London Road

Located in the heart of fashionable Alderley Edge, within comfortable striking distance of Manchester but a thousand miles away in ambience and style, we have here the latest in the Heathcote Collection of distinctive and smart/casual restaurants. Classical British and French dishes, using only the finest ingredients, ensure that London Road is quickly establishing itself as the place to be in this money-strewn and much sought-after northern enclave.

The menu at London Road makes no pretences, and offers a wide range of dishes from traditional classics to unique culinary delights. A small plate menu offers a range of snacks from 12am - 10pm with a selection of 16 from which to choose. Peppered fillet steak with marmite butter, black pudding Scotch egg and homemade salad cream or seared tuna and carpaccio from a menu which frankly I could live off for the rest of my life.

Wonderfully fresh fish features strongly and the a la carte starter list provides Port of Lancaster smoked salmon, capers, shallot and lemon, Serrano ham with figs and candied walnuts, a feuillete of poached egg, spinach and mushroom duxelle, or grilled black pudding with white bean Blanquette, crisp chorizo and red wine.

Amongst the good range of fish and seafood look for whole grilled plaice, buttered spinach, beurre noisette and lemon pickle, six oysters with cabernet sauvignon vinegar and shallots, or good old plain lobster Thermidor with chips. A smoked haddock Welsh rarebit with tomato salad and chives makes a welcome appearance

Breaded veal Holstein with anchovies, fried egg and capers truly is a dish fit for a king, naughty but very, very nice. The steamed steak pudding with oyster fritter and mashed potato is a wonderful combination, and demonstrates the Heathcote skill in recreating interest in food in reasonable, rather than exotic, terms.

Even the vegetables and side orders are made to look appealing, with hot pot potatoes, buttered spinach and roasted squash with pine nuts and sage.

A fine collection of pasta, breads and rice has a special appeal for those on diets. A dish that is packed full of flavour comes in the form of spaghetti with lobster and crab, lime, chilli and coriander. There is always homemade pasta of the day on offer, though any good done in that area may quickly be undone by the outrageously indulgent desserts and puddings, even if one or two concessions have slipped in.

The traditional Sunday lunch is a great event every week. Serving starts at midday and finishes at 9pm, and believe me it's a no-nonsense full blooded example of the genre, the beef roasted over wood, and some good manly starters to get you in the mood.

High tea still lingers in Scotland, is frequently misrepresented south of the Border and is served at London Road with a variety of main dishes, of which Croque Monsieur and that deeply satisfying dish, ham and eggs, caught my eye. On Saturday and Sunday from 10am - 12.30pm only, the hard-living inhabitants of Alderley Edge relax over a brunch of eggs Benedict, smoked salmon and scrambled egg or a Croque Madame.

Their Website will give you the wider picture, click on to find more about this wonderful value at this very stylish addition to the Heathcote Collection.