Brasserie Blanc offers easy-going French dining on Bournemouth's West Cliff. It belongs to the small group set up by chef Raymond Blanc, which is now thirty years old, and this branch has a prime position on the clifftop at the Bournemouth Highcliff, where straightforward brasserie cooking comes with the sea behind it.
What's on the menu
The menu follows the brasserie tradition of French classics cooked without fuss and based on good ingredients. Typical dishes include a twice-baked cheese soufflé, dressed crab with frites, and steaks from bavette through to fillet, cooked to order. On Sundays a proper roast is served all day, and earlier in the day there is breakfast. The group prides itself on buying from British farmers and producers, while the wine list, unsurprisingly, favours France. Set nights such as a midweek steak night come and go, so look at the current menu on the restaurant's website before visiting rather than relying on a particular dish being on. For a sit-down restaurant, prices are mid-range rather than special-occasion territory, although the kitchen copes easily with celebrations.
The room and the view
Location is the big selling point. The brasserie is part of the Bournemouth Highcliff, high on the West Cliff, and its terrace looks down over the beach to the open sea, something few restaurants in this part of town can offer. The interior sticks to the well-known brasserie formula, warm, informal and lively, and works just as well for a long lunch, a bottle of wine with friends or an unhurried dinner. A number of private spaces, ranging from a small library-style room to larger areas, allow it to host everything from a quiet dinner for a few to a large party, so it is a favourite for birthdays and group gatherings.
Finding it
Brasserie Blanc is at 105 St Michael's Road, BH2 5DU, on the West Cliff. Bournemouth town centre and the pier are around ten minutes away on foot, and the clifftop paths and zig-zag routes down to the seafront are close at hand. It therefore slots easily into a longer day: a morning on the beach, a stroll through the gardens, and then lunch or dinner with a view. For other places to eat in the area, see our food & drink guide and the broader restaurants round-up.
Practical details
It is wise to reserve, above all for weekends, Sunday lunch and the busier evenings, and essential if you have your heart set on the terrace or a private room. Children have their own menu, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes appear on the main one, and allergen information is available; let the restaurant know of any dietary needs when booking. The bar area welcomes dogs. As the restaurant is inside a hotel, there is hotel parking, with additional paid parking on the West Cliff, though current arrangements and charges are best confirmed directly. Menus, hours and offers change with the seasons here as anywhere, so check the latest details with Brasserie Blanc before you go.