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Eating out in ChesterIf you want a break from self-catering you will find that you have plenty of choice in Chester and the surrounding area. We are building up this reviews page to help you find the best places to eat. On this page:
ReviewsHere are our thoughts on some of the restaurants and pubs that we and our guests have tried. Most of them are in the city centre and within walking distance of Baker's Cottage. Cafes and sandwich shopsBlue Moon cafeThe Groves, tel: 01244 322481. A popular riverside cafe with a wide range of food and a nostalgic 50s style. The coffee is excellent. "The cafe was relaxing and did great cappucinos." T.B. (March 2007). Brown Sugar19 Handbridge, tel: 01244 683386 This Handbridge cafe makes a very handy stop off on the way in to or back from the city centre. As well as hot and cold drinks, yummy cakes and light meals they also provide internet access and free Wi-Fi. They are open on Sundays - excellent for brunch. Crumbs of HandbridgeQueen's Park View, tel: 01244 683401. Our local sandwich shop and bakery with a wide choice of sandwiches, wraps, paninis and pastries. Excellent for picking up a lazy picnic and if your order is over £15 you can phone it through and they'll deliver it to you for free (within 3 miles). "We do like Crumbs!" R.A. (April 2009). Harvey's sandwich & espresso bar41 Bridge Street, tel: 01244 347740. "Friendly, great breakfast and coffee stop on our way around Chester" T.B. (September 2008). The Pasty Place (Take away)Bridge Street, tel: 01244 318897. We had some tasty vegetarian pasties from here and the carnivores' options looked pretty good too. Handy for taking down to the river bank or to Grosvenor Park for a picnic. (October 2005). The Refectory RestaurantChester Cathedral, tel: 01244 324756. The cathedral provides an atmospheric venue for a simple lunch or afternoon tea and is right in the city centre. Open 9.30 to 4.30 Monday to Saturday. Restaurants and take awaysAmber LoungeWatergate Row, tel: 01244 316477. Recommended for lunchtime light meals - "Great attentive service" L.C. (February 2008). Aquavit restaurantWatergate Street, tel: 01244 313721. "Recommend Aquavit - we had a lovely meal there at a reasonable price (4 courses and wine £60 for two of us), friendly staff who explained how to eat items we were unfamiliar with." Mr & Mrs C (July 2009). An unusual blend of swedish and french cooking. Unpretentious restaurant with great atmosphere and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal. We recommend it. (Their web site doesn't do it justice). (November 2004). Bella ItaliaEastgate Street, tel: 01244 325420. "Provided a reliable evening meal." Mr F. (September 2006). Cherry ValleyHandbridge, tel: 01244 678364. This is a chinese restaurant and take away. We have tried both eating in and take away. The food is classic Chinese - no surprises there, and with generous portions. We ordered more than we needed to for our take away (2 starters, 2 mains, mixed veg, rice and noodles at £31). The food is OK, but we thought the restaurant was uninspiring and lacked atmosphere. (October 2005). The Chester TandooriBrooke Street, tel: 01244 347410. "We had an enjoyable meal... I was presented with a red carnation when we left!". K.S. (September 2006). Chez GerardBridge Street, tel: 01244 400851 One of E.C.'s favourite eateries with it's "excellent child menu". (May 2008). Davies's fish and chip shopLower Bridge Street. "The best chips!" M.J. (January 2006). Dos Americas restaurantWatergate Row, tel: 01244 347207. Recommended by J.L : "Good fun, informal, great service. Lovely hustly bustly atmosphere, recommend the big jugs of marguerites. Would make a great place for a birthday bash. We enjoyed the chicken fajitas and crayfish burritos" (March 2005). DuttonsGodstall Lane, tel: 01244 401869. "A lively bustling place for a good lunch time meal." Mr F. (September 2006). FrancsCuppin Street, tel; 01244 317952. Friendly and relaxed French style restaurant. We enjoyed our meal here and would recommend it. La BocaThe Groves, tel: 01244 311518 "An unusual menu, excellent service and good value for money". K.M. (August 2009). La Boca offers a Latin American menu at the Groves Bistro and is only open Wednesday to Saturday. La FattoriaLower Bridge Street, tel: 01244 317330. A traditional family friendly Italian restuarant with a wide choice of pizza, pasta and other italian dishes. Our children love it because of the way the chef throws the pizza dough around! "We, and particularly our son (age 2), enjoyed Fattoria. The staff were fantastic and kept him entertained." M.G. (March 2010). "Friendly, good Italian menu and good service." K.M. (August 2009). La TascaCuppin Street, tel: 01244 400887. A Spanish tapas bar and restaurant which feels like a one off but is actually part of a chain. The atmosphere was great on the Saturday night that we went - cosy lighting, a lively buzz, informal and friendly. The food was classic Spanish Tapas - you order a variety of small dishes and share them between you. (April 2005). Also recommended for lunches - we went on a wet weekday with 2 small children and they loved it. (October 2005). Moules a Go Go restaurantWatergate Row, tel: 01244 348818. A varied menu, strong on seafood. A stylish modern restaurant, we enjoyed our meal and would recommend it. (February 2005). "Highly recommended", M.K. (February 2005). PiccolinoPepper Street, tel: 01244 312123. Italian restuarant - "very big and very busy. Great food, service and fantastic venue, lots of atmosphere" L.C. (February 2008). We agree - we had a great meal there, also in February 2008. E.M. rated it as one of their favourites "no child menu, but the side order of vegetables went down well with some bread and bits of our protein" (May 2008). Ruan OrchidLower Bridge Street, tel: 01244 400661. "Excellent and traditional Thai restaurant", A.D. (May 2007). We found it cosy with good service. Everything you would expect from a traditional Thai restaurant is on the extensive menu (May 2008). Shanghai Chinese Restaurant4, Hoole Road, tel: 01244 342888 We enjoyed excellent Chinese food here and our children found plenty to suit their tastes too. It's a long walk from Handbridge but it does have its own car park. We'd recommend booking, particularly at weekends (October 2009). Upstairs at the GrillWatergate Street, tel: 01244 344883 They specialise in steaks although have a selection of other modern dishes too. Generally highly thought of and we enjoyed our meal. The narrow layout of the building means that we started with drinks in the upstairs bar where we made our menu choices (hence the name). When the food was ready we were taken downstairs to the small restaurant area. We recommend booking because it is small and very popular. Wing Wah Chinese take awayHartington Street, Handbridge, tel: 01244 681245. Close to our holiday cottage but we didn't rate their fish and chips - maybe they are better at Chinese food? (June 2004). "Found the Wing Wah a bit basic but excellent value." F.L. (March 2010). "Local and very good chinese food" A.D. (May 2007). "It wasn't the best we have had!" D. & H.G. (October 2006). "...great food, nothing posh, but great for a takeaway, excellent value for money" M.H. (June 2005). More Chester restaurantsOf course these reviews are just our own opinions. You can read more formal restaurant ratings and listings on these web sites:
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"We like eating out and were pleased to discover that every eatery we visited had high chairs. " Miss J. from England, January 2006.
Hi-life Some restaurants in Chester also accept Hi-Life cards which allow members to enjoy 2 meals for the price of one. At the time of writing these include the Red House Restaurant, Brasserie Chez Gerard, Ego, the Blackhouse Grill and Moules a Go-go. Hi-life membership costs around £60 a year and most of the participating restaurants are in North West England. If you think you might benefit then visit their web site at www.hi-life.co.uk or call them on 0800 458 4634.
Some places we'd like to try:The Grosvenor Hotel in the heart of the city has a bar, a Brasserie and a Michelin star restaurant. Tel: 01244 324024. The Red House overlooks the River Dee and has a mouthwatering daytime and evening menu. Tel: 01244 320088. |
