Hardens Guide to the Best Restaurants in Chester
Hardens guides have spent 32 years compiling reviews of the best Chester restaurants. On Hardens.com you'll find details and reviews of 16 restaurants in Chester and our unique survey based approach to rating and reviewing Chester restaurants gives you the best insight into the top restaurants in every area and of every type of cuisine.
Featured Chester Restaurants
1. The Inn At Huxley
British, Modern restaurant in Huxley
Huxley Lane - CH3
A Family VisionThe Inn at Huxley is situated in the quaint village of Huxley, near Chester, West Cheshire and was lovingly bui...
2. Upstairs at the Grill
British, Modern restaurant in Chester
70 Watergate St - CH1
2022 Review: USDA steaks and other meaty treats – alongside a Manhattan-esque vibe – have won local renown for this swish steakhouse in the city centre. Closed for much of the pandemic, in October 2021 the venue finally announced its return via Instagram and its website: “You may have noticed some building work taking place over the last couple of months…we are beyond excited and thrilled to finally announce that we will be back in the New Year… We have some exciting plans to transform our iconic home in the Olde Custom House Building… Our team of chefs and bartenders are already hard at work behind the scenes developing an exciting new food and drink menu… don’t worry, your old favourites will still feature!”.
3. Arkle, The Chester Grosvenor
British, Modern restaurant in Chester
56-58 Eastgate Street - CH1
Owned by the Duke of Westminster, and sitting right next to the iconic Eastgate Clock, the city’s flagship hotel has a plush (if windowless) main dining room, which in March 2022 was relaunched after a £250,000 refit. The change was to mark a turning of the page from its time under Simon Radley, who held one of the North West’s more enduring Michelin stars here from 1998 till his retirement in mid 2021. So his replacement, Elliot Hill (arriving from Liverpool’s Panoramic 34) has big shoes to fill. He made a start in November 2022, winning three rosettes at the AA Awards… although under Simon, the hotel held four. Our limited initial feedback on his start here is all positive (if too limited for a rating), including for afternoon tea in the adjoining lounges – “attentive staff and excellent sandwiches and pastries... they also serve a Gentleman’s afternoon tea, with crispy haddock bloomers, and coronation chicken on spiced curry bread”.
4. La Brasserie, Chester Grosvenor
British, Modern restaurant in Chester
Eastgate - CH1
It’s “always a pleasure” to visit this plush hotel, where the more relaxed, pavement-side Brasserie is “great for lunch” in “beautiful surroundings”; and where you’ll be looked after by “attentive staff with an eye for detail” – whether you’re after “casual dining (homemade soup and roll are delicious)” or an “à la carte menu (fish dishes are good)”. For the Grosvenor’s famous afternoon tea, head to the plush Arkle Bar & Lounge.
5. Moules A Go Go
International restaurant in Chester
6-12 Cuppin Street - CH1
2021 Review: “A long-term favourite which has been going for decades” – in recent times now decamped to La Tasca's old digs from its original home in The Rows – it boasts “plush and trendy” décor; “the moules marinières are wonderful and there are nights dedicated to surf and turf or lobster”.
6. Architect
British, Modern restaurant in Chester
54 Nicholas Street - CH1
With a “good location near the racecourse”, this Georgian pub from Brunning & Price is “divided into cosy rooms and alcoves”, and excels for its “traditional pub food” including “fabulous fish ’n’ chips”, “good pies and specials” – “but the key is in the sides: excellent samphire, sauces, creamy mash and more”. The name honours prominent local architect Thomas Harrison, who designed the building as his own home.
7. Porta
Spanish restaurant in Chester
140 Northgate Street - CH1
“Great Spanish food” – including plenty of “tasty fresh seafood” – has made such a success of Joe & Ben Wright’s ten-year-old wine-and-tapas spot that they closed Joseph Benjamin, their original bistro next door, to concentrate their resources on it in 2021. It’s a “small (and you can’t book), but lively place with attentive service and a great atmosphere”. The brothers now have spin-offs in Altrincham and Salford.
8. 1539
British, Traditional restaurant in Chester
The Racecourse - CH1
2021 Review: “With stunning views over Chester Racecourse” (“book early to be sure of a window table”), this well-established venue marries “fine wines and food” and, so long as you “don’t go on race days”, there are “usually quiet areas for those important business meetings”.
9. The Forge
British, Modern restaurant in Chester
Hotel Indigo, Grosvenor Park Road - CH1
No reports as yet on this boutique hotel dining room run by game expert Mike Robinson. Dry-aged beef and venison are brought from maturation cabinets to be cooked over a flame grill and, on paper at least, this is one of the city’s more interesting dining options.
10. Sticky Walnut
British, Modern restaurant in Chester
11 Charles St - CH2
“A very special place indeed” – this modest-looking backstreet bistro that chef Gary Usher opened 13 years ago in the Chester suburb of Hoole has achieved cult status and set the template for his crowdfunded Elite Bistros group, which now has six venues across the North West. “Always our choice for celebrations, delicious meals and superb service”, it’s “guaranteed to give you a great time”.
11. The Grosvenor Arms
British, Modern restaurant in Aldford
Chester Rd - CH3
“Looking for a fantastic, well-priced supper? Look no further than The Grosvenor Arms at Alford”. This rather grand country pub (“library, conservatory, bar and snug”) on the edge of the Duke of Westminster’s Cheshire estate maintains “consistently high standards despite being a member of a large chain” – Brunning & Price – for whom this was the group’s first property.
12. Cornichon
British, Modern restaurant in Tarvin
71 High Street - CH3
2021 Review: Just a short drive outside Chester, a smartly appointed “bar and bistro in an old family grocers shop retaining much of the original features and fittings of the Georgian building” (The Gunnery). “A straightforward menu is well realised” and weekend brunch is a feature.
13. Pant-yr-Ochain
British, Modern restaurant in Gresford
Old Wrexham Road - LL12
This “cracking pub” – a spacious and rambling sixteenth-century inn from the Brunning & Price group – feels “like having your own country club!”. It’s “very comfortable, with good beers” and “excellent ever-changing food served in generally substantial portions”, plus “warm service and a big garden for the kids to run around in”.
14. The Pheasant Inn
British, Modern restaurant in Tattenhall
Higher Burwardsley - CH3
2019 Review: “Beautiful views over the Cheshire Plain” set the scene at this “very busy”, cosy rural pub (with rooms) between Beeston and Peckforton, whose long menu comes well-rated.
15. X by Harry Guy
British, Modern restaurant in Chester
Wildes Chester, 10 Bridge Street - CH1
Chef Harry Guy (ex-Savoy Grill and Mallory Court Hotel) will open his debut restaurant in Wildes Group’s new Chester boutique hotel in 2023 (originally scheduled for mid 2022), by ‘The Cross’ at the ancient heart of this picturesque town. The venue itself sounds quite a ‘do’: with 18 bedrooms, rooftop pool, amphitheatre sauna and terrace with views overlooking the city. An “invitingly dark” dining room is promised, and setting its sights on becoming “one of the finest restaurants in the country”.
16. Pars Kahve
restaurant in Chester
5 - 7 Watergate Street South - CH1
Situated on the ancient, picturesque top tier of ‘The Rows’ on Watergate Street, this August 2021 yearling from Adem & Holly Yilmaz (their first venture) is proving an excellent addition to the city. The Turkish cooking is “simple but there’s a great choice of really good dishes” and the welcome is “warm and friendly”.
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