39 Steps Restaurant

39 Steps Restaurant
4 Altrincham Road
Styal
Cheshire
SK9 4JE

Tel: 01625 548144

Wednesday 16th April 2003

It has been a while since we were last here.

We had been well pleased on the last visit, but the occasion to return hadn't arisen until today. The 39 Steps is next door to the Ship Inn at Styal, and occupies the site of the Old Chop House, and later Saints and Scholars.

The lunch special menu at £10.99 consists of a reasonable selection of around four starters, a similar number of main courses, and a couple of desserts.

A pint of lager each while we decide.

We both failed to resist the Asparagus with Poached Egg & Hollandaise Sauce. The Asparagus was nicely presented, and the egg done exactly as I like it - the yolk a runny, deep yellow which matched its pleasant flavour. The asparagus was done "just so" and had no evidence of stringiness at all. We both remarked how much we enjoyed it, and how it had reminded us of our liking of asparagus!

Phil decided on the Steak & Stilton (rare) and I selected the Spicy Fish Cakes. Both were pronounced excellent, and were accompanied by a selection of vegetables which were also more than acceptable.

Another 2 and a half pints of lager lubricated the proceedings. The staff are pleasant and willing, and made us feel comfortable.

For me, there is only one (slight) problem - the restaurant has a policy of allowing smoking throughout. Whilst this did not cause me any discomfort on this occasion (a warm day, doors open, few smokers) I can imagine that non-smokers could end up inconvenienced. I'd recommend efficient air-handling be considered.

Overall then, this is one of the stars in the area - good food which is not ludicrously expensive, a good atmosphere, friendly staff. We will return!

Sandro