The work week is over and the weekend is here! The last place you want to be tonight is the kitchen. Let’s eat out!
Restaurant name: Café Routier
Address: 1353 Boston Post Road, Westbrook
Phone number: 860-399-8700; www.caferoutier.com
Cuisine: French with touches from other cultures
Price range: $6 to $32
Take out: Most dishes on the menu are available for take-out, but make time to enjoy the total dining experience at the restaurant.
Kid-friendly: Young children won’t find chicken tenders, pizza or even a kids’ menu. When our kids were younger, they loved the housemade fries and the chance to eat duck.
Why you should go right now: There are lots of ways to eat at Routier. The regional and seasonal menus change four times a year, while the “specialties” menu lists signature dishes and customer favorites. Right now, the Alsatian menu offers choices such as escargot cassoulette, choucroute garni au canard and a slow-simmered lamb shank. Although comfort and service are hallmarks of the dining room, the Mood Lounge offers an even more casual experience. Go with a group to be able to sample lots of the bar menu’s tapas and small plates, including mini Kobe burgers, melted Fontina fonduta and olive oil-cured tuna.
