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EATING
OUT
It's
showtime!
Jerry
Lebens camps it up at Venue
What
do you do of a Sunday when you're feeling, well, just a
little jaded. When the sticky finger of desire doesn't even
raise a tickle. You need something new. Something decadent.
Something to stretch the edges of your sad old envelope…
Yes, darlings, slip on your spangliest frock and your slinkiest
slingbacks then step on down to The Venue, and it's showtime,
cabaret is back in town!
Yes,
this is a restaurant review, but this isn't any old restaurant.
The Venue's been given an adaptable, stylish, makeover.
Facelift, botox, the works.
Proceedings
begin at 4.30pm, so do arrive a tad late to make your entrance
(central staircase provided). Drinkies, Kir for me (£2.75)
and a glass of dry white wine (£2.50). Nibble your
nibbles and study the set menu (£14.50 per person).
Starters, Deep fried Camembert with cranberry sauce
and a Seafood Salad. Both arrived at the same time
as a clean, dryish Chateau Grand Bireau, Entre deux Mers
(£12.95). Promising start.
The
Roast Lamb with Rosemary and Mushroom Sauce for my
friend and Pork Dijonaise for me. Large portions
all round, new and roast spuds and al dente veggies. Tasty,
fresh and large portions? Yes. Competent and well presented?
Yes.
Dessert? Strawberries with Whipped Cream? Profiteroles
with Chocolate Sauce? Tiramisu? Can't decide?
Another drink? Crisp Bourgogne Aligote (£17.95)
Excellent choice. The superb wine list is definitely worth
a detour.
The
turns arrived (Late? Of course!) Lights! Music! Dave Lynn
is a kosher killer queen (diamante with a laser beam). If
you have a nervous disposition - then don't look… don't
heckle, don't breathe, don't take pictures, don't be straight,
even worse, don't be gay, don't head for the powder room,
don't hide, don't, whatever you do just don't, it's safer.
Not content with an acid tongue? Then sample Dave singing
his way through hits from Oliver! and you too can consider
yourself one of us. Dave is available to destroy marriages
and cause funerals on 01273 390306.
Highly
recommended but don't wear the same frock.
Watch out for April 7: Maisy, May 5: Lola Lasagne, Jun 2:
Phil Starr, Jul 7: Dave Lynn.
Essential
Information
Food: Nicely cooked and well presented, but no veggie
option.
Service: Attentive
Atmosphere: Ooh, you could have cut it with a knife.
The
Venue
Cafe de Paris, 40 St James's Street
Brighton 01273 603740
Cabaret: once a month, Fridays: Kings Club III 9-1pm, otherwise
private hire, more tbc.
copyright New Insight 2002
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