Moules – Definitely a Go Go – Taste Cheshire Review #Review

Gaile Wundke
5th August 2015

Moules a Go Go opened in Chester 16 years ago, but when we walked in, we could have been mistaken for thinking it was a new venture as everywhere was so clean and bright.  Pretty bunting hung from the ceiling and the whole place was attractively and tastefully decorated.  A clever use of outside space provided more seating for those wishing to dine al fresco.  At 6.30pm there was already a good atmosphere in the restaurant and there were a number of people dining.

We were shown to a corner table by the window and given our menus.  From the wine list we chose a bottle of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, which was reasonably priced  but for those wanting something different, there were numerous delicious sounding cocktails to choose from, as well as beers, soft drinks and even a tea and coffee menu!

For starters we chose Salt & Pepper Squid and Prawns, Fresh Grilled Mackerel and a ½ kilo portion of Goan Curry Mussels (after all, no visit to a place named Moules would be the right without having some!)  The squid and prawns were cooked to perfection and the lemon mayo, chilli and spring onions added the right balance of creaminess and spice.  The mackerel was again faultless, it’s richness complimented by a fresh tomato salad, pesto and olives.  However, the ‘star of the show’ was, as you might expect, the Goan Curry mussels.  A steaming pot full of mussels in a rich coconut spiced sauce, a sauce that was so good, it could be put on the menu as a soup!  The only criticism was that the pot was so deep, half the mussels had been eaten before the sauce was reached, however, it was a very minor point and did not deter from the dish overall.  We all agreed that the choices we made had been an excellent start to the meal.

Our main course selection was British Outdoor Reared Pork Chop, Fat Boy Burger and Pan Fried Sea Bass, we also ordered a side of Frites.  The pork chop was well cooked, generous in size and presented on crushed new potatoes with black pudding crumble, a fried egg and apple & bacon butter.  Our diner said it was like a very posh breakfast! The burger came on a brioche bun with lettuce, tomato and mustard mayo, topped with mature cheddar cheese and pulled pork, and a side of frites and coleslaw, a mighty meal!  The pan fried Sea Bass was again generous in size, two large crisp skinned fillets on a casserole of cannellini beans, roasted red peppers and basil.  It turned out that the side order of frites to accompany the Sea Bass, was quite simply greedy!

There was little room for anymore food, but for the purposes of research, we ordered the Belgian waffle with chocolate sauce and salted caramel ice cream.  The waffle was puffy and golden and unlike many, hadn’t come straight out of the freezer, the sauce rich and glossy and the saltiness of the ice cream created a perfect balance of flavours.

A lot of people think that Moules is part of a chain, it isn’t, it is independently run and this shows in the standard of service and quality of the food.  Its location on Watergate Row is one of the nicest parts of Chester, but can be very quiet.  However, when we visited on Monday night, even though there were very few people milling around outside, there were plenty of people dining inside, which just shows that 16 years after opening, they are still getting it right.  If you’re looking for fish and chips or pie and mash, then walk past, if you want good quality, freshly cooked food with excellent service, step inside, you’ll be very glad you did.