WHEN you are dining at a restaurant linked to one of the world’s top French chefs, you hope the food will live up to the hype - although this is not always the case.

Fortunately Brasserie Blanc, which is of course led by Michelin star chef Raymond Blanc, has had consistently good reviews since it opened its doors last summer.

The Bournemouth restaurant is the 20th site for the French restaurant group and is also the first to open inside a hotel, the Highcliff Marriott perched on the cliff tops.

We were invited to try the Sunday roast menu which features a choice of five main courses (including a vegetarian option, pumpkin ravioli) and you can add any starter or dessert for just £3.50.

The brilliant restaurant manager, Reg Pielesz, who knows the menu inside out, recommended that we try one of the starters from the specials menu featuring a cheese he described as, “the grandfather of brie”.

After being sliced in half, it is filled with black truffle, left for a week for the flavours to develop, then wrapped in filo pastry, deep fried and served on a pea puree with broad beans, balsamic glaze and tomato salsa (£7.95).

This elegant looking dish, which is exclusive to this restaurant, was so exquisite that it’s almost worthy of a review in its own right!

The sommelier was equally knowledgeable and recommended Reserve de Mirou, Picpoul de Pient, which was an inspired choice, full of crisp, fresh pear drop and citrus flavours.

For main course I had half a free range corn-fed Bretagne chicken (£15.50) which had been roasted and then artfully arranged on the plate, nestling alongside perfectly roasted potatoes, a giant Yorkshire pudding, a selection of vegetates and cauliflower cheese.

Although I don’t often have dessert, I’d heard such rave reviews about the pistachio soufflé (£6.90 from the à la carte menu) and I wasn’t disappointed. Light and fluffy as a soufflé should be, but cooked in cocoa powder leaving a little crunch on the edges and served with a rich chocolate ice cream.

If you’re looking for a special Sunday roast, at one of the best locations in town, with five-star service, Brasserie Blanc takes some beating.