Dauphine

Housed in a former Renault garage, bar and restaurant Dauphine is named after the Renault Dauphine, the successor of the 4CV. But that’s as far as the car references go.

Dauphine is popular with office workers from nearby Rembrandt Tower, and is invariably busy but not stuffy. This is largely due to the fact that the enormous space is divided into different ‘zones’: tables flanked by high-backed seats, like train carriages, at the front; stools and a standing area at the bar in the centre; and a more formal restaurant section at the back.

Dauphine’s menu is an assortment of bistro classics and international crowd-pleasers, including bagels, Caesar salad, steak tartare, crème brûlée and chocolate brownies.

Image of Dauphine restaurant and bar Dishes are often simple – such as the poached egg without sauce on a mountain of mixed salad – but they don't pretend to be otherwise. My personal favourites, which Dauphine does particularly well, are the smoked mackerel with toast and lemon mayonnaise, warm Lebanese fattoush salad and the XL hamburger with fries.

Wines, 20 of which are available by the glass, are decent and well-priced too, such as the Viognier-Chardonnay for €5 and an organic Pinot Noir for €5.75

Dauphine offers free WiFi, which goes down well with the business types who frequent the place. Service isn't always snappy, which doesn't go down quite as well, so visit when time is not a factor.