looking forward to finally trying it and I expected great things!The actual restaurant itself was not really as I expected - very simple, quite small, not fancy in the slightest. But it was very nice and relaxed. Service was friendly but a little slow to get started. There seemed to be about 5 young guys serving, but only one man who would take the orders, the rest were just to bring out the dishes, and clear the tables which was a shame as it made ordering an extra glass of wine take a bit longer than you would want! The food itself was very nice. We got a pre-starter of goats cheese foam with toffee apple. Foam - I hate foam, I think it looks like dog sick! Luckily on this occasion the foam looked more like whipped cream, and it did taste quite good. However, I had also ordered goats cheese for my starter so thought that an additional goats cheese pre-starter was an unfortunate choice! The starter was nice - goats cheese fondant, although it was basically just deep fried/baked (?) pieces of goats cheese in a crispy coating, with some sauce and jelly. On to the main for a loin of venison which was delicious! and then the pudding of hot chocolate pudding which was also delicious.Overall I was impressed with the food, and couldn't beleive it had taken me so long to eat at a good restaurant in Portsmouth! The 3 courses were about £33 from a set menu.But then I thought back to a meal I had recently in Vatika (Wickham Vineyards)which was £35 for 3 courses - a meal which totally blew Bistro Montparnasse out of the water I am afraid. Although I thought Bistro Montparnasse was very good, the next time I intend to spend about £35 on 3 courses I'll be going back to Vatika instead for a bit of 'WOW' factor. I just hope they dont put their prices up!

  Imicola
  Review Date: 08/03/2009 Report review
• Fantastic

  In my view the best restaurant Southsea has had in many years food cooked to perfection

  20

  Lyle M.
  Review Date: 18/01/2009 Report review