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Côte Petite Esher brings the familiar pleasures of a French brasserie to the centre of this well-heeled Surrey town. Set on the High Street, it suits leisurely lunches, relaxed dinners and occasions around nearby Sandown Park.
This location follows Côte’s Petite format, with a more compact menu than its traditional brasseries. The focus remains on recognisable French cooking and seasonal dishes, with enough choice for anything from a quick lunch to a longer evening over wine.
A Petite Take on the Côte Brasserie
Côte Petite is a streamlined interpretation of the wider Côte experience. In Esher, that means an edited menu centred on established favourites, supported by seasonal dishes and a Prix Fixe option.
The atmosphere has the easygoing character of a neighbourhood brasserie, with an outside area for warmer days and semi-private dining for business lunches, birthdays and family occasions. It feels particularly suited to Esher, balancing local regulars with visitors arriving for racing, theatre and cinema.
At Home on Esher High Street
The restaurant sits at 102-106 High Street, within easy reach of Esher Theatre and Everyman Cinema. Sandown Park Racecourse is also nearby, making Côte Petite a convenient choice for lunch before the races or dinner afterwards.
Its central position also works well for an early meal before a performance or film, while on quieter days it remains an easy choice for an unhurried local lunch or dinner.
French Favourites, Carefully Edited
The main menu stays close to the foundations of modern French brasserie cooking. There is enough variety for different appetites without losing the more focused character of the Côte Petite concept.
To Start
Sharing can begin simply with a French baguette and Brittany salt butter, or Fougasse, a Provençal sourdough garlic bread served with flavoured butters. For something richer, Baked Camembert comes with Provençal chilli compote and seeded sourdough.
The Charcuterie Board is another natural choice for the table, accompanied by pickled cucumber, celeriac remoulade, Provençal chilli compote and sourdough baguette.
Côte Classics
Steak Frites remains one of Côte’s defining brasserie dishes, pairing minute steak with garlic butter and frites. Poulet Breton features corn-fed chicken roasted with garlic, rosemary and thyme, while Beef Bourguignon combines braised beef cheek with mushrooms, bacon and carrots over creamed potatoes.
Other substantial choices include Confit Pork Belly with Savoy cabbage, apple, raisins, Calvados jus and gratin dauphinois, and Duck Confit with orange and passion fruit jus, wild mushroom creamed lentils and Tenderstem broccoli.
Seafood is equally well represented. Moules Marinière keeps to the traditional combination of Scottish mussels, white wine, shallot and cream, while the Breton Fish Stew combines mussels, prawns and sea bream in a tomato, white wine and chilli sauce. Salmon Béarnaise comes with Tenderstem broccoli and sautéed tarragon new potatoes.
Steaks and Lighter Mains
The steak selection extends to fillet, sirloin and ribeye, served with a baby gem wedge and frites, with sauces and sides available separately.
Lighter options include Tuna Niçoise with soft-boiled egg, anchovies, mustard dressing and confit potatoes, and Crab & Prawn Linguine with white wine, lobster butter, cherry tomatoes, chilli and basil. The Caesar Salad can be supplemented with anchovies, Savoie ham or chicken, while the Sirloin Steak Baguette comes with caramelised onions, rocket and Dijonnaise.
Vegetarian choices include Provençal Tarte Tatin with grilled aubergine, courgette and peppers, Boursin and rocket, alongside Risotto Vert with peas, courgettes, French beans, salsa vierge and pine nuts.
Desserts and Cheese
Dessert keeps to familiar brasserie territory, with crème brûlée among the French classics and richer chocolate options for those wanting something more indulgent. Cheese offers a more savoury finish, particularly after steak or one of the slow-cooked meat dishes.
The compact menu is one of Côte Petite’s strengths, offering enough choice for a leisurely three-course meal without becoming unwieldy.
Wine and Drinks at the Table
French wines naturally feature prominently, with crisp whites suited to Moules Marinière, Breton Fish Stew or Tuna Niçoise and fuller reds pairing well with Beef Bourguignon, duck and steak.
Champagne and sparkling wine suit celebratory meals, particularly around Esher’s racing calendar, while cocktails and aperitifs provide an easy start to dinner.
Dining Around Race Days and Occasions
Sandown Park gives Côte Petite Esher particular relevance within the town’s social calendar. Its High Street location works well for a pre-racing lunch or dinner afterwards, without requiring a journey into central London.
Semi-private dining also makes the restaurant useful for celebrations, group occasions and business meals. For theatre and cinema visits, the Prix Fixe menu provides a more structured option when time is limited, while the main menu suits a more leisurely evening.
A Relaxed Surrey Address
Côte Petite Esher is an approachable choice for French brasserie cooking in the town’s centre. Its edited menu, relaxed setting and proximity to Sandown Park make it particularly useful for race days, while its High Street location works equally well for local lunches, dinners and evenings out in Esher.
Location: 102-106 High St, Esher, London KT10 9QJ
