The elegance of the Victorian seaside resort of Grange-over-Sands in the South Lake District is captured in the new bistro, The Estuary which has opened, over-looking the stunning views of Morecambe Bay.
Art Deco style and sophistication
The popularity of this former small fishing village peaked in the 1920s and 30s, at the time when the seafront lido was built – and the art deco design of that period has been the inspiration for the look of the restaurant, leaving no trace of its former existence as a chemist shop.
We were invited for lunch on a Friday afternoon, and the number of diners coming and good wishes cards on the bar showed how local people have taken this new dining venue to their hearts.
‘Neighbourhood bistro’
We were warmly greeted by the team at The Estuary. Faye Ramsey, who owns the bistro with husband Harry told us how the project to open the neighbourhood bistro has taken two years from planning to opening, and how important the local produce used and fresh preparation of each dish is to them.
The lighting and colour scheme, which was inspired by the seas view, create a relaxed environment to enjoy this menu – built around local, seasonal food.
Taste of the Mediterranean
We took our table in the window seating area, overlooking the Victoria Hall. The natural light and views created an alfresco feeling to enjoy our taste of the Mediterranean – created using local produce from the Lake District and Morecambe Bay.
Fresh, seasonal, local produce – cooked to order
Fay explained how each dish is cooked freshly to order and when our main meal was presented you could smell the freshness of the ingredients.
The presentation of our dishes was beautiful, on crockery which enhanced the visual impact.
Grilled Chicken Supreme – fish and smokey
I ordered the Grilled Chicken Supreme. This pasta dish of pappardelle ribbons of fresh pasta, with delicately grilled chicken breast pieces, pancetta, green olives and rosemary in a tomato sauce was rich and had a delicious smokey flavour.
The chicken was soft and succulent, and the pancetta gave a depth of flavour that made this a truly supreme dish.
Hand stretch pizza – sunshine of southern Italy
My dining companion ordered from the hand stretch pizza menu – Prosciutto, mushroom, rocket, with truffle oil. The base was perfect, with crispy crust, while the truffle oil brought the earthy flavours of this handmade pizza together. It brought the sunshine of southern Italy to a cool, grey Cumbrian day.
Classic Cumbrian dessert – Sticky Toffee Pud
The dessert menu has the classic Cumbrian dish of Sticky Toffee Pudding with butterscotch sauce which my companion enjoyed – saying it was one of the best she had tasted. The portions were exactly the right size.
Dessert original – Lemon crème brûlée.
I ordered something I had never had before. I love a crème brûlée, however The Estuary chef has created the Lemon crème brûlée. The shortbread which accompanied it was still warm from being freshly baked. The soft, zingy lemon crème with the contrasting layer of hardened caramelized sugar is perfection. It was a taste and texture contract which works.
The waitress told us the Lemon crème brûlée is one of the most popular desserts at The Estuary, and the chef should be proud of this winning dish.
Even the coffee is sourced locally, from Pennington’s Tea & Coffee, and you could taste quality of the beans in the Americano I had to finish off my meal.
Sister dining experience – Porto Restaurant
It should not have been a surprise to find an excellent dining experience at The Estuary, as Faye and Harry have an AA rosette at the Porto Restaurant in Bowness-on-Windermere, which they have run for eight years.
And their Head Chef at The Estuary, Przemyslaw (Schemec) Dziewiatkowski has come from The Grand at Grasmere.
Together their pedigree for food is outstanding, and they are delivering a great dining experience in the heart of Grange as well as at Bowness-on-Windermere.
Inclusive and welcoming experience
As well as the great atmosphere, service and food the thing which impressed me was their desire to create an inclusive, welcoming dining space.
Dog friendly and dog free dining rooms
There are two dining rooms within the bistro and the couple have created a dog friendly and dog free space. And watching the number of people strolling along the promenade and Main Street there are many dog owners in Grange, and visitors who will welcome a stylish place to dine with their pet.
Allergy and food choice menu
And when it comes to allergies and food choices, Faye and Harry take providing a quality menu of choice for all seriously.
As well as offering vegan and gluten free pizza, they have a full vegan menu including vegan beers, wines and ciders – and all their ice-cream is vegan. They also offer a choice of cow, soya and oat milks.
The Estuary is already a very popular place to eat, and to ensure people are not disappointed they take reservations for lunch and dinner.
New opening hours to be announced
Launching The Estuary was a special day for Faye and Harry, who have spent two years planning and creating this destination dining room. The couple have just received their licence to open from 10am until 10pm and will be announcing their new hours shortly.
New dinner menu
Faye shared their new dinner menu with us, which will change to reflect the seasonal produce available. However, the capsule menu will always include a choice of small plates, as well as starters, classics and Al La Carte, plus daily specials – which like other dishes on the menu will be inspired by the area’s local produce.
The Estuary is a gem of a place to eat out, and I am sure will become a destination bistro for food lovers across Cumbria, Lancashire and beyond.
5/5 stars for food, service, atmosphere and value for money.
- My meal of Chicken supreme and Lemon crème brûlée £20
- My companion’s meal of Hand stretched pizza – prosciutto, mushroom, rocket, truffle oil and Sticky toffee pudding, butterscotch sauce £17
- Tapas & Snacks £4 each or 3 for £10
- Soup of the day sourdough £5
- Sandwiches and house salad from £7
- Desserts – all £6
The Estuary is open every day for drinks, breakfast, brunch, and lunch from 10am-6pm. Details of evening opening will be available on their website. For more information visit http://www.estuary-grange.co.uk or call 015395 33453. Reservations are advised.
We featured The Estuary opening on eBusinessCumbria – check out the posts.
