Brasserie Blanc, EC4

I don’t normally go in for reviewing restaurants but as this place is on Pubs Galore, and I did go in here for a meal then I reckon it’s fair game. As a restaurant all the tables were laid for diners of course, with the full works – cutlery, wine glasses, napkins. But there were a couple of stools at the bar that you could sit at, and it seems you can sit at the tables if all you want to do is drink because when we asked for menus after we had been in there for a while the waitress said that she thought we were only drinking. I guess that I and my companions look like the sort of people who would spend their time drinking rather than eating, so she had us sussed from the start. But I just can’t imagine coming in here just to drink, but I some City types might do just that. Anyway, we eventually convinced her to let us see the prix fixe menu, and that we didn’t want the Champagne at the bargain price of £30 a pop. The prix fixe menu gives you three courses for £19.50, and the quality was very good. Being tightwads we went for the cheapest red wine at £24 or so a bottle (perhaps the Champers was a bargain at £30!) which was a very nice Cabernet Sauvignon (I think). This place is fair enough as a restaurant, but I wouldn’t bother coming in here just for a drink. In fact next time I expect we’ll stay in Ye Olde Watling and work through their ales, soaked up somewhat by some pub grub.