Cardiff's Little Paris doesn't really deliver

Here's the game: Cafe Rouge supposedly offers us the authentic French experience, so it's up to us to decide if it delivers.

First impressions are good. The interior looks Parisian(ish) and the manager's keen to please. A table is magicked from no where and we're whisked to a spot right in the middle of the restaurant.

Sadly that's where any notion of French authenticity disappears. The not-so-gentle boom of some hideous light-rock canned music breaks through, and the novelty nature of the pictures and furniture becomes apparent. The waitress is even Latvian, although she's VERY good, far too nice to work in a French restaurant in fact.

But the real disappointments lie on the plate. True, the menu offers promise with Toulouse sausages, Boeuf Bourgignon and Moules. Sadly, the taste fell off the back of the lorry somewhere between Calais and Cardiff. That beef comes in a beautifully thick sauce but there's not so much excitement in the mouth despite a good hint of bay, nor are there any vegetables. A confit of duck is distinctly overcooked and the Dauphinois potatoes could really do with more of a kick. The only dessert worth trying is the 'trio' medley (actually pretty decent) but don't bother with the recommneded Banana Crepe (utterly boring and swimming in supermarket chocolate sauce). Do have a coffee though. They're good at that.

And if you really want to be sure you're not in France check out the gents' toilets. They are spotlessly clean.