We went for a daytrip to Liverpool for Kieran’s birthday and decided to get some lunch. This was actually a lot harder than it sounded. We were trying to find something at short notice in the Liverpool One area – and could only find exactly the same chain restaurants that I refuse to eat at in Manchester. Sigh.
Eventually, we found Bistro Franc, which as the name suggests, is a French Bistro. They were doing a 3 course lunch menu for £8.95 – perfect!
I’m getting quite sick of modern restaurants, with floor to ceiling glass and monochrome decoration. It was nice to go to a place with a wine bottle with a candle sticking out of it!
For starters, Kieran and I both ordered the smoked salmon salad.
Smoked Salmon salad with Creme Fraiche
This was lovely – and they certainly didn’t skimp on the smoked salmon. The salad leaves could have been a bit fresher though!
For mains, I ordered roast pork with apple and a creamy calvados sauce, but they didn’t have the pork, so they replaced it with a duck breast instead!
Duck breast, with sliced apples and creamy calvados sauce.
Not the most appetising plate you’ve ever seen is it? Though the duck breast was cooked perfectly pink, they clearly did not let it rest before slicing it and putting it on the plate – hence the blood everywhere. Despite appearances, this was absolutely lovely. It was served with a selection of veg, including one of my favourites, red cabbage, which complements duck so well.
Carrots, red cabbage, potato and cauliflower
For dessert, I had some rather disappointing profiteroles. I love profiteroles – but there was wayyy too much cream here. The profiteroles themselves were placed on a big pile of cream as well as being stuffed with cream.
Profiteroles
Also, that is not real chocolate. It’s out of a bottle chocolate flavoured sauce. Which is a cardinal sin in my rule book.
Overall, it was quite a pleasant lunch. I really liked the bistro itself, the food was tasty enough, the service was good and the lunch deal was amazing value. Just a couple of tweaks like resting the meat and using actual chocolate and I would love this place!
January 21, 2012 at 11:10 pm
Sounds very good value especially considering you got duck instead of pork. If I remember correctly there used to be a Francs bistro at Goose Green in Altrincham that was very good and not too pricey and there is deffo one in Chester tucked away in a side street which was nice so I wonder if these are linked? Pity about the blood though.
January 22, 2012 at 3:54 pm
I know which one you mean in Altrincham, used to go there all the time. Have been meaning to take Kieran! They do good deals too – I’m on their mailing list, so one of these days I’ll get down there, will make a nice change from eating in town. It’s definitely not related to this one though – must just be a common name for a french restaurant!
January 22, 2012 at 12:02 am
I would have had to send the duck back for a clean plate, sound like a gods lunch deal overall though!
January 22, 2012 at 3:55 pm
Thankfully I’m not bothered by blood, but I can see how it could bother other people! I was just more surprised that the chef didn’t replate it, or at least drain the blood off it before sending it out.
January 30, 2012 at 10:52 pm
[...] area – you could literally spend all day there. We got lunch at Franc’s Bistro (see review here) before returning [...]