Masa Restaurant Wine Bar
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Masa Restaurant Wine Bar Summary
- Address: The Old Chapel, Brook Street , Derby, DE1 3PF (Map)
- Tel: +44 (0)844 567 2400
- E-mail: Click here to contact
- Website: Go to the Masa Restaurant Wine Bar website
- Cuisine(s): Modern British, Modern European
- Opening Times:
Mon - Sun: 12:00 - 23:00 - Avg Price: £40.00
(Avg Price is the average cost per person for a full meal, drinks/wine and service/tip.)
Masa Restaurant Wine Bar Description
The name of the game these days seems to be diversification. Nowhere is this better demonstrated than in Derby where in Brook Street an old Wesleyan Chapel has been taken into care by an inspiring couple, Didar and Paula Dalkic.
The handsome, dignified building, once a home to fire and brimstone sermons dispensed from the awesome heights of a massive pulpit-cum-podium, has an interior that is in complete contrast to its rather austere outside, and if those who worshipped here over the centuries kept the outside simple they certainly made sure that God was worshipped against a background of splendid style within.
The adaptation has been done with skill and understanding, muted contrasting colours that bring out the best in the fittings, making Masa a restaurant with a real difference. The more tiresome features of so many churches, like draughts, have been ironed out.
Downstairs a wine bar has been established, creating an ideal rendezvous and offering a light lunch daily. A typical menu could be a black pudding and poached egg salad with mustard dressing, spinach, goats' cheese and parma ham pasta, or a generous open sandwich of roast suckling pig, apple and plum compote.
Needless to say the wine list extends considerably beyond the communion variety that is served in churches of other faiths, including some very commendable house wines available by the bottle or glass. Whilst prices in general hover round the £20 average there are opportunities for something special on the right occasion.
The Gallery Restaurant speaks for itself and some very clever juggling has gone on here, designed to adapt and retain. Within the comfort of your box pew contemplate around seven starters that could include a salad of seared tuna, roasted foie gras with sweet and sour lettuce soup, pearl onions and radishes, or a scallop ceviche with smoked salmon, cucumber and dill vinaigrette.
In the best spirit of such rousing tunes as 'We plough the fields and scatter', main courses range from roasted field mushroom with a herb crust and some mozzarella, calves' liver encrusted with hazel nuts and served with sweet and sour baby spinach, or oven roasted halibut with a shellfish and lentil stew and African curry emulsion.
A comforting note on the menu indicates a 15 minute gap for your pudding to materialise, with a choice from amongst 6 or so, that can include a brioche summer pudding with lime crème fraiche, or a white chocolate and lime mousse served with a cocktail named Cloudy Sky. Is this another name for moody blues?
It should come as no surprise to find that Masa is open on Sundays, when lunch is taken every bit as seriously as previous preoccupations on the Sabbath within its sturdy walls,
Between 12 and 9pm. £17 will buy a highly credible meal that you can enjoy whilst trying not to think which of the Commandments dealt with the subject of gluttony. Although the traditional roast beef is top of the menu, there are other choices including poultry and fish dishes, around 3 or so desserts, and a selection of cheese which seems to be so very Sunday lunch. Just taste the homemade bread.
Their excellent Website is well worth exploring, and carries the news that Masa has been awarded two AA Rosettes, (2007) the only Derby city centre restaurant to achieve national accolades.
Fixed Lunch
- £14.50 (2 courses) to £17 (3 courses)
Fixed Dinner
- £21 (3 courses), Mon - Fri
Your Reviews of Masa Restaurant Wine Bar
Tony swindells (11 February 2008)
We visited Masa for lunch on my wife's birthday. It is an interesting conversion of a Methodist chapel - nice ambience with chapel pews. They are a little rigid and upright. The food is excellent, well prepared and served. Their prices are acceptable for the quality of meals. I can recommend them and will come again.
A Diner (23 January 2008)
I feel it is a good restaurant that is let down by some failings that are easy to fix. The service is very slow even during courses, as the waiting staff bring dishes one or two at a time, or sometimes not at all. I feel, giving them a tray and a list of the order will easily solve this. The staff have obviously been told to push the drinks because we were continuously asked to buy more drinks even when everyone had full glasses. However, I feel, the diner should be allowed to decide, or ask at least, when the glasses are empty. They should not start clearing the table for those who have finished, while others at the table are still eating. The pew seats definitely need more padding. The 10% service charge too, is not great as compared to the service. However, the building, food, ambience and some of the more experienced staff, are good.
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Additional Info for Masa Restaurant Wine Bar
Children welcome
Groups allowed
Air conditioning
Outside seating
Reservations
Cover Charge
- House red: £12.95
- House white: £12.95
- Service charge: 10% (optional)
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