Canadian Sports Brasserie La Cage Opens in London, Food Critic Gives Mixed Review
While the venue offers a wide array of sports viewing and a notable poutine, the overall dining experience, including wings and ribs, was found lacking.
La Cage, a Canadian sports brasserie with 35 locations across Quebec, has opened its doors on London's Kensington High Street. The venue boasts numerous large screens broadcasting a variety of sports, from football and cricket to darts and Grand Prix racing, aiming to cater to sports fans. However, food critic Tom Parker Bowles of the Daily Mail expressed disappointment with the culinary offerings, describing the experience as largely 'downhill' after the initial impressions.
Parker Bowles noted the restaurant's expansive and glossy interior, featuring dark wood, exposed brickwork, and ice hockey stick sculptures. The atmosphere is characterized by commercial house music and dim lighting. While the service was described as charming, it was also found to be disorganized, even during a period when the establishment was not at full capacity. The 'Bloody Montreal Caesar,' a cocktail made with Clamato juice and garnished with bacon, was highlighted as a noteworthy drink.
The critic contrasted La Cage with other successful sports bar models, particularly mentioning the elevated comfort food found at establishments like Passyunk Avenue. The wings at La Cage were characterized as "bleak, dry and joyless" with insufficient sauce, and the ribs were described as "over-sweet and desiccated." The Caesar salad also received criticism for its lack of anchovies, chilliness, and the unexpected addition of fried capers.
Despite the criticisms, the pizza at La Cage was deemed "actually edible," featuring a crust described as puffy and blistered. The poutine, a Canadian staple, was singled out as excellent, with its rubbery cheese curds, chips, and gravy. Parker Bowles concluded that while La Cage might satisfy those seeking both poutine and Premier League football, the dinner aspect of the experience was not recommended.
The review also noted that the cost is approximately £35 per head, and provided the venue's address as 201-203 Kensington High Street, London W8, with the website lacage.uk.