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Eating out in Chester

If 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.

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Reviews

Here are our thoughts on some of the restaurants that we and our guests have tried. Most of them are in the city centre and within walking distance of Baker's Cottage. Remember to check out our Chester pubs page as well since many of them offer food.

Cafes and sandwich shops

Blue Moon cafe

The 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 Sugar

19 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.

"Brown Sugar - very friendly." A. K. (July 2011).

Doorsteps Sandwich shop (take away)

Handbridge

"Excellent fresh sandwiches and baguettes" J. T. (February 2011).

Harvey's sandwich & espresso bar

41 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 Restaurant

Chester 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 aways

Amber Lounge

Watergate Row, tel: 01244 316477.

Recommended for lunchtime light meals - "Great attentive service" L.C. (February 2008).

Aqua-vitus restaurant

Watergate Street, tel: 01244 313721.

"Recommend Aquavitus - 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 Italia

Eastgate Street, tel: 01244 325420.

"Provided a reliable evening meal." Mr F. (September 2006).

Blackhouse Grill

Pepper Street, tel: 01244 400 507.

"Very good, varied bistro menu, kids menu, excellent service". J. T. (February 2011).

Cherry Valley

Handbridge, 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 Tandoori

Brooke Street, tel: 01244 347410.

"We had an enjoyable meal... I was presented with a red carnation when we left!". K.S. (September 2006).

Davies's fish and chip shop

Lower Bridge Street.

"The best chips!" M.J. (January 2006).

Duttons

Godstall Lane, tel: 01244 401869.

"A lively bustling place for a good lunch time meal." Mr F. (September 2006).

Francs

Cuppin Street, tel; 01244 317952.

Friendly and relaxed French style restaurant. We enjoyed our meal here and would recommend it.

Joseph Benjamin

Northgate Street, tel: 01244 344295.

"Excellent". A. H. (July 2011).

La Fattoria

Lower 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! La Fattoria is getting very popular and you may need to book ahead if you want to eat here on a Saturday night (May 2011).

"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 Tasca

Cuppin Street, tel: 01244 400887.

A Spanish tapas bar and restaurant. They do a children's tapas menu which our kids liked but we were less impressed with our seafood paella. The general idea of lots of small tapas dishes to share makes it quite sociable, but the quality of the food is nothing special. (May 2011).

Michael Caines at Abode

Grosvenor Road, tel: 01244 347000

This Michelin starred chef has set up a restaurant on the top floor of the Abode hotel with a balcony overlooking the river and racecourse. The food is of a very high standard (with prices to match).

Moules a Go Go restaurant

Watergate 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).

Piccolino

Pepper Street, tel: 01244 312123.

Popular Italian restuarant with a lively buzz and good food. There's a stylish bar where you can enjoy a drink whilst waiting for your table (May 2011).

"Excellent" W.N. (July 2011).

"Very big and very busy. Great food, service and fantastic venue, lots of atmosphere" L.C. (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).

Pizza Express

St. John Street, tel: 01244 323 265

We've been a couple of times and found the service the opposite of 'Express'. Not to mention the last time we visited were told there'd be a 45 minute wait because they'd run out of pizza dough - not living up to their name on both counts! (We went to La Fattoria instead - see above).

Ruan Orchid

Lower 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 Restaurant

4, Hoole Road, tel: 01244 342888

We enjoyed excellent Chinese food here and our children found plenty to suit their tastes too. It's probably too far to walk from Handbridge but it does have its own car park. We'd recommend booking, particularly at weekends (February 2011).

Upstairs at the Grill

Watergate 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 away

Hartington 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 restaurants

Of course these reviews are just our own opinions. You can read more formal restaurant ratings and listings on these web sites:

  • The AA restaurant and pub guide includes two or three places in the city centre and several more within easy driving distance.
  • The Michelin web site lists several restaurants with coveted Michelin stars in and around Chester. You need to register (for free) when you search. Get started by clicking on the word 'restaurants' at the top of the Michelin page to bring up the search page.
  • Visit Chester food and drink section has an extensive list of eating places with short descriptions (although no ratings).
  • Chester@large lists and rates many local restaurants (although some of the ratings are quite old and may not be relevant now). There is also a lively forum with discussions about eating and drinking in Chester.
  • Tripadvisor has a large section on Chester including restaurant reviews.

 

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