Next Door

Fashionable Cheshire vibes abound at this charming cottage restaurant in a posh commuter village between Chester and Manchester. Outside, it’s a half-timbered dream, inside it’s all low oak beams set against open red brick, with modern flourishes and contemporary art. The name comes from when husband and wife team chef and sommelier (he’s in the kitchen, she’s out front) lived in the adjoining house. Now they live a couple of doors further away, but this still feels like you’ve been invited into someone’s home – one belonging to a couple who are passionate about providing good food and excellent hospitality. The lunchtime set menu is excellent value and service is effective and knowledgeable. Unpretentious cooking makes excellent use of good local produce in stylish modern British dishes. Get started with some great bread – perhaps one that's light and airy with rapeseed oil and poppy seeds, served warm, with whipped butter delicately flavoured with black truffle. A neat dish of heritage carrot comes with intense smoked crème fraîche, fragments of crunchy honeycomb and a nice kick of spices. Chalk stream trout is joined by langoustine croquettes and salty roe butter, with a beautiful bisque sauce poured at the table, the jug left so you can help yourself to more – a perfectly balanced plate of food. A stunning fillet of tender and melting Welsh Black beef makes a great main. It's served with a dice of violet potato coated in a vibrant pistou sauce, a crunchy disc of lightly pickled beetroot, and dehydrated violet potato dust to finish things off beautifully. For dessert, you might choose a refined pear tart with vanilla crème patisserie, pear brunoise and a pear and custard parfait; a vibrant basil and vanilla ice cream is a refreshing accompaniment. The wine list is short but exceptionally well chosen.

Awards, accolades & Welcome Schemes

3 Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence