It feels so good to get out and about. Still carefully. Still with all the precautions (I don’t think I’m ever without at least two bottles of hand sanitiser in my handbag, and my eyes ready to give dirty looks to the first person who sits on a bus or a train with their mask barely over their top lip.
But still out and about.
Last week saw Keeley and I head out to Knutsford. One of my favourite spots for charity shop shopping, it also has some great food and drink venues of it’s own, the most recent of which is the Cheshire House Bar & Grill.
It’s centrally placed (ideal for a post, or mid shop refuel), meaning that it’s a few minutes from the train station, but close to bars like Kuckoo and Dexter & Jones if you’re making a night of it.
We arrived to a warm welcome, and were seated in a window – perfect for a little people watching as they wander in and around the central shops. The decor is a deep warm blue, with plush seating, and upstairs there’s a gorgeous flower wall next to the loos. So if you have to wait, at least you can grab a selfie or two.
Onto the menu, and drinks wise, you’re spoilt for choice. Cocktails (we recommend the salted caramel espresso martini, or the drumstick if you have a sweet tooth), a good local gin selection, wines, beers, and a very good selection of non-alcoholic drinks, including cocktails. Nobody needs to miss out.
That’s the same for the menu too, but more on that later. First, we dove into starters and nibbles.
The home made cajun potato crisps were high on our nibble list, and we weren’t disappointed. Thick cut, chunky, and full of flavour, Keeley also discovered that they went well an element of her starter, the hummus on her terrine plate. So much so, she suggested that these would be an excellent pairing of their own.
Her starter as a whole was generous and delicious, with both ham hock terrine and a smoked chicken and herb terrine along with the beetroot hummus. Caramelised red onion chutney and toasted bread finished off the dish, and unlike some, the amount of bread too was generous, avoiding that I’ve-still-got-a-ton-of-terrine-but-no-bread-or-crackers situation.
My starter was the chilli garlic squid, probably one of the best squid dishes I’ve had in some time, the squid was done perfectly (and I don’t say that lightly), not a hint of rubberiness, or density, each bite was light and tender. Served with plenty of rocket, and a punchy dressing, it made for a delightfully fresh starter.
Onto mains, and while Keeley went with a classic steak (which looked delightful), I went a little off-piste with the vegan fish and chips. Rather than using a meat substitute, the ‘fish’ is banana blossom, marinated in seaweed and lemon, served with big fat chips and vegan tartare sauce.
The result is something texturally akin to fish, but with a lighter flavour, the seaweed and lemon giving a little ‘fishiness’ to it. The centre of the fruit was denser and a little more nutty, but not unpleasant, even if it wasn’t fish like. It’s definitely something I’d have again, and I can see why it works well in a pakora style dish.
Finally, to dessert. Whilst Keeley opted for the lemon posset, served with shortbread, I went for a summer favourite for me, Eton mess. Local clotted cream ice cream, meringue, fresh strawberries, a fresh strawberry coulis and whipped Chantilly cream were plated together to create a somewhat posher version of the dessert I normally throw together in a bowl at home.
Overall, we really enjoyed ourselves. The service is great – warm and welcoming but not overly attentive. The venue is ideal for date night, or a night out with friends, and judging by the food on other tables, everything looks good (even the salads!). I’ve no doubt we’ll visit again soon.