Shrub bursts forth onto the Chester Dining Scene #Blog

Victoria Hayes
13th August 2020

Corona virus has surely changed the world we know and love. The hospitality industry in Cheshire has been hit hard and has suffered a really dark period fighting for its very survival.

With all that in mind, it is therefore surprising that I’m here to report the exciting arrival of a brand new venue. A different concept of dining which some may find surprising and challenge their perceptions. I suppose to survive and thrive in the wasteland post Covid lockdown you have to be hardy… and surprising.

Here comes SHRUB bursting forth into the less than usually fertile soil of Chester City Centre. 

Shrub with Calum Adams at the helm is a plant based restaurant and please don’t let that stop you going. The place is a modern eatery, a nod to the latest in Cafe culture with coffee, cocktails and food. I am here to tell you that their food is so interesting. They play with texture and flavour in a way that is delightful and inspiring. It is genuinely possible to forget that there is no meat or dairy.

Let’s begin with location. Happily situated on Chester Rows right on the Cross, Shrub benefits from an on rows terrace and therefore possibly the best people watching locale in all of Chester. 1- 3 Eastgate Rows, Chester.

Feel free to look down on others as you sup beautiful looking cocktails and nibble on tasty food! 

The staff are welcoming and explained the food menu and the drinks menu are accessed via QR code and is updated daily. (A Covid secure detail which did not go unnoticed) and we were able to book on line in advance through open table to secure our seating.

The three of us popped in for lunch this week, as we always like to try what’s new, but since I had my teenage son with me, it was more important that ever that I look both cool and current (cue teenage eyeroll).

 

The inside of Shrub is beautifully done, in cool natural fabrics, tropical prints and textures that inspire a relaxed atmosphere and the sense you could happily sit there all day. Not least because they have an actual porch swing inside! I could almost move in if the toilets weren’t on the top floor! (not the venue’s fault, the layout of that site has always been unfortunate when it comes to the facilities).

The Lunch menu offered two courses for £14 and we took natural advantage of there being three of us to try one each of the starters!

I started with the Corn Ribs. a novel food item charred strips in corn in house made sauce that could almost make you swear you were eating actual ribs. A little illusion I both thoroughly enjoyed and was keen to share with my fellow lunch mates.

Briony had the cauli bites, Cauli florets with sticky chilli & garlic sauce and again we were struck by the depth of flavour in the sauce, how filling the dish was and she was also able and happy to share her generous starter.

Seb, always a fan of avocado and a lover of crumpets made the obvious choice of the Avo Crumpet to start.

Simple and delicious as it was though, I think he wished he had been a bit more adventurous when ordering as he felt our risk taking had paid off. He quite comfortably demolished a corn rib and stole a floret of cauli and declared them both delicious.

With our mains I continued to be pleasantly surprised with my mushroom calamari wrap, Fried oyster mushrooms in a light batter with lovely chips on the side.

Seb enjoyed a huge portion of Guac and “cheese” pasta – a dish avocado fans will absolutely love!

Briony selected the beyond burger. Now this is the interesting one. If I hadn’t known it was plant based I would swear it was a real burger. Juicy and moist with the texture of a real burger. If you are with someone who is unsure about a plant based meal, this is the one for them.

We all enjoyed our main courses. Everything was fresh, well-presented and generously portioned at a good price. Service was very attentive, atmosphere was chilled.

We can’t wait to return (and bring friends) to try all the desserts and ALL of cocktails. Lucky Chester branching out in a brilliant way.