Panama Hatty's Restaurant and Bar, Tarporley (From Northwich Guardian)

Panama Hatty's Restaurant and Bar, Tarporley

2:50pm Wednesday 5th September 2007 in Leisure By Gina Bebbington

A SUMPTUOUS dining experience that caters easily for all five senses awaits diners visiting Panama Hatty's Restaurant and Bar in Tarporley.

The restaurant, nestled in lush greenery alongside the A49, is renowned among my friends for its cocktail combinations and sizzling fajitas and my evening there did not disappoint.

My companion and I just missed the Early Diner menu, which gives hungry customers chance to have two courses for £10.95 or three courses for £13.95, among other deals, between 5pm and 7pm Monday to Friday, but from the second we walked through the door we had a feeling we would not mind.

We were given a very warm welcome and chose to sink into one of the restaurant's comfy sofas armed with a cocktail each while we perused the menu, which took quite a while as we were both completely spoiled for choice.

The staff were patient and attentive all evening. They were almost psychic in their ability to judge when we were ready to order or ready for the next course.

We started the meal with a portion of Pasadena state goujons, which were fried chicken fillet strips in a Southern spice coating complete with a sweet chilli mayonnaise and lemon, and a portion of sun hat skins, which were crispy potato skins served with tomato salsa and soured cream.

Staff also proved to be accommodating in providing me with an extra helping of salsa rather than grated cheese, which I’m just not keen on.

We shared the starters and they were just enough to whet our appetites for the main course.

I could not resist going for traditional chicken fajitas, which were served on a sizzling skillet and contained a more generous portion of chicken than I would usually expect for a Mexican restaurant - in fact, I ran out of tortilla wraps before running out of meat.

Staff also proved to be accommodating in providing me with an extra helping of salsa rather than grated cheese, which I'm just not keen on.

My companion was a little more adventurous and opted for masaman chicken, a dish from the East to West section of the menu.

The dish of chicken breast fillet in masaman sauce with coconut milk, cumin, white onion and sweet potato was presented beautifully with coconut rice and naan bread and my companion assured me that it was delicious as she cleared her plate.

And, although we were feeling full, how could we possibly resist dessert with the tempting flavours of Ben and Jerry's ice cream on offer?

My companion went for a scoop of banana, chocolate and walnut Chunky Monkey with a scoop of Cherry Garcia while I tucked into an extremely chocolaty Fudge and Phish Sundae containing choclate fudge brownie ice cream and even more chocolaty Phish Food ice cream.

Our three courses and non-alcoholic cocktails (for the drivers) came to the grand total of £50, which may be a little more expensive than other restaurants but perfect for the special occasions that Panama Hatty's, with its magical atmosphere, feels made for.