Dinner at Provenance Restaurant...

As soon as I heard about Provenance Food Hall and Restaurant* I was intrigued; combining a food hall downstairs with a stylish restaurant upstairs, this is a concept which appeals to my obsession with good food. Provenance is located in Westhoughton, just outside of Bolton and as the name would suggest, the ethos of the restaurant places an emphasis on the origin of the food. The Provenance philosophy is to offer a wide range of locally sourced food and the menu consists of a pleasing balance of fine dining inspired dishes as well as comforting classics, so there is something to appeal to everybody from lobster thermidor to sausage and mash. With everything from breakfast and afternoon tea to Sunday Roast available, this is a restaurant which has plenty to offer and the steak night every Tuesday always proves popular.
After a warm welcome from Stuart on front of house, we were seated at a candlelit table next to the window, allowing us to watch the world go by. The interior design aesthetic at Provenance is understated, with polished wooden floors and a neutral colour scheme accented by framed black and white photographs, some of which give a nod to the history of the building which was once a toy shop. Beyond the well-stocked bar area, the bustling kitchen was visible where evening service was well underway.

 

I sipped chilled Sauvignon Blanc which was fruity with a subtle note of citrus, as we consulted the menu poring over options including Chateaubriand, fish pie and the Provenance burger served with treacle cured bacon and Lancashire cheese.
I decided on the soup as a starter; a silky pea soup which had a fresh and bright flavour evocative of spring time, this was the perfect warming dish for a chilly evening.

My dining companion ordered the baked camembert, which was served with freshly baked paprika pastry twists which were buttery and flaky. The side of pickled vegetables was also a nice addition to the dish, as their sharpness contrasted well with the intensity of the cheese.

It has been a while since I have enjoyed a really good plate of fish and chips, a classic dish which is a favourite of mine, but which can so often be underwhelming. I decided to order this for my main and I was glad I did as it was a good example of how satisfying this simple dish can be when done well. The individual components all shone in their own right, a large fillet of flaky haddock encased in golden beer batter, served with chunky chips, a tartare sauce which had a piquant bite and crushed peas. This was an excellent plate of hearty comfort food and it restored my love of fish and chips and reminded me why I find it so hard to resist. 

My dining companion was equally enamoured by his main course of rump steak, cooked medium rare to his preference and served with mushroom, confit tomatoes, pickled onion rings and chunky chips. The steak was tender and juicy and the Béarnaise sauce he chose to accompany it was creamy and rich, with a delicate herb quality which sat well with the flavour of the steak. I always find it refreshing when a steak comes as a complete meal, rather than having to order multiple sides to complete it and the accompaniments at Provenance were classics which brought out the flavour of the juicy steak. 

On to dessert and who could resist a sticky toffee sundae; this was a wise choice which held layers of fresh cream, ice cream, rivers of toffee sauce and chunks of sticky toffee pudding. There is something about an ice cream sundae which I always find to be evocative of happy childhood memories and I would certainly order this dessert again. 

My dining companion ordered the chocolate mushroom, which we had already seen on the menu and were eager to try. This was also recommended to us by Stuart who served us throughout the evening, who explained that it is something of a signature dish for award winning head chef Lewis Gallagher. We were wowed by the appearance of the dessert, which looked like a mushroom and was beautifully plated with shards of chocolate and pistachio textures. The smooth milk chocolate flavour was a treat; not overpoweringly sweet and well balanced by the pistachio. Overall this was a stunning dessert which showed the creative flair, technical skill and imagination which I admire chefs for.

We settled back and relaxed over a cup of coffee as we enjoyed live music from the pianist who was playing the baby grand piano, the ideal way to complete such a lovely meal which delivered in terms of both excellent service and delicious food. I liked the idea of Provenance and I found that the combination of food hall and restaurant worked well and the relaxed ambience and sophisticated food created a winning formula which made for a lovely evening.

Provenance Food Hall & Restaurant

46-48 Market Street,

Westhoughton, Bolton,

Lancashire,

BL5 3AZ

 01942 812 398

www.provenancerestaurant.co.uk

What do you all think, do you like the sound of a restaurant which serves fine dining and comfort food in a friendly setting? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post.

Until next time,

Camille 

xo

*I was invited to review Provenance, this meal was complimentary. All opinions stated herein are my own and honest.