The starters, once we’d finally made our decisions, everything looked appetising and arrived promptly in spite of a pretty full house. Once I’d got over my Cromer crab being served in the ubiquitous Kilner jar, I could admire the pretty layers of avocado, crab, and prawn butter. Along with the crispy sour dough, it was a well-proportioned and tasty starter.

There were appreciative murmurs coming from the rest of the table. My friends had the Mediterranean fish soup (complete with three DIY pots of tempting extras), and the vegetable summer rolls which looked just like the picture on the website - always a good sign.

My duck leg confit with black cherry sauce, Dauphinoise potato, carrot, and green beans smelt amazing as it landed in front of me and didn’t disappoint. With crispy skin, tender meat, whole cherries, and a good slab of Dauphinoise, there wasn’t anything not to like. For those keen on Instagram, the confit duck leg would win over the marinated chicken, which may have benefitted from some greenery on the plate. Perhaps the waitress could have made the suggestion of a side order to compliment the dish. That said, everyone agreed that the mains were a success.

With only a small space left for dessert, I opted for the pistachio soufflé served with rich chocolate ice-cream. It looked the part, with a lovely fluffy top and beautifully dark chocolate ice-cream. The pretty pale green inside stayed cleverly away from over-sweetness and was perfectly matched to the ice-cream. The soufflé dish had been lined with something mint-chocolatey, giving a lightness to the dish which was a lovely surprise.

The chocolate mousse cup with cherry compote looked amazing with the little chocolate shells full of mousse and drizzles of shiny compote. There was much contented chuckling over the decadence of this dish. Lastly, the daintily served coconut rice with fresh mango was apparently light and flavoursome, with a well-considered nod to the Indian subcontinent. The four of us left patting our bellies in appreciation of a good meal. But it’s never just the food that makes a memorable evening; we also appreciated the cheerful and seamless service along with the relaxing vibe of Brasserie Blanc.