On Saturday night we visited Sheldrakes in Heswall on the Wirral. On approach it looks a bit like a shack you would find in a small beach resort on the Med - a little shabby but with a great view over the water. Almost everyone I know on the Wirral has been to Sheldrakes at some point - and they gave me some warnings before we went - the food is good, but don't be too ambitious.
It's fair to say that the sharing starters were really good. We had mixed bruchetta with grilled peppers and mushrooms, and a fish platter. This had some lovely prawns, fried salmon, calamari and smoked salmon. Given they also give you a mound of focaccia and olives while you enjoy drinks before the meal, this was more than enough for five.
For the main course, I didn't pick so wisely (and clearly forgot the heed the above warning from friends). I went for half lobster thermidor on red mullet bouillabaisse, which for £18.95 seemed ridiculously good value. Don't be fooled - lobster yes, bouillabaise no. I think what they gave me was a pasta sauce, masquerading as a fish stew (it even had a bit of pasta in it for added authenticity). Now see the above warning and it all falls in to place.
The others had much more success - cod with a herb crust and trout with crab both got brilliant reviews, and they do some great homely chips. Don't be upsold on the veg though - it's definitely not necessary, whatever they tell you.
Desserts are very good: an assiette of strawberry is actually icecream, mousse, (slightly rubbery) cheesecake and a meringue; chocolate tart with caramelised bananas was fab, as was the pistachio parfait. Also, just to make them extra good, mine was free because of the lobster pasta sauce thing.
I would go back, but more likely on an amazing sunny day to drink the wine and eat the non-ambitious (non lobster) food. For the website click here.
It's fair to say that the sharing starters were really good. We had mixed bruchetta with grilled peppers and mushrooms, and a fish platter. This had some lovely prawns, fried salmon, calamari and smoked salmon. Given they also give you a mound of focaccia and olives while you enjoy drinks before the meal, this was more than enough for five.
For the main course, I didn't pick so wisely (and clearly forgot the heed the above warning from friends). I went for half lobster thermidor on red mullet bouillabaisse, which for £18.95 seemed ridiculously good value. Don't be fooled - lobster yes, bouillabaise no. I think what they gave me was a pasta sauce, masquerading as a fish stew (it even had a bit of pasta in it for added authenticity). Now see the above warning and it all falls in to place.
The others had much more success - cod with a herb crust and trout with crab both got brilliant reviews, and they do some great homely chips. Don't be upsold on the veg though - it's definitely not necessary, whatever they tell you.
Desserts are very good: an assiette of strawberry is actually icecream, mousse, (slightly rubbery) cheesecake and a meringue; chocolate tart with caramelised bananas was fab, as was the pistachio parfait. Also, just to make them extra good, mine was free because of the lobster pasta sauce thing.
I would go back, but more likely on an amazing sunny day to drink the wine and eat the non-ambitious (non lobster) food. For the website click here.
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