THE perfect end to a lovely summer’s weekend is most definitely the Faulkner Bar & Kitchen, in Hoole.
This chic, informal, friendly bar is situated in the buzzing village district of Chester, which attracts both locals, students and many of the city’s cosmopolitan residents alike.
The bar has just recently undergone a make-over and now boasts alfresco style windows along with its new summer menu, which includes firm favourites such as the legendary Faulkner fish finger sandwich, 2-4-1 Gourmet Burgers on a Wednesday and 2-4-1 pizzas on a Tuesday.
The award-winning bar also has flat screen TVs for the World Cup and is showing all England games.
For our night visit we were welcomed into the bar by our waitress and shown to our table-come-booth.
Surrounded by a selection of reconditioned, new and antique furniture, quirky pictures, multi-coloured tiles, chunky wooden tables in an airy light atmosphere, we settled in to peruse the extensive and inviting menu.
The restaurant prides itself on serving classic dishes with a modern twist, complete with a tapas, brunch and pizza menu, which they do effortlessly.
Hungry after saving ourselves all day, my partner and I decided a starter and a main was the way to go.
He decided on the Piri Piri Prawns which came in a tapas-style dish complete with a tasty sauce that had an authentic kick.
The last time I had sampled sardines was in Tenerife about seven years ago and decided to transport myself back in time to rekindle my taste buds.
Luckily for me these Moroccan Charmoula sardines were marinated and grilled to perfection, the flavours continuously burst in my mouth.
The starters were substantial but not too filling and after pouring ourselves another glass of the Operetto Garganega Pinot Grigio, the crisp apple taste cleansed our palettes ready for our main course.
The range of options on the menu is extensive to say the least, featuring spicy lamb, stonebaked pizzas, homemade burgers, chic greek salads and pub classics like fish & chips and gammon.
With a taste for the exotic, my partner decided to sample the bar’s lamb kofta kebab with flatbread, which came with an accompaniment of couscous chick pea salad and tzatziki.
The large plate was filled with a delicious array of Moroccan delights and as silence descended on the table.
After umming and aarhing over the asparagus and pea risotto and the moules and frites options, I decided the oven bake fishcake with hand cup chips and fresh leaves would be my main dish for the day.
What looked like homemade fishcakes where packed full of flavour and fish and certainly didn’t disappoint.
The chips came in their own mini-frying basket which, once covered in sea salt and vinegar, really hit the spot.
It is not hard to see why or how owner Ian Wade received a Bronze Award for Best Pub of the Year in the 2007 Chester Food and Drink Festival.
If the new-look, welcoming and chic pub with its new-look menu is anything to go by, then he looks set to sweep up not only among food judges but food lovers alike.
The Bill
Moroccan Charmoula Sardines £4.95
Piri Piri Prawns £5.25
Oven Baked Fishcakes £8.25
Lamb Kofta Kebab with Flatbread £8.95
Operetto Garganega Pinot Grigio £13.50