Cafes / Reviews
Cafe Du Jour, Park Street – cafe review
In an era of design where the finished look often looks unfinished, it is refreshing to see a new cafe looking somewhat sophisticated.
Cafe Du Jour is a French cafe after all, with music from our cousins over the Channel playing on speakers like the cafe’s own older cousin midway up Whiteladies Road.
Those in a hurry need not go any further than just by the front door where there is a small counter with quick lunch options including sandwiches and baguettes.
Venture further inside and see bottles of wine and strings of onions on display. French delights also include Dijon mustard, butter from Isigny and chestnut purée. Even the crisps are kept in old wooden wine crates.
There is one nod to current trends in one display unit balancing on scaffolding poles, but there is no exposed brickwork or filament light bulbs in sight.
The main counter here is in the far corner as it was when this was Park Street Cafe, with the kitchen behind located between the cafe and Java nightclub.
Breakfasts such as steamed scrambled eggs (£4.95) and of course pastries and freshly squeezed orange juice, and lunches separated on the menu into baguettes (all freshly made to order), croques, salads, quiches and assiettes.
When I visited on Thursday morning, there were two plats du jour: salade de niçoise (£7.95) and grilled Merguez sausages (£7.75) served with Mediterranean vegetable cous cous.
A little bit of France has arrived in the middle of Bristol and c’est magnifique.
Cafe Du Jour, 11 Park Street, Bristol, BS1 5NF
www.cafe-dujour.co.uk