][1]We weren’t going to do individual restaurants for Valentine’s ‘cos it would just get too much but we were particularly tickled by The Arches effort.
The city centre club and performance space is hosting another of its cafe makeovers. Previously, we told you about the Madonna makeover when the cafe was turned into a shrine to La Madge. The present wheeze is to turn the basement cafe space into a Parisian bistro to coincide with a sold out stage version of the Belleville Rendez-vous animation which takes place tomorrow evening.
The cafe is tricked out with rusty bikes, Tour de France memorabilia and candles wedged into wine bottles. To complete the atmos, early 20th century silent movies will be playing. There will be a £20 three course Valentine’s dinner running on the 14th of February but we also liked the super-French menu that the venue was running on specific performance nights.
It comes in at £9.95 for three courses along with a small glass of wine and includes such filmic delicacies as Cyrano de Bourguignon; Betty Blue cheeses and La Cage aux Onions, otherwise known as French onion soup.
While the main Belleville show has sold out, FellSwoop Theatre’s jazz quartet will be entertaining diners in the cafe this evening with some of the repertoire from the show. On Thursday 23 February, The Arches Community Choir will be giving diners a taste of their tonsils in a Gallic stylee. The uber-French menu will be running on both nights.
Natch, The Arches Cafe Bar also has other fine 5pm deals. Check the pre-theatre.