Harts

7 Church Street
Leigh
Lancashire
WN7 1QH
Tel: 01942 680650

Update 27th May, 1999

My wife and I joined a couple of friends for an impromtu meal on Thursday night (27th May 99). We arrived, maybe a couple of minutes before we were due, to find the place full - they were hosting a wedding party and it was overrunning. We were asked if we minded waiting in the Pub across the road, although I'm sure if we had minded, we could have occupied the table which was reserved for us.

We had a single drink and returned about fifteen minutes later - we could see that most of the party was ready to leave. As my wife and I weren't particularly hungry, we both opted for something light to start - my wife going for Salmon Goujons, while I was going for the Greek Salad. Our friends had Venison Sausage and Leek and Mushroom Bake.

The waitress took the order, but the assistant chef (?) came over to tell me she had personally been to Bolton Market that day to buy some mussels - and they were recommended. I decided to give them a try.

We're all good friends, so we regularly try each other's dishes. I have often had the Venison sausage, and these were as good as ever. I tried my wife's salmon goujons, and they were exellent as well.

However, all these paled in comparison to the mussels - they were astounding! Served in a cream, white wine and onion sauce, they were the best mussels I have ever had - period. I ended up using the remnants of the garlic bread to mop up the sauce.

Pork with a Honey Glaze was considered a little too sweet by one, but the rest of us found that it worked well. The Roast Wild Duck in Cognac was again up to the usual high standard. Mexican Chicken was subtly spiced, and my Salmon in Pernod sauce was superb.

We were all too sated to even consider a dessert, but we recommended the "Slow Death by Chocolate" and Suet Roly Poly Pudding to a party of ladies on the next table - apparently the recommendation was well received!

The fact that we could strike up a conversation with another table perhaps gives a feeling for the ambience which pervades the place.

The meal, including Garlic Bread, corkage and coffees, came to £70 for the four of us, including tip!! (We brought our own wine)

This visit reinforces my view that Harts is a compulsory visit.

Sandro