Brasserie Sixty6

Recession? What recession?

That's the first thing that sprang to mind when Tom and I walked in to Brasserie Sixty6 (on George's Street) this evening for one of our Chew & Chat encounters. The place was jammered! We were sent to the bar to wait for our table to be ready, and lots more people who came in after us were asked to do the same. Business is so good, in fact, that they've opened the restaurant space into what used be their adjoining delicatessen. We'd been there a few times before and had always liked it, and it's a place which would come to mind any time I had visitors over. It was as good tonight as it ever was. Bringing the bread on a board on a cut-it-yourself basis was just one of many nice touches, and the service was unfailingly efficient and friendly.

I had meatballs with tomato ragout for starter and Rotisserie Duck with a citrus & coriander glaze for main (both really good). 'My companion' (as all the best reviews say) chose Moroccan spiced lamb skewer with tomato & courgette served with marinated coriander crème fraiche and homemade chutney for starter and ribeye steak for main, and he was as happy as I was. Desserts were a bit disappointing, I have to say (why is this so often the case?), but the house wine was excellent, the coffee was good, and – of course – conversation was non-stop.

Our booking was for 8:30, and it was approaching midnight by the time we left. One drink together in the Library Bar and one for me in the late-night pub on College Green  after we parted, then I got the Nitelink home at 2:00 am. A great night.