Is it just us or have the summer holidays just finished? Well October half term is here (already!) and so here’s our pick of some great places to eat out as a family during the holiday.
The Kitchen at Storyhouse, Chester
The Storyhouse’s Kitchen offers a taste of the delicious Levant, and its Autumn menu is its best yet. The cafe in the newly opened Chester theatre is inspired by Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours.
Harissa spiced sausages, crispy halloumi drizzled with tahini, butter bean pul biber and a warming batata harra of cumin spiced potatoes herald the colder days.
Brunch is served from 8am-4pm and includes Jordanian Ara’yes with allspice, parsley and flatbread, as well as Shakshuka baked egg, with tomato and pepper sauce, feta.
For something sweeter, don’t miss the orange blossom frozen terrine with honey and pistachio or the warming chocolate, coffee and cardamom torte with sour orange peel.
It’s excellent value, with mains coming in at around £7.50 and small plates at around £3.50.
The children’s menu is impressive too. Alongside more traditional roasted chicken and pizza pitta they offer pea and mint hummus with carrot, cucumber, crispy pitta sticks, and a falafel, hummus and khobez wrap. Again, this is around the £3.50 mark.
Make a day of it with their programme of family friendly shows, including the return of the popular parent and baby cinema screenings. Cancel the babysitter, and enjoy the latest releases on the big screen every Wednesday at 11am in the company of other parents and their babies. Free tea or coffee included.
storyhouse.com
Lunya & Lunyalita ( Liverpool & Manchester)
The husband and wife team behind the multiple award-winning Lunya in Liverpool and Manchester has opened Lunyalita at the Royal Albert Dock.
Peter and Elaine Kinsella’s new ‘baby Lunya’ offers Catalan-inspired breakfasts, with newer takes and healthy, light options such as smashed avocado, roasted tomatoes and white asparagus. Or, for chilly mornings there’s porridge with orange blossom honey, stacks of pancakes, spicy chorizo, crushed hazelnuts and chestnut honey.
Lunchtimes offer huge over-stuffed sandwiches, large salad bowls, a daily large dish – everything from a paella to Catalan Scouse – with a ‘when it’s gone, it’s gone’ policy. Other dishes include Huevos Rotos – a big one-stop dish of a large bowl of fried patatas bravas, choice of toppings finished off with two fried eggs broken up so all the yolks run through. Or, if you’re feeling sociable there’s a range of giant deli sharing platters, ranging from about £12 up to £22. Tapas starts at around a fiver and main meals at around £10.
Children are well catered for, with most of the tapas dishes being offered in children’s portions and there’s even a mini platter for your budding gourmand. As with the two larger Lunya sites, breastfeeding mums are made very welcome and always offered a free drink on the house.
lunya.co.uk/lunyalita
The White Horse, Chester Racecourse, Chester
The family friendly gastro-pub on the course, The White Horse, Chester Racecourse, is a firm ParentFolk favourite. This unique venue offers something for all the family, with cosy interiors, roaring fires, and award winning menu’s. The outdoor playground is littlefolk heaven, with its nautical themed space incorporating two amazing wooden pirate ships.
There’s a wonderful menu for children, featuring build your own pizza, as well as classic dishes and delicious desserts. With ample free parking on site, and in and ideal location to explore Chester, you’re assured a warm family welcome and a memorable dining experience.
www.thewhitehorsechester.co.uk
Hickory’s Smokehouse, West Kirby, Wirral
For those of us who have experienced the fabulous Southern inspired food Hickory’s, we already know this place is a super-authentic Smokehouse with a menu packed full of Southern style treats and barbecue delights. From mouth-watering meats, cooked low and slow in the smokers to decadent desserts and brilliant brunches – this place serves up the very best Southern American staples; but more than that – it’s good for the soul!
From family get-togethers to lunch with the girls – it’s not all racks of ribs and giant burgers at Hickory’s! The lunch menu offers a great value selection of smokehouse classics and Southern favourites along with a tasty range of lighter bites and at just £10 for two courses it’s the perfect choice for a girlie catch-up, family lunch or quick refuel on the go.
Brunch is big in the States and these guys showcase it perfectly. Think piles of fluffy pancakes, crispy chicken topped waffles and giant plates of breakfast favourites. Wash it all down with bottomless coffee’s or even a mimosa or two and start your weekend in style!
Lunch is served Monday – Friday from 11am – 5pm and you can grab breakfast or brunch every Friday through Sunday from 9am to midday.
www.hickorys.co.uk
Camp & Furnace, Baltic Triangle, Liverpool
Roast at Camp & Furnace commences at 12:00pm and runs through ’til 6.00pm every Sunday – guests are seated communally in The Furnace at long trestle tables whilst organic chickens and joints of sirloin, lamb or pork are dispatched from the kitchen un-carved, accompanied by the necessary cutlery for diners to divvy up according to size of appetite and/or love of yorkies, roasties and the trimmings!
In our opinion the Sunday Roast at Campy & Furnace is the most socialable Sunday Roast around, as friends and family gather around the tables to dig into this culinary feast. With delicious puds, and plenty of spaces for littlefolk to play, this is the place for laid back Sunday vibes at their best.
Please note that a reservation is highly recommended for this food event. Bookings of up to 8 guests can be made online www.campandfurnace.com – for parties of 10 and over please call us on 0151 708 2890.
