The Oak, Kelsall (From Northwich Guardian)

The Oak, Kelsall

12:51pm Wednesday 3rd October 2007 in Leisure By Staff reporter

How it rated

Quality of service - Smiley. Chatty but not intrusive

Value for money - Excellent

Ambience - Family feel. Lots of charm and character.

Speed of service - Well-paced

Quality of food - Superb. Well worth the effort.

---

IT IS easy to get lost on the way to The Oak and, in fact, I did just that even though I've been before.

My eating partners' first observation was that the menu was varied and excellent for vegetarians, which was lucky for one of them who has not eaten meat since he was a boy.

A wrong turn delayed my arrival at the Kelsall pub, but it helped build anticipation of the meal that was to follow.

As a regular visitor to The Oak I knew what to expect. For my two companions it was to be a new experience.

And it was to be an enjoyable one. The 100-year-old former coaching inn was brought into the 21st century thanks to a £500,000 makeover.

The changes have been expertly done. For this establishment feels modern, but has lost none of its character and charm.

We were greeted with a smile and sat on some comfortable sofas while our first drinks were brought to us and we glanced over the extensive menu.

My eating partners' first observation was that the menu was varied and excellent for vegetarians, which was lucky for one of them who has not eaten meat since he was a boy. We never felt rushed at any time during the entire meal. So we moved over to our table in good time and awaited the starters.

Broccoli soup arrived in a rather oversized bowl, but there was plenty of tasty soup to fill it. Garlic bread at The Oak comes with an added taste - melted cheese, which really added to an otherwise predictable starter.

Sticking to a Sunday tradition, two of us ordered a roast beef dinner for our main course.

The meat arrived on a carvery, which really added to the experience and it was nice to have the choice of meats done to your taste.

The beef was tasty, if a little dry. Perhaps the only real disappointment, though, in all three meals was the selection of vegetables.

We had too much cauliflower and not enough runner beans or sugar snaps and the carrots were a little too crunchy for my tastes.

For our vegetarian friend the combination of a Greek salad and crunchy chips proved an unexpected surprise. He polished the lot off.

Throughout the meal service was well-paced and always with a smile.

After dessert it was us who were smiling.

I only had room for vanilla ice cream, but it was tasty with the added joy of some raspberry sauce. One of us plumped for sticky toffee pudding, which was neither sticky nor warm, but the dreamy ice cream and butterscotch rescued the dish.

But it was the chocolate mousse that stole the show during the final course. It looked like a work of art and - I was gloatingly reassured - tasted as good as it looked.

All in all, The Oak is worth the short drive down the A556 to Chester Road in Kelsall. Staff make you feel special and wanted and are chatty without being intrusive.

I will be going again and hopefully this time I will not get lost.