Mobberley Restaurant Guide

“An excellent local restaurant with talent in the kitchen (Miarisuz Dobies) and professional front of house” (his wife); regulars are “never disappointed” by the French- and Central European-inflected food (including five- or seven-course tasting menus), with “every detail wonderful and made in-house”.

Don Buddhika’s accomplished operation in this fancy Manchester suburb delivers “delicious Sri Lankan food that’s perfectly cooked”, whether you opt for the small plates, curries or grills – many being notably healthy to boot; it’s named for the imposing Sri Lankan Buddhist settlement Sigiriya rock.

Opposite a twelfth-century church, this “really good” village outfit is “exactly what you’d want from a good-quality pub”: a “relaxed, friendly and chatty” spot turning out some “perfectly judged” food (not least fish ’n’ chips, though the desserts are also “technical and brilliantly flavoured”).

Now landed in Knutsford town centre, this wine-bar restaurant originated in North London before relocating to the village of Audlem, further south in Cheshire, in 2020. Chef Chris cooks with sustainable and sometimes foraged ingredients while his partner, Laura, serves wines from small independent producers.

“Fabulous breakfasts to start the day with excellent omelettes; flavour-packed soups; and great coffee” (“with that rare accompaniment, a glass of iced water”) are all highlights of the “imaginative creations from the open kitchen” at this funkily decorated, brick-walled bar/diner, which is “open all day” – a model of “simplicity with highly efficient service”.

The WAGs of Cheshire’s Golden Triangle may at last have a restaurant HQ worthy of them as the San Carlo group has come into town, with a view to importing the success of their long-standing Manchester city-centre venue to these plush, Bentley-filled ’burbs. On the site of Gino D’Acampo’s Luciano’s (RIP), its classic Italian cooking is served in a suitably splashy setting, where the dining terrace (complete with retractable roof) is centre stage, complete with open-flame fireplace and palm trees.

2023 Review: Founders Diana & Justin have backed up their passion for Californian-style coffee with a “relatively cheap” menu of sandwiches and nachos plus biodynamic wines, at the Altrincham café they opened five years ago in an “ideal location near the end of the M62”.