Côte Norwich

You know exactly what you're getting when you push through those doors on Exchange Street, and that's precisely the point. The zinc-topped bar, burgundy banquettes and crisp white tablecloths deliver that Parisian brasserie feel without feeling like a theme park, while the kitchen turns out decent coq au vin and steak frites that won't embarrass your French mate. The breakfast menu runs until 11:30am most days, making it a solid shout for late weekend brunches when you can't face another greasy spoon. Service moves at a proper clip, which makes sense given the prime city centre location - you're often surrounded by shoppers taking a breather and office workers grabbing quick lunches. It's not groundbreaking, but sometimes you just want a decent croque monsieur.